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Midea America Launches Industry-First STRAWash™ Dishwasher

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New innovation helps tackle one of the most persistent kitchen cleanup frustrations: hand-washing reusable straws, lids and tumblers. 

PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, N.J., Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Midea America announced the launch of the STRAWash™ Dishwasher with Total Tumbler Clean, an industry-first dishwasher designed to tackle a cleaning task many consumers have come to accept as part of daily life: hand-washing reusable drinkware components after the dishwasher cycle is already finished.

As reusable drinkware has become part of everyday routines, Midea’s Consumer Insights team spent time in homes observing how consumers cleaned, loaded and used their dishwashers. Across dozens of in-home visits, the team noticed a surprisingly consistent behavior: while dishwashers handled most of the cleanup, many consumers still removed reusable straws, lids and tumblers for additional soaking or hand-washing because they weren’t confident the dishwasher could fully clean them.

What consumers viewed as a small but unavoidable chore revealed an overlooked opportunity for innovation. Rather than asking consumers to adapt their routines, Midea challenged itself to redesign the dishwasher experience around the way people live today. The result was a multi-year development journey focused on solving a problem that had largely gone unnoticed by the category.

Following extensive testing and multiple design iterations, Midea is introducing STRAWash™, an industry-first straw-cleaning system featuring five dedicated precision jets engineered to deep clean reusable straws inside and out while delivering a complete cleaning solution for bottles, tumblers and lids.

“Ten years ago, oversized insulated tumblers weren’t a part of most people’s daily routines. Today, they’re everywhere,” said Justin Reinke, President of Midea America. “As that trend grew, we noticed consumers were still hand-washing straws, lids and other drinkware components because they didn’t fully trust their dishwasher to clean them. We saw an opportunity to rethink the experience and developed STRAWash™ with Total Tumbler Clean to help solve that frustration.”

This launch reflects Midea’s approach to innovation: identifying real-world consumer frustrations, no matter how small they may seem, and developing practical, often surprising solutions that make everyday life easier. STRAWash™ is the latest example of the company’s commitment to creating thoughtful innovations inspired by the way consumers live, rather than simply adding features for the sake of features.

Total Tumbler Clean: Designed for Modern Drinkware
At the heart of the dishwasher is STRAWash™, the industry’s first dedicated straw-cleaning system. A specialized basket securely positions reusable straws while five precision high-pressure jets clean both the inside and outside surfaces to help remove hard-to-reach residue.

As part of the broader Total Tumbler Clean system, the dishwasher also features dedicated cleaning zones for bottles, tumblers and lids, along with flexible rack configurations designed to accommodate reusable drinkware accessories without sacrificing everyday loading flexibility.

The dishwasher also includes Midea’s SENSOR TruDry™ system, which combines intelligent moisture sensing, convection drying and an Auto-Open Door feature to help reduce moisture and improve drying performance. For busy households, the appliance also offers both a 1-Hour Wash & Dry cycle and a 30-minute rapid-clean option.

Availability
The STRAWash™ Dishwasher with Total Tumbler Clean is available at Lowe’s and Best Buy. For more information, visit http://midea.com/ and follow @midea_us on Instagram for product updates and announcements.

About Midea America
Midea America is a U.S. subsidiary within Midea Group, a Fortune 500 company, known for making life easier for millions around the globe. As a leading innovator of home appliances, Midea is proud of its 166,000+ employees and presence in 200+ countries, including here in the U.S.

Midea’s lineup of products—from kitchen appliances to air conditioners, laundry, and floor care—surprises and delights consumers in just about every part of their homes. Headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., with an innovation hub in Kentucky, Midea America ensures your appliances don’t just work hard—they work smart.

Our goal? To reimagine home appliances so daily chores feel less like work and more like wins. We blend design, performance, and convenience into every product—whether it’s a freezer that adapts to your changing needs or a dishwasher that works quietly to make dishes sparkle. At Midea, we create products that fit seamlessly into your busy life, bringing practical innovations that are affordable and reliable. Because home appliances should have a simple job—to make your life easier.

Media Contact: Midea@mbooth.com 

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SOURCE Midea America Corp.

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Media Advisory: Minister Chartrand to celebrate mining milestone

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THOMPSON, MB, Oct. 15, 2026 /CNW/ — The Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, will celebrate an important mining project milestone. A media availability will follow.  

Date: Friday, October 16, 2026

Time: 1:40 p.m. CT

All accredited media are asked to pre-register by emailing Seeon.Smith@manitoba.ca. Details on how to participate will be provided upon registration.

Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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Monarch Metal Launches Build Your Custom Z Clip Configurator for Made-to-Order Aluminum Z Clips and Rails

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Monarch Metal’s new online configurator gives contractors, fabricators, installers, and purchasing teams a faster way to order aluminum Z Clips with the exact length and hole pattern their project requires.

RONKONKOMA, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Monarch Metal Inc., a leading manufacturer of architectural metal solutions for more than 30 years, announced the launch of Build Your Custom Z Clip, a new online configurator that lets customers create custom aluminum Z Clips and rails directly from the product page. Customers choose the profile, finished length, hole size, and spacing they need, review the configuration and pricing, and add it directly to their cart.

They configure it, see the price, and add it to the cart, and most custom orders ship within two days. – Brandon Bingham, CEO, Monarch Metal Inc.

Not every project fits a standard rail length or hole pattern. An installation might require a specific finished length, a different fastener size, tighter hole spacing, or a rail with no holes at all. Build Your Custom Z Clip puts those choices on the product page so customers can configure the rail they need without submitting a quote request or working through specifications by email.

The configurator is available on six Monarch aluminum Z Clip profiles: the MF625, MF375, and MF250, along with the high load capacity MFSTR-0375, MFSTR-050, and MFSTR-075.

Custom rails can be configured from 1.5 inches to 12 feet in 0.125-inch increments for the length of the rail or clip. Customers select one of the available hole diameters for the profile or choose No Holes, then set hole spacing in 0.5-inch increments, with the maximum spacing adjusting automatically to the rail length. The configurator determines how many holes fit the selected rail and centers the pattern so the lead-in at both ends is equal. A live Configuration Summary shows the finished length, hole size, hole count, spacing, lead-in, price per rail, quantity, and total price before the order is placed.

Custom does not always mean a custom part is needed. If a configuration exactly matches a Monarch stock rail that is currently available, the configurator displays a stock option notice with a direct way to select it instead. The comparison checks rail length, hole size, and hole spacing, so a configuration is only identified as stock when the specifications actually match.

“Every installation is different, and a standard rail length or hole pattern does not always fit the job,” said Brandon Bingham, CEO of Monarch Metal Inc. “Build Your Custom Z Clip gives our customers the exact rail their project calls for without the back and forth of a quote request. They configure it, see the price, and add it to the cart, and most custom orders ship within two days. With locations in New York, Texas, and Nevada, we are positioned to get custom rails to job sites across the country quickly.”

Build Your Custom Z Clip is designed for projects that call for something outside the standard options, including panel installations that require rails cut to exact layout dimensions, millwork and cabinetry where custom lengths reduce cutting in the shop or field, architectural applications with specific fastening requirements, and fabrication work where rails are ordered without holes for in-house drilling or machining. Regular stock options remain available on the same product pages.

The configurator is built for both desktop and mobile. On phones and tablets, the layout stacks into a single column and replaces sliders with large plus and minus controls for easier adjustment on a touchscreen. Custom and stock products can be added to the same cart, and the specifications for each custom rail stay with the item through checkout, order confirmation, and order emails.

For more information or to build a custom Z Clip, visit https://www.monarchmetal.com/products/monarch-z-clips/.

About Monarch Metal Inc.

For over 30 years, Monarch Metal Inc. has been a trusted manufacturer of high-quality architectural metal products, custom aluminum extrusions, and panel hanging systems, specializing in aluminum Z Clips, panel mounting systems, and interior wall and ceiling panel solutions. The company is known for precision-engineered components that support efficient installation, long-term durability, and clean, concealed finishes across commercial and architectural applications. Through continuous product innovation and a commitment to quality, Monarch Metal Inc. remains a leading resource for architects, designers, and contractors seeking reliable panel mounting and metal fabrication solutions.

Media Contact

Brian Oakes, Monarch Metal Inc., 1 6317503000, boakes@monarchmetal.com, https://www.monarchmetal.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/monarch-metal-launches-build-your-custom-z-clip-configurator-for-made-to-order-aluminum-z-clips-and-rails-302910097.html

SOURCE Monarch Metal Inc.

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Movin’ on Up: Olympus Announces Sale of MEI

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STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Olympus Partners is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to sell MEI Industrial Solutions (“MEI”) to 26North Partners LP. MEI is a scaled national provider of equipment execution services including rigging, machinery moving, industrial storage, millwrighting, custom crating and integrated logistics. The company serves blue-chip customers across data centers, semiconductors and other industrial end markets, with nearly 2,500 employees across the U.S.

Under Olympus’ ownership, MEI underwent a transformative expansion, growing its footprint from 16 to 30 operating locations and entering key new markets including Chicago, Miami, Providence and Richmond, while quadrupling its indoor storage capacity to over 10 million square feet and executing seven strategic acquisitions. To drive this growth, Olympus partnered with CEO Doug Dayton, who was hired during Olympus’ ownership period, to strengthen the commercial organization, establish a regional leadership structure backed by robust corporate infrastructure and maintain a rigorous commitment to an industry-leading safety program.

“Our investment in MEI was anchored in a strong business model and an exceptionally talented team,” said Sam Greenberg, Partner at Olympus. “By making targeted investments in both leadership and technology, the Company has integrated its geographic footprint into a unified national platform, delivering a level of service quality and consistency unprecedented in the industry. We are incredibly proud of what Doug and the team have built and look forward to following MEI’s next chapter of growth.”

“The MEI team executed exceptionally well, capturing substantial market share in high-growth end markets while rapidly launching new services to meet evolving customer needs,” added Dave Cardenas, Managing Partner at Olympus. “Crucially, they achieved this expansion while maintaining an industry-leading safety record. We couldn’t be prouder of our partnership with Doug and the entire company.”

“The growth MEI has experienced over the past three years is a testament to the extraordinary people across our organization and our strong partnership with Olympus,” said Doug Dayton, CEO of MEI. “They’ve supported us in making the investments necessary to become a true industry leader while staying grounded in the values that have always made MEI successful: safety, accountability, and delivering for our customers. I’m grateful for their confidence in our team and excited to build on this momentum with 26North as we enter our next chapter of growth.”

The Olympus team included Dave Cardenas, Sam Greenberg, George Swenson, Marty Durkin, and Tanaya Bhakat. Lazard served as financial advisor to MEI and Olympus, led by George Fisher and Bob Frost. Baird also served as a financial advisor.

ABOUT OLYMPUS PARTNERS

Olympus Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle market management buyouts and for growing companies. Olympus manages in excess of $12 billion mainly on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds and state-sponsored retirement programs. Founded in 1988, Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries including business services, food services, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services, industrial services and manufacturing.

ABOUT MEI INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS

MEI Industrial Solutions moves, stores and installs critical equipment for customers in the data center, semiconductor, EV and battery, aerospace and defense, life sciences and pharmaceutical, and industrial manufacturing markets. Its services include rigging, machinery moving and setting, storage and staging, crating and export packaging, and specialized logistics. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, MEI operates 30 locations across the United States. For more information, visit www.meiindustrialsolutions.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/movin-on-up-olympus-announces-sale-of-mei-302910400.html

SOURCE Olympus Partners

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