PUCHONG, SELANGOR MALAYSIA, Nov 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) –Masteron, celebrated for its rich heritage since 1981 and renowned for projects like Verando Residence @ PJ South Sentral and the ‘Koi’ series in Puchong, proudly unveils its latest innovative venture — Astra @ Aurora Residence, Puchong. This groundbreaking project, tailored for today’s discerning first-time homebuyers, inaugurates a new chapter in sustainable, strategic lakeside living. Located in a mature suburban neighbourhood, Astra @ Aurora Residence skilfully combines the tranquillity of lakeside serenity with urban convenience, offering spacious, high-specification homes that elevate the concept of affordable luxury.
Mr. Choy Kin Mann, Director of Masteron
As a 155-acre integrated township and one of the final master developments in Puchong, Astra @ Aurora Residence emphasises a distinctive lakeside living experience. Its strategic location near Puchong Prima LRT guarantees outstanding connectivity to key city locations. Incorporating the S.P.A.C.E concept — Sustainability, Park, Attraction, Commercial, and Education — the development transcends traditional living, offering a lifestyle rich in wellness and environmental harmony. In partnership with Federal International Holdings Berhad, this project melds luxury with functionality, showcasing nature-inspired design elements and first-class amenities. Masteron’s signature in crafting transformative living experiences is evident throughout Astra @ Aurora Residence, manifesting in both its meticulous design and comprehensive amenities, all attuned to the aspirations of contemporary families and individuals.
The initial half of 2023 presented a mixed landscape of challenges and opportunities, reflective of the marketplace’s inherent cyclical nature, which Masteron navigates with its forward-thinking philosophy. Despite initial buyer hesitations amidst rising prices and a subdued economic climate, the latter part of the year and the prospect for 2024 are showing encouraging signs of recovery. This positive shift is significantly supported by Bank Negara Malaysia’s decision to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 3%, a strategic move aligned with current inflation and growth prospects. This stability is advantageous news for homebuyers, signifying an optimal time for real estate investments, particularly in projects like Astra @ Aurora Residence. It marks a promising environment for property acquisition into 2024, harmonising with Masteron’s mission of creating liveable and sustainable futures.
Mr. Choy Kin Mann, Director of Masteron, offers his perspective: “As we embark on this journey with Astra @ Aurora Residence, we’re not merely offering homes; we’re inviting you to be a part of a living, breathing community. A community that stands as a beacon of sustainable, thoughtful development, a community that promises not just connectivity and balance, but a thriving, spirited way of life. Astra @ Aurora Residence breaks new ground, providing expansive, well-appointed homes at accessible prices. Set in the tranquil Lakeside City, a well-established suburban neighbourhood, our project offers a blend of community spirit and natural beauty, standing out from the typical industrial-area developments. This strategic location choice, combined with our dedication to quality living, underscores Masteron’s commitment to enhancing lives and fostering sustainable communities.”
More than just a serviced apartment, Astra @ Aurora Residence is a carefully planned community within the expansive 155-acre Lake Side City. Upon completion, it is set to accommodate around 6,000 households, or approximately 20,000 residents. As an innovative and insightful community builder, Masteron ensures the development’s prime location near Puchong Prima LRT offers unmatched connectivity to major LRT and BRT lines. This approach to development not only enhances the residents’ quality of life but also offers easy access to highways, shopping centres, top-tier educational institutions, medical facilities, and essential government services.
At the core of Astra @ Aurora Residence is Masteron’s unwavering dedication to first-time homebuyers. Infused with the S.P.A.C.E concept, the development is a testament to Masteron’s brand pillars of providing a future-focused and health-centric living environment. It is not just a response to the current market demand for affordable, quality housing but a redefinition of it, offering a holistic living experience that caters to the evolving needs and desires of modern families and individuals.
BANGI, Malaysia, Nov 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Technology leader in providing fully customised, intelligent manufacturing automation solutions, GENETEC TECHNOLOGY BERHAD recorded another strong quarter for their second quarter financial year 2024 (Q2FY2024). The Company registered a total revenue of RM72.4 million, up by 2.4% year-on-year (YoY), driven by increased orders in the electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage segment, demonstrating continued business resilience and growth momentum. Genetec’s profit before tax (“PBT”) and profit after tax (PAT) stood at RM18.7 million and RM17.4 million respectively for the quarter under review.
The Company delivered a high gross profit margin of 32.0% but noted a 12.4% decrease compared to the corresponding quarter of the preceding year (Q2 FY2023). Genetec’s margins remained steady, in the high double digits, demonstrating the Company’s continued cost discipline, rigorous management with regards to their project and time management, supply chains and delivery.
The EV and energy storage segments continues to be the significant contributor to the Company’s revenue performance, emphasising the success and impact of their offerings in these segments and strong customer support. Moving forward, the Company remains committed to capitalising this strength while actively seeking growth opportunities across other segments. At the end of the quarter, Genetec’s earnings per share (“EPS”) stood at 2.41 sen (fully diluted) compared to 2.30 sen (fully diluted) in Q1 FY2024.
Co-founder and Managing Director of Genetec, Chin Kem Weng emphasised, “Our current progress and strong pipeline indicates that we are on track with our plans for the year. We have been working very closely with our partner to capture opportunities in the renewable energy (RE) segment through our Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), MYBESS. At the same time, Genetec is deepening and broadening our collaboration with key clients to ensure we continue to be their go-to supplier for their automation needs, and top-of-mind when it comes to new tenders and product development. We have also participated in roadshows internationally and will be showcasing MYBESS at the COP28 UAE in Dubai.”
On 27 October 2023, Genetec completed its transition from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia, marking another key milestone for the Company. “By becoming a Main Market constituent, we hope to improve our visibility and access to capital as we continue to grow the business. At the same time, we are working hard to advance our solutions and MYBESS. To date, we have rolled out MYBESS 2.0, a smaller form factor version for more efficient use of limited space. MYBESS 3.0 is in progress, which will incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) in the BESS, offering customers greater intelligence and convenience in managing and monitoring the health of the battery over time, optimising performance or damage prevention, to proactive servicing to ensure optimal performance,” Chin added.
Globally, the shift towards EVs is gaining momentum. The definitive shift towards zero and lower carbon emissions solutions for both retail and commercial transport and energy sources, across different businesses and countries, will continue to drive demand for solutions in eMobility and energy storage.
“As more policies and incentives relating to EVs are introduced to accelerate the adoption of EVs or lower emission vehicles, Genetec is strategically positioned to capitalise on these trends. We are working closely with government agencies and are actively pursuing new ventures with global clients, engaging in discussions and developments that can yield revenue and exciting new projects for the Company,” he concluded.
About Genetec Technology Berhad
Genetec Technology Berhad is a technology leader in providing customised full turnkey smart factory automation manufacturing lines. It is a public company listed on the ACE Market since 2005 and successfully transitioned to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (Stock code: 0104) on 27 October 2023. Its principal business focus is in the provision of high-quality, responsive and cost-effective designs, as well as the manufacturing of automated industrial systems, equipment and value-added services for our global customers in the Electric Vehicle (EV), Automotive, Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Consumer Goods and Healthcare sectors. For more information please visit: https://genetec.net/ .
SINGAPORE, Nov 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Renowned for her advocacy for gender equality, author Mette Johansson introduced her groundbreaking book, “Narratives: The Stories That Hold Women Back at Work,” amidst a captivating launch event at One Raffles Quay, North Tower, Singapore. Published by Penguin Random House SEA this thought-provoking piece confronts suppressed workplace realities, unraveling misconceptions surrounding crucial topics such as the gender pay gap, women’s roles in leadership, and the challenges working mothers face. Mette’s previous works include “How to Make Yourself Promotable: 7 Skills to Help You Climb the Career Ladder,” and she was also a co-author and ideator of ‘Unleash Your Voice: Powerful Public Speaking for Every Woman,’ both of which ranked among Amazon’s bestsellers. Mette Johansson, for almost two decades, has worked in leadership roles for multinational corporations across Asia and Europe before she founded MetaMind Pte Ltd. This training consultancy supports clients in developing tailored learning journeys in the “people side of leadership skills.” Clients include large MNCs such as Citibank, Microsoft, and UPS, as well as mid-sized ones.
Embarking on a Journey of Narratives: Mette Johansson, Author (Center Stage), Unveils her Book Surrounded by Visionaries and Influential Minds.
Through a compelling blend of personal anecdotes, enlightening interviews with female leaders, and actionable remedies, Johansson challenges the pervasive narratives that hinder women’s career advancement. Her work calls for action, empowering women and organizations to reshape workplaces into equitable environments.
“Narratives” delves into ten persistent myths that perpetuate gender stereotypes and limit women’s opportunities. Johansson shatters these myths by amplifying the voices of successful female entrepreneurs and leaders, including Lakshmi Murlidharan, Dalia Feldheim, Rashmi Dalai, Caroline Farberger, Sheryl Sandberg. Shirley Tee and Priya Sharma.
“Women’s advancement in the workplace is not just a women’s issue; it’s a societal imperative,” asserts Johansson. “My book serves as an urgent call to action for the creation of equitable workplaces. I implore readers to reconsider and reshape their workplace environments to foster greater equity and inclusion. The time is now to transform and adapt our professional world, ensuring that women can not only succeed but also thrive.”
The book’s unique selling propositions include:
Confronting Workplace Realities: Johansson fearlessly tackles the unfiltered truths about workplace gender dynamics.
Amplifying Female Narratives: The book provides a platform for female leaders to voice their experiences and challenge gender narratives.
Thought-Provoking Narratives and Actionable Remedies: Johansson presents real-world accounts and practical solutions to dismantle harmful myths.
Illuminating Truths Through Narratives: The book enriches the understanding of gender dynamics in the workplace.
Call to Action for Equitable Workplaces: Johansson urges readers to reconsider and reshape workplaces into more equitable environments.
Nora Nazerene Abu Bakar, Publisher, Penguin Random House SEA quips, “Narratives emerge as an indispensable resource, offering a compelling pathway for challenging prevailing gender stereotypes and fostering inclusivity within workplaces. It is a potent catalyst, equipping women with invaluable insights to navigate career hurdles and enabling organizations to champion a more equitable future.”
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) –Octowill Trustees Berhad (“Octowill” or the “Group”), a vanguard in the field of trust and estate management, is proud to announce the grand opening of the Group’s new private lounge and office, a first-of-its-kind in the industry. This groundbreaking initiative is designed to provide clients with an unparalleled private experience in the field of trust and estate management.
Executive Director of Aldrich Resources Berhad, Mr. James Chan; Managing Director of Octowill Trustees Berhad, Mr. Jack Leong; CEO of Octowill, Dato’ Sharif Bin Mohamed [L-R]
The new private lounge and office, strategically located at Centrepoint North Tower in the bustling heart of Midvalley, serves as a testament to Octowill’s commitment to accessibility and convenience for its clients. This prime location not only symbolizes Octowill’s stature in the industry but also offers clients a central, easily accessible hub for their wealth management and estate planning needs.
This landmark event also marks the launch of Octowill’s exclusive Trust Product, a pioneering offering in the market. This product stands out for its innovative structure and adaptability, designed to cater to the diverse and evolving needs of clients. Reflecting Octowill’s commitment to providing tailored financial solutions, this Trust Product is set to redefine industry benchmarks and reinforce Octowill’s position as a leader in wealth management.
The opening ceremony will be graced by the presence of prominent figures including the Executive Director of Aldrich Resources Berhad, along with owners and representatives from the respective leading Public Listed Companies (PLC). Their participation highlights the industry-wide recognition and support for Octowill’s pioneering initiatives.
Mr. Jack Leong Yien Hung, the Managing Director for Octowill Trustees Berhad, emphasised the significance of these launches: “At Octowill, we are dedicated to redefining the standards of trust and estate management. The inauguration of our private lounge and office is a testament to our commitment to enhancing client experience. Coupled with the launch of our unique trust product, we are setting new benchmarks in delivering exceptional value and service to our clients.”
He further added, “Our goal is not just to meet but to exceed client expectations. These new developments are pivotal in strengthening Octowill’s reputation as a leader in the industry and in reinforcing the trust our clients place in us.”
The launch of the private lounge and office, together with the introduction of the innovative trust product, reinforces Octowill Trustees Berhad’s position at the forefront of the financial services sector. It demonstrates the company’s dedication to offering cutting-edge solutions and bespoke services, solidifying its role as a trusted partner in wealth management and estate planning.
HONG KONG, Nov 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Royal Deluxe Holdings Limited (“Royal Deluxe” or the “Company”; together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; Stock code: 3789), Hong Kong’s first formwork erection and related ancillary services provider holding more than 10 formwork patents, today announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2023 (the “Period”).
During the Period, the Group achieved satisfactory progress with the major subcontracts for Third Runway Concourse Foundation formwork and concrete works, as well as Substructure works at the Hong Kong International Airport and certain building formwork projects, including Kai Tak Area 1E Phase 1 public housing development and Tai Wai Station Property Development Project T1-8 Tower. As a result, the Group recorded revenue of approximately HK$361.0 million, up by 8.9% against the corresponding period last year, and gross profit of approximately HK$34.2 million, 21.1% more when compared with the corresponding period last year. The Group’s gross profit margin remained stable at approximately 9.5%. Profit attributable to owners of the Company was approximately HK$7.6 million.
The Group has a history of more than 29 years in Hong Kong and is one of the largest formwork sub-contractors in the city. It has actively undertaken large-scale formwork erection projects over the years, allowing it to establish a robust business foundation and a strong customer base. Its direct customers are main contractors of building construction and civil engineering projects owned by end-customers including the Hong Kong SAR Government, public transport operators, the Airport Authority and property developers.
Boasting extensive experience and expertise, the Group landed a number of new projects during the Period, which saw its business grow and advance steadily. During the six months ended 30 September 2023, the Group secured three new contracts of total value approximately HK$372.9 million, two of which had started contributing revenue to the Group during the Period. As at 30 September 2023, the Group had a total of nine projects on hand with total outstanding value estimated at approximately HK$566.4 million, approximately 27.2% more as compared to the approximately HK$445.4 million as at 31 March 2023.
After the six months ended 30 September 2023 and as at 28 November 2023, the Group has secured another four new subcontracts for building formwork works of total contract value at approximately HK$559.6 million. With a good number of projects on hand expected to be completed between one to three years, the Group expects the performance of its subcontract works business to remain sustainable and stable in the next few years.
Mr. Wang Kei Ming, Chairman and Executive Director of Royal Deluxe Holdings Limited, said, “Over the past few years, the business environment has been immensely challenging. However, showing strong resilience and with the management exercising strict control over the progress of different projects, the Group was able to overcome different challenges and maintain a well-disciplined and stable operation. Our business rebounded notably during the Period, recovering from the difficult times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking ahead, we will remain mindful of such factors as labour shortage, inflation and rising finance costs. We will address future challenges with flexible and effective business strategies, continuing to take our business forward in good pace. In the ever-changing market environment, we will strive to seize every growth opportunity so as to create long-term and robust returns for shareholders.”
BOSTON, Nov 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – ARIA Cybersecurity Solutions, a CSPi business (NASDAQ:CSPI), has launched its AZT PROTECT™ solution in Australia via a partnership with Logi-Tech, a leading local managed security service provider (MSSP). By adding AZT PROTECT to its portfolio, Logi-Tech can offer a groundbreaking service for protecting critical applications in operational technology (OT) environments such as manufacturing, mining, and government.
Logi-Tech’s new managed Security Operations Center (SOC) service is based on a combination of the ARIA Advanced Detection Response (ADR) AI-powered SIEM solution and AZT PROTECT, providing a unique managed service for both IT and OT customers in South Australia via its SOC 2-compliant data center. These services are offered 24/7 by the Logi-Tech SOC team – supported by ARIA SOC analysts – to provide round-the-clock security assurance and the expertise to quickly resolve security incidents.
Logi-Tech onboarded ADR and AZT PROTECT in a matter of hours with minimal training, allowing it to get up and running with its new managed SOC offering without incurring significant cost or delay. As all data is kept within the SOC 2 data center, Logi-Tech ensures that no sensitive information is sent outside of the country, meeting data sovereignty requirements.
Protecting Australia’s Critical Infrastructure
Offering the AZT PROTECT managed service will enable Logi-Tech to meet demand in response to recent Australian legislation aimed at protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure from cyberattack. Australia’s Critical Infrastructure Risk Management Program, which came into force in February 2023, requires companies to undertake new responsibilities to protect their critical assets, including the mandatory reporting of cyber incidents, and ensure data sovereignty.
According to the Australian Cyber Security Center, critical sectors such as government, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and utilities were among the top ten sectors targeted by cyber criminals in 2021/22. One high-profile recent attack involved telecoms company Optus, which suffered a data breach affecting almost 10 million customers, representing about 40 per cent of the Australian population.
“Companies across Australia that operate critical infrastructure must ensure they can respond to the rising threat of cybercrime and comply with new regulations – but they often lack the skills and resources to do so,” said Peter Moore, Managing Director of Logi-Tech. “The ARIA solution was therefore the perfect addition to our cybersecurity portfolio, allowing us to address high-value customers across multiple vertical industries with a best-in-class solution.”
Unlike leading next-generation antivirus (NAV) and endpoint detection response (EDR) solutions, AZT PROTECT is custom-built for OT environments, offering protection against the most advanced zero-day and supply chain attacks, without the need for constant security patching. It reduces application vulnerability exploits to near zero by neutralizing threats in real time before they cause harm, using a revolutionary AI-driven patented technique for analyzing executable code, scripts, and processes.
“Service providers are looking for a means to quickly roll out a highly effective service to protect critical infrastructure to ensure resilience and regulatory compliance,” said Gary Southwell, Vice President and General Manager, ARIA Cybersecurity. “Partners such as Logi-Tech are able to easily serve this rapidly expanding market opportunity by offering a critical infrastructure protection service based on AZT PROTECT, which can be deployed in minutes and guards against even the most sophisticated supply chain and nation-state attacks.”
ABOUT ARIA CYBERSECURITY SOLUTIONS
ARIA Cybersecurity Solutions, a business of CSPi Inc., recognizes that better, stronger, more effective cybersecurity starts with a smarter approach. Our solutions provide new ways for organizations to protect their most critical assets-they can shield their critical applications from attack with our AZT solution, while monitoring internal traffic, device-level logs and alert output with our ARIA ADR solution to substantially improve threat detection and surgically disrupt cyberattacks and data exfiltration. Customers in a range of industries rely on our solutions to accelerate incident response, automate breach detection, and protect their most critical assets and applications-no matter where they are stored, used, or accessed. Learn more at ARIACybersecurity.com
SOLANA BEACH, CA, Nov 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – American Wave Machines, Inc. (AWM) announced that AWM patents challenged by WhiteWater West Industries, Ltd. (WW), a waterpark attraction supplier and promoter of Endless Surf, have been reviewed and validated by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Prior to this ruling, in a victory for AWM, the USPTO had declined a request made by WW to challenge additional patents. In summary, to date, three of the four patents challenged by WW have been confirmed in their entirety, and one patent retains a majority of patentable claims. These latest decisions further strengthen AWM’s sole ownership in sequence-based pneumatic surf technology, trademarked as PerfectSwell®. The patents have related foreign counterparts in Canada, Germany, France, Spain, and the UK.
AWM owns an extensive and growing patent portfolio protecting PerfectSwell® Technology as seen here in Brazil where PerfectSwell® is the anchor in a multi-use real estate development partnering with JHSF. The Law Office of Manuel de la Cerra prosecuted AWM’s patents. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, a global law firm, acted as AWM’s legal counsel in the IPR proceedings and its commercialization efforts as AWM continues its rapid expansion of the PerfectSwell® global network, most recently in the US, Brazil, Portugal, Australia, and Japan.
“The company’s continuing innovations and significant investment in acquiring and defending patents secures the value of PerfectSwell® destinations for AWM and our business partners, protecting all stakeholders from unfair competition,” said Bruce McFarland, Founder of AWM. “The PerfectSwell® brand is fueled by patented innovations covering all aspects of pneumatic surf generating, wave designing, damping, machinery and surf pool shapes.”
“Sequencing is the secret sauce, that’s why we patented it. The victory means the PerfectSwell® style of sequenced peeling waves, like the A-Frame™, Point Break™, Split Peak™ and others remain covered by AWM’s patents,” said William McFarland, Business Development Manager at AWM. “The company will continue to push forward new ideas and innovation as we launch PerfectSwell® surf destinations.”
About American Wave Machines
American Wave Machines, Inc.is the inventor and developer of PerfectSwell® surf technology. AWM develops world-class surf facility destinations backed by proven financials and stoked surfers. PerfectSwell® is the only sequence-based pneumatic surf technology on the market protected by over 50 patents worldwide. Since 2007, over 4,000,000 surf sessions have been enjoyed at American Wave Machines locations around the globe.
About Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
With partners and other advisors in over 31 offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, including in all major money centers, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP is a fully integrated global law firm that provides clients with connected legal advice, wherever and whenever they need it. The firm is known for its relationship-driven, collaborative culture, diverse legal experience and industry-shaping innovation and offers clients one of the most active M&A, real estate, financial services, litigation, and corporate risk practices in the world.
About Manuel de la Cerra
Manuel de la Cerra is a MIT and Stanford trained patent attorney with over 25 years of legal experience. Mr. de la Cerra understands highly sophisticated intellectual property and provides his clients with the highest level of representation. He has worked as an attorney at major law firms renowned for their specialty in intellectual property, and has in-house experience, heading the intellectual property litigation team of a large multinational electronics corporation.
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ and STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, Nov 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – eDrivingSM, a Solera company and leading global provider of digital driver risk management solutions, today announced the launch of its new EcoReport sustainability reporting solution to help fleets globally manage Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
EcoReport is the latest development in eDriving’s partnership with driving data analytics leader, Greater Than, which has already seen the introduction of the EcoDrive feature in eDriving’s award-winning digital driver safety app, MentorSM. The EcoDrive enhancement to Mentor empowers drivers to reduce carbon emissions and EV battery consumption by an average of 20% while ensuring their safe return home each day.
Now, with the launch of EcoReport, companies can quantify their driving-related CO2 emissions while showcasing the results of their climate impact reduction efforts in a ready-made Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) reporting solution. Key features include:
Measures CO2 driving emissions
Enables benchmarking, goal setting, and progress reporting
Facilitates seamless reporting for fleets across Scope 1, 2, and 3
“We’re set to see radical change in 2024 as mandatory ESG reporting regulations come into play for more companies, and the management of value chain emissions becomes a critical focus for some of the world’s largest organisations,” said Ed Dubens, CEO/Founder of eDriving. “Don’t panic! We take away the pain and administrative burden of reporting by converting your Mentor driving data into a comprehensive ESG report to meet the needs of all stakeholders while taking your organisation’s culture of safety and sustainability to another level.”
ESG reporting requirements will ramp up in 2024, as some of the main regulations take effect. This includes the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) that will apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2024. The European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) will also become effective on the same date. Regulations are also incoming in other parts of the world, with the United States having proposed the Enhancement & Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors and Australia welcoming the Climate related financial disclosure (2022) from July 2024.
EcoReport simplifies ESG reporting for fleets of all sizes by leveraging data from the Mentor by eDriving smartphone solution and compiling it into a detailed report that incorporates all the driving-related data fleets need to share with customers, supply chain partners, and investors alike.
With Scope 3 (value chain) emissions playing such a leading role in sustainability goals for large organisations, EcoReport can be easily adopted or shared by partner companies to help all players in the value chain obtain emissions data that matters.
“We’re so proud of eDriving for elevating their role in safety and sustainability management to help fleets get to grips with ESG reporting requirements,” said Liselott Johansson, CEO, Greater Than. “Globally, more fleets will be seeking a solution that enables them to fulfil legislation, meet the pressures of stakeholders, demonstrate their sustainability commitments, and win potential new deals – eDriving has just launched that solution.”
Revolutionising driver risk management for over 25 years, eDriving is the trusted partner of choice for many of the world’s largest sales, service, and delivery fleets, supporting over 2,000,000 drivers in 125 countries with award-winning digital driver risk management solutions. Its smartphone-based Mentor programme identifies and remediates drivers’ risky habits behind the wheel with scoring, training, coaching, and gamification, achieving up to an 89% reduction in risky driver behaviour over 18 months.
The integration of Greater Than’s EcoDrive feature enables eDriving to extend Mentor’s value proposition beyond a comprehensive driver safety solution as a holistic driver safety AND sustainability solution. Now, with the addition of EcoReport, eDriving is demonstrating its expertise in ESG management, delivering a truly end-to-end solution that helps organisations to measure, report on, and reduce emissions.
Solera is the global leader in vehicle lifecycle management software-as-a-service, data, and services. Through four lines of business – vehicle claims, vehicle repairs, vehicle solutions and fleet solutions – Solera is home to many leading brands in the vehicle lifecycle ecosystem, including Identifix, Audatex, DealerSocket, Omnitracs, LoJack, Spireon, eDriving/Mentor, Explore, cap hpi, Autodata, and others. Solera empowers its customers to succeed in the digital age by providing them with a “one-stop shop” solution that streamlines operations, offers data-driven analytics, and enhances customer engagement, which Solera believes helps customers drive sales, promote customer retention, and improve profit margins. Solera serves over 300,000 global customers and partners in 100+ countries. For more information, visit www.solera.com.
About eDriving
eDriving, a Solera company, helps organisations around the world improve safety, reduce injuries, licence endorsements, carbon emissions, and total cost of fleet ownership through its patented digital driver risk management programmes. These include the Mentor by eDrivingSM smartphone app with FICO® Safe Driving Score; the patented, five-stage Crash-Free Culture® risk reduction programme; and the Virtual Risk Manager® platform, all designed to work together within a privacy-first, data-secure environment that supports drivers and their managers every step of the way. eDriving is the digital driver risk management partner of choice for many of the world’s largest organisations, supporting over 2,000,000 drivers in 125 countries. Over the past 25 years, eDriving’s research-validated programmes have been recognised with over 120 awards around the world. For more information, visit www.edriving.com.
About Greater Than
Greater Than is a driving data analytics company that specialises in understanding driver impact on the roads. Through the power of artificial intelligence (AI), Greater Than converts GPS data into driver scores that predict crash probability and climate impact. The scores can be further enhanced with additional intelligence including an analytics dashboard, prevention tool, and summary reports.
Insurance companies, underwriters, fleet solution providers, mobility providers and other owners of GPS data use Greater Than’s analysis to optimise driver risk management, achieve insurance profitability, manage sustainability & ESG reporting, and monetise GPS data. Greater Than (GREAT.ST) is listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market. FNCA Sweden AB is the Company’s Certified Adviser. Learn more at www.greaterthan.eu.
HONG KONG, Nov 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is launching Chill 11 at Asia World-Expo (AWE) from 23 to 26 December. Sponsored by Create Hong Kong* of the HKSAR, the event brings together arts and culture, culinary delights and entertainment experiences, as well as brands and products, creating an extraordinary retail-entertainment experience for Hong Kong and Macao residents, as well as visitors from Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area peer cities to enjoy.
The HKTDC held the Chill 11 Media Day at Central Market today, offering media a first-hand experience of highlights. Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC, said: “Chill 11 is a brand-new attempt by HKTDC to engage friends in the GBA, including Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in the mainland. We have recognised that both Hong Kong residents and visitors put increased emphasis on cultural experiences, rather than just shopping and having fun. Hong Kong has a lot of unique cultural characteristics, so we have positioned Chill 11 as a festival that combines arts and culture, culinary delights, shopping and entertainment, while incorporating various elements of Hong Kong’s distinct culture. In addition to the 150 exhibitors featured, Chill 11 also offers close to 70 performances, activities and workshops, bringing a spectacular cultural and creative Christmas to the general public.
Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC said the public is increasingly interested in experiencing local culture. Chill 11 combines arts and culture, culinary delights and entertainment experience, adding different Hong Kong cultural nuances to bring a spectacular cultural and creative Christmas to the public.
“We also hope that through the Chill 11, small and medium-sized local brands, cultural and creative products can reach out to the GBA market, showcasing Hong Kong’s creative prowess and cultural influence. We believe it will further facilitate exchanges between Hong Kong and Macao, and other cities in the GBA, and at the same time boost consumption and stimulate economy in the region,” Ms Chong said.
Chill 11 star-studded with performances and activities for all ages
Chill 11 offers a star-studded line-up of performances, featuring up-and-coming Chinese singers such as After Class (Gigi Yim, Chantel Yiu, Yumi Chung and Windy Zhan) from Stars Academy, Albert Chau and Ramon Lo of Midlife, Sing & Shine, the reigning star Jackson Wan Kwong and music band the SAALAUfrom Jiangmen, Guangdong and more. Gabriel Choy, a star chef working in restaurants in the GBA, will give a cooking demonstration.
About 30 workshops for children, young people and families will be offered, including a workshop making Hong Kong minibus signage with unique writing style of red and blue where participants can learn about the story and use their creativity to hand-make unique signage keychains.
Immersive art experience and photo ops with masterpieces of art and photography
The immersive art experience area features a corridor of East meets West, where award-winning works from the 2022 Sino-French Young Artists Competition Award (organised by the Chinese Western Culture Arts Association Limited) will be presented digitally, including Qin Chi-ho’s Tang Sanjue – Bring in the Wine and Ng Chun-hei’s Dear cat I miss you. The public can enjoy the poetic atmosphere within the virtual realm. Monet’s The Japanese Footbridge and Van Gogh’s Wheat Field with Cypresses will also be featured as animated paintings to illustrate the impressionist style of Western art and its interpretation of natural landscapes.
Walk through the Chill 11 East-West Cultural Corridor and enjoy an immersive art experience that blends new art and technology, including Qin Chi-ho’s ‘Tang Sanjue – Bring in the Wine’
As the first young Chinese photographerto become global champion at the International Landscape Photographer of the Year, who just unveiled a remarkable collection of stamps featuring Hong Kong’s mountains and rivers, Kelvin Yuen will showcase his masterpieces including a huge backdrop of Hong Kong’s famous miscanthus hotspot, Sunset Peak. He will also share photography insights and tips with audiences. Jonas Chan, a famous cat photographer, will give a Street CATography workshop to teach attendees how to capture adorable moments of feline companions. The Photographic Salon Exhibitors Association will organise the Greater Bay Area Photography Exhibition showcasing the beauty of the 11 GBA cities with 60 photos.
Recently emerged star and young award-winning photographer Kelvin Yuen displays his award-winning works and photo albums.
Christmas programmes for both active and tranquil friends
Chill 11 also features a massive 32-metre-long inflatable entertainment facility Chill Castle and an impressive 8-metre tall, nearly four-storey sparkling Christmas tree where adults and children can unwind and enjoy the holiday spirit. Christmas is a time for gifts, decorations and dress-ups, and Chill 11 offers a series of workshops making Christmas lamps, Christmas bear keychains, Christmas wreaths, Christmas Cloisonne stockings and snow light boxes. Star make-up artist Will Orr who was once a Good Night Show judge will also stage a Christmas trendy make-up class to help people look stunning and festive for Christmas holiday.
Flavours of Hong Kong’s cultural and creative products
The trendy craft beer brand Hong Kong Whistle and Great Gourmets teamed up to brew a big-hit sauce-flavoured mocha craft beer for Chill 11, using maotai, beer ingredients, chocolate and coffee, which will be available for sale at the event. Hong Kong’s iconic milk tea has always been a standout, at Chill 11, Kamcha will invite participants to their workshop to learn the art of making the smoothest Hong Kong milk tea. In addition, famous chef Charmaine will curate a menu comprising sweet, sour, bitter, spicy and salty dishes under the theme Tastes of Life, and will join a number of traditional Chinese and Western food brands in serving culinary highlights at the Art Café adorned with captivating paintings.
Leading sunglasses brand Big Horn will bring a collection of sunglasses in collaboration with hero movie Justice League to Chill 11, including the Aquaman style for men and women. The shiny plastic frames resemble fish scales and the metal temples resemble Aquaman’s harpoon, bringing it to life. StephyDesignHK will present Hong Kong-themed hand-painted silky shawls, inspired by Hong Kong’s night scene, fishing villages and theme parks. The Central Market will also feature authentic Hong Kong brands, including TARTAN, Gingko House Eldershop, Good Bad Creative and Seon Hong Kong.
Christmas lucky bags and convenient transportation provided
Chill 11 tickets are priced at HK$30, with a HK$3 discount when purchased through ticketing partner AlipayHK and Alipay App. Children, full-time students and senior citizens aged 65 or above enjoy free admission. Package tickets are also available. Two adults can enjoy one-plus-one promotion (HK$30 in total); three adults can enjoy Chill-in-Three promotion (HK$40 in total); and four adults can enjoy a Chill Combo promotion (HK$50 in total). The first 1,000 attendees on 23 December will receive a complimentary lucky bag, and limited lucky bags will be given out every day thereafter, with gifts valued at more than HK$150. There will also be a grand lucky draw for every HK$200 spent at the venue, prizes include roundtrip flight tickets to Bangkok for two, five-star hotel accommodation, theme park vouchers, shopping mall spending, watches and travel suitcases.
Travel partners are offering affordable and convenient transportation options that provide excellent value. As part of this offering, the Airport Express has a special promotion where adults who present valid event tickets or proofs at the designated redemption counters in Hong Kong or Kowloon Station can purchase an AsiaWorld-Expo Same Day Return Ticket for the discounted price of HK$47, allowing them to travel to and from AsiaWorld-Expo Station. Additionally, children aged 3-11, using a valid Child Octopus card, can enjoy free rides on the Airport Express when traveling from Hong Kong, Kowloon, or Tsing Yi Station to AsiaWorld-Expo Station. Citybus has five free shuttle buses running from Tin Shui Wai, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Tung Chung and Tai Wai to the venue; while visitors travelling by car will have the third hour free of charge when using the nearby 11 Skies parking lot.
Media enquiries Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department: Clayton Lauw, Tel: (852) 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org Phyllis Tsang, Tel: (852) 2584 4288, Email: phyllis.km.tsang@hktdc.org
About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn
SAN RAMON, CA, Nov 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The OpenADR Alliance, the global industry body created to foster the development, adoption, and compliance of OpenADR, has launched a new version of its OpenADR communications standard. OpenADR 3.0 is designed to support utilities, operators, aggregators, and customers as they try to manage the growing range of distributed energy resources (DER) including renewables, energy storage, electric vehicle (EV) batteries and charging infrastructure, as well as demand response resources like commercial buildings or homes.
As an open standard, OpenADR provides highly secure, fast, and reliable two-way information exchange for utility applications with simple communications needs like dynamic price and event signals, allowing customers to modify their usage to save money and reduce their carbon footprint.
With the launch of OpenADR 3.0, device and equipment manufacturers will be able to add new functionality more easily into customer products, including smart thermostats, EV charging stations, energy storage, and control systems.
Managing & Technical Director for the OpenADR Alliance, Rolf Bienert, comments: “Renewable energy, along with battery storage, is providing a growing share of overall power capacity as we move towards a more sustainable energy future. This means that energy companies are having to manage more decentralised and distributed energy resources, scaling operations while ensuring compatibility and interoperability.
“OpenADR is critical in providing seamless communications between different devices and systems, and between utilities and customers. OpenADR 3.0 provides simplicity at a time when technology is becoming more complex, making energy management easier and future-proofing energy systems. It offers a new alternative using modern web service designs that are easier to use than older message style exchange formats, while also providing added functionality.”
With OpenADR 2.0 used by many utilities and vendors, there are no plans to replace it; OpenADR 3.0 is designed to complement older versions of the standard. Aside from the functionality of 2.0, OpenADR 3.0 simplifies messaging, including pricing, offering more dynamic pricing structures, as well as better enabling greenhouse gas signalling, grid code adjustments, and capacity management communication (e.g., dynamic operating envelopes).
Bruce Nordman, a scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and member of the team that created OpenADR 3.0, says: “OpenADR 3.0 opens up new possibilities for customers and customer devices. It is so easy to implement that it can readily be put into any customer device (even a Wi-Fi light bulb) for receipt of grid signals, and also used for communication between customer devices. OpenADR 3.0 also supports two mechanisms for capacity management between the grid and the customer.”
Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) Albert Chiu adds: “As renewable generation and electrification increases with more distributed energy resources, energy flexibility and load management become even more important. With the new and improved OpenADR 3.0, we expect to see more growth in the quantity and diversity of OpenADR certified products and solutions, which will make it easier for customers when participating in load management programs and dynamic rates. All of these activities are critical for PG&E and CA to reach its carbon reduction goal in the future.”
OpenADR 3.0 testing and certification OpenADR certification encourages the development of a global ecosystem of standards-based products, eliminating single-vendor lock-in and ensuring interoperability. Members can apply soon for OpenADR 3.0 testing and certification, but only products or systems that have been through the OpenADR Alliance Certification Program can claim OpenADR certified status. Testing will be conducted at one of 10 approved test facilities using test assets created by the OpenADR Alliance in collaboration with other vendors. The OpenADR Alliance has several companies now piloting the new OpenADR 3.0 standard.
![Executive Director of Aldrich Resources Berhad, Mr. James Chan; Managing Director of Octowill Trustees Berhad, Mr. Jack Leong; CEO of Octowill, Dato' Sharif Bin Mohamed [L-R]](https://photos.acnnewswire.com/20231129.Octowill.jpg)
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