Supply Chain

Taipei – – September 21, 2026 -- Unitech Electronics Co., Ltd. (TWSE: 3652) has introduced the HT730 Plus Rugged Handheld Terminal, a device built to operate reliably at temperatures as low as -30°C for cold chain logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing operators.

Integrated heater module targets cold storage downtime

The Cold Chain model of the HT730 Plus includes a built-in heater module designed to maintain stable performance at -30°C, addressing common freezer-environment failures such as slow screen response, internal condensation, and data loss. The device carries IP65/IP67 dust and water ingress protection and survives 2.4-meter drops when fitted with a bumper.

San Juan, Puerto Rico – September 21, 2026 -- Crowley has committed a $40,000 sponsorship to expand a workforce-readiness partnership with Junior Achievement Americas (JAA) that will reach more than 350 students in Puerto Rico, introducing them to maritime, logistics and supply chain careers.

Puerto Rico imports roughly 80% of goods through its ports, driving demand for skilled labor

The Puerto Rico Ports Authority estimates that approximately 80% of the island's imports arrive via its ports, a figure that underscores the economic weight of maritime and logistics employment on the island. The new initiative targets students ages 15 to 19 enrolled in career and technical education programs at public high schools.

Delray Beach, Fla. – September 21, 2026 -- Gateway Commercial Finance, LLC has provided a $1.25 million invoice factoring facility to AGV America, a Texas-based provider of autonomous robotics and warehouse automation solutions, to close a working-capital gap created by extended customer payment terms.

New facility replaces a bank credit line that limited borrowing against 90-day invoices

The factoring facility replaced a traditional bank line of credit that offered limited borrowing availability against invoices carrying payment terms of up to 90 days. AGV America, founded in 2020, serves several Fortune 500 manufacturers and distributors, but the creditworthiness of those customers did not translate into greater availability under its prior bank line.

Hyderabad – September 21, 2026 -- The global soybean oil market is set to expand from $43.87 billion in 2026 to $57.66 billion by 2031, a 5.62% compound annual growth rate, according to Mordor Intelligence. Renewable diesel mandates and the EU Deforestation Regulation are reshaping demand and sourcing patterns across the value chain, while new crushing capacity in Brazil and Argentina offsets slower North American expansion.

US biofuel mandates lock in record demand floor for soybean oil

The EPA finalized record-high Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2026 and 2027 in March 2026, with biodiesel and renewable diesel production projected to grow more than 60% versus 2025 levels. The rule strengthens crush margins for domestic processors and guarantees a structural demand base that buffers the market against swings in food consumption, according to the report.

New York – September 21, 2026 -- Hartree Partners has agreed to purchase and market approximately 10,000 metric tons per year of lithium carbonate from Bridge Green Upcycle under an eight-year commercial agreement valued at an estimated $500 million to $1 billion at current market conditions.

Hartree secures exclusive marketing rights across all lithium carbonate grades produced at Bridge Green facilities

The agreement grants Hartree exclusive marketing rights for lithium carbonate produced by Bridge Green during the initial term, with an option to renew for an additional seven years. Hartree also made an equity investment in Bridge Green's bridge financing round, funding the company's planned expansion of battery recycling and critical-mineral refining. First lithium carbonate volumes under the agreement are projected for 2028.

Jiangmen, China – September 21, 2026 -- Jiangmen Meixin Comb Brush Machinery Co., Ltd. is marking its 38th year of operation, having built a client base spanning Germany, the UK, Turkey, Brazil, Peru and Kenya, alongside broader market share across Asia, the Middle East and South America.

Founded in 1988, the company has grown into one of China's established brush-making machinery manufacturers, holding multiple invention, utility and design patents. One-third of its engineering staff carries more than two decades of factory-floor experience, feeding directly into equipment design.

Munich – September 21, 2026 -- Manifold Tech Limited has partnered with FARO INSIGHT, a business of AMETEK, Inc., to launch Rovi i.1, a mobile reality capture device that feeds directly into FARO's Sphere XG Digital Reality Platform.

Rovi i.1 combines real-time localization with 3D Gaussian Splatting for field data capture

The device merges real-time localization, geometry, imagery and 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) technology to generate spatial datasets and photorealistic 3D environments from a single field workflow. It is designed as a mobile, everyday-use tool rather than a standalone capture instrument.

Broomfield, Colo. – September 21, 2026 -- BAE Systems has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the $1.2 billion U.S. Space Force Resilient Missile Warning & Tracking (RMWT) Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Epoch 2 program, clearing the way for full-scale production.

Review clears satellite constellation for hypersonic and ballistic missile tracking

The MEO Epoch 2 program will deliver resilient, space-based missile warning and tracking against ballistic missiles and advanced threats including hypersonic glide vehicles, supporting U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command operations. The CDR confirms the design meets operational, performance and safety requirements, allowing the program to proceed to the next production phase.

Beverly, Mass. – September 21, 2026 -- Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ: ACLS) will exhibit at the 23rd International Conference on Silicon Carbide and Related Materials (ICSCRM 2026), targeting a silicon carbide device market Yole Group projects to reach $11 billion by 2031, expanding at a 20% compound annual growth rate from 2025 to 2031.

Nashville, Tenn. – September 21, 2026 -- Hopper Healthcare, developer of the intelligent healthcare operating system hopperOS, is opening a new office in Nashville, Tennessee, a market with more than 900 healthcare companies. The office, located at 501 Corporate Centre Drive, Suite 300, Franklin, TN 37067, will officially open in October 2026.

Hopper Healthcare currently supports more than two million lives across 33 states and 16 countries

The company's platform serves more than 60 hospitals, health systems and ambulatory surgery centers, plus four specialty hospitals. hopperOS is built to connect clinical, operational and financial systems across the care continuum, unifying data and workflows for provider organizations.