Industrial Manufacturing

Hewitt, Texas – September 17, 2026 -- UTEM, a Hewitt, Texas-based manufacturer of purpose-built aerial lift trucks for the fiber, telecommunications, municipal and utility sectors, has appointed Kim Zander as Chief Executive Officer.

Kirk Zander steps back to President as company adds first CEO

Kirk Zander, who has led UTEM, will continue in the role of President, retaining the same relationships and points of contact with customers and partners. The company described the appointment as timed to "its next phase of growth," with Kim Zander spending the coming months meeting employees, customers and partners nationwide to build an operational understanding of the business.

Chicago – September 17, 2026 -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) has been designated the Official Tooling Supplier of NASCAR, the company announced at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2026 in Chicago.

Kennametal unveils NASCAR designation at IMTS 2026 booth in Chicago

Dave Bersaglini, Kennametal Vice President and President of Metal Cutting, revealed the partnership at the company's Next Level Shop exhibit, Booth No. 431800, West Building Level 3, during IMTS 2026, running Sept. 14–19 at McCormick Place.

Beijing – September 17, 2026 -- A 4-meter hydraulic-electric hybrid humanoid robot capable of carrying a 500 kg dual-arm payload while maintaining fingertip repeatability of ±0.05 mm has been unveiled by Beijing-based NeodraDynamics Robotics at the World Robot Conference (WRC) in Beijing. The machine, named Neo1, combines digital hydraulics with electric actuation, a pairing the company says eliminates the industry's long-standing trade-off between raw force and fine motor precision.

Neo1's core cylinder drives 1,000 kg at 1-micrometer precision

At the center of the robot's design is a micro digital hydraulic cylinder weighing 1.1 kg that can drive a 1,000 kg load with repeatability down to 1 micrometer. The company states the component withstands nuclear radiation, deep-sea pressure, extreme temperatures, heavy dust and intense vibration, conditions that typically degrade pure-electric actuators.

Arlington, Va. – September 17, 2026 -- The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) has released ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026, the updated American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection, approved by the American National Standards Institute.

Head injuries caused nearly 700 worker fatalities in the last year, ISEA says

"This isn't a routine update — it's the roadmap for an industry transformation," said Cam Mackey, President & CEO of ISEA. He noted major employers are now mandating enhanced protection, prompting the need for a new technical framework. ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 is referenced in OSHA regulations and remains the primary benchmark for industrial head protection in the United States.

Little Rock, Ark. – September 17, 2026 -- The Systems Group (TSG), a family-owned steel-industry service provider founded in 1970, has launched Systems Cool Air Solutions, an eighth operating division dedicated exclusively to HVAC work at steel mills and metal-related industrial facilities.

New division targets installations, maintenance and 24/7 emergency response for steel mills

Systems Cool Air Solutions will handle new HVAC installations, preventive maintenance programs and round-the-clock emergency service built for extreme steel mill conditions. Service offerings span control room and motor control center (MCC) climate systems, overhead crane cab HVAC and pressurization, custom ductwork and sheet metal fabrication, ventilation and exhaust systems, building automation and controls, and industrial refrigeration.

Dallas – – September 17, 2026 -- Solidion Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: STI) has authorized a stock buyback program worth up to $1.0 million, effective September 13, 2026.

Board sets buyback ceiling at $1.0 million through March 2028

The repurchase authorization will remain active until the full $1.0 million is spent, until March 14, 2028, or until the Board terminates it, whichever comes first. Open-market repurchases will follow federal securities laws, Nasdaq requirements and applicable state law.

CEO ties buyback to capital allocation strategy

Jaymes Winters, Chief Executive Officer of Solidion Technology, said the authorization reflects the Board's confidence in the company's long-term prospects and its commitment to disciplined capital allocation. He said the program gives the company flexibility to invest in its own stock when market conditions are attractive.

Atlanta – September 17, 2026 -- SlateSafety has launched the BEACON V3, a connected multi-sensor device that monitors worker exposure to heat, noise and lone-worker emergencies without relying on personal phones or IT infrastructure.

Device combines thermal, noise and lone worker monitoring in one unit

The BEACON V3 can be worn or mounted at industrial sites, tracking air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, dew point, heat index, Humidex and estimated Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (eWBGT) to flag heat stress risks in real time.

For noise exposure, the device measures Sound Pressure Level with configurable A, C or Z weightings and Fast or Slow response times, calculating Leq, Dose, Projected Dose, Time Weighted Average (TWA) and Projected TWA to warn against long-term hearing damage.

Warsaw and Istanbul – September 16, 2026 -- POWTEK Group deployed three of its manufacturing brands across two European trade shows in September, with KALTEC exhibiting HVAC systems at Heating Tech Expo 2026 in Warsaw while MORRTOP and X-CRAFTER presented kitchen appliances at Zuchex International Home and Kitchenware Exhibition in Istanbul.

POWTEK operates 12 production lines with capacity for 2 million units annually

The Group's new manufacturing base is now fully operational, adding intelligent production lines that hold ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications. POWTEK, founded in 2003, currently supplies customers across more than 50 countries and regions as a manufacturing partner to established international brands.

Stockholm – September 16, 2026 -- Husqvarna Group has become the first robotics company to secure Conditional Approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for foreign-manufactured advanced robotic devices, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for its U.S. expansion.

FCC exempts four Husqvarna mower platforms from national security covered list

The FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau announced the approval on September 9, 2026, covering four Automower platforms: the 305V iQ, 310V iQ, 420V iQ and 440V iQ. The decision follows the FCC's August 2026 publication of a covered list identifying communications equipment deemed a national security risk; the Conditional Approval exempts these specific Husqvarna platforms, along with models already sold in the U.S., from that list.

Espoo – – September 16, 2026 -- Valmet Oyj will publish its Interim Review for January–September 2026 on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at approximately 9:00 a.m. Finnish time (EET), the Espoo-based process industry technology group announced.

Valmet sets October 28 release with 9:30 a.m. webcast

The stock exchange release and presentation materials will be posted on Valmet's investor relations website. A live English-language results webcast follows at 9:30 a.m. Finnish time, with a recording made available shortly afterward at the same web address.