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Alfa Laval Celebrates Women in Industry and Leadership During International Women’s Month

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TORONTO, March 21, 2025 /CNW/ – As International Women’s Month highlights the importance of gender equality, Alfa Laval recognizes the impact of women in manufacturing and leadership. Ester Codina, President of Alfa Laval North America, exemplifies the progress and ongoing challenges women face in the industry.

Codina’s journey into manufacturing was unexpected, but her leadership has been shaped by a natural drive for innovation and curiosity. “I never actively sought this career, but it found me. I’ve always been curious, and that curiosity has led me to embrace opportunities, adapt to new cultures, and continuously evolve,” she says.

Under her leadership, Alfa Laval fosters a culture of innovation through its ‘Dare to Try’ initiative, encouraging employees to challenge conventions and find new ways to improve. “In a traditionally conservative industry like manufacturing, we need to actively push for change. It’s about empowering people to bring fresh ideas forward and make an impact.”

While progress has been made for women in leadership, Codina acknowledges there is still a long way to go. “Women’s representation has increased, but not fast enough. Systemic challenges remain, from work-life balance policies to ingrained perceptions about manufacturing careers. We need to create environments where women can truly thrive.”

Alfa Laval is addressing these challenges through diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, offering expanded healthcare benefits, childcare support, and wellness programs, including resources for women navigating menopause. The company’s ‘Women at Alfa Laval’ resource group provides mentorship and networking to foster an inclusive workplace.

Throughout her career, Codina has encountered barriers, many of them unintentional. “Often, it’s not about direct obstacles but outdated systems. I’ve sat in meetings where I was the only woman in the room. I’ve had to advocate for flexibility in a workplace designed around different realities. These barriers may not be intentional, but they exist.”

Her advice to aspiring women leaders is simple: “Go for it. It’s challenging but incredibly rewarding. Surround yourself with people who support and push you to grow.”

Codina sees the future of manufacturing shifting with advancements in AI, data-driven solutions, and sustainability efforts, creating new opportunities for women. “The industry is evolving, and with more women in STEM fields, we have the chance to shape manufacturing’s future. The transition to clean energy and smart technology is an exciting time for diverse talent to step in and lead.”

For Codina, International Women’s Month is both a celebration and a call to action. “It’s a reminder that while we’ve made progress, there’s still work to be done. My hope is that future generations won’t have to fight for their place in leadership – they will simply take it.”

Alfa Laval remains committed to fostering an environment where women can excel, drive change, and shape the industry’s future.

About Alfa Laval
The ability to make the most of what we have is more important than ever. Together with our customers, we innovate the industries that society depends on and together create a lasting positive impact. We are committed to helping billions of people get the energy, food, and clean water they need. And at the same time, we are decarbonizing the shipping fleet, the backbone of global trade. We are pioneers in technologies and solutions that enable our customers to unlock the true potential of resources. As our customers’ businesses grow stronger, the goal of a truly sustainable world moves closer. The company is committed to optimizing processes, creating responsible growth, and driving progress to support customers in achieving their business and sustainability goals. Together, we are pioneers in positive impact.

Alfa Laval was founded 140 years ago, has customers in around 100 countries, employs more than 21,300 people, and annual sales in 2023 were SEK 63.6 billion (EUR 5.5) in 2023. The company is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

SOURCE Alfa Laval

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United Real Estate Unveils Bullseye Marketplace, Expanding Affiliates’ Profit Margin

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The multi-prong strategy to re-margin affiliate profits includes new income opportunities to increase
agent earnings and new savings opportunities to reduce their business costs. The efficiencies of
United’s model equip agents to compete and provide clients with enhanced services.

DALLAS, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — United® Real Estate unveiled a series of program launches and announcements at its national conference, Elevate 2025, held in Arlington, Texas, from March 19-22. United’s affiliated professionals from across the country, industry leaders and experts gathered at the event, which featured networking, awards and recognition, expert panels of elite agents, professional development workshops and keynote speakers, Jared James, Coach Micheal Burt and John Israel, “Mr. Thank You.”

“We will never accept the status quo. Our agents deserve better, and we will continue to innovate so they can thrive.”

As part of its commitment to empowering agents, United Real Estate made several key announcements:

Proprietary Resi-Investment Curriculum: United will introduce a new 12-course curriculum designed to equip agents with skills to succeed in real estate investment. The program, which includes mentorship, will be offered free of charge to affiliates—a new income opportunity that could typically cost agents thousands per month for coaching elsewhere. The course will be available nationwide starting June 30.Bullseye Marketplace: United has launched Bullseye Marketplace, a unique single access point that leverages United’s size and purchasing power to provide pre-negotiated, low-cost vendor partnerships for affiliates. The Marketplace supports agents’ and brokers’ holistic needs for a successful business and a well-rounded work-life balance. To start, United has launched discounted Zillow Showcase listings, high-definition photography and 3D tours, an automobile refinance program, DocuSign and health club memberships. More offerings are slated to be added in 2025.Financial Wellness Program Milestone: In 2024, as a result of United’s flat-fee model, affiliates retained over $150 million more of their hard-earned commission than agents at traditional brokerages. Since launching in July last year, United’s Financial Wellness Program, which includes the Dave Ramsey Smart Dollar program, has achieved $4.3 million in debt eliminated and new savings for participants. In addition, United’s wealth planning fiduciary partner is helping agents meet and exceed retirement goals. One participant recently learned they are now able to retire four years earlier than anticipated.LeadBoost Expansion: United’s LeadBoost lead generation platform has delivered 32 million marketing impressions and 23,000 referral-free leads to agents in the past 12 months. The company is now launching additional specialized lead programs, a Luxury Marketing Leads Program and a Video Marketing Leads Program, all designed to precisely target buyers and sellers. The leads flow to the agents’ Bullseye CRM, streamlining lead conversion from initial contact to transaction completion.

Dan Duffy, CEO of United Real Estate, emphasized the importance of continuous innovation:

“Our industry is at an inflection point where outside forces are attempting to replace us. Billions of dollars are being invested to capture the total addressable market. If we pause or settle for the status quo, we risk losing our ability to fulfill our highest and best use to agents and, eventually, lose relevance and become extinct. At United, we will never accept the status quo. Our agents deserve better, and we will continue to innovate so they can thrive.”

Despite 2024 being one of the most challenging real estate markets in decades, United’s agent transaction count grew 13%.

Rick Haase, President of United Real Estate, shared his optimism for the future:

“I have never seen a market that didn’t have enough business for well-prepared and supported agents and brokers. Bullseye Marketplace will provide a new layer of support, addressing the holistic needs of agents and helping them succeed both professionally and personally.”

Under its industry-leading flat-fee compensation model, United Real Estate returns the highest percentage of gross commissions (GCI) to agents among national brokerages, as revealed by Mike DelPrete’s report on agent compensation at top U.S. brokerages.

About United Real Estate
United Real Estate (United) – a division of United Real Estate Group – was founded with the purpose of offering solutions to real estate brokers and agents in the rapidly changing real estate brokerage industry. United provides the latest training, marketing and technology tools to agents and brokers under a flat-fee, transaction-based agent commission model. By leveraging the company’s proprietary cloud-based Bullseye™ Agent & Broker Productivity Platform, United delivers a more profitable outcome for agents and brokers. United Real Estate operates in 34 states with 170 offices and more than 22,000 agents. The company produced over 73,000 transactions and $26.3 billion in sales volume in 2024.

About United Real Estate Group
United Real Estate Group (UREG) operates United Real Estate and United Country Real Estate, addressing the unique market needs of suburban, major metropolitan urban and rural markets. Utilizing the cloud-based Bullseye™ Agent & Broker Productivity Platform, UREG offers the latest training, marketing and technology tools producing a significant competitive advantage. The platform realizes over a decade-long investment in virtual agent and brokerage technology services and is powered by a 2.6 million listings data warehouse generating over 3 million monthly visitors and 30,000+ leads per year. Together, the United Real Estate Group supports more than 600 offices and 25,000 real estate and auction professionals across four continents. United Real Estate Group produced 90,000 transactions and $30.7 billion in sales volume in 2024. Through its in-house advertising agency, UREG offers differentiating marketing support and collateral for specialized lifestyle property websites as well as access to a 800,000+ opt-in buyer database. For more information about United Real Estate or United Country Real Estate, please visit UnitedRealEstate.com or UnitedCountry.com.

To learn more about United Real Estate, brokerage succession planning, brokerage valuation and sale or franchising opportunities, visit GrowWithUnited.com. Agents interested in learning about career opportunities with United Real Estate can visit JoinUnitedRealEstate.com.

Contact:
April Gonzalez
Media & Investor Relations
AGonzalez@UnitedRealEstate.com
504-237-3500

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-real-estate-unveils-bullseye-marketplace-expanding-affiliates-profit-margin-302415914.html

SOURCE United Real Estate

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SevenRooms Unveils New AI Features to Power SuperHuman Hospitality™, Helping Restaurants Personalize, Streamline & Save Time

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AI Responses, AI Feedback and AI Note Polish are giving restaurants an edge – automating time-consuming tasks so staff can focus on what matters most: their guests

NEW YORK, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SevenRooms, the leading CRM, marketing, and operations platform for hospitality, today announced the launch of three new AI-powered features – AI Responses, AI Feedback Summary, and AI Note Polish – designed to help restaurants deliver personalized guest experiences while saving time and labor.

With labor shortages and rising costs continuing to challenge the hospitality industry, operators need solutions that help them work smarter, without sacrificing the personalized service guests expect. In a recent study, 47% of U.S. operators stated they’d already benefited from quicker decision-making using AI. SevenRooms’ AI features were built with this in mind, eliminating repetitive tasks and making guest data instantly actionable so staff can focus on creating memorable experiences that drive loyalty and revenue. From responding to guests in record time to surfacing insights that improve service, these new tools empower operators to deliver next-level hospitality while saving time and protecting margins.

“We believe that AI should enhance hospitality, never replace it,” said Kinesh Patel, CTO & Co-Founder of SevenRooms. “With our new AI features, we’re giving operators tools that save time on manual work so they can focus on what matters – delivering personalized, memorable guest experiences. Working behind the scenes, these features help restaurants respond to guests faster, organize data critical to their operations, and automatically turn guest feedback into action for their teams. In an industry facing rising costs and operational pressures, our AI helps teams do more with less, all without compromising service. This is the future of SuperHuman Hospitality™ – where technology empowers teams to create deeper, longer-lasting connections with their guests.”

Introducing SevenRooms’ AI Features

AI Responses: Instantly draft personalized, on-brand responses to guest emails, texts, and reviews. Operators can set a custom tone so every message sounds like it’s coming from a well-trained Guest Relations team.

Impact: Restaurants using AI Responses have seen a 27% decrease in time to respond to guest feedback and responded to 35% more feedback than those not using it. Plus, an 80% increase in messages sent within two minutes of starting a draft.

AI Feedback Summary: Automatically analyze all guest feedback from across channels and deliver weekly summaries highlighting themes, opportunities, and areas for improvement — no more sifting through hundreds of reviews.

Impact: Operators get a pulse on actionable guest sentiment in seconds, making it easier to coach staff and improve operations, without spending hours searching through online reviews across an array of channels.

AI Note Polish: Automatically organize and standardize guest notes, transforming scattered details into clear, actionable insights. This gives operators a clean and reliable database to personalize service and drive loyalty.

Impact: Teams are equipped with better guest data to deliver “wow” moments every time, without having to sort through long, unstructured notes and histories of long-time guests.

In an industry where staff are often asked to do more with fewer resources, SevenRooms’ AI features help reclaim hours of labor every week, driving efficiency without sacrificing personalization. Whether responding to reviews in seconds or uncovering operational blind spots through feedback analysis, these AI tools streamline operations so teams can focus on creating exceptional guest experiences that drive revenue.

“SevenRooms AI Responses and AI Feedback Summary have offered a highly efficient and effective way to respond to reviews with personal and professional language,” said Chloe Zachary, Manager with Innovative Dining Group. “It changed responding to multiple reviews from a 30-minute task to a 5-minute task, creating more time to focus on remedying guest lowlights and our in-person presence. The AI responses are thorough, and the ability to rephrase allows us to find the perfect response for each guest.”

SevenRooms’ AI launch is part of a larger mission to power SuperHuman Hospitality™ – where technology removes friction so teams can build deeper guest relationships that grow loyalty and revenue. These AI tools seamlessly integrate into SevenRooms’ all-in-one platform, giving operators everything they need, from CRM and marketing to reservations and guest engagement, to run a smarter, more personalized business.

About SevenRooms
SevenRooms is a CRM, marketing and operations platform for growing restaurants in the hospitality industry. From Michelin star gems to local favorites, the all-in-one platform helps restaurants increase sales, delight guests, and keep them coming back, automatically. The full suite of products includes reservations, waitlist and table management, review aggregation, revenue management, referrals, email and text marketing, and marketing automation. Founded in 2011 and venture-backed by Amazon, Comcast Ventures and PSG, SevenRooms has more than 13,000 dining, hotel F&B, nightlife and entertainment clients globally, including: Curator Hotel & Resorts Collection, Marriott International, MGM Resorts International, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Wynn Resorts, Jumeirah Group, Hard Rock Hotels & Resorts, Wolfgang Puck, Michael Mina, Union Square Hospitality Group, Australian Venue Co., Maple & Ash, The Wolseley Hospitality Group, Dishoom, Groot Hospitality, MLSE, Live Nation and Topgolf. www.sevenrooms.com.

Media Inquiries: 
Bianca Esmond
e: bianca@sevenrooms.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sevenrooms-unveils-new-ai-features-to-power-superhuman-hospitality-helping-restaurants-personalize-streamline–save-time-302415937.html

SOURCE SevenRooms

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AZmed Receives Two New FDA Clearances for Its AI-Powered Chest X-ray Solution

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PARIS, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AZmed, one of the leading AI companies in medical imaging, today announced that it has received two new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearances for its AI tool AZchest. The clearances include applications intended to assist radiologists in the interpretation and detection of chest X-rays for lung nodules and triage capabilities for pneumothorax and pleural effusion.

A standalone study on chest X-rays showed that AZchest has extremely high sensitivity in detecting lung nodules, at 88.47%, associated with a high specificity of 82.94%. In a controlled multi-reader multi-case trial, experienced radiologists interpreted a standardized set of chest X-rays both with and without the assistance of AZchest. When aided by AZchest, the sensitivity increased by 10%, reaching 89.35%. The AUC also increased by 5%.

Regarding the triaging of pneumothorax and pleural effusion, the algorithm also confirmed its high detection performance. The sensitivity and AUC for pneumothorax and pleural effusion were 93.79% / 98.57% and 91.34% / 98.30%, respectively.

These results make AZchest one of the most effective AI tools now available in the United States, offering a quantifiable diagnostic advantage in real clinical practice and supporting the detection of cancer at early stages. The performances also sustain AZmed’s scientific reputation and clinical integrity in the medical imaging industry, and this validated capability supports the potential of AZchest to help reduce workload on radiologists.

“We are proud to add two new FDA clearances to our portfolio. Our deep learning algorithms are designed to rapidly and accurately detect abnormalities, thereby ensuring that critical cases are flagged for clinical review promptly,” said Julien VIDAL, CEO of AZmed.

AZmed’s products are used in 2,500+ centers across 55 countries. With AZchest now FDA-cleared for U.S. use, healthcare providers gain access to a mature, proven solution. The achievement builds on the company’s previous success in obtaining FDA clearance for the pediatric indication of its fracture detection AI, AZtrauma, less than a year ago.

In line with AZmed’s evolving product portfolio, Rayvolve for chest pathologies has been rebranded as AZchest.

About AZmed:

Founded in 2018, AZmed is a European MedTech company committed to revolutionizing medical imaging through AI-powered solutions. Its AI suite, Rayvolve®, enhances X-ray diagnostics, improving accuracy and saving time for healthcare professionals. Rayvolve® includes FDA-cleared and CE-marked solutions that streamline radiology workflows by prioritizing critical cases and expediting treatment planning. For more information, visit www.azmed.co.

Contact:
Moshank Relia
moshank@azmed.co 

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2646196/AZmed_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/azmed-receives-two-new-fda-clearances-for-its-ai-powered-chest-x-ray-solution-302414410.html

SOURCE AZmed

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