Mar 31, 2024 | Business
Purr Dating, an emerging social networking and dating platform exclusively designed for queer women, trans, and nonbinary individuals, has announced its highly anticipated United States launch date of June 1, 2024. The platform aims to redefine the dating and social networking experience through a grid interface and seamless user experience.
This groundbreaking platform introduces a cutting-edge grid interface, offering users an intuitive and visually engaging way to navigate and connect in the app. The app has been designed to be a dynamic, interactive experience that goes beyond traditional social networking and dating apps.
The application will be launching two variations of the platform, a freemium model, and a premium model, both optimizing user experience.
· Purr: The basic model of the app will be free, which will include a variety of features beneficial and exciting for users to explore and connect with each other.
· Purr+: The platform’s premium service offers enhanced features, exclusive benefits, and an ad-free experience designed to elevate the online dating and social networking experience.
Additional information about what the app will look like, how users can navigate it, and unique features will be released at a later date.
Founder and CEO, Boyan Golden, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming launch, stating, “Purr is dedicated to providing an empowering space for queer women, trans, and nonbinary individuals. We are committed to fostering the creation of meaningful relationships and strengthening our community.”
Purr is poised for an exciting journey, driven by commitment to inclusivity and innovation. As we approach the nation-wide release on June 1, we eagerly anticipate providing a platform that transcends boundaries, fostering genuine connections within the queer community.
About Purr:
Purr is a cutting-edge social networking and dating platform dedicated to serving the queer women, trans, and nonbinary community. We strive to make a positive impact, aiming to cultivate a flourishing community that uplifts, empowers, and celebrates the diversity of the queer experience.
Mar 31, 2024 | Business
From Clara Berta’s exploration of memory and heritage to Harrison Gilman’s dynamic gestural abstractions, Greet Helsen’s ethereal use of acrylic and watercolor, Gail Titus’ intuitive approach to form and texture, to Taylour Martin’s deeply personal creations fostering profound connections, Alchemical Motion promises a mesmerizing journey into the realms of artistry and transformation.
Exploring themes such as the ebb and flow of memory, the significance of personal heritage, the passing of physical time, desire, grief, and love, Clara Berta’s paintings reflect her Hungarian roots. The joyful use of traditional clothing colors and the predominant theme of water convey its natural healing properties. Infused with reminders of her travels, Berta’s abstract works express unexpected sequences of patterns and distortion of perspectives and subconscious spaces.
Harrison Gilman initiates his original paintings with a layer of fast-paced gestural abstraction. Some of his artworks remain in the purely abstract stage, while others evolve into deliberate characters, shapes, and symbols. These pieces serve as landscapes and portraits of the artist’s subconscious, exposing hidden layers beneath the surface of his mind. Gilman reflects on the challenges of navigating the material world and distractions, stating, “It’s so easy to get caught up in the material world and all the distractions and what we think we’re feeling and what we should be feeling versus whatever is actually going on.”
In Greet Helsen’s abstract works, mainly using acrylic but incorporating watercolor for lightness, shimmering colors are transparent and accentuated by ink lines. This technique reflects and highlights large swathes of color, giving the paintings an unmistakable lightness and softness. Harmonious combinations of bright color blocks and lines dance against white backgrounds.
Spontaneously and intuitively working without regard to realistic forms, Gail Titus focuses on textures, colors, and interesting shapes. Her artworks are created by intuitively applying paint to canvas using brushes, scrapers, water bottles, and other objects. Titus describes her process as evolving, with certain areas feeling undeveloped, prompting her to methodically rework those areas until the artwork gradually feels resolved.
Taylour Martin’s creations bear a deeply personal essence, drawing inspiration from the belief that every individual possesses an innate artist within them, waiting to express themselves on the canvas. Her artistic mission revolves around granting that permission and encouraging others to channel their innermost feelings and thoughts onto the blank canvas, fostering a connection between the artist and the art that is truly profound.
Since the opening of Artspace Warehouse in 2010, the gallery continues to be an industry leader in affordable, museum-quality artworks making collecting art accessible and budget-friendly. With one gallery in Zurich and two galleries in Los Angeles, Artspace Warehouse specializes in guilt-free international urban, pop, graffiti, figurative, and abstract art. The expansive 5,000-square-foot space offers a large selection of emerging and established artists from all over the world.
Alchemical Motion
April 27, 2024 – May 31, 2024
Opening: Saturday, April 27, 2024, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Mar 31, 2024 | Business
In line with this focus, SMC presented on a variety of solutions for applications in the industry. SMC’s standard pneumatic and electric products play a crucial role in the advanced battery industry as they are well suited for automating cell assembly. SMC products are utilized across various advanced battery applications, including raw material mining, battery cell manufacturing, battery pack assembly, EV manufacturing, EV component recycling, and related EV services. As lasers have become more common in the cell assembly industry, SMC’s chillers have offered temperature control solutions for these applications, too.
Furthermore, SMC contributes significantly to the advanced battery industry through products specifically tailored for secondary battery environments. SMC’s 25A Series product line is designed using material compatible with secondary battery applications and is engineered for use in low dewpoint environments. These specialized products eliminate copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) material where possible. The 25A Series products are used in battery manufacturing applications including the following:
· Electro production: mixing and kneading machine; coating and rolling; slitting
· Cell assembly: winding; attaching tabs; welding cell lid and pouring electrolytic solution; pre-charging and welding infusion plug; punching electrodes; stacking; tab welding and lamination; sealing
· Inspection and packaging: charging/discharging and aging; packaging
In addition to presenting at the conference, SMC leaders had the opportunity to gain deeper insights into the current landscape of the industry. Mike Shillito, the National Sales Manager in New Energy Systems at SMC Corporation of America, reflected on his experience, stating, “One big takeaway for me is that the battery industry has vast potential for growth. There is a wide array of chemistries such as Li-cobalt, Li-Phosphate (LFP), NMC, NCM, and cutting-edge technologies like solid state, semi-solid, and electrolyte to explore.” Shillito further elaborated on market dynamics, noting the absence of a clear favorite among these technologies. He emphasized, “Preferences will be driven by considerations such as charge efficiency, safety, scalability, and recycling. Recycling is very important in this circular industry, and the effective, safe, and profitable recycling of these materials will be crucial for long-term success.”
Building upon these insights, Gary Heinonen, Global Automotive Industry Manager at SMC, shared how SMC is actively preparing to meet the demands of this expanding market, both in North America and globally. Heinonen stated, “There continue to be huge investments from government entities, such as the Department of Energy, into the industry. Even with the ‘softening’ of EV car sales, the battery infrastructure is moving full speed ahead. I believe this will trigger more US machine builders (OEMs) to pivot toward producing battery equipment as more US content is being required. SMC definitely has a focused approach to the growing secondary battery market: while Asia and Europe are well ahead of the US market, we are aligning our strategies globally to ensure we are prepared to meet the challenges in the US market.”
In preparation for this expanding market, SMC released 16 new products for the secondary battery industry in 2023, had 7 new products in production, and 11 new products in design.
About SMC Corporation of America
SMC Corporation of America, a subsidiary of SMC Corporation in Japan headquartered in Noblesville, IN, is a comprehensive manufacturer of components for the Automation, Controls, and Process industries. With technical centers in Japan, the US, Europe, and China, our vision to be the global standard for sustainable automation is realized through partnering with our customers to discover opportunities for energy and resource savings by reducing overall compressed air and electrical consumption.
About NAATBatt
NAATBatt International, the trade association for advanced battery technology in North America, promotes the development and commercialization of electrochemical energy storage technology and the revitalization of advanced battery manufacturing in North America.
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