RICHMOND, Va., June 26, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Loehr Lightning Protection Co. (LLP), Virginia’s leader in lightning protection system consultation and installation, is endorsing two important lightning safety initiatives. LLP, a woman-owned Virginia contracting firm founded in 1947, is supporting the National Lightning Safety Council’s 26th-year anniversary of National Lightning Safety Awareness Week and aligning itself with the South Asian Lightning Network (SALNet) and its experts at Aegisflash in Houston, Texas to commemorate International Lightning Safety Day (ILSD), June 28, 2026.

Image caption: While lightning-sparked fires claim lives and destroy homes and structures in every region of the U.S., most property owners are unaware that these fires can be prevented. Lightning protection systems that comply with national safety standards can fortify homes and buildings against this leading weather threat.

“Lightning is the weather threat that affects most people in most parts of our state and the U.S., and it’s also a leading fire threat,” said Milicent Loehr Lynch, vice president and co-owner at LLP. She continued stating that, “A lightning strike can pack over 300 million volts of power—massive electricity that can ignite a devastating home or structural fire in seconds.”

“The National Lightning Safety Council’s Awareness Week campaign at the official start of summer is a perfect time to remind property owners about a common, very destructive, yet little understood fire risk,” added Lynch, who is also an LPI-Certified Journeyman, LPS installer and a member of the Lightning Protection Institute’s Ethics Committee. “Partnering with LPS industry professionals and sharing NLSC, NFPA and ILSD resources, are just a few of the ways we’re helping to build lightning safe communities.”

“International Lightning Safety Day began in 2020 as an initiative to commemorate a lightning tragedy that occurred in Uganda on June 28, 2011,” said Dr. Shriram Sharma (PhD), principal at Aegisflash and chairman of SALNet, which began the ILSD initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of lightning and the importance of safety measures. In his work with SALNet, Dr. Shriram has partnered with a host of dedicated professionals, including researchers, engineers, risk mitigation practitioners and advocates who share a common goal: saving lives and protecting critical infrastructure from the deadly and destructive lightning hazard.

While safety standard-compliant lightning protection systems (LPS) can provide a safe and effective grounding network to protect structures from the lightning threat, most property owners aren’t aware of their availability. According to experts at the Lightning Protection Institute, the NFPA 780 Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems is recognized as the most comprehensive resource for reducing lightning risks at U.S. properties. The NFPA regularly reviews LPS methods and materials through its code process to make sure that lightning protection methods and materials are standardized and keep pace with our ever-changing building technology.

While commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal, educational and healthcare facilities routinely specify NFPA 780 LPS technology as a risk mitigation measure, homeowners are increasingly relying on LPS to fortify and protect their properties against the destructive and sometimes deadly lightning threat.

“Lightning strikes that occur in the darkness of night can be especially difficult to recognize and detect,” said Lynch. “Even in the light of day, lightning fires aren’t always visible in their initial stages and it’s not unusual for these blazes to originate in enclosed spaces like the attic, basement or electrical panels.”

“Every year, lightning continues to claim lives and damage valuable infrastructure around the world,” said Dr. Sharma. “Thankfully, we possess the science, technology, standards, and expertise needed to significantly reduce these losses to prevent tragedies like the June 2011 Uganda event. The challenge is not whether solutions exist, it is whether we choose to implement them,” he explained.

It is Dr. Sharma’s hope that International Lightning Safety Day will continue to grow as a “globally recognized platform that inspires action, promotes best practices, and ultimately saves lives.”

Inquiries about specific lightning concerns, the annual Lightning Safety Awareness Week campaign, and International Lightning Safety Day can be addressed to NLSC members via contacts here: http://www.lightningsafetycouncil.com/LSC-About.html.

For more information about fire prevention and Safety Standard Compliant lightning protection systems, visit the National Fire Protection Association website.

ABOUT LOEHR LIGHTNING PROTECTION CO.:

Since 1947, Loehr Lightning Protection Co. has served as Virginia’s leader in lightning protection system design, installation and consultation to protect lives, property and assets from lightning’s deadly and destructive force. A family-owned, women-owned and operated SWaM business, it is LLP’s priority to continue its reputation as “A Striking Difference” in the lightning protection industry for many years to come.

Learn more at: https://loehrlightning.com/

News Source: Loehr Lightning Protection Co.

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Source: https://www.send2press.com/wire/virginias-leader-in-lightning-protection-supports-national-lightning-safety-awareness-campaign-and-commemorates-international-lightning-safety-day-locally/

QINGDAO, Shandong and SHIPLEY, West Yorkshire, U.K., June 26, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — AOPACK Ltd., a manufacturer of corrugated box making machines, today announced that U.K. packaging producer ASC Direct is now operating three AOPACK machines to support its short-run, bespoke and custom-sized corrugated packaging production.

Photo caption: Three AOPACK box making machines (BM2508-Plus, BM2508-Pro and BM1800-Mini) operating at ASC Direct in the United Kingdom.

ASC Direct installed its first AOPACK BM2508-Plus in 2020. Following several years of production experience with the machine, the company ordered an additional BM2508-Pro and BM1800-Mini in 2025. The two new machines were commissioned in March 2026 through GTS Europe, AOPACK’s sales and service partner in the United Kingdom.

The expanded installation allows ASC Direct to assign different orders to the machine best suited to the required board size, box format and production quantity.

FROM ONE AOPACK MACHINE TO THREE

ASC Direct produces bespoke corrugated packaging for both customers ordering directly through its online system and customers purchasing corrugated cartons through traditional offline sales channels. Its online ordering system allows customers to configure custom-sized cardboard boxes in quantities ranging from 25 to 2,000 units. According to GTS Europe, more than 90 percent of these online orders are for quantities of 100 boxes or fewer.

This production profile requires frequent order changes, flexible box dimensions, efficient board utilization and careful control of labor and setup costs.

ASC Direct had already gained practical experience with its BM2508-Plus before investing in two additional AOPACK models.

The BM2508-Pro and BM1800-Mini were both added primarily to increase ASC Direct’s overall production capacity. The three AOPACK machines can produce a broad range of corrugated box styles, allowing the customer to distribute orders according to available capacity, board width, required functions, and production schedules.

In addition to increased capacity, the BM2508-Pro provides functions including cold gluing, QR code scanning and glue flap crushing, helping ASC Direct integrate more production steps into one coordinated workflow.

The BM1800-Mini also includes cold gluing and QR code scanning. It processes narrower corrugated sheets than the BM2508-Pro, but its compact footprint allows the customer to add production capacity while using less factory floor space.

FLEXIBLE CORRUGATED BOX PRODUCTION

AOPACK box making machines combine key corrugated converting processes within a programmable production workflow.

Depending on the machine model, configuration and required box style, these processes can include slitting, creasing, slotting, horizontal cutting, customized shape cutting, gluing and printing.

Operators can enter the required board dimensions and box specifications through the machine control interface, allowing the equipment to adjust for different production orders without requiring a traditional cutting die for each box size.

This approach is particularly useful for short-run production, where frequent size changes and small quantities can make conventional tooling and multi-stage production less economical.

The AOPACK box making production workflow helped ASC Direct reduce inefficiencies associated with its previous rotary slitter process for short-run orders. The machines can slit, score and cut corrugated board in one coordinated process while supporting a wide range of packaging formats.

“The significance of this project is the customer’s decision to invest again after several years of operating its first AOPACK machine in real production,” said Anna Qin, Sales Director at AOPACK Ltd. “The BM2508-Pro and BM1800-Mini increase ASC Direct’s overall production capacity while adding functions such as cold gluing and QR code scanning. The compact BM1800-Mini also allows the customer to expand production while using less factory floor space.”

AOPACK AFTER-SALES VISIT

An AOPACK after-sales manager recently visited ASC Direct to review the three machines in operation and learn more about the customer’s current production requirements.

The visit included discussions with ASC Direct regarding machine utilization, operator experience, routine maintenance, box applications and future production needs.

The visit also provided AOPACK with practical feedback about how the three machine models are being used together within the same production environment.

REPEAT INVESTMENT DEMONSTRATES LONG-TERM PRODUCTION VALUE

The ASC Direct project is more than a delivery of two new machines. It demonstrates how a customer can begin with one AOPACK box making machine, gain several years of production experience and then expand with additional models selected for different production requirements.

Together, the three machines provide additional production capacity for standard cases, bespoke cartons, smaller e-commerce boxes, and other customized corrugated packaging formats.

Complete ASC Direct Customer Case: https://www.aopackmachine.com/asc-direct-three-aopack-box-making-machines/

Customer-Site Production Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP9BmUO3ZFo

ABOUT ASC DIRECT

ASC Direct is a U.K. supplier of bespoke corrugated packaging. The company provides custom-sized cardboard boxes for e-commerce, commercial and industrial packaging applications, including relatively small production quantities.

ABOUT AOPACK LTD.

AOPACK Ltd. designs and manufactures automated corrugated box making machines for short-run, customized and on-demand packaging production. Since 2014, AOPACK has delivered more than 1,200 installations across over 60 countries.

Its equipment integrates processes such as slitting, creasing, slotting, cutting, optional gluing and printing within flexible production platforms. AOPACK machines are installed across the United States, Europe and other international markets.

Website: https://www.aopackmachine.com/

MEDIA CONTACT
Alvin Zhang
Marketing Supervisor
AOPACK Ltd.
Email: operation@aopackmachine.com
Mobile / WhatsApp: +86 150 2002 3038
Website: https://www.aopackmachine.com/

MULTIMEDIA

Photo link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/26-0626-s2p-aopack-300dpi.webp

Photo caption: Three AOPACK box making machines (BM2508-Plus, BM2508-Pro and BM1800-Mini) operating at ASC Direct in the United Kingdom.

News Source: AOPACK Ltd.

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LAYTONVILLE, Calif., June 26, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — After 33 years as one of California’s most singular and pioneering vineyards, Alder Springs Vineyard, the remote, high-elevation Mendocino County site, announced today that the 2026 harvest will be the last vintage farmed under founder and owner Stuart Bewley. After more than three decades, Bewley will step back from financing the vineyard’s farming and will cease supplying grapes to the market after the 2026 season.

Image caption: Alder Springs Vineyard, Terraces block.

The decision follows a multi-year contraction across the wine industry. The downturn has hit growers hardest, who bear the fixed costs of farming regardless of demand.

“We can’t take a year off the vineyard. We’ve got to prune, water, and take care of it, and a huge amount of that is manual labor,” explained Bewley. “At some point, the numbers have to pencil. Right now, they don’t — not because of the vineyard, but because the market for this kind of fruit isn’t there yet.”

First planted in 1993, Alder Springs, whose fruit has supplied many of California’s most acclaimed and adventurous wineries, became known for doing what few believed possible. Bewley pioneered organic frost protection to grow high-quality fruit on a rugged mountain site at elevations between 1,700 and 2,700 feet; committed to no-till farming from the outset to protect the salmon-bearing streams that run through the property; and spent 15 years transitioning the vineyard to regenerative practices. Today, it grows 43 commercial varieties — among them rarities in California such as Petite Arvine, Mencía, Counoise, Pelaverga and Aligoté — alongside ongoing trials of hundreds of variety, clone, and rootstock combinations.

Over the years, Alder Springs fruit appeared in a wide range of highly rated wines from dozens of significant California producers.

Looking ahead, Bewley will redirect his focus to other profitable enterprises, including his carbon-sequestration company, Carbon Storage Solutions LLC, land-stewardship work, and his role on the board of the Pacific Forest Trust. Some members of the Alder Springs team will transition to those businesses alongside him; the vineyard is assisting others in finding new opportunities in the industry.

Bewley will retain ownership of the ranch with no intention to sell.

“We have loved this business and working with each of the producers who came here,” said Bewley. “The wine industry has had a major downturn, and it hit them. Had our customers been able to weather it, they would have kept buying fruit, and we’d still be growing.”

Bewley and his team will farm through the current season with the same commitment that has defined the vineyard from the start.

“We will be making 2026 our very best vintage in our 33 years in this business,” said Bewley.

About Alder Springs Vineyard

Founded in 1993 by Stuart Bewley, Alder Springs Vineyard is one of California’s most distinctive high-elevation winegrowing estates. Known for pioneering regenerative mountain viticulture and an exceptional diversity of grape varieties, it has supplied fruit to many of California’s most respected wineries for more than three decades, earning a reputation well beyond its size. For more information, visit https://www.alderspringsvineyard.com/vineyard/

News Source: Alder Springs Vineyard

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​सिलिकॉन वैली के एक आलीशान टेक ऑफिस में सन्नाटा पसरा है। स्क्रीन पर कोडिंग की लाखों लाइनें तैर रही हैं। एक तरफ दुनिया के बेहतरीन कंप्यूटर इंजीनियर्स सिर पकड़े बैठे हैं, और दूसरी तरफ शांत मुद्रा में दार्शनिक दिख रहे हैं। यह दृश्य उस हकीकत को बयां करता है, जिसने टेक वर्ल्ड के पुराने ढर्रे को पूरी तरह पलट दिया है। एक दशक पहले युवाओं को कहा जाता था-‘नौकरी चाहिए तो कोडिंग सीखो।’ लेकिन अब कोडर्स नौकरियों को लेकर चिंतित हैं, जबकि फिलॉसफी के छात्रों की मांग बढ़ रही है। फेडरल रिजर्व बैंक ऑफ न्यूयॉर्क के आंकड़े बताते हैं कि अमेरिका में कंप्यूटर साइंस ग्रेजुएट्स की बेरोजगारी दर 7%, जबकि दर्शनशास्त्र ग्रेजुएट्स की सिर्फ 5.1% है। येल यूनिवर्सिटी के प्रोफेसर लुसियानो फ्लोरिडी कहते हैं,‘दर्शनशास्त्र विभागों से छात्रों और प्रोफेसरों का ‘टेक कंपनियों में जाने का ट्रेंड तेजी से बढ़ रहा है। कंप्यूटर को तो गणित व कोड की भाषा समझ आती है, तो दार्शनिकों की जरूरत क्यों..? प्रो. फ्लोरिडी कहते हैं, क्योंकि कंप्यूटर को कोडिंग सिखाने से ज्यादा मुश्किल उसे नैतिकता सिखाना है। आज के एआई मॉडल्स की सबसे बड़ी समस्या ‘चापलूसी’ और ‘मतिभ्रम’ है। वे अक्सर वही कहते हैं जो यूजर सुनना चाहता है, चाहे झूठ ही क्यों न हो। इसे सुधारने के लिए दार्शनिकों ने सुकरात की पद्धति अपनाई, जिसस  

​आईटेल ने भारतीय बाजार में अपना नया फीचर फोन ‘आईटेल पावर 451’ लॉन्च कर दिया है। ₹1,699 की कीमत वाले इस फोन में एआई एनवायरनमेंटल नॉइज कैंसिलेशन (AI-ENC), टाइप-C चार्जिंग और 55 दिनों के स्टैंडबाय वाली बड़ी बैटरी दी गई है। 1 साल की रिप्लेसमेंट वारंटी और 4 स्टाइलिश कलर्स यह फोन चार कलर्स – ब्लू, ग्रीन, पर्पल और ब्लैक में आता है। आईटेल इस फीचर फोन पर किसी भी मैन्युफैक्चरिंग डिफेक्ट के लिए 1 साल की ‘काउंटर रिप्लेसमेंट’ ऑफर भी दे रही है। फीचर फोन सेगमेंट में पहली बार AI-ENC तकनीक आईटेल भारत का एकमात्र ऐसा ब्रांड है जो फीचर फोन सेगमेंट में AI-ENC तकनीक दे रहा है। यह एडवांस फीचर भीड़भाड़ वाले बाजारों, व्यस्त सड़कों या दफ्तरों के शोर-शराबे को कम कर देता है। इससे यूजर को बिल्कुल साफ आवाज में बात करने का अनुभव मिलता है। 2.4-इंच की स्क्रीन और ऑटो कॉल रिकॉर्डिंग जैसे फीचर्स बैक कवर मिलेगा और फोन में टाइप-C चार्जिंग पोर्ट फोन के साथ कंपनी एक प्रोटेक्टिव बैक कवर भी दे रही है। इसके अलावा, फोन में टाइप-C चार्जिंग सपोर्ट दिया गया है, जो आमतौर पर सिर्फ स्मार्टफोन्स में मिलता है। 2500 mAh की बड़ी बैटरी और 55 दिनों का स्टैंडबाय टाइम आईटेल पावर 451 में 2500 mAh की पावरफुल बैटरी दी गई है। कंपनी के मुताबिक, यह बैटरी ‘सुपर बैटरी मोड’ और ‘AI मोड’ के साथ 55 दिनों तक का स्टैंडबाय टाइम देने में सक्षम है। यह उन यूजर्स के लिए ब