Media OutReach
xTool Launches “Make It Here” Initiative to Fuel a European Renaissance of Making
Revealed at the company’s European brand launch event in Berlin, xTool presented a roadmap to empower creators, small businesses, and local studios — the ecosystem driving Europe’s modern making renaissance. With new partnerships, tools, and community initiatives, xTool aims to bring manufacturing power closer to where ideas begin.
Driving Local Manufacturing Forward
As part of its long-term European strategy, xTool announced new investments that strengthen its operational footprint and support the region’s shift toward flexible, localised production.
With a soon-to-open German office, more than 200 demo rooms, and a growing partner network, xTool enables SMBs, designers, educators, and independent makers to build high-quality micro-manufacturing systems that are accessible, professional, and locally rooted.
“Europe has one of the strongest traditions of craftsmanship and creativity,” said Jessie Liu, President of xTool. “Our mission is to support that spirit with accessible, industrial-grade tools and long-term local investment.”
Building Success From the Ground Up
The event highlighted real success stories, including German entrepreneur Kerstin Bauer, who used xTool technology to turn custom apparel from a service into a scalable micro-production model.
To expand access to such opportunities, xTool introduced its 1% Donation Initiative, committing 1% of annual profit to local maker communities, youth programs, Fab Labs, and skill-building organizations.
In 2025, beneficiaries include TU Berlin, Fraunhofer, Z-Lab, MotionLab Berlin, and smz-karlsruhe — institutions supporting hands-on innovation and maker education across Europe.
Innovation for Every Workshop
xTool also unveiled the F2 Ultra UV, a precision laser designed for premium personalization and delicate materials. Using UV “cold” processing, it delivers clean, micron-level engraving on glass, crystal, ceramics, and engineered plastics. The F2 Ultra UV will be available in Europe from 27 November 2025, starting at 3,919 EUR.
Panel Highlights
In a panel featuring Jessie Liu, Kerstin Bauer, and Jean-Michel Molenaar from the Fab Foundation — moderated by tech communicator Sascha Zöller — speakers explored how technology, community, and micro-production can accelerate Europe’s creator-led manufacturing movement.
Hashtag: #xTool
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About xTool
xTool is a global leader in desktop laser cutters, engravers, and smart fabrication tools. Since 2020, xTool has empowered creators in over 62 countries, supported by 515 patents and 48 world-first innovations. xTool is transforming how people learn, create, and build—from classrooms to research labs, from garages to retail stores. Combining powerful technology with intuitive design, xTool makes advanced fabrication tools accessible to makers, educators, and entrepreneurs everywhere. Learn more at
xTool.com.
GoTyme Bank becomes the first digital bank in the Philippines to enable Apple Pay, expanding secure and seamless digital payments for 10 million customers
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – Paymentology, the leading global issuer processor, today announced the successful launch of Apple Pay for GoTyme Bank in the Philippines. Through this launch, GoTyme becomes one of the first issuers in the Philippine market to enable Apple Pay, giving 10 million customers an easy, secure and private way to pay using their Apple devices.
As one of the country’s fastest-growing digital banks, GoTyme continues to accelerate its digital payments strategy by expanding secure, seamless and convenient payment experiences for Filipino consumers. Customers can now securely add their GoTyme debit card to Apple Wallet and make contactless payments in stores, within apps and online wherever Apple Pay is accepted.
Apple Pay uses industry-leading tokenisation technology, meaning card numbers are never stored on devices or shared with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, with every transaction authenticated through Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode, providing an additional layer of security while delivering a fast, frictionless checkout experience.
Nate Clark, President and CEO at GoTyme Bank commented: “At GoTyme Bank, we’re constantly looking for ways to make banking simpler, safer and more rewarding for our customers. Bringing Apple Pay to GoTyme Bank customers in the Philippines gives them an easy and secure way to pay wherever they shop while continuing to earn rewards points on all their transactions. This is another step in our commitment to making everyday banking more beautiful and convenient for our customers.
The launch comes as digital payments continue to reshape the Philippine economy. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), digital payments now account for more than half of all retail payment transactions, as consumers increasingly embrace mobile-first banking and contactless payments. Meanwhile, smartphone penetration continues to rise, supporting growing demand for digital wallets and tokenised payment experiences. As digital commerce accelerates, enabling secure mobile payments through services such as Apple Pay is becoming an increasingly important differentiator for financial institutions.
Minh-Ha Truong, Head of Growth, APAC at Paymentology, added: “As a long-standing partner to GoTyme, we’re proud to support another significant milestone in its growth journey. Bringing Apple Pay to market demonstrates how modern, cloud-native issuer processing enables digital banks to rapidly deliver innovative payment experiences while maintaining the highest standards of security, scalability and performance. Together, we’re helping shape the future of digital payments in the Philippines.”
The launch further strengthens GoTyme’s position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital banks and highlights the value of Paymentology’s cloud-native issuer processing platform in helping banks and fintechs rapidly introduce innovative payment capabilities that meet evolving customer expectations.
Hashtag: #Paymentology
https://www.paymentology.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/paymentology/
https://x.com/Paymentology
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
New Documentary Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun From Discovery to Debut on August 20 in Southeast Asia
Set against the sun-drenched landscapes of southern Taiwan, Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun highlights how the people of Liugdui have thrived alongside the land for over 300 years. Following local scholars, farmers, and artisans, the documentary explores how this community adapts its deep-rooted traditions—from water stewardship to food heritage—in response to environmental and economic change, offering vital modern insights on sustainability, rural revitalization, and cultural continuity.
Across three episodes—Water, agriculture, and food—the documentary explores how the people of Liugdui blend tradition with modern innovation. Viewers meet groundwater experts, farmers pioneering sustainable crops, and artisans repurposing local materials like betel nut, alongside culinary practitioners who preserve Hakka identity through ancestral rituals, communal feasts, and family traditions that unite generations.
Audiences will discover a community that views tradition not as something fixed in the past, but as a living legacy that continues to evolve. From innovative groundwater management and botanical dyeing to ritual feasts and modern interpretations of Hakka cuisine – the documentary celebrates the creativity, resilience, and values that have sustained Liugdui for centuries.
Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun premieres in Southeast Asia on Discovery Channel, Thursday, August 20 at 7:10pm; TLC Channel, Monday, August 24 at 7:10pm; and Discovery Asia, Tuesday, August 25 at 9:25pm.
Hashtag: #Discovery
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Discovery Channel
The launch press conference broke away from tradition with a vibrant runway show featuring celebrity “Hot Spring Travel Navigators,” including acclaimed chef Edward Lee from Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, visual identity creative director Yen Po-Chun, TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Taiwan Chairman Kazuma Otsuka, and actor-host Andrew Chau. Together with local businesses, they showcased regional agriculture, specialties, and lifestyle products.
The official launch celebration kicks off on September 4 at Guguan Park in Taichung, featuring a themed parade with over 500 participants and the lighting ceremony for the Lishan–Guguan Light Art Festival, which stars a massive eight-meter “OhBear” light installation. The festivities continue on September 5 with a guided tribal trekking tour in Guguan, offering participants an exclusive NT$500 accommodation discount.
To promote four-season wellness tourism globally, the campaign partners with the East Asia Hot Spring Association for an international symposium on September 4. Key promotions also include complimentary LINE POINTS for new followers, curated packages starting at NT$299, and a flash sale of 800 limited NT$1 Hot Spring Vouchers for the Double 11 Shopping Festival. Furthermore, cross-sector collaborations offer half-price entry to national forest areas, limited-edition Taiwan Railway bento boxes, and Guanziling mud spring skincare products to enrich the travel experience.Hashtag: #TaiwanFourSeasonSprings
https://www.trimt-nsa.gov.tw/zh-tw/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
