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AAON REPORTS RECORD SALES, EARNINGS & BACKLOG FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2024

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TULSA, Okla., Aug. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — AAON, INC. (NASDAQ-AAON), a provider of premier, configurable HVAC solutions that bring long-term value to customers and owners, today announced its results for the second quarter of 2024.

Net sales for the second quarter of 2024 increased 10.4% to a record $313.6 million from $284.0 million in the second quarter of 2023. The year-over-year increase was largely driven by the BASX segment, which recognized an increase in sales of 58.3%, a majority of which was spurred by sales of data center equipment.  Sales at the AAON Oklahoma and AAON Coil Products segments grew year-over-year 3.4% and 4.3%, respectively. 

Gross profit margin in the quarter expanded to 36.1%, up from 33.1% in the comparable quarter in 2023.  Gross margin expansion was a result of greater operational efficiencies at the AAON Oklahoma and AAON Coil Products segments as well as lower material costs across the organization. 

Earnings per diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2024, were a record $0.62, up 12.7% from the second quarter of 2023. 

Financial Highlights:

Three Months Ended 
 June 30,

%

Six Months Ended
June 30,

%

2024

2023

Change

2024

2023

Change

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

GAAP Measures

Net sales

$    313,566

$    283,957

10.4 %

$    575,665

$    549,910

4.7 %

Gross profit

$    113,094

$      94,018

20.3 %

$    205,336

$    171,172

20.0 %

Gross profit margin

36.1 %

33.1 %

35.7 %

31.1 %

Operating income

$      67,199

$      54,740

22.8 %

$    114,169

$      98,946

15.4 %

Operating margin

21.4 %

19.3 %

19.8 %

18.0 %

Net income

$      52,228

$      45,682

14.3 %

$      91,244

$      82,496

10.6 %

Earnings per diluted share1

$           0.62

$           0.55

12.7 %

$           1.09

$           0.99

10.1 %

Diluted average shares1

83,786,222

83,469,581

0.4 %

83,527,717

83,478,498

0.1 %

1  Reflects three-for-two stock split effective August 16, 2023.

Non-GAAP Measure

EBITDA2

$      81,860

$      65,865

24.3 %

$    142,344

$    120,459

18.2 %

2 This is a non-GAAP measure. See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation to GAAP measure.

 

Backlog

June 30, 2024

December 31, 2023

June 30, 2023

(in thousands)

$                      650,005

$                      510,028

$                      526,209

 

At June 30, 2024, we had a record backlog of $650.0 million, up sequentially for a third straight quarter.  Compared to a year ago, backlog was up 23.5% from $526.2 million, driven by the BASX and AAON Coil Products segments.  The increase in bookings for the quarter primarily related to solutions for the data center market.

Gary Fields, CEO, stated, “Our second quarter performance exceeded expectations.  Production issues from the first quarter were largely resolved, leading to increased volume output and productivity across all three segments.  This resulted in record quarterly sales and earnings.  The BASX segment saw a significant rebound from the first quarter, with sales increasing 103.7%   and gross profit rising by 182.2%, quarter-over-quarter.  AAON Oklahoma and AAON Coil Products segments also realized sequential improvements.  Our operating margin in the quarter expanded to 21.4%, making it the most profitable quarter in the Company’s history.  We achieved these results with premium pricing and operating efficiencies, which drove our performance.”

Mr. Fields continued, “Bookings in the second quarter performed exceptionally well, resulting in a record backlog at the end of June.  The data center market continues to be robust and AAON is well positioned to take advantage of the growing opportunity.  Beyond the bookings that made up the backlog at quarter-end, there remains a large pipeline of data center projects for both airside and liquid cooling products that the Company is pursuing.  For AAON’s traditional packaged rooftop business, bookings in the first half of 2024 were up year-over-year, including in the second quarter.  However, growth moderated from prior years.  This business is impacted more by the softening macro conditions and disruptions associated with the refrigerant transition, which is resulting in an increased amount of uncertainty regarding near-term demand.  Any softness in the rooftop market will be more than offset with our data center products.  We anticipate sales and earnings will improve in the second half of the year from the first half, mostly realized in the fourth quarter.”  

Mr. Fields concluded, “AAON is strategically positioned for long-term success.  As regulations and demands for higher quality HVAC equipment increase, AAON is becoming increasingly cost competitive.  Furthermore, the Company is leading the industry in the development of cold climate heat pumps.  The opportunities within the data center market are vast and promising, which we anticipate will drive accelerated growth and further market share gains.  Consequently, we are investing in expanded production capacity through new facilities and enhanced output within our existing facilities.  Additionally, we continue to invest in our people and technology to effectively manage the business and adapt efficiently to the robust growth rates we are targeting for the long-term.”        

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $12.1 million and a balance on its revolving credit facility of $85.9 millionRebecca Thompson, CFO and Treasurer, commented, “During the quarter, we completed our share repurchase program totaling $100.0 million.  This initiative reflects our confidence in the long-term prospects of the Company and our commitment to delivering value to our shareholders.  Looking ahead, we remain focused on executing our growth strategy with continued investments in capex and maintaining a healthy balance sheet through disciplined financial management.” 

Conference Call 
The Company will host a conference call and webcast today at 5:15 P.M. EDT to discuss the second quarter 2024 results and outlook. The conference call will be accessible via dial-in for those who wish to participate in Q&A as well as a listen-only webcast.  The dial-in is accessible at 1-800-836-8184.  To access the listen-only webcast, please register at https://app.webinar.net/OdbYjYb31qR. On the next business day following the call, a replay of the call will be available on the Company’s website at https://investors.aaon.com.

About AAON
Founded in 1988, AAON is a global leader in HVAC solutions for commercial and industrial indoor environments. The Company’s industry-leading approach to designing and manufacturing highly configurable equipment to meet exact needs creates a premier ownership experience with greater efficiency, performance and long-term value. AAON is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where its world-class innovation center and testing lab allows AAON engineers to continuously push boundaries and advance the industry. For more information, please visit www.AAON.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “should”, “will”, and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligations to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include (1) the timing and extent of changes in raw material and component prices, (2) the effects of fluctuations in the commercial/industrial new construction market, (3) the timing and extent of changes in interest rates, as well as other competitive factors during the year, and (4) general economic, market or business conditions.

Contact Information
Joseph Mondillo
Director of Investor Relations
Phone: (617) 877-6346
Email: joseph.mondillo@aaon.com

AAON, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended 
 June 30,

Six Months Ended 
 June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Net sales

$                 313,566

$                 283,957

$            575,665

$            549,910

Cost of sales

200,472

189,939

370,329

378,738

Gross profit

113,094

94,018

205,336

171,172

Selling, general and administrative expenses

45,895

39,272

91,183

72,214

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

6

(16)

12

Income from operations

67,199

54,740

114,169

98,946

Interest expense, net

(367)

(1,543)

(606)

(2,693)

Other income, net

175

163

252

277

Income before taxes

67,007

53,360

113,815

96,530

Income tax provision

14,779

7,678

22,571

14,034

Net income

$                   52,228

$                   45,682

$              91,244

$              82,496

Earnings per share:

Basic1

$                       0.64

$                       0.56

$                  1.12

$                  1.02

Diluted1

$                       0.62

$                       0.55

$                  1.09

$                  0.99

Cash dividends declared per common share1:

$                       0.08

$                       0.08

$                  0.16

$                  0.16

Weighted average shares outstanding:

Basic1

81,791,792

81,439,691

81,339,153

81,263,523

Diluted1

83,786,222

83,469,581

83,527,717

83,478,498

1  Reflects three-for-two stock split effective August 16, 2023.

 

AAON, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

June 30,
2024

December 31, 2023

Assets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$                      13

$                       287

Restricted cash

12,065

8,736

Accounts receivable, net

149,149

138,108

Income tax receivable

4,969

Inventories, net

182,988

213,532

Contract assets

68,171

45,194

Prepaid expenses and other

5,740

3,097

Total current assets

423,095

408,954

Property, plant and equipment:

Land

16,018

15,438

Buildings

240,317

205,841

Machinery and equipment

403,664

391,366

Furniture and fixtures

41,128

40,787

Total property, plant and equipment

701,127

653,432

Less:  Accumulated depreciation

287,893

283,485

Property, plant and equipment, net

413,234

369,947

Intangible assets, net

75,560

68,053

Goodwill

81,892

81,892

Right of use assets

16,086

11,774

Other long-term assets

849

816

Total assets

$         1,010,716

$                941,436

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$              28,958

$                  27,484

Accrued liabilities

85,499

85,508

Contract liabilities

26,862

13,757

Total current liabilities

141,319

126,749

Revolving credit facility, long-term

85,884

38,328

Deferred tax liabilities

5,811

12,134

Other long-term liabilities

21,170

16,807

New market tax credit obligation

16,034

12,194

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued

Common stock, $.004 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 80,950,856 and 81,508,381 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively1

324

326

Additional paid-in capital

49,174

122,063

Retained earnings1

691,000

612,835

Total stockholders’ equity

740,498

735,224

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$          1,010,716

$                 941,436

1  Reflects three-for-two stock split effective August 16, 2023.

 

AAON, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

Six Months Ended 
 June 30,

2024

2023

Operating Activities

(in thousands)

Net income

$                   91,244

$                   82,496

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

27,923

21,236

Amortization of debt issuance costs

71

32

Amortization of right of use assets

73

67

Provision for (recoveries of) credit losses on accounts receivable, net of adjustments

1,169

(171)

Provision for excess and obsolete inventories, net of write-offs

641

1,458

Share-based compensation

8,451

7,823

(Gain) loss on disposition of assets

(16)

12

Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)

15

(13)

Interest income on note receivable

(9)

(10)

Deferred income taxes

41

(4,438)

Changes in assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

(12,210)

(26,782)

Income taxes

(6,139)

(15,171)

Inventories

29,903

(17,927)

Contract assets

(22,977)

(4,711)

Prepaid expenses and other long-term assets

(2,708)

(2,502)

Accounts payable

(1,804)

(14,874)

Contract liabilities

13,105

(1,162)

Extended warranties

1,195

1,526

Accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities

(56)

33,051

Net cash provided by operating activities

127,912

59,940

Investing Activities

Capital expenditures

(65,381)

(60,629)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

16

104

Software development expenditures

(10,058)

Principal payments from note receivable

26

28

Net cash used in investing activities

(75,397)

(60,497)

Financing Activities

Proceeds from financing obligation, net of issuance costs

4,186

6,061

Payment related to financing costs

(417)

(398)

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

272,526

279,961

Payments under revolving credit facility

(224,970)

(272,429)

Stock options exercised

15,821

23,244

Repurchase of stock

(100,034)

Employee taxes paid by withholding shares

(3,493)

(1,162)

Cash dividends paid to stockholders

(13,079)

(13,004)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

(49,460)

22,273

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

3,055

21,716

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

9,023

5,949

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$                   12,078

$                   27,665

 

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), additional non-GAAP financial measures are provided and reconciled in the following tables. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the GAAP financial measures, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results. The Company believes that this non-GAAP financial measure enhances the ability of investors to analyze the Company’s business trends and operating performance as they are used by management to better understand operating performance. Since EBITDA is a non-GAAP measures and is susceptible to varying calculations, EBITDA, as presented, may not be directly comparable with other similarly titled measures used by other companies.

EBITDA

EBITDA (as defined below) is presented herein and reconciled from the GAAP measure of net income because of its wide acceptance by the investment community as a financial indicator of a company’s ability to internally fund operations. The Company defines EBITDA as net income, plus (1) depreciation and amortization, (2) interest expense (income), net and (3) income tax expense. EBITDA is not a measure of net income or cash flows as determined by GAAP.

The Company’s EBITDA measure provides additional information which may be used to better understand the Company’s operations. EBITDA is one of several metrics that the Company uses as a supplemental financial measurement in the evaluation of its business and should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, as an indicator of operating performance. Certain items excluded from EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance. EBITDA, as used by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company believes that EBITDA is a widely followed measure of operating performance and is one of many metrics used by the Company’s management team and by other users of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (GAAP) to EBITDA (non-GAAP)  for the periods indicated:

Three Months Ended 
 June 30,

Six Months Ended 
 June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

(in thousands)

Net income, a GAAP measure

$               52,228

$               45,682

$         91,244

$         82,496

Depreciation and amortization

14,486

10,962

27,923

21,236

Interest expense, net

367

1,543

606

2,693

Income tax expense

14,779

7,678

22,571

14,034

EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure

$               81,860

$               65,865

$       142,344

$       120,459

 

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SOURCE AAON

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Technology

Samsung Selects Chandigarh University Student as ‘Punjab AI State Topper’

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CU Student Devesh Panwar Wins Rs 1 Lakh Award for Developing AI-Based Document Search System

CHANDIGARH, India, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) student of Chandigarh University, Devesh Panwar, has been named the “Punjab State Topper” in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) under the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) AI Program organised by Samsung in collaboration with Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) and training partner Focal Skill Development (Focalyt) to equip Indian youth with industry-relevant in-demand skills in AI, loT, Big Data, and Coding & Programming, preparing them for future careers.

A final-year student of Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) at University Institute of Computing (UIC) of Chandigarh University, Devesh Panwar also won a cash award of Rs 1 lakh along with a laptop, and exclusive Samsung rewards for achieving this remarkable milestone under the Samsung Innovation Campus AI Program.

 “Being named ‘AI State Topper’ was a moment of profound pride and validation for me. Hard work, intense technical training and a passion for AI culminated in the immense honor of the Punjab State Topper title. Besides getting access to state-of-the-art tools to fuel my future research and development endeavor, I gained world-class knowledge during the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) AI Program. It helped me in gaining hands-on experience and applied AI to solve real-world challenges, especially in aeronautical and technical domains,”

During Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) AI Program, Devesh and his team worked on innovative AI capstone project which was presented before the jury panel as part of the final assessment.

“Our team developed the advanced AI-powered system AI Research Agent, a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) platform designed for intelligent querying of private document collections. Organizations, researchers, legal professionals, and HR teams often work with large collections of documents. Traditional search methods rely heavily on keyword matching and require significant manual effort to locate relevant information. The project was developed to address the limitations of traditional document search systems, which often struggle with contextual understanding, retrieval accuracy, learning adaptability, and response speed,” said Devesh.

 “The developed system demonstrated significant improvements over traditional document retrieval approaches with faster response generation with integration of modern AI techniques, full-stack development, database systems, and intelligent automation into a single practical solution.  By combining modern RAG architecture with innovative retrieval and reasoning mechanisms, this system provides a fast, intelligent, and user-friendly solution for knowledge discovery and resume evaluation. This project not only enhanced our technical expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Full-Stack Development but also strengthened our problem-solving, teamwork, and professional communication skills. It stands as a significant achievement of our Samsung Innovation Campus 2025 journey and reflects our commitment to building impactful AI solutions for real-world challenges,” he added.

Congratulating Devesh Panwar for being named “Punjab State Topper” AI under the Samsung Innovation Campus Samsung Innovation Program, Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University, said, “Devesh’s achievement reflects Chandigarh University’s focus on experiential learning and industry-academia collaboration.  Through the Samsung Innovation Campus AI Program, CU students gain practical exposure to AI and building solutions for real-world challenges. This accomplishment reflects not only Devesh’s commitment to excellence but also the growing culture of innovation and industry-oriented learning at Chandigarh University,”.

“Since its inception, Chandigarh University has set benchmarks for world-class education with its dynamic hands-on experiential learning model, industry-aligned programs, dynamic fraternity, state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities and impeccable placements. Samsung Innovation Program is also part of our initiatives to develop a future-ready talent pool equipped with advanced capabilities in AI, loT, Big Data, and Coding and Programming. By bridging the gap between theoretical learning and real-world application, this collaboration helps in providing CU’s computer science and computing students exposure to cutting-edge and emerging technologies.  CU’s this partnership with Samsung is focused on building future-ready talent equipped with industry-relevant skills in AI and emerging technologies,” Sandhu said.

He said Chandigarh University’s Institute of Computing (UIC) prepares students for a successful career in computing, to create and disseminate computing knowledge and technology. “Chandigarh University carries a vision of crafting next-gen IT professionals who can take up industry challenges effectively and our Institute of Computing (UIC) prepares students for a successful career in computing, to create and disseminate computing knowledge and technology.  UIC’s hands-on approach paves the way for a smooth transition to the workforce after graduation. Our students are equipped with the best knowledge, skills and passion to succeed in any number of computing careers.   CU’s Institute of Computing renders cutting-edge education ranging from the expertise in traditional software development -to- modern computing technologies. Fully-equipped industry-sponsored labs, industry-aligned curriculum, and accreditations and validations by top companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Google Android, Red Hat etc. give our students an exclusive edge over others,” the Chandigarh University CMD said.

Sandhu said the latest edition of QS World University Rankings has yet again reaffirmed Chandigarh University global standing as a top educational institution. “Continuing its remarkable rise among the world’s leading higher education institutions, Chandigarh University (CU) has made impressive strides in the latest edition of prestigious QS World University Rankings 2027 by securing an overall world rank of 526, an increase of 49 ranks as compared to 575th rank in QS’ 2026 Rankings. This is for the fifth consecutive year that Chandigarh University’s global rankings have witnessed an impressive surge with CU’s world rank going up by an impressive 274 ranks — from the 800th rank in 2023 to 526th in 2027’s Rankings,”.

“As per the latest QS World University Rankings, with All India Rank of 13 among all universities in the country as compared to 16th rank in 2026’s rankings, Chandigarh University now ranks among the top 1% of universities in India and the top 2% of universities in the World, underscoring its growing reputation as a leading institution of higher learning, both in India and globally,” he added.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/

Photo: https://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS1885145/PRESS-PIC-001-SAMSUNG-CU-STUDENT.jpg?id=OA2769782&token=eyJhbGciOiJkaXIiLCJlbmMiOiJBMjU2R0NNIn0..tz96RqadDKMvzkEj.hSUhhTBdc9ZsrJjdBxEgY3wlJi0695tAGCi_yhGtBbdiThMARSwsYuRxoaEaAC1HccJGtnxglefy4fXZDdGfD-4OdjVgfOBZDHtwSaDWfS9i0sxsJ9uscOPXaiNP1iwN6to.iJaPyZAn7rk4NN9I54uvhg

 

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Technology

Samsung Selects Chandigarh University Student as ‘Punjab AI State Topper’

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CU Student Devesh Panwar Wins Rs 1 Lakh Award for Developing AI-Based Document Search System

CHANDIGARH, India, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) student of Chandigarh University, Devesh Panwar, has been named the “Punjab State Topper” in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) under the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) AI Program organised by Samsung in collaboration with Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) and training partner Focal Skill Development (Focalyt) to equip Indian youth with industry-relevant in-demand skills in AI, loT, Big Data, and Coding & Programming, preparing them for future careers.

A final-year student of Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) at University Institute of Computing (UIC) of Chandigarh University, Devesh Panwar also won a cash award of Rs 1 lakh along with a laptop, and exclusive Samsung rewards for achieving this remarkable milestone under the Samsung Innovation Campus AI Program.

 “Being named ‘AI State Topper’ was a moment of profound pride and validation for me. Hard work, intense technical training and a passion for AI culminated in the immense honor of the Punjab State Topper title. Besides getting access to state-of-the-art tools to fuel my future research and development endeavor, I gained world-class knowledge during the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) AI Program. It helped me in gaining hands-on experience and applied AI to solve real-world challenges, especially in aeronautical and technical domains,”

During Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) AI Program, Devesh and his team worked on innovative AI capstone project which was presented before the jury panel as part of the final assessment.

“Our team developed the advanced AI-powered system AI Research Agent, a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) platform designed for intelligent querying of private document collections. Organizations, researchers, legal professionals, and HR teams often work with large collections of documents. Traditional search methods rely heavily on keyword matching and require significant manual effort to locate relevant information. The project was developed to address the limitations of traditional document search systems, which often struggle with contextual understanding, retrieval accuracy, learning adaptability, and response speed,” said Devesh.

 “The developed system demonstrated significant improvements over traditional document retrieval approaches with faster response generation with integration of modern AI techniques, full-stack development, database systems, and intelligent automation into a single practical solution.  By combining modern RAG architecture with innovative retrieval and reasoning mechanisms, this system provides a fast, intelligent, and user-friendly solution for knowledge discovery and resume evaluation. This project not only enhanced our technical expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Full-Stack Development but also strengthened our problem-solving, teamwork, and professional communication skills. It stands as a significant achievement of our Samsung Innovation Campus 2025 journey and reflects our commitment to building impactful AI solutions for real-world challenges,” he added.

Congratulating Devesh Panwar for being named “Punjab State Topper” AI under the Samsung Innovation Campus Samsung Innovation Program, Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University, said, “Devesh’s achievement reflects Chandigarh University’s focus on experiential learning and industry-academia collaboration.  Through the Samsung Innovation Campus AI Program, CU students gain practical exposure to AI and building solutions for real-world challenges. This accomplishment reflects not only Devesh’s commitment to excellence but also the growing culture of innovation and industry-oriented learning at Chandigarh University,”.

“Since its inception, Chandigarh University has set benchmarks for world-class education with its dynamic hands-on experiential learning model, industry-aligned programs, dynamic fraternity, state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities and impeccable placements. Samsung Innovation Program is also part of our initiatives to develop a future-ready talent pool equipped with advanced capabilities in AI, loT, Big Data, and Coding and Programming. By bridging the gap between theoretical learning and real-world application, this collaboration helps in providing CU’s computer science and computing students exposure to cutting-edge and emerging technologies.  CU’s this partnership with Samsung is focused on building future-ready talent equipped with industry-relevant skills in AI and emerging technologies,” Sandhu said.

He said Chandigarh University’s Institute of Computing (UIC) prepares students for a successful career in computing, to create and disseminate computing knowledge and technology. “Chandigarh University carries a vision of crafting next-gen IT professionals who can take up industry challenges effectively and our Institute of Computing (UIC) prepares students for a successful career in computing, to create and disseminate computing knowledge and technology.  UIC’s hands-on approach paves the way for a smooth transition to the workforce after graduation. Our students are equipped with the best knowledge, skills and passion to succeed in any number of computing careers.   CU’s Institute of Computing renders cutting-edge education ranging from the expertise in traditional software development -to- modern computing technologies. Fully-equipped industry-sponsored labs, industry-aligned curriculum, and accreditations and validations by top companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Google Android, Red Hat etc. give our students an exclusive edge over others,” the Chandigarh University CMD said.

Sandhu said the latest edition of QS World University Rankings has yet again reaffirmed Chandigarh University global standing as a top educational institution. “Continuing its remarkable rise among the world’s leading higher education institutions, Chandigarh University (CU) has made impressive strides in the latest edition of prestigious QS World University Rankings 2027 by securing an overall world rank of 526, an increase of 49 ranks as compared to 575th rank in QS’ 2026 Rankings. This is for the fifth consecutive year that Chandigarh University’s global rankings have witnessed an impressive surge with CU’s world rank going up by an impressive 274 ranks — from the 800th rank in 2023 to 526th in 2027’s Rankings,”.

“As per the latest QS World University Rankings, with All India Rank of 13 among all universities in the country as compared to 16th rank in 2026’s rankings, Chandigarh University now ranks among the top 1% of universities in India and the top 2% of universities in the World, underscoring its growing reputation as a leading institution of higher learning, both in India and globally,” he added.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/

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Black Lake Technologies Shortlisted as SAIL Award TOP30 Finalist and Selected as Global Industrial AI Flagship Case, Showcasing Latest Industrial Agent at WAIC 2026

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SHANGHAI, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) opened in Shanghai on July 17. Shanghai Blacklake Technologies Co., Ltd. (“Black Lake”), an industrial AI company, is showcasing a portfolio of industrial AI agents at the conference. The company has also been named to the Top 30 shortlist for the 2026 WAIC Super AI Leader (SAIL) Award and selected as a Trusted Partner under the Global Call for Trusted Partners for Industrial AI in the Global South.

The accreditations highlight Black Lake’s latest progress in bringing AI into critical manufacturing decision-making workflows and deploying industrial AI capabilities on the shop floor around the world.

This year’s conference attracted over 1,100 exhibiting companies and showcased more than 3,000 exhibits, setting a new record for exhibition scale. The conference delivered a clear signal: as artificial intelligence becomes a common priority across global industries, attention is moving beyond model capabilities toward practical applications in real-world operating environments.

Manufacturing provides a particularly demanding test for this transition. Factory operations are governed by multiple constraints, including process specifications, equipment capabilities, material availability, production capacity, delivery schedules and quality requirements. Therefore, AI has to do so much more than simply comprehend information input. It must make reliable judgments within clearly defined business rules and operational constraints.

Black Lake has focused on industrial digitalization and industrial AI for years, developing and deploying AI applications in a range of factory environments.

At WAIC 2026, the company is presenting industrial AI agents covering order splitting and process planning, quotation and pricing, procurement, production scheduling, quality inspection, and order tracking. These applications are designed to move AI beyond an auxiliary role and into critical manufacturing decision-making workflows.

Traditional industrial software is primarily responsible for data recording, digital workflows, and worker coordination. However, critical decisions such as how to split an order, determine pricing, schedule production, and assess quality risks still depend heavily on the experience of engineers and frontline workers.

Industrial AI agents are intended to convert fragmented industrial knowledge and production experience into decision-making capabilities that can be invoked, reused and continuously refined by software systems.

Order decomposition and process planning are representative examples. After receiving an engineering drawing, a factory typically relies on experienced engineers to identify components, materials and dimensions, define the required manufacturing processes and technical specifications, and establish a basis for subsequent quotation and quality inspection.

The process is highly dependent on individual expertise and represents one of the first critical decision points after an order is received.

Black Lake Technologies’ CAD-to-Process Agent can understand product drawings and, taking into account the factory’s equipment capabilities, process requirements, and production practices, rapidly generate process steps along with the corresponding technical requirements. Drawing analysis that once took hours can now be completed in approximately one minute, achieving an accuracy rate of over 95% in real deployment and providing engineers with stable, efficient decision support. Currently, the industrial agents developed by the company cover core processes including design, scheduling, production, and quality inspection, and have entered the stage of large-scale deployment.

Founded in 2016, Black Lake serves nearly 40,000 factories worldwide. Its customers span more than 30 industries, including food and beverage, automotive components and equipment manufacturing.

By working across factory order management, production and fulfillment workflows, Black Lake has accumulated the technical capabilities and industry knowledge required to support decision-making in complex industrial environments.

In April 2026, Black Lake completed a Series D funding round of nearly RMB 1 billion. The company said the proceeds would primarily be used to accelerate the deployment of its industrial AI products and support its international expansion.

AI-related products are becoming a new source of growth for the company. In a recent interview, Black Lake founder and CEO Zhou Yuxiang said that the company had recorded significant growth in AI-related revenue since the beginning of 2026. He also said that manufacturing customers were taking less time to make purchasing decisions for industrial AI agents.

Zhou expects AI adoption among Chinese factories to increase substantially over the next three to four years.

Unlike consumer-facing AI, which is primarily associated with content generation and personal productivity, industrial AI agents can directly affect production costs, capacity utilization, delivery performance, and product quality. Their commercial value therefore depends largely on whether they can perform specific tasks reliably in complex production environments.

During WAIC 2026, Black Lake was named to the Top 30 shortlist for the 2026 Super AI Leader (SAIL) Award. The SAIL Award is one of WAIC’s major awards and recognizes achievements in technological breakthroughs, application innovation, and industrial value.

Black Lake was also selected as a Trusted Partner under UNIDO’s Global Call for Trusted Partners for Industrial AI in the Global South.

The Global Call was launched under the guidance of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in partnership with the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, and in connection with the work of UNIDO AIM Global and its Shanghai-based Centre of Excellence.

The initiative aims to build a curated pool of leading partners to co-develop scalable industrial AI solutions and public goods for the Global South.

For Black Lake, the two accreditations underscore the growing importance of reliability, explainability, and scalability in the evaluation of industrial AI, in addition to the capabilities of AI models.

Global expansion will be a major priority in the company’s next phase of development. Black Lake is currently focusing on Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, adapting its industrial AI agents to the industrial structures, production processes and management requirements of different markets.

Although manufacturing operations vary across countries and regions, manufacturers share similar concerns about efficiency, quality, delivery reliability and production flexibility.

Black Lake is transforming industrial AI capabilities that have been validated in complex factory environments into configurable and deployable products. Through these products, the company aims to work with manufacturers worldwide to explore more efficient, flexible and intelligent approaches to production.

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