Akoustis Launches State-of-the-Art XBAW® Foundry Services and AI-Enabled Engineering Design Software

  • Akoustis’ Foundry Services Offers Custom 150-mm RF MEMS Silicon (Si) Substrate Fabrication Capabilities for RF Resonators and Filters
  • Launches Fully Automated PDK Incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Enabled Software for Chip Design
  • Expands Available Market Enabling Broad Selection of Customers the Ability to Utilize XBAW® Process

Charlotte, N.C., June 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Akoustis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKTS) (“Akoustis” or the “Company”), an integrated device manufacturer (IDM) of patented bulk acoustic wave (BAW) high-band RF filters for mobile and other wireless applications, announced that the Company has launched its cutting-edge foundry and engineering services to target market segments including mobile, Wi-Fi, defense, 5G infrastructure, and automotive.

Akoustis’ world class foundry will provide customers with unmatched bulk acoustic wave (BAW) fabrication capabilities on 150-mm Si substrates. Strategically located just outside of Rochester, New York, the Company’s 125,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility enables the manufacture of high-performance BAW devices based on the MEMS-based XBAW® process.

Akoustis’ foundry will offer distinct XBAW® technology, catering to different frequency ranges and providing customers with unparalleled flexibility. The XBAW® XB1 technology covers a frequency range from 1.6 GHz to 7 GHz, while the next generation XBAW® XP3F technology is expected to cover frequencies from 7 GHz to 20 GHz. As a part of its comprehensive solution, Akoustis provides automated Process Design Kits (PDKs) leveraging machine learning algorithms to customers, facilitating efficient and accurate design implementations. The PDKs will enable customers to construct intricate designs and optimize their end solutions, leveraging the full potential of Akoustis’ foundry and its advanced fabrication capabilities. Akoustis’ back-end services will be driven by GDSI, a US-based, trusted supplier of premium semiconductor back-end supply chain services, catering to customers’ advanced wafer processing needs with services including wafer dicing, wafer pick and place, and back grinding and polishing.

Jeff Shealy, founder and CEO of Akoustis, stated, “The launch of our improved foundry and engineering services represents a significant milestone for Akoustis as we continue to lead the industry in providing cutting-edge BAW RF filter solutions.” Mr. Shealy continued, “By leveraging our advanced PDKs driven by AI-enabled software to reduce design cycle time customers can streamline their design processes, achieve optimal performance, and stay at the forefront of wireless innovation with seamless integration.”

Akoustis continues to experience strong demand and a growing sales funnel for its Wi-Fi, 5G mobile, and 5G infrastructure products, as well as its new XBAW®/SAW resonator and oscillator products, and semiconductor back-end services. Akoustis continues to add new Wi-Fi design wins, many of which are expected to ramp into production in calendar 2023.

About Akoustis Technologies, Inc.

Akoustis® (http://www.akoustis.com/) is a high-tech BAW RF filter solutions company that is pioneering next-generation materials science and MEMS wafer manufacturing to address the market requirements for improved RF filters – targeting higher bandwidth, higher operating frequencies and higher output power compared to legacy polycrystalline BAW technology. The Company utilizes its proprietary and patented XBAW® manufacturing process to produce bulk acoustic wave RF filters for mobile and other wireless markets, which facilitate signal acquisition and accelerate band performance between the antenna and digital back end. Superior performance is driven by the significant advances of poly-crystal, single-crystal, and other high purity piezoelectric materials and the resonator-filter process technology which enables optimal trade-offs between critical power, frequency, and bandwidth performance specifications.

Akoustis plans to service the fast growing multi-billion-dollar RF filter market using its integrated device manufacturer (IDM) business model. The Company owns and operates a 125,000 sq. ft. ISO-9001:2015 registered commercial wafer-manufacturing facility located in Canandaigua, NY, which includes a class 100 / class 1000 cleanroom facility – tooled for 150-mm diameter wafers – for the design, development, fabrication and packaging of RF filters, MEMS and other semiconductor devices. Akoustis Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in the Piedmont technology corridor near Charlotte, North Carolina.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans or strategies for the future (including our possible future results of operations, profitability, business strategies, competitive position, potential growth opportunities, potential market opportunities and the effects of competition), timing and achievement of new design wins and ramping of production, and the assumptions underlying such statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “might,” “would,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “project,” “expect,” “plan,” “strategy,” “anticipate,” “attempt,” “develop,” “help,” “believe,” “think,” “estimate,” “predict,” “intend,” “forecast,” “seek,” “potential,” “possible,” “continue,” “future,” and similar words (including the negative of any of the foregoing), although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future results, performance, events or circumstances. Instead, these forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include, without limitation, risks relating to our inability to obtain adequate financing and sustain our status as a going concern; our limited operating history; our inability to generate revenues or achieve profitability;  the results of our research and development activities; our inability to achieve acceptance of our products in the market; the possibility that the anticipated benefits from business acquisitions will not be realized in full or at all or may take longer to realize than expected; the possibility that costs or difficulties related to the integration of acquired businesses’ operations will be greater than expected and the possibility of disruptions to our business during integration efforts and strain on management time and resources; the impact of a pandemic or epidemic or a natural disaster, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and other sources of volatility on our operations, financial condition and the worldwide economy, including its impact on our ability to access the capital markets; increases in prices for raw materials, labor, and fuel caused by rising inflation; general economic conditions, including upturns and downturns in the industry; shortages in supplies needed to manufacture our products, or needed by our customers to manufacture devices incorporating our products; our limited number of patents; failure to obtain, maintain, and enforce our intellectual property rights; claims of infringement, misappropriation or misuse of third party intellectual property, including the lawsuit filed by Qorvo, Inc. in October 2021, that, regardless of merit, could result in significant expense and negatively impact our business results; our inability to attract and retain qualified personnel; our reliance on third parties to complete certain processes in connection with the manufacture of our products; product quality and defects; existing or increased competition; our ability to successfully manufacture, market and sell products based on our technologies; our ability to meet the required specifications of customers and achieve qualification of our products for commercial manufacturing in a timely manner; our inability to successfully scale our New York wafer fabrication facility and related operations while maintaining quality control and assurance and avoiding delays in output; the rate and degree of market acceptance of any of our products; our ability to achieve design wins from current and future customers; contracting with customers and other parties with greater bargaining power and agreeing to terms and conditions that may adversely affect our business; risks related to doing business in foreign countries, including China; any security breaches, cyber-attacks or other disruptions compromising our proprietary information and exposing us to liability; our failure to innovate or adapt to new or emerging technologies, including in relation to our competitors; our failure to comply with regulatory requirements; results of any arbitration or litigation that may arise; stock volatility and illiquidity; dilution caused by any future issuance of common stock or securities that are convertible into or exercisable for common stock; our failure to implement our business plans or strategies; and our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in more detail in the Risk Factors and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Considering these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements regarding future events and circumstances discussed in this document may not occur, and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements included in this document speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or privately any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, for any reason after the date of this document to conform these statements to new information, actual results or to changes in our expectations.

Contact:

COMPANY:
Tom Sepenzis
Akoustis Technologies
VP of Corporate Development & IR
(980) 689-4961
tsepenzis@akoustis.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8856558

Haikenen? Aineken? Heineken®? Spelling it correctly won’t create good times, but the world’s most international beer brand knows what can

Heineken® is marking its 150th Anniversary with an unconventional celebration that prioritises good times over getting it right

Haikenen? Aineken? Heineken®? Spelling it correctly won’t create good times, but the world’s most international beer brand knows what can.
Heineken® is marking its 150th Anniversary with an unconventional celebration that prioritises good times over getting it right.
Haikenen? Aineken? Heineken®? Spelling it correctly won’t create good times, but the world’s most international beer brand knows what can.
Heineken® is marking its 150th Anniversary with an unconventional celebration that prioritises good times over getting it right.
Haikenen? Aineken? Heineken®? Can you spot the difference?
No, this isn’t a typo… Heineken is misspelt on the truck exteriors to reflect the brand’s 150th anniversary campaign, which celebrates all of its common spelling mistakes and colloquial nicknames globally.

Heineken

AMSTERDAM, June 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Heineken®, one of the world’s most recognised beer brands, is today marking its 150th anniversary with an unconventional celebration of the many ways the brand has been nicknamed, misspelled or mis-served over the years, all to showcase how good times and sparking true connections over a beer are, in the end, what matters most.

Freddy Heineken’s famous words “I don’t sell beer, I sell gezelligheid” have never rung so true. “Gezelligheid” translated is that feeling of good times, something that has been at the heart of the Heineken® brand for the last 150 years. To celebrate this milestone anniversary, Heineken® is putting good times front and centre of its global birthday festivities.

Of course, good times have changed over the 150 years of Heineken®’s existence and will continue to do so, but their importance in people’s lives have not. Recognising this and as part of the anniversary celebration, the Heineken® brand has worked with academics to better understand the ingredients that are needed to deliver that feeling of “good times” in the modern day; a surprisingly under-studied human need.

Marking a turning point in the brand’s history, Heineken® has decided to evolve the way it measures success – focusing not just on the volume of beer it sells but also the good times it delivers for its customers in over 190 countries.

To do this, Heineken® has collaborated with behavioural scientist Dr Chris Brauer, Goldsmiths, University of London, to create the ‘Good Times Index’, a new brand measurement model which will score the brand’s contribution to creating the perfect conditions for good times. Through human behavioural research, the index has identified five core conditions that people universally need to experience good times, including open-mindedness, inclusivity, and human connection:

Heineken® is marking its 150th Anniversary with an unconventional celebration that prioritises good times over getting it right.

With the Good Times Index in place, Heineken® is staying true to its vision by becoming the first beer brand to officially have “delivering good times” as part of the way it measures its annual performance – alongside sales and other brand tracking metrics.

Bram Westenbrink, Global Head, Heineken® Brand, said: “Brewing good times has been in our DNA for 150 years. That is why we are evolving our brand metrics to show that creating good times is equally as important as the beer we produce. By better understanding the conditions behind good times in today’s world, we can continue to create experiences for all our global customers that promote that feeling of gezelligheid – whether that is through the messages in our advertising, our sponsorships and events or of course our range of products including our non-alcoholic Heineken® 0.0 or our more modern flavoured Heineken® Silver. It is our goal that we will continue to deliver good times, one way or another, for the next 150 years and beyond.”

Dr Chris Brauer, Director of Innovation at Goldsmiths, University of London, said: “When we came to this project, we recognised that the understanding of what makes a good time, required a new and fresher perspective. Together with Heineken®, we have worked to better understand the multiple dimensions that make up that feeling of “Good Times”, and the ways in which it is experienced today. Good times are not just one thing or another, they are a multitude of different and subjective feelings, experiences, wants and needs that help generate a sensation and fulfil higher order needs. There has never been a more important time or opportunity to measure the role and prevalence of good times in our lives, so I’m excited to see a brand like Heineken® take serious steps to ensure that they are better understanding and enabling that feeling of “gezelligheid”.”

RESEARCH UNDERSTANDING ‘GOOD TIMES’ AROUND THE WORLD

Heineken’s® inaugural results from the Good Times Index comes at an important moment socially around the world, as 87% of consumers believe it is more important now than ever for them to have a good time. But one thing that is consistent, is that good times are best enjoyed together.

Additional consumer research from Heineken® shows that 82% care more about being with friends than if their night goes to plan. Surprisingly, 75% of respondents believe that the people you watch a sport match with is more important than if your team wins.

Despite the fact 87% of respondents believe opportunities to connect in person with loved ones have become even more important since the pandemic, over half (61%) agreed that given the current economic climate, they would be more likely to work overtime and sacrifice social moments with friends and family.

Nevertheless, many remain open-minded about good times ahead, with the vast majority (88%) agreeing their best memories come from unexpected moments. This open-mindedness follows through into the ways we socialise, as 78% agree it is important to socialise with people that don’t always share the same views as them – a sentiment most strongly held in Brazil (84%) and the UK (81%).

HEINEKEN® ACTIVITY CELEBRATING H150

To help bring the brand’s commitment to good times to life, the anniversary’s tongue-in-cheek ATL campaign takes viewers on a journey around the globe to embrace all the different ways people adapt and enjoy social moments and memories with Heineken® – ranging from an incorrectly spelt tattoo of the logo to a Heineken® Original being served with a lime, straw and ice. The light-hearted video sees the brewer celebrate the good times it provides – even if the way consumers spell or enjoy it isn’t 100% correct or as originally intended.

To further poke fun at itself, Heineken® will replace its logo with a number of alternative spellings it has seen over the years, appearing across all of Heineken’s® social media accounts and website pages, as well as on several new electric lorries.

The full video, developed by creative agency Le Pub Milan is available to watch online: HERE.

Editorial information:

Please find the high-resolution campaign images of the collaboration and campaign here.

For more information, please contact: hnknbrand@edelman.com or +447580979333.

About HEINEKEN:
HEINEKEN is the world’s most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken® brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 300 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution, and focused cost management. Through “Brewing a Better World”, sustainability is embedded in the business.

HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We employ over 85,000 employees and operate breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares trade on the Euronext in Amsterdam. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on Reuters under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. HEINEKEN has two sponsored level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programmes: Heineken N.V. (OTCQX: HEINY) and Heineken Holding N.V. (OTCQX: HKHHY).

Most recent information is available on HEINEKEN’s website: www.theHEINEKENcompany.com and follow us on Twitter via @HEINEKENCorp.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1e42fe2-94d7-4137-bdb0-866b4a6fea23

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/155922eb-bea4-402f-9e2b-01709537630d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e5890685-6de4-4f50-97e0-18df342c03d9

The photos are also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8857069

Teledyne e2v’s new 8K image sensor delivers wide FOV for high-throughput logistics vision systems

Teledyne e2v’s Snappy Wide 8K image sensor

The Snappy Wide sensor’s wide FOV allows it to replace multiple sensors making it an efficient and cost-effective solution

GRENOBLE, France, June 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Teledyne e2v, a Teledyne Technologies [NYSE: TDY] company and global innovator of imaging solutions, announces Snappy Wide, a new 8K wide aspect ratio CMOS image sensor designed specifically for logistics applications where larger conveyor belts are becoming increasingly common. A single Snappy Wide sensor can cover this large field of view successfully, replacing multiple sensors for a more efficient and cost-effective solution.

Snappy Wide has a small 2.5 µm global shutter pixel, designed with Teledyne e2v’s latest generation light pipe technology, which provides 67 dB dynamic range in 10-bit and 12-bit ADC mode. The sensors have low read-out noise, which is paramount for barcode reading, with a good MTF in any kind of environment, and low dark current to ensure pristine image quality, even in very low-light conditions. With a maximum resolution of 8K (8,192) x 4k (4,320) pixels (i.e. 17/9 aspect ratio) Snappy Wide provides innovative sensor solutions for the logistics market and other industrial applications, such as smart factories.

Snappy Wide is available now in black and white, and color versions, in 35 Megapixels (8,192 x 4,320), 28 Megapixels (8,182 x 3,500) and 16 Megapixels (8,192 x 2,000) resolutions. The sensor has also been designed so there is flexibility in the horizonal and vertical resolutions. Unlike a square format CMOS image sensor, using Snappy Wide results in no wasted pixels and a better overall system cost. In addition, this new sensor can also be used very effectively as a high throughput 1D linear scanner (18,700 fps for dual line scanning).

Arnaud Foucher, Business Team Leader at Teledyne e2v, said, “Snappy Wide offers customers the ability to adapt resolution, frames per second, performance, micro lens CRA value and pricing based on their individual needs. Our logistics-oriented customers have welcomed the introduction of Snappy Wide as it meets their requirements for advanced barcode scanning, and high-speed linear scanning in high throughput warehouses.”

See a live demo of Snappy Wide at Automatica, Munich, 27-30 June. Visit us on Teledyne stand B5.210 or contact us online to get more information about product capabilities and customization options.

Documentation, samples, and kits for evaluation or development are available upon request.

About Teledyne e2v
Teledyne e2v innovations lead developments in healthcare, life sciences, space, transportation, defense and security and industrial markets. Teledyne e2v’s unique approach involves listening to the market and application challenges of their customers and partnering with them to provide innovative standard, semi-custom or fully custom imaging solutions, bringing increased value to their systems.
For more information, visit imaging.teledyne-e2v.com

Teledyne e2v media enquiries contact:
Jessica Broom
Jessica.Broom@teledyne.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b4d28ac8-13c7-41f1-b198-52ea122f0be9

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8855652

American Battery Solutions, Inc.’s ESS Division Launches European Presence

Entry into the European market marked with the hiring of UK-based staff and the company’s first appearance at “The smarter E Europe” (Intersolar) exhibition

MUNICH, Germany, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, just ahead of The smarter E Europe exhibition, American Battery Solutions, Inc.’s Energy Storage Solutions division (ABS ESS; exhibitor booth B2.476), manufacturer of the ultra-high-density TeraStor™ battery energy storage platform, announced their strategic entry into the European market to deliver BESS solutions that excel in reliability, density and architected safety features.

The company has received a great deal of industry attention since they announced their work on the TeraStor™ architecture in August of 2022. Since that time, the company has built capacity to deploy more than 30 GWh of their cutting-edge product over the next three years.

“ABS ESS has made significant investments in its manufacturing and business infrastructure to be ready to deploy more than 30 GWh worldwide over the next three years,” said Bud Collins General Manager and Head of ABS ESS. “We are building a safe and reliable BESS system that is unmatched in total lifetime value. We look forward to introducing it to the European market this week.”

To provide focused attention to customers in the region, ABS ESS has hired Brian Watson as Vice President, Sales – ESS for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. With extensive experience with many well-respected companies in technology and the energy industry, Watson will drive the company’s expansion in the European market. “ABS ESS is entering Europe at the perfect time. Demand for ultra-high-density energy storage is high because Europe is taking significant steps to transition to more renewable energy. The TeraStor™ will be an especially important part of this,” Watson explained.

For more information on American Battery Solutions’ Energy Storage Division and the 7.2 MWh (600MWh/acre) TeraStor™, please visit booth B2.476 at “The smarter E Europe” exhibition or https://www.americanbatterysolutions.com/ess/ess-home.

About American Battery Solutions’ Energy Storage Solutions Division
American Battery Solutions, Inc.’s Energy Storage Solutions division is a pioneering provider of advanced energy storage solutions. The company designs, develops and manufactures cutting-edge systems, empowering customers to harness the full potential of renewable energy and optimize energy management. With a steadfast commitment to value, reliability, sustainability and innovation, the ABS ESS team of industry veterans aims to revolutionize the energy storage landscape.

Contact
ESS Media Relations
American Battery Solutions ESS Division
2 Cabot Road, Hudson, MA 01749 USA
ess_media@americanbatterysolutions.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8856801

Vietnam most favoured by Koreans for summer holidays

Vietnam is the most popular destination among Korean tourists this summer, according to Hana Tour, the largest travel company in the Republic of Korea.

The company recently announced the results of its analysis on the booking situation for overseas travel departing in July and August, which also indicated that international travel is gradually returning to normal after a long period of stagnation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the data released by Hana Tour on June 12, the percentage of its customers choosing Vietnam as their preferred vacation spot is the highest at 19.9%. Coming next is Japan with 18.2%, Europe 17.6%, China 13.3%, and Thailand 6.4%.

The peak period for summer vacations for Korean travellers will fall within the last two weeks of July and the beginning of August, specifically from July 24-August 6, when students in the RoK start their summer break. Hence, the demand for international travel also enters its peak phase.

Last year, the booking rate for tours to Vietnam by Hana Tour accounted for 26.2%. This means that for every four Koreans who wished to travel abroad in July and August, one person chose Vietnam. Following Vietnam were Guam 10.9%, Western Europe 9%, the Philippines 8.9%, and Japan 8%./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge gets 70% completed

Head of the 5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge Construction Project Mr Laythong Phoummavong has said that 70% of the project activities have been carried out including 60% of the bridge itself and 89% of related facilities.

(KPL) Head of the 5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge Construction Project Mr Laythong Phoummavong has said that 70% of the project activities have been carried out including 60% of the bridge itself and 89% of related facilities.

Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, accompanied by Borikhamxay Governor Kongkeo Xaysongkham, representatives of relevant authorities and his delegation visited the construction site of the Mekong bridge on Monday, Jun 12.

Around 5 billion kip has been paid in compensation for people’s land required by the development project.

The bridge is expected to be put into public use in the beginning of 2024, according to Mr Laythong Phoummavong.

The bridge spans the Mekong between Paksan district in Borikhamxay of Laos and Bung Kan province in northeastern Thailand.

“This bridge is being built over the Mekong and has a total length of 1,350 meters. It is expected to be fully completed in 2024 and boost trade and investment between Laos and Thailand,” said Mr Laythong Phoummavong.

The bridge is located in Kuy Oudom village in Pakxan district, about 10 km north of the administration centre of the district.

The infrastructure development project is among priorities of the 5-year action plan on strategic partnership for growth and sustainable development (2022-2026) the Lao and Thai governments signed in Jun 2022.

The Neighboring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) of Thailand has funding the bridge construction project, a joint effort of Laos and Thailand to develop a transport corridor connecting Thailand with many Vietnamese cities via Laos and also provide connectivity to China’s Guangxi Province.

Source: Lao News Agency