UNITIL COMPLETES 14-YEAR ‘SURE’ PROJECT

Unitil — a public utility holding company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts — has completed its 14-year System Upgrade for Reliable Energy (SURE) project, modernizing the natural gas distribution system in Portland and Westbrook, Maine. Approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission in 2011, the project replaced 126 miles of old cast iron and steel pipes with high-density plastic pipes. This upgrade, which also involved improving 8,862 service lines and 16,945 meters, ensures a safer, more reliable natural gas supply for the region’s growing energy needs.

The final milestone of the project was the removal of a 1927-era cast iron pipe. This modernization reduces gas leaks, enhances system performance and lowers methane emissions. It also includes improved regulator stations and control points, offering better gas quality and supply reliability. New England Utility Constructors (NEUCO) served as the contractor, ensuring safety and quality throughout the project despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project’s success was made possible through extensive coordination with local officials, residents, and businesses to minimize disruptions.

Unitil and NEUCO’s efforts have significantly upgraded the infrastructure, benefiting customers in the region for years to come.

ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS WINS BEST-IN-SHOW AWARD

Manchester-based Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALGM), a global leader in power and sensing solutions for motion control and energy efficient systems, announced that its A89224 automotive System-on-a-Chip (SoC) has won the Electronica 2024: Bestin-Show Award, presented by Embedded Computing Design. The award ceremony took place on November 12, 2024, at Electronica in Munich, Germany.

The A89224 is a high-performance automotive SoC featuring an integrated 90V MOSFET driver, optimized for advanced motor control in 24V and 48V automotive systems. As a control hub, it powers various automotive functions, ranging from power windows and seats to advanced safety mechanisms. This solution delivers high performance and efficiency, contributing to safer, smoother and more comfortable driving experiences.

“We are honored to receive the Best-In-Show Award at Electronica 2024. This recognition demonstrates our dedication to delivering innovation in power and sensing solutions,” said Vineet Nargolwala, president and CEO of Allegro MicroSystems. “The A89224 SoC is a testament to our commitment to advancing technology that enhances performance, efficiency and reliability for critical applications in eMobility, clean energy and industrial markets. This achievement is made possible by the incredible Allegro team and their passion for innovation and customer success.”

ICAD RESEARCH PRESENTED AT SYMPOSIUM

iCAD, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICAD), a leader in clinically proven AI-powered cancer detection solutions based in Nashua, announced that four AI-driven breast cancer research abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), which took place from December 10-13. These abstracts highlighted the latest research in breast health AI, focusing on improving detection and risk prediction accuracy and assessing disparities across diverse populations.

Presenting author Chirag R. Parghi, chief medical officer at Solis Mammography, showcased three research abstracts, with additional contributing authors Jennifer Pantleo, Julie Shisler, Jeff Hoffmeister, Zi Zhang, Avi Sharma and Wei Zhang. In addition, presenting author Mikael Eriksson, epidemiologist at Karolinska Institute in Sweden, presented research demonstrating a 10-year, image-derived AI-risk model based on iCAD’s ProFound Risk solution, for primary prevention of breast cancer that showed higher discriminatory performance than the clinical Tyrer-Cuzick v8 risk model.

“These studies exemplify the critical role the ProFound AI Breast Health Suite can play in not only improving early breast cancer detection and risk prediction but also in addressing health disparities in diverse populations,” said Dana Brown, president and CEO of iCAD. “We are proud to collaborate with Solis Mammography and Karolinska Institute contributing to groundbreaking research that can elevate the standard of care in breast health worldwide. These partnerships demonstrate the potential of our technology to improve patient outcomes, and also opens pathways to broader adoption of AI in health care, driving growth in key markets.”