Latest news with #Vector
Business Wire
a day ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Edgecombe Furniture Selects Lectra's Valia Furniture Platform to Accelerate Digital Transformation and Boost U.S. Manufacturing Efficiency
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lectra, a leading provider of industrial intelligence technology solutions to players in fashion, automotive and furniture, today announced that Edgecombe Furniture, a U.S.-based hospitality furniture manufacturer, has selected Valia Furniture, Lectra's next-generation platform, to modernize operations and drive productivity. Known for its handcrafted upholstered furniture and commitment to American-made quality, Edgecombe Furniture turned to Lectra to streamline operations and bring automation to key production workflows. By integrating Valia Furniture, the company will gain greater visibility across operations and improve flexibility, traceability, and output—all without sacrificing the artisanal craftsmanship that defines its brand. 'Partnering with Lectra and implementing Valia Furniture allows us to significantly improve the flow of materials, labor, and data across our shop floor,' said Bob Phillips, CEO of Edgecombe Furniture. 'Valia Furniture drives value for our customers through exceptional matching quality, reduced lead-times on small batch orders, and reduced COM requirements. This positions us well for long-term growth. This new solution also allowed us to continue working with existing patterns in our Gerber AccuMark pattern software, making onboarding much easier.' Valia Furniture centralizes product and production data, creating a foundation for optimized performance and decision-making. With built-in connectivity to cutting and design systems, Valia Furniture empowers furniture manufacturers like Edgecombe to adapt quickly to shifting demand and reduced lead times. Valia Furniture powers and easily pairs with Lectra's high-performing cutting solutions – Virga (single-ply cutting) and Vector (multi-ply cutting) to create the most optimal multi-line cutting process that allows manufacturers to go from order to cutting in minutes. Edgecombe's benchmark analysis of Valia Furniture revealed a 10% potential reduction in material consumption, a savings that is already delivering ROI in production. After using Valia Furniture to re-nest a large job, the platform delivered $14,000 in fabric savings for Edgecombe. 'As furniture makers across North America embrace digital transformation, Valia Furniture is emerging as the platform of choice to unlock efficiency and support sustainable growth,' said Leonard Marano, President of the Americas at Lectra. This partnership marks another milestone in Lectra's mission to support the next generation of manufacturers through industry-specific, data-driven solutions that empower companies to scale with confidence. About Lectra: At the forefront of innovation since its founding in 1973, Lectra provides industrial intelligence technology solutions—combining software in SaaS mode, cutting equipment, data, and associated services—to players in the fashion, automotive and furniture industries. With boldness and commitment, Lectra accelerates the transformation and success of its customers in a world in perpetual motion thanks to the key technologies of Industry 4.0: AI, big data, cloud and the internet of things. The Group is present in more than one hundred countries. It operates three production sites for its cutting equipment, located in France, China and the United States. Lectra's 3,000 employees are driven by three core values: being open-minded thinkers, trusted partners and passionate innovators. They all share the same concern for social responsibility, which is one of the pillars of Lectra's strategy to ensure its sustainable growth and that of its customers. Lectra reported revenues of €527 million in 2024, including €77 million coming from its SaaS offerings. The company is listed on Euronext, and is included in the CAC All Shares, CAC Technology, EN Tech Leaders and ENT PEA-PME 150 indices. For more information, visit LinkedIn Facebook YouTube
New York Post
6 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
University of California system pushed DEI training before Trump discrimination probe: ‘Equality isn't fair'
WASHINGTON — The University of California system forced students to undergo diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training that taught 'equality isn't actually fair' and implied it may be 'racist' to oppose the Black Lives Matter movement, according to internal records exclusively obtained by The Post. The training module, contracted from a vendor used by the UC system as recently as the 2024-25 school year, largely consists of interactive role-playing scenarios in which students are forced to imagine situations involving perceived 'microaggressions' against certain identities. The training module was obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from the advocacy group Do No Harm, which is focused on 'keeping identity politics out of medical education, research, and clinical practice.' 'This course is a clear example of the political indoctrination the University of California system forces its students to go through,' said Do No Harm medical director Dr. Kurt Miceli in a statement. 'Instead of spending precious time developing critical thinking and analytical skills, students in the UC System are subjected to learn progressive political dogma. The UC System and any other school using this training should refocus on the basics of academic excellence rather than DEI and critical theory.' 3 The training module was obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request from the advocacy group Do No Harm, which is focused on 'keeping identity politics out of medical education, research, and clinical practice.' Vector Solutions It's unclear how widespread the training is in the UC system, but a UCLA student had been required to take the DEI module before graduating this spring, according to reps for Do No Harm. A rep for the University of California said in a statement that the vendor, Vector, no longer had a contract with any school in the 10-campus system. 'Like many large institutions of higher education across the country, for a time, Vector (formerly, EverFi) was a training vendor for the University of California system. The University no longer has a systemwide contract with Vector,' the spokesperson said. 'The University of California ended its systemwide contract with Vector for employee sexual harassment prevention training in May 2024. For student harassment training, the Vector contract was extended through the end of May 2025 to ensure a smooth transition to the new platform and is now ended,' the rep added. 'The University of California did not renew a systemwide contract with Vector for diversity training, and that offering is no longer in use. UC campuses require students, faculty, and staff to complete a variety of trainings based on legal and/or regulatory requirements, UC system requirements, and individual campus needs.' In one video module on 'power, privilege and oppression,' participants were asked to distinguish between 'equality' and 'equity.' '[S]ometimes, equality isn't actually fair,' the script states. 'Equity means fairness, which is about giving everyone what they need to be successful.' Another situation asks trainees to navigate how to respond when a fellow student expresses skepticism about the Black Lives Matter movement and suggests that rallying around the phrase 'All Lives Matter' might be a better way to 'bring people together.' The options for the trainee to pick from include educating the skeptic about why 'Black Lives Matter' is an important movement, telling the student that he's 'naïve' and his 'comments are racist,' or a final option, which is to 'engage in a discussion.' 3 The module details cut against several executive actions taken by the Trump administration — and raise questions about whether the UC system could be subjected to greater scrutiny. Pool/ABACA/Shutterstock The document also instructs students on what types of speech they should and should not use. It reminds trainees to use 'inclusive language' and avoid terms including 'lame' and 'insane,' which purportedly contribute to the 'stigma that disabled people face,' while affirming 'that transgender and intersex people are entitled to use facilities that reflect their gender identity.' If a student '[has] religious, political, or cultural objections to someone's gender identity or expression,' the document advises that they 'remember that our community values include treating everyone with dignity and respect.' The end of the document provides a list of resources for students to 'inspire further learning.' 3 A UCLA student was required to take the DEI module as recently as June, according to reps for Do No Harm. ALLISON DINNER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Among the organizations to which students are referred is 'Showing Up for Racial Justice,' an initiative that aims to '[bring] hundreds of thousands of white people into fights for racial and economic justice.' The group has also accused white voters of casting their ballots for 'self-described Nazis, white supremacists, and those with strong ties to white nationalists,' and described the Republican Party's success among Southern white voters as a result of 'appealing to their racism.' The module details cut against several executive actions taken by the Trump administration — and raise questions about whether the UC system, which receives more than $17 billion in federal funding annually, could be subjected to greater scrutiny. On Thursday, the Trump administration launched an investigation into the UC system to determine whether it ran afoul of federal law by engaging in racial or sex-based discrimination when hiring faculty for certain fellowship programs. Earlier this year, the UC system was hit with a lawsuit by the group Students Against Racial Discrimination for allegedly continuing race-based admissions — even after a Supreme Court ruling outlawed the practice in 2023. Reps for UCLA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Scoop
7 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Easy Steps To Claim Your Share Of NZ's Largest Dividend Payment - The Annual Entrust Dividend
The mammoth task of preparing New Zealand's largest dividend payment which is paid by Entrust to more than 368,000 power account holders in central, east, and south Auckland, is underway. Entrust Chair Denise Lee, says that by checking their details now, Aucklanders in the Entrust District will receive their dividend in the payment format they prefer and without delay when it is paid later this year. Eligible power account holders get to choose if they would like their dividend paid to their bank account or as a credit to their power account. To be eligible to receive the 2025 dividend, you must be a power account holder connected to Vector's electricity network within the Entrust District on the roll date. 'It's an easy process. Eligible power account holders can choose how to receive their dividend. Having up to date information now means that power account holders receive their dividend without delay when the dividend is paid later this year.' Entrust is letting eligible Aucklanders know about the importance of updating their payment preference with letters and emails going out this week, as well as social media updates and advertising. 'By far the easiest and quickest way for people to update their payment preference is online via Entrust's secure web platform. We know that our dividend is really appreciated and we want to make it really easy for people to receive it,' says Ms Lee. Three easy steps to getting Entrust's 2025 dividend: 1. Check your letterbox or email inbox for the Entrust pack – out this week. 2. If the account holder details are correct and you don't want to change the payment method (direct credit to bank account or credit to power account) do nothing. Otherwise, update your payment details online via Entrust's secure web platform, by 5:00pm on Friday 08 August. Change all other details such as your account name with your electricity retailer. 3. To receive future Entrust communications via email, check and update your email details with your electricity retailer. The annual Entrust dividend provides a $120m+ cash injection to communities in central, east, and south Auckland. Since 1994, these communities have received more than $2 billion in dividends from Entrust that come from its majority ownership of listed energy company Vector. For those unsure about their eligibility for this payment, check out the map and list of eligibility criteria along with FAQs at or
NZ Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Entrust dividend: How to ensure you get your share of the payout
Hundreds of thousands of Aucklanders pocked an extra $364 last year in Entrust dividends. More than 360,000 Auckland households and businesses will soon pocket hundreds of dollars when they get their annual Entrust dividend. The payment to eligible beneficiaries in central, east and south Auckland last year was $364. Entrust, which is a 75% shareholder of lines and gas company Vector, usually pays the
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Mexico president slams sanctions on Mexican banks by Trump administration
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded sharply Thursday to US government sanctions to block transfers from three Mexican financial institutions, saying Washington hasn't shown evidence of its allegations of money laundering. The US Treasury Department announced the sanctions Wednesday on the banks CIBanco and Intercam Banco and the brokerage Vector Casa de Bolsa, alleging that they had facilitated millions of dollars in money transfers for Mexican drug cartels. Sheinbaum said during her morning news briefing Thursday that the administration of US President Donald Trump had showed no evidence proving that the institutions carried out any money laundering, despite repeated requests for such evidence. The Treasury Department hasn't provided a single piece of evidence to show that any money laundering was taking place," she said. We aren't going to cover for anyone, there isn't impunity here. They have to be able to demonstrate that there was actually money laundering, not with words, but with strong evidence." The accused banks also fired back on the orders, rejecting the allegations and similarly citing a lack of evidence. Brokerage firm Vector said Wednesday night in a statement that it categorically rejects any allegation that compromises its institutional integrity" while Intercam said in a statement it denies being involved in any illegal practice. Vector is owned by entrepreneur Alfonso Romo, who served as chief of staff to ex-President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador early in his presidency. Manuel Somoza, president of strategies of CIBanco, told local press that they only heard about the order the same time it was made public, and claimed that it wasn't a formal legal accusation, but rather an investigation. Our books are open," he said. Rumors are clearly damaging, whether they're true or not. So, what we want is for (American authorities) to come and investigate." The Treasury Department has said the order will go into effect in 21 days. The law officials cited states that they can take such actions without publicly presenting clear evidence if there are reasonable grounds" to believe that the institutions were involved in the money laundering connected to trafficking. Sheinbaum said they were notified by American officials of the accusations ahead of the Wednesday announcement, and that Mexican financial regulators carried out their own investigations into the institutions. They found "administrative infractions," she said, but nothing close to the accusations being levied by Treasury officials. In the orders blocking transactions between the three institutions and American banks, the Trump administration alleged that the three companies facilitated millions of dollars in transfers with Chinese companies, which it said were used to buy chemicals to produce fentanyl. The Treasury Department said the institutions had facilitated transfers to US banks, but officials would not name which US institutions were implicated nor provide more details. Sheinbaum countered that their own investigation simply showed that institutions had strong relationships with Chinese clients and banks, which she said was more of an indicator that the two countries share a robust trade relationship. China has been the main source of chemical precursors to produce fentanyl in Mexico, according to US authorities. At the same time, the US has increasingly sought to block growing Chinese influence and investment in Latin America. The leader also expressed frustration on Thursday morning, reminding Trump officials that Mexico is a sovereign nation and must be treated as an equal by the US government. We're no one's piata," she said. "Mexico must be respected.
