Supply Chain

Delray Beach, Fla. – September 18, 2026 -- The global transformer oil market is projected to grow from $2.18 billion in 2026 to $2.87 billion by 2031, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 5.6%, according to MarketsandMarkets. The market stood at $2.07 billion in 2025.

Grid modernization and renewable integration drive new demand

Utilities and grid operators are accelerating investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure, replacing aging transformers and expanding high-voltage networks to evacuate renewable power. This buildout is fueling demand for insulating fluids used for electrical insulation and heat dissipation in both new and refurbished transformers.

Manassas, Va. and Wichita, Kan. – September 18, 2026 -- Electra and The Atlas Group have signed an airframe manufacturing agreement for the EL9 Ultra Short aircraft, with Atlas set to build and assemble airframes for Electra's flight test and certification program starting this month.

Atlas begins airframe production this month with first deliveries targeted for 2027

Work commences at Atlas facilities immediately, feeding Electra's certification campaign for the nine-passenger hybrid-electric EL9, which is designed to take off and land in as little as 150 feet. The two companies will jointly mature production architecture and reduce manufacturing risk ahead of scaled output.

"Realizing this vision requires more than a breakthrough aircraft; it requires the ability to build and deliver it with the consistency and scale of an advanced production system," said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra.

San Diego – September 18, 2026 -- Wildfire Systems has tripled quarterly booking volume on its Wildfire Commerce Network (WCN), with 235 unique advertisers now recording returns on ad spend of up to 72x.

Advertiser growth accelerates as brands chase measurable, closed-loop results

The San Diego-based loyalty and consumer insights platform said the surge is driven by advertisers in banking, fintech and travel who are increasingly targeting WCN's high-intent shopper audiences across client networks including KashKick, Shop Your Way and Travel Arrow. Top advertisers are rebooking five to seven times per year, while a growing pool of new brands is launching campaigns on the network. In the second quarter of 2026, 54% of WCN bookings came from net-new advertisers, according to Wildfire.

Ottawa, ON -- Claigan Environmental will run two identical webinars on September 18, 2026, to help manufacturers budget for restricted materials compliance requirements taking effect in 2027.

Two sessions scheduled same day due to expected demand

Claigan will hold back-to-back one-hour sessions at 10am and 2pm on September 23, each including a question-and-answer segment. The company cited anticipated demand as the reason for scheduling duplicate webinars rather than a single event.

Atlanta – September 18, 2026 -- USG Water Solutions has appointed Christina Coen as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2026, succeeding John Flaugher, who moves into a strategic advisory role.

Coen brings chemicals and agtech leadership to water infrastructure

Coen joins from UPL Corp, where she served as Chief Transformation Officer, R&D and Sustainability Lead, and previously as Chief Marketing Officer overseeing global P&L for a multi-billion-dollar portfolio. Her prior roles span senior leadership positions at Nalco Water (an Ecolab Company), FMC Corporation, and Dow Chemical, covering R&D, transformation, marketing, and commercial leadership in agricultural and specialty chemicals.

Longmont, Colo. – September 18, 2026 -- Stored Energy Systems (SENS) says its PowerCab2 platform can save data center operators an estimated $20 million to $80 million on a typical 1 gigawatt campus by eliminating dedicated battery rooms and consolidating hundreds of discrete DC power components into a single factory-tested system.

PowerCab2 removes over 300 square feet of battery-room space per structure

The integrated platform typically eliminates more than 300 square feet of dedicated battery-room space from a power distribution center (PDC) or E-house. At an estimated installed cost of $850 per square foot, SENS calculates capital savings of roughly $255,000 per structure.

Brooklyn, N.Y. – September 18, 2026 -- it's electric has been selected by the City of New York and the New York Power Authority to build a permanent curbside electric vehicle charging network spanning all five boroughs, replacing the city's pilot infrastructure with 700 chargers over the next three years.

City expands charging points eightfold from current pilot network

The NYC Department of Transportation's PlugNYC program will grow from 88 Level 2 charging points to 700 under the contract, procured through the Department of Citywide Administrative Services in partnership with the New York Power Authority.

Horsham, Pa. – September 18, 2026 -- Augmentir has launched two conversational AI interfaces, Augie Command Center and Augie Procedure Studio, that let manufacturing staff build workflows, procedures, and AI agents by describing them in plain language rather than navigating software menus. The company unveiled the tools at IMTS 2026, positioning them as a replacement for traditional software navigation on factory floors.

Command Center Lets Frontline Leaders Deploy AI Agents Through Conversation

Augie Command Center allows users to analyze live operational data, build dashboards, schedule work, and create Industrial AI Agents without report builders, SQL, or coding. The system generates charts, insights, and recommended actions conversationally, then chains workflows, procedures, training, and integrations into a single deployed response rather than requiring separate tools for each step.

San Francisco – September 18, 2026 -- GrubMarket has launched a new USDA Pricing AI Analyst, giving produce distributors and wholesalers conversational access to U.S. Department of Agriculture market pricing data for fruits and vegetables.

New tool joins GrubAssist AI platform alongside three existing analysts

The USDA Pricing AI Analyst is the latest addition to GrubMarket's GrubAssist AI lineup, which already includes the Business Analyst, Inventory Analyst, and Cash Flow Analyst. It draws on data from the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, covering fruits and vegetables sold across the United States, and combines that with a distributor's own sales and purchasing records when connected to their ERP system.

Hallandale Beach – September 18, 2026 -- NextPlat Corp (NASDAQ: NXPL) said its UK subsidiary Global Telesat Communications Ltd (GTC) has signed an agreement to sell satellite-enabled communications and tracking devices on Decathlon's digital marketplace, giving the satcom retailer entry into 20 countries.

GTC gains direct access to Decathlon's outdoor and sports shopper base

The catalog will feature products running on Globalstar, Iridium and Inmarsat networks, targeting activities such as hiking, cycling, sailing, camping, skiing and expeditions where mobile coverage is unreliable. Decathlon operates more than 1,700 stores across over 70 countries and regions and employs more than 100,000 people, founded in 1976.