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Monport MEGAS Brings Advanced LightBurn Features to Desktop CO2 Laser Engraving

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New 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver brings LightBurn’s advanced feature set — autofocus, wireless connectivity and live camera placement — directly into the software, closing a gap most “LightBurn compatible” machines leave open.

SEATTLE, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As LightBurn continues to be the preferred software for makers, educators, and small manufacturing businesses, Monport is emphasizing the advanced workflow capabilities of its MEGAS 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver. The system enables users to perform autofocus, wireless connectivity, and live camera positioning directly inside LightBurn, creating a more streamlined production workflow than the basic compatibility offered by many desktop laser systems.

The integration allows users to complete nearly every production step directly inside LightBurn rather than switching between multiple software applications.

The announcement positions the MEGAS as a candidate for best CO2 laser engraver among software-focused buyers: makers, Etsy and Shopify sellers, and small production shops who run LightBurn daily and have grown frustrated switching between a manufacturer’s app and the software they actually use to build and send jobs. The feature announcement coincides with Monport’s Summer Sale, which drops the MEGAS to $2,799.99 for a limited time.

Why “LightBurn Compatible” Doesn’t Always Mean Full Support

LightBurn is the industry-standard control software for hobbyist and small-business laser systems, but compatibility varies widely between machines. Many desktop CO2 laser engravers can send basic cut and engrave jobs to LightBurn, yet require a separate manufacturer app for autofocus, camera alignment or wireless setup—breaking the workflow and adding extra steps every time a job changes materials or needs repositioning.

Industry buyers researching a 70W laser engraver often discover this gap only after purchase: a listing says “LightBurn compatible,” but autofocus still means picking up a manual gauge, and camera alignment means opening a second piece of software just to preview where a design will land.

Going Beyond Basic LightBurn Compatibility

Many competing desktop laser systems support basic LightBurn functions for cutting and engraving. Advanced features such as autofocus, wireless camera positioning and complete wireless workflow integration, however, are often limited, and may require proprietary software, or are unavailable inside LightBurn itself.

The Monport MEGAS was engineered to provide these advanced functions directly within LightBurn, helping users spend less time switching between applications and more time producing finished products— one of the reasons Monport designed the MEGAS specifically for LightBurn power users.

Autofocus Without Leaving LightBurn

On the MEGAS, autofocus is triggered and confirmed directly inside LightBurn, so operators can set material height and start a job without switching to a separate focusing tool or app. For a 70W laser engraver running frequent material changes—from thin acrylic sheet to thicker basswood board—that single-window workflow removes one of the more repetitive steps in a typical production day.

Wireless Connectivity Simplifies Shop Workflow

The wireless connection also enables operators to send jobs to the machine without repeatedly reconnecting USB cables, making the workflow especially useful in classrooms, shared makerspaces and production environments where multiple computers may access the laser.

The MEGAS connects to LightBurn over Wi-Fi, removing the tethered USB connection many desktop CO2 laser engravers still require. That means the machine can be positioned away from a workstation and run jobs sent wirelessly, a common request among small-shop and classroom users managing limited floor space or shared equipment.

Live Camera Placement Inside LightBurn

An onboard wireless camera streams a live view of the work surface into LightBurn, letting users position and align artwork on pre-printed or irregular material directly on screen instead of manually measuring and test-firing the laser.

From Design File to Finished Product

For many laser users, efficiency is measured by how quickly a design becomes a finished product. With the MEGAS, users can import artwork into LightBurn, position the design using the live wireless camera, activate autofocus with a single click, and begin engraving without leaving the software.

By keeping every major production step inside one interface, the workflow reduces setup time, minimizes alignment errors, and simplifies repeat production for businesses engraving dozens—or even hundreds—of personalized products each day on their desktop CO2 laser engraver.

Real-World Material Performance

To demonstrate production versatility, during internal testing, Monport evaluated the MEGAS across several materials commonly used by Etsy sellers, gift businesses and production workshops:

Plywood — crisp engraved wooden signs with clean edgesAcrylic — polished awards and plaques with sharp detailLeather — high-contrast wallet engraving with minimal scorching

The testing demonstrates that a single desktop CO2 laser engraver can handle multiple product categories without requiring significant workflow changes.

Better ROI for Small Businesses

Monport also compared estimated material costs with typical retail pricing across four popular product categories:

Engraved plywood sign: Approximately $35 retail price with about $5 in material costs.Engraved acrylic award: Approximately $45 retail price with about $8 in material costs.Engraved leather wallet: Approximately $55 retail price with about $12 in material costs.

Based on estimated material costs alone, these products show potential material-cost margins of approximately 75% to 85%, before accounting for labor, packaging, shipping, platform fees and other operating expenses. Monport says the combination of higher-margin products, intelligent batch engraving, and a streamlined LightBurn workflow can help small businesses, Etsy sellers, and Shopify merchants recover their investment more quickly as production scales.

Built for Professional LightBurn Users

While M-Design Hub, Monport’s free Windows and macOS software, offers AI-powered image processing, one-click material settings and intelligent batch engraving, Monport says the MEGAS was equally designed for experienced LightBurn users who prefer complete control over every project.

Supporting both software environments gives creators the flexibility to choose an automated workflow for everyday production or LightBurn’s advanced tools for more complex engraving jobs—a combination Monport believes makes the case for the MEGAS as a best CO2 laser engraver choice regardless of skill level.

“LightBurn has become the workflow that thousands of makers and small businesses rely on every day,” said Monport CEO.

“Our goal with the MEGAS was to eliminate unnecessary software switching by bringing advanced features like autofocus, wireless connectivity and live camera positioning directly into LightBurn. That lets users focus on production instead of setup.”

Explore Advanced LightBurn Features on the MEGAS

Monport is positioning the MEGAS as an entry point for LightBurn users who want to explore the software’s advanced feature set without adding a second app to their workflow. Full setup guides and LightBurn configuration walkthroughs for the MEGAS are available on Monport’s website.

Summer Sale Pricing

As part of Monport’s Summer Sale this July, the MEGAS desktop CO2 laser engraver is available at a special offer price of $2,799.99—the limited-time promotional price on the machine to date. The discount is applied automatically at checkout; no promo code is required. The offer runs for a limited time or while supplies last and includes two complimentary laser marking spray bottles, used to prepare bare metal surfaces such as stainless steel for laser marking.

Availability

The Monport MEGAS 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver is available through Monport’s official website.

About Monport

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Seattle, Monport designs desktop and industrial CO2 and fiber laser engraving and cutting machines for makers, small businesses and workshops, backed by U.S.-based technical support.

Media Contact:

Monport Laser
Email: official@monportlaser.com
Website: https://monportlaser.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/monport-megas-brings-advanced-lightburn-features-to-desktop-co2-laser-engraving-302835013.html

SOURCE Monport

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Club Offers for Travel Enthusiasts in Canada

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TORONTO, Oct 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Travelzoo® (NASDAQ: TZOO), the club for travel enthusiasts, announces three of many new Club Offers for Club Members in Canada.

Rigorously vetted and negotiated for us travel enthusiasts:

$799—COSTA RICA WEEK WITH FLIGHTS & CAR
We think fall is an ideal time to visit Costa Rica; the scenery is lush and the crowds are gone. Drive between volcanic Arenal and the idyllic beaches of Tamarindo on this seven-night trip. Since it’s not as busy, we were able to negotiate a price that saves members up to $648 on departures through mid-December.

$899—BARCELONA: 5 NIGHTS WITH FLIGHTS
Explore Barcelona’s world-class museums and architectural masterpieces in the quieter winter months to pack more into your trip. You won’t waste hours in lines and can access top restaurants that are fully booked in summer. We save $300 on travel this January and February, when temperatures are still spring-like. Roundtrip flights from Toronto, hotel and daily breakfast are included.

$999—ST. KITTS GETAWAY FOR 2, REG. $2083
Most visitors to St. Kitts book months in advance, but when we pointed out that travel enthusiasts are more spontaneous, this resort gave us a terrific rate for stays this November and December. Spend four nights in Frigate Bay and get an upgraded Oceanview room, too.

Are you a travel enthusiast? Join the club today: https://travelzoo.com

Who are we?
We, Travelzoo®, are the club for travel enthusiasts. We reach 30 million travellers. Club Members receive Club Offers negotiated and rigorously vetted by our deal experts around the globe. Our relationships with thousands of top travel companies give us access to irresistible deals. Our club and its benefits are built around the lifestyle of a modern travel enthusiast.

Media Contact: 
Amanda Ieraci – Toronto
+1 437 866 8540
aieraci@travelzoo.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/club-offers-for-travel-enthusiasts-in-canada-302918543.html

SOURCE Travelzoo

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Howard Hughes Holdings Set to Join S&P SmallCap 600

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HHH) will replace Arcosa Inc. (NYSE: ACA) in the S&P SmallCap 600 effective prior to the opening of trading on Wednesday, October 28. S&P 500 constituent CRH plc (NYSE: CRH) has acquired Arcosa in a deal that closed today, October 23.

Following is a summary of the changes that will take place prior to the open of trading on the effective date:

Effective Date

Index Name  

Action

Company Name

Ticker

GICS Sector

October 28, 2026

S&P SmallCap 600

Addition

Howard Hughes Holdings

HHH

Real Estate

October 28, 2026

S&P SmallCap 600

Deletion

Arcosa

ACA

Industrials

ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES

S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets.

S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

S&P Dow Jones Indices
index_services@spglobal.com

Media Inquiries
spdji.comms@spglobal.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/howard-hughes-holdings-set-to-join-sp-smallcap-600-302918511.html

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices

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Chelsea FC announces multi-year sleeve partnership with Sokin, the business payments and FX platform

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Chelsea FC name fast-growing fintech platform as Principal Partner

LONDON, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chelsea Football Club has today announced a multi-year partnership with Sokin, the embedded finance and payments company used by businesses worldwide. Sokin will be named a Principal Partner and Official Business Payments and FX Partner of Chelsea FC and Chelsea FC Women.

As a Principal Partner, Sokin will be represented on the sleeves of the Chelsea FC men’s, women’s and academy home, away, and third kits from the 2026/27 season.

The partnership brings together two ambitious London-headquartered organisations with worldwide reach – a club with millions of fans across the world and a fintech platform through which businesses move more than $11 billion a year. A club of Chelsea’s scale works in many currencies every day, with partners, competitions and supporters around the world, and needs a financial partner built to handle that.

Sokin gives finance teams business payments, multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange, checkout and treasury in one place, so they spend less time juggling banks and providers and keep more of what they move.

As Official Business Payments and FX Partner, Sokin will simplify how Chelsea FC sends, receives and manages money in the currencies the club operates in.

The Sokin logo will feature on the sleeve of the Chelsea shirt for the first time [when the men’s team host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 24th October.]

Jason Gannon, President at Chelsea FC said:

“At Chelsea, we seek to partner with organisations that share our ambition and innovative mindset. Sokin’s expertise in business payments, and their focus on making both simpler for the businesses they serve, makes them a natural fit for the Club. We are pleased to welcome Sokin to the Chelsea family and look forward to working together in the years ahead.”

Vroon Modgill, CEO and founder at Sokin said:

“Chelsea plays on the biggest stage in world football, and its business runs in dozens of currencies. Sokin was built for that with regulated, multi-currency payments and foreign exchange for organisations that operate internationally. We’re proud to be the platform behind the business payments and FX of one of the most iconic teams in football. Sokin’s platform serves businesses in more than 170 countries. We’re thrilled to be partners for the season ahead. An organisation as sophisticated as Chelsea doesn’t leave its finances to chance.”

About Sokin

Sokin is the financial layer global business runs on. Businesses can transact, convert and hold money in 70+ currencies across 170+ countries. Some businesses use Sokin to manage global finance in-house. Others build it into their products to power financial experiences for their customers. Businesses move more than $9 billion a year on licenses Sokin holds in 36+ countries and infrastructure Sokin owns. Founded in 2019, Sokin has raised over $100 million from investors including Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital and Prysm Capital.

About Chelsea Football Club

Chelsea Football Club is one of the biggest, most successful football clubs globally and our men’s team are reigning world champions, having won the four-yearly FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. Our women’s team, Chelsea Women, are also multiple trophy winners.

Founded in 1905, Chelsea is London’s most central football club, based at the iconic 40,000-capacity Stamford Bridge stadium. Nicknamed the Blues, the club lifted the Champions League for the first time in 2012 and domestically has won the Premier League five times, the FA Cup eight times, the Football League Cup five times and the Football League Championship once, in 1955.

The Chelsea Women’s team have enjoyed a huge amount of success and in 2025 won the FA Women’s Super League for a sixth consecutive year and the eighth time overall. The Women’s FA Cup has been won on six occasions. We have also captured the FA Women’s League Cup four times as well as reaching the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2021. In two seasons, 2020/21 and 2024/25, a domestic treble of trophies was secured.

The Chelsea Foundation boasts one of the most extensive community initiatives in sport, helping to improve the lives of children and young people all over the world.

Media Contacts:

Taina Biggs
taina.biggs@sokin.com 

Nerissa Chesterfield
nerissa.chesterfield@chelseafc.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/chelsea-fc-announces-multi-year-sleeve-partnership-with-sokin-the-business-payments-and-fx-platform-302918466.html

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