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Manufacturing & Industry

Asia-Pacific Media Forum Draws 400+ Delegates Ahead of APEC 2026

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Asia-Pacific Media Forum Draws 400+ Delegates Ahead of APEC 2026

Guangzhou – September 7, 2026 -- More than 400 representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region and international organizations convened in Shenzhen on September 5 for the Asia-Pacific Media Forum (APMF) 2026, a gathering positioned ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting scheduled to take place in China this November.

Forum brings together 400+ delegates in Guangdong province

Journalists and industry experts touring Guangdong province examined China's manufacturing sector and industrial development firsthand before the forum's official opening. The visits were designed to give international media direct exposure to supply chains and investment activity in one of China's most export-intensive regions.

German Industrial Output Falls 1.1% in July as Auto Sector Slumps 9.2%

Wiesbaden – September 09, 2026 -- Germany's industrial production dropped 1.1% month-on-month in July 2026 on a seasonally and calendar-adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Output was 1.6% lower than in July 2025 on a calendar-adjusted basis. June 2026 figures were revised down to flat growth (0.0%) from a preliminary +0.2%, leaving output 0.5% below the prior-year month.

Automotive output collapses 9.2% on production pause

The July decline was driven primarily by the automotive industry, where output fell 9.2% versus June on a seasonally and calendar-adjusted basis. The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) attributed the drop to a multi-week production halt.

MIRAVA Launches Smartboat in Europe with $5M Angel Funding

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MIRAVA Launches Smartboat in Europe with $5M Angel Funding

Cannes – – September 09, 2026 -- MIRAVA, a smartboat developer, has secured $5 million in angel funding to launch its debut model in Europe after three years of product development. The company will unveil its 7.9-meter smartboat at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026, marking its first European market entry.

MIRAVA raises $5 million to fund production and small-series delivery

The angel round will support continued product development, manufacturing and delivery of the boat in limited quantities as MIRAVA prepares for its next commercialization phase. The company spent three years developing the platform, focusing on making advanced maritime technology practical rather than simply adding features.

KfW: 30% of German SMEs Foresee Falling Export Revenue

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KfW: 30% of German SMEs Foresee Falling Export Revenue

Frankfurt am Main – September 09, 2026 -- Thirty percent of German small and mid-sized companies (Mittelstand) with foreign business expect their cross-border revenues to decline over the next three years, according to a new KfW Research study, with 6 percent forecasting a sharp drop. Roughly 24 percent anticipate growth, while 47 percent expect no change.

The findings stem from a January 2026 survey conducted before the outbreak of the Iran conflict, meaning sentiment may have since deteriorated further.

Cologne Court Upholds Injunction Against AEKE Over Gym Monster Design

Shenzhen – September 09, 2026 -- The Cologne Regional Court has upheld an interim injunction against Shenzhen Qudong Future Technology Co., Ltd. ("AEKE") for infringing a registered EU design held by Shenzhen Speediance Life Tech Limited ("Speediance") for its Gym Monster smart strength training system, barring AEKE from advertising, offering or selling the disputed equipment in Germany.

Court confirms original injunction remains fully effective
Ruling in Case No. 31 O 132/26, the Landgericht Köln confirmed that its April 17, 2026 order against AEKE stands in its entirety following a June 25, 2026 hearing triggered by AEKE's challenge. The court also ordered the removal of the disputed products and related marketing materials from the German market.

Hyosung TNC Pushes Bio-Spandex Platform Across Europe, U.S. Markets

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Hyosung TNC Pushes Bio-Spandex Platform Across Europe, U.S. Markets

Seoul – September 08, 2026 -- Hyosung TNC is scaling its sugarcane-based regen™ Bio Spandex platform across Europe and North America, positioning the fiber as an alternative to fossil-fuel-based textiles amid tightening EU climate rules.

Hyosung TNC showcased its Vietnam-based integrated bio-spandex system at three major global events

The company presented its fully integrated production ecosystem -- converting raw sugar certified under the VIVE Sustainable Supply Programme into Bio-BDO, Bio-PTMG and Bio-Spandex within a single Vietnam-based facility -- at the Global Fashion Summit 2026 in Copenhagen in May, the Future Fabrics Expo in Brussels in June, and the Functional Fabric Fair in New York in July.

German Factory Orders Jump 2.5% in July on Aircraft, Ship Deals

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German Factory Orders Jump 2.5% in July on Aircraft, Ship Deals

Wiesbaden – – September 08, 2026 -- New orders for Germany's manufacturing sector rose 2.5% month-on-month in July 2026 on a seasonally and calendar-adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), driven almost entirely by a surge in large-scale aircraft, ship and rail contracts.

Stripped of big-ticket orders, however, the underlying order book contracted 1.4% versus June, exposing weaker core demand beneath the headline figure. Orders climbed 13.1% year-on-year on a calendar-adjusted basis. June's initially reported 3.1% monthly gain was revised upward to 3.7%, with annual growth of 7.2%.

Potassium Fluoride Market to Hit $0.51B by 2032 on Fluorochemical Demand

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Potassium Fluoride Market to Hit $0.51B by 2032 on Fluorochemical Demand

Delray Beach – – September 08, 2026 -- The global potassium fluoride market is set to expand from USD 0.43 billion in 2026 to USD 0.51 billion by 2032, a compound annual growth rate of 2.9%, according to MarketsandMarkets. Demand is being driven by fluorination chemistry used across pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and specialty chemicals.

Asia Pacific commands 39.4% of the market as regional fluorochemical output expands

Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest regional share at 39.4% in 2025, with China's chemical manufacturing base and India's fluorinated pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediate production identified as key demand drivers. Japan and South Korea are contributing higher-value consumption through advanced electronics and semiconductor applications, supported by integrated fluorine-chemical supply chains and competitive manufacturing costs.

BRP Names Minh Thanh Tran CFO as Sébastien Martel Retires

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BRP Names Minh Thanh Tran CFO as Sébastien Martel Retires

Valcourt, QC – September 08, 2026 -- BRP Inc. (TSX: DOO) (NASDAQ: DOO) will install Minh Thanh Tran as Chief Financial Officer effective October 1, 2026, succeeding Sébastien Martel, who is retiring after more than 20 years with the powersports manufacturer.

Martel exits after 12 years steering BRP's finances

Martel, who has served as CFO for 12 years, led the company's initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2013 -- named IPO of the Year -- and its subsequent NASDAQ listing in 2018. He will shift to a role as Executive Advisor to the CEO starting October 1, 2026, supporting a transition period before his full retirement in April 2027.