Communication On The Production Floor
Cisco Devices’ VP Espen Løberg warned that most factories rely on fragmented communication tools that aren’t interoperable, creating safety and productivity gaps. He highlighted Cisco’s new Wireless Phone 9821, which leverages Wi‑Fi 6E/7 and AI‑driven noise cancellation to deliver zero‑latency, secure voice and data links for workers and robots. Løberg said a unified platform can overcome legacy infrastructure and security concerns while extending device lifespan for sustainability. The interview underscores the strategic shift toward purpose‑built, integrated floor‑level communications.
The Cost Of HVAC Systems
HVAC systems account for roughly 40% of a building’s energy use, making them the single largest load. Inefficient operation can waste up to 30% of commercial building energy, driving higher utility bills and regulatory risk. Reactive, manual maintenance is proving...
The Hospitality Industry: Thriving Through Transitions
Canadian hotels in 2026 face steady tourism growth but rising labor costs, skills shortages, and higher energy and carbon pricing. General managers are shifting from intuition to data‑driven decision‑making, pulling insights from property‑management systems, point‑of‑sale data, and building analytics. Advanced...
Check Out Our NEW Product Submission Form For 2026
Facility Executive Magazine introduced a new Product Submission Form to simplify how manufacturers and suppliers propose products for editorial coverage. The online portal standardizes required information, including press releases and high‑resolution images, and targets products released within the last year...
Recycling Heat In Data Centers
Data center workloads are surging, tripling U.S. power demand over the past decade and set to double or triple again by 2028. The resulting thermal output, especially from AI‑driven, high‑density racks, is prompting facility leaders to shift from merely rejecting...
Healthcare Workers Want Proactive Measures, Not Continuous Surveillance
A new CENTEGIX report reveals that 68% of healthcare workers experienced violence and 74% witnessed it in the past year, underscoring a growing safety crisis. Workers rank security personnel, wearable duress buttons, and video monitoring as the top protective measures,...
Specifying A New Roof? Consider Total Cost Of Ownership
Facility managers are urged to evaluate roof replacements through total cost of ownership (TCO), which adds initial purchase price, ongoing maintenance, and eventual replacement costs. The article highlights that while low‑cost membranes like TPO dominate the U.S. market, high‑performance options...
Office Space Report: 4 Out Of 5 Executives Lack Occupancy Data
A new Butlr survey reveals that four out of five commercial real‑estate and facilities executives lack reliable spatial occupancy data, hampering space‑planning decisions. The report shows that 24% of unoccupied office areas are still heated and cooled, driving unnecessary energy...
Closing Safety Gaps In Hospital Lobbies
Hospitals are turning to cloud‑based visitor‑management systems that integrate directly with electronic health records (EHR) to streamline check‑in, improve security, and reduce lobby bottlenecks. Real‑time ID scanning and patient lookup cut visitor wait times while providing instant visibility for security...
Inclusive By Design: Rethinking Private And Public Spaces
Facility leaders are shifting from merely aesthetic offices to universally designed spaces that serve employees, visitors, vendors, and clients alike. The article outlines how inclusive design goes beyond ADA compliance, embedding equity, flexibility, and intuitive use into every touchpoint—from entryways...
How IOT And AI Are Reshaping Facilities
The article argues that IoT has moved from a peripheral sensor hobby to the core nervous system of modern facilities, especially as hybrid work drives demand for data‑rich environments. Sensors now provide continuous, objective evidence that supports evidence‑based decisions, proactive...
Clopay Introduces Commercial Door And Grille Solutions
Clopay Corporation launched its TruCycle Service Door and TruCycle Security Grille, ultra‑high‑cycle, springless solutions for continuous‑traffic commercial settings. Both products feature a direct‑drive operator with a variable‑frequency drive, eliminating springs and promising up to 500,000 cycles for doors and 300,000...
Lochinvar Debuts Regent Commercial Tankless Water Heater
Lochinvar introduced the Regent™ commercial tankless water heater, offering three models that deliver 500,000 to 1,000,000 BTU/hr. The units achieve up to 97 % thermal efficiency and feature a 25:1 turndown ratio, enabling precise load matching. Advanced RealTime O₂ Trim® and an...
A Cooling Tower With A Chronic Condition
Corewell Health Service Center in Southfield, Michigan replaced its decade‑old galvanized cooling tower with a 300‑ton high‑density polyethylene (HDPE) unit from Delta Cooling Towers. The metal tower suffered extensive corrosion and leaks, driving up water makeup and chemical losses, while...
Register For ABM’s Expert Panel: The Impact Of Integrated Facility Services
ABM is hosting an expert panel on April 22, 2026 to examine how integrated facility services are reshaping building performance. SVP Eugenio Burnier and Client Relationship Director Ashley Bradarich will discuss moving from siloed vendors to connected operations, data‑driven accountability, and extending...
Battery Energy Storage Systems Are Transforming Facility Resilience
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are evolving from idle backup assets into active tools that cut electricity costs and boost facility resilience. By charging during low‑price periods and discharging at peak demand, BESS enables daily peak‑shaving and supports microgrid configurations...
Siemens Mitras Plant Cuts Energy Use 40%, Earns LEED Platinum
Siemens’ Mitras plant in Nuevo León, Mexico, earned LEED Platinum certification, the first industrial building in the country to achieve this level under LEED v4. The 201,285‑square‑foot facility, opened in 2024, produces low‑voltage electrical components and uses advanced automation and...
Anxiety Over AI Is Growing. Are Employers Preparing Workers For What’s Next?
A new Jobs for the Future (JFF) survey released in early 2026 shows U.S. workers are now more likely to view artificial intelligence as a net‑negative force for jobs, wealth and quality of life. Early‑career employees feel the impact most,...
One Building, Many Needs: Flexible Heating Solutions For Mixed-Use Commercial Spaces
Mixed‑use commercial buildings face uneven heating loads that traditional forced‑air systems cannot efficiently meet. Decentralized solutions—particularly unit heaters and infrared heaters—provide zone‑specific, scalable heating without extensive ductwork or major retrofits. Unit heaters offer configurable installations, independent zoning, and easy scalability...
Should Buildings Have VIN Numbers?
UMIP Inc. released a new analysis highlighting an Infrastructure Identity Gap – the absence of a universal, lifecycle‑spanning identifier for buildings and infrastructure assets. The study estimates fragmented documentation adds roughly $2 trillion in annual costs to the global built environment....
Adaptive Reuse, Reimagined: From Big-Box Retail To Data Centers
Adaptive reuse has evolved from a niche preservation tactic to a strategic response to e‑commerce‑driven vacancy, post‑COVID office surplus, and climate imperatives. Designers now ask "What can we save?" rather than starting from a blank slate, targeting everything from suburban...
Wavestore Debuts Unified Physical Security Management Solution
On March 3, 2026, Wavestore introduced WaveFusion, a cloud‑first, open‑API platform that consolidates video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, and IoT devices into a single interface. Built natively rather than retrofitted, the solution runs on AWS, offers live interactive floorplans,...
New HVAC Partnership Boosts Indoor Air Quality, School Resilience
Three national nonprofits have formed the HVAC Change Lab to help U.S. school districts modernize aging heating, ventilation, and air‑conditioning systems. The initiative will provide peer‑to‑peer networking, one‑on‑one technical coaching, and a library of best‑practice resources to 12‑15 pilot districts...
Data-Driven Safety Cuts Serious Injury, Fatality Risk
ISN’s sixth Serious Injury & Fatality (SIF) Insights White Paper reveals that while overall recordable incident rates keep falling, serious injury and fatality rates remain flat. Analyzing over 178,000 OSHA recordable incidents from 2017‑2024, the report shows lacerations, cuts and...
Ready To Free Your Team From Floor Cleaning?
Tennant has introduced the X6 ROVR, an autonomous mid‑size floor scrubber designed for high‑traffic facilities. The robot features a 26‑inch cleaning path, up to six hours of runtime on a lithium‑ion battery, and 75,000 sq ft coverage per solution tank. Powered by 3D...
High-Performance Coatings: Built For Speed
High‑performance coatings are emerging as a strategic asset for manufacturers racing to commission new facilities. By applying fire‑resistant epoxy to structural steel in the shop, firms avoid weather‑related delays and accelerate assembly, while tailored floor systems boost durability, cleanliness, and...
GENERAL Inc. Adds New AIRSTAGE Heat Pumps
GENERAL HVAC Solutions America introduced two new multi‑zone heat‑pump models, the AIRSTAGE Aquila and Aquila XLTH, expanding its H‑Series R‑32 lineup. The Aquila delivers up to 23 SEER2, 10.5 HSPF2 and heats to 5 °F, while the XLTH reaches 23.5 SEER2, 11.5 HSPF2 and operates...
Impact Buildings: The Intelligent Truth About Future Commercial Real Estate
Impact Buildings redefine commercial real estate by embedding digital innovation, electrification, and occupant‑centric design into every phase from planning to operation. Schneider Electric’s NEST in Dubai demonstrates the model, delivering a 37% energy cut and saving 572 metric tons of...
Why Modernization Beats Rip-And-Replace
Modernizing existing electrical infrastructure delivers up to 40% cost savings versus full‑scale replacements while extending asset life by as much as 30 years. By retrofitting switchgear, protection relays and controls, companies avoid the weeks‑long shutdowns that typically accompany a rip‑and‑replace...