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Bullen Ultrasonics Named 2026 IndustryWeek Best Plants Award Winner

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Eaton, Ohio facility honored among four North American manufacturers for excellence in quality, advanced automation and employee-driven continuous improvement

EATON, Ohio, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bullen Ultrasonics, a leader in precision machining of advanced ceramics, glass and specialty materials using proprietary ultrasonic and laser-based technologies, today announced that its Miller Williams Facility in Eaton, Ohio, has been named a 2026 IndustryWeek Best Plants Award winner.

The honor recognizes Bullen’s Miller Williams Facility’s performance across quality, advanced manufacturing technology, operational improvement and employee engagement. Established in 1990, the IndustryWeek Best Plants Awards evaluate manufacturing facilities on areas including leadership, quality, employee involvement, technology, production systems and competitiveness through a multistage review process that includes detailed applications and site visits.

“Being named an IndustryWeek Best Plant is an extraordinary honor for our entire team,” said Tim Beatty, president of Bullen Ultrasonics. “This recognition reflects much more than any single technology, process improvement or performance metric. It reflects what happens when talented people are empowered to challenge assumptions, solve difficult problems and continually find better ways to serve our customers. Most importantly, it recognizes the culture and teamwork behind those results.”

Bullen’s Miller Williams Facility provides precision machining services for advanced ceramics and other hard, brittle materials used in semiconductor, MEMS, aerospace, defense and other demanding applications. The facility combines ultrasonic machining, proprietary MicroLucent™ laser processing, high-precision CNC grinding, automation and advanced data systems to produce complex features in materials that conventional machining methods often struggle to process, including silicon, glass, quartz, ceramics and sapphire.

Performance and operational achievements highlighted in Bullen’s Best Plants submission include:

The facility maintains final customer yield levels exceeding 98%, with first-pass yield performance regularly exceeding 97%.The team reduced production cycle times by approximately 14% in key areas through targeted continuous improvement and operational refinements.Bullen developed and deployed custom automated and robotic ultrasonic machining cells in-house to improve precision, repeatability, throughput and scalability.The facility also expanded real-time production-data infrastructure and RFID-based systems to improve process visibility, machine calibration, quality control, traceability and manufacturing decision-making.Bullen fosters an employee-driven continuous improvement culture, with approximately 120 continuous improvement suggestions submitted plantwide during the past year and frontline employees participating directly in developing, testing and implementing solutions.Employee engagement increased, with Bullen’s engagement score rising from 83% in January 2025 to 90.5% in the first quarter of 2026.

Bullen’s continuous improvement model places problem-solving responsibility throughout the organization. Frontline operators and technicians work directly with engineering and operations leaders to identify opportunities, test potential solutions, analyze process data and implement improvements. Recent employee-led improvements have included an operations team member collaborating with an engineer to solve abrasive buildup on a critical machine surface and a technician identifying a more efficient production method that, after evaluation, was adopted as a new standard work process. Bullen has complemented its people-driven approach to continuous improvement with investments in advanced manufacturing technology. These include custom automated and robotic ultrasonic machining cells designed and built internally for Bullen’s specialized processes. The company has also expanded its machine-level data infrastructure, giving production teams greater visibility into yield, equipment performance and process conditions.

Since 2023, Bullen has grown revenue by approximately 45% while continuing to invest in proprietary technology, automation, operational systems and workforce development. This revenue growth has increased the importance of scalable manufacturing systems that can maintain precision, quality and process control as production expands.

“Our goal has never been to improve one metric or automate one process,” Beatty added. “We are building an organization where technology, disciplined execution and the expertise of our people reinforce one another. The goal is to scale without compromising the precision, quality and responsiveness our customers depend on. This award validates the approach we have taken, but more importantly, it raises the standard for what we need to accomplish next.”

The Miller Williams Facility opened in 2006 and today serves as the center of Bullen’s advanced manufacturing operations in Eaton. Its capabilities have expanded as demand has grown for advanced materials machining and for increasingly complex components requiring high levels of precision, repeatability and reliability.

Bullen will receive its 2026 IndustryWeek Best Plants trophy on October 21 during the Operations Leadership Summit in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

To learn more about the 2026 IndustryWeek Best Plants Awards winners, visit IndustryWeek’s 2026 winners announcement.

About the IndustryWeek Best Plants Awards Competition:
Established in 1990, the IndustryWeek Best Plants Awards program annually recognizes plants, located in North America, that are on the leading edge of efforts to increase competitiveness, enhance customer satisfaction and create stimulating and rewarding work environments. Its further goal is to encourage other manufacturing managers and work teams to emulate the honorees by adopting world-class practices, technologies and improvement strategies. For additional information, visit www.industryweek.com.

About industryWeek:
IndustryWeek lives and breathes transformational manufacturing. Decision-makers and disruptors turn to IW for the news, trends, strategies and best practices that help companies leverage talent and technology to achieve revolutionary leadership practices, business models, production systems and products. Visit www.industryweek.com for more information.

About Bullen Ultrasonics
Bullen Ultrasonics is a global leader in the precision machining of advanced ceramics, glass and specialty materials using proprietary ultrasonic and laser-based technologies. Its non-thermal processes enable micron-level accuracy and reduce the risk of microcracks, contamination or structural damage, supporting the production of intricate features in components used across high-performance applications. Bullen’s vertically-integrated operations include in-house tool design and custom automation, which help streamline production from prototype through high-volume manufacturing. The company holds numerous certifications, including ISO 9001, AS9100 and ITAR, reflecting its alignment with quality and traceability standards in the aerospace, defense, automotive, medical and semiconductor and MEMs industries. Founded in 1971 and with more than 50 years of experience, Bullen is recognized for its engineering responsiveness and ability to deliver consistent results in regulated, high-stakes manufacturing environments. Learn more at https://www.bullentech.com.

Media contact:
Michael Tebo
Gabriel Marketing Group (for Bullen Ultrasonics)
Phone: 571-835-8775
Email: michaelt@gabrielmarketing.com

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SOURCE Bullen Ultrasonics

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NetAlly Launches the First-Ever 100G Network Tester Designed for Enterprise Networks

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All-new LinkRunner 100G – professional-grade performance and precision tool network engineers need to troubleshoot and upgrade critical 100G fiber links.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NetAlly today announced LinkRunner® 100G, a handheld tester built to validate and troubleshoot high-speed fiber links increasingly moving beyond data centers and into enterprise networks. With the press of a single button, LinkRunner 100G AutoTest tells a network technician whether a 100G link is healthy — and if it isn’t, exactly what’s wrong. At $8,999 plus an AllyCare Pro subscription, LinkRunner 100G delivers the professional-grade diagnostics network engineers expect from a 100G tester at a price built for enterprise IT.

“AI is driving a networking super-cycle, pushing higher-speed networks beyond the data center and into the enterprise,” said Jeff O’Mara, CEO of NetAlly. “Until today, the tools to support those networks were expensive and highly specialized for big telco providers. Enterprise IT is different. We built LinkRunner 100G to give enterprise network professionals the tool they need to deploy, fix, and upgrade these networks.”

As 25G, 40G, 50G, and 100G networks become more common in enterprise environments, IT teams are being asked to manage fiber networks that operate differently from the lower-speed connections they have traditionally supported. Troubleshooting networks running on twisted-pair copper up to 10G has been eased by rich automation specified by IEEE standards for auto-negotiation of speed, power, and polarity. None of this automation exists for 100G networks, resulting in brittle, hard-coded configurations. Vendors further complicate the space with proprietary, complex transceivers that modify encodings and bit rates to gain advantages in fiber efficiency and bandwidth.

LinkRunner 100G is designed specifically for these new challenges faced by network support teams, allowing technicians to run a full diagnostic at the push of a button, with no specialized fiber training required.

With LinkRunner 100G, network pros solve problems on 100G networks with simple, automated steps:

Catch configuration mismatches that can leave a Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable 28 (QSFP28) port down, even when nothing is actually broken. QSFP Insights identifies the transceiver, fiber type, speed, and Forward Error Correction (FEC) settings, helping uncover mismatches that can be difficult to spot through the switch alone.

Pinpoint the problem to make the fix, rather than guessing. NetAlly’s EZ Wired app validates the link speed, FEC, interfaces, network services, and application connectivity as well as transceiver operation. Since each parameter must be set by the user on the switches, knowing the exact set of parameters provides the network pro with the recipe for success.
 See where the traffic is actually getting stuck, rather than assuming the problem is the link being tested. Path Analysis traces the network path from the tester to its destination, hop by hop, revealing when a slowdown originates elsewhere, such as an overloaded switch several hops away.

Identify when a 100G link is trending in a bad direction and may be close to failing – before it does. Forward Error Correction (FEC), which enables higher-speed fiber connections by correcting damaged bits, can mask a degrading link while the network continues to operate. AutoTest catches failures before your users do and captures the information in Link-Live.

Verify that the network performs as specified and prove that you are getting the performance you paid for. Use Performance Test to validate newly deployed infrastructure, troubleshoot existing networks, and confirm expected throughput.

“Higher-speed fiber is quickly becoming part of the enterprise network, and IT teams need to be ready for it,” O’Mara said. “If you’re responsible for links above 10G, LinkRunner 100G belongs in your toolkit.”

LinkRunner 100G is handheld and battery-powered, so technicians can take it on any call, not just escalations. Results are translated into plain-language answers rather than error codes and can be uploaded to Link-Live, NetAlly’s collaboration and reporting platform, so a technician can share a full report instead of a screenshot.

Pricing and Availability

LinkRunner 100G is now available for $8,999, plus an AllyCare Pro subscription, through NetAlly’s network of authorized resellers. For full details, visit www.netally.com.

About NetAlly

Since introducing the industry’s first handheld network analyzer in 1993, NetAlly has helped network professionals deploy, manage, maintain, and secure today’s complex wired and wireless networks. Visit www.netally.com or contact 1-844-878-2559.

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SOURCE NetAlly

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DFI Introduces One Board, Two CPU Generations Mini-ITX Platform to Advance Physical AI for Robotics and Automation

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TAIPEI, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DFI, a Qisda Group company and a global leader in embedded motherboards and industrial computers, introduces the ARH171/ARH173, expanding its AI-ready portfolio with a Mini-ITX platform built for space-constrained, mission-critical deployments. Powered by Intel® technologies, the ARH171/ARH173 is purpose-built to handle demanding Physical AI workloads from perception to reasoning, enabling next-generation smart logistics and industrial automation.

As Physical AI transitions to operational deployment, intralogistics is driving rapid mobile automation adoption. Mordor Intelligence projects the autonomous mobile robot (AMR) market to expand at a CAGR of nearly 15% through 2029 to counter labor shortages, while advanced systems like 3D cube storage robots require on-device AI to navigate floors, climb racks, and process dense sensor streams in real time.

Flexibility starts at the board level. The ARH171/ARH173 adopts a unified “One Board, Two Generations” architecture, supporting 16 Intel® Core™ Ultra processor options across Meteor Lake-U/H and Arrow Lake-U/H (15–28W; Intel vPro® available on select SKUs). Delivering up to 99 total platform TOPS on Arrow Lake-H models, its integrated Intel® Arc™ GPU and dedicated NPU accelerate AI inference via OpenVINO™, DirectML, and ONNX RT. This lowers reliance on discrete graphics, reducing thermal and spatial overhead while enabling system integrators to scale across performance tiers using a unified platform architecture. The launch will further leverage DFI’s core strengths in embedded computing to support Qisda Group’s overall strategy across its four AI business categories: “AI Vision & Display,” “AI Infrastructure,” “AI Solutions & Smart Manufacturing,” and “AI Hospital & Wellness Ecosystem.”

“System integrators developing next-generation autonomous logistics robots need to shorten validation cycles and avoid recurring redesign costs,” said Claire Tien, President of DFI. “By supporting two processor generations on a unified board architecture, the ARH171/ARH173 simplifies long-term platform planning, delivers on-chip AI acceleration, and supports continuous operation through hardware-level remote management.”

Once deployed, reliable operation and reduced on-site maintenance become critical. Engineered for 24/7 robotic deployments, the ARH173 features a 12–28V wide-range DC input, up to three 2.5GbE LAN ports, and modular M.2 expansion for flexible sensor integration. To simplify field maintenance, the optional DFI EXT-OOB module enables out-of-band power cycling and OS recovery even if the primary system is unresponsive, while integrated Intel vPro® technology (on select SKUs) provides comprehensive remote hardware management.

From board to system to solution, the ARH171/ARH173 delivers a deployment-ready foundation that consolidates dual-generation scalability, native AI performance, and remote management into a single validation point, reducing engineering overhead and accelerating the transition from pilot to production.

About DFI

Founded in 1981, DFI is a global leading provider of high-performance computing technology across multiple embedded industries. With its innovative design and premium quality management system, DFI’s industrial-grade solutions enable customers to optimize their equipment and ensure high reliability, long-term life cycle, and 24/7 durability in a breadth of markets including Industrial Automation, Medical, Gaming, Transportation, Energy, Mission-Critical, and Intelligent Retail.

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SOURCE DFI

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BMO: Commission-Free Stock and ETF Trades with BMO InvestorLine

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BMO InvestorLine combines its lowest fees ever with access to advanced trading tools, professional research and market insights, empowering investors with a more accessible intelligent investing platform

Unlimited $0 commissions on all stock and ETF trades.Lower options trading costs, with $0 commissions and reduced per-contract fee of $0.90, down from $1.25.Elimination of all brokerage account administration fees.

TORONTO, Sept. 9, 2026 /CNW/ — BMO InvestorLine is making its digital investing experience even better, announcing today the introduction of unlimited commission-free trading on all stocks, ETFs and options, the elimination of all brokerage account administration fees and the reduction of options contract fees. As the first direct investing brokerage owned by one of Canada’s five largest banks to eliminate commissions on stock and ETF trades, BMO InvestorLine is making self-directed investing more accessible, giving Canadians access to a full-feature digital investing platform with professional research, intelligent tools, valuable insights and support to help them build their portfolios with confidence.

“BMO InvestorLine is setting a bold standard for digital investing in Canada by combining commission-free trading and no brokerage account administrative fees with the insights and advanced capabilities investors expect from a full-feature digital investing platform,” said Silvio Stroescu, President and CEO, BMO InvestorLine. “We’re eliminating barriers that can stand in the way of investing and paving the way for what comes next. BMO InvestorLine will continue to lead with new ideas, capabilities and experiences that give investors more of what they want and greater confidence in how they invest.”

Why it Matters

The announcement reflects BMO InvestorLine’s commitment to expanding access to digital investing for all Canadians. As more Canadians manage their financial lives digitally, BMO InvestorLine is lowering the cost of self-directed investing without compromising access to the tools, research and supports including AI-powered news and market summaries that investors can use to make informed investing decisions.

Whether clients are making their first investment, building long-term wealth or actively trading using sophisticated investment strategies, BMO InvestorLine delivers a comprehensive investing experience designed to help clients invest with confidence.

Tools for Active Traders

Today’s announcement builds on recent enhancements to the BMO InvestorLine platform that support both active traders and long-term investors through a suite of investing capabilities, including:

Multi-leg options tradingAdvanced options screenersStrategy-building toolsEnhanced educational resourcesReal-time market data and research

BMO InvestorLine also recently introduced ‘paper trading’ capabilities for BMO Active Trader clients that allow them to use a practice account to learn how the BMO Active Trader platform works, test new trading strategies and build trading skills without risking their money.

adviceDirect: A Simpler, Smarter Investing Experience

As part of BMO InvestorLine’s award-winning digital investing platform, adviceDirect combines online investing with personalized advice and dedicated advisor support, delivering a simpler, smarter investing experience. With adviceDirect, investors get all the features they enjoy along with a team of advisors to support them in reaching their goals, provide trade recommendations and offer continuous portfolio monitoring.

Together, these capabilities support investors across every stage of their journey, from those placing their first trade to experienced investors executing sophisticated options and trading strategies.

FAQ

When will BMO InvestorLine offer unlimited $0 commission stock and ETF trading?
BMO InvestorLine Self-Directed clients will benefit from $0 commissions on all stock and ETF trades and the elimination of all brokerage account administrative fees effective September 14, 2026.

Which BMO InvestorLine clients are eligible for unlimited $0 commission stock and ETF trading?
The $0 commission pricing for all stock and ETF trades and elimination of all brokerage account administrative fees apply for all BMO InvestorLine Self-Directed clients.

Are options trades included in unlimited $0 commission trading?
Yes, options trades will also have $0 commissions. In addition, the per-contract fee for options trades has been reduced to $0.90 from $1.25, and there will be no assignment fees or exercise fees for option contracts.

Do existing clients need to take any action to receive the new pricing?
No. BMO InvestorLine Self-Directed clients will automatically receive the new pricing effective September 14, 2026. No action is required.

Do adviceDirect clients also qualify for unlimited $0 commissions on stock and ETF trading?
An advisory fee based on the value of the billable assets in an account is paid by adviceDirect clients. Commissions are not applicable and options are not eligible for adviceDirect accounts.

Where can clients find the new pricing information?
For complete details on pricing and fees for BMO InvestorLine Self-Directed and adviceDirect accounts, please visit:

BMO InvestorLine Self-Directed – Commission & Fee Schedule BMO InvestorLine adviceDirect – Commission & Fee Schedule 

About BMO Financial Group 

BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.5 trillion as of July 31, 2026. Serving clients for more than 200 years, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services across Canada, the United States, and select markets globally. BMO is innovating for business value, by deploying and integrating human, digital and artificial intelligence to personalize client experiences, augment teams, and automate its business responsibly. Driven by its purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and stronger communities.

Disclaimers

Account fees, foreign exchange fees and other fees and charges continue to apply, and may apply to your transaction, account or service. Please see the Commission & Fee Schedule applicable to your account, available at the links above.

Options are not suitable for all investors. Investing in options carries substantial risk and tax consequences. Investors may realize losses on any investments made utilizing leverage. Future returns are not guaranteed, and use of leverage may magnify trading losses.

BMO InvestorLine Inc. is a member of BMO Financial Group. “BMO (M-bar rounded symbol)” is a registered trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence. Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund and Member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization.

adviceDirect is a product of BMO InvestorLine Inc. An adviceDirect account is a non-discretionary fee-based account which offers investment recommendations. adviceDirect does not provide portfolio management by a portfolio manager. The client makes their own investment decisions and manages their own investment portfolio. adviceDirect does not offer discretionary, managed accounts.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group

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