Author: AU News Bureau

Dow launched its first bio-circular product* for the flooring industry, an addition to the ENGAGE™ REN Polyolefin Elastomers (POE) product portfolio. The flooring innovation* will be used in the manufacturing of carpet tile backing to provide dimensional stability and adhesion support for fibers. This new bio-circular product* brings the same high performance as the rest of the ENGAGE™ POE portfolio while helping customers meet their sustainability goals. ENGAGE™ REN POEs offer a viable alternative to virgin petrochemical products by utilizing alternative feedstocks produced from residues of biological origin and responsibly sourced waste, such as used cooking oil, and converting them…

Pidilite Ventures has made a INR 50 million investment in Wify (Installco Wify Technology Private Limited), a platform offering home improvement and maintenance services.This pre-Series A round was led by Capria and Mount Judi Ventures, with participation from Blume Ventures. Wify focuses on providing B2B2C home improvement and maintenance services, maintaining quality and consistency through the training of skilled tradespeople committed to improving the reputation of home improvement brands. They provide a full-stack solution for companies and customers, including workflow management and after-sales support. Their clients include home improvement retailers, e-commerce giants, interior design firms, water solutions, audio and electronics,…

Home renovation and construction company River City Construction Inc announced the launch of its comprehensive home remodeling services in the Boston area recently. With a focus on high-quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction, the company is set to provide homeowners with customized remodeling solutions tailored to their unique needs and preferences. River City Construction Inc. specializes in design-build remodeling, offering a seamless experience from the initial design phase to the final reconstruction of the space. Whether homeowners are looking to remodel a kitchen, update a bathroom, or completely transform their living space, River City Construction provides expert guidance every step of…

The ICONIC AWARDS 2024: Innovative Architecture inspires with entries of the highest international calibre. 540 entries from 36 countries were submitted to the jury this year, and 55 projects were selected as the ‘Best of Best’. “It was impressive to see the immense potential of groundbreaking designs that provide answers to current questions in contemporary architectural discourse,” says Lutz Dietzold, Managing Director of the German Design Council, describing the work of the award winners. Once again this year, the special prizes with prize money are generously supported by dormakaba Holding GmbH + Co KG. Tatiana Bilbao Estudio will be honoured…

CenturyPly held its 44th Annual General Meeting, highlighting the company’s significant growth and expansion. As of March 31, 2024, CenturyPly’s valuation reached ₹14,220 crore, surpassing others in India’s wood products sector. The company’s financial performance and market position reflect its focus on innovation, quality, and customer needs, cementing its leadership in the plywood and decorative veneer market. CenturyPly’s standalone revenue from operations increased by 6.2%. In the latest fiscal year, the company demonstrated impressive financial performance, recording 15.2% return on assets and 15.5% return on equity. Despite the challenging environment of increased interest rates, the company’s liquidity hygiene remained well-maintained,…

HomeLane is set to acquire Design Café in a share swap transaction for an undisclosed sum, while securing ₹225 crore in fresh funding from investors including Hero Enterprise and WestBridge Capital to fuel its expansion. The combined entity, which will be valued at about ₹3,000 crore (about $360 million), is expected to be Ebitda profitable and generate a revenue of ₹1,000 crore in 2024-25, the companies said in a statement. Currently, the two entities have a combined revenue of about ₹900 crore. Ebitda, or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation, is a key metric of operational efficiency. While the…

The International Garden Festival is launching a call for proposals to choose designers to create the new temporary gardens for the Festival’s 26th edition, which will open on June 20, 2025, on the site of Les Jardins de Métis | Reford Gardens, Canada. This year’s theme is “Borders” which invites designers to “rethink the notion of borders in today’s post-colonial context, and to transpose their reflections into a garden-environment that blurs disciplines, renegotiates preconceived ideas about the garden/landscape, and actively dialogues with the visitor.” “Borders partition a whole, giving it a value of its own. Tangible without necessarily visible, they…

Local studio Anttinen Oiva Architects has designed the mass-timber Katajanokan Laituri building in Helsinki as the headquarters for timber supplier Stora Enso. Located in Helsinki’s historic waterfront Kauppatori market district, Katajanokan Laituri houses the headquarters of the Stora Enso forestry company along with the 164-room Katajanokka Pier 4 Hotel and a restaurant. Anttinen Oiva Architects designed the 16,400-square-metre, four-storey building with an additional publicly accessible green rooftop terrace and a basement with a car park. As the headquarters of mass-timber supplier Stora Enso, the building was designed to showcase the company’s products. The architecture studio used around 7,600 cubic metres…