Technology

Dr Rob Lamb to Present ‘Refrigeration Choices Beyond the CO2 Hype’ at IRN 2026

Published

3 months ago

May 15, 2026

GLASGOW, Scotland, May 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Innovation is often driven by pressure. In refrigeration, that pressure has come from environmental regulation, rising energy costs and the industry-wide transition away from high-GWP refrigerants.

At the 3rd Industrial Refrigeration Network Conference 2026, which will be held on 10–11 June 2026, at the SCHAUFLER Academy in Rottenburg-Ergenzingen, Germany, Dr Robert Lamb, Group Sales & Marketing Director at Star Refrigeration, will revisit the debate around natural refrigerants in a technical session titled “Beyond the Hype: Safe, Sustainable Cooling Systems that Stand the Test of Time.”

Building on his presentation at Cold Chain Live 2025, Dr Lamb will introduce updated modelling and operational data comparing ammonia and CO₂ systems across cold storage and freezing applications, with particular focus on lifecycle cost, energy performance and system resilience.

Both refrigerants have long histories in industrial refrigeration and are now central to the sector’s decarbonisation strategy. Ammonia offers high efficiency and long system life in large-scale applications, while CO₂ provides compact, non-flammable solutions that can be financially attractive at smaller capacities and low-temperature duties.

However, as electricity prices for non-domestic users have risen by more than 270% since 2015, energy performance has become increasingly significant in plant selection. Using a 35,000m³ cold store model operating at -22°C and a 35°C design ambient, Dr Lamb’s analysis indicates annual energy consumption of approximately 910,000kWh for a low-charge ammonia system compared to around 1.25 million kWh for a transcritical CO₂ system under identical conditions.

At an electricity price of 25p per kWh, that equates to an annual operating cost difference of approximately £86,000. Over time, the divergence materially affects total cost of ownership, with modelling showing that even where a CO₂ system carries a lower initial capital cost, lifecycle performance can shift the financial balance within a number of years depending on energy pricing.

Dr Lamb said “The discussion should not be framed as ammonia versus CO₂. Both technologies have a place. The question is how decision makers balance capital cost, operating efficiency, compliance and long-term resilience in their specific application.”

The session will also explore how packaged low-charge ammonia systems are addressing historic concerns around complexity and safety by significantly reducing refrigerant charge and simplifying installation.

The Industrial Refrigeration Network Conference, hosted by BITZER at its SCHAUFLER Academy in Germany, brings together manufacturers, contractors and end users from across the sector. Star Refrigeration’s participation reflects its continued commitment to evidence-led engineering, long-term system resilience and informed technical debate within the industry.

To find out more about the IRN Conference and to register, visit: https://trainings-events.bitzer.de/microsite/index.cfm?l=2680&modus=

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SOURCE Star Refrigeration

Technology

LeanDNA Launches Demand Scenario Modeling in APEX, Replacing Spreadsheet Guesswork With Real-Time Production Feasibility

Published

37 minutes ago

August 25, 2026

New capability lets production planners test demand changes against live supply and BOM data in minutes, without exporting ERP data or risking live system records.

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LeanDNA, a leading intelligent supply chain execution platform, today announced the general availability of Demand Scenario Modeling (DSM), a new capability within its APEX platform that lets production planners, buyers, and supply chain managers instantly test demand changes against real supply and Bill of Materials (BOM) data, without spreadsheets or system risk.

When forecasts shift, most production planners still turn to spreadsheets to find out whether production can support it: exporting ERP data, flattening multi-level BOMs, and reconciling supply just to answer one question — can we build this? The process is slow, error-prone, and disconnected from real-time system data, and it often produces false shortages that obscure the actual constraints.

Demand Scenario Modeling replaces that manual exercise with what-if analysis built directly into APEX. Production planners can model a demand change and immediately see which components truly constrain production, how many units can realistically be built, and where shortage risk increases, turning a process that has historically taken hours into a workflow measured in minutes.

Because DSM runs in a sandbox environment connected to live ERP and BOM data, planners can test and compare multiple scenarios, adjust quantities and dates, and recalculate instantly, without posting temporary plans or manipulating live records to get an answer. That combination of speed and system safety is central to how LeanDNA has built the capability.

“Production planners shouldn’t have to choose between speed and safety when they’re testing a demand change,” said Andy Ellenthal, CEO of LeanDNA. “Demand Scenario Modeling gives them both: an answer in minutes, grounded in the same supply and BOM data running their factory, without ever touching a live ERP record. It replaces guesswork with a repeatable way to say yes, no, or not yet with confidence.”

Demand Scenario Modeling is available now to APEX customers and is purpose-built for the tactical-to-mid-horizon planning window — roughly one to twelve months out — where production teams most often need to turn a demand question into a production commitment.

About LeanDNA

LeanDNA powers the world’s discrete manufacturing with a single source of truth for factory-first supply planning, materials management, and inventory optimization. APEX, the AI-powered expert execution platform from LeanDNA, transforms data into optimized decisions and action. LeanDNA empowers manufacturers in aerospace, HVAC,industrials, automotive, and medical to improve on-time delivery and working capital levels. Leading manufacturers including Caterpillar, Daikin Applied, Safran, and Siemens use APEX for supply chain orchestration to gain visibility into current and incoming materials, take action based on inventory criticality, collaborate in real time with suppliers, and track progress toward inventory optimization goals. Learn more at LeanDNA.com.

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SOURCE LeanDNA Inc

Technology

OppFi to Participate in September 2026 Conferences

Published

37 minutes ago

August 25, 2026

CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI) (“OppFi” or the “Company”), a leading tech-enabled digital finance platform that works with banks to provide financial products and services for everyday Americans, today announced that management will participate in the following conferences in September 2026:

Oppenheimer Fintech Leaders Conference
Location: New York
Date: September 15, 2026

U.S. Bancorp | BTIG Consumer Finance Conference 2026
Location: Boston
Date: September 17, 2026

To schedule a meeting with OppFi, please reach out to your Oppenheimer or BTIG representatives.

About OppFi
OppFi (NYSE: OPFI) is a leading tech-enabled digital finance platform that works with banks to provide financial products and services for everyday Americans. Through a transparent and responsible platform, which includes financial inclusion and excellent customer experience, the Company supports consumers who are turned away by mainstream options to build better financial health. OppLoans by OppFi maintains a 4.4/5.0 star rating on Trustpilot with more than 5,400 reviews, making the Company one of the top consumer-rated financial platforms online. OppFi also holds a 35% equity interest in Bitty Holdings, LLC (“Bitty”), a credit access company that offers revenue-based financing and other working capital solutions to small businesses. For more information, please visit oppfi.com.

Investors:

investors@oppfi.com

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SOURCE OppFi

Technology

Zillow Group to present at Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference

Published

37 minutes ago

August 25, 2026

SEATTLE, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG), which is transforming the way people buy, sell, rent and finance homes, today announced Zillow Group will present at this year’s Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference in San Francisco.

Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Hofmann will participate in a fireside chat on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 10:50 a.m. PT / 1:50 p.m. ET.

Register and access the live webcast here. Live and recorded versions of the webcast will also be available under the Events & Presentations section on Zillow Group’s Investor Relations website.

About Zillow Group:

Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people.

As the most visited real estate app and website in the United States, Zillow connects hundreds of millions of consumers with innovative technology, trusted agents and loan officers, and seamless digital solutions. With industry-leading tools and resources, Zillow supercharges real estate professionals so they can grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client experiences. For renters and housing providers, Zillow offers not only a robust marketplace but a set of end-to-end products and services to streamline applications, leases, payments and more.

Zillow’s ecosystem spans the entire home journey — from dreaming and shopping to renting, buying, selling and financing.

Zillow Group’s affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans®, Zillow Rentals®, Zillow® New Construction, Trulia®, StreetEasy®, Out East®, HotPads®, Follow Up Boss®, ShowingTime®, dotloop® and Zillow® Closing.

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2026 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

(ZFIN)

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SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc.