Connect with us

Technology

TriMech Group Acquires Product Development Specialists MAKO Design + Invent to Expand Design and Engineering Services for Clients

Published

on

RICHMOND, Va., July 9, 2024 /CNW/ — The TriMech Group has acquired MAKO Design + Invent, which provides tailored, end-to-end product design and development services across all physical consumer product categories to clients in the United States and Canada.

The TriMech Group has acquired MAKO Design + Invent.

With this latest acquisition, the TriMech Group continues to deliver on its plan to expand and diversify its service offerings and build the best-in-class solution partner to the global advanced design, engineering, and manufacturing sectors.

Chip Hogge, Chief Strategy Officer for the TriMech Group, and President of TriMech’s Advanced Manufacturing business, said that adding MAKO’s expertise sets the stage for TriMech to offer enhanced, comprehensive product development support for clients of all sizes.

“Over its 20-year history, MAKO’s award-winning team has perfected their product development process, which creates high-caliber products to be sold in North American and international markets. Their expertise will form a solid foundation for a new product development line of business for the TriMech Group.”

Support throughout the product design and development lifecycle

MAKO’s unique platform supports inventors, designers, manufacturers and e-commerce brands through planning, strategy development, designing, prototyping, manufacturing, and scaling to production volume, all to efficiently transform a concept into a fully functional, market-ready product.

At the heart of this process is MAKO’s talented team of industrial designers and mechanical and electrical engineers. TriMech’s Project Engineering Group (PEG) provides additional design capabilities and capacity in the key engineering stages of the product development lifecycle. And TriMech’s global teams of advanced simulation specialists can support additional simulation and analysis needs clients have during those stages.

Hogge explained that the TriMech Group is focused on steadily expanding the depth of its expertise in critical service areas to meet evolving client needs.

“Clients in all industry verticals are seeking professional, reliable services and support. We stand out because we offer much more than software and hardware. We can serve as that single technology and business partner who can help clients accelerate their product development lifecycles while improving quality and reducing risk.”

Meeting needs in prototyping and manufacturing

The MAKO team’s experience across the product development lifecycle can also bring new manufacturing connections and projects to the TriMech Group, already well known for its 3D printer sales and services, as well as its expertise in other advanced manufacturing methods, from traditional to emerging.

“Collaboration across production stages will really benefit clients,” Hogge said. “Our Advanced Manufacturing Services business in North America and 3DPRINTUK in the UK are perfectly positioned to step in with the knowledge and capabilities to move client projects efficiently through prototyping and manufacturing.”

Opportunities for MAKO’s team and clients

MAKO’s founder, Kevin Mako, will remain in the business to provide leadership in the TriMech Group’s expanded product development services team.

“My team and I will continue to serve clients the way we always have – with personal, customized service that gets their product to the finish line quickly, efficiently and at a world-class standard,” he said. “At the same time, we are extremely excited to collaborate with one of our favorites in the industry – the TriMech Group. Tapping into their team of design-for-manufacturing experts, prototyping and manufacturing facilities, and advanced software will help us ensure the best solutions for our clients.”

For more information, visit trimechgroup.com and makodesign.com.

About the TriMech Group

The TriMech Group of companies is a collection of established brands operating in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Europe’s Nordic regions. Its global team includes hundreds of engineers who excel in areas including design, collaboration, simulation, analysis, process and workflow optimization, product data management, lifecycle management, manufacturing, and production floor solutions.

As a leading technology and business solutions partner for designers, engineers, and manufacturers, the TriMech Group works with top software and hardware partners, including Dassault Systèmes, SOLIDWORKS, Stratasys, Artec, and Zeiss, and its experts provide design and engineering software, advanced manufacturing solutions, and associated training, consulting, implementation, and staffing services for clients across a variety of industries.

The TriMech Group has more than 50 locations serving more than 30,000 clients with over 750 employees. It is part of the portfolio of Sentinel Capital Partners, a U.S. private equity firm.

For more information, visit trimechgroup.com.

About MAKO Design + Invent

MAKO Design + Invent has a 20-year history of setting the standard for best practices in product development.

Its North American team, located in Austin, Toronto, Miami, and San Francisco, provides world-class product development services tailored to inventors, startups, and manufacturers. Known as an award-winning, one-stop-shop for taking an idea to a physical product, MAKO has in-house industrial designers and mechanical and electrical engineers, and helps with all aspects of product development, from initial market research and patent referral, to manufacturing, distribution, brand launch, and marketing. As owners of “The Product Startup Podcast,” MAKO has surpassed 200,000 followers across their social media channels.

For more information, visit makodesign.com.

Contact: Angie Droz
865.934.5304
Angie.Droz@TriMech.com

 

TriMech
4991 Lake Brook Drive, Suite 300
Glen Allen, VA 23060
877.553.9001 trimechgroup.com

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trimech-group-acquires-product-development-specialists-mako-design–invent-to-expand-design-and-engineering-services-for-clients-302191033.html

SOURCE TriMech

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

EcoFlow Reveals OCEAN 2 at Solar & Storage Live London 2026 as Demand Grows for Smarter, Scalable Home Energy

Published

on

By

Top lines:

Next-generation EcoFlow OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase system unveiled, designed for a new era of scalable, whole-home energy, supporting up to 12kw AC outputStorage capacity expandable up to 300 kWh, with 10,000 cell-cycle battery lifespanEngineered for faster installation and lower ongoing energy lossAdvanced solar optimisation with triple MPPT architecture for complex UK rooftopsExclusive preview of upcoming OCEAN 2 products and EcoFlow STREAM technology at the event

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EcoFlow is set to unveil OCEAN 2 Plus, its next-generation home battery system, at Solar & Storage Live London 2026, taking place at ExCeL London from 29–30 April.

Positioned at the intersection of performance, scalability and intelligent energy management, OCEAN 2 represents a significant step forward for residential energy systems in the UK – designed not just to meet today’s demand, but to evolve alongside it. As the market shifts towards more flexible, decentralised energy models, EcoFlow is delivering systems that scale from everyday households through to high-demand, fully electrified homes.

At the event, EcoFlow will also offer attendees an exclusive first look at upcoming additions to the OCEAN 2 series, alongside a showcase of its STREAM technology, reflecting growing momentum behind small-scale and emerging solar solutions in the UK.

EcoFlow OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase has been designed with long-term flexibility at its core. A single system can start small and expand over time, supporting up to 300 kWh of storage capacity when configured in parallel. This enables the system to move beyond traditional residential use cases, supporting larger homes with electric vehicles, heat pumps, and increasing electrification demands. With a 10,000-cycle battery lifespan, the system is built to deliver consistent performance and savings over many years of operation.

Performance has also been optimised for real-world UK conditions. With three independent MPPTs, OCEAN 2 is able to maximise solar generation across rooftops with multiple orientations or partial shading, ensuring more consistent energy capture throughout the day. Each string supports high input capacity, enabling installers to design more efficient, higher-yield systems without compromise.

Efficiency extends beyond generation. OCEAN 2 has been engineered to minimise its own energy consumption, operating at just 50W during light-load discharge. While often overlooked, this reduction in baseline energy use contributes to meaningful long-term savings, with estimated lifetime energy savings reaching up to 6,000 kWh over a 15-year period.

Installation has been streamlined throughout. With a compact form factor, integrated components and reduced on-site complexity, OCEAN 2 is designed to save time at every stage, from handling and positioning through to commissioning. At 46kg per battery pack, and with support for both indoor and outdoor installation, the system provides practical flexibility for installers working across a wide range of property types.

Whole-home backup functionality is built in as standard, with seamless switching designed to maintain power continuity across essential systems. This is complemented by a multi-layered safety architecture, combining both passive and active protection mechanisms across the battery system, alongside a 15-year warranty designed to support long-term peace of mind.

At the system level, OCEAN 2 integrates into EcoFlow’s wider Home Energy Ecosystem, connecting solar generation, storage, and smart home technologies into a single intelligent platform. Through its Home Energy Management System, the system can automatically optimise when to store and use energy based on demand and dynamic electricity tariffs, helping households reduce reliance on the grid while improving overall energy efficiency.

Craig Bilboe, Head of Residential UK&ANZ for EcoFlow said:

“UK homes are changing quickly. We’re seeing more electric vehicles, more heat pumps, and more people wanting to use their own solar more effectively. OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase has been built for that reality. It gives installers a system that’s quicker to work with, and gives households the ability to store more, use more, and expand over time without replacing what they already have. Alongside that, technologies like STREAM are opening the door for people who want to start smaller, making solar more accessible in a way we haven’t really seen in the UK before.”

Visitors to the EcoFlow stand will be able to experience live demonstrations of OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase, explore upcoming product developments, and speak directly with EcoFlow’s technical and commercial teams.

To register or learn more, visit: https://lnkd.in/g6RxBPmB

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2966057/EcoFlow.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ecoflow-reveals-ocean-2-at-solar–storage-live-london-2026-as-demand-grows-for-smarter-scalable-home-energy-302754188.html

Continue Reading

Technology

XTM International Appoints New CMO and VP of Engineering to Accelerate AI-Driven Growth

Published

on

By

Niki Sotiropoulou joins as Chief Marketing Officer and Sean Mooney as Vice President of Engineering, reinforcing XTM’s commitment to AI-driven product innovation and global enterprise growth.

LONDON, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XTM International, a global leader in AI-driven localisation technology, today announced two strategic additions to its executive leadership team. Niki Sotiropoulou has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), and Sean Mooney joins as Vice President of Engineering, leading engineering execution across XTM’s expanded product portfolio.

“Adding leaders of Niki’s and Sean’s calibre is a clear signal of XTM’s ambitions for the next phase of growth,” said Lorcan Malone, Chief Executive Officer of XTM International. “Niki brings the strategic marketing leadership to amplify the value our platform delivers to enterprise customers, while Sean brings the engineering depth to accelerate how quickly we ship that innovation. Together, they will help us extend our lead in AI-driven localisation.”

Niki Sotiropoulou — Chief Marketing Officer

Niki Sotiropoulou is a marketing leader focused on the intersection of AI, data and enterprise growth. Across more than two decades in both B2B and B2C, including pivotal roles at market-leading companies such as viva.com and eSHARE, she has built a reputation for aligning marketing strategy with overarching business objectives, and for using data and modern marketing technology to deliver measurable commercial impact. Her contribution to the field has been recognised through her inclusion among the industry’s top marketing influencers.

As CMO, Niki will lead XTM’s global marketing organisation, embedding AI and data across brand strategy, demand generation and customer-facing communications as the company delivers on its composable, AI platform mission.

“Marketing is most effective when it is grounded in data and amplified by AI,” said Sotiropoulou. “XTM is doing genuinely category-defining work in AI-driven globalisation platform, and my focus is on bringing the same rigour to how we tell that story, by building a marketing organisation that is data-driven, AI-augmented, and clearly tied to the outcomes our customers care about.”

Sean Mooney — Vice President of Engineering

Sean Mooney is a highly experienced technology leader specialising in cloud, connected services, technical architecture, systems integration and product modernisation. He brings 25 years of industry experience and a proven track record of delivering complex, concurrent strategic programmes on time, on budget and to specification. Sean will lead engineering execution across XTM’s R&D function, including development, QA, support and architecture teams in Ireland and across XTM’s global hubs.

“Great products are built by great teams,” said Mooney. “XTM has a clear AI-driven product vision, an exceptional engineering culture, and a customer base that depends on us to deliver. My role is to make sure our R&D organisation operates at the standard our customers expect : combining engineering excellence, modern architecture and a culture of continuous improvement so we can ship innovation at the pace this market demands.”

About XTM International

XTM International is your AI globalisation platform that transforms language from a barrier into an opportunity. We bring translation management, business management, software localisation, and video creation together into a composable system, giving enterprises the flexibility to adopt the solutions they need, when they need them. Trusted by over 1,300 global companies, supporting more than 880 languages and over 80 ready-to-go integrations, XTM enables teams to scale global content with accuracy, speed, and absolute trust.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2966641/XTM_International_New_CMO_and_VP_of_Engineering.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2680664/5939325/XTM_International_Logo.jpg

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/xtm-international-appoints-new-cmo-and-vp-of-engineering-to-accelerate-ai-driven-growth-302754951.html

Continue Reading

Technology

Loftie Launches Loftie+ Habit System to Help People Put Their Phones Down

Published

on

By

LONDON, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Loftie, maker of the award-winning alarm clock that replaces the smartphone on the nightstand, today launches Loftie+ — a behaviour-change system built to change habits, not track data.

Over half of UK and Irish adults stay up later than planned because of their phones — rising to 73% of 18- to 24-year-olds in the UK (Deloitte, 2024). The sleep industry’s answer: sell people a tracker and a score.

“The sleep industry is obsessed with measurement,” said Matt Hassett, founder and CEO of Loftie. “People are staring at a dozen numbers every morning trying to figure out why they feel terrible — while the phone that’s wrecking their sleep is the same device giving them the score. We’re not interested in adding more data. We’re interested in helping you put the phone down.”

Loftie+ is a mobile app (£9.99/€9.99 monthly or £59.99/€59.99 yearly) that works on its own — no Loftie hardware required. It combines nightly app blocking, daytime focus tools, and screen-time challenges, plus a credit card-sized Loftie Card for your wallet and a free browser extension.

At night: the app schedules blocking around sleep in three phases — Relax, Sleep, and Rise — guiding users from wind-down to wake-up with minimal phone interference.

During the day: the Loftie Card triggers Focus mode with a single tap — at your desk, before a meeting, when the kids get home. Unlike screen-time apps that stay on a shelf at home, the Card lives in your wallet, with you wherever you need to focus.

A free home screen widget, Flip, replaces your phone’s app grid with just the apps you choose — no icons, no distractions.

Loftie+ builds on a platform serving over 15,000 members across curated audio, personalised bedtime stories, and wind-down routines. For Loftie hardware owners, an optional feature called Loftie Drift blocks selected apps automatically when you enter the bedroom, using Bluetooth from your Clock or Lamp.

Loftie+ is available now on iOS and Android across the UK and EU. The browser extension and Flip are free.

About Loftie

Loftie is a sleep wellness brand designing products that help people put their phones down — for deeper sleep at night and better focus by day. The line includes the Loftie Clock, Loftie Lamp, and Loftie+. The Loftie Clock has been named a TIME Best Invention, recommended by Wirecutter five years running, and is carried at MoMA Design Store, Goop, and URBN.

Website: loftie.com

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2963308/LOFTIE_Logo.jpg

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2963309/Loftie__includes_a_Loftie_Card.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/loftie-launches-loftie-habit-system-to-help-people-put-their-phones-down-302753395.html

Continue Reading

Trending