Novo's Ozempic® (semaglutide) 2 mg associated with lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (death, heart attack, and stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes compared to switching to Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), in real-world analysis at EASD

- Adults with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide injection 1 mg, whose dose was increased to 2 mg, were associated with a statistically significant 6% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), compared to switching to tirzepatide (up to 15 mg)1

- Retrospective real-world analysis of claims data for 636,525 adults living with type 2 diabetes compared outcomes for those escalated to semaglutide 2 mg versus switching to tirzepatide1

- Results from the COMPETE SWITCH CV study provide insights into GLP-1 RA treatment adjustment in adults with type 2 diabetes

PLAINSBORO, N.J. and BAGSVÆRD, Denmark, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Nordisk today announced new retrospective real-world evidence in adults with type 2 diabetes treated with once-weekly semaglutide injection 1 mg. In the analysis, adults who escalated to semaglutide injection 2 mg were associated with a statistically significant 6% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including all-cause death, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and stroke, than those who switched to tirzepatide up to 15 mg (Adjusted HR 1.06; 95% CI 1.04-1.08; P=0.005).1 These findings were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting 2026 in Milan, Italy.

"For people with type 2 diabetes, switching therapies or adjusting dosages are often necessary to achieve glycemic control — still, cardiovascular risk should also remain an important consideration," said Michael Radin, MD, executive medical director at Novo. "These data may help inform healthcare professionals facing a critical challenge: whether to increase the dosage or switch to another therapy for an adult with type 2 diabetes who is already treated with semaglutide. These real-world findings can help provide insights into how intensification strategies may affect cardiovascular outcomes as an important factor in patient care."

In this analysis of 636,525 adults with type 2 diabetes receiving semaglutide 1 mg, 67.2% remained on semaglutide 1 mg, whereas 29.2% of patients had escalated their dose to semaglutide 2 mg, and 3.6% had switched to tirzepatide within 365 days after the index date (the date of the first prescription fill for semaglutide 1 mg). At the 720-day follow up, fewer patients remained on semaglutide 1 mg (57.4%), reflecting continued treatment intensification over time, with 36.9% escalating to semaglutide 2 mg and 5.7% switching to tirzepatide.1 After switching to an initial tirzepatide dose of either 2.5 mg or 5 mg, clinicians had the flexibility to titrate across the tirzepatide dosing regimen, where approximately 31% of patients who switched to tirzepatide reached ≥10 mg dose during follow-up.1 A subset of the study cohort evaluated patients with type 2 diabetes and more than one HbA1c and /or weight measurement at baseline and demonstrated consistent results (Adjusted HR, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.01-1.13], P0.035).1 Safety outcomes were not assessed in this analysis.

"Treatment intensification is a common challenge we face in clinical practice, particularly for adults with type 2 diabetes who have not yet met their treatment goals but are otherwise tolerating their current regimen well," said Kathryn S. Tierney, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, Middlesex Health MultiSpecialty Group in Middletown, CT. "These real-world findings suggest that escalating to semaglutide 2 mg may be a meaningful option for appropriate patients, as intensification of treatment was associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events than those who switched therapies. The analysis reinforces the importance of considering cardiovascular outcomes, alongside glycemic management, when making treatment decisions."

These findings build upon an earlier analysis of these data, which examined HbA1c and weight loss.2

Real-world study data can provide valuable insights into how treatments work outside of controlled clinical trial settings. Real-world data analyses also have several limitations; results may reflect residual unmeasured confounding, while associations can be demonstrated, causal relationships cannot be definitively established. Additionally, use of retrospective claims data may exclude patients with intermittent coverage or underserved populations, potentially limiting generalizability.3

It is important to note that semaglutide injection contains a Boxed Warning for possible thyroid tumors, including cancer, and should not be used in those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain, and constipation.

About COMPETE SWITCH Cardiovascular (CV)

COMPETE SWITCH is a retrospective cohort study using Komodo Health's Healthcare Map with linked laboratory results, a large US healthcare claims database (January 2018–September 2025). The study evaluated real-world treatment patterns among adults with type 2 diabetes receiving semaglutide 1 mg, specifically comparing outcomes after dose escalation to semaglutide 2 mg versus switching to tirzepatide.2 The cardiovascular component of COMPETE SWITCH assessed MACE using an intention-to-treat approach and included 185,705 adults who escalated to semaglutide 2 mg and 23,104 adults who switched to tirzepatide all of whom were followed from the point of either dose escalation or switching or end of study period.1 Overall, the collective COMPETE SWITCH analyses offer real-world insight into cardiometabolic outcomes associated with treatment strategies and decisions in adults with type 2 diabetes. Because treatment effects may vary across individuals (low or high responders), heterogeneity may have significant impact on studies of dose titration and multiple sequential dosing.

Novo is the global healthcare company that believes lasting health starts now. For over a century, we've combined leading scientific expertise with a deep understanding of people's lives. We develop treatments and support that help millions of people make progress they can see, feel and sustain now and in the future. Every day, over 67,000 employees around the world advance our purpose to drive change for lasting health. Through our partnerships, programs and investments, we're working to prevent disease, expand access to treatments and reduce our environmental impact to help even more people live healthier lives. In the United States, Novo has a 40-year presence, is headquartered in New Jersey and employs approximately 10,000 people. For more information, visit novonordisk.com and novonordisk-us.com and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, X and YouTube.

OZEMPIC, NOVO NORDISK, NOVO, and the Apis Bull Logo are trademarks owned by Novo Nordisk A/S.

All other trademarks, registered or unregistered, are the property of their respective owners.

© 2026 Novo Nordisk All rights reserved. US26OZM00636 September 2026

References

- COMPETE SWITCH CV. Novo Nordisk Data on file.

- Fang G, Muhammad C, Swift C, et al. Cardiometabolic outcomes in adults with T2D treated with 1 mg semaglutide who titrate to 2 mg semaglutide vs switch to tirzepatide. Poster presentation at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions; 5-8 June 2026, New Orleans, LA.

- Dang A. Real-world evidence: a primer. Pharm Med 37, 25–36 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40290-022-00456-6

SOURCE Novo Nordisk

Share this article

Massachusetts Deepens Commitment to Road Safety with Mobile Wrong-Way Detection Trailers

TAPCO's mobile trailers are helping MassDOT make wrong-way driving the crash that never happened, giving other agencies a model to follow

BROWN DEER, Wis., Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TAPCO, a leading provider of roadway safety technology for state and local transportation agencies, today announced Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has deployed 14 of TAPCO's Wrong-Way Detection Trailers as part of a broader, phased effort to detect and stop wrong-way driving before it becomes a crash. MassDOT's rollout comes amid a broader national reckoning with wrong-way driving, with Texas and Arkansas Departments of Transportation also moving forward with TAPCO's mobile trailers since the product launched earlier this year. The mobile, solar-powered trailers let agencies test and confirm wrong-way risk at unsignalized ramps without trenching or lengthy engineering review, giving agencies real event data to guide where and how they invest in permanent fixes.

"Wrong-way crashes are rare, but the stakes are high. Without detection data, an agency has only police reports after the fact," said TAPCO President and Chief Executive Officer, Eric Stangel. "An agency can put one up after a crash, during construction or just to check whether a hunch is right, and either way they walk away with real data instead of a guess. It's the same idea behind everything TAPCO builds: turn wrong-way driving into a crash that never happened."

Fatal wrong-way crashes on U.S. divided highways nearly doubled between 2014 and 2023, from 278 a year to 520, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Over that decade there were 4,164 fatal wrong-way crashes and 5,730 deaths, with wrong-way fatalities rising faster than fatal crashes overall.

In July, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a law requiring MassDOT to build a statewide, data-driven strategy to prevent wrong-way driving, following a string of fatal wrong-way crashes in the state. The law covers infrastructure, technology, education and annual reporting on high-risk locations. Massachusetts is active in confronting the problem, installing new detection technology at a pace of about five locations per week and logging more than 1,000 wrong-way citations over the past two years.

"The introduction of these mobile wrong-way systems have brought awareness to just how many drivers are actually going the wrong way, and we're seeing that most drivers self-correct," said MassDOT Assistant Administrator for Traffic and Safety, Neil Boudreau. "That data is helping our engineers understand driver behavior and shape better design and safety education for our communities going forward."

Each trailer is solar powered and equipped with detection, video cameras and wrong-way signage. When a vehicle enters in the wrong direction, the system activates high-visibility, LED-enhanced signage in the driver's path – a clear cue to turn around before it's too late. It records the event and sends real-time alerts with live video and images to traffic management centers, agency staff and law enforcement, so responders know the location, direction and vehicle before anyone dials 911. Once on location, a trailer is deployable by a single field technician in minutes, without trenching or engineering review, relocatable as conditions change and supported remotely by TAPCO.

Agencies are using the trailers four ways: temporary coverage at ramps affected by construction or detours, fast deployment following a collision, deployment in the event that an existing detection system goes down and risk mapping at locations where nobody yet knows whether there is a problem. In each case the data is the same – how many wrong-way entries occur, where drivers are entering from and how conditions compare before and after a fix.

"Every ramp is different, so there's no single fix that works everywhere," said TAPCO Senior ITS Business Development Manager, Lindsay Harvey. "Our job is to empower agencies to focus resources where they're actually needed instead of being stuck with a one-size-fits-all fix. You get the data, you get to watch driver behavior, and then you know exactly what to build, instead of guessing."

TAPCO's Wrong-Way Detection Trailers are the newest piece of a five-phase strategy MassDOT has built upon since 2013, including signage, pavement markings, lighting and geometric improvements at more than 430 ramps statewide, plus a 2023 pilot of 16 fixed detection systems. Now, trailers are deployed at unsignalized ramps that lack permanent infrastructure.

TAPCO launched the Wrong-Way Detection Trailer earlier this year as the newest addition to a wrong-way portfolio it has been building for 17 years. The portfolio spans four levels of response, from high-visibility signage through full detection and notification, installed on more than 3,000 ramps across 26 states, with treatment levels aligned to National Cooperative Highway Research Program guidance.

Innovations like TAPCO's flagship AI Detection & Notification System have proven successful in communities nationwide, reducing wrong-way crashes by as much as 38% (Texas A&M TTI). The wrong-way portfolio sits inside a broader TAPCO business spanning signage, detection, alerting and software, extending to pedestrian crossings and school zones – all built around the same goal: the crash that never happened.

To learn more, visit tapconet.com/wrong-way.

About TAPCO

TAPCO is a leading provider of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) designed to enhance road safety and increase road and vehicle connectivity. Headquartered in Brown Deer, WI and founded in 1956, TAPCO manufactures innovative ITS systems and software alongside value-added integration and maintenance services. TAPCO has established itself as a trusted partner in improving road safety outcomes with ITS solutions for states, communities and businesses. For further information, please visit TAPCO's website and follow on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

SOURCE TAPCO

Share this article

Metacon launches 20 MW electrolyser module with major cost and footprint reductions for large hydrogen plants

UPPSALA, Sweden, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Metacon AB (publ) launches a compact 20 MW multi-level alkaline electrolysis module that enables more cost-efficient deployment of large-scale hydrogen production plants. The optimized modular design reduces space requirements and lowers balance-of-plant costs, with savings of up to 30% on steel structures, up to 50% on piping systems, and up to 70% on area-related infrastructure compared with conventional building-based solutions.

As industrial hydrogen plants scale up, the site area required for each megawatt of installed capacity becomes increasingly important as it has a direct impact on construction, materials and site-integration costs. Metacon's new multi-level module places more production capacity on a smaller plot, reducing the amount of steel structure, piping, insulation, pipe supports and other site infrastructure required. This strengthens the business case for projects where land is limited or expensive, while also reducing costs that increase with the physical size of the installation. The new design can also completely remove the need for a factory building around the hydrogen generation system, resulting in significant savings at system level.

The new 20 MW module now launched uses a compact multi-level steel-frame arrangement, with electrolyser stacks on the lower level and gas-handling equipment and cooling units positioned above. The design maintains safety provisions and provides practical access for operation and maintenance. This layout reduces the required plot area and shortens process, utility, and electrical interconnections.

Metacon's new 20 MW module is based on the same modular principles as Metacon's 10 MW module, with a repeatable design that simplifies transport, installation and future capacity expansion. The modules can be installed individually or in parallel as plant capacity increases, reducing the amount of construction and assembly work required on site.

Compared to conventional building-based installation, calculations indicate cost reductions of up to 30% for the steel module and up to 50% for piping materials, insulation, pipe supports and related items. Other costs linked to the required installation area can be reduced by up to 70%. The exact magnitude of these cost reductions will depend on site conditions, project scope and final design.

"Metacon continues to innovate for driving hydrogen production cost down and now look beyond the electrolyser stacks. We have identified great opportunities to improve the complete plant design by addressing other major cost drivers. By using less space and reducing the amount of steel, piping, cabling and other infrastructure required, this module will serve as a super-efficient building module for large hydrogen production plants. At the same time, this is also a standardisation initiative where repeatability of core components drives both cost reduction as well as overall quality", says Christer Wikner, President and CEO of Metacon.

More info about the 20 MW electrolysis module

For further information, please contact:

Christer Wikner, President & CEO, +46 707 647 389, [email protected] 

About Metacon AB (publ)

Metacon AB (publ) is a Swedish developer, manufacturer, and supplier of hydrogen production systems, covering design, installation, service, and maintenance. The company is listed and traded on Nasdaq First North Growth Market in Stockholm, Sweden.

Metacon's Electrolysis business unit designs and delivers complete electrolysis plants for large-scale hydrogen production, developed in close partnership with one of the global leaders in pressurized alkaline electrolysis technology - PERIC Hydrogen Technologies in Handan, China.

Metacon's Reforming business unit develops hydrogen generation solutions based on its proprietary patented HIWAR® catalytic reactor technology. These solutions consist of advanced, high-efficiency reformers that produce hydrogen through catalytic steam reforming, operating on biogas, biomethane, or other renewable feedstocks such as bioethanol and green ammonia, without the need for grid connection.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

The following files are available for download:

Share this article

1,000-hour continuous industrial pilot demonstrates sustained operation and supports development of its first full-scale commercial project

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Alder Renewables today announced that its integrated industrial pilot has surpassed 1,000 hours of continuous operation, demonstrating sustained production of on-spec Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) from commercially produced woody biomass pyrolysis oil. The campaign demonstrated that Alder's integrated process can operate continuously while maintaining consistent product quality. The resulting operating data are now being used to support larger-scale equipment design and commercial project development.

Alder is commercializing a new pathway for turning low-value forest residues into higher-value energy and industrial products. Alder's modular technology is designed to create new, higher-value markets for residues from forest management and wood processing, while strengthening supply chains and supporting more productive use of these resources.

Alder's low-temperature process converts woody biomass pyrolysis oil into a transportable biocrude with low electricity demand and without requiring hydrogen at the biomass processing site. The approach is designed to connect forestry regions with existing infrastructure and downstream markets.

"We are showing that low-value forest residues can become high-value resources for refining into fuels, chemicals, and other industrial products," said Derek Vardon, CEO of Alder Renewables. "With sustained operation now demonstrated, we are moving into customer qualification, scale-up engineering, and commercial project development."

From industrial pilot validation to first commercial project

Long-duration integrated operation provides the data needed to translate pilot performance into larger-scale equipment design and commercial project requirements. The campaign demonstrated sustained operation of Alder's integrated process under continuous operating conditions while repeatedly producing on-spec ARC. Alder is now using the campaign results to refine equipment design, process controls and operating parameters for scale-up.

Commercial demand and strategic support

Alder's commercialization efforts are supported by offtake commitments and strategic relationships across the aviation, refining, technology and public sectors. The company has previously announced approximately 2.5 billion gallons of long-term SAF offtake with United Airlines and Avfuel. Alder also receives strategic support from Boeing and the U.S. Department of Energy and collaborates with AE Bioénergie Côte-Nord, owner and operator of the largest woody biomass pyrolysis plant in North America.

Together, these relationships provide customer demand, technical collaboration, industrial capabilities, and non-dilutive support as Alder advances its first full-scale commercial project. Alder's platform also creates multiple high-value outlets across fuels, chemicals, and advanced carbon materials, expanding potential markets for woody biomass while using industrial infrastructure already in place.

Commercial project development

Alder has completed initial engineering for its modular commercial unit, with data from its 1,000-hour pilot campaign supporting scale-up engineering, customer qualification, and commercial project development.

Through ARC-Bio, a Boeing supported joint venture with AE Bioénergie Côte-Nord, Alder and its partners are building commercial capabilities across the value chain, from forestry and biomass supply through pyrolysis, ARC production, and downstream markets. ARC-Bio is evaluating commercial opportunities, with a focus on forestry regions offering abundant residual biomass and existing industrial infrastructure.

Alder's planned market demonstration unit will produce larger product volumes for customer qualification while generating additional operating data to support commercial engineering and investment decisions. Alder is also pursuing federal and strategic funding opportunities to support demonstration, customer qualification, and commercial deployment.

Learn more about Alder's 1,000-hour milestone and view the pilot video at Alder News. Follow Alder on LinkedIn.

About Alder Renewables

Alder Renewables converts wood-derived pyrolysis oil into refinery-ready biocrude for fuels, chemicals, and advanced carbon materials. Its low-temperature process is designed for modular deployment near biomass resources and integration with existing industrial infrastructure.

SOURCE Alder Renewables

Share this article

ZURICH, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Amcor (NYSE: AMCR, ASX: AMC), a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, announced today that Graeme Liebelt will not stand for re-election and will retire from the Company's Board of Directors at the end of his current term as a director at Amcor's annual meeting of stockholders on Nov. 11, 2026. Mr. Liebelt has served as Chairman of Amcor plc and its predecessor company for nearly 13 years.

The Board has elected Tom Long, an independent non-executive director of the Board since 2017, and former Chief Executive Officer of MillerCoors, LLC, to assume the Chairman role upon Mr. Liebelt's retirement. Mr. Long previously served as CEO of Miller Brewing Company prior to the 2008 merger of Miller and Coors. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Wolverine Worldwide, Inc.

"It has been a privilege to serve as Chairman through a period of significant transformation for the Company," said Mr. Liebelt. "I enjoyed working alongside this talented leadership team to strengthen Amcor's global leadership position, enhance the product portfolio and expand capabilities in innovation and sustainability. I am confident in Amcor's future, and believe the Board, led by Tom, will continue to guide the Company successfully."

"On behalf of our Board of Directors, I want to thank Graeme for his visionary leadership and extensive contributions," said Peter Konieczny, Amcor CEO. "We are grateful for his service and the lasting impact he has had on Amcor. I look forward to partnering with Tom and the other members of the Board as Amcor enters this exciting next chapter."

"I am honored by the opportunity to lead Amcor's Board as we begin to realize the full potential of the transformative acquisition of Berry last year," said Mr. Long. "I look forward to working with my fellow directors to oversee the Company's strong execution as we capitalize on our global leadership position to deliver long-term, sustainable value for all of our stakeholders."

About Amcor

Amcor is the global leader in developing and producing responsible consumer packaging and dispensing solutions across a variety of materials for nutrition, health, beauty and wellness categories. Our global product innovation and sustainability expertise enables us to solve packaging challenges around the world every day, producing a range of flexible packaging, rigid packaging, cartons and closures that are more sustainable, functional and appealing for our customers and their consumers. We are guided by our purpose of elevating customers, shaping lives and protecting the future. Supported by a commitment to safety, 75,000 people generate $23 billion in annual sales from operations that span approximately 400 locations in more than 40 countries.

NYSE: AMCR; ASX: AMC www.amcor.com | LinkedIn | YouTube

SOURCE Amcor

Share this article

As master planner and overall design lead, Hoerr Schaudt designed the playscape as a multigenerational gathering space shaped by Kansas's landscape, heritage and identity. A $25 million civic investment, the attraction features 10 themed environments, including what is believed to be the first aviation-themed playground of its scale anywhere in the world and one of the largest educational water play environments in the U.S.

Rather than treating the individual play environments as standalone attractions, Hoerr Schaudt organized them within a continuous riverfront landscape of paths, gardens, gathering spaces, shade and native planting, allowing the campus to unfold as one connected experience.

The Adventure Playscape is conceived as much as a landscape as it is a place for play. The project renaturalizes the grounds into expansive prairie and woodland landscapes, featuring more than 40,000 plants that emphasize native Kansas species and grasses, 500 tons of Kansas limestone, the preservation and reintegration of existing site trees, and 250 new trees selected to provide shade and comfort for visitors as the planting matures. Exploration Place's overall consumption of city water will also decrease through efficiencies in irrigation design and stormwater management. 

While planning the Adventure Playscape, Hoerr Schaudt Principal Matthew Macchietto, the project's lead designer, met with nearly a dozen community groups and consulted with occupational therapist and inclusive design expert Ingrid Kanics to ensure that every environment addresses the full range of visitor needs, from wheelchair access and mobility to the needs of children who experience busy, stimulating environments differently. A dedicated sensory garden offers a calmer space within the playscape for those who need it.

"Playgrounds are the ultimate medium for egoless design. They work when people of different ages, abilities and ways of experiencing the world can all find a place for themselves—and for one another," said Macchietto.  "Exploration Place was created to make science feel open to everyone, and the landscape outside had to do the same work."

Serving as a catalyst for local families and regional tourism, the playscape's strong opening has also generated continued support from the Wichita community, including a recent $1 million investment from Koch, Inc.

Access to the Adventure Playscape is included with general admission to Exploration Place, located at 300 N. McLean Blvd., Wichita, Kan., and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and until 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.

For high-res photography, interviews, and more information, please contact:

McGraw PR

Michael McGraw, [email protected] 

Holly Beal, [email protected]

SOURCE Hoerr Schaudt

Share this article

Best AI Vector Generator (2026): CorelDRAW Recognized for New Text-to-Vector Tools by Software Experts

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Software Experts has recognized CorelDRAW Graphics Suite as a leading option for AI vector generation, highlighting the new Text-to-vector capabilities introduced with the September 2026 Update.

The recognition reflects a practical challenge with AI-generated vector artwork. Creating an image quickly is only part of the process. Logos may need to scale across formats, icons may require color changes, apparel graphics often need further preparation, and client assets can go through several rounds of revision before reaching final production.

Best AI Vector Generator:

- CorelDRAW Graphics Suite - an AI-assisted vector design solution that can generate editable, scalable vector graphics from written prompts or existing artwork, with tools for refining shapes, adjusting colors, creating variations, and preparing artwork for further design and production.

Why Software Experts Recognized CorelDRAW for AI Vector Generation

Software Experts highlights editability as a key part of CorelDRAW's approach to AI vector generation.

Text-to-vector can turn written prompts or existing artwork into scalable vector graphics while keeping the results available for further editing. Shapes, curves, colors, and individual objects can continue to be adjusted after generation.

That distinction matters because AI-generated artwork is often a starting point rather than a finished asset. A generated logo concept may still need refinement. An apparel graphic may require color changes. An icon may need reshaping or resizing before it fits the final project.

CorelDRAW's Text-to-vector workflow supports:

- Editable vector output: Generated objects can continue into manual refinement.

- Scalable graphics: Artwork can be enlarged or reduced without relying on a fixed pixel resolution.

- Color adjustment: Generated vectors can be recolored for branding, apparel, print, or client revisions.

- Artwork variations: Existing designs can be used as references for generating related concepts.

- Continued vector editing: Generated results can move directly into further shape, node, and layout adjustments.

Available styles include Line art, Comic book, and Icon, giving designers different starting points depending on the type of vector artwork being created.

How Does CorelDRAW Text-to-Vector Work?

Text-to-vector is designed to shorten the path from an initial idea to editable vector artwork.

A written prompt can be used to generate an icon, illustration, symbol, apparel graphic, or other vector concept. Existing artwork can also serve as a starting point for creating variations, which can be useful when exploring different directions or responding to revision requests.

Once the vector is generated, standard editing tools remain available. Designers can adjust nodes, geometry, colors, proportions, and individual elements rather than treating the AI result as a fixed image.

The approach reflects CorelDRAW's Artist Intelligence philosophy, which positions AI as a way to accelerate creative work while keeping control of the final artwork with the designer.

How Does PowerTRACE Support AI Vector Workflows?

The September 2026 Update also strengthens CorelDRAW's bitmap-to-vector capabilities through an enhanced version of PowerTRACE.

Text-to-vector and PowerTRACE address two different vector-generation needs. Text-to-vector creates new artwork from prompts or existing references, while PowerTRACE converts bitmap files into editable vector shapes.

That second workflow is particularly relevant when source artwork arrives as a low-resolution JPEG, scan, or older bitmap graphic that cannot be enlarged or edited cleanly.

Updated PowerTRACE includes:

- Up to four times faster bitmap-to-vector tracing

- Improved object structure

- Better color handling

- AI-powered background removal

- Fully editable vector shapes after conversion

The resulting artwork can then be cleaned up, resized, recolored, or incorporated into other vector projects.

Why Does Editability Matter in an AI Vector Generator?

AI-generated vector artwork often needs further work before it is ready for a real project. A logo may need to be resized, an apparel graphic may require different colors, or an illustration may need adjustments to shapes and proportions.

Because CorelDRAW generates editable vector objects, those changes can continue after the initial AI result. Designers can refine nodes, colors, typography, layout, and other elements without starting over or working from a flattened image.

The broader CorelDRAW environment also includes color management, soft proofing, color separations, integrated Pantone Color Libraries, typography, multipage layout, true-to-scale design, and multi-asset export. These tools help move AI-generated vectors from early concepts into finished commercial artwork.

Why CorelDRAW Stands Out for AI Vector Generation

For designers working with logos, apparel graphics, illustrations, and other scalable assets, CorelDRAW connects AI-assisted generation with the vector editing controls needed to refine artwork for real projects.

Text-to-vector supports the creation of new concepts and variations, while PowerTRACE helps convert existing bitmap artwork into editable vector assets. Together, the two workflows cover both new AI-generated artwork and source files that need to be rebuilt as vectors.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is available through subscription and one-time purchase options. A 15-day free trial includes 200 AI credits and does not require a credit card.

A limited-time coupon code, COREL10, is available until October 15, 2026 and applies a 10% discount to all editions of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.

The full review can be read at the Software Experts website.

About Corel

Corel is a global software company headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with more than 100 million users in over 75 countries. Founded in 1985, Corel has built a strong reputation for innovation and usability in graphics, digital‑media, and productivity software. Its product portfolio includes vector illustration (CorelDRAW Graphics Suite), natural‑media painting (Corel Painter), photo editing (Corel PaintShop Pro), video production (Corel VideoStudio), and productivity tools (WordPerfect Office and WinZip). Corel's software is designed for both professionals and creative consumers and provides powerful features in an accessible, easy‑to-learn format. With a global footprint that includes major offices in the US, UK, Germany, China, Taiwan and Japan, Corel continues to expand its reach while maintaining a close connection with its user community.

About Software Experts: Software Experts delivers in-depth news on the digital tools shaping today's consumer experience. As an affiliate, Software Experts may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

SOURCE SoftwareExperts.org

Share this article

H.I.G. Capital Completes Acquisition of Torque

LONDON, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- H.I.G. Capital ("H.I.G."), a leading global alternative investment firm with $75 billion of capital under management, is pleased to announce that one of its affiliates has acquired Torque Holdings Limited ("Torque" or the "Company"), a leading UK provider of omni-channel fulfilment services. The transaction has been completed in partnership with Torque's management team, who will continue to lead the business.

Torque provides outsourced fulfilment and supply chain services to a diversified base of premium and high-growth consumer brands. The Company offers a broad range of services including warehousing and fulfillment, inventory and returns management, and international freight forwarding, serving customers with complex requirements across the eCommerce, retail, and wholesale channels. Torque operates a substantial network of fulfilment sites across the U.K. and has built long-standing relationships with its customers, supported by a reputation for service accuracy, flexibility, and partnership.

The Company sees a significant opportunity to support and grow its customer base by expanding its service offering, adding capacity, and developing international fulfillment capabilities, both organically and through strategic acquisitions. In doing so, Torque intends to further develop the flexible, value-add proposition it has delivered to customers to date, complemented by the deployment of warehouse technology.

Stewart Firth, CEO of Torque, commented, "We are delighted to welcome H.I.G. as our new investment partner. Over more than three decades, Torque has built its reputation by working closely with customers and providing flexible, high-quality solutions to increasingly complex supply chain requirements. H.I.G. shares our ambition for the business and brings significant experience helping companies to grow, both in the UK and internationally. We look forward to working together to invest in our people and capabilities, broaden our service offering, and continue delivering the highest standards of service our customers expect from Torque."

Adam Taylor, Managing Director in H.I.G.'s London office, said, "Torque has established a leading position in the UK fulfilment market, supported by long-standing customer relationships, a differentiated service proposition, and a solid track record of growth. Torque is a strong fit with H.I.G.'s strategy of partnering with high-quality businesses, where we can use our operational resources, international network, and M&A capabilities to support the next phase of growth. We are excited to be working with Stewart and the team and we look forward to supporting Torque's customers as they grow."

About Torque

Torque is a leading UK provider of omni-channel fulfilment services. The Company provides warehousing, inventory management, pick-and-pack, returns management, value-added services and international freight forwarding to premium and high-growth consumer brands. Torque operates a network of fulfilment facilities across the UK and supports customers across eCommerce, retail and wholesale channels. For more information, please visit torque.eu.

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. is a leading global alternative investment firm with $75 billion of capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Stamford in the United States, as well as international affiliate offices in Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai, and Hong Kong, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to middle market companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach:

- H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses.

- H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche, and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets.

- H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices.

- H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector.

Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 400 companies worldwide. The Firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $53 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at hig.com.

*Based on total capital raised by H.I.G. Capital and its affiliates.

Contact:

Adam Taylor

Managing Director

[email protected]

H.I.G. Capital

10 Grosvenor Street

2nd Floor

London W1K 4QB

United Kingdom

P: +44 (0) 207 318 5700

hig.com

Share this article

Atomic Raises $12.5M to Build the AI Control System for Physical Goods Companies

Founded by former Tesla supply chain leaders, Atomic already automates 90% of purchasing for DoorDash's DashMart business and helped Good Chop cut inventory in half while more than doubling revenue.

BOSTON, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Atomic, the AI-native supply chain planning platform, today announced a $12.5 million Series A led by Klass Capital and Madrona. Adrian Schauer of Klass Capital and Matt McIlwain of Madrona join Atomic's board.

Atomic will use the funding to extend its platform from planning and decision support into a control system that connects a company's business objectives to its daily operating decisions, with AI agents extending the capability of human teammates. When demand shifts or supply tightens, planning teams have to understand what changed, compare responses and adjust what gets bought, built or moved. Atomic connects that work in one operating model. Teams can improve the logic behind a decision and carry that improvement into the orders the business places every day.

The company was founded by Michael Rossiter, Neal Suidan, and Jeff Goodrich, who together led Sales and Operations Planning and planning at Tesla through the Model 3 ramp-up and built a 50-person planning engineering organization. The company was incubated at DVx Ventures, the venture firm founded by former Tesla President Jon McNeill, who worked alongside the team at Tesla and now serves on Atomic's board.

"Most companies can't justify building the kind of planning engineering team we had at Tesla," said Rossiter, Atomic's co-founder and CEO. "They're still running critical parts of their business through legacy software, hundreds of spreadsheets and individual heroics. Atomic gives them that capability as a product."

Companies can deploy Atomic's sales and operations planning layer in about 30 days using the data they already have. From there, Atomic can expand into detailed planning and execution, running alongside a company's existing ERP rather than requiring the business to rebuild its processes around new software.

For DoorDash's DashMart business – the company's convenience and essentials store – Atomic now automates 90% of purchasing across hundreds of sites. DashMart migrated to Atomic in about three months with feature parity and zero business disruption. Its team recently used Atomic's AI to build new purchasing logic for how primary and backup suppliers should be used in roughly an hour. Atomic then applied that logic across daily purchases, helping shift more volume toward primary suppliers and improve gross margins.

"Atomic has helped us plan and manage inventory more proactively, so we can maintain high service levels for consumers even in times of disruption," said Nick Palefsky, Director of New Business Verticals at DoorDash. "Turning a forecast into the right purchase at the right site takes operating judgment we've built over years. What to carry where, how to substitute when a supplier misses. Atomic is how we apply that judgment across our network every day."

Additionally, Good Chop, HelloFresh's meat box subscription business, used Atomic to reduce inventory on hand from eight or nine weeks to four while more than doubling revenue and expanding its distribution network and product range.

"Atomic helped us keep inventory under control as we expanded the business. It's the core engine we use to plan supply and place purchase orders," said Seb Tron, president of Good Chop.

Atomic's AI agent platform, Nucleus, is also in daily use by customers for tasks including S&OP preparation, inventory questions and supply-risk checks. The new funding will be used to expand the platform and support larger enterprise deployments.

Adrian Schauer of Klass Capital and Matt McIlwain of Madrona will join Atomic's board alongside Jon McNeill, co-founder and CEO of DVx Ventures and the former President of Tesla. DVx incubated Atomic and has backed the company since its earliest days.

"We've never heard customers talk about a software vendor the way they talk about Atomic. They trust it with daily operating decisions and are asking for more," said Daniel Klass, founder and managing partner of Klass Capital.

"We backed Atomic at the seed because the founders had lived this problem at Tesla. A year and a half later, their platform runs daily purchasing across DoorDash's DashMart network. Most enterprise AI stops at a recommendation. Atomic acts on the plan and shows its work. We're pleased to co-lead this round and join the board," said Matt McIlwain, managing director of Madrona.

"Michael, Neal and Jeff helped build the system that allowed Tesla to operate at a scale and speed that traditional supply chain software simply wasn't designed for," said McNeill. "What gets us excited about Atomic was the opportunity to take what they learned solving one of the hardest supply chain problems in the world and turn it into something any company can use. AI now makes it possible to give companies not just better forecasts, but a system that can actually make and execute decisions."

Atomic's customers include DoorDash's DashMart, GoodChop (HelloFresh), Starface World, OOFOS, LMNT and Vincero.

To learn more, visit atomic.supply.

About Atomic

Atomic is building the AI control system for physical goods companies. Founded by former Tesla planning leaders, Atomic gives planning teams a model of their business at the product level, recommendations that show their reasoning, and AI agents that take on more of the work as trust builds. Atomic is backed by DVx Ventures, Klass Capital, Madrona, Alumni Ventures, and Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners. Learn more at atomic.supply.

Media contact: 

Lindsay Mahaney 

[email protected]

SOURCE Atomic

Share this article

Security Effectiveness Ranges from 0% to 99.95%

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CyberRatings.org (CyberRatings), the non-profit organization dedicated to providing confidence in cybersecurity products and services through independent testing, today announced the results of its latest Cloud Network Firewall (CNFW) evaluation. Tests were conducted by NSS Labs and are now available at no cost on the CyberRatings.org website.

Of the nine products tested, only four earned a Recommended rating and native cloud firewalls were far less consistent than dedicated third-party offerings. Each of the Recommended products achieved 99.7% or higher in Security Effectiveness:

- Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall

- HPE Juniper Networking vSRX Next Generation Firewall

- Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Next-Generation Firewall

- Versa Networks Next Generation Firewall

Check Point CloudGuard Network Security Next-Gen Firewall earned a Neutral rating despite the highest Security Effectiveness at 99.95% due to its above-average price per Mbps.

AWS Network Firewall and Microsoft Azure Firewall both received 0% for Security Effectiveness, resulting in their Caution ratings. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) NGFW Enterprise at 77.45% Security Effectiveness and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual at 66.10% Security Effectiveness also placed them in Caution.

Products from cloud service providers and third-party security vendors (the latter deployed on Amazon Web Services) were evaluated under identical conditions using the NSS Labs Cloud Network Firewall Test Methodology v4.1, with real-world exploits, evasion techniques, malware, false-positive samples, and sustained enterprise traffic loads.

Evasions were tested with 5,004 attacks spanning 43 techniques across OSI Layers 3, 4, and 7. Attackers use evasions to disguise malicious traffic and bypass inspection; one successful evasion can enable an entire class of exploits or malware, so strong evasion handling is essential.

"With attackers routinely using evasion techniques to slip past inspection, the products that earned a Recommended rating this year proved they can hold up under real conditions," said Vikram Phatak, CEO of CyberRatings.org. "Buyers should weigh evasion resistance and TLS inspection as heavily as raw block rates."

Recommendations for Buyers

- Test regularly. Agile development and CI/CD pipelines let vendors ship improvements quickly, but rapid change can also introduce regressions that quietly erode protection.

- Treat native cloud firewalls as a baseline, not a finish line. Validate exploit blocking, malware blocking, and evasion resistance against organizational requirements before relying on a native offering as a primary control.

- Require TLS inspection and weigh evasion resistance heavily. A firewall that cannot inspect encrypted traffic leaves a substantial blind spot, and a single successful evasion can enable an entire class of attacks.

- Re-evaluate firewall requirements for AI and agentic workloads. Local AI models and agentic workflows will consume more network resources and drive larger, more complex policies, including east-west agent-to-agent traffic.

- Hold vendors accountable and demand transparency. No product is perfect; what matters is how a vendor responds when a gap is found. A lack of transparency should be treated as a red flag.

NSS Labs is the Official Testing Partner of CyberRatings, generating the test results and reports for CyberRatings publications. NSS Labs proprietary technologies and Keysight's CyPerf tool were used to test the security, performance, TLS functionality, and stability of Cloud Network Firewalls.

The Cloud Network Firewall Test Reports, Comparative Report and Security Map are available at CyberRatings.org.

About CyberRatings.org

CyberRatings.org is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization dedicated to providing confidence in cybersecurity products and services through our research and testing programs. We provide enterprises with independent, objective ratings of security product efficacy to make informed decisions. To become a member, visit www.cyberratings.org and follow us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE CyberRatings.org

Share this article