ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- FANUC America, the global leader in industrial automation, today announced the opening of the new FANUC Training Academy, the largest corporate robotics and industrial automation training center in the United States and a significant expansion from the company's previous workforce education facility.

Located in Auburn Hills, Mich., on FANUC America's West Campus, the three-story facility represents an investment of more than $18 million and covers 132,000 square feet, including 56,300 square feet dedicated to training space for technicians, engineers, educators, students and manufacturing professionals.

"Manufacturers across North America are investing in robotics, automation and AI-enabled technologies, but the availability of skilled workers remains one of the industry's greatest challenges," said Mike Cicco, President and CEO of FANUC America. "The new FANUC Training Academy is designed to help close that gap by providing hands-on training. As manufacturing continues to evolve, the opportunities are changing as well. This investment helps prepare the workforce for higher-skilled, technology-driven careers and strengthens domestic manufacturing."

The $18 million Training Academy investment complements the $90 million Michigan manufacturing expansion FANUC announced in March, reinforcing the company's focus on production capacity and workforce development.

"With its $108 million investment to expand operations in Michigan, FANUC is helping strengthen American manufacturing and creating new opportunities for American workers," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. "During my tour of the Auburn Hills facility, I saw firsthand the critical role the FANUC Training Academy plays in equipping American workers with the skills they need to succeed in high-skilled, high-paying jobs in this rapidly evolving industry."

The new Training Academy in Auburn Hills replaces the previous training facility located within FANUC America's headquarters in Rochester Hills, increasing the number of classrooms from 13 to 28. FANUC's training network, which includes the Training Academy and eight other regional facilities, now has the capacity to train approximately 17,500 participants annually and features more than 160 robots and over 40 CNC simulators.

FANUC's workforce development efforts extend well beyond customer training. Through its Certified Education Training (CERT) program, FANUC supports more than 1,700 schools across North America, engaging approximately 60,000 students annually in robotics, CNC and automation education.

"Advanced automation requires advanced skills," said Rich Meyer, general manager of FANUC America's Customer Service Group. "The new FANUC Training Academy gives students, educators and manufacturing professionals unprecedented access to the technologies shaping today's factories. By expanding hands-on learning opportunities, we're helping manufacturers develop the workforce they need while creating pathways to rewarding careers in modern manufacturing."

The project was completed through a Michigan-first construction approach, led by Frank Rewold & Sons and supported by Michigan-based subcontractors. In addition to expanded training capacity, the facility includes a full-service cafeteria, 200 additional parking spaces and future space for a customer support call center scheduled for completion in 2027.

"The Training Academy reinforces metro Detroit's position as a global center for manufacturing innovation, robotics and automation," Cicco said. "The region's concentration of manufacturers, educational institutions and skilled talent makes it an ideal location for a training operation serving customers and students from across North America."

The Training Academy supports a broad range of workforce development initiatives, including training for manufacturers and system integrators, educator certification programs, community college partnerships, high school mechatronics programs and FANUC's extensive educational network. As manufacturers increasingly adopt AI-enabled robotics, expand domestic production and modernize operations, the Training Academy helps develop the skilled workforce needed to support those trends by providing students, educators and industry professionals with hands-on experience using the same industrial automation technologies found in today's manufacturing environments.

FANUC's Ongoing Investment in U.S. Manufacturing and Workforce Development

The opening of the FANUC Training Academy is part of FANUC America's broader commitment to strengthening domestic manufacturing, workforce development and industrial competitiveness in the United States. Recent initiatives include:

- Opening the $110 million FANUC West Campus in Auburn Hills in 2024, expanding FANUC America's footprint to more than 2 million square feet and creating additional capacity to support growing demand for automation solutions across North America.

- Announcing a $90 million investment in a new Michigan manufacturing facility in 2026 that will provide production-ready capacity for potential expansion of U.S.-based robot manufacturing, engineering and advanced manufacturing operations while supporting future growth in automation technologies.

- Advancing workforce development programs across North America through FANUC's CERT program, partnerships with high schools, community colleges and universities, and educator certification initiatives that help prepare students for careers in advanced manufacturing and industrial automation.

- Expanding engagement with SkillsUSA through national robotics competitions, hands-on automation training, industry certifications, equipment donations and programs that expose students to robotics, automation and advanced manufacturing technologies.

- Providing access to careers in advanced manufacturing and industrial automation through the $1 million FANUC Automation Endowed Scholarship Fund, established in 2024 in partnership with the SME Education Foundation, while helping develop the next generation of manufacturing talent through FANUC educational programs that place industrial robots and automation technology in schools and training centers.

About FANUC America Corporation

FANUC America Corporation is a subsidiary of FANUC CORPORATION in Japan and provides industry‑leading CNC systems, robotics, and ROBOMACHINEs. FANUC's innovative technologies help manufacturers maximize productivity, reliability, and profitability. Headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan, FANUC America has facilities throughout North and South America. Learn more at www.fanucamerica.com or explore collaborative robots at crx.fanucamerica.com.

FANUC Academy Media Assets:

FANUC Training Academy Media Kit

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Fanuc America Corporation

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Lightweight fiberglass poles offer long service life, easier installation, and durable performance.

FORTVILLE, Ind., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Thursday Poles has announced the official launch of its EnduraPOLE™ Composite Utility Poles. The company engineered the new line of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) poles for the demanding needs of modern electric distribution systems.

EnduraPOLE™ gives utilities an alternative to traditional wood, steel, and concrete poles for applications where long service life, grid resilience, and installation efficiency are priorities. Its fiberglass composite construction is designed to better withstand many demanding environmental conditions without the rot, corrosion, moisture damage, or biological deterioration that can affect other pole materials over time.

"Thursday Poles LLC was founded to offer utilities advanced FRP (fiberglass reinforced polymer) composite pole options, drawing on our many years of experience in composite design and manufacturing," said Bill Khamis, CEO, Thursday Poles LLC.

"Utilities across North America are under increasing pressure to strengthen their grids while managing severe weather, wildfire exposure, aging infrastructure, and rising project costs," said Ed Vondell, COO of Thursday Poles. "Our EnduraPOLE™ composite poles give utilities a high-performance option designed for long service life, reliability, and installation efficiency. We work directly with utility engineering and operations teams to evaluate applications, support technical reviews, and help move projects from specification through deployment."

Key Features and Benefits of EnduraPOLE™ Composite Utility Poles:

The poles are available in a range of classes, colors and heights for distribution applications and meet or exceed NESC, ANSI, ASTM, and RUS standards.

Availability: EnduraPOLE™ Composite Utility Poles are available for order now. Thursday Poles is working with utilities and electric cooperatives on technical evaluations and applications across distribution systems.

The EnduraPOLE™ PLS-POLE library is available for download at thursdaypoles.com/resources/. For specifications, engineering information, or to schedule a technical presentation, visit www.thursdaypoles.com or contact the Thursday Poles team directly.

About Thursday Poles: Thursday Poles develops fiber-reinforced composite utility poles for electric utility infrastructure. Headquartered in Fortville, Indiana, the company works with utility engineering and operations teams to provide composite pole solutions designed for long service life, resilient performance, and demanding installation environments.

SOURCE Thursday Poles

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EAST DUBUQUE, Ill., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Crescent Electric Supply Company, one of the nation's largest independent distributors of electrical hardware and supplies, today announced that Cindi Evans has been appointed Chief Revenue Officer, effective October 16, 2026.

Evans brings more than 25 years of commercial and enterprise leadership experience across distribution, food service and consumer products across public, private and private-equity-backed organizations. She has a strong track record of driving profitable growth, leading transformation, building high-performing teams, and strengthening customer-focused commercial organizations.

Evans has held executive leadership roles at TriMark USA and Sysco, and most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer of Whitsons Culinary Group. Evans spent nearly a decade with W.W. Grainger, in senior leadership roles.

As Chief Revenue Officer, Evans will lead Crescent's enterprise revenue strategy, focused on accelerating profitable growth, deepening customer and supplier relationships, and strengthening commercial execution.

"I'm excited to join Crescent and a team with such a strong legacy, culture, and commitment to its customers. Throughout my career, I've seen that sustainable growth starts with the customer and is powered by great people. I look forward to listening, learning, and working alongside the Crescent team to build on that strong foundation and shape the company's next chapter of growth."

Penny Cotner, Crescent Electric Supply Company CEO said, "We are thrilled to bring Cindi's experience, leadership style, and insights to the Crescent team, and look forward to continuing our growth journey with her at the helm on our revenue functions."

Evans holds an Executive MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and undergraduate degrees in Marketing and Management from the University of Houston.

About Crescent

Based in East Dubuque, Illinois, Crescent Electric Supply Company is one of the nation's largest independent distributors of electrical hardware and supplies. The company has more than 140 branches in 29 states, serving contractors, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and the maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) needs of commercial, industrial, institutional and utility customers. In addition to the Crescent Electric brand, customers are served by BA Supply in Missouri, Mesco Electrical Supply in Ohio, National Electric Supply in New Mexico, Womack Electric Supply in Virginia and North Carolina, Stoneway Electric in Washington and Idaho, and Lowe Electric in Georgia and South Carolina.

SOURCE Crescent Electric Supply Company

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- New pre- and post-market sessions bring more access to U.S.-listed options

- Trading launched today with options on 24 single stocks and 5 ETFs

- Several global brokers are supporting the launch

CHICAGO, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), a leading global markets operator and pioneer in equity and index derivatives, today announced select multi-listed equity and exchange-traded fund (ETF) options are available to trade during extended pre-market and post-market sessions on its Cboe Options Exchange (C1). C1 is currently the only U.S. options exchange offering pre- and post-market index options sessions and is now expanding trading hours for select U.S. equity single-stock and ETF options.

Trading of select single-stock and ETF options is now available during a pre-market session from 7:30 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. ET and a post-market session from 4:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday, covering some of the most actively traded and liquid symbols, including the Magnificent 10 stocks and other widely followed U.S.-listed names plus major ETFs. The full list of underlying symbols is: AAPL, AMD, AMZN, AVGO, BABA, BAC, F, GLD, GOOG, GOOGL, HOOD, INTC, IWM, META, MRVL, MSFT, MU, NFLX, NOK, NVDA, ORCL, PFE, PLTR, QQQ, SNDK, SPY, TSLA, TSM, XLF.

Through September, options on these names accounted for approximately 53% of average daily U.S.-listed options volume in 2026.

"Building on our 53-year history of innovation and our expertise in offering expanded hours for our flagship index options, Cboe led this important initiative with extensive input from retail and institutional participants including our U.S. and non-U.S. broker partners, whose insights were critical to a successful launch today," said Rob Hocking, Global Head of Derivatives at Cboe. "The shift to 24x5 trading across asset classes is only accelerating, and that's been apparent in the demand for Cboe's index options during non-traditional hours, particularly leading up to the U.S. market open when economic data and corporate announcements are commonly released. Now, with the addition of extended trading hours for options on single stocks and ETFs, global investors will be able to manage positions and risk with more flexibility in many of the names that drive today's market."

Several brokers globally are offering or plan to offer access to the sessions.

Josh Krugman, SVP, brokerage at Fidelity Investments, said: "Options have long been an important tool for Fidelity investors seeking to manage risk and pursue market opportunities. Cboe's extended trading hours represent a meaningful evolution for the options market, giving investors greater flexibility and choice in how and when they engage with these strategies."

Milan Galik, Chief Executive Officer of Interactive Brokers, said: "Markets move around the clock, but trading hours for US equity options have remained limited. We welcome Cboe's initiative to narrow that gap, giving investors around the world more flexibility to trade and manage risk outside regular US market hours."

Neil McDonald, CEO of Moomoo US, said: "We're proud to partner with Cboe to offer our customers access to extended trading hours for select equity options from day one. Earnings announcements and economic developments don't follow the market's trading schedule. This expansion gives retail investors more flexibility to manage their positions and respond to market-moving news before the opening bell and after the close."

Abhishek Fatehpuria, VP of Product Management at Robinhood, said: "Many of our customers are early risers who want to catch up on the news and look for market signals before the opening bell. With Cboe's new extended hours options trading, we're making it easier for customers to trade on their own schedule, both before or after the bell. This is just another example of our commitment to making Robinhood the best place for active traders."

Ian Leong, Chief Executive Officer, Tiger Brokers Singapore, said: "For investors in Singapore, the U.S. pre-market falls in our evening, when much of the news that moves U.S. stocks is released. Our clients have long told us they want greater flexibility to manage their positions around these events, and our partnership with Cboe enables us to deliver on that need. Extending access to selected U.S. equity options is another step in our commitment to innovation and giving clients more choice in how they trade, alongside the education and risk controls needed for trading outside regular hours."

John Bartleman, President and Chief Executive Officer of TradeStation Group, Inc., said: "Cboe's expansion of options trading hours gives traders greater flexibility to respond to market-moving events as they happen. We believe traders deserve access to the markets when opportunity strikes, which is why TradeStation Securities is making extended-hours options trading available to its clients at launch. Clients will be able to act on their strategies in select options before the open and after the close, using the same integrated tools, education, and support they rely on every day across our trading ecosystem."

Peter Laptewicz, CPO, Tradier, said: "Markets don't wait for the opening bell, and neither should our clients. Cboe's GTH equities options session will give Tradier clients the flexibility to react to market-moving events in real time, rather than having to wait for regular trading hours. We're proud to support Cboe in expanding access and opportunity for active traders."

Cboe currently offers near 24x5 trading of several of its proprietary index options in its Global Trading Hours (GTH) (8:15 p.m. ET to 9:25 a.m. ET) and Curb Trading Hours (4:15 p.m. ET to 5:00 p.m. ET) sessions. GTH trading achieved record monthly and quarterly average daily volume in September and the third quarter of 2026.

Cboe's U.S. equities business currently operates trading from 4 a.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, on two of its exchanges, and plans to launch trading 23 hours a day, 5 days a week on its Cboe BZX Exchange on December 6, subject to industry readiness. Cboe will not open a class of options if the underlying security has not opened and will generally halt an options class if its associated underlying security halts.

For more information on the new pre- and post-market options sessions, visit Equity Options Extended Trading Hours FAQ.

About Cboe Global Markets

Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE) is a leading global markets operator with a long history of innovation in equity and index derivatives. Since launching the world's first listed options exchange in 1973, Cboe has pioneered landmark products, including the introduction of S&P 500® index options and the creation of the VIX® Index, the world's leading gauge of market volatility, reshaping how investors manage risk and access opportunity. Today, Cboe operates derivatives, equities, and FX markets, providing trading, clearing, and investment solutions for customers worldwide. To learn more, visit www.cboe.com.

CBOE-C

CBOE-OE

Cboe®, Cboe Global Markets®, and VIX ® are registered trademarks or service marks of Cboe Exchange, Inc and S&P 500® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person must receive a copy of Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD). Copies of the ODD are available from your broker or from The Options Clearing Corporation, 125 S. Franklin Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60606.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates do not recommend or make any representation as to possible benefits from any securities, futures or investments, or third-party products or services. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. is not affiliated with S&P or the third-party sites referenced in this press release. Investors should undertake their own due diligence regarding their securities, futures, and investment practices. This press release speaks only as of this date. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. disclaims any duty to update the information herein.

Nothing in this announcement should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any securities or futures in any jurisdiction where the offer or solicitation would be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this communication constitutes tax, legal or investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell a security, future, or other financial product. Investors must consult their tax adviser or legal counsel for advice and information concerning their particular situation.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates make no warranty, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, any warranties as of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, completeness or timeliness, the results to be obtained by recipients of the products and services described herein, or as to the ability of the indices referenced in this press release to track the performance of their respective securities, generally, or the performance of the indices referenced in this press release or any subset of their respective securities, and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies, errors. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates have not calculated, composed or determined the constituents or weightings of the securities that comprise the third-party indices referenced in this press release and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies or errors in any of the indices referenced in this press release.

There are important risks associated with transacting in any of the Cboe Company products discussed here. Before engaging in any transactions in those products, it is important for market participants to carefully review the disclosures and disclaimers contained at: https://www.cboe.com/us_disclaimers/.

Automated whole blood processing will expand platelet production capacity and help meet growing hospital demand

LAKEWOOD, Colo. and MILWAUKEE, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Versiti has become the 10th U.S. blood center to adopt the Reveos™ Automated Blood Processing System from Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT). Combined with the Lumia™ Software Platform, Reveos will allow the blood center to expand its capacity to produce platelets from whole blood donations and help strengthen the blood supply for hospitals and patients across five states.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Versiti is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to improve blood health and help ensure hospitals have the blood products patients need. Across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, Versiti collects and prepares blood products for hospitals and patients throughout the region, connecting the generosity of donors with lifesaving care for patients and communities.

Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023, Reveos is the only whole blood automation device available in the U.S. that separates whole blood into red blood cells, plasma and platelets in a single, fully automated centrifugation cycle. Historically, separating platelets from whole blood donations has relied on manual, multi-step processes that require significant hands-on time and can introduce variability.[1] Reveos automates much of this workflow, helping blood centers produce more consistent platelet pools while optimizing staff time.

Platelets are a critical blood component used to support patients undergoing cancer treatment, surgery and emergency care.[2] Because they have a short shelf life, maintaining an adequate platelet supply remains a persistent challenge for blood centers nationwide.[3]

"For patients undergoing cancer treatment, surgery or emergency care, having platelets available when needed can make a critical difference," said Karen Smith, Vice President of Blood Production and Distribution at Versiti. "Reveos helps us make the most of every blood donation by expanding our ability to produce platelets more efficiently and meet hospital demand. It's an investment in getting patients the blood products they need when they need them."

Versiti is expanding how it prepares platelets for hospitals and patients. In addition to collecting platelets directly from donors through apheresis, Versiti is adding automated technology that can recover platelets from whole blood donations. This added capability gives Versiti greater flexibility to supplement apheresis collections and help meet growing hospital demand for platelets.[4]

"Ten U.S. blood centers have now chosen Reveos to modernize whole blood processing, and each implementation represents progress towards a more flexible and resilient blood supply," said Maura Lienesch, Vice President, Commercial at Terumo BCT. "Versiti's reach across five states makes this an especially meaningful milestone, with the potential to help more hospitals and patients benefit from a stronger, more flexible platelet supply."

- Cid J, Comasòlivas N, Pérez-Aliaga A, Illingworth N, Cardoso M. Comparison of automated versus semi-automated whole blood processing systems: A systematic review. Vox Sang. 2023;118(4):263-271. https://doi.org/10.1111/vox.13400

- American Red Cross. What are platelets? Accessed September 16, 2026. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/types-of-blood-donations/platelet-donation/donate-platelets-for-cancer.html  

- Stubbs JR, Homer MJ, Silverman T, Cap AP. The current state of the platelet supply in the US and proposed options to decrease the risk of critical shortages. Transfusion. 2020;60:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.16140.

- Kracalik I, Sapiano MRP, Wild RC, et al. Supplemental findings of the 2021 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey. Transfusion. 2023;63(sSuppl 4):S19-S42. doi: 10.1111/trf.17509.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/trf.17509?src=getftr&utm_source=sciencedirect_contenthosting&getft_integrator=sciencedirect_contenthosting

About the Reveos Automated Blood Processing System

The Reveos Automated Blood Processing System is designed to help blood centers maximize the impact of every donation for patients facing trauma, cancer, surgery and other medical procedures. By automating how whole blood is processed, Reveos helps blood centers improve consistency, operate more efficiently and support a reliable blood supply for hospitals and patients.

Traditionally, whole blood units have been separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets through manual, multi-step processes that require significant hands-on time and can introduce variability.1 Reveos simplifies this workflow by automating key steps — including balancing, centrifugation, expression, sealing and data capture — eliminating more than half of the 26 manual steps.

By standardizing blood component production, Reveos supports a more dependable blood supply. The system has been used globally for more than a decade.

Products and services are available in selected areas subject to regulatory approval in each country.

Reveos™ and Lumia™ are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Terumo BCT, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. See TerumoBCT.com/Trademarks for details.

About Versiti

Versiti, a national leader in blood health innovation, was formed with the mission to improve the health of patients and enable the success of our healthcare partners nationally. Versiti provides innovative, value-added solutions in the fields of transfusion medicine, transplantation, and blood-related diseases to meet the needs of customers. The collective efforts across Versiti result in improved patient outcomes, expanded access to care, and cost efficiencies for healthcare systems nationwide. For more information, visit versiti.org.

About Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is a medical technology company. Our products, software and services enable customers to collect and prepare blood and cells to help treat challenging diseases and conditions. Our employees worldwide believe in the potential of blood and cells to do even more for patients than they do today. This belief inspires our innovation and strengthens our collaboration with customers.

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies' customers include blood centers, hospitals, therapeutic apheresis clinics, cell collection and processing organizations, researchers and private medical practices. Our customers are based in over 160 countries across the globe. We have 750+ granted patents, with more than 150 additionally pending.

We have global headquarters in Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A., along with five regional headquarters, eight manufacturing sites and seven innovation centers across the globe. Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is a subsidiary of Terumo Corporation (TSE: 4543), a global leader in medical technology.

SOURCE Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies

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StandbyX helps U.S. banks streamline and digitize their SBLC flows through easy and quick cloud-enabled implementations, without the cost and complexity of deploying a full trade finance platform.

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at Money 20/20 in Las Vegas, Finastra announced Finastra StandbyX, a cloud-enabled solution designed to help U.S. banks digitize and automate standby letter of credit (SBLC) processing while strengthening risk management and operational efficiency.

SBLCs remain a widely used instrument across both trade and non-trade transactions in the U.S. While larger institutions typically manage SBLCs, alongside broader trade finance operations on platforms such as Trade Innovation, many regional and mid-sized banks continue to rely on manual or semi-manual processes. This can create operational inefficiencies, increase risk, and limit scalability.

Purpose-built for SBLCs, Finastra StandbyX provides a streamlined SaaS deployment model that enables banks to modernize their operations without implementing a full trade finance platform. Designed for rapid implementation, the solution minimizes integration requirements and testing effort while offering a competitive total cost of ownership.

The launch forms part of Finastra's ongoing investment in its trade solutions portfolio, helping financial institutions modernize operations, improve efficiency, unlock new growth opportunities, and deliver better customer and user experiences.

How Finastra StandbyX helps banks in the U.S.

- Provides proven standby letter of credit capabilities, through the SBLC module of Finastra's Trade Innovation platform, which is trusted by more than 150 banks globally, helping institutions digitize operations, support growth, and strengthen risk management.

- Offers a SaaS deployment model that enables banks with low to moderate transaction volumes to implement quickly and begin realizing value sooner.

- Reduces operational complexity through streamlined integration and testing requirements.

- It is backed by Finastra's decades of experience supporting mission-critical banking systems for financial institutions worldwide.

Expert perspective: Digital trade for more banks

"Many U.S. banks have traditionally managed standby letters of credit through manual processes or workarounds," said Vinay Mendonca, Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance and Corporate Channels at Finastra. While transaction volumes may be relatively low, the value of these instruments is often significant, making effective risk management essential. Finastra StandbyX gives banks access to proven SaaS technology that digitizes SBLC processing without the need to deploy a full trade finance platform. By making trade finance technology more accessible, we are helping a broader range of institutions improve operational efficiency, strengthen controls, and deliver a better customer experience. This is an exciting step in the evolution of our trade proposition."

Finastra StandbyX builds on the proven capabilities of Trade Innovation, Finastra's trade finance platform that helps financial institutions automate workflows, manage risk, and improve operational efficiency. As part of Finastra's strategy to deliver modular, cloud-enabled and API-first solutions, StandbyX extends access to digital trade functionality for a wider range of banks.

To learn more visit: Trade Innovation Trade Finance Software | Finastra. Visit Finastra at Money 20/20 on stand 17079.

About Finastra

Finastra provides the mission-critical software that powers thousands of financial institutions in more than 100 countries - including many of the world's leading banks. Its technology helps financial institutions move money as well as extend and service loans that financial services businesses and consumers rely on every day. Backed by Vista Equity Partners, Finastra combines deep financial services expertise with secure, reliable and scalable technology to help customers modernize operations, accelerate innovation, and grow their businesses in a rapidly evolving industry. Visit Finastra or follow Finastra on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Finastra

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Acquisition expands System One's critical infrastructure capabilities with front-end project planning, consulting, and project-based talent resourcing serving data center, energy transition, and advanced manufacturing markets; GMP to operate as a System One company.

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- System One announced its acquisition of GMP (Global Management Partners, LLC), an independent provider of capital project planning and consulting services supporting owners across data center & advanced manufacturing, energy & energy transition, and process & industrial markets. The combination enhances System One's Critical Infrastructure capabilities spanning project development, project delivery, site services and alliances, and project-based talent resourcing.

For more than a decade, GMP's project professionals — project managers, construction managers, and project engineers hand-selected for their track record — have delivered project concept and feasibility, project definition and planning, and execution support that help owners bring capital projects from strategy to delivery with clarity, control, and confidence.

GMP will operate as a System One company, aligning offerings within System One's critical infrastructure sector while continuing to provide the same high-quality expertise and client service. Price Howard, the current owner, will remain in place as GMP's President.

"GMP's expertise in front-end project planning and consulting is highly complementary to System One's Critical Infrastructure platform. Together, we strengthen our ability to support owners with proactive planning, specialized technical resources, and disciplined project execution," said Greg Lignelli, System One President & COO.

"System One provides the scale and capabilities that allow GMP to expand our impact while continuing to deliver the right projects with certainty, through the lens of our clients. The combination brings together two organizations with complementary strengths, shared values, and a common focus on project success," said Price Howard, GMP President.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

About GMP

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Greer, South Carolina, with an additional office in Houston, Texas, GMP provides capital project planning, front-end project development, and delivery services, including engineering, procurement and project & construction management to owners across data center & advanced manufacturing, energy & energy transition, and process & industrial markets. Learn more at gmpco.com.

About System One

System One is a leading provider of specialized, highly technical outsourced services and workforce solutions to critical infrastructure, technology, clinical & science, and government sectors. We are a trusted and essential partner to large private and public organizations—mobilizing specialized resources and expertise to execute complex, mission-critical programs. Founded more than 40 years ago, System One operates in over 50 locations and employs more than 10,000 professionals across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. More information is available at systemone.com.

Contact:

Marketing

System One

813.337.0545

[email protected]

SOURCE System One

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Tomorrow.Mobility 2026 will gather over 240 international experts in its conferences

BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobility thinker Lukas Neckermann, Spain's Secretary General for Innovation Teresa Riesgo and Axel Volkery, from the European Commission's DG MOVE, will be among the headline speakers at Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress (TMWC), to be held from 3-5 November at Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via venue. Co-organised by Fira de Barcelona and EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union, the congress will bring together more than 240 experts from cities, governments and companies to accelerate the shift to sustainable urban mobility.

Neckermann, who coined the term "The Mobility Revolution" with his first book, is co-founder of the Urban Places Lab and author of four books. Teresa Riesgo, Secretary General for Innovation at the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and President of the CDTI, will join a roundtable on how mobility innovators can navigate an era of uncertainty. Axel Volkery, Head of the Innovation and Urban Mobility unit at DG MOVE, will discuss how public transport must evolve with changing user habits to remain attractive, accessible and relevant.

Other confirmed speakers include Daryl Barron, Lord Mayor of Dublin; Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General of POLIS; Lisandro Perotti, Undersecretary for Mobility Management and Control of Buenos Aires; Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency; and Tanja Dik, CEO of the Johan Cruijff Arena.

Public transport, the backbone of the daily commute

A survey by EIT Urban Mobility among 1,503 adults in Barcelona, Munich and Bucharest places public transport at the heart of urban life: 56% of respondents use it to commute to work or study, ahead of car-based transport (52%), and those who do are twice as likely to include walking in their journey. Safety, reliability and comfort are what commuters value most.

The largest gaps between what commuters value and what they experience concern traffic density for car users and service reliability for public transport, and more than two in five respondents (41%) say they feel completely drained when they arrive home. The challenge for cities, and for the congress, is to share knowledge and explore innovative solutions for more liveable cities.

TMWC will be held alongside Smart City Expo World Congress, Tomorrow.Blue Economy, the Barcelona Deep Tech Summit and the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress, which together will gather more than 1,100 exhibitors and over 27,000 attendees.

SOURCE Fira de Barcelona

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New intelligence capabilities help fleets quantify savings, optimize costs and gain earlier visibility into operational issues.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PrePass®, the leading provider of weigh station bypass, fleet toll intelligence and optimization, and safety and compliance solutions, today launched the first phase of PrePass Intelligence, helping fleets unlock unrealized value from their bypass and toll activity. The new fleet intelligence capabilities help commercial fleets unlock greater value from bypass and toll activity by surfacing insights that reduce costs, improve operational outcomes, optimize program performance and identify potential issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Fleets already know when a bypass occurs or a toll is charged. The harder task is determining what those events mean to the business, whether they reveal an opportunity or problem, and what action should follow. That often requires fleets to analyze large amounts of data across separate systems.

PrePass Intelligence closes that gap. The initial release uses bypass, safety, toll, and available vehicle GPS data to help fleets quantify the value of weigh station bypass, optimize toll spend and identify exceptions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Forecast CSA also provides earlier visibility into potential fleet safety and compliance impacts.

"A bypass, a toll transaction or an inspection is just an event. The real value comes from understanding what those events mean to the business," said Chas Wurster, Chief Technology Officer at PrePass. "Because PrePass operates across bypass, tolling and compliance, we see operational signals that often exist in separate systems. PrePass Intelligence helps fleets understand and focus on the most meaningful events, what they mean to the business and where action is needed."

Key highlights of the offering include:

- Connect safety data to operational decisions. By unifying inspection, violation, and bypass insights, PrePass helps fleets identify patterns, anticipate potential ISS score impacts, and act sooner across safety and operations.

- See the true value of bypass. Fleet-specific calculations show driver time, fuel and estimated operating costs saved based on actual bypass activity rather than industry averages. 

- Identify additional bypass opportunities. Fleets can see where adding eligible vehicles, transponders or the PrePass mobile app could generate additional savings. 

- Optimize toll spend. Driven by AI Toll Insights, toll-rate savings, violation savings, dispute credits and volume discounts are consolidated into one view of toll program value. 

- Recover overcharges automatically. PrePass identifies likely maximum-rate toll overcharges and disputes eligible transactions on the customer's behalf. 

- Spot operational issues sooner. Bypass, toll and available GPS data are correlated to identify transponder mismatches, assignment issues and possible fraudulent or unauthorized activity. 

- Predict potential compliance impacts. Forecast CSA estimates how points from recent inspection activity may affect a fleet's ISS score before those changes appear in standard reporting.

"Fleet theft continues to evolve, and tolling transponders have become another target," said Patrick Gates, Senior Manager, Operations Equipment, Estes Express Lines. "PrePass Intelligence helps surface potential anomalies and suspicious toll activity that might otherwise go unnoticed, giving our team the visibility needed to investigate potential issues, make informed decisions and take corrective action."

Measurable Value of PrePass Intelligence

PrePass Intelligence builds on bypass, safety and toll intelligence capabilities already delivering measurable value: 

- More than 1.2 billion bypasses and $12.4 billion in estimated operational savings. Since 1997, PrePass has helped fleets save 584 million gallons of fuel and 136 million driver hours - the equivalent of nearly two million workweeks returned to the industry.

- More than $7 million in Express Lane spend surfaced monthly. This visibility helps fleets understand how premium route usage affects toll spend and routing decisions.

- More than $1 million in potential unauthorized toll activity identified in a single month. By comparing toll and available GPS data, PrePass helps fleets detect unauthorized or fraudulent transactions that might otherwise go unnoticed.

PrePass Intelligence is available now at no additional cost to customers using the company's Bypass and Toll solutions and is part of a broader strategy to help fleets derive greater value from the data flowing through their connected roadside moments. The offering will be showcased at the American Trucking Associations' Management Conference & Exhibition in Charlotte, North Carolina, October 19 - 20, 2026, at Booth 18013. For more information, visit https://www.prepass.com/.

Additional resources:

PrePass Mile Marker 2026 Report: The National Bypass Impact Index

About PrePass

PrePass® develops technology, data and insights that help fleets operate more safely, efficiently and profitably. Through weigh station bypass, toll intelligence and compliance solutions, PrePass helps customers reduce costs, improve safety outcomes and make better operational decisions. Operated by the PrePass Safety Alliance, PrePass is uniquely positioned at the intersection of fleets, states and transportation partners, where it combines technology innovation and public-private collaboration to improve the movement of freight and advance the future of commercial transportation across North America. Learn more at www.prepass.com.

SOURCE PrePass Safety Alliance

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Board launches comprehensive search for CEO to drive product innovation and scale Net Health's AI-forward mandate

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Net Health, an AI-native specialty platform serving clinicians across the care continuum, today announced that Ron Books is transitioning from his role as CEO to become executive chairman of the board, replacing Donna Morea, who remains on the board as a director.

Books, who is returning to ECI Solutions as its CEO, will continue to guide Net Health's long-term strategic vision from the board level. To ensure operational continuity, Net Health's COO, Patrick Rooney, has been appointed interim CEO. The Board has launched a comprehensive search for a new CEO, prioritizing candidates with a proven track record of driving technological innovation and scaling enterprise-native artificial intelligence across specialized clinical platforms.

"It has been a privilege to lead Net Health, and the people here are the reason," said Books. "Returning to ECI was a personal decision, and a hard one. I am grateful to this team, and I have complete confidence in Patrick as the Board and I lead the search for our next CEO."

Books became CEO in October 2023. During his tenure, Net Health completed its migration to Microsoft Azure and added several key acquisitions, including Alinea and Limber Health. He reorganized the company into divisions led by dedicated presidents and led the creation of its mission statement: Technology built for the moments that matter.

"Ron joined Net Health to build a foundation for growth, and the platform, portfolio, and divisional structure are stronger because of his leadership," said Morea. "I enjoyed leading the board through a period of significant modernization and expansion into new markets. I look forward to continuing that work as a director, alongside Ron, Patrick, and the executive team. Momentum continues."

About Net Health

For over 30 years, Net Health has gathered specialty knowledge shaped by human expertise and informed by patient outcomes. Today, this depth of knowledge is the foundation for an AI-native specialty platform that delivers intelligence to clinicians across the care continuum, enabling them to be present with patients during the moments that matter. Net Health is a trusted source of specialty solutions for more than 34,000 healthcare organizations, and is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, Level Equity, and Silversmith Capital Partners.

SOURCE Net Health Systems, Inc.

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