Event Announcement

Waxahachie, Texas – October 14, 2026 -- Americase International will use a 25-minute panel at the 2026 Open Compute Project (OCP) Global Summit on Oct. 15 to address conflicting codes for shipping, installing, storing and disposing of lithium batteries in AI data centers. Operators must reconcile rules that differ by country and jurisdiction as AI drives demand for battery energy storage systems (ESS).

South Korean UPS battery fire hit 647 government systems

On Sept. 26, 2025, a lithium-ion battery fire at South Korea's National Information Resources Service data center in Daejeon affected 647 government information systems and disrupted public services nationwide. Officials said the fire started in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) battery that was being relocated during maintenance. Americase cites the incident as evidence that consistent rules for handling, relocating and replacing batteries matter as data centers expand energy storage.

Rochester, N.H. – October 14, 2026 -- Laars Heating Systems will host members of the Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Northern New England chapter at its Rochester facility on Oct. 15 for a two-hour networking event and guided plant tour.

Female engineer to lead tour through Laars production floor and laboratory

A female Laars engineer will guide attendees through the company's manufacturing operations and laboratory. Visitors will see how heating equipment is developed and produced, and will learn about career paths available in manufacturing.

Laurie Bridges, human resources manager at Laars, said the event is meant to show attendees the breadth of work in manufacturing and to help women in the industry build connections that last beyond the visit.

Los Angeles – October 14, 2026 -- Dr. Vivek Murthy, the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States, will headline the End Well 2026 Summit on November 12 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles and online, the nonprofit announced. Murthy, founder of The Together Project, will speak with CBS News National Correspondent Jamie Yuccas about loneliness and human connection during serious illness, caregiving, dying and grief.

CBO projects US deaths will exceed births from 2030

The announcement follows a Congressional Budget Office projection that annual deaths in the United States will exceed births beginning in 2030. The Summit's theme, "When Does Now Begin?", frames a day of talks and workshops on the choices people make, and the systems they encounter, before and during a crisis. End Well expects hundreds of attendees in person and thousands online.

Los Angeles – – October 14, 2026 -- Californians registered 1.81 million new gas, hybrid and electric vehicles in 2025, the backdrop for the 2026 Los Angeles Auto Show's decision to make Energy the first of three narrative pillars, with Chevron with Techron as presenting sponsor of the consumer show.

AutoMobility LA, the show's global media and industry day, opens Nov. 19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Ten public days follow, Nov. 20 through 29. Industry registration costs $249. Media registration is complimentary for accredited and approved journalists and content producers.

Zagreb – October 13, 2026 -- Serbia is taking its EXPO 2027 Belgrade pitch to Croatian tourism and business leaders on 14 October 2026, targeting a bilateral trade relationship that reached nearly EUR 2.5 billion in 2025, according to the Croatian Chamber of Economy.

Visit Serbia B2B Networking event opens Zagreb stop of international roadshow

The "Visit Serbia B2B Networking" event takes place at Hotel Westin, Kršnjavoga 1, Zagreb. It is part of the international "Visit Serbia" roadshow promoting Serbia's tourism and business potential ahead of the expo. The programme includes presentations, targeted B2B meetings, a press conference, a panel discussion and a cocktail reception.

Fort Atkinson, Wis. – October 13, 2026 -- The 2026 Women in Supply Chain ForumTM Award attracted more than 300 submissions, including a record 70 self-nominations and a record 44 nominations from male colleagues, managers and industry peers, according to organizers Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive.

Self-nominations hit a seven-year high

Of the 300-plus entries, 70 were self-nominations, the highest number in the award's seven-year history. The 44 nominations submitted by men also mark a high. Organizers say the figures reflect a growing culture of advocacy, recognition and allyship across the supply chain community.

Miami – October 13, 2026 -- Queen Suthida of Thailand will open the 2026 Global Wellness Summit (GWS) on the morning of November 11 at the Angsana Laguna Phuket, the organization announced. The appearance marks the conference's 20th anniversary.

Summit runs November 10-13 in Phuket

The four-day event convenes leaders from what GWS describes as a $6.8 trillion global wellness economy. Accredited media can apply to attend.

Queen's athletic record anchors the wellness link

GWS cited Suthida's sporting credentials as the basis for the invitation. She served as strategist and navigator on Thailand's sailing team, which won gold at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) named her its first Women's Global Ambassador. She also ran the half marathon alongside Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge at the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2025.

Arlington, Va. – October 13, 2026 -- The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) is accepting nominations through August 31 for the 16th Influential Woman in Trucking Award, with TrueBlue's Centerline Drivers sponsoring the 2026 edition.

The award recognizes women who make or influence key decisions across the trucking, transportation, logistics and supply chain industries. Nominees are assessed on professional accomplishments as well as vision, leadership, mentorship and their work to open doors for others. Submissions are made online.

WIT President and CEO Jennifer Hedrick said the award highlights leaders whose influence "extends far beyond their organizations."

Winner to be announced at Accelerate! in Dallas on October 25-28

WIT will name the winner during the 2026 Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Dallas, Texas. Finalists will take part in a featured panel discussion on October 28, covering leadership lessons and career experiences.

Chicago – – October 13, 2026 -- LEAD TECH (Zhuhai) Electronic Co., Ltd. will run its continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers and an integrated UV laser marking machine on a live conveyor at Pack Expo International 2026, Oct. 18–21 at McCormick Place. The company claims 70,000 coding machines installed across five continents.

LEAD TECH mounts UV laser above a moving conveyor at Booth LU-8931

The laser marks products in real time as they travel along the belt, at the pace of a production line. The unit combines laser, controller and power supply in one body, so it can be added to an existing line without extra wiring or external hardware, the company says.

It comes in 5W and 10W configurations and marks date codes, batch codes and traceability data. Target substrates include pharmaceutical packaging, food flexible film, PVC tubing and electronic components. It needs no consumables or ink.

Düsseldorf – October 13, 2026 -- WITEX 2027, a new B2B exhibition for the Physical AI value chain, will open at Messe Düsseldorf on May 12–14, 2027, with organizers targeting more than 300 technology providers and 15,000 trade visitors.

The World AIoT Innovation Alliance (WAIA) is organizing the show to connect global technology suppliers with European industrial buyers. Target applications span manufacturing, logistics, energy, healthcare and commercial services.

Four technology segments cover the Physical AI chain from sensing to simulation

The exhibition is divided into four areas: