Waterford Festival of Food has announced an innovative partnership with CultureUnderground.ie, introducing a bespoke, mobile-first digital guide to navigate this year’s extensive festival programme. This exciting collaboration reinforces the festival’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and accessibility, offering attendees a seamless, paperless way to navigate over 100+ events across Dungarvan, West Waterford, and Waterford City directly from their smartphones!
As the 2026 programme expands into Waterford City and deep into the West Waterford countryside, the Culture Underground guide serves as a real-time companion for visitors. Designed to reduce reliance on traditional printed materials, the intuitive platform provides interactive maps, instant schedule updates, and curated discovery features, allowing festival-goers to move effortlessly between high-profile chef collaborations, foraging trails, and the festival’s signature outdoor markets.
The move is a key part of the festival’s environmental strategy, aimed at reducing the event’s physical footprint while ensuring that the 100+ events remain easily navigable for visitors of all ages.
Eunice Power, CEO of Waterford Festival of Food, welcomed the partnership saying “Accessibility and sustainability are the twin pillars of our festival design. As we grow, we want to ensure that navigating the weekend is as enjoyable as the events themselves. Partnering with Culture Underground allows us to bring our values into the palms of our visitors’ hands, making it easier than ever to discover new chefs, follow food trails or family friendly events and just generally move through the weekend with ease.”
Shane Holohan, Founder of Culture Underground, added: “We’re delighted to collaborate with the Waterford Festival of Food, a flagship event built on community, creativity, and a profound sense of place. Our goal is to make cultural discovery effortless. We are proud to support festival-goers with a digital guide that doesn’t just show them where to go, but helps them immerse themselves in the stories and producers that make this event so unique.”
The digital guide will be available to all visitors via waterfordfestivaloffood.com and through QR codes located at key festival hubs throughout the weekend.
Rhombus, a leader in cloud-managed physical security, today announced Rhombus Recon, an autonomous physical security solution designed to extend physical security beyond the limits of fixed cameras.
Rhombus Recon solves the problem of what is happening outside the view of existing cameras. With Rhombus Recon, companies can autonomously or manually dispatch a robot to do a closer investigation or patrol of a particular event. Additional situational awareness is provided by the broader Rhombus platform of AI Cameras, Sensors, Access Control, and Alarm Monitoring which together, is the first solution of its kind.
Harnessing the power of advanced AI, Recon takes patrolling and investigations to new levels by allowing customers to take specific actions based on what it sees. For example, Recon can be dispatched to check how well stocked the shelves of a store are, or whether a bathroom is clean, or even if there is a potential intruder coming in the back door. When paired with Rhombus Insights, Recon can provide operational data across all aspects of an organization.
“With Rhombus Recon, we aim to give every organization the equivalent of an extra person that is available 24/7 to be an extra set of eyes and ears.” says Brandon Salzberg, CTO at Rhombus. “Leveraging AI and LLM’s, these robots can complete complex assignments, and we view them becoming an essential part of the operations of most companies.”
Examples of how Rhombus Recon can support operations include: Proactive incident response
If a Rhombus camera detects a potential intruder, the system can dispatch a robot to investigate the area. The robot can approach the scene, stream live video to operators through the Rhombus Console, and trigger automated deterrents or escalation workflows through Rhombus Alarm Monitoring.
Automated inspections
Facilities teams can program a robot to follow scheduled routes through warehouses, manufacturing environments, or campuses. During patrols, the system can collect video evidence, perform safety checks, and generate alerts when anomalies are detected.
Mobile gap coverage
Large outdoor environments such as construction sites, logistics yards, and storage facilities often contain areas where installing fixed cameras is difficult or cost-prohibitive. Recon enables mobile patrols that continuously monitor these areas and stream footage back to the Rhombus platform, transforming previously unmonitored spaces into actively
monitored security zones.
How Rhombus Recon Extends Physical Security
• Mobile situational awareness – Uses data from Rhombus cameras, sensors, and access control systems to understand and navigate environments.
• AI-powered analysis – Applies advanced AI to detect threats, safety risks, or operational anomalies.
• Autonomous or on-demand dispatch – Robots can be triggered automatically by events or deployed manually by operators.
• Fleet management – Security teams can monitor and control multiple robots across locations through the Rhombus Console.
• Integrated response workflows – Recon connects with Rhombus Alarm Monitoring to enable escalation, live verification, and coordinated response.
The platform is designed to work with robotics manufacturers including Boston Dynamics, Unitree, and others allowing organizations to deploy autonomous security across a range of robotic form factors.
As organizations face increasing security demands and ongoing labor shortages, autonomous solutions like Rhombus Recon can help augment security teams by performing patrols, inspections, and investigations across large or complex environments.
Availability
Rhombus will demonstrate an early version of Rhombus Recon at ISC West in Las Vegas from March 23–27 (booth #L18). Organizations interested in learning more about autonomous mobile security or joining the early access program can visit www.rhombus.com.
About Rhombus
Rhombus is an open, cloud-managed physical security platform that brings security cameras, access control, sensors, alarm monitoring, and integrations together under a single pane of glass. Thousands of organizations trust Rhombus to drive operational excellence, improve safety, and streamline workflows through a comprehensive suite of smart security solutions.
Rhombus is backed by Caden Capital, Cota Capital, Tru Arrow Partners, NightDragon, Bluestone Equity Partners, and Uncorrelated Ventures, and is on a mission to make organizations safer and more intelligent with simple, smart, and powerful
physical security solutions.
From ancient artefacts to cutting-edge robotics, Irish Girl Guides (IGG) are preparing for a day of discovery as 16 teams from across the country take part in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Regional at Dublin City University (DCU) on Saturday 28 February 2026.
This season’s FIRST LEGO League Challenge theme, UNEARTHED™, invites teams to step into the role of archaeologists. Throughout the year, participants have explored how the past is uncovered, studied, and protected, and how innovation can help solve real challenges faced in archaeology today. Their innovation projects focus on identifying genuine problems in the field and proposing creative, practical solutions that could help preserve history for future generations.
Alongside their research, teams have designed, built, and programmed LEGO® robots to complete a series of themed missions, developing skills in coding, engineering, and critical thinking along the way.
Bringing together girls from 11 IGG Guide and Senior Branch Units, the Regional Tournament celebrates curiosity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Participants will put their STEM skills to the test through a high-energy robot game, an innovation project, and presentations that reflect the FIRST® LEGO® League Core Values of teamwork, inclusion, and gracious professionalism.
The event marks a key milestone in the FIRST LEGO League season, with teams competing for a place in the Ireland Final on Saturday 21 March 2026.
We wish the very best of luck to all the teams taking part in the Regional Tournament:
conNÈCKt – Lucan Guides (4 team members)
The Fossil Finders – Lucan Guides (4 team members)
Spaghetti Rollz – Ardagh Guides (7 team members)
Ancient Coders – Ardagh Guides (7 team members)
Kerry Relic Rangers – Dingle Guides (3 team members)
An Daingean Diggers – Dingle Guides (6 team members)
KRILL-iana Jones – North Longford Guides (5 team members)
Barney the Dinosaur – Lily Guides (8 team members)
Rock Stars – Lily Guides (8 team members)
InGen – Macalla Guides Trim (5 team members)
Clogherhead Heads – Clogherhead Guides (6 team members)
Disco Dynamics – Mullagh Senior Branch (8 team members)
Dilse Diggers – Dilse Senior Branch (3 team members)
The Little Timmies – Cairde Guides (4 team members)
Brickmasters – Naas Guides (5 team members)
U Rockers – Naas Guides (5 team members)
“FIRST LEGO League gives girls the opportunity to explore STEM in a hands-on, meaningful way,” said Katie Keogh, Irish Girl Guides LEGO Project Chair. “Watching teams grow in confidence as they collaborate, problem-solve, and share their ideas is incredibly rewarding. This Regional event is a celebration of all the effort they’ve put in throughout the season.”
The Regional Tournament promises a lively and supportive atmosphere, with families, Leaders, and volunteers cheering on the teams. The day will conclude with a showcase of innovation projects and achievements, recognising the creativity, resilience, and teamwork demonstrated by every participant.
Supported by the Research Ireland Discover Programme, FIRST® LEGO® League is organised by CreativeHUT.
Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed security service providers (MSSP), today announces the acquisition of Cork-based Datalogix. Ekco, founded and headquartered in Dublin, is continuing its ambitious acquisition trail, following a busy year in 2025 with three strategic acquisitions.
Datalogix is a Cork-headquartered operational technology (OT) business with over 20 years’ experience delivering proactive OT services to enterprise customers across Ireland, the UK, and the US. It provides secure OT infrastructure design, implementation, and support services that automate industrial processes for companies in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, general manufacturing, and critical national infrastructure sectors.
The company’s team will join Ekco’s workforce of more than 1,000 people globally across Ireland, UK, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and South Africa. Datalogix will form part of Ekco’s security division, bringing the division’s revenues to a €100 million share of Ekco’s overall group revenues of €200 million. The acquisition will significantly expand Ekco’s OT capabilities in the Irish, UK, and US markets, under the leadership of Ekco Ireland CEO Steve MacNicholas. It will enable Ekco to increasingly secure IT and OT convergence for customers amidst a growing OT threat landscape and a complex regulatory backdrop.
As part of Ekco’s rapid growth strategy, Datalogix marks the eighth company to be acquired by Ekco in the last two years. The acquisition follows the 2025 purchases of cybersecurity consultancy Predatech, and managed service providers (MSP) Solsoft and Adapt IT. It signifies another milestone in Ekco’s ambition to build a security-first unified MSP platform across Europe.
Datalogix is led by Managing Director Der Cremen and Chief Technical Officer Damian White, who will bring over 50 years’ combined industry experience to Ekco.
Steve MacNicholas, CEO of Ekco Ireland, said: “Having known Datalogix well for many years, we have always admired their highly specialised and client focused capabilities as trusted OT advisors in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, and critical national infrastructure markets. With Ekco’s world class expertise in security-first managed services and cutting-edge technology, this partnership is a perfect match – and we are looking forward to growing and learning together.”
Der Cremen, Managing Director of Datalogix, added:“Joining Ekco enables us to increasingly invest in and develop our OT capabilities to bring enhanced resources and resilience to our customers, backed by Ekco’s scale—while maintaining the responsiveness they value.”
Ronan Murray, EY M&A Partner, said:“EY were delighted to provide sell side M&A lead advisory and tax services to the shareholders of Datalogix on the company’s sale to Ekco. Congratulations to the combined team.”
In an era when nearly every business service has migrated online—from banking to consultations, from meetings to training courses—one Irish company has built over a decade of success doing the exact opposite. Their counterintuitive approach offers valuable lessons about when digital-first strategies actually work against business goals.
Since 2013, SafeHands Health & Safety Solutions has maintained a strictly on-site training model, delivering workplace safety training at client premises across Ireland. They’ve built partnerships lasting over 10 years, earned a 4.7/5 rating on Trustpilot, and demonstrated that some services genuinely work better when delivered in person.
Their success raises an important question for Irish business owners: Are we digitising services because it genuinely improves outcomes, or simply because “digital-first” has become the default assumption?
The Digital Training Boom and Its Limitations
The pandemic accelerated online training adoption dramatically. Businesses discovered they could deliver compliance training through video platforms, record sessions for later viewing, and eliminate travel time entirely. The operational efficiencies seemed obvious.
Yet completion rates told a different story. Online training courses often see completion rates below 30%. Participants log in, leave videos running in the background whilst working on other tasks, and retain minimal information. The certificate gets issued, compliance boxes get ticked, but actual knowledge transfer remains questionable.
More importantly, certain types of training require hands-on practice with actual equipment, in real environments, addressing specific workplace challenges. You can watch videos about proper lifting techniques, but without practicing on your actual equipment, in your actual workspace, with your actual workflows, the knowledge rarely translates into changed behaviour.
The On-Site Advantage: Learning in Context
SafeHands delivers all training on-site at client premises across Ireland, from Dublin offices to coastal hotels in County Clare. This operational choice creates immediate practical advantages that digital alternatives cannot replicate.
David McManus from Bellbridge House Hotel in Spanish Point, Clare, experienced this approach firsthand: “It was so professional from the booking to the day of the training. Nothing was an issue. We had to change dates due to weather, no issue. The staff found the training interesting and very informative.”
When training happens in the actual workplace, several things occur that digital training cannot achieve:
Immediate Context: Staff learn using their real equipment, not generic examples. A restaurant team learning food safety and HACCP procedures works with their actual kitchen layout, their specific equipment, and their real menu items.
Practical Application: Hands-on practice with the tools and equipment staff use daily ensures skills transfer immediately. Watching a video about fire extinguisher use differs enormously from actually handling the extinguisher mounted in your corridor.
Customised Content: Instructors observe actual workplace conditions and can address specific challenges that generic online courses never anticipate. Every workplace has unique characteristics that affect how safety principles apply.
Team Learning: When entire teams train together in their workspace, they develop shared understanding and can discuss how procedures apply to their specific operations.
Nisheeth Tak from Rasam Restaurant in Dublin shares their experience: “We have been using SafeHands for all our health and safety programmes for years. We have benefitted enormously from their professional guidance and up-to-date knowledge of the legislation.”
That phrase “for years” appears repeatedly in client testimonials—a pattern suggesting genuine value rather than grudging compliance spending.
The Business Model: Long-Term Relationships Over Transactions
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of SafeHands’ approach involves how on-site delivery enables different client relationships than digital training platforms create.
The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy has worked with SafeHands for over 10 years. ALSAA Bowl has maintained their partnership since 2015. These aren’t isolated examples—sustained multi-year relationships appear consistently across their client base.
Carol Murray from IACP explains their decade-long partnership: “The IACP has been using Safe Hands now for over 10 years. They look after all of the Fire Safety Training and Fire Warden Training for our staff. I have found them to be very accommodating and reliable.”
Ten years with a single training provider is remarkable in an industry where businesses typically shop around for the cheapest compliant option. This pattern suggests several things about their business model:
Consistent Quality: Organisations don’t maintain decade-long partnerships with providers who deliver inconsistent service. Reliability at scale requires operational discipline that many businesses never achieve.
Institutional Knowledge: When providers work with the same clients over years, they develop understanding of specific operational contexts that improves service quality over time. Initial consultations become unnecessary. Training builds on previous sessions rather than starting from scratch.
True Partnership: The language in testimonials—”accommodating,” “reliable,” “pleasure to deal with”—signals relationships that transcend transactional service delivery. Digital platforms rarely generate this kind of client loyalty.
Alison Kealy from Kealy’s of Cloughran in Dublin captures this: “We use SafeHands for all our Staff Training and Health and Safety Consultancy. Noel is a pleasure to deal with, and they always provide the services we need.”
The Operational Challenge: Scaling Personal Service
On-site service delivery creates operational complexity that digital platforms avoid entirely. Coordinating instructor schedules across Ireland, managing travel logistics, accommodating client timing needs, and maintaining consistent service quality despite geographic dispersion all require sophisticated operational capability.
Yet this complexity creates competitive moats that purely digital competitors cannot easily cross. When a business master complex operations, replication becomes difficult. Generic online training platforms can launch quickly. Building operational excellence across physical service delivery takes years.
JR Labels experienced this operational reliability: “This is our second time using SafeHands. Everyone we dealt with couldn’t have been more helpful. Our Manual Handling training was delivered in a professional manner and we will happily use SafeHands again in the future.”
The phrase “second time” indicates clients who measured value and deliberately chose to reinvest—the ultimate business validation.
Payment Models: Digital Systems Supporting Physical Service
Interestingly, SafeHands does leverage digital systems where they create genuine value. Payment infrastructure uses Stripe alongside traditional bank transfers and telephone payments, with all fees payable upfront.
This payment approach demonstrates strategic technology adoption. Digital payment systems remove friction, improve cash flow, and reduce administrative burden. But the service itself—the actual training delivery—remains resolutely physical because that’s where value gets created.
This selective digitisation offers a model for other Irish businesses: use digital tools where they solve real problems, but don’t digitise services simply because “digital-first” sounds modern.
When Digital Works and When It Doesn’t
SafeHands offers one online option—mental health awareness training—recognising that some content genuinely works in digital formats. Theoretical knowledge, awareness building, and conceptual understanding can transfer effectively through online platforms.
But manual handling training, fire safety practice, food preparation procedures, and emergency response drills require hands-on experience that video cannot replicate. Your body needs to practice correct lifting techniques. Your hands need to feel how fire extinguishers operate. Your team needs to rehearse emergency procedures in your actual workspace.
Laura Devlin, HR Manager at Cabra Castle Hotel in Cavan, emphasises the value of this physical delivery: “We used SafeHands again for our Food Safety/HACCP training for our kitchen staff onsite in the hotel. They were able to organise and provide the training in a timely manner as usual. We always find SafeHands very reliable from start to finish.”
Lessons for Irish Businesses Evaluating Digital Transformation
SafeHands’ sustained success offers several lessons for Irish businesses considering which services to digitise:
Question Default Assumptions: Just because services can be delivered digitally doesn’t mean they should be. Evaluate whether digital delivery genuinely improves outcomes or merely reduces costs.
Consider Competitive Positioning: Services that everyone digitises become commoditised quickly. Maintaining physical delivery where it adds genuine value can create differentiation.
Value Operational Excellence: Complex operations executed well create competitive advantages that simple digital platforms cannot easily replicate.
Build for Retention: Digital platforms optimise for acquisition. Physical service models can optimise for long-term relationships that generate better unit economics over time.
Use Technology Strategically: Adopt digital tools where they solve real problems (payment processing, scheduling) whilst keeping core service delivery in whatever format creates the most value.
The Countertrend Opportunity
As more services migrate online, opportunities emerge for businesses willing to deliver excellent physical service. Markets become less crowded. Clients willing to pay premium prices for superior outcomes become easier to reach. Competitive differentiation becomes simpler.
Michael Mongan from The Lovely Food Co in Dublin praised the hands-on approach: “SafeHands Health & Safety Solutions delivered a Food Safety/HACCP Level 2 Course onsite at our premises recently. Our staff really enjoyed the training session and had great praise for the SafeHands instructor and his very comprehensive food safety knowledge.”
The phrase “really enjoyed” seems unusual for compliance training—until you recognise that well-delivered, contextually relevant, hands-on instruction creates genuinely valuable experiences that generic online courses cannot match.
Conclusion: Digital-First Isn’t Always Best-First
The lesson from SafeHands’ decade of success isn’t that digital transformation is wrong. It’s that strategic thinking matters more than following trends.
Some services work better digitally. Others work better physically. Many benefit from hybrid approaches combining both. The key is honest evaluation of where value actually gets created rather than defaulting to digital simply because that’s the current consensus.
For Irish businesses evaluating their own service delivery models, the question isn’t “Should we go digital?” It’s “For which specific services does digital delivery improve outcomes, and for which does it merely reduce our costs whilst degrading client experience?”
SafeHands demonstrates that choosing the harder operational path—when it genuinely serves clients better—can build sustainable competitive advantages that easier digital alternatives cannot replicate.
SafeHands Health & Safety Solutions has operated across Ireland since 2013, demonstrating that strategic service delivery decisions matter more than following industry trends. Their sustained client relationships and consistent growth show that “digital-first” isn’t always “best-first” for businesses focused on genuine value creation.
Local authorities are boosting their cyber-security systems with the official launch of Ireland’s first tailored IT apprenticeship programme for county and city councils.
Ten local authorities across Ireland have joined the initiative, which aims to equip staff with the skills and expertise to protect local government networks and data from cyber-attacks.
The Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Programme, which allows employees to train while they work, was officially launched by Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin and Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, John Cummins in Dundalk, Co Louth. Representatives from the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), which has collaborated with FIT (Fastrack into Information Technology) to deliver the programme, also attended the launch.
The scheme features a 70:30 split between workplace learning and off-the-job training. This means the participants are applying the most up-to-date theoretical knowledge to IT practice in local authorities.
When completed, the programme will equip participants with the skills and knowledge to work in cybersecurity roles within the local government sector, and they will receive an Advanced Certificate in Cybersecurity (NFQ Level 6).
The first cohort of 14 participants began in June, serving their apprenticeships in 10 local authorities and the LGMA.
Minister Harkin said the programme opens doors for new talent but also empowers local government’s existing workforce.
“This apprenticeship is a powerful example of how targeted education and training can support the evolving needs of our public sector,” she said.
“By investing in both new talent and upskilling existing staff, we are not only strengthening cyber resilience within local government, but also building a future-ready workforce equipped to meet the challenges of a digital society. In addition, this programme supports a number of Government priorities, including growing the number of apprentices within the Public Service.
Minister Cummins added: “The Government is committed to expanding apprenticeship and traineeship numbers on a sectoral basis alongside established primary recruitment processes. Today marks an important step in building cyber resilience within local government.
“As global vulnerabilities continue to rise in threatening the security of our IT systems, this pioneering programme showcases the dedication of public servants in safeguarding our communities through stronger cyber resilience. This programme demonstrates the commitment of the local government sector to achieve the targets set out in the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan to provide programmes that offer a route to qualifications and careers in a range of diverse areas and to establish the sector as an employer of choice by attracting, retaining and developing its staff.”
Training takes place online and in person in the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence in Dundalk, where the launch took place.
This initiative supports key goals outlined in the Local Government Digital and ICT Strategy 2030 and the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021–2025, contributing to the development of a skilled digital workforce in the local government sector.
The training programme is being delivered by FIT. CEO Peter Davitt said: “We are proud to launch Ireland’s first workforce development apprenticeship for local government.
“By embracing tech apprenticeships, this model proactively addresses the challenge of skills obsolescence in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, ensuring that public sector digital services remain robust, secure, and future-ready for the benefit of communities nationwide.”
Chief Executive Officer of the LGMA, Pauline Mulligan added: “Upskilling current local authority employees is central to our digital transformation strategy, ensuring that they are equipped with the expertise needed to safeguard public services in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to inclusive growth, innovation, and excellence in public service.”
Director of LMETB’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE), Gerard Smith said: “This programme is just one of a wide range of training initiatives AMTCE provides to companies and employees in the cybersecurity space. From foundational awareness to advanced threat detection, our goal is to equip the workforce with the practical skills needed to protect critical infrastructure. Our state-of-the-art Training Security Operations Centre (SOC) enables us to simulate real-world cyber scenarios, ensuring learners are prepared for the threats they’ll face on the ground.”
Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed service providers (MSPs), announced the acquisition of UK-based Solsoft Group Limited. Ekco, founded and headquartered in Dublin, is on an aggresive acquisition trail, with Solsoft marking its third acquisition this year.
Solsoft is a Bristol-headquartered MSP with over 26 years of experience delivering proactive IT services to small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and not-for-profit organisations across the South and Southwest of the UK. Key sectors include legal services, construction, engineering, energy, health, and social care. The company’s 16-strong team will join Ekco’s workforce of more than 1,000 people globally across Ireland, UK, Netherlands, Malaysia, and South Africa.
Solsoft will form part of the Ekco MSP Division and expand Ekco’s capabilities in the UK market under the leadership of Cian Prendergast. The latest deal in Ekco’s ambitious growth strategy, Solsoft is the seventh company to be acquired by Ekco in the last two years. This acquisition follows the purchases of MSPs Radius and Adapt IT, marking another milestone in Ekco’s strategy to build a unified MSP platform across Europe.
Solsoft is led by Managing Director Neil Farnworth and Operations Director Ilona Clark, who together bring over 40 years of industry experience to the business.
Paul Nannetti, Chair of Ekco, said:“Solsoft is a fantastic addition to the Ekco MSP Divisionas we accelerate our expansion strategy and continue to grow our footprint and capabilities in key markets. Their long-standing commitment to proactive service and their alignment with industry best practices give us real confidence in a fast, effective integration and a stronger UK presence—delivered with the discipline and consistency our customers expect.”
Cian Prendergast, CEO of the Ekco MSP Division, said: “Having known Solsoft very well for many years, we have always admired their rock solid, client focused, proactive service in the UK. With Ekco’s world class expertise in security-first managed services and cutting-edge technology, this partnership is a perfect match – and we are looking forward to growing and learning together.”
Neil Farnworth, Managing Director of Solsoft, added:“Joining Ekco lets us bring more capability and resilience to our customers, backed by Ekco’s scale—while maintaining the responsiveness they value. Our aligned ways of working and approaches to service delivery means we can really hit the ground running.”
TCL, a global leader in consumer electronics and the world’s No. 2 TV brand, is revolutionising home entertainment with the launch of the TCL Z100, the first wireless Dolby Atmos® FlexConnectTM speaker. This innovation creates a completely new home cinema category, designed to combine acoustic performance, adaptability, ease of installation, and elegant design.
A Groundbreaking Innovation: Wireless Dolby Atmos FlexConnect Speakers for ultimate consumer ease of use
The result of years of collaboration with Dolby, the Z100 offers a multitude of Dolby Atmos home cinema system options with no cables or HDMI box. Exclusively compatible with the latest generation of TCL Mini LED TVs (C6K, C7K, C8K, C9K, and X11K), it introduces an innovative way of experiencing sound at home. Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is a new feature that unlocks the ability to place speakers anywhere you choose, while optimising the sound experience to fit any room layout or speaker configuration. It provides a customised Dolby Atmos experience where your seat will feel like the best seat in the house. The Z100 speakers communicate with TCL televisions to intelligently adjust sound output. FlexConnect speakers can be used in multiple configurations depending on the consumer’s space and wishes – with 2 speakers, 3 speakers or 4 speakers. All options offer an immersive Dolby Atmos experience.
The Z100 speakers are wireless, meaning they can be placed anywhere in the room. With FlexConnect, speakers can be placed in asymmetrical positions and at different heights. This significant benefit provides unprecedented freedom of placement without compromising audio quality.
“With this groundbreaking product, we’re ushering in a new era for home audio experiences, made possible through our close collaboration with Dolby,” said James Parker, Head of TV & AV at TCL UK. “Our TVs already integrate Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, our soundbars feature Dolby Atmos, and now, we’re taking another major step forward with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. This technology enables everyone to create a truly immersive home cinema experience, perfectly tailored to their personal space and lifestyle.”
“The launch of Dolby Atmos FlexConnect across TCL’s Precise Dimming Series marks a new chapter in personalised home audio experiences,” said John Couling, Senior Vice President of Entertainment at Dolby Laboratories. “With Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, consumers can unlock even more flexibility and adaptability in how they design their home entertainment systems, whilst removing the stress of whether their speakers are in the right location to get an incredible Dolby Atmos experience.”
Unprecedented Sound Immersion, Regardless of Configuration
Consumers seek the best audio from their sound systems, but room constraints often make optimal speaker placement a challenge. Whether due to room size, outlet locations, or balancing sound performance with aesthetics, positioning speakers can be frustrating. Dolby Atmos FlexConnect unlocks the freedom to place one or more wireless speakers anywhere in a room without having to worry whether they are placed perfectly. The solution is easily adaptable as more devices are added no matter where they are placed, intelligently optimising the Dolby Atmos rendering of each speaker and the TV to create the best possible experience available that’s tailored to the room.
Each Z100 speaker delivers a maximum power of 170W (1.1.1) and includes four high-fidelity speakers, including a vertically angled channel at 15° for optimal height sound reproduction. Thanks to the intelligent auto-calibration of Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, the Z100 automatically identifies its position in the room relative to the user’s location, optimally adjusting the sound field.
Multiple* Z100 speakers can be paired with TCL’s C6K or C8K models to create a sound environment equivalent to a Dolby 5.1.2 or 7.1.4 system, respectively. This audio power is delivered with unmatched ease of use. Additionally, when connected to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth, a single Z100 can also serve as a versatile music playback system (without Dolby Atmos).
*Up to four units simultaneously
A Mobile and Elegant Design that Enhances Acoustic Performance
Sleek and sophisticated, the Z100 features an understated metallic black design that seamlessly complements any interior décor. Its compact, wireless form eliminates visual clutter, while delivering professional-grade acoustics, a testament to the combined expertise of TCL laboratories and Dolby audio engineers.
The Z100’s vertical structure integrates a powerful audio setup with two front-facing speakers, an angled vertical speaker, and a subwoofer, providing immersive three-dimensional surround sound and high-fidelity audio with richly detailed soundscapes. This exceptional audio quality rivals that of home cinema sound systems, elevating the home entertainment experience to unprecedented levels.
Neither a conventional soundbar nor a traditional speaker, the Z100 sets a new standard for home cinema: wireless Dolby Atmos, portability, and elegant design.
The TCL Z100 will be available in France starting early July 2025 with more European launches to come.
Reemo Innovation Limited is proud to announce the full release of the Mowrator S1: the world’s first consumer-grade remote-controlled, all-wheel-drive robotic lawn mower. Featuring an innovative 5-in-1 modular design, the S1 is built for year-round outdoor care – its core unit can be equipped with attachments including a snow blade, remote video control system, leaf vacuum, grass collector, and trailer hitch.
Whether clearing branches or hauling fertilizer in the spring, mowing from indoors during the hot summer months, collecting leaves in the fall, or clearing snow in the winter, the S1 delivers across all four seasons, always keeping your garden in peak condition. Say goodbye to the hassle of managing five different single-purpose machines and save on storage and costs with the multifunctional S1.
What truly sets the Mowrator S1 apart is its cutting deck. Equipped with a 21-inch straight blade and a 1600W peak power cutting motor, it delivers the same strength as a gas-powered mower but without the emissions, noise, or maintenance headaches. It easily handles thick, tall, or even wet grass, leaving behind a clean, professional-looking cut.
Powered by four independent motors, the Mowrator S1 climbs slopes up to 85% and navigates rough terrain with ease – a game-changer for seniors or anyone looking to reduce the physical strain of yard work. Offering a safe, remote controlled alternative for areas where traditional mowers can’t reach such as steep slopes, uneven ground, roots or hard to reach corners it eliminates the need for heavy lifting, pushing or rough riding, replacing it with smooth, safe and convenient control.
The durable lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery with an 18Ah capacity allows for up to 1.125 acres of mowing on a single charge and the additional chassis fan cools the system while mowing, ensuring continuous operation without the risk of overheating. With a 600W fast-charging mode, the battery can be fully recharged in just 90 minutes, making it perfect for lawns of all sizes.
Ready to use right out of the box the S1 is incredibly fun to operate. With its ultra-responsive, game-style remote control, users can enjoy lawn care again – even under trampolines or around flower beds – with ease and precision.
Built with a military-grade aluminum alloy body and advanced safety features, including tilt protection and a five-layer obstacle detection system for real-time hazard avoidance, the Mowrator S1 is designed for safety and durability. It’s an ideal choice for supervised children and older users, offering a smarter, safer, and more efficient way to manage your outdoor space year-round, free from the limitations of traditional mowers.
Pricing: The Mowrator S1 is available now. Pricing starts at £2,578 / $2,499. For more information, visit www.mowrator.com
About Mowrator: Founded in 2022, Reemo Innovation Limited is a Shenzhen-based robotics company focused on developing smart outdoor cleaning solutions to make yard care simpler, safer, and more accessible. The team, consisting of members from top tech institutions such as DJI and Alibaba’s DAMO Academy, is dedicated to creating innovative tools that empower users of all ages and abilities to transform outdoor maintenance.
