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Armacell Deepens Asia‑Pacific Industry Engagement to Drive Energy Efficiency, Sustainability and Fire Safety
- Supporting Asia‑Pacific’s transition from BS 476 to the more comprehensive EN 13501‑1 fire‑classification framework
- ArmaPrene™‑based insulation, including ArmaFlex® Ultima, achieves significantly lower smoke emissions to support safer evacuation and fire‑engineering compliance
- ArmaLive Experience Centre builds industry capability through product insights, demonstrations, audits and hands‑on installation training
- Active collaborations with industry partners and relevant public-sector bodies to help shape safer built environments
- Long‑term commitment to safer, more energy‑efficient buildings through technical guidance, training and regional knowledge‑sharing
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 July 2026 – Armacell, a global leader in flexible equipment insulation and engineered foams, deepens its collaboration with industry stakeholders across Asia‑Pacific to enhance energy efficiency, sustainability and fire‑safety standards in the built environment.
Central to this expanded engagement is the ArmaLive Experience Centre, which serves as a regional hub for training, technical insight and hands-on demonstrations. The centre is designed to support engineers, consultants, installers and regulatory professionals as they respond to increasingly performance‑based compliance requirements—particularly in the areas of sustainability, energy efficiency and fire safety.
Supporting Asia‑Pacific’s transition to modern fire‑safety standards
Across Asia-Pacific, regulators and industry professionals are steadily moving from legacy BS 476 classifications to the more comprehensive EN 13501‑1 fire-performance framework. This shift reflects a growing focus on smoke‑performance—an essential advancement, as smoke inhalation remains one of the leading causes of fatalities in building fires.
To support this transition, Armacell provides data‑driven guidance, technical resources and targeted training that help stakeholders interpret performance criteria, understand material behaviour and assess system-level implications under the newer standard. These efforts are designed to enable informed specification decisions and support safer fire-engineering outcomes across a wide range of building applications.
A prime example of Armacell’s material innovation is ArmaFlex Ultima, developed using the company’s patented ArmaPrene technology. Generating about ten times less smoke than conventional elastomeric insulation, ArmaFlex Ultima achieves Euroclass B‑s1,d0 performance, enabling specifiers and fire engineers to significantly enhance safety in critical areas such as escape routes, mechanical services and other high-risk building zones.
ArmaLive Experience Centre: Strengthening regional technical capability
Located in Singapore, the ArmaLive Experience Centre delivers an expanded programme of learning and engagement designed to strengthen technical capability across the Asia-Pacific region and raise material and installation standards. The Centre offers a range of practical and knowledge-based initiatives, including:
- Product insight sessions showcasing compliance performance, system reliability and application-specific considerations.
- Energy and acoustic audits to support sustainable mechanical design and operational optimisation.
- Hands‑on installation training to help installers improve workmanship quality, reduce system losses and meet fire-safety and performance requirements.
- Live demonstrations and scenario‑based workshops focused on insulation selection, fire‑performance criteria and correct installation techniques.
Together, these programmes foster closer collaboration among developers, engineers, consultants, contractors and regulators, deepening their understanding of how insulation solutions contribute to energy efficiency, acoustic performance and fire safety.
Driving industry standards through technical partnerships
Armacell works closely with professional associations, technical bodies and relevant public-sector organisations across Asia‑Pacific to help advance technical standards and support a safer, more sustainable built environment.
Through seminars, joint technical exchanges and shared learning initiatives, the company shares expertise in insulation selection, performance benchmarks and comparative material behaviour—strengthening compliance awareness and improving the quality of building design and system specification.
By combining advanced materials knowledge with sustained industry engagement, particularly through the ArmaLive Experience Centre, Armacell supports informed specification practices, builds regional capability and reinforces its long‑term commitment to safer, sustainable and more resilient buildings across Asia-Pacific.
Hashtag: #Armacell
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Armacell
As the inventor of flexible foam for equipment insulation and a leading provider of engineered foams, Armacell develops innovative and safe thermal and mechanical insulation solutions that create sustainable value for its customers. Armacell’s products significantly contribute to driving energy efficiency worldwide.
With more than 3,100 employees and 26 production plants in 20 countries, Armacell operates two main businesses, Advanced Insulation and Engineered Foams. Armacell focuses on insulation materials for technical equipment, high-performance foams for acoustic and lightweight applications, recycled PET products, next-generation aerogel technology and passive fire protection systems.
For more information, please visit: www.armacell.com
- Revenue increased to US$113.2 million (up 23.8% YoY), driven by the 2 January 2026 acquisition of the Active Apparel Group Pty Ltd and Active Apparel Group (America) LLC (“AAG”) business which is now successfully integrated into the Group’s platform
- Net profit grew to US$ 5.4 million representing a 1.8% increase YoY, after absorbing one-off integration costs arising from the AAG acquisition
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT
- Deployed proprietary Product Lifecycle Management (“PLM”) system and in-house AI engine, advancing our transformation into a tech-enabled apparel platform and driving greater operating leverage
SHAREHOLDER RETURNS
- Interim dividend maintained at HK3.0 cents per share, reflecting confidence in cash generation
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 July 2026 – Lever Style Corporation (HKEX: 1346, “Lever Style”), the world’s premier apparel production platform, today reported financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026.
For the first half of 2026, Lever Style recorded a return to top-line growth. Following a defensive strategy in 2025 aimed at managing credit risk, the Group recorded total revenue of US$113.2 million, representing a 23.8% increase compared to the same period last year. “This revenue expansion was driven by the 2 January 2026 acquisition of the AAG business, which has now been integrated into our operating platform, providing a broader foundation for our growth trajectory.” said William Tan, CEO of Lever Style.
Navigating Integration for Long-Term Value
“While revenue expanded substantially, net profit for the period grew to US$5.4 million, representing a by 1.8% increase, compared to the first half of 2025. This short-term pressure on our bottom line reflects one-off, upfront integration costs. These primarily included temporary staff duplication costs as we merged workflows, systems, and personnel. We regard these transitional costs as necessary investments to secure the structural, long-term profitability of the acquired business.” Mr. Tan added.
With the integration phase now largely completed, the group’s cost structure is better optimized, and the group will enjoy the operating leverage that enhanced scale provides.
Strategic Technology & In-House AI Solutions
The group’s platform-based strategy continues to progress, converting its operational capabilities from a traditional apparel supplier into a tech-enabled enterprise. During the period under review, Lever Style successfully developed and deployed its own PLM system, among other solutions. These internal enterprise systems are designed to enhance workflow transparency, accelerate speed-to-market, and reduce waste across the group’s asset-light supply chain.
Capitalizing on its expanding internal R&D capabilities, the group has also customized AI solutions to fit its specific business model. Rather than relying on generic off-the-shelf software, these proprietary tools support day-to-day merchandiser productivity and factory coordination, reinforcing Lever Style’s long-term competitive advantage.
Market Outlook: Premium Resilience in a K-Shaped Economy
“The US market—our primary market—has proven surprisingly resilient through the first half of 2026. However, underneath the headline figures lies a visible ‘K-shaped’ economic split: a highly promotional and pressured middle market where retail liquidity remains tight and consumers are value-sensitive, and a premium/affluent tier of high-income consumers whose discretionary spending remains relatively stable, sustaining steady demand for premium products and services.” Stanley Szeto, Executive Chairman of Lever Style, commented.
Lever Style remains largely insulated from mass-market volatility due to its focus on upscale designers and premium fashion brands. Because the group’s brand portfolio aligns with this more resilient premium sector of the market, it remains well-positioned to navigate current economic conditions.
Future Prospects & Financial Synergies
Looking toward the second half of 2026 and into 2027, the group’s strategic roadmap focuses on three primary operational and financial levers:
- AAG Bottom-Line Contribution: With major integration headwinds resolved, the AAG activewear business is expected to start contributing to the bottom line in H2 2026, with net profit margins of this business targeted to improve steadily, with the aim of approaching the margin profile of Lever Style’s legacy business in 2027.
- Targeting Operating Leverage: As expanded volume is funneled through the group’s upgraded digital platform, Lever Style is targeting synergies from operating leverage across its vendor network, allowing fixed overheads to be managed more efficiently.
- Pursuing M&A Opportunities: By integrating the AAG business, Lever Style has demonstrated the scalability of its own platform. Consequently, the group remains active in evaluating a pipeline of further value-accretive acquisitions to expand its product capabilities and geographical production footprint.
“The Group has completed the primary phases of integration, upgraded its technology base, and remains aligned with the more resilient segments of consumer demand. The Board remains confident in our underlying business model and our ability to deliver long-term value to shareholders.” Mr. Szeto concluded.
For more details, please visit: https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2026/0713/2026071300602.pdf
Hashtag: #LeverStyle
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Lever Style Corporation
Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Lever Style (HKEX 1346) is the world’s premier apparel production platform for premium contemporary and designer brands such as Alexander Wang, Theory, Todd Snyder, and Aimé Leon Dore; active and performance brands such as Arc’teryx, Columbia Sportswear, Helly Hansen, Spanx, Skims, and J.Lindeberg; and digitally native brands and platforms such as Mizzen+ Main and Bonobos.
Our supply chain solutions encompass fashion design, prototype development, raw material procurement, production, quality control, and logistics. Our innovative, modularized multi-country platform delivers high-mix, low-volume orders and reduces excess inventory and stockouts. Our versatile approach is rooted in decades of technical expertise gained from working with many of the world’s highest-quality and most demanding brands. We support production for 175 brands through a network of more than 150 factories across eight countries: Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. A certified B Corp, Lever Style is a committed ESG leader in the apparel production sector.
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The Changsha Jiandu Museum launches its Digital Exhibition Hall, Allowing Visitors from All Over the World to Adopt Digital Collections with One Click
https://youtube.com/shorts/-fteWwIeVYs?is=NawE8eX4W-Ww43ol
In 1996, more than 100,000 bamboo and wooden slips from the Kingdom of Wu during the Three Kingdoms period were unearthed from an ancient well at Zoumalou in Changsha, filling a gap in historical records on local society during the Three Kingdoms period. On November 8, 2007, the Changsha Jiandu Museum officially opened to the public. To meet the needs of history and culture enthusiasts at home and abroad to explore bamboo slips up close, Changsha Evening News has developed and launched the Digital Bamboo Slips Exhibition Hall. Powered by digital technologies, the exhibition hall breaks the limitations of traditional physical exhibitions and creates an online museum space that remains open 24/7. It provides global audiences with a new, barrier-free way to appreciate and explore bamboo slips dating back thousands of years.
Integrating cutting-edge digital technologies such as XR and AI, the exhibition hall brings together multiple sections, including the digital exhibition hall, digital collections, panoramic virtual tours, historical neighborhood tours of ancient Changsha, and interactive bamboo slips games. Through an innovative “culture + technology” approach, it explores new pathways for the global communication of museum culture, allowing Three Kingdoms-era bamboo slips that have remained hidden for millennia to transcend geographical and physical exhibition constraints and open a window for people around the world to better understand Chinese history and culture.
Digital collections are a highlight of the online exhibition hall. Visitors can zoom in and out with simple gestures to examine the complete forms and details of bamboo slips in high definition. Through the integrated panoramic tour function, they can enjoy an immersive virtual visit to all exhibition halls of the Changsha Jiandu Museum, while also exploring landmark sites such as Tianxin Pavilion, the ancient city wall, and Baisha Ancient Well. With just one click, visitors can embark on a journey through the historical and cultural neighborhoods themed around bamboo slips. The smart guide system breaks down language barriers by providing multilingual interpretation services in Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, and French for visitors worldwide. Visitors can also take part in engaging interactive experiences, such as assembling bamboo slips and other activities.
Alongside the launch of the Digital Bamboo Slips Exhibition Hall, the Global Digital Bamboo Slips Collection Adoption Program was officially unveiled. By logging into the online exhibition hall, visitors at home and abroad can browse digital collections and create their own personalized digital collections with a single click. They can also share them instantly on major global social media platforms, providing a new model for the international digital dissemination of Changsha’s museum culture.
A representative of the Changsha Jiandu Museum said that, after three decades of cultural accumulation and research, the bamboo slips unearthed from the Zoumalou Site are now embracing new possibilities through digital dissemination, opening up a broader path for the innovative utilization of cultural heritage. Through this initiative, the Three Kingdoms-era bamboo slips preserved in Changsha will reach Chinese culture enthusiasts around the world, using digital museum platforms to tell compelling stories of China that are authentic, engaging and inspiring.
Hashtag: #ChangshaJianduMuseum
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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PolyU signs tripartite MoU with Dassault Systèmes and PAIEvo in Paris to advance cross-continental collaboration in research innovation
The signing ceremony was held earlier at Dassault Systèmes’ Paris-area headquarters. Witnessed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU; Mr Nicolas JEANNEE, Vice President 3DEXPERIENCE Edu of Dassault Systèmes; and Dr Kevin TSAI, Vice President of XtalPi and CEO of PAIEvo, the MoU was signed by Prof. Zijian ZHENG, Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) of PolyU; Ms Joanne LI, 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Sales Director of China, Dassault Systèmes;and Ms Ruyu WANG, Senior Director of External Affairs and Communications of XtalPi.
Under the collaborative framework, the three parties will jointly pursue a range of initiatives, including advancing the digitalisation of smart laboratories, expanding research and development (R&D) in new materials, developing proprietary computing capabilities and molecular simulation tools, building an ecosystem for new substance discovery, and nurturing relevant professional talent.
Prof. Christopher Chao remarked, “PolyU has been strengthening its research and knowledge transfer strategy in recent years, from establishing a robust network of Mainland Translational Research Institutes (MTRIs), setting up the incubation centres, InnoHubs, across Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, to progressively expanding our global footprint by building overseas innovation hubs, with Paris serving as our first stop in Europe. Meanwhile, we proactively align our research with industry demands, with market-oriented innovation at its core. This is the foundation of our close partnership with Dassault Systèmes. By bringing together the distinctive strengths of the three parties, this partnership enables us to fully leverage cross-sector and cross-border synergies among academia, research and industry. It will not only advance our respective development but also bring tangible benefits to society.”
Welcoming the delegations, Mr Nicolas Jeannée described the meeting as “highly meaningful”. He said, “This partnership connects not only Hong Kong and France, but also academia and industry. From the establishment of the Center of Excellence in 2025 to Dassault Systèmes’ official presence in Hong Kong in 2026, our collaboration with PolyU has continued to reach new heights. We look forward to working closely with our partners to generate more innovative outcomes and contribute to global digital transformation.”
Dr Kevin Tsai stated, “This strategic collaboration, formed through our subsidiary PAIEvo with Dassault Systèmes and PolyU, marks another important step for XtalPi’s journey toward the ‘Lab of the Future’. By integrating the strengths of the three parties in intelligent decision-making and Physical AI, virtual twin modelling, and cross-disciplinary academic research, we aim to accelerate the development of a self-learning closed loop encompassing intelligent design, physical experimentation, digital simulation and innovative applications, thereby advancing the R&D paradigm toward autonomous discovery.”
As a subsidiary of XtalPi, PAIEvo leverages XtalPi’s AI for Science platform, built on quantum physics, AI, and robotic experimentation, to systematically extend its proven R&D capabilities and technology strengths into key scenarios of new materials R&D. Dassault Systèmes, meanwhile, creates virtual worlds through its 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock-Up and Product Lifecycle Management solutions, reshaping the way products are designed, manufactured and supported.
The University’s collaboration with Dassault Systèmes began in 2003. What started as a software licensing relationship has gradually developed into a comprehensive and multi-layered partnership embracing research and talent development. Last year, this partnership reached a new milestone with the establishment of the Dassault Systèmes–PolyU Center of Excellence, the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region. Combining PolyU expertise in AI, robotics and materials innovation with Dassault Systèmes leadership in virtual twin technologies, the Center has laid a solid foundation for the company’s expansion in Hong Kong and has become an important platform for driving innovation in ‘AI + materials’ and ‘AI + virtual twin’.
The PolyU-Dassault Systèmes partnership also demonstrates the University’s proactive role in helping attract internationally renowned enterprises and talent to Hong Kong. Through the support of the HKSAR Government’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), and with PolyU’s recommendation and support, Dassault Systèmes was selected as one of OASES’ sixth batch of 22 strategic enterprises, officially establishing its presence in Hong Kong and expanding its local operations. PolyU will continue to support Dassault Systèmes development in Hong Kong by strengthening links between the “AI + manufacturing” innovation ecosystems of Hong Kong and France, while also leveraging its strong network of translational research institutes and centres in the Chinese Mainland to facilitate the company’s further expansion there.
During its visit to Dassault Systèmes, the PolyU delegation toured “The Playground”, an immersive experience space showcasing innovative technologies and live demonstrations powered by the company’s 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The delegation also visited the company’s 3DEXPERIENCE Lab to learn more about the innovative products and solutions developed by startups nurtured by Dassault Systèmes. The three parties additionally held in-depth exchanges and discussions on the practical implementation of their future collaboration.
Hashtag: #PolyU
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
