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Building New York’s Advanced Manufacturing Workforce: Semikron Danfoss Celebrates its First GAINS Registered Apprenticeship Graduates

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Graduation coincides with National Apprenticeship Day 2025, underscoring the role of Registered Apprenticeships (RAs) in building career pathways and strengthening the U.S. semiconductor and advanced manufacturing workforce

UTICA, N.Y., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On Wednesday, Semikron Danfoss celebrated 15 apprentices who successfully completed the Industrial Manufacturing Technician RA program, advancing their careers in New York’s growing semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industry.

The graduation, held at Semikron Danfoss’ Utica facility, coincided with the U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL) newly designated National Apprenticeship Day—an evolution from the traditional National Apprenticeship Week held in November—reaffirming the critical role of RAs in workforce development. National Apprenticeship Day is a nationwide celebration recognizing the success and impact of apprenticeships in building strong career pathways and strengthening the U.S. workforce.

The RA program at Semikron Danfoss is supported by MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, serving as the Group Sponsor under the National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement’s™ (NIICA) Growing Apprenticeships in Nanotechnology and Semiconductors (GAINS)—a national workforce development program through USDOL. The program is supported by Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) which provides Related Technical Instruction (RTI) for the program.

“This graduation is a powerful example of how Registered Apprenticeship Programs are transforming workforce development in New York,” said Michael Frame, Executive Vice President of MACNY. “By combining industry-led training with educational support, we’re not just preparing individuals for jobs, we’re launching meaningful careers in advanced manufacturing and semiconductors. Semikron Danfoss is demonstrating what’s possible when employers invest in their people, and we’re proud to support their efforts in building the workforce of the future.”

The manufacturing sector supports more than 420,000 jobs statewide, and New York has attracted over $100 billion in semiconductor investments since 2022. Nationally, RA completers see strong outcomes, with an average starting salary of over $77,000 and 94% retained employment nine months after RA completion. Programs like the Industrial Manufacturing Technician apprenticeship help workers access high-skill, high-wage career pathways while strengthening New York’s advanced manufacturing and semiconductor industries.

“We’re incredibly proud of our apprentices and the dedication they’ve shown throughout this program,” said Michael Godsen, General Manager at Semikron Danfoss. “Registered Apprenticeship has allowed us to invest in our team’s growth while ensuring we’re building the advanced manufacturing workforce, we need for the future. Programs like this strengthen our company, our community, and the broader manufacturing industry here in New York.”

“This celebration is a reminder of what’s possible when we work collaboratively to build real pathways between education, training, and industry. Through initiatives like GAINS and the launch of New York’s first Career Opportunity Hub, NIICA is helping to meet critical workforce needs along the I-90 corridor and beyond—strengthening the industries that are vital to America’s future. This progress is made possible by strong partnerships across New York and the nation, including with MACNY, that share our commitment to expanding opportunities for workers and communities. We’re congratulate Semikron Danfoss and MACNY – and are proud to celebrate these apprentices,” said NIICA’s President & CEO Mike Russo.

Skill-based learning and RAs are key to building a workforce that can meet the demands of advanced manufacturing and semiconductor innovation. As these industries continue to grow, programs like GAINS are helping ensure that workers have clear, attainable pathways to high-skill, high-wage careers—and that employers have the talent they need to stay competitive.

For more information about NIICA and the GAINS program, visit www.niica.org. For more information about MACNY, visit www.macny.org. For more information about Semikron Danfoss, visit www.semikron-danfoss.com.

About the National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement™ 
NIICA is a 501(c)(3) organization that is responsible for a national strategy to build the talent pipeline to support strategic industry sectors – tech-based industries and advanced manufacturing tied to U.S. national security and global competitiveness.

NIICA is a nation’s leader in semiconductor talent pipeline development strategy and is the U.S. Department of Labor’s national Registered Apprenticeship industry Intermediary responsible for establishing and expanding apprenticeships throughout the semiconductor and broader nanotechnology-related industries and advanced manufacturing supply chain. All related programming and support are being advanced through NIICA’s Center for Skill-Based Learning and National Talent Pipeline Development Initiative.

This project has been funded, either wholly or in part, with Federal funds from the Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration under Contract number, 1605C2-22-C-006, the contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Labor, nor documents mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement of same by the U.S. Government.

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SOURCE National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement

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Crab2B Makes AsiaWorld-Expo Debut, Connecting Hong Kong’s Mobile Wholesalers with Global Buyers

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HONG KONG, Oct. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Crab2B, a pioneering B2B trading platform dedicated to mobile devices and digital products, will make its debut at the HKICEC Global Mobile Exchange Pavilion during the Global Sources Hong Kong Shows, opening at AsiaWorld-Expo on October 18, 2026.

Hong Kong has long been a major hub for electronics wholesale trade, but buyers still often rely on fragmented channels to identify suppliers. Crab2B was created to bridge this gap, bringing Hong Kong-based mobile and digital product wholesalers together on one dedicated B2B platform. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Crab2B combines the manufacturing strength of mainland China and the Greater Bay Area’s extensive supply chain capabilities with Hong Kong’s established global trading network. Together, these strengths enable Crab2B to simplify cross-border sourcing, connect buyers directly with suppliers and make international trade more accessible and efficient.

For its first appearance at a major industry trade show, Crab2B is bringing together more than 200 merchants already registered on the platform, marking a significant milestone in its development. The Crab2B booth is expected to attract electronics traders from Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East and beyond. Visitors will be able to discover the app’s capabilities through live demonstrations, register on the platform and connect directly with participating merchants to explore business opportunities.

A buyer who experienced the Crab2B app shared: “With Crab2B, we no longer have to search far and wide for reliable suppliers. The platform brings Hong Kong’s mobile phone wholesalers together in one place, giving us greater visibility into available products and sourcing opportunities. Whether I’m at my desk or on the move, I can find products and connect with suppliers whenever I need to. For businesses like ours that source across borders, that kind of access makes a real difference. It saves time, reduces transaction costs and helps us do business more efficiently.”

Crab2B CEO Luo Yaohong said, “We want to be pioneers in cross-border B2B trading for digital products, creating new opportunities for Hong Kong’s wholesale industry. As Hong Kong places greater emphasis on developing digital trade, we’re addressing a longstanding gap in the market with a dedicated digital platform that connects Hong Kong’s electronics suppliers directly with buyers around the world. Our ambition is to make cross-border trading easier, faster and more accessible, while helping Hong Kong businesses reach new markets.”

The platform’s trade show debut is also attracting attention from international merchants, with exhibitors expressing interest in joining Crab2B to expand their reach into overseas markets. Meanwhile, merchants already registered on the platform are looking forward to the launch of its planned online marketplace, which will create further opportunities for sustained collaboration and business growth.

Building on this debut, Crab2B will remain firmly rooted in Hong Kong while expanding its connections with businesses around the world. The company will continue to enhance its platform with smarter sourcing tools, more comprehensive trading capabilities and an increasingly connected network of suppliers and buyers. By making it easier to discover products, establish business relationships and conduct cross-border transactions, Crab2B aims to open new opportunities for merchants of all sizes and help shape the next chapter of Hong Kong’s digital trade industry.

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SOURCE Crab2B

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Canton Fair Buyers Alliance Launched as the 140th Edition Opens

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GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On October 15, the Canton Fair Buyers Alliance was officially launched at the Canton Fair Complex, marking a significant milestone as the fair celebrates the 70th anniversary of its founding.

More than 140 overseas buyers attended the launch ceremony, highlighting the fair’s enduring role as a bridge connecting global commerce with China’s export sector.

Speaking at the ceremony, Luís Vilariça, CEO of Joinco, Import & Export, Ltd., discussed his company’s long-standing relationship with the Canton Fair. Drawing on years of participation, he reflected on the growth opportunities created through cooperation with Chinese suppliers and highlighted the fair’s role in supporting international business development and global trade exchanges.

The ceremony also featured a joint declaration by alliance members. Representatives from five member companies read the statement in their respective native languages, underscoring the international character of the new organization. Additional members sent video congratulatory messages, joining the celebration and witnessing the official launch of the alliance.

The Canton Fair Buyers Alliance represents one of the fair’s key service innovations. Designed primarily for Fortune Global 500 companies, buyers from the world’s top 250 retailers and leading sourcing enterprises across a diverse range of markets, the alliance aims to offer members a platform for information sharing and resource coordination. The first cohort of alliance members includes 58 companies from 32 countries and regions across 5 continents. Through the alliance, members will gain access to a range of priority benefits spanning four major areas: services, events, resources and information.

 For more convenient attendance, please click here for pre-registration:

https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

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SOURCE Canton Fair

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Bioethanol from human hair – Indian start-up’s solution to rising prices of grains and sugar

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GUJARAT, India, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In what could be called the beginning of the 5G (fifth-generation) of bioethanol or non-cellulosic bioethanol or non-sugar-based biofuels, an Indian start-up, Techofest Global, based out of Gujarat, has developed its own, indigenous, and patented technology for the production of bioethanol from waste human hair. Such processes would significantly reduce the employment of sugars, grains, and agricultural residues, which form the classical first- and second-generation bioethanol feedstocks. As a result, the rising fuel-vs.-food/fodder debate is anticipated to reduce, and instead, ethanol produced from municipal/industrial waste, after trials, can supplement the current supply being used as blends with presently retailed fossil fuels (E20, E27, etc.). 

As stated by Dr. Ravi, the founder-CEO of Techofest Global, the strategic priority and the USP of the start-up is industrial symbiosis, which, typically, involves an ecosystem of up-cycling/valorising the effluents of an industry, thereby creating a value-chain for residues often lacking an end-of-life. With more than three decades of experience in designing customized nuclear fusion reactors for international programmes, such as ITER, JET/UKAEA and SST-1, Dr. Ravi, a seasoned mechanical engineer, spearheads the start-up’s patented technologies’ scale-up and commercialization.

Two biochemical engineers, Dr. Navnit – the former CTO, and Dr. Kabilan – the former CEO of Biomakerz, Chennai, are the brains behind the current technology/process portfolio of the joint-venture between Techofest Global and Biomakerz. They have been working on biorefineries’ process intensification for more than a decade. “Having foreseen the fuel-vs-fodder/food competition as early as the year 2015, we began developing techno-economically feasible and viable in-vitro metabolically-engineered bioprocesses for scaling-up ethanol production from municipal waste streams between 2019–2021”, says Navnit. After developing operational technologies for international biofuel organizations, serving process engineer roles with certain biorefineries-related OMC R&D’s of India, Dr. Navnit, presently works for a premier academic institution.

An on-going fermentation trial at the Techofest Global-Biomakerz JV’s R&D facility

Techofest Global has developed and tested, in its R&D JV’s pilot-facility of ~100-L, 3 innovative and cost-effective technologies, such as 5G ethanol production using human hair, used cooking oil (UCO), and enriched bio-methane production from disposed sanitary napkins.

“With massive CapEx and OpEx, 2G ethanol technology is facing a major commercialization bottleneck, owing to competition with food/livestock fodder, requirement of a cost-intensive pre-treatment procedure, and the requirement of cellulolytic cocktails, which have a poor recycle efficiency. The proprietary 5G SAFE process developed for the start-up circumvents the mentioned constraints, and instead, utilizes a single-stage saccharification followed by fermentation, and records over 85–90% biocatalyst recovery. Likewise, the proprietary SIM process for bio-methane production, exclusively developed for the start-up, is 2x faster with improved intermittent feeding cycles and continuous gas harvest”, says Navnit.

“With on-going pre-commercialization trials, the proprietary ethanol and bio-methane processes of ours are soon being commercialized”, says Ms. Bhumika, the co-founder and the corporate advisor of the start-up. Furthermore, Mr. Ronak pilots the organization’s global market entry and commercialization frontier.

Techofest Global’s veteran Principal Technology Advisors include: Dr VS Tripathi, former Joint Director, DRDE Gwalior, Dr B S Munjal, former Director, Structures and Thermal group, SAC/ISRO, Academician and Advisor CIKS-Dharohar, GTU, and Dr AV Santhanababu, former Scientist at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. With on-going R&D activities, Dr. Munjal says, “the start-up is striving to provide a unique solution along the lines of the Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat Vision 2047”.

Media Contact: www.techofestglobal.com; e-mail: info@techofestglobal.com; contact person: The PR team of Techofest Global.

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