Supply Chain

Berlin – September 16, 2026 -- Midea has sold more than 10 million air conditioners using R290 natural refrigerant since 2018, cutting an estimated 5.2 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions, the company said at IFA 2026, an impact it compares to the carbon absorption of 6.2 million hectares of Amazon rainforest.

Midea marks 16 years as top global manufacturer of R290 air conditioners

The company has led global production of air conditioners using R290 refrigerant for 16 consecutive years, driving compressor safety and performance advances tied to the gas. R290 carries an extremely low global warming potential, near-zero CO2 emissions, no PFAS content, and delivers roughly 10% higher energy efficiency than conventional refrigerants, according to Midea. A transparent unit on the IFA stand let visitors view the refrigerant system operating in real time.

Alexandria, Va. – September 16, 2026 -- Woodpack Global has launched Crate Design SystemTM (CDS), a new software tool aimed at replacing decades-old methods still used across the wooden crate and industrial wood packaging industry.

Crate design tools have lagged behind industry needs since the 1960s

Much of the foundational research underpinning wooden crate design dates back more than six decades, forcing engineers and manufacturers to rely on outdated calculation methods not built for modern crate applications. CDS is positioned as the first purpose-built software option for this segment, adapting fastener behavior, wood property, and structural performance models from Woodpack Global's existing Pallet Design SystemTM (PDS).

Washington – September 16, 2026 -- Rural counties hosting AI data centers could pay every household between $4,500 and $8,900 a year without raising taxes or imposing new costs on developers, according to a report published by the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI).

Local Opposition Now Outpaces Energy Supply as the Top Barrier to Data Center Construction

The number of local data center moratoria enacted across the U.S. rose from six in 2024 to 294 in 2026, the report states. A March Gallup poll found 71% of Americans would oppose an AI data center in their area, compared with 53% who would oppose a nuclear power plant nearby.

Moriarty, New Mexico – September 16, 2026 -- Sceye's ST1 high-altitude platform has completed a nearly 30,000-km round-trip mission between New Mexico and Japan, landing back near the company's Moriarty headquarters after re-entering continental U.S. airspace on September 16, 2026. The uncrewed stratospheric aircraft reached New Mexico airspace on September 16, 2026, where engineers ran final platform tests before executing a planned flight-termination and descent procedure.

Pittsburgh – September 16, 2026 -- MSA Safety has launched the A1X, a next-generation WinGrip vacuum anchor that weighs 7 kg, 35% lighter than its predecessor, and cuts the base diameter to 350 mm from 480 mm to speed up aircraft maintenance operations.

Redesigned pneumatic system doubles anchor repositioning per cylinder

The A1X uses rechargeable air or gas cylinders to generate suction force, creating a non-invasive anchor point on wing surfaces without damaging the aircraft. MSA redesigned the pneumatic system to double the number of anchor repositions available from a single cylinder, reducing the need for technicians to carry spare cylinders during time-sensitive line maintenance.

Birmingham, Ala. – September 15, 2026 -- SJE Inc. has appointed Andrew Baines as Senior Vice President of Sales & Commercial Operations for its Engineered Control Solutions (ECS) Division, tasking him with accelerating growth across water and wastewater, OEM, and industrial markets.

Baines takes charge of a multichannel commercial organization spanning direct sales, manufacturers' representatives, and channel partners

He will work with Operations, Engineering, Marketing, and Product teams to strengthen pipeline management and forecasting, advance strategic pricing and quoting practices, and improve quote-to-order velocity.

Miami – September 15, 2026 -- Sawgrass LNG & Power has begun supplying liquefied natural gas to Walker's Cay in the northern Bahamas, replacing diesel as the fuel source for the island's power generation.

Sawgrass extends near decade-long Bahamas LNG footprint to iconic sportfishing island

The deal expands Sawgrass' presence across The Bahamas, where the company has supplied LNG to resorts, utilities and industrial customers for more than eight years. Sawgrass produces LNG at its Miami liquefaction facility and delivers it via ISO containers, a model that avoids the capital costs of fixed pipeline or terminal infrastructure. The company describes itself as the largest exporter of U.S. LNG via ISO container.

Houston – September 15, 2026 -- Fiber broadband has added an estimated $1.6 billion in aggregate home value to single-family homes sold across Houston since 2020, according to an independent study commissioned by Ezee Fiber titled "Fueling Houston's Growth with Fiber."

Fiber coverage jumped from 75% to 94% of Harris County in three years

Access to fiber broadband providers in Harris County rose from 75% in 2022 to 94% by late 2025, reflecting sustained infrastructure investment across the region. Median download speeds nearly tripled over the same period, climbing from roughly 80 Mbps in December 2022 to more than 280 Mbps by December 2025, approaching the national average of 308.11 Mbps.

Hannover – September 15, 2026 -- Proxima Fusion and the German state of Lower Saxony have signed a memorandum of understanding to build Europe's first large-scale industrial production site for high-temperature superconductor (HTS) tape used in fusion reactors, with investments of roughly €140 million planned for the first two project phases through the end of 2029.

State and private capital split the €140 million bill

Proxima aims for a 50-50 split between private and public financing. Lower Saxony intends to contribute €21 million, covering nearly 30% of the planned public funding share.

United States – September 15, 2026 -- Paslode has launched a new Universal Heavy-Duty Stapling program at Lowe's, adding five manual fastening tools and a line of universal 20-gauge staples to its jobsite portfolio.

Five new tools target jobsite fastening tasks

The lineup includes three compression staplers -- the Heavy-Duty Pro Stapler, 5-in-1 Pro Stapler and 2-in-1 Pro Stapler -- alongside two hammer tackers, the Pro Hammer Tacker and Compact Hammer Tacker. The tools are built for fastening house wrap, roof paper, underlayment, insulation, carpet pad, upholstery, trim components and temporary jobsite materials.

New staples fit Paslode and competitor tools

The tools work with Paslode's new Heavy-Duty Universal 3/8-inch Crown Staples as well as most heavy-duty competitor staples. The 20-gauge, galvanized chisel-point fasteners come in 1/4-inch, 5/16-inch, 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch lengths across multiple pack configurations.