21, Jul 2026
India’s Digital Inclusion Drive Gains Momentum as MeitY, Goa Partner for Language-Based Technology Solutions

Panaji, July 21: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Goa government have entered into a partnership to advance language-first digital public infrastructure, with a focus on making technology-driven services more accessible and inclusive.

The initiative aims to strengthen digital platforms that support Indian languages, enabling citizens to access online services and information more easily in their preferred languages.

The collaboration will encourage the development and adoption of language-based technologies across areas such as digital governance, artificial intelligence, and public service delivery. By reducing language barriers, the initiative seeks to expand the reach of digital solutions to a wider population.

Officials highlighted that inclusive digital infrastructure is essential for ensuring that technology benefits people from all sections of society. Language-friendly digital tools can help improve user experiences and encourage greater participation in the digital ecosystem.

The partnership reflects the government’s continued focus on building citizen-centric digital solutions and promoting innovation that addresses the diverse linguistic needs of the country.

The initiative is expected to contribute to a more accessible and inclusive digital future, where language does not limit citizens’ ability to benefit from technology and online services.

21, Jul 2026
The NORD modular product system: From systems to solutions

Robust and economic drive solutions for environmental processes

 

The NORD modular product system: From systems to solutions

 

With its modular product system and application expertise, NORD provides tailor-made drive solutions for more than 100 industries.

With its modular product system, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS offers a wide range of drive solutions composed of flexibly adaptable components, ensuring reliable operation in environmental technology applications such as recycling plants, wastewater systems and drinking water treatment. The industry experts develop application‑specific drive systems that ensure high reliability even during 24/7 operation in harsh environments.

Whether in sludge treatment, screw pumps, water screws, brush aerators, crushers, shredders or screening systems: Every movement requires the appropriate drive solution. NORD takes care of selection, design and calculation – implementing customisable drive solutions consisting of gear units, motors and frequency inverters. These are characterised by their high reliability, even during 24/7 operation in harsh environments. Furthermore, they are particularly energy-efficient – even in retrofitting, thanks to the NORD ECO service. NORD also offers compact and low-maintenance drive concepts. One example is the SAFOMI adapter with integrated oil expansion volume, which reduces the number of wear parts to a minimum. With the IIoT solution NORD DRIVE MONITOR and condition monitoring, system operators can always keep an eye on their operating data. Moreover, the company stands out for its individual project consulting, short delivery times and globally available, fast service.

A modular system offering numerous solutions

Thanks to its extensive industry expertise and comprehensive modular product system, the manufacturer meets the diverse requirements of the industry. In addition to high performance, robustness, availability, reliability and durability, the drives’ energy efficiency also plays an important role in environmental technology. With its IE5+ synchronous motors, NORD offers high efficiency across the entire adjustment range. This ensures low energy consumption even in the partial‑load range.

NORD drives also meet high mechanical requirements in extreme environments. The 3-stage right-angle gear units of the MAXXDRIVE® XC industrial gear unit series, for example, deliver constant torques of up to 282,000 Nm in water screws. The NSD5 surface treatment and the innovative NORD sealing system provide protection against external influences.

NORD’s decentralised frequency inverters offer another solution for industry-specific requirements. They save space in control cabinets, reduce wiring and cabling efforts and simplify maintenance, thereby increasing the efficiency of the entire drive system. Among other applications, they are suitable for use in pump drive systems. With control via frequency inverter, different pump characteristics can be selected through simple parameter adjustments. The parameter sets are stored in the inverter and enable the pumps to be adapted to different media, flow rates or process requirements.

NORD: Complete solutions from a single source

“The industry’s requirements are constantly changing – and we are actively following this path”, Jörg Niermann, Head of Marketing at NORD, emphasises. “We are continuously developing our drive components to provide our customers with solutions that help them progress technically, economically and environmentally.” By combining a wide modular product range with technical expertise and industry knowledge, NORD creates drive systems that are tailored to specific needs and delivered as complete solutions from a single source.

21, Jul 2026
NORD extends functional safety of its drive electronics

New safety features for NORDAC ON

News In Pics

 

NORD has equipped the NORDAC ON with new functional safety features

Extensive safety upgrade for NORDAC ON: the most recent product family of decentralised frequency inverters from NORD DRIVESYSTEMS receives new functional safety features. The specialist for drive solutions thus optimises the system for use in automation environments.

In automated production, drive electronics with integrated safety functions enable safe control and monitoring of all motion sequences. Functional safety is therefore also becoming increasingly important in drive systems from NORD and is being continuously extended. The decentralised NORDAC ON frequency inverter now receives an extensive safety upgrade.

Safe control of speeds

In addition to STO and SS1, the safe motion functions SLS, SMS and SSM are now also integrated for fail-safe control of the rotary movement. The NORDAC ON thus not only features safe standstill functions (Safe Torque Off and Safe Stop 1) but also enables safe control of a drive solution’s speeds (Safety Limited Speed, Safe Maximum Speed and Safe Speed Monitor).
The future variant of the decentralised frequency inverter can be integrated into a fail-safe application within an existing Industrial Ethernet network via PROFIsafe or FSoE. The desired Industrial Ethernet dialect is simply parameterised during commissioning. Stand-alone use is possible as well. The safe digital inputs and outputs of the NORDAC ON can be used to incorporate fail-safe peripheral components or functions. This enables the connection of, for example, emergency stop buttons, safety door switches or photoelectric sensors. Two safe one-channel digital inputs can be combined into one safe two-channel digital input and two safe outputs can be combined into one safe two-channel output.

Made for modern production environments
The decentralised NORDAC ON frequency inverter is characterised by its compact design and full plug-in capability. Thanks to its plug-and-play functionality, it significantly reduces the wiring effort and provides a maintenance-friendly, economical solution for modern production environments. It also features PLC on board for PLC and drive-related functions. It can process data from connected sensors and actuators, initiate control sequences and communicate drive and application data to the control centre, networked components or to cloud storage. NORDAC ON is available for a power range from 0.37 kW to 3.7 kW.

21, Jul 2026
Netchex Launches Mesh: AI HR Teammates for the Deskless Workforce

Six AI specialists proactively handle payroll, compliance, scheduling, and HR work for restaurants, hotels, dealerships, and other real-world businesses, inside Netchex and inside ChatGPT & Claude

COVINGTON, LA, July 21— Netchex, a payroll and human capital management (HCM) platform for businesses with deskless workforces, announced Mesh, a team of AI HR teammates that anticipate problems and complete work before anyone asks. It goes beyond the ask-and-answer chatbots that define most AI in HR today.

Most HR software is built for the corporate office. But in a restaurant group, a hotel, a dealership, a healthcare practice, or another real-world business in America, roughly 80% of employees never sit at a desk. Shift swaps happen over group texts and timecards come in late. The HR teams behind these operations are lean and chronically understaffed. Often a single admin is running payroll, approving timecards, fielding PTO requests, and onboarding new hires, all before lunch. None of it is hard. All of it adds up.

Rather than waiting to be asked, Mesh’s six specialists continuously monitor payroll, scheduling, time, and HR data. Each handles a complete workflow, with humans approving the decisions that matter:

  1. Penny, a payroll assistant who chases missing timecards and flags payroll issues

Atlas, a people ops coordinator who connects onboarding, status changes, documents, and approvalsSentinel, a compliance and risk analyst who watches for patterns and gaps teams don’t have time to seeNova, a workforce analyst who turns scattered data into signals managers can act onMilo, an employee concierge who files PTO, arranges shift coverage, pulls pay stubs, and answers policy questions instantlyNettie, a service partner who troubleshoots issues and answers product questions for admins, drawing on every Netchex knowledge article and training resource

These six are the founding roster. Netchex plans to add more teammates over time. Because Mesh sees across pay, scheduling, time, and HR in one platform, it connects dots other tools see only in pieces: flagging a schedule-loading pattern that is turning a strong employee into a flight risk, or catching expiring technician certifications weeks before they create a staffing gap.

Mesh builds on Netchex’s acquisition of Mesh.ai, a Y Combinator backed, AI-first performance and engagement platform. After the acquisition, the Mesh.ai team set out to scale the technology across every workflow an HR team touches, and built the AI teammates announced today.

“Our mission has always been to build the best software and support for deskless industries. AI teammates are how we keep delivering on that, giving every operator the bench strength that used to be reserved for companies ten times their size,” said Abhinav Agrawal, CEO of Netchex.

“Operators have been told AI will change everything, but so far it mostly just answers questions when you ask. Mesh gets ahead of the work, handles what people hate doing, and lets them focus on what matters. It can do that because it sees payroll, time, scheduling, and HR as one operation, not different disconnected systems,” said Saurabh Nangia, Chief Product Officer of Netchex & founder of Mesh.ai.

Mesh also works where teams already are. Employees can file PTO, swap shifts, and check pay stubs directly inside ChatGPT or Claude. Managers can spot overtime trends and approve requests. Admins can run payroll audits and pull headcount reports without opening Netchex. Nothing sensitive is submitted without human approval.

“Our team is small, and we all wear a lot of hats. Having an AI agent continuously checking for errors, handling the prep work, and taking care of routine steps could be a total game changer,” said Tabitha Lehman of Northwest X Southern, a multi-property hotel group and Netchex customer.

Customers in Netchex’s early access program report winning back roughly half of their Monday admin time and a double-digit drop in payroll corrections (directional results from early access, not audited benchmarks). Gartner predicts 40% of enterprise applications will feature task-specific AI agents by 2026, up from less than 5% in 2025.

Mesh is rolling out to Netchex customers, beginning with early access. To meet the AI teammates or request a demo, visit netchex.com/mesh.

 

20, Jul 2026
eVTOL Aircraft Set to Transform Urban Mobility Landscape in India

New Delhi, July 20: Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft are emerging as a potential game-changer for urban transportation in India, offering new possibilities for faster and cleaner mobility in congested cities.

The technology is expected to support the development of advanced air mobility solutions by enabling quick passenger movement across urban areas while reducing dependence on traditional road transport. With electric propulsion and vertical take-off capabilities, eVTOL aircraft could help address challenges such as traffic congestion and travel delays.

Industry experts believe that the adoption of eVTOL technology could open new opportunities in areas including urban connectivity, emergency services, and logistics. However, factors such as regulatory approvals, infrastructure development, safety standards, and public acceptance will play a key role in its wider implementation.

India’s growing focus on electric mobility and advanced transportation solutions is creating opportunities for innovation in the aviation sector. The development of eVTOL systems could mark a significant step towards building smarter, more sustainable urban transport networks.

The emerging technology represents a new chapter in India’s mobility evolution, combining aviation innovation with the need for efficient and environmentally friendly transportation solutions.

18, Jul 2026
Anand Mahindra Says AI Will Drive the Next Phase of Growth for India’s IT Services Industry

July 18: Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra has said that artificial intelligence (AI) is set to redefine India’s IT services industry by creating new opportunities for innovation, productivity, and long-term growth rather than diminishing its role in the global technology landscape.

Speaking on the impact of AI, Mahindra noted that the technology will transform how IT services are delivered, encouraging companies to evolve from traditional outsourcing models to higher-value, AI-enabled solutions. He emphasized that organizations that embrace AI and continuously upskill their workforce will be better positioned to meet changing customer expectations and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Mahindra highlighted that AI adoption is expected to increase demand for advanced digital capabilities, technology consulting, and AI-driven business solutions. He added that India’s strong talent base and technology expertise place the country in a favorable position to lead the next wave of digital transformation.

Reaffirming his optimism about the sector’s future, Mahindra said AI should be viewed as a catalyst for progress, enabling India’s IT services industry to strengthen its global competitiveness while unlocking new avenues for growth and innovation.

17, Jul 2026
India’s Technology Deal Activity Surges to Five-Quarter High, Reaches Dollar 2.5 Billion

New Delhi, July 17: India’s technology sector recorded its strongest deal-making activity in five quarters, with total deal value reaching approximately $2.5 billion, reflecting renewed investor confidence and sustained momentum across the country’s digital economy.

The increase in technology deals highlights growing investment in emerging sectors, including software, artificial intelligence, fintech, digital infrastructure and enterprise technology. Industry experts attribute the surge to improved market sentiment, expanding innovation and continued interest from both domestic and global investors.

The strong deal activity underscores India’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing technology ecosystems, supported by a vibrant startup landscape, increasing digital adoption and favourable business opportunities.

Market analysts said the rise in transaction volumes signals confidence in the long-term growth potential of India’s technology sector and is expected to encourage further investment, strategic partnerships and mergers and acquisitions.

The momentum is also anticipated to support job creation, accelerate innovation and strengthen India’s competitiveness in the global technology landscape.

The latest figures reinforce the resilience of India’s tech industry, with sustained investment activity expected to drive the next phase of digital transformation and economic growth.

17, Jul 2026
Semicon 2.0 Set to Drive India’s Semiconductor Growth, Create Up to 2 Lakh Jobs in Five Years

New Delhi, July 17: India’s semiconductor ecosystem is expected to receive a major boost with the ‘Semicon 2.0’ initiative projected to create up to 2 lakh job opportunities over the next five years, according to industry estimates.

The initiative is focused on accelerating semiconductor manufacturing, strengthening chip design capabilities and expanding India’s role in the global electronics supply chain.

Industry stakeholders said the programme is likely to generate employment across multiple areas, including semiconductor fabrication, packaging and testing, research and development, engineering services and related technology sectors.

The expansion of the semiconductor sector is expected to support India’s vision of becoming a global hub for advanced electronics manufacturing while encouraging innovation and investment in high-tech industries.

Experts highlighted that building a skilled workforce, strengthening infrastructure and fostering collaboration between industry and academia will be key to achieving long-term growth in the semiconductor ecosystem.

With rising global demand for semiconductor technologies, Semicon 2.0 is expected to create new opportunities for businesses, professionals and the broader technology sector while contributing to India’s digital and manufacturing ambitions.

17, Jul 2026
Karcher Showcased Advanced Industrial Cleaning Technologies at INDUS-TECH Machine Tools & Automation Expo 2026

Karcher Showcased Advanced Industrial Cleaning Technologies at INDUS-TECH Machine Tools & Automation Expo 2026

New Delhi, July 17: Kärcher India participated in the INDUS-TECH Machine Tools & Automation Expo 2026, held from 8–10 July at the ARK Hotel & Convention Center, Rudrapur, Uttarakhand. The exhibition brought together manufacturers, OEMs, MSMEs, and industry professionals to showcase the latest developments in machine tools, industrial automation, and smart manufacturing technologies.

During the exhibition, Kärcher India showcased a range of professional cleaning solutions designed for manufacturing plants, production facilities, warehouses, and industrial workshops. The display highlighted cleaning solutions that support efficient equipment maintenance, workplace cleanliness, and smooth day-to-day operations across industrial environments.

The showcased portfolio included:

  • Ride-on Scrubber Dryer – B 90 R – Designed for efficient cleaning of large industrial floors, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. 

  • Battery-operated Walk-behind Sweeper – KM 85/50 W Bp – Suitable for dust-free sweeping of production areas, factory premises, and outdoor industrial spaces. 

  • High-pressure Cleaner – HD 10/25 – Designed for heavy-duty cleaning of industrial machinery, equipment, production lines, and plant infrastructure. 

  • Industrial Vacuum Cleaner – IVR 100/22 – Engineered for continuous collection of heavy industrial dust, metal shavings, and production waste. 

  • Steam Cleaner – SG 6/5 – Used for chemical-free deep cleaning and sanitisation of machinery, equipment, and industrial surfaces. 

  • Walk-behind Scrubber Dryer – BD 50/50 – Designed for efficient cleaning and maintenance of factory floors, workshops, warehouses, and commercial facilities. 

Live demonstrations enabled visitors to experience Kärcher’s professional cleaning solutions in action and understand their applications across manufacturing units, engineering workshops, fabrication facilities, and industrial production environments.

 

17, Jul 2026
The R&S IMAGER from Rohde & Schwarz uses millimeter wave imaging to inspect the quality of packaged goods in real time

With its new quality and inspection millimeter wave scanner, Rohde & Schwarz will simplify the industrial inspection of packaged products. The system sees through common packaging materials at production speed without using X-rays, protecting both products and operators. The high-contrast 3D images are used as digital twins and can be automatically integrated into AI-powered fault detection systems.
 

The R&S IMAGER allows the inspection of common packaging materials using millimeter waves.

With the new R&S IMAGER, Rohde & Schwarz is expanding its real-time millimeter wave inspection portfolio. The R&S IMAGER uses innovative imaging technology to penetrate materials with invisible millimeter waves, analyze the return signals using a sensor array and convert them into razor-sharp images that reveal any hidden structures or material defects.

Use in the pharmaceutical industry

The non-ionizing radiation of the R&S IMAGER does not affect the efficacy of pharmaceutical substances in any way. Thus, the new system fills a long-standing gap in the camera-based or weight-based inspection of pharmaceutical packaging. Multi-layer secondary packaging, cardboard boxes and laminated seals are transparent to millimeter waves, allowing the sensor to detect syringes, needles and autoinjectors inside. The system generates a three-dimensional representation of each package at production speed, which ensures all components and their correct assembly can be fully inspected. By using artificial intelligence to evaluate the volumetric images, production lines can automatically detect missing or misaligned parts without affecting throughput. The applied millimeter waves eliminate any risk of radiation-related damage to sterile products, help ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and reduce costly recalls.

Logistics applications

The penetration capabilities of the R&S IMAGER also offer logistics advantages. Weight scales and conventional surface inspections cannot confirm that the correct, high-quality product is inside sealed packaging, and X-ray methods raise both safety and regulatory concerns. The R&S IMAGER projects millimeter waves through plastics, cardboard and composite materials, producing an internal view that reveals missing parts, misplaced objects or damage. When integrated into a conveyor belt system, the R&S IMAGER provides a continuous stream of images that are analyzed by AI algorithms to inspect the contents and detect anomalies in real time. This reduces the need for manual checks, improves inventory accuracy and ensures complete documentation of the entire supply chain for each shipment. The technology also promotes the use of more environmentally friendly packaging – even when manufacturers use more sustainable, but potentially opaque, materials, contents can still be monitored reliably.

Support for the food and beverage sector

The unit provides a non-invasive method for inspecting sealed cartons, multipacks and glass containers in the food and beverage sector. Millimeter waves easily penetrate standard packaging to reveal missing items, damaged products or sealing defects that would otherwise remain hidden. This makes it possible to detect even the smallest deviations, such as a loss of vacuum in glass bottles. Operators can implement strict safety and quality standards even with production lines running at full speed. Since the non-ionizing radiation affects neither food quality nor employee health, the solution complies with all safety regulations. By detecting defects early on, manufacturers reduce waste, extend shelf life and improve their brand image.

Summary

In all three application areas, the R&S IMAGER stands out for its technical strengths. The system’s architecture also means the scanner can be integrated into existing production control software, allowing engineers to expand inspection capabilities with no need for fundamental redesign of the manufacturing environment. The transition from surface-based inspection to volumetric millimeter wave imaging marks a quantum leap in quality assurance. Given increasingly complex supply chains and stricter regulatory requirements, the ability to quickly inspect each individual unit is becoming a decisive competitive advantage.