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Business Wire India

 

ManageEngine Helps CenturyPly Overcome the Industry-Wide Challenge of IT Fragmentation
 

• CenturyPly reported 30% reduction in IT support time
• The help desk experienced the elimination of daily password-related support calls
   

Century Plyboards India Limited (CenturyPly), one of India’s leading manufacturers of plywood and building materials, has successfully unified its IT operations on an integrated platform from ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation and a leading provider of enterprise IT management solutions. Century Ply has reclaimed 30% of their IT workload, eliminating over 50 daily help desk calls, and automating the onboarding of 70–100 employees every month.

 

The announcement reflects a challenge common to fast-growing Indian enterprises. India’s workplace transformation market is projected to grow at 18.83% CAGR through 2030, driven by rapid workforce expansion and digital adoption. For CenturyPly, managing a growing workforce on fragmented IT tools created a compounding operational burden, which ManageEngine’s unified platform was deployed to resolve.

 

 

“Our teams wanted a solution with collaboration between applications in a single platform. We needed outcomes that ensure business continuity and not just a list of features. With ManageEngine, we could stop application-hopping and start managing our IT as one unified ecosystem,” said Dinesh Naskar, head of IT infrastructure at CenturyPly.

 

 

With operations spanning multiple manufacturing plants and regional offices and a workforce growing by nearly 100 employees every month, CenturyPly’s IT team was absorbed by manual, repetitive tasks that left little capacity for strategic infrastructure work. Engineers were manually creating Active Directory profiles and email accounts for new hires daily, fielding over 40 password reset calls every day, and responding to data security incidents only after the fact with no real-time visibility into what had occurred.

 

 

“As India’s digital maturity grows, technology leaders are focused on delivering business objectives, not grappling with making the tools work. Organisations today are increasingly looking to simplify operations, improve security visibility, and reduce the burden of managing multiple disconnected tools. We at ManageEngine have stayed ahead of the curve, delivering a unified platform so our customers can take full control of their IT operations and security. As a trusted partner of CenturyPly, we are thrilled to see the outcomes it has achieved, and this motivates us to continuously improve our platform,” said Rajesh Ganesan, CEO at ManageEngine.

 

 

Key Areas Covered by the Deployment of ManageEngine Solutions

 

 

CenturyPly partnered with ManageEngine to consolidate identity management, security auditing, and endpoint operations into a single platform.

 

 

By consolidating identity management, endpoint operations, security auditing, and service management into a unified platform, CenturyPly was able to streamline IT operations, improve visibility, and free up teams to focus on higher-value strategic initiatives.

 

 

Identity governance: ManageEngine AD360 replaced a manual, hour-long onboarding process with a single-action workflow. New joiner accounts, access permissions, and email IDs are now provisioned without manual coordination between IT and HR.

 

 

Self-service password management: Enabled employees to reset their own credentials without raising a help desk request. Daily password-related calls dropped from over 50 to zero, returning thousands of work hours annually to the IT team.

 

 

Real-time data security and audit: AD360 provided continuous monitoring of NAS storage, delivering instant alerts on file deletions and access patterns that indicate ransomware-like or unauthorised behaviour. CenturyPly moved from a reactive model dependent on backup restoration to proactive, real-time data protection.

 

 

Unified service desk and endpoint management: CenturyPly achieved a 30% reduction in IT support time after consolidating service management operations with ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus. Three changes drove the improvement: Zia-powered email approvals replaced manual follow-ups and reduced approval turnaround; a self-service knowledge base deflected routine queries, freeing technicians for more complex work; and a unified asset view delivered full visibility into the organisation’s IT infrastructure. The integration of ManageEngine Endpoint Central further gave engineers instant visibility into a user’s IP, hardware health, and security posture at the point of ticket receipt, compressing resolution times and replacing three-day manual asset audits with on-demand, single-click reports.

 

 

“This transformation has allowed us to shift from daily troubleshooting to focusing on technologies that add real business value. We are now better equipped to manage IT operations while strengthening our cybersecurity posture with ManageEngine,” said Naskar.

 

 

For Indian manufacturing enterprises managing distributed workforces at scale, CenturyPly’s deployment demonstrates that IT consolidation is a strategic decision. By unifying identity, security, and service management on a single platform, CenturyPly’s IT team has moved from managing day-to-day friction to building the digital foundation that supports the company’s next phase of national growth.

 

 

About CenturyPly

 

 

Century Plyboards (India) Limited is one of India’s leading integrated wood panel and interior infrastructure companies. Established in 1986, the company manufactures and markets plywood, laminates, MDF, particle boards, veneers, doors and allied interior products under brands including CenturyPly, CenturyLaminates and CenturyMDF. With manufacturing facilities across India and a strong distribution network, the company serves domestic and international markets while focusing on innovation, quality and sustainable manufacturing practices. Headquartered in Kolkata, Century Plyboards is listed on the NSE and BSE.

 

 

About ManageEngine

 

 

ManageEngine is a division of Zoho Corporation and a leading provider of IT management solutions for organizations across the world. With a powerful, flexible, and AI-powered digital enterprise management platform, we help businesses get their work done from anywhere and everywhere—better, safer, and faster. To learn more, visit www.manageengine.com.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518258438/en/

 

Business Wire India

 

Amtech Software, the leading provider of ERP, MES and CRM solutions for the packaging and labels industry, today announced the opening of its new technology and innovation hub in Bengaluru, India. This strategic investment reinforces Amtech’s commitment to providing practical AI, cloud, and integrated technology to the global packaging and labels industry.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518623463/en/

 

 

 

Backed by Vista Equity Partners and serving more than 1,250 manufacturing plants worldwide, Amtech is making India an important part of its long-term growth strategy as a center of product ownership and innovation. The Bengaluru hub will house Engineering, Product, Customer Operations, Revenue Operations, and other key corporate functions.

 

Amtech has ambitious hiring plans for the Bengaluru hub, with rapid team growth expected over the next one year. This is not a small presence; it is a meaningful, multi-functional center being built to scale and serve global customers. Beyond functional hiring, the Bengaluru hub will also serve as the permanent home for a growing number of global roles with worldwide scope and responsibility, based in India.

 

 

Within the next two to three years, the company aims to evolve the India team into a strategic global center, with increasing ownership of global initiatives across its flagship platforms EnCore, Label Traxx and Axiom.

 

 

Bengaluru-based teams will work on cloud-ready, API-driven architecture, AI-augmented product features, advanced manufacturing analytics, and the MES and CRM capabilities that sit at the heart of Amtech’s platform. With access to global product teams and direct involvement in enterprise-grade software, the Bengaluru team will shape technology that underpins the supply chains behind corrugated packaging, folding carton, and label manufacturing across North America, Europe, and Latin America.

 

 

Chuck Schneider, CEO of Amtech Software, said: “As we expand our presence in India, we are building more than teams. We are building a culture that consistently shows up to give our customers what they need every day. This is an important step in strengthening how we innovate, collaborate, and deliver value globally, while staying connected to what matters most to our customers.”

 

 

Vinod Kumar, Chief People & Culture Officer and Managing Director, India, Amtech Software, said: “Bengaluru is one of the world’s most dynamic technology ecosystems, and launching our office here is a defining moment for Amtech — not just as a business milestone, but as a statement about how we grow. We believe the strongest companies are built by people who feel genuine ownership over their work. At Amtech India, our engineers own products, drive roadmaps, and make decisions that impact customers globally. This is the environment we’re committed to building — one where people do the most meaningful work of their careers, and where the Amtech legacy grows through the strength of its people.”

 

 

Amtech is hiring across Engineering, Product, Customer Operations, Revenue Operations, and other key corporate functions. Prospective candidates can learn more and explore open roles at www.amtechsoftware.com.

 

 

About Amtech Software

 

 

Amtech Software is the leading purpose-built provider of ERP, MES, and CRM software solutions for the global packaging and labels industry. Leading the journey for continuous innovation with cloud and practical AI solutions, Amtech helps corrugated packaging, folding carton, flexible packaging and label manufacturers around the world securely streamline plant operations from order entry to job execution and final delivery. Founded over 40 years ago, Amtech supports over 1,250 plants worldwide with a presence in North America, Latin America and Europe. For more information, visit www.amtechsoftware.com.

 

 

To learn more about Amtech Software and career opportunities at the Bengaluru Innovation Hub, visit www.amtechsoftware.com and follow Amtech Software India on LinkedIn.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518623463/en/

 

Business Wire India

MOORE NANOTECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS (“Nanotech”), today announced that it is being acquired by an affiliate of SHIBAURA MACHINE CO., LTD., an industrial machine-tool manufacturer headquartered in Japan.

 

Founded nearly 30 years ago by Len Chaloux and Newman Marsilius III as a standalone subsidiary of the Moore Tool Company, Inc., Nanotech has become a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of state-of-the-art ultra-precision machine tools and associated processes for the production of advanced optical and reflective components.

 

 

“As the world’s markets continue to develop, finding the right strategic partnerships is essential,” said Mark Boomgarden, President and CEO of Nanotech. “Partnering with Shibaura allows us to combine the true competencies of both organizations under one management team – affording both companies the ability to scale resources and invest on a global stage like never before.”

 

 

Co-owner Newman Marsilius IV shared, “Moore Nanotechnology Systems grew to a point where partnering with an industry leader, like Shibaura, was strategically aligned with our board’s vision. This was a purposeful decision to secure the long-term success and legacy of what we have all built together over the last 3-decades.” Newman continued, “Through our combined resources, Nanotech will continue to accelerate its next round of technology and product development, serving our many customers around the world.”

 

 

Shibaura Machine is a publicly-traded company based in Japan. As a well-known and respected leader in the precision-technology space, they have a deep commitment to culture, innovation and quality. Sakamoto Shigetomo, President of Shibaura Machine, shared “The acquisition of Nanotech will create a more competitive company in the global ultra-precision industry. This is about combining the complementary strengths of our core businesses to provide cutting-edge products and technologies to our customers.” By joining Shibaura, Nanotech gains access to greater resources, scale and long-term investments to accelerate its growth – reaching more customers and creating new opportunities for its employees.

 

 

The transaction is expected to close within a few months, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of certain other conditions.

 

 

Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor and DLA Piper served as legal counsel to Nanotech. TrueNorth Capital Partners served as exclusive financial advisor and Covington & Burling and Anderson Mori & Tomotsune as legal counsel to Shibaura. Other terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

 

About Shibaura Machine Group

 

 

SHIBAURA MACHINE CO., LTD. is an industrial machine manufacturer founded in 1938 as a machine tool manufacturer. They have continued to provide a wide variety of products in response to the changing eras, and is currently developing its business in 3 segments, with molding machines as its mainstay. Metal & Plastics Industrial Machine business unit has injection molding machines, die casting machines, and extrusion machines; Machine Tools business unit has machine tools and high-precision machine tools; and Control Systems business unit has engineering solutions, industrial robots and electronic control systems.

 

 

About Moore Nanotechnology Systems

 

 

Moore Nanotechnology Systems was founded in Keene, NH in 1997 as a stand-alone subsidiary of the Moore Tool Company. They are a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of state-of-the-art ultra-precision machine tools and associated processes (single point diamond turning, micro-milling, micro-grinding and glass press molding) for the production of advanced optical components in consumer electronics, defense, aerospace, lighting, medical and automotive sectors. They maintain an installed base of over 1,000 ultra-precision machining systems in more than 30 countries around the world.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518488442/en/

 

Business Wire India

Red Sea Global (RSG), the regenerative tourism developer, has reached a major milestone as Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea at Shura Island welcomes first guests from 20 May, marking the first joint venture-developed resort within its portfolio to enter the market.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518349628/en/

 

 

 

Developed in partnership with Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), the launch represents a shared milestone for both organizations and marks a new phase in RSG’s development model, highlighting the growing role of institutional and private sector partnerships in scaling Saudi Arabia’s luxury tourism sector.

 

“With Four Seasons preparing to welcome guests, we are significantly scaling the capacity and offering of The Red Sea destination in time for one of the busiest travel periods in our calendar,” said John Pagano, Group CEO at Red Sea Global.

 

 

“Launching reservations for the first joint venture-developed resort in our portfolio is also an important commercial milestone for RSG, demonstrating the value of strategic partnerships, the strength of our investment proposition and reflecting growing market confidence in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector.”

 

 

The SAR 2.6 billion resort was developed through a 50-50 joint venture between RSG and KHC, with SAR 2 billion ($522 million) debt financing provided by Riyad Bank.

 

 

Sarmad Zok, CEO at Kingdom Hotel Investments, a subsidiary of KHC, said: “Kingdom Holding Company’s investment in Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea at Shura Island reflects our continued commitment to deploying long-term capital into hospitality and tourism assets in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. Alongside Red Sea Global, this landmark development demonstrates the strength of the destination proposition and the growing international appeal of Saudi Arabia’s luxury tourism market.”

 

 

Greg Djerejian, Group Head of Investments and Group Chief Legal Officer at Red Sea Global, added: “The successful delivery of this resort sends a strong signal to the market about the quality of opportunities emerging across RSG’s portfolio and our ability to convert investor interest into operating assets, while reinforcing our reputation as a developer that delivers.”

 

 

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea at Shura Island presents a serene sanctuary at the secluded eastern tip of the island, blending regenerative luxury, anticipatory service, and experiences for the entire family. The resort is surrounded by crystal-clear waters on three sides and features 149 accommodations and 31 Resort Residences that open fully to the outdoors. Guests can enjoy a selection of dining options ranging from all day dining and plant forward specialties at Sea Green, Levantine cuisine at Al Forn, to al fresco Italian fare at Spiaggia Restaurant and Pool. For adventure seekers, a variety of water sports await, while younger guests can enjoy curated children’s and teens’ programs.

 

 

The resort operates in line with RSG’s regenerative tourism principles, powered entirely by renewable energy and supported by advanced water and waste management systems designed to minimize environmental impact while contributing to long-term conservation goals.

 

 

The achievement comes as RSG expands hospitality and flight capacity at The Red Sea following occupancy levels reaching 82% during the final 10 days of Ramadan, with demand expected to accelerate further ahead of Eid Al-Adha. To support increased demand, RSG is adding 32 additional flights to Red Sea International Airport (RSI) during the holiday period.

 

 

The Red Sea currently has 11 hotels open, with six additional resorts scheduled to open on Shura Island in the coming months.

 

 

About Red Sea Global

 

 

Red Sea Global (RSG – www.redseaglobal.com) is a vertically integrated real estate developer with a diverse portfolio across tourism, residential, experiences, infrastructure, transport, healthcare, and services. This includes the luxury regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea, which began welcoming guests in 2023, and AMAALA, which remains on track to welcome first guests this year.

 

 

A third destination, Thuwal Private Retreat opened in 2024. RSG has also been entrusted with refurbishment works at Al Wajh Airport, focused on upgrading the existing terminal and infrastructure, and building a new international terminal.

 

 

RSG is a PIF company and a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s ambition to diversify its economy. Across its growing portfolio of destinations, subsidiaries, and businesses, RSG seeks to lead the world towards a more sustainable future, showing how responsible development can uplift communities, drive economies, and enhance the environment.

 

 

About The Red Sea

 

 

The Red Sea is a pioneering destination on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, inviting guests to experience a place of extraordinary natural beauty across more than 28,000 km² and an archipelago of 90+ pristine islands framed by desert and mountains. Open since 2023, The Red Sea welcomes guests to a growing collection of world-class resorts operated by world-renowned hotel brands and Red Sea Global. Shura Island, the heart of the destination, began welcoming guests in 2025 and is currently home to five open resorts with a total of 11 resorts planned for the island. The island is set to be fully live in 2026. Signature experiences also include high-adrenaline water and land sports to cultural and nature-based adventures, delivered by destination activity brands WAMA (over-water), Galaxea (underwater), and Akun (inland).

 

 

Red Sea International Airport (RSI) offers a seamless arrival experience, with its design inspired by the desert, oasis, and sea. Within three hours’ flying time for 250 million people and eight hours for 85% of the world, RSI currently connects via regular flights from Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, Milan, and Dubai, with additional regional and international routes launching soon.

 

 

Developed by Red Sea Global (RSG), a multi-project developer advancing responsible, regenerative tourism while actively strengthening its environment, culture, and community, we limited our development to accommodate no more than 1 million visitors a year at The Red Sea and 500,000 at AMAALA to protect the delicate ecosystems. The destination is powered by 100% renewable energy, targeting a 30% net conservation benefit by 2040.

 

 

About Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea at Shura Island

 

 

As the world’s leading operator of luxury hotels, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts currently manages 136 properties in 47 countries. Accepting reservations as of May 20, 2026, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea at Shura Island offers a vacation experience of unlimited variety, and the highly personalized, anticipatory service that Four Seasons guests expect and value around the world. For more information on Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea at Shura Island, visit our website at: https://www.fourseasons.com/redseashuraisland/. For news, please visit our Press Room at: https://press.fourseasons.com/redseashuraisland/.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518349628/en/

 

Business Wire India

Belkin, a leading consumer electronics brand for 40 years, published its 2025 Impact Report, highlighting key achievements and reaffirming its commitment to corporate responsibility. Having achieved carbon neutrality in scope 1 and scope 2 emissions in 2025, the company continues to advance toward scope 3 carbon neutrality through enhanced life cycle assessment capabilities and improved supplier and logistics data collection. In 2025, Belkin calculated 131 product carbon footprints across its portfolio, surpassed 21.6 million PCR products sold, and has achieved a 95% reduction in single-use plastic packaging since 2019, reflecting continued progress in carbon reduction and responsible product design.

 

“As we continue to make progress against our sustainability goals, we are taking deliberate steps to reduce our impact,” said Steven Malony, CEO of Belkin. “Over the past year, we expanded the use of post-consumer recycled materials, further reduced single-use plastic packaging, and strengthened how we measure emissions across our portfolio. Just as importantly, we are increasing transparency and strengthening governance as we build toward a more responsible future.”

 

 

In the last 12 months, on its journey to carbon neutrality in all scopes by 2030 and in line with its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Belkin achieved:

 

 

Climate action (UN Goal 13)

 

 

• Carbon neutrality in direct and purchased emissions (scopes 1 and 2)
• 3,200 metric tons of CO2e reduced in 2025 for Belkin products ¹

 

 

Responsible consumption and production (UN Goal 12)

 

• 95% reduction in single use plastic packaging
• 640 metric tons of virgin plastic saved from 21.6 millionPCR products sold
• 1,072 metric tons cumulative plastic savings since 2019 (this is the equivalent of 53.6M water bottles saved²)
• Funding the responsible recycling of:
  • 29,241 metric tons of electrical and electronic devices
  • 11,928 metric tons of packaging
  • 2,029 metric tons of batteries

 

 

Made with recycled materials

 

Belkin continues to make progress in reducing the environmental impact of its products and packaging. Since introducing its transition to 72–75% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, the company has increased that figure to up to 90% Global Recycling Standard-certified PCR in select products sold in plastic-free packaging.

 

 

Best practice initiatives

 

 

Belkin is proud to announce several important milestones in its journey towards carbon neutrality by 2030.

 

 

These include the expansion of its battery recycling programme through its voluntary participation in B-cycle, Australia’s leading battery recycling initiative, and the expansion of its UK packaging recycling programme to now include household packaging.

 

 

Belkin has also been recognised by the US EPA Green Power Partnership programme and earned a Beyond Best Practice performance rating from the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). This rating reflects the significant progress Belkin has made in advancing packaging sustainability and reinforces the company’s continued commitment to responsible packaging design and material choices.

 

 

This progress was further recognised with the Hon Hai Circular Economy Silver Award, underscoring Belkin’s momentum towards a more circular future.

 

 

Together, these milestones highlight Belkin’s ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impact across its operations and packaging portfolio. As the company continues to invest in circular design principles and more responsible product development, Belkin remains focused on advancing its goal of achieving carbon neutrality across scope 3 by 2030.

 

 

For more information on Belkin’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.belkin.com/company/sustainability/

 

 

About Belkin

 

 

Belkin is a California-based accessories leader delivering award-winning power, protection, productivity, connectivity, and audio products over the last 40 years. Designed and engineered in Southern California and sold in more than 100 countries around the world, Belkin has maintained its steadfast focus on research and development, community, education, sustainability and most importantly, the people it serves. From our humble beginnings in a Southern California garage in 1983, Belkin has become a diverse, global technology company. We remain forever inspired by the planet we live on, and the connection between people and technology.

 

 

____________________
1	Based on PC and PC/ABS plastic blend averaged at 5 metric tons of CO2e per tonne of plastic
2	Estimated 20g per water bottle

 

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518972834/en/

 

Business Wire India

Belkin, a leading consumer electronics brand for 40 years, published its 2025 Impact Report, highlighting key achievements and reaffirming its commitment to corporate responsibility. Having achieved carbon neutrality in scope 1 and scope 2 emissions in 2025, the company continues to advance toward scope 3 carbon neutrality through enhanced life cycle assessment capabilities and improved supplier and logistics data collection. In 2025, Belkin calculated 131 product carbon footprints across its portfolio, surpassed 21.6 million PCR products sold, and has achieved a 95% reduction in single-use plastic packaging since 2019, reflecting continued progress in carbon reduction and responsible product design.

 

“As we continue to make progress against our sustainability goals, we are taking deliberate steps to reduce our impact,” said Steven Malony, CEO of Belkin. “Over the past year, we expanded the use of post-consumer recycled materials, further reduced single-use plastic packaging, and strengthened how we measure emissions across our portfolio. Just as importantly, we are increasing transparency and strengthening governance as we build toward a more responsible future.”

 

 

In the last 12 months, on its journey to carbon neutrality in all scopes by 2030 and in line with its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Belkin achieved:

 

 

Climate action (UN Goal 13)

 

 

• Carbon neutrality in direct and purchased emissions (scopes 1 and 2)
• 3,200 metric tons of CO2e reduced in 2025 for Belkin products ¹

 

 

Responsible consumption and production (UN Goal 12)

 

• 95% reduction in single use plastic packaging
• 640 metric tons of virgin plastic saved from 21.6 millionPCR products sold
• 1,072 metric tons cumulative plastic savings since 2019 (this is the equivalent of 53.6M water bottles saved²)
• Funding the responsible recycling of:
  • 29,241 metric tons of electrical and electronic devices
  • 11,928 metric tons of packaging
  • 2,029 metric tons of batteries

 

 

Made with recycled materials

 

Belkin continues to make progress in reducing the environmental impact of its products and packaging. Since introducing its transition to 72–75% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, the company has increased that figure to up to 90% Global Recycling Standard-certified PCR in select products sold in plastic-free packaging.

 

 

Best practice initiatives

 

 

Belkin is proud to announce several important milestones in its journey towards carbon neutrality by 2030.

 

 

These include the expansion of its battery recycling programme through its voluntary participation in B-cycle, Australia’s leading battery recycling initiative, and the expansion of its UK packaging recycling programme to now include household packaging.

 

 

Belkin has also been recognised by the US EPA Green Power Partnership programme and earned a Beyond Best Practice performance rating from the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). This rating reflects the significant progress Belkin has made in advancing packaging sustainability and reinforces the company’s continued commitment to responsible packaging design and material choices.

 

 

This progress was further recognised with the Hon Hai Circular Economy Silver Award, underscoring Belkin’s momentum towards a more circular future.

 

 

Together, these milestones highlight Belkin’s ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impact across its operations and packaging portfolio. As the company continues to invest in circular design principles and more responsible product development, Belkin remains focused on advancing its goal of achieving carbon neutrality across scope 3 by 2030.

 

 

For more information on Belkin’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.belkin.com/company/sustainability/

 

 

About Belkin

 

 

Belkin is a California-based accessories leader delivering award-winning power, protection, productivity, connectivity, and audio products over the last 40 years. Designed and engineered in Southern California and sold in more than 100 countries around the world, Belkin has maintained its steadfast focus on research and development, community, education, sustainability and most importantly, the people it serves. From our humble beginnings in a Southern California garage in 1983, Belkin has become a diverse, global technology company. We remain forever inspired by the planet we live on, and the connection between people and technology.

 

 

____________________
1	Based on PC and PC/ABS plastic blend averaged at 5 metric tons of CO2e per tonne of plastic
2	Estimated 20g per water bottle

 

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518972834/en/

 

Business Wire India

Latest research from Omdia shows that Southeast Asia’s smartphone market declined 9% year-on-year in 1Q26, with shipments totaling 21.6 million units. However, the standout metric was average selling price (ASP) rather than volume: the ASP reached a record high of $349 in 1Q26, up 19% year-on-year, as memory cost inflation reset device pricing across the region. The divergence between volume and value is a clear signal that the region’s vendor landscape is undergoing a structural repricing: brands are prioritizing ASP growth and margin protection over unit shipment growth, with several accepting significant volume losses in exchange for healthier per-device economics. As DRAM and NAND costs continue to rise into 2026, the region’s structurally price-sensitive consumer demand base is facing growing affordability pressure, with more than 60% of SEA smartphones priced below $200.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518564646/en/

 

 

 

Vendor Rankings and Market Share Adjustments

 

• Samsung led the region with 4.6 million units and a 21% share, up 4% year-on-year, driven by a combination of a strong S26 launch and A-series volume drivers.
• OPPO ranked second with 4.2 million units, declining 17% amid operational corrections due to its combination with realme.
• Xiaomi placed third with 3.7 million units shipped, down 12% year-on-year, as portfolio-wide price hikes reduced channel appetite and constrained wallet allocation.
• TRANSSION ranked fourth with 3.4 million units, down 10%, with its competitively priced Infinix and TECNO models continuing to support strong positions in Indonesia and the Philippines.
• vivo completed the top five with 2.1 million units, down 27%, as the brand shifted focus toward profitability by pulling back from the affordable entry-level segment that typically anchors volume share.
• Apple ranked sixth at 1.8 million units, broadly flat year-on-year, with the strong performance of the iPhone 17 series exhibiting notably less price discounting than its predecessor at the equivalent stage.
• HONOR was the standout performer among tracked vendors, growing 28% year-on-year to 1.2 million units, with shipment growth in six of eight SEA markets despite regional decline.

 

Strategic Shifts Drive The Volume and Value Divergence

 

“The defining story of 1Q26 is ASPs reached an all-time high while volumes declined — and the two trends are closely linked. Memory cost inflation has raised device bill of materials (BoM) across the board, particularly in the entry and mid tiers where DRAM and NAND account for a larger share of total component cost. In response, vendors have raised prices and, importantly, managed supply more tightly to prevent channels from reverting to legacy discount levels.

 

 

For a region where the sub-$200 segment still account for the majority of volume, this creates a difficult balancing act: vendors must either pass through costs on to consumers, absorb margin compression, or reduce specifications and risk volume erosion. Each option carry trade-offs,” said Omdia Research Manager, Le Xuan Chiew.

 

 

The volume–value divergence remained the defining market dynamic of 1Q26. Southeast Asia smartphone shipments declined 9% year on year (YoY), yet market value grew 8%, indicating that growth was driven primarily by repricing rather than structural demand expansion. Despite softer volumes, vivo and OPPO recorded the strongest ASP growth among major vendors at 28% and 26% respectively, reflecting a strategic shift away from low-margin entry-level shipments toward a more profitability-focused strategy. In contrast, HONOR and Samsung used the period to accelerate market share gains through continued investment in brand building and channel expansion.

 

 

This trend is also becoming increasingly visible in product strategy. In Malaysia, for example, Xiaomi raised the price of the Redmi Note 15 4G to RM799 from RM699 for the previous Redmi Note 14 4G, effectively increasing the entry price of its Note series. Meanwhile, the 5G variant maintained its RM899 price point but shipped with lower RAM and storage specifications, highlighting the brand’s focus on preserving margins amid rising component costs. At the premium end, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ also launched with a higher memory configuration, with the 12GB/512GB variant priced at RM1,899 compared with RM1,599 previously. Overall, this reflects a broader industry trend of vendors adjusting memory configurations and selectively raising prices to steer consumers toward higher-value variants, allowing brands to partially offset rising component costs without passing the full increase directly to end users.

 

 

In Singapore, HONOR’s rise to third place for the first time — supported by strong retail execution and momentum in its mid-range portfolio, particularly the X9d — highlights how targeted execution can still deliver share gains in selective mature markets. Looking ahead to 2H 2026, the key question is whether volume-led strategies remain sustainable as BoM costs continue to rise.

 

 

Country-level Performance Shows Mixed Results

 

 

“The country-level picture was more mixed than the regional headline suggests. Indonesia, the region’s largest market at 7.2 million units, recorded the steepest absolute decline, falling 17% year-on-year as elevated channel inventory from 4Q25 continued to normalize and consumers remained cautious amid persistent price pressure. The weakness was further exacerbated by a softer-than-expected Ramadan season and recent retail price increases, both of which weighed on replacement demand. Given Indonesia’s strategic importance to most Android vendors, the market slowdown had an outsized impact on their overall regional performance.

 

 

Thailand remained relatively resilient, posting 2% growth, supported by Samsung’s stronger positioning in the premium and upper mid-range segments, which helped offset continued softness in entry-level demand. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Malaysia declined 12% and 19% respectively, driven by a severe shipment contraction of more than 30% in the sub-$200 price segment,” said Omdia Senior Analyst, Sheng Win Chow.

 

 

Market Outlook and Future Risks

 

 

The overstocking and subsidy-driven volume strategies that defined Southeast Asia’s smartphone market in past years have now reversed. Sales channels across several key price segments are becoming increasingly understocked, enabling vendors to enforce stricter pricing discipline and even raise prices on several models already in the market. Omdia expects pricing and supply volatility to persist in the near term as vendors navigate supply shortages and weigh the demand impact of price increases.

 

 

Southeast Asia’s smartphone shipments and annual growth Omdia Smartphone Market Pulse: 1Q26
Vendor	1Q26 shipments (million)	1Q26 market share	1Q25 shipments (million)	1Q25 market share	Annual growth
Samsung	4.6	21%	4.4	19%	+4%
OPPO	4.2	20%	5.1	21%	-17%
Xiaomi	3.7	17%	4.2	18%	-12%
TRANSSION	3.4	16%	3.7	16%	-10%
vivo	2.1	9%	2.8	12%	-27%
Others	3.7	17%	3.5	15%	+7%
Total	21.6	100%	23.7	100%	-9%
Note: Xiaomi estimates include sub-brand POCO, and OPPO includes realme but excludes OnePlus. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Source: Omdia Smartphone Horizon Service (sell-in shipments), May 2026

 

ABOUT OMDIA

 

Omdia, part of TechTarget, Inc. d/b/a Informa TechTarget (Nasdaq: TTGT), is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets grounded in real conversations with industry leaders and hundreds of thousands of data points, makes our market intelligence our clients’ strategic advantage. From R&D to ROI, we identify the greatest opportunities and move the industry forward.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518564646/en/

 

Business Wire India

Gradiant today announced the close of Series E financing, valuing the company at $2 billion. The financing was led by Safar Partners and Hostplus Superannuation Fund, with participation from ClearVision Ventures and other global investors.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518135237/en/

 

 

 

The financing will support Gradiant’s continued global expansion, including strategic acquisitions, accelerated research and development, and investments in operational scale and IPO readiness. The announcement comes amid unprecedented commercial momentum for Gradiant, fueled by rapid growth in AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, and other mission-critical industries that require advanced water solutions.

 

Gradiant is experiencing its largest backlog and strongest pipeline in company history, with significant growth across data centers, semiconductor fabs, and power, while the company’s business across food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, mining, and energy remains strong. As AI infrastructure scales at record speed, water has emerged as one of the critical constraints to its growth, reliability, and sustainability.

 

 

Gradiant’s proprietary technologies, powered by its digital AI platform, enable customers in the world’s essential industries to secure water sourcing, maximize water reuse, minimize wastewater discharge, and reduce energy consumption across some of world’s most water-intensive operations. Over the last few years, Gradiant has emerged as one of the fastest-growing companies in the history of the water industry, driven by its differentiated technology stack, vertically integrated execution model, and unconventional leadership.

 

 

“AI is re-making the global economy, but behind every chip and every data center lies massive and growing water demand,” said Anurag Bajpayee, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Gradiant. “Gradiant sits at the center of this transformation. We solve the world’s most important water challenges and enable essential industries to grow reliably and sustainably. This new financing gives us more firepower to expand faster, double down on our R&D, and continue building the defining water company of the AI era.”

 

 

“The convergence of AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing growth, industrial sustainability, and water scarcity is creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said David Elia, CEO of Hostplus Superannuation Fund. “We are excited to support Gradiant through its next phase of growth, building upon its deep technological leadership, proven execution capability, and strong market momentum.”

 

 

“Gradiant is the only water company with truly differentiated technology, operating profitably and at scale, serving some of the world’s largest and most essential companies,” said Nader Motamedy, Managing Partner at Safar Partners. “We are proud to partner with Gradiant as it emerges as one of the world’s most important industrial technology companies.”

 

 

About Gradiant

 

 

Gradiant is a different kind of water company. With a full suite of differentiated and proprietary end-to-end water and wastewater solutions powered by top minds in water, the company serves the world’s essential industries, including semiconductors, datacenters, renewable energy, food & beverage, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining and critical minerals. Founded at MIT and headquartered in Boston, Gradiant has developed one of the industry’s most comprehensive portfolios of differentiated technologies which reduce water usage and wastewater discharge, reclaim valuable resources, and renew wastewater into freshwater. Learn more at www.gradiant.com.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518135237/en/

 

Business Wire India

Gradiant today announced the close of Series E financing, valuing the company at $2 billion. The financing was led by Safar Partners and Hostplus Superannuation Fund, with participation from ClearVision Ventures and other global investors.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518135237/en/

 

 

 

The financing will support Gradiant’s continued global expansion, including strategic acquisitions, accelerated research and development, and investments in operational scale and IPO readiness. The announcement comes amid unprecedented commercial momentum for Gradiant, fueled by rapid growth in AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, and other mission-critical industries that require advanced water solutions.

 

Gradiant is experiencing its largest backlog and strongest pipeline in company history, with significant growth across data centers, semiconductor fabs, and power, while the company’s business across food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, mining, and energy remains strong. As AI infrastructure scales at record speed, water has emerged as one of the critical constraints to its growth, reliability, and sustainability.

 

 

Gradiant’s proprietary technologies, powered by its digital AI platform, enable customers in the world’s essential industries to secure water sourcing, maximize water reuse, minimize wastewater discharge, and reduce energy consumption across some of world’s most water-intensive operations. Over the last few years, Gradiant has emerged as one of the fastest-growing companies in the history of the water industry, driven by its differentiated technology stack, vertically integrated execution model, and unconventional leadership.

 

 

“AI is re-making the global economy, but behind every chip and every data center lies massive and growing water demand,” said Anurag Bajpayee, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Gradiant. “Gradiant sits at the center of this transformation. We solve the world’s most important water challenges and enable essential industries to grow reliably and sustainably. This new financing gives us more firepower to expand faster, double down on our R&D, and continue building the defining water company of the AI era.”

 

 

“The convergence of AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing growth, industrial sustainability, and water scarcity is creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said David Elia, CEO of Hostplus Superannuation Fund. “We are excited to support Gradiant through its next phase of growth, building upon its deep technological leadership, proven execution capability, and strong market momentum.”

 

 

“Gradiant is the only water company with truly differentiated technology, operating profitably and at scale, serving some of the world’s largest and most essential companies,” said Nader Motamedy, Managing Partner at Safar Partners. “We are proud to partner with Gradiant as it emerges as one of the world’s most important industrial technology companies.”

 

 

About Gradiant

 

 

Gradiant is a different kind of water company. With a full suite of differentiated and proprietary end-to-end water and wastewater solutions powered by top minds in water, the company serves the world’s essential industries, including semiconductors, datacenters, renewable energy, food & beverage, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining and critical minerals. Founded at MIT and headquartered in Boston, Gradiant has developed one of the industry’s most comprehensive portfolios of differentiated technologies which reduce water usage and wastewater discharge, reclaim valuable resources, and renew wastewater into freshwater. Learn more at www.gradiant.com.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518135237/en/

 

Business Wire India

Latest research from Omdia shows that Southeast Asia’s smartphone market declined 9% year-on-year in 1Q26, with shipments totaling 21.6 million units. However, the standout metric was average selling price (ASP) rather than volume: the ASP reached a record high of $349 in 1Q26, up 19% year-on-year, as memory cost inflation reset device pricing across the region. The divergence between volume and value is a clear signal that the region’s vendor landscape is undergoing a structural repricing: brands are prioritizing ASP growth and margin protection over unit shipment growth, with several accepting significant volume losses in exchange for healthier per-device economics. As DRAM and NAND costs continue to rise into 2026, the region’s structurally price-sensitive consumer demand base is facing growing affordability pressure, with more than 60% of SEA smartphones priced below $200.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518564646/en/

 

 

 

Vendor Rankings and Market Share Adjustments

 

• Samsung led the region with 4.6 million units and a 21% share, up 4% year-on-year, driven by a combination of a strong S26 launch and A-series volume drivers.
• OPPO ranked second with 4.2 million units, declining 17% amid operational corrections due to its combination with realme.
• Xiaomi placed third with 3.7 million units shipped, down 12% year-on-year, as portfolio-wide price hikes reduced channel appetite and constrained wallet allocation.
• TRANSSION ranked fourth with 3.4 million units, down 10%, with its competitively priced Infinix and TECNO models continuing to support strong positions in Indonesia and the Philippines.
• vivo completed the top five with 2.1 million units, down 27%, as the brand shifted focus toward profitability by pulling back from the affordable entry-level segment that typically anchors volume share.
• Apple ranked sixth at 1.8 million units, broadly flat year-on-year, with the strong performance of the iPhone 17 series exhibiting notably less price discounting than its predecessor at the equivalent stage.
• HONOR was the standout performer among tracked vendors, growing 28% year-on-year to 1.2 million units, with shipment growth in six of eight SEA markets despite regional decline.

 

Strategic Shifts Drive The Volume and Value Divergence

 

“The defining story of 1Q26 is ASPs reached an all-time high while volumes declined — and the two trends are closely linked. Memory cost inflation has raised device bill of materials (BoM) across the board, particularly in the entry and mid tiers where DRAM and NAND account for a larger share of total component cost. In response, vendors have raised prices and, importantly, managed supply more tightly to prevent channels from reverting to legacy discount levels.

 

 

For a region where the sub-$200 segment still account for the majority of volume, this creates a difficult balancing act: vendors must either pass through costs on to consumers, absorb margin compression, or reduce specifications and risk volume erosion. Each option carry trade-offs,” said Omdia Research Manager, Le Xuan Chiew.

 

 

The volume–value divergence remained the defining market dynamic of 1Q26. Southeast Asia smartphone shipments declined 9% year on year (YoY), yet market value grew 8%, indicating that growth was driven primarily by repricing rather than structural demand expansion. Despite softer volumes, vivo and OPPO recorded the strongest ASP growth among major vendors at 28% and 26% respectively, reflecting a strategic shift away from low-margin entry-level shipments toward a more profitability-focused strategy. In contrast, HONOR and Samsung used the period to accelerate market share gains through continued investment in brand building and channel expansion.

 

 

This trend is also becoming increasingly visible in product strategy. In Malaysia, for example, Xiaomi raised the price of the Redmi Note 15 4G to RM799 from RM699 for the previous Redmi Note 14 4G, effectively increasing the entry price of its Note series. Meanwhile, the 5G variant maintained its RM899 price point but shipped with lower RAM and storage specifications, highlighting the brand’s focus on preserving margins amid rising component costs. At the premium end, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ also launched with a higher memory configuration, with the 12GB/512GB variant priced at RM1,899 compared with RM1,599 previously. Overall, this reflects a broader industry trend of vendors adjusting memory configurations and selectively raising prices to steer consumers toward higher-value variants, allowing brands to partially offset rising component costs without passing the full increase directly to end users.

 

 

In Singapore, HONOR’s rise to third place for the first time — supported by strong retail execution and momentum in its mid-range portfolio, particularly the X9d — highlights how targeted execution can still deliver share gains in selective mature markets. Looking ahead to 2H 2026, the key question is whether volume-led strategies remain sustainable as BoM costs continue to rise.

 

 

Country-level Performance Shows Mixed Results

 

 

“The country-level picture was more mixed than the regional headline suggests. Indonesia, the region’s largest market at 7.2 million units, recorded the steepest absolute decline, falling 17% year-on-year as elevated channel inventory from 4Q25 continued to normalize and consumers remained cautious amid persistent price pressure. The weakness was further exacerbated by a softer-than-expected Ramadan season and recent retail price increases, both of which weighed on replacement demand. Given Indonesia’s strategic importance to most Android vendors, the market slowdown had an outsized impact on their overall regional performance.

 

 

Thailand remained relatively resilient, posting 2% growth, supported by Samsung’s stronger positioning in the premium and upper mid-range segments, which helped offset continued softness in entry-level demand. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Malaysia declined 12% and 19% respectively, driven by a severe shipment contraction of more than 30% in the sub-$200 price segment,” said Omdia Senior Analyst, Sheng Win Chow.

 

 

Market Outlook and Future Risks

 

 

The overstocking and subsidy-driven volume strategies that defined Southeast Asia’s smartphone market in past years have now reversed. Sales channels across several key price segments are becoming increasingly understocked, enabling vendors to enforce stricter pricing discipline and even raise prices on several models already in the market. Omdia expects pricing and supply volatility to persist in the near term as vendors navigate supply shortages and weigh the demand impact of price increases.

 

 

Southeast Asia’s smartphone shipments and annual growth Omdia Smartphone Market Pulse: 1Q26
Vendor	1Q26 shipments (million)	1Q26 market share	1Q25 shipments (million)	1Q25 market share	Annual growth
Samsung	4.6	21%	4.4	19%	+4%
OPPO	4.2	20%	5.1	21%	-17%
Xiaomi	3.7	17%	4.2	18%	-12%
TRANSSION	3.4	16%	3.7	16%	-10%
vivo	2.1	9%	2.8	12%	-27%
Others	3.7	17%	3.5	15%	+7%
Total	21.6	100%	23.7	100%	-9%
Note: Xiaomi estimates include sub-brand POCO, and OPPO includes realme but excludes OnePlus. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Source: Omdia Smartphone Horizon Service (sell-in shipments), May 2026

 

ABOUT OMDIA

 

Omdia, part of TechTarget, Inc. d/b/a Informa TechTarget (Nasdaq: TTGT), is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets grounded in real conversations with industry leaders and hundreds of thousands of data points, makes our market intelligence our clients’ strategic advantage. From R&D to ROI, we identify the greatest opportunities and move the industry forward.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518564646/en/