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Piera Systems Selected by the Province of Ontario for its “Vape Detectors and Building Safety Initiative”

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Piera’s intelligent particle sensors with AI identify sources of indoor pollutants including vape, smoke

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 2, 2024 /CNW/ – Piera Systems Inc., today announces its Canāree IX6 Vape Detector with Noise Monitoring has been selected as a Vendor of Record (VOR) by Supply Ontario, for the Province of Ontario’s Initiative to reduce vaping in school buildings and other public spaces. 

Student vaping continues to grow with 13.4% of middle and high school students that vape daily (source: Ontario CAMH OSDUHS 2023 study).  While vaping can be less harmful than smoking, many vapes have much higher nicotine levels leading to lower impulse control, mood disorders, disrupting attention and learning, increasing the risk of future addiction to other drugs.

The Province of Ontario’s “Vape Detectors and Building Safety Initiative” provides funding to install vape detectors with noise monitoring to identify vaping and smoking incidents in seconds, alert school officials with location, time and duration information.  Simultaneously, sound level sensors identify loud, sustained noises indicating activities that require school staff attention. Sensors do not record sound or video ensuring privacy.

Canāree can also integrate to available video security systems, where location and time data can be used to determine if individuals or repeat offenders can be identified.  In addition, signage will indicate vape and smoke free zones so students can know when monitoring is in effect.  Devices are installed in tamper-proof locations and their status monitored continuously.

“Indoor air pollution has a significant impact on human health and productivity and our unique ability to identify vape and smoke accurately and quickly at an affordable cost was a key reason for our selection for this initiative,” said Vin Ratford, CEO of Piera Systems. “We are honoured to be selected as a supplier and applaud the provincial government for allocating funding to reduce indoor vaping, smoking, and the health impacts caused by secondhand smoke.”

Funding is available immediately to Ontario Public Service ministries including all Ontario schools. The deployment process will begin once vendors are selected by individual school districts. Additionally, other non-OPS entities, including public libraries, hospitals, universities, schools, etc. may choose to use the VOR. 

Canāree monitors are currently deployed worldwide in schools, hospitals, hotels, commercial and residential spaces to monitor air quality, classify pollutants, and provide alerts on vaping and smoking activity delivering significant health benefits. 

The Canāree Platform

The Canāree IX6 Vape Detector with Noise Monitoring is based on Piera System’s Canāree IX platform of AI-based intelligent Indoor Environment Monitors (IEM) that detect various gases and particulate aerosols in real-time, capable of identifying sources of pollution as well as providing feedback on mitigation steps to clean the air, reduce health risks, and other environmental factors that affect inhabitants like vape and smoke.

The base Canāree IX model, the IX6, includes as standard, Piera Systems’ own intelligent particle sensor, the IPS7100, volatile organic compounds (VOC), temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and noise sensors. The IX can be customized to include additional sensors such as CO2 (NDIR-based), CO, NO2, SO2, O2, O3, ammonia, and vibration detectors.

All Canāree models collect real-time air quality data locally and send that data to Piera’s SenseiAQ cloud for remote monitoring, analysis and alerting. SenseiAQ then displays the data on a dashboard including Air Quality Index (AQI) scores, color-coded to EPA/EEEC standards along with vape/smoke/AQ alerts. APIs are available to support third-party integrations such as video security systems, air quality management systems (AQMS), building management systems (BMS) and IoT device management.

Canāree was selected as a finalist in the AI/Machine Learning category of the 2024 Best of Sensors Awards for “Classifying Pollutants Using Industry’s Most Accurate Low-cost PM Sensor.”  The awards program presented by Sensors Converge and Fierce Electronics honors the best in sensor technologies and the sensor ecosystem, people and companies.

About Piera Systems, Inc.

Piera Systems Inc. (Mississauga, ON) mission is to make air quality measurement as accurate, simple, and pervasive as temperature, enabling a major improvement in the health of all humans. The IPS family of intelligent particulate matter sensors uses a custom, patented particle-counting microchip to determine particulate matter’s size, count, and mass. Then, by utilizing AI/ML techniques, Piera can identify pollution sources such as vape, smoke, cooking, construction dust, and more, either at the edge or in the cloud. Our SenseiAQ air quality monitoring platform monitors and alerts users to poor air quality and pollution events.

Headquartered in Canada, more information on Piera Systems’ air quality solutions can be found at https://www.pierasystems.com

About Supply Ontario

Supply Ontario is a crown operational agency of the Ontario government that leads and manages procurement-related work on behalf of the Ontario government. Its mandate is to strengthen supply chain management and procurement across the public sector, ensuring that Ontario ministries, provincial agencies, and broader public services such as hospitals, school boards, children’s aid societies, and more have access to high-quality, timely, reliable products at the best value.  The Vape Detectors and Building Safety Provisions (Tender 19788) will be used by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Service – Ontario and includes:

Vape Detectors (includes installation and maintenance services and related accessories)Building Safety Provisions of safety lighting, security cameras, motion sensors and signage (includes installation and maintenance services and related accessories as needed)

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SOURCE Piera Systems Inc.

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

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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

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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

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

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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.

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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

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

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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

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

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