BEIJING, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 20^th Beijing InfoComm China will open its doors next week 15-17 April 2026 at the China National Convention Center (CNCC), marking the beginning of a landmark era: the 20^th year of the InfoComm China brand, followed by the 20^th edition of the tradeshow in 2027. This year’s event makes significant strides with internationalizing the event through its international and invited guest programs, promotion of 100+ export-ready exhibitors, and alignment with China’s 15^th Five-Year Plan with conference content topics and Pro AV technology surrounding the future of AI, collaborative environments, and IoT ecosystems.

The event commences with a high-level opening panel on 15 April, 10:30am: “Beyond Connectivity, Strategic Leap 2030: Setting the Course for Business & Technology in the 15th Five-Year Plan.” As China enters the 15^th Five-Year Plan, this session convenes leading think tanks and industry leaders to decode the commercial realities of digital economy mandates and AI proliferation. Moving beyond theory, the panel explores how technological convergence will translate into scalable business models and new revenue streams for the Pro AV industry.

Over 400 brands and companies will participate at Beijing InfoComm China including renowned and leading technology companies such as BARCO, Christie, CREATOR, Hisense, and MUXWAVE.  The Export-Ready and Partner Spotlight at InfoComm China 2026 showcases a diverse mix of Pro AV innovators actively seeking international distributors and collaborators, underscoring the show’s role as a gateway to China’s rapidly evolving technology ecosystem. Companies such as AISpeech are advancing intelligent human-machine interaction, while Bolin Technology and Colorlight highlight strengths in imaging and visual processing. Established audio and conferencing leaders like DSPPA, Relacart, and TAIDEN demonstrate deep expertise in integrated communications, while display and immersive solution providers including Seemile and Samplex reflect cutting-edge advancements in visual experiences. Alongside globally recognized brands such as Shure and fast-growing innovators like Kiloview, these companies collectively represent a strong pipeline of export-ready solutions spanning AI, AV-over-IP, LED displays, and smart collaboration technologies—many already delivering projects across sectors from education and government to immersive entertainment and commercial environments.

The 2026 Summit at InfoComm China 2026 will deliver a compelling three-day program that brings together global technology leaders, visionary speakers, and real-world case studies to explore the rapid convergence of AI and Pro AV. Headline sessions feature insights from industry pioneers including those who will share how accelerated computing and AI are redefining visual processing, simulation, and immersive experiences across industries. Complementing this are forward-looking discussions led by experts from organizations such as Shure and Deloitte, alongside innovators in digital signage, control systems, and collaboration technologies. Standout sessions like “From Signals to Intelligence” and “The AI Agentic Enterprise” dive into next-generation AV architectures and autonomous operations, while “AI in Sports” and “The Pulse of Digital Signage” showcase practical deployments of AI at scale. The program also explores immersive storytelling and experience design through contributions from leaders in cultural tourism and themed entertainment, reinforcing the show’s cross-industry relevance. Spanning smart workplaces, education, and spatial computing, the Summit combines strategic thought leadership with hands-on insights, positioning it as a must-attend platform for understanding the future direction of the global AV industry. tours and curated networking events, ensuring attendees gain both strategic insights and practical exposure to the technologies shaping the future of AV.

Strengthening its position as Asia’s premier hub for Pro AV excellence, InfoComm China and DISCIEN will co-publish a strategic white paper on 16 April (day 2 of show) during the session, “Resonance • Reshaping • New Growth: The Evolution of Audiovisual Industry under the Emotional Economy in 2026.” Titled “Innovation in New Consumption Formats and Industry Growth Driven by the Emotional Economy,” this report explores how emotional engagement and evolving consumer behaviors are reshaping the Pro AV landscape, providing attendees with a roadmap for navigating industry growth in 2026 and beyond. 

For 20 years, Beijing InfoComm China has served as the most professional and influential platform for promoting and expanding China’s global Professional Audio-Visual (Pro AV) industry. Through decades of bringing together manufacturers, solution providers, IT system integrators, and end users of Pro AV, Beijing InfoComm China has become Asia’s premier Hub for Pro AV excellence. Taking place from 15-17 April 2026, at the China National Convention Center (CNCC), the show marks the beginning of a landmark era: the 20^th year of the InfoComm China brand, followed by the 20^th edition of the tradeshow in 2027. From an exhibition floor hosting over 400 companies, with over 100 companies ready to export,  and welcoming over 24,000 professional visitors, to a world-class conference lineup of Pro AV industry movers & shakers, InfoComm China is where China is shaping the digital-forward future.

About InfoCommAsia
InfoCommAsia Pte Ltd. extends its influence through three marquee shows: InfoComm Asia; InfoComm China, Beijing; and InfoComm India. Each show features an exhibition that showcases the world’s most cutting-edge and in-demand professional audiovisual and integrated experience technology solutions and a summit that presents learning opportunities. The shows bring together professional audiovisual industry players and top-level decision-makers from across different markets to tap into the vast potential presented by pro AV solutions.

For more information, visit:
infocomm-asia.com | infocomm-china.com | infocomm-india.com 

Global Media Enquiries:
Angie Eng
Director, Marketing, InfoCommAsia Pte Ltd
T: +65 8163 2109
E: media@infocommasia.com; angieeng@infocommasia.com

Multimillion-dollar alliance to deploy sovereign-ready AI infrastructure across key global markets, with Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore among the first

BRISBANE, Australia, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OneQode, in collaboration with Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd. (TSE: 6501), and Cylix Applied Intelligence, today announced a Sovereign AI Factory initiative, a strategic alliance to deploy sovereign AI infrastructure across key global markets.

Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore are among the first markets selected for the initial phase, while the United States is targeted for future expansion. The initiative will enable governments and enterprises to deploy advanced AI capabilities while maintaining full control over data, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance.

Each partner contributes a key capability to this architecture:

• OneQode delivers energy, facilities, telecoms and compute infrastructure – performance GPU compute, connected by their low-latency global backbone.
• Hitachi Vantara brings Hitachi iQ, a validated AI infrastructure platform that integrates accelerated compute, networking and storage to keep data close to where it’s processed.
• Cylix Applied Intelligence architects and operates the AI layer on top, from readiness assessments and RAG deployments through to fully managed production AI services.

What the partners are saying

“We’re genuinely excited to be working with Hitachi Vantara and Cylix on this,” said Matt Shearing, CEO, OneQode. “We cut our teeth on gaming and financial services, building infrastructure for firms where microseconds matter. It’s given us a particular way of thinking about compute, networking and data centre operations, and there’s real demand across the Global South for sovereign AI infrastructure built to that standard, and this alliance lets us deliver it.”

“More than half of the enterprise tenders we’re seeing in Australia now specify sovereign-capable solutions,” said Nathan Knight, Vice President and Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Hitachi Vantara. “Boards and management teams are now treating data sovereignty as a critical requirement alongside operational resilience and security. In the event of foreign ownership, control and intervention, the impact on critical infrastructure and intellectual property would be catastrophic. We applaud OneQode’s decision to make Australia one of the first locations for its Sovereign AI Factory network, and we’re committed to supporting that ambition with infrastructure that meets the standard these workloads demand.”

“Sovereign AI requires more than infrastructure; it requires the ability to operationalize AI at scale. At Cylix, we design and deploy Sovereign AI Factory architectures and deliver fully managed AI services on top of OneQode’s sovereign infrastructure and Hitachi iQ platforms. This allows organizations to move from concept to production quickly, while maintaining full control over their data, compliance, and operational environment. Our role is to ensure AI workloads are not just deployed, but continuously optimized, governed, and delivering real business value,” said Ross DiStefano, Senior Vice President, HPC&AI, Cylix Applied Intelligence.

Together, the three companies are building a turnkey sovereign AI platform — one that lets organisations train and deploy AI models securely, keep sensitive data within their own jurisdiction, and scale with confidence.

About OneQode

OneQode is a global provider of mission-critical digital infrastructure. The company operates an integrated technology stack spanning energy, facilities, network, and high-performance compute – enabling governments, enterprises, and financial institutions to run AI and latency-critical workloads at scale across Asia-Pacific and key global markets. Learn more at oneqode.com.

About Cylix Applied Intelligence

Cylix Applied Intelligence (Cylix Solutions) is a global AI solutions firm that helps organizations move from concept to deployment. Through structured AI use case assessments and workshops, Cylix identifies high-impact opportunities that deliver measurable ROI. Cylix provides end-to-end AI strategy, development, infrastructure expertise, and managed AI services to accelerate enterprise AI adoption worldwide. Learn more at cylixsolutions.com or contact info@cylixsolutions.com.

About Hitachi Vantara

Hitachi Vantara is transforming the way data fuels innovation. A wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Vantara provides the data foundation the world’s leading innovators rely on. Through data storage, infrastructure systems, cloud management and digital expertise, the company helps customers build the foundation for sustainable business growth. To learn more, visit hitachivantara.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi contributes to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates globally in four sectors — Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries — and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi generates value from integrating data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges.

HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners.

SYDNEY, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Argon & Co, the global management consultancy specialising in operations strategy and transformation, is evolving its delivery model to embed data, digital capability and AI into end-to-end transformation, as organisations face increasing pressure to drive productivity, resilience and operational performance.

As organisations face increasing complexity, disruption and pressure to do more with less, there is a shift away from prioritising standalone digital initiatives towards more integrated transformation across operations. In response, Argon & Co is advancing its new unified approach, which combines deep operational expertise with cutting-edge technology, data and digital capability, along with a new model of partner to deliver faster, smarter, more sustainable outcomes that support long-term business growth.

Paul Eastwood, Managing Partner at Argon & Co, said the shift reflects a fundamental change in how transformation is being delivered across industries.

“We’re seeing a clear shift in what clients expect from transformation. It’s no longer about strategy or technology in isolation. Today, it’s about how you bring those together to deliver measurable operational outcomes. Increasingly, AI is acting as a fourth dimension, augmenting people, process and systems to drive better decisions and performance,” Eastwood said.

“Our focus is on embedding, data, digital capability and advanced technologies into the heart of operations, whether that’s in manufacturing, procurement or capital investment. That’s what enables organisations to unlock productivity, build resilience and create lasting value.”

As part of its continued expansion and increasing client demand, Argon & Co has promoted Oliver North, Warren Proctor, Evert Westerhof and Felix Kong to Partner, recognising their roles in delivering digitally enabled end-to-end transformation. This new generation of partner sits at the forefront of the delivery model shift, leading the digitisation of Argon & Co’s core service offerings and applying new capabilities for clients.

A key example of the shift is MODE (Manufacturing Operations Design & Excellence), Argon & Co’s proprietary optimsation framework, digitally enabled with RedZone’s connect workforce app. Led by Warren Proctor, MODE brings together operational excellence, enhanced front-line capabilities and digital enablement to deliver real-time performance improvement on the factory floor. With growing demand, the solution is now being scaled across clients, unlocking significant productivity gains that are measurable and sustainable.

In manufacturing and capital investment, Evert Westerhof is strengthening Argon & Co’s capability to link operational performance with capital strategy, ensuring organisations take a disciplined, value-driven approach to investment. This helps clients balance cost, risk, and long-term value in increasingly complex production environments, where capital decisions must be closely aligned to operational outcomes.

One of Argon & Co’s fastest growing service offerings is in procurement, where Felix Kong is driving a new wave of AI-enabled transformation. Working closely with Argon & Co’s IRIS product team, he has helped develop and deploy intelligent procurement solutions that move beyond traditional cost reduction. These innovations leverage advanced analytics and AI to optimise spend, strengthen supplier strategies, and build resilience, enabling procurement to operate as a strategic engine for growth and value creation and competitive advantage.

Bringing these capabilities together, Oliver North is leading end-to-end transformation programs that connect strategy, technology and operations across the value chain. His work ensures AI decisions are Business led and the value understood, allowing organisations to move from isolated improvements to long-term enterprise-wide impact.

“Our new leaders collectively represent a more connected, technology-enabled approach to transformation. They combine deep operational expertise and practical solutions with AI capability to deliver better outcomes for our clients,” Eastwood said.

“From AI-enabled procurement and digitally driven manufacturing, to ensuring capital delivers the return it should, they are helping organisations respond to the realities of a rapidly changing operating environment and the need to shift the productivity dial in Australia.”

The appointments reinforce Argon & Co’s continued investment in the capabilities that matter most to clients, with a strong focus on manufacturing and procurement, alongside the accelerated integration of digital and advanced technologies into every aspect of delivery.

About Argon & Co

Argon & Co is a global management consultancy that specialises in operations strategy and transformation. Its expertise spans supply chain planning, manufacturing, logistics, procurement, finance, and shared services, working together with clients to transform their businesses and generate real change. Its people are engaging to work with and trusted by clients to get the job done.

Argon & Co has 17 offices across Europe, Australasia, America, Asia and the Middle East.

For more information, please visit: www.argonandco.com/en/

PERTH, Australia, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pela Global Limited (PELA), an Australian based critical and precious metals company, has executed a Project Development funding agreement with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), securing up to US$5 million to advance its Krstov Dol Antimony Mine Restart Project in North Macedonia. This deal marks DFC’s first antimony investment and first project in North Macedonia, providing strong validation of the project’s strategic and commercial positioning.

The agreement includes the potential for follow-on financing, subject to feasibility and DFC investment criteria, and indicates a pathway with strong potential toward construction and long-term development support.

“DFC is proud to announce our partnership with Pela on this strategic Project Development agreement, our first in North Macedonia,” said DFC CEO Ben Black. “By supporting the revival of the brownfield antimony mine and processing operation at Krstov Dol, this project will help diversify global antimony supply away from China and secure a reliable source of this critical mineral for the U.S. and our allies.”

The investment is anchored in the strategic positioning of the Krstov Dol Mine (KDM) project. KDM is a historically producing antimony asset being advanced as a near-term source of supply for U.S. and allied markets. Antimony is a critical input in defence, semiconductor and energy systems, with limited near-term production capacity across allied economies, positioning the project to benefit from tightening supply-demand dynamics.

DFC funding will support key feasibility milestones, including a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate and assessments aligned with international standards, helping to de-risk the project and advance it toward development.

As a follow-on to DFC’s agreement, PELA recently collaborated with PGM Processing, a U.S.-based company, to explore a commercial offtake arrangement. Under this engagement, PGM Processing intends to procure a substantial volume of antimony concentrate and tailings from PELA, subject to the successful completion of processing trials and project development milestones.

“Together, DFC’s investment and the PGM Processing partnership are expected to support the development of near-term antimony supply for the United States, anchored in allied production and U.S.-based processing”, Nik Jovanovski, the Managing Director of PELA Global.

Located in North Macedonia, a NATO member and EU accession country, the project offers a stable and strategically aligned jurisdiction for investment. PELA Global, is advancing the project in line with internationally recognised environmental and social standards.

Pela Global Limited is an Australian critical and precious metals company focused on the responsible development of mineral resources across Southeastern Europe’s Tethyan Metallogenic Belt. 

AI Demand, Advanced Logic and Memory Drive Record Semiconductor Equipment Billings in 2025

MILPITAS, Calif., April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment increased 15% to $135.1 billion in 2025 from $117.1 billion in 2024, driven by continued investment in advanced logic, memory, and AI-related capacity expansion, SEMI, the industry association representing the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, reported today. The data is available in the Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (WWSEMS) report.

In 2025, the global front-end semiconductor equipment market posted solid growth, with wafer processing equipment sales increasing 12% and other front-end segments rising 13%. The expansion was driven primarily by continued investment in leading-edge logic and memory capacity, supported by AI-related demand and ongoing node and technology migrations.

The back-end equipment segment also recorded strong growth in 2025. Test equipment billings surged 55% year-over-year as AI devices and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) increased performance requirements and test intensity, while assembly and packaging equipment sales rose 21% as adoption of advanced packaging technologies continued to expand.

“Record semiconductor equipment billings of $135 billion in 2025 underscore the scale and urgency of the industry’s buildout as AI accelerates demand for leading-edge logic, advanced memory and high-bandwidth architectures,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEO. “From wafer fab investments to the rapid rise of advanced packaging and test, the global ecosystem is expanding capacity and capability to support the next wave of innovation.”

Regionally, semiconductor equipment spending remained concentrated in Asia in 2025, with mainland China, Taiwan, and Korea together accounting for 79% of the global market, compared with 74% in 2024.

In 2025, spending in mainland China remained near record levels at $49.3 billion, down just 0.5% from the prior year, as domestic chipmakers continued to invest in mature nodes and select advanced capacity. Equipment spending in Taiwan rose 90% year-over-year to a record $31.5 billion, reflecting AI- and HPC-driven capacity expansion. Korea increased 26% to $25.8 billion as investment in HBM and DRAM remained strong.

Japan recorded 22% growth to $9.5 billion, supported by continued investment in domestic advanced-node manufacturing. Europe declined 41% to $2.9 billion, marking a second consecutive year of contraction amid ongoing weakness in automotive and industrial demand. North America fell 20% to $10.9 billion as spending moderated following earlier capacity expansion. The rest of the world increased 25% to $5.2 billion, reflecting expanding activity in emerging semiconductor production markets.

Compiled from data submitted by members of SEMI and the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ), the WWSEMS report is a summary of the monthly billings figures for the global semiconductor equipment industry.

About SEMI Market Data

The Equipment Market Data Subscription (EMDS) from SEMI provides comprehensive market data for the global semiconductor equipment market. A subscription includes three reports:

• Monthly SEMI North American Billings Report, an early perspective of equipment market trends
• Monthly Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics(WWSEMS), a detailed report of semiconductor equipment billings for seven regions and more than 22 market segments
• Bi-annual Total Semiconductor Equipment Forecast – OEM Perspective, an outlook for the semiconductor equipment market

Download a sample EMDS report.

For more information or to subscribe, please contact SEMI Market Intelligence at mktstats@semi.org. Details on SEMI market data are available at SEMI Market Data.

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About SEMI

SEMI^® is the global industry association connecting over 3,000 member companies and 1.5 million professionals worldwide across the semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain. We accelerate member collaboration on solutions to top industry challenges through Advocacy, Workforce Development, Sustainability, Supply Chain Management and other programs. Our SEMICON^® expositions and events, technology communities, standards and market intelligence help advance our members’ business growth and innovations in design, devices, equipment, materials, services and software, enabling smarter, faster, more secure electronics. Visit www.semi.org, contact a regional office, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and X to learn more.

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Email: sgutierrez@semi.org

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SYDNEY, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Virtual IT Group (VITG) today announced the acquisition of Australian cybersecurity consultancy Security Centric, expanding its security capability at a time when mid-market organisations across Australia and New Zealand are facing a sharp rise in both the frequency and sophistication of cyber threats.

With origins in defence and federal government, Security Centric brings expertise in managed detection & response, GRC & advisory, security engineering and technical assurance. Its team will join VITG’s expanding security practice, forming a combined group of approximately 45 cybersecurity specialists. This strengthens VITG’s 24/7 ANZ Security Operations Centre (SOC), automation platform, and end-to-end security offering.

The partnership strengthens customer outcomes by deeply integrated technology and cyber functions normally available only to large enterprise teams.

Sash Vasilevski, CEO of Security Centric said, “Our customers will see continuity with meaningful uplift. The same trusted team will now be supported by deeper engineering capability, automation expertise, and national reach.”

Vasilevski will step into the role of Chief Security Officer (CSO) on VITG’s executive team.

VITG is an Australian founded MSP and MSSP with ten offices across Australia and New Zealand. It has more than 400 employees, supporting mid-market organisations and their business systems, helping them to stay stronger and more secure, as they face increasing technology complexity, security threats and rapid AI adoption.

The acquisition also reinforces a shared mission to help customers stay ahead of fast evolving threats.

Maurice McCarthy, CEO at VITG said, “Mid-market organisations across ANZ are being hit harder and more often by increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Security Centric brings exceptional capability and a pragmatic, customer-first mindset that aligns strongly with VITG’s vision. Together, we will deliver scalable, security-led outcomes that give customers confidence and resilience in a rapidly changing environment.”

About Virtual IT Group

Virtual IT Group is one of the fastest growing mid-market technology and cybersecurity providers in Australia and New Zealand. With scale, reach, and proven expertise, we deliver end-to-end managed IT and security services making our client’s business systems stronger, safer and simpler every day.

www.vitg.com.au