9, Sep 2026
Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach to Host 41st IATO Annual Convention as City Strengthens Its MICE Credentials
Sep 09: Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach will host the 41st Indian Association of Tour Operators Annual Convention from 10–13 September 2026, bringing one of India’s most prominent tourism industry gatherings to Visakhapatnam.
Supported by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the annual convention is among India’s key tourism industry forums, bringing together tour operators, hospitality leaders, policymakers, tourism boards, and stakeholders from across the country.
As the official venue, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach will host the convention’s key events, including delegate registrations, the inaugural ceremony, business sessions, networking events, the Indian Tourism Fair Travel Mart on 11 and 12 September, and evening cultural programmes. The inaugural session is expected to be attended by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, the Union Minister of Tourism, senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and representatives from nearly 18 State Tourism Departments.
Located on Visakhapatnam’s iconic Beach Road overlooking the Bay of Bengal, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach is one of the city’s leading MICE destinations, offering expansive event spaces and contemporary hospitality for large-scale national and international events.
Lakshmi Sridhar, General Manager, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, said,
“We are delighted to host the 41st IATO Annual Convention at Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach. It is a proud opportunity to welcome India’s travel and tourism fraternity and showcase Visakhapatnam’s growing potential as a leading destination for leisure and MICE tourism. We look forward to delivering an exceptional experience that reflects the warmth and hospitality of the city.”
The convention will feature discussions on the future of Indian tourism, sustainable travel, destination development, and industry collaboration, alongside signature experiences including the IATO Run for Responsible Tourism, tourism awards, cultural evenings, and post-convention tours across Andhra Pradesh.
By hosting the 41st IATO Annual Convention, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach further strengthens its position as a preferred venue for marquee industry events while reinforcing Visakhapatnam’s growing prominence on India’s tourism and MICE map.
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- By Neel Achary
9, Sep 2026
Zithara.AI Partners with Tyaani Jewellery to Enable Smarter Customer Engagement
Hyderabad, Sep 09: Zithara.AI, an AI native customer engagement platform for offline retailers, has partnered with Tyaani Jewellery by Karan Johar to strengthen customer engagement through technology and data driven insights across the brand’s retail operations.
Through the partnership, Tyaani Jewellery will leverage Zithara.AI’s AI native CRM platform to bring greater structure to customer engagement and relationship management. The platform will enable the brand to organise customer information, understand engagement patterns, and create a more connected view of customer interactions. The platform will help Tyaani Jewellery strengthen its approach to customer engagement by enabling more structured and data driven interactions with its customers.
The collaboration is aimed at helping Tyaani Jewellery build stronger relationships with customers beyond individual transactions while creating greater opportunities to increase sales and repeat purchases. By using customer insights to identify relevant engagement opportunities, the platform will support the brand in following up with potential customers, re engaging existing customers and delivering more personalized communication based on customer preferences and purchase behaviour. This can help improve customer conversions, strengthen retention and enable retail teams to turn customer data into actionable insights that contribute to increased sales, stronger customer lifetime value and long term revenue growth.
Speaking about the partnership Mr. Manraj Singh, Chief Marketing Officer, Tyaani Jewellery said,
“Jewellery is a highly personal category, and the relationship between a brand and its customer extends well beyond a single purchase. As customer expectations evolve, it is important for us to understand their preferences and interactions better and use that understanding to create more meaningful experiences. Our association with Zithara.AI will help us bring greater intelligence and personalisation into our customer engagement, while enabling us to build stronger and more lasting relationships with our customers.”
Varun Kashyap, Co-Founder, Zithara.AI, said,
“Tyaani Jewellery has created a distinctive identity in the contemporary jewellery space, and its approach to engaging with modern consumers makes this partnership particularly meaningful for us. We see a strong opportunity to help the brand make better use of customer data and translate those insights into relevant, timely and personalised engagement. Our platform is designed to help retailers strengthen relationships throughout the customer journey rather than limit engagement to the point of purchase.”
Sridevi Reddy, Co-founder, Zithara.AI, added:
“Customer engagement in jewellery retail is increasingly about understanding the individual behind every transaction. With AI native capabilities, retailers can move from broad based communication towards experiences that are more relevant to customer preferences, behaviour and purchase journeys. Through our partnership with Tyaani Jewellery, we aim to support the brand in creating a more connected and intelligent customer engagement framework at scale.”
The partnership reflects the growing role of AI and customer data in shaping the next phase of jewellery retail, where personalised engagement and long term customer relationships are becoming increasingly important. Through the collaboration, Tyaani Jewellery and Zithara.AI aim to create a more connected and data driven approach to customer engagement that supports stronger relationships and the brand’s continued retail growth.
9, Sep 2026
NMIMS Bengaluru Celebrates Graduating Students at UG Degree Distribution Ceremony
Bengaluru, Sept 09: SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Bengaluru campus, hosted its UG Degree Distribution Ceremony, celebrating the academic achievements of its graduating students across diverse undergraduate programmes.
The ceremony brought together graduating students, faculty members, academic leaders, parents and distinguished guests to mark an important milestone in the students’ academic journey and recognize their accomplishments.
The UG Degree Distribution Ceremony celebrated graduates from the School of Commerce, School of Economics, School of Mathematics, Applied Statistics and Analytics, and School of Law, covering programmes including BBA, B.Sc. Finance, B.Com, B.Sc. Economics, B.Sc. Data Science, B.A., LL.B. Hons. and B.B.A., LL.B.
The ceremony was graced by Mr. Suresh Narayanan, Former Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India Limited, as the Chief Guest for the School of Commerce and C. K. Nandakumar, Senior Advocate and Practice Head, Law Chambers, who served as the Chief Guest for the School of Law. Ms. Sharda Balaji, Founder, NovoJuris Legal, was the Guest of Honour for the School of Law.
Mr. Suresh Narayanan, Former Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India Limited, said,
“Success and long-term integrity are guided by a strong internal compass. In an era of rapid technological change, power lies in simplicity, credibility, and compassion. Be the generation that leads not just with intellect and competence, but with character, empathy, and courage under fire.”
C. K. Nandakumar, Senior Advocate and Practice Head, Law Chambers Chief Guest, School of Law, said,
”Balance what you think is your entitlement with an expectation. It is important for you to assert a right, but equally important to fulfil your duty. ”
Ms. Sharda Balaji, Founder and Managing Partner, NovoJuris Legal, Founder, LexCapital Ventures & PaperKlips Business Solutions said
“You are entering a profession which is changing faster than you predict. Your job is not to predict the future; your job is to become the kind of person who can thrive in whatever future that arrives”
A key highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of Harjas Gulati, a graduate of the B.A., LL.B. programme, who secured the 3rd Rank across NMIMS campuses, reflecting academic excellence and commitment throughout the programme.
The UG Degree Distribution Ceremony celebrated the students’ academic accomplishments while marking their transition into the next phase of their professional and personal journeys. The occasion reflected NMIMS Bengaluru’s continued commitment to academic excellence, holistic development and preparing future-ready graduates equipped to navigate an evolving world with knowledge, integrity and purpose.
9, Sep 2026
Turkish Airlines to Become Liverpool FC’s Main Club Partner from the 2027/28 Season
Bengaluru, September 09, 2026: Turkish Airlines, the airline that flies to more countries than any other, has announced that it will become Liverpool Football Club’s Main Club Partner from 1 June 2027 with the airline’s logo appearing on the front of the men’s, women’s and academy shirts from the start of the 2027/28 season.
The announcement marks the next chapter in Liverpool FC’s commercial history and will represent the first change to the Club’s Main Club Partner in 17 years.
From June 2027, Turkish Airlines will become Liverpool FC’s Main Club Partner, bringing together two organisations with a shared international reach and a commitment to connecting people around the world. LFC’s supporter base spans every continent, while Turkish Airlines connects people, cultures and destinations around the world through its extensive international flight network, flying to more countries than any other airline from its Istanbul hub.
The new partnership will also mark a significant moment in the history of the LFC shirt. The front of the shirt is one of the most recognisable positions in world sport and one that the Club has historically reserved for long-term and meaningful partnerships.
Turkish Airlines will become part of that history from the 2027/28 season, as Liverpool FC enters a new chapter both on and off the pitch.
Turkish Airlines CEO Ahmet Olmuştur said: “Liverpool Football Club is one of the world’s most recognised and respected football clubs, with an exceptional heritage and a truly global community of supporters. We are very pleased that Turkish Airlines will become the Club’s Main Club Partner and that our name will take its place on one of the most iconic shirts in world sport.
As the airline that flies to more countries than any other, connecting people, cultures and continents is at the heart of who we are. This partnership brings together two global brands united by their international reach, commitment to excellence and ability to inspire millions of people around the world.
The agreement also marks an important new chapter in Turkish Airlines’ long-standing support for global sport. We believe in the unique power of sport to transcend borders and bring communities together. As we begin this new chapter, we look forward to moving forward together with Liverpool FC and its supporters around the world.”
Liverpool FC Chief Commercial Officer Ben Latty said “This is a milestone announcement for Liverpool FC and we are delighted to welcome Turkish Airlines as our Main Club Partner from June 2027. The front of the Liverpool shirt holds a special place in the history of our club. Turkish Airlines is a globally recognised organisation with an extensive international network, and we look forward to beginning our partnership and building a strong relationship together, with already strong foundations built from those special memories back in 2005.
This announcement also provides an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary contribution Standard Chartered has made to Liverpool FC over the past 17 years. They have been an important part of our journey through an exceptional period in the club’s history, and we are delighted that Standard Chartered will remain part of the Liverpool FC family as a Global Partner from 2027. As we prepare for this transition, we look forward to this new season and welcoming Turkish Airlines as our Main Club Partner from June 2027.”
9, Sep 2026
Negative Impacts From Growing Use of AI Set to Worsen, Say Professional Investors
Robocap research finds the technology will be detrimental to ESG issues and cost jobs over the next three years
Sept 09: New global research1 with institutional investors and wealth managers managing assets of $513 billion from leading fund manager Robocap, finds almost all (97%) believe the negative impact from AI on major ESG issues – such as energy consumption and weakening of democratic rights – will worsen over the next three years.
More than two-fifths (44%) of respondents say these negative impacts will dramatically increase, while 53% they will worsen slightly.
Further, while 71% of investors say there is enough transparency around the potential impact on ESG issues from certain AI technology and programmes, 29% say the level of clarity is poor.
The study – which covered global senior executives at insurance asset managers, pension funds, family offices and wealth managers – also reveals widespread concern about the erosion of job security by AI in the financial sector.
More than two-fifths (43%) of investors say AI will impact all finance roles to some extent; 38% say it will fundamentally redefine every role, while creating reconstructing some roles; and 5% expect all finance roles will ultimately be replaced by AI.
When asked to identify the biggest threats from the burgeoning technology, 87% of research participants say the biggest threat from technology is autonomous AI systems making decisions without human intervention, while 71% point to technological vulnerabilities and the potential for AI to be hacked or manipulated.
Seventy percent are concerned about the potential for AI to be used for surveillance or control purposes; almost two thirds (64%) note the ethical implications and potential misuse of AI; and 62% identify issues with privacy and data security.
However, despite concerns about the growing impact from AI, survey participants also highlight multiple positive outcomes from the technology.
When asked to rank the benefits from AI, the majority (59%) of investors say it will increase production output rates, followed by improving manufacturing flexibility and bettering product quality and consistency.
Jonathan Cohen, Founder and CIO at Robocap, said: “There is a growing recognition among institutional investors that the opportunities presented by AI are accompanied by significant responsibilities. While investors remain highly optimistic about AI’s potential to improve productivity, efficiency and innovation across industries, they are equally aware of the challenges relating to energy consumption, governance, privacy, security and the future of work.
“Our research findings suggest that investors expect companies developing and deploying AI technologies to demonstrate strong governance frameworks, transparency and accountability. As AI adoption accelerates, success will not be measured solely by technological capability, but also by how effectively organisations manage the societal and environmental implications of these powerful tools.
“Importantly, investors do not see these concerns as a reason to step back from AI. Rather, they view responsible innovation as essential to unlocking the technology’s long-term value. The companies best positioned for sustainable growth will be those that combine cutting-edge AI capabilities with robust risk management and a clear commitment to ethical development.”
The Robocap UCITS Fund, which is a thematic equity fund focusing on pure-play robotics, automation and AI listed stocks globally, was launched in January 2016 and is managed by a London based specialist team. It has delivered compound annualised net returns (CAGR) of 15.38% and a net return of 359.95% since its inception.
9, Sep 2026
CM Majhi Woos UAE Investors, Odisha Seeks Global Investment Partnerships
Abu Dhabi/Bhubaneswar, Sept. 9 (UDN): Odisha intensified its global investment push on Wednesday as Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi began a series of high-level meetings with leading UAE corporations, investment institutions and business groups, seeking partnerships across key industrial sectors.
Pic Credit: x.com/CMO_Odisha
Leading an official state delegation, Majhi showcased Odisha’s growing industrial ecosystem and emerging business opportunities during the first day of the investment outreach, aimed at attracting foreign investment from the Gulf region.
Talks with Leading UAE Business Groups
One of the day’s key engagements was a roundtable meeting with representatives of the International Holding Company (IHC), one of the UAE’s major business conglomerates. The discussions explored investment prospects in Odisha and opportunities for long-term industrial collaboration with the group’s various business verticals.
The Chief Minister also interacted with members of the Indian Business and Professional Group (IBPG) in Abu Dhabi, highlighting Odisha’s expanding investment landscape and seeking to strengthen commercial ties between businesses in India and the UAE.
Petrochemicals and Strategic Investments in Focus
A significant meeting was held with Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of Borouge, where discussions centred on potential collaboration in the petrochemicals sector and investment opportunities within Odisha.
The delegation also met senior representatives of prominent UAE investment institutions, presenting the state’s industrial capabilities, infrastructure development and sector-specific opportunities to prospective investors.
Odisha’s Local Products Reach Dubai
Beyond investment discussions, the Odisha delegation inaugurated a One District One Product (ODOP) showcase in Dubai, promoting the state’s traditional handicrafts, artisan products and locally manufactured goods in the international market.
The initiative is expected to create greater global visibility for Odisha’s indigenous products while opening new export opportunities for local entrepreneurs and artisans.
Strengthening Institutional Ties
The day’s engagements concluded with a meeting between the delegation and the Consul General of India in Dubai, where discussions focused on enhancing institutional cooperation, business partnerships and community-level engagement between Odisha and the UAE.
The UAE visit forms part of Odisha’s broader strategy to attract global investments, expand international trade opportunities and position the state as a competitive destination for industries across multiple sectors.
9, Sep 2026
ISCL Season2 Kicks Off with 32 Teams, 127 Matches, and a Bigger Vision for Indian Softball Cricket
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Kolkata, 09 September 2026: The Indian Softball Cricket League (ISCL) opened its second season today, unveiling a national competition nearly triple the size of its debut edition: 32 teams and 127 matches spanning the country. The announcement came at a press event in Bengaluru attended by cricketing icons, league officials, and the organization’s newest commercial partners.
“Two years ago, we were just trying to get people to take softball cricket seriously,” said Dr. Gangadhar Raju, Founder and President of ISCL and the Indian Softball Cricket Foundation (ISCF). “Now we have 32 teams and players from towns most people can’t find on a map. That’s the story of Season 2, it’s not about us anymore, it’s about how far the players have pushed this.”
Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh, who joins fellow international Cricketer Suresh Raina as a Brand Ambassador for the new season, spoke about what drew him to the role. He spoke about the scale of opportunity the expanded format creates, telling the gathering that a bigger league means more young players get a chance at being seen. Something he said which is close to his heart.
The league also confirmed its broadcast and commercial lineup for the season. Sony Sports Network comes onboard a Official Broadcasting Partner, putting ISCL matches in front of a International/National television audience for the first time at this scale. Screenox joins as Official Screening Partner, showcasing ISCL in more than 1500 screens across the country. MyAsia comes in as a Strategy Partner, tasked with helping ISCL grow into a International League as well as a commercially robust sporting property.
“For us at Sony Sports Network, partnerships are about more than just putting a game on television. ISCL has a unique story because it comes from the grassroots and gives players an opportunity to showcase their talent on a bigger platform. With Season 2 growing significantly, we’re excited to be part of this journey and help take the sport to a much wider audience. We hope that our association with ISCL will bring greater visibility to the players, the teams and the game itself, while encouraging more young cricketers across the country to believe that there is a place for them in the sport,” said Kaushik Kalluri, AVP-Sony Sports.
B. H. Anil Kumar, a former IAS officer and Chairman ISCL Pvt Ltd, and Vice Chairman Sanjeev Singh both addressed the media on the league’s plans for professional growth and expansion into new regions. Noorul Ameen, representing MyAsia, laid out the strategic and commercial thinking behind the partnership, framing it as a long-term bet on softball cricket‘s growth in India rather than a one-season sponsorship.
Taken together, the expanded team count, the International/National broad cast tieup, and new partnerships mark ISCL‘s clearest step yet toward becoming a mainstream property in India’s crowded sporting calendar, one built, organizers say, on the same grassroots talent pipeline that got the league here in the first place.
9, Sep 2026
FPT Brings the Art of Marine Propulsion to the Cannes Yachting Festival
Sept 09: FPT, the Iveco Group company dedicated to the design, production, and sale of powertrains and solutions for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as marine and power generation applications, is ready to cause a sensation once again at the Cannes Yachting Festival alongside its official distributor Bimotor. The event is scheduled for September 8-13, 2026, in the beautiful city of the French Riviera.
Spread between Vieux Port and Port Canto, the Cannes Yachting Festival brings together the world’s most prestigious yachts and beautiful sailing vessels from one end of the legendary Croisette to the other, and it is an unmissable event for the most renowned operators, as well as being the ideal setting to present marine engines dedicated to the recreational segment.
FPT is indeed experiencing exponential growth in interest and customers in this very market area, thanks to the remarkable and world-renowned characteristics of its products: reliability, efficiency, torque density, and high power-to-weight ratio.
One of the emblems of this commercial success is the star of the stand (Palais 079, 32 NU): the N67 570 EVO presented for the first time with the exclusive top cover by Van Orton, the renowned Italian creative duo whose vibrant, impactful pop style is globally recognized. Launched at Agritechnica 2025, the partnership between FPT and Van Orton is now expanding to marine engines as well.
N67 570 EVO – Van Orton top cover limited edition
The new fruit of FPT’s collaboration with Van Orton is a striking engine cover, made by employing their peculiar, kaleidoscopic perspective to create a unique visual narrative, inspired by the groundbreaking Pop Art movement of artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. The result masterfully blends precision engineering with artistic vision, giving the usually “undercover” FPT engines one more reason to be admired.
N67 570 EVO – Best-in-class performance in its power range
With its 6.7-liter displacement, the N67 570 EVO marine engine generates up to 419 kW, delivering maximum torque at low RPMs and rapid load response, setting performance benchmarks in its category. Purpose-built for marine applications, its architecture features engine and turbocharging cooling systems tailored specifically for maritime operations. To simplify installation, key components – including the oil cooler, oil pump, water pump, and blow-by system – are fully integrated into the engine design. Maintenance is made straightforward via advanced diagnostics, while extended oil and filter service intervals of up to 300 hours significantly reduce downtime.
N67 570 EVO – Technical Specifications
Cylinder layout: 6L
Turbocharger: TCA
Displacement [liters]: 6.7
Injection system: Common Rail
Max power [hp @ rpm]: 570 @ 3000
Dry weight [kg]: 721
Full specifications are available
on the FPT website.
FPT has had a presence in the marine propulsion market since 1965, offering a complete range of class-leading engines with displacements from 3 to 15.9 liters, and rated engine power of between 85 and 1,000 hp, while the specific yacht lineup ranges from 230 to 1,000 hp. Designed to power vessels from 8 to 24 meters, FPT’s range of marine engines meets the requirements of a wide range of boat types, from pleasure boats to light-, medium- and heavy-duty vessels.
Every day in Italy, two new boats powered by FPT marine engines are launched. The presence of over 200 service points in the Mediterranean area is a strong guarantee of continuous support and a prompt response to any issues.
FPT is a brand of Iveco Group N.V. (EXM: IVG), dedicated to the design, production, and sale of powertrains and solutions for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as marine and power generation applications. Over 8,000 people across ten production sites and ten R&D centers work for FPT all around the world. Active in nearly 100 different countries, its global sales and its Customer Service department supports all Brand customers. The extensive product offering includes six engine ranges with power outputs from 30 hp to over 1,000 hp, transmissions with torque up to 500 Nm, and front and rear axles from 2.45 to 32 tonne GAW (Gross Axle Weight). FPT offers the most complete line-up of natural gas engines for industrial applications on the market, with power outputs ranging from 50 to 520 hp. A dedicated ePowertrain division is accelerating the path towards net zero-emissions mobility, with electric drivelines, battery packs, and battery management systems. This extensive offering, and its strong focus on R&D, makes FPT a world leader in industrial powertrains and solutions. For more information, visit www.fptindustrial.com.
9, Sep 2026
Honasa Consumer Limited Elevates Nishchay Bahl as Chief Business Officer – Offline
Gurugram, Sep 09: Honasa Consumer Limited, India’s beauty and personal care company, today announced the elevation of Nishchay Bahl to Chief Business Officer – Offline. In his new role, Bahl will lead the company’s offline business across General Trade, Modern Trade and other channels, with a mandate to accelerate growth, expand distribution and strengthen the presence of Honasa’s brands across markets and categories.
Bahl takes on the role after serving as Senior Vice President – Offline Revenue for close to three years, where he played a key role in scaling Honasa’s offline presence, strengthening relationships with trade partners and expanding distribution across markets. He has also been closely involved in Project Neev, an initiative focused on strengthening Honasa’s General Trade business through sharper market execution, stronger partner engagement and a renewed focus on distribution.
Commenting on the elevation, Varun Alagh, Co-founder & CEO, Honasa Consumer Limited, said,
“At Honasa, we believe in building leaders from within and giving people the opportunity to grow with the business. Nishchay has demonstrated strong leadership in transforming and scaling our offline business, while building the capabilities and partnerships required to support the next phase of growth. His ability to combine strategic thinking with strong execution, along with his understanding of our brands, consumers and trade ecosystem, has been instrumental in this journey. As we look to further strengthen our offline presence and scale our brands across India, I am confident that Nishchay will continue to create meaningful impact in this larger role.”
Speaking on his elevation, Nishchay Bahl, Chief Business Officer – Offline, Honasa Consumer Limited, said,
“The last three years have been an exciting and transformative phase for Honasa’s offline business. We have worked closely with our teams and partners to strengthen the fundamentals of General Trade and Modern Trade, rebuild our distribution network and create a stronger foundation for growth. Project Neev has been an important part of this journey, helping us strengthen our partnerships and build a stronger General Trade base. Going forward, our focus will be on building on these foundations to gain share across categories, strengthen our distribution footprint and improve the availability and visibility of our brands across markets. With our brands reaching consumers across the country, there is an opportunity to deepen our presence in priority markets, improve outlet productivity and strengthen our positions across General Trade, Modern Trade and other channels. I look forward to working with our teams and partners to translate this opportunity into sustained, profitable growth.”
Bahl brings over 17 years of experience across FMCG and consumer businesses, with expertise spanning sales, commercial strategy, go-to-market execution, General Trade, Modern Trade, eCommerce and business development. Prior to joining Honasa, he served as Chief Business Officer – Offline at The Good Glamm Group. Earlier, at Reckitt, he served as E-commerce Director – South Asia, leading the company’s eCommerce agenda across the region. He has also held leadership positions at Reckitt and Britannia Industries, managing multiple channels across diverse consumer categories, including General Trade, Modern Trade, eCommerce and key accounts.
An alumnus of the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, Bahl’s experience spans multiple consumer categories and channels, with a strong focus on distribution, channel strategy and commercial execution.
9, Sep 2026
AAEON Release Micro-ATX Duo with Intel Core Ultra Desktop Processors
The MAX-Q870A and MAX-H810A showcase AAEON’s agile approach to supporting diverse market needs.
Taipei, Taiwan – Sept 9: AAEON (Stock Code: 6579), announced the release of two new Micro-ATX industrial motherboards featuring Intel® Core™ Ultra 200S Series Processors (formerly Arrow Lake-S), the MAX-Q870A and MAX-H810A.
The two boards are compatible with a range of Arrow Lake-S CPUs, with the MAX-Q870A supporting up to 125W SKUs and the MAX-H810A supporting up to 65W SKUs. This difference reflects the market positioning of the two boards, with the former marketed for advanced AI and machine vision use and the latter for more cost-efficient industrial automation and HMI applications.
The MAX-Q870A provides four CU/U-DIMM slots for up to 256GB DDR5, with storage options including two M.2 M-Key slots with NVMe support and two SATA 6Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1, 5 support. The board also provides simultaneous support for four PCIe devices through one PCIe Gen 5 x16, two PCIe Gen 4 x4, and one PCIe Gen 4 x1 slot. For both Wi-Fi and 5G module support, the board offers an M.2 E-Key slot with CNVi support and M.2 B-Key slot.
The board’s rear I/O features three LAN ports, two of which run at 2.5GbE speed, six USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) ports, and one DB-9 port for RS-232/422/485. Joining these are four physical display outputs, two HDMI 2.1 and two DP 1.4a, all of which grant 4K resolution at 60 Hz. On top of this, the MAX-Q870A’s internal connectors grant access to a co-lay 40-pin LVDS/eDP connector. Additional internal I/Os include pin headers for an additional eight USB, a box header for five RS-232 interfaces, and a DIO 8-bit.
The MAX-H810A, meanwhile, is designed to deliver the essential features required for modern industrial automation and HMI applications at a cost-efficient price point. In addition to its Arrow Lake processor support, the board can host up to 128GB DDR5 via two CU/U-DIMM slots, with storage available through dual SATA 6Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1 support and an M.2 M-Key slot. For expansion, the board comes with PCIe Gen 5 x16, PCIe Gen 4 x4, and PCIe Gen 4 x1 slots, as well as an M.2 E-Key for wireless module support.
The MAX-H810A’s rear I/O features two USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 (10Gbps), two USB 3.2 Gen 1×1 (5Gbps), and two USB 2.0 ports. Alongside these are dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, both HDMI 2.1 and DP 1.4a, and a DB-9 port for RS-232/422/485. The board also offers the same LVDS/eDP connector, DIO 8-bit, and box header for five RS-232 interfaces as its counterpart, with six USB 2.0 interfaces also available through pin headers.
Both the MAX-Q870A and MAX-H810A support Windows® 11 and Linux Ubuntu 24.04.2, and hold the unusual distinction of -20°C to 60°C operating temperature ranges, an upgrade on the 0°C to 60°C for AAEON’s previous Micro-ATX offerings.
Both platforms are now in mass production, with samples available via the AAEON eShop.
