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Paving the Way for EV Battery Workforce Education: Stellantis Supplies 12 New Ram ProMaster Electric Vans to Battery Workforce Challenge Teams

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Participants from the Battery Workforce Challenge collegiate competition, a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Stellantis, and Argonne National Laboratory, gathered today to hand over the keys for 12 new 2024 Ram ProMaster electric vans. Chris Feuell, Chrysler and Ram Brand CEO, and Mark Champine, Stellantis Senior Vice President, Head of North America Engineering Technical Centers were on hand to distribute the ProMaster EV keys to students who will design, build, test, and integrate an advanced battery pack for the ProMaster EV vans. The 2024 Ram ProMaster EV is designed specifically for electrification with a unibody design that efficiently incorporates the production battery pack. Useful as a commercial work van, this application serves as an exciting opportunity for students to design batteries for bigger vehicles.

Started in 2023, the Battery Workforce Challenge partners 12 North American university teams with local community colleges selected through an elite, competitive process. Participating students receive hands-on learning and work closely with industry experts to tackle one of the most relevant real-world engineering challenges facing the automotive industry. 

“The Battery Workforce Challenge students continue to impress us with their creative ideas and overall EV knowledge as we’ve seen during this week’s fall workshops,” said Micky Bly, Stellantis senior vice president and head of Global Propulsion Systems. “I look forward to continuing to work with the students as they become workforce-ready EV experts.”

The 12 student engineering teams gathered in Bloomfield Hills outside of Detroit this week to continue their EV learning journey with four days of learning and collaboration with EV experts.

“The Battery Workforce Challenge teams will develop engineering and manufacturing skill sets to prepare them for high-quality jobs building the batteries of the future right here in the United States,” said Jeffrey Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the US Department of Energy. “The ability for the teams to experience hands-on learning working with the Ram ProMaster EVs is essential to the EV workforce of the future and advancing EV transportation technologies.”

The competition will end in 2026, with winning teams receiving dozens of annual engineering and sponsor-related category awards; $100,000 in industry-provided prize money; and invaluable real-world experience working with industry leaders.

Selected university and vocational partners are:

California State University, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California) and Cerritos College (Norwalk, California)Clemson University (Clemson, South Carolina) and Greenville Technical College (Greenville, South Carolina)Colorado School of Mines (Golden, Colorado) and Arapahoe Community College (Littleton, Colorado)Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi) and Hinds Community College (Utica, Mississippi)McMaster University and Mohawk College (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)The Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College (Columbus, Ohio)Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Ivy Tech Community College (Terre Haute, Indiana)University of Alabama and Shelton State Community College (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)University of California, Merced and Merced College (Merced, California)University of Michigan-Dearborn and Henry Ford College (Dearborn, Michigan)University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada) and College of Southern Nevada (Clark County, Nevada)University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) and Lambton College: Lambton Energy Research Centre (Sarnia, Ontario, Canada)

About the Ram ProMaster EV

With a targeted range of up to 162 miles in-city driving, the new Ram ProMaster EV is the brand’s first available fully electrified vehicle.

Two mission-specific configurations will be available, including the delivery model and two cargo models. The Ram ProMaster EV cargo model will be available in two configurations, including a 12-foot cargo length and an extended 13-foot cargo length (both with 159-inch wheelbases).

ProMaster EV’s battery is positioned under the floor in the center of the vehicle, which maintains a flat floor while cargo volume is unchanged from internal combustion engine vehicles.

Stellantis North America
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world’s leading automakers and a mobility provider. In North America, it’s best known for producing and selling vehicles in a portfolio of iconic and award-winning brands such as Jeep®, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat.

Powered by its diversity, Stellantis leads the way the region and the world move – aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates.

Battery Workforce Challenge
The collegiate competition is part of DOE’s broader Battery Workforce Challenge Program, which also includes regional training with vocational and community colleges; STEM youth education; and an online tool for career and technical education. The program is dedicated to cultivating a diverse cohort of skilled engineers, technicians and workers to propel domestic battery technology forward.

Follow the Battery Workforce Challenge on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/battery-workforce-challenge/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/battchallenge/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BattChallenge

Follow the U.S. DOE:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/eeregov/

Follow Stellantis:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/Stellantis

Media Contacts:
Kimberly DeClark, Argonne National Laboratory, kdeclark@anl.gov, 202-441-0096
Dan Reid, Stellantis, dan.reid@stellantis.com, 248-202-7697

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SOURCE Battery Workforce Challenge

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Kontron Launches Two New KBox F-Series Industrial Computers To Bring Greater Flexibility and Scalability to Industrial Edge Computing

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TAIPEI, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kontron, a leading global provider of IoT/Embedded Computing Technology (ECT), expands its KBox F-Series with the KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS, two compact industrial computers designed to address diverse requirements in intelligent Industry 4.0, edge computing and industrial IoT applications.

Both systems are powered by 12th, 13th or 14th Gen Intel® Core™ i9/i7/i5/i3 S-Series socket-type processors with a TDP of up to 65 W and support up to 96 GB DDR5 memory, providing a scalable computing foundation for demanding industrial applications requiring flexible performance configuration and long-term deployment.

The KBox F-203-RPS offers two LAN configurations with either two or four GbE ports, allowing customers to select the connectivity level that best fits their applications. The dual-LAN configuration provides an efficient solution for general industrial computing, equipment control and edge applications, while the four-LAN configuration offers additional network connectivity for applications involving multiple devices or network segments, such as machine vision, industrial automation and IoT gateways.

For applications requiring greater system expandability, the KBox F-204-RPS provides one PCIe x16 or two PCIe x8 expansion slots, offering the flexibility to integrate graphics, networking, AI acceleration or other add-on cards according to specific application requirements. With support for up to four 2.5-inch SATA HDDs/SSDs, it also provides extensive storage scalability for data-intensive workloads. These capabilities make the KBox F-204-RPS particularly suitable for industrial edge computing, machine vision, video processing and applications requiring additional functionality or large local data storage.

Together, the KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS enable customers to select the configuration that best matches their requirements, from a slimmer, network-focused industrial computer to a highly expandable edge computing platform.

To learn more about KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS, refer to https://www.kontron.com/en/products/kbox-f-203-rps/p301099 and https://www.kontron.com/en/products/kbox-f-204-rps/p311867.

About Kontron

At Kontron, we champion IoT and Industry 4.0, by creating secure, state-of-the-art solutions that span hardware, software and services. Our approach speeds market entry, reduces the cost of ownership, and offers longevity, ensuring our role as your trusted partner in the integration of smart technologies. For more information, please visit www.kontron.com, dial +886-2-2799-2789 or email SalesAsia@kontron.com.

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SOURCE Kontron

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Mouser Electronics Brings Smart Sensing Solutions to PSECE 2026

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MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mouser Electronics, Inc., the authorized global distributor with the newest electronic components and industrial automation products, announces its participation in the 21st Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Convention and Exhibition (PSECE 2026) from October 26 to 28 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Philippines. This event underscores Mouser’s commitment to supporting the region’s growing electronics design community with immediate access to cutting-edge technologies.

Visitors are invited to meet the Mouser team at Booth #110-111 to explore new products and practical design resources. The booth features a live demonstration of Würth Elektronik’s smart sensing and visual indication solutions, integrating environmental and motion sensing with programmable visual feedback and wireless connectivity. This interactive display illustrates how modern devices can detect physical conditions and translate them into clear, immediate visual data, addressing the critical need for reliable intelligence in connected systems.

“As we advance into an era of interconnected intelligence, Mouser remains committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge components and real-world application,” said Daphne Tien, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Mouser APAC. “Our presence at PSECE 2026 underscores our dedication to empowering engineers with the tools they need to innovate. We look forward to fostering a vibrant ecosystem where technology translates into tangible progress for the Philippines and beyond.”

Mouser’s participation highlights its strategic objective to strengthen ties with local partners and accelerate the adoption of advanced semiconductor technologies. By providing a platform for knowledge exchange, the company aims to help design communities turn promising prototypes into practical applications.

Attendees will have the opportunity to gather invaluable insights, learn industry best practices, and connect with professionals from across the region. The booth also features interactive activities where visitors can win premium gadgets and engineering tools, making innovative technology more approachable for everyone.

To learn more about Mouser’s presence at PSECE 2026, visit https://www.mouser.ph/psece-seipi/. 

For more Mouser news and our latest new product introductions, visit https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/mouser-electronics-brings-smart-sensing-solutions-to-psece-2026-302914806.html

SOURCE Mouser Electronics

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Workato Launches Self-Serve Platform in Singapore, Opening Enterprise AI to a Broader Community of Builders

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New offering gives developers, students, and customers access to the full power of Workato’s enterprise-grade engine to build AI agents and MCP servers

SINGAPORE, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Workato®, the leading Control and Execution Platform for Enterprise AI, today announced the launch of a new self-service offering that gives customers, developers, and students across Asia access to the Workato platform to govern and scale their AI initiatives, including building and productionizing AI agents and MCP servers.

Making AI accessible has been at the heart of Workato’s mission the past several years. Through the AI Institute Alliance, unveiled in September 2025, Workato partnered with leading institutes of higher learning across Singapore, including Nanyang Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and the National University of Singapore. The initiative equipped students and educators with automation and AI skills.

The AI Lab, which opened a year later, extended that commitment further into the public sector through its partnership with EDB, and into inclusive hiring through SG Enable.

The newly launched self-serve platform will provide users access to:

A free account to start building immediately, with the option to upgrade to a paid plan, no contract required, as projects growThe ability to build recipes, Agents/Genies, and MCP servers directly on the platformThe same governed, enterprise-grade engine that powers Workato’s largest deploymentsA path built for independent developers, students, and small teams, as well as large enterprises

Since launching in 2026 in North America, Workato has seen rapid growth in the builder community. The platform is enterprise grade, but free to get started. As builders solve problems for their business, they can grow by upgrading to a paid plan. With this launch in Singapore, Workato is making an investment in the local builder community.

“The next era of AI won’t be defined by who has access to intelligence, but by who can turn it into action. We’re putting the same enterprise-grade power trusted by the world’s largest companies into the hands of every builder. We want everyone to be able to transform how their business operates,” said Rishi Mallik, Chief Growth Officer, Workato. 

Workato showcased its self-serve platform and broader community initiatives at World of Workato (WOW) 2026 in Singapore.

Builders can sign up now at https://app.trial.workato.com/users/sign_up_trial?utm_content=sg_wow2026.

About Workato

Workato is the leading Control and Execution Platform for Enterprise AI — the neutral platform enterprises trust to put AI to work across their business. Workato unifies data, applications, and processes into a single platform so AI can reliably orchestrate business processes in production at enterprise scale. Built on more than a decade of running mission-critical processes for over half the Fortune 500 — including Nasdaq, Cisco, Vodafone, Atlassian, and Lucid Motors — Workato turns over 17,000 enterprise systems AI needs to act on into one governed execution layer. For more information, visit workato.com.

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SOURCE Workato

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