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3M and US Conec Collaborate on Expanded Beam Optical Interconnect Technology for Data Centers

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Licensing agreement combines advanced optical innovations from 3M with US Conec’s expertise in high-density connectivity solutions for next-generation networks

ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — 3M and US Conec Ltd. today announced a strategic licensing agreement for 3M™ Expanded Beam Optical Interconnect technology, a solution to meet the performance and scalability needs of next-generation data centers and advanced network architectures. The collaboration combines advanced optical technology from 3M with US Conec’s expertise in high-density connectivity systems, expanded beam optics, and precision manufacturing to help deliver innovative solutions tailored to the evolving demands of modern networks.

3M Expanded Beam Optical Interconnect is a high-performance and scalable solution available in both single-mode and multimode configurations. Its non-contact optical coupling helps minimize wear and sensitivity to contamination, significantly helping reduce maintenance requirements and providing reliable performance in demanding environments.

“We’re excited to partner with US Conec to bring the benefits of 3M Expanded Beam Optical Interconnect technology to the market,” said Kevin Twomey, global portfolio director for 3M’s electronics materials solutions division. “By combining our advanced optical solutions with US Conec’s industry-leading connectivity expertise, we are providing customers with reliable, scalable technologies designed for the future of data infrastructure.”

Challenging the status quo of optical interconnect to meet hyperscale data center demands

The 3M Expanded Beam Optical Ferrule is optimized for hyperscale data centers and edge computing environments. Its durability, ability to maintain signal integrity, and ease of maintenance help contribute to reduced operational costs and potential downtime.

As part of this agreement, US Conec will manufacture and supply products utilizing 3M Expanded Beam Optical technology, helping to ensure a robust supply chain for future network deployments. This collaboration enables customers to address increasing data demands while maintaining cost efficiency and scalability.

“US Conec is thrilled to integrate the 3M Expanded Beam Optical technology into our portfolio,” said Mike Hughes VP, Product Management. “This collaboration supports our continued goal of delivering novel high-performance connectivity solutions that address the challenges of next-generation network deployments and meet the needs of our customers.”

For more information, visit Optical Interconnect | 3M™ Fiber Optic Technology and www.USConec.com.

About 3M
3M believes science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what’s possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we’re working to improve lives and make what’s next at 3M.com/news.

About US CONEC
US Conec is a global leader in the design and development of high-density optical interconnects. With over 30 years of innovative experience, the company provides industry leading components for data center and enterprise structured cabling, public networks, circuit board interconnect, and industrial and military markets worldwide. US Conec is headquartered in Hickory, North Carolina, and is an equity venture of three leading communications technology companies—Corning Optical Communications, Fujikura, and NTT-AT. For more information, please visit www.usconec.com.

Contact: Mike Laninga, mlaninga2@mmm.com

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SOURCE 3M Company

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KlariFi Acquires Future Balance, Expanding Accounting and Advisory Support for Canadian Businesses

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Toronto-based Future Balance joins KlariFi with a focus on client continuity, familiar relationships and access to a broader range of financial expertise.

ORILLIA, ON, Oct. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — KlariFi Bookkeeping & Tax (“KlariFi”) today announced its acquisition of Future Balance, a Toronto-based provider of cloud accounting and financial advisory services for small and mid-sized businesses across Canada.

“Business owners need dependable financial support and people they can turn to when decisions become more complex,” said Charles Sheppard, Founder and CEO of KlariFi.

For Future Balance clients, continuity is the immediate priority. Clients will continue working with familiar professionals during the transition, and no immediate action is required. Any updates to branding, systems or communication channels will be introduced gradually and communicated directly.

“Business owners need dependable financial support and people they can turn to when decisions become more complex,” said Charles Sheppard, Founder and CEO of KlariFi. “Future Balance has built valued client relationships through practical expertise and personal service. Our first priority is to maintain that continuity while bringing together a broader team that can support clients as their needs evolve.”

The acquisition brings together complementary expertise in bookkeeping, payroll, tax compliance, financial reporting, cash-flow forecasting, controllership and fractional CFO services. It also expands KlariFi’s presence in the Greater Toronto Area while strengthening its national team.

For businesses seeking support beyond day-to-day bookkeeping and compliance, the combined organization connects core financial services with guidance on cash flow, planning and business performance.

More information about the acquisition and what it means for clients is available in KlariFi’s Future Balance acquisition announcement.

A broader service offering built around business owners’ needs

The acquisition supports KlariFi’s longer-term direction across three complementary service pillars:

Accounting & Tax: Bookkeeping, payroll and tax compliance, supported by cloud-based processes, professional judgment and review.Advisory & Financial Intelligence: Financial reporting, cash-flow forecasting, controllership and fractional CFO support to help business owners understand performance, plan ahead and make informed decisions.AI Transformation & Managed Automation: A service offering under development to help businesses assess practical opportunities for AI, implement selected financial and administrative workflows, and receive ongoing support for those processes.

KlariFi’s plans for AI-enabled services place professional accountability, client confidentiality and appropriate human oversight at the centre of service development. The goal is to help businesses reduce repetitive administrative work while maintaining the judgment and controls their financial operations require.

As the two teams come together, KlariFi’s focus remains consistent: reliable financial work, clear communication and practical guidance, delivered through relationships that business owners can rely on.

About KlariFi Bookkeeping & Tax

KlariFi Bookkeeping & Tax supports small and mid-sized businesses across Canada with bookkeeping, payroll, tax and fractional CFO services. Through cloud-based technology, structured financial processes and proactive guidance, KlariFi helps business owners maintain accurate records, understand their finances and make decisions with confidence. KlariFi serves clients nationwide and maintains locations across Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

About Future Balance

Future Balance is a Toronto-based provider of cloud accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, tax compliance, controller and CFO services for small and mid-sized businesses. Its team works with entrepreneurs and growing companies across Canada, providing practical financial management through cloud-based systems.

Media Contact

Colin Wingrove, KlariFi Bookkeeping & Tax LTD., 1 1-888-287-8851 9621, colin.wingrove@klarifi.com, https://klarifi.com 

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SOURCE KlariFi Bookkeeping & Tax LTD.

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RoboParty Unveils RP1, a High-Performance Full-Stack Open-Source Humanoid Robot at IROS

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PITTSBURGH, Oct. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On September 28, 2026, RoboParty publicly unveiled RP1 (ROBOTO 01) at IROS 2026, marking the robot’s global debut. Building on RPO (ROBOTO ORIGIN), its fully open-source humanoid project launched in January 2026 with more than 2,500 GitHub stars, RoboParty positions RP1 as the world’s first high-performance full-stack open-source bipedal humanoid robot — designed for researchers, educators, robotics developers and embodied AI teams.

At the company’s IROS booth, the “Kick Me” interactive demonstration let visitors directly push and kick the robot. RP1 rapidly adjusted its posture and recovered its balance under these external disturbances, testing its dynamic stability, body performance and system-level robustness. These capabilities were supported by PartyOS, RoboParty’s open R&D foundation for humanoid robotics, which integrates UFO — a training framework that discovers humanoid motor skills through unsupervised reinforcement learning, covering skill transitions, disturbance recovery and fall recovery without relying on predefined motion trajectories.

RoboParty is integrating the robot body, actuator modules, low-level control and embodied AI algorithms into one system for continuous joint validation. RP1 delivers peak joint torque of up to 160 N•m, built on in-house-developed Romomo actuator modules and a real-time motion-control system.

For RoboParty, “full-stack open source” means more than releasing mechanical files. The company plans to progressively open its motion-control systems, simulation environments, SDKs, training tools and the PartyOS development foundation, so developers can participate from hardware and low-level control to model training and deployment.

“Humanoid robots should not be closed systems that only a small number of teams can build while everyone else can do little more than watch,” said Yi Huang, founder of RoboParty. “We want RP1 to become an open foundation that developers can access, modify, train and continuously improve.”

RP1 builds on RPO’s validated open-source robot body and workflow, Romomo actuator modules and the dexterous RP Hand, with PartyOS evolving across humanoid locomotion, perceptual interaction, whole-body manipulation and autonomous intelligent humanoids.

Core team members studied at Tsinghua University’s Yao Class, Peking University’s Zhi Class, Harbin Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, Zhejiang University and other leading institutions. RoboParty has built a global community of more than 5,000 developers, and will announce further details of RP1’s open-source roadmap in October 2026, with broader software and hardware releases and a mass-production program to follow later in Q4.

Media Contact: marketing@roboparty.com 

GitHub: https://github.com/Roboparty/roboto_origin

Website: https://roboparty.com/

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SOURCE RoboParty

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‘Global Civilization Dialogues’ Series Arrives in Xi’an with Orchid Awards Guests

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XI’AN, China, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — An international exchange event in the “Global Civilization Dialogues: Rendezvous with the Orchid” series recently took place in Xi’an. The initiative was held under the guidance of China International Communications Group (CICG) and the Publicity Department of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee, and organized by the Orchid Awards Secretariat, the China Center for International Communication Development (CCICD), and the Publicity Department of the Xi’an Municipal Party Committee.

The Orchid Awards is an international cultural prize founded by CICG to recognize foreign individuals and institutions dedicated to strengthening cultural ties between China and the rest of the world. Over 20 guests—among them final-round judges and participants in the Third Orchid Awards, along with social media creators from Cambodia, Germany, Brazil, and the UK—joined a four-day immersive tour of the ancient capital.

The delegation’s first stop was the Xi’an Museum, whose “Ancient Capital Xi’an” exhibit presents a rich trove of relics spanning the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties through the Ming and Qing—charting the history of a city that served as a capital under 13 dynasties. Guests lingered over the displays, absorbing the depth of Chinese civilization.

They then headed to the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and its Terracotta Warriors. Each figure bears a distinct face, and the craftsmanship is remarkable—a vivid portrayal of the Qin army and a valuable source of physical evidence for studying the era. The underground formation left a lasting impression on Chinese and international visitors alike.

After revisiting ancient history, the delegation proceeded to local tech firms to observe China’s manufacturing innovation up close. At LONGi, they learned about the company’s latest strides in solar and energy storage, including industrial applications of AI and solar-powered green hydrogen. They next toured the exhibition hall at BYD’s Xi’an R&D center, learning about the company’s history, global footprint, and core electric vehicle technologies—and seeing firsthand the advances in China’s electric vehicle industry.

During their stay, guests are also scheduled to participate in the “Orchid • Encounter the Millennium-Old Ancient Capital” International Cultural Salon and visit industrial and cultural sites including the Aiju Grain and Oil Industrial Group and the Chang’an Twelve Hours cultural district. These visits offer further opportunities to explore how Xi’an is preserving its heritage, supporting industrial innovation, and opening up to the world—and to use cultural exchange as a bridge for telling China’s story and Xi’an’s story, deepening mutual understanding between China and other nations.

Since the Orchid Awards was inaugurated, the series has traveled to Beijing, Guangzhou, Dunhuang, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Harbin. Through site visits and face-to-face discussions, the Xi’an stop gives international guests an immersive taste of China’s millennia-old cultural heritage—and a firsthand look at the country’s modern vitality. It provides a forum for deepening cultural exchange between China and the world.

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SOURCE ORCHID AWARDS SECRETARIAT

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