Litmus Automation and Panasonic Partner to Advance Japan’s Smart Manufacturing with Edge-to-Cloud AI Solutions

TOKYO, JP – 02/10/2025 – (SeaPRwire) –  Japan’s manufacturing sector is undergoing a profound digital transformation, and two companies are stepping forward to accelerate this shift. Litmus Automation Japan, a subsidiary of global Industrial IoT (IIoT) innovator Litmus, and Panasonic Solution Technologies Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Panasonic Holdings with deep expertise in system integration, today announced a strategic alliance to deliver scalable edge-to-cloud industrial solutions designed to meet the demands of modern production environments. By combining Litmus Automation’s edge data platform with Panasonic’s broad integration capabilities and cloud services, the partnership aims to empower factories in Japan with real-time insights, AI-driven decision-making, and the ability to future-proof operations.

At its core, the collaboration represents an answer to several pressing challenges facing manufacturers in Japan: the modernization of aging production infrastructure, the drive for greater sustainability and energy efficiency, and the urgent need to compensate for a shrinking and aging workforce. With industrial enterprises seeking faster and smarter ways to bridge the gap between operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT), the combined offering from Litmus and Panasonic promises an end-to-end solution that not only connects shop-floor machinery but also enables advanced analytics, machine learning, and predictive capabilities that extend throughout the enterprise.

The solution leverages Litmus Edge, a platform recognized globally for unlocking and standardizing industrial data in real time. Supporting more than 250 industrial protocols—including OPC UA, Modbus, and Ethernet/IP—Litmus Edge provides manufacturers with a way to connect both modern and legacy assets without the need for costly re-architecture. Once captured and contextualized at the edge, the data can be seamlessly transmitted to cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as to manufacturing execution systems (MES) and enterprise-level IT platforms. Panasonic, for its part, contributes decades of integration expertise to ensure that data flows reliably and securely from plant-level systems into enterprise dashboards, enabling holistic decision-making.

Among the features highlighted by the partnership are the ability to:

• Collect, normalize, and contextualize OT data in real time at the edge.
• Deploy AI and machine learning models (including Python and TensorFlow-based models) directly on site for rapid inference and anomaly detection.
• Accelerate the onboarding of diverse data from both legacy and new equipment across factories.
• Provide centralized dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs) to support management visibility.
• Enable predictive maintenance and remote monitoring for reduced downtime and cost savings.
• Deliver secure, bilingual (Japanese/English) support and services tailored to the needs of local manufacturers.

Strategic Benefits and Industry Impact
This alliance positions OT data as a strategic asset for Japanese manufacturers. Through the integration of Litmus Edge and Panasonic’s cloud and systems expertise, businesses gain visibility across the entire edge-to-cloud continuum. The joint solution enables improved productivity by driving efficiency in energy use, optimizing predictive maintenance schedules, and reducing industrial waste. Moreover, by automating manual processes and supporting remote operations, the partnership addresses labor shortages and helps manufacturers sustain competitiveness in a rapidly changing market.

Tetsuro Sato, Executive Officer of Technology at Panasonic Solution Technologies, emphasized the importance of the alliance. “At Panasonic, we have long been focused on solutions centered on digital transformation and AI to support the manufacturing industry. This collaboration with Litmus Automation will accelerate real-time data collection, analysis, and utilization across shop-floor operations, giving manufacturers faster and more accurate insights for decision-making. Together, we expect to deliver tangible improvements such as higher equipment utilization and lower defect rates—directly addressing customer challenges and strengthening their competitive edge.”

John Younes, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Litmus Automation, also expressed enthusiasm: “Partnering with Panasonic marks a pivotal step in supporting Japan’s manufacturing sector as it modernizes and scales. By pairing our edge data platform with Panasonic’s proven integration expertise, we can deliver real-time visibility and smarter operations while paving a faster path to digital transformation.”

Market Readiness and Current Deployments
The alliance is not just theoretical—it is already producing results. Litmus and Panasonic have begun working with several leading manufacturers in Japan, including a joint production deployment now underway. The companies report that additional large-scale rollouts are planned, underscoring the growing demand for integrated edge-to-cloud platforms in the industrial sector.

As Japanese factories continue to embrace Industry 4.0 initiatives, the need for solutions that combine connectivity, analytics, and scalability will only intensify. The Litmus-Panasonic partnership delivers exactly that: a comprehensive, future-ready approach that empowers manufacturers to modernize operations, enhance workforce efficiency, and integrate AI-driven insights into everyday business decisions. With industrial competitiveness increasingly tied to data utilization and digital capabilities, this collaboration could serve as a model for the next wave of smart manufacturing across Japan.

source https://newsroom.seaprwire.com/technologies/litmus-automation-and-panasonic-partner-to-advance-japans-smart-manufacturing-with-edge-to-cloud-ai-solutions/

Sri Lanka Moves to the Forefront of Circular Economy with LOLC and Corsair’s Advanced Waste-to-Fuel Partnership

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS  – 01/10/2025 – (SeaPRwire) – Sri Lanka is taking bold steps to confront one of its most urgent environmental crises: the mounting challenge of plastic and polythene waste. Against the backdrop of rising concerns about pollution and its far-reaching impacts on public health, ecosystems, and the country’s tourism economy, a new partnership between LOLC Advanced Technologies (LOLC AT) and Corsair Group International promises to deliver a large-scale, sustainable solution. This collaboration is set to transform Sri Lanka’s approach to plastic management, moving beyond traditional disposal methods and toward innovative circular economy practices that turn waste into valuable resources.

The scale of the problem is significant. Sri Lanka generates approximately 7,000 metric tons of solid waste every single day, which adds up to around 2.56 million metric tons annually. A considerable share of this waste is made up of polythene and plastics—materials that are notorious for their persistence in the environment and their harmful effects when left unmanaged. Much of this waste ends up in overflowing landfills, contaminates waterways, and ultimately flows into the oceans, where it poses threats to marine ecosystems and biodiversity. For a country that relies heavily on coastal resources, fisheries, and eco-tourism, the consequences of unchecked plastic pollution extend well beyond environmental degradation; they affect livelihoods and long-term economic stability.

LOLC AT, a fully owned subsidiary of the diversified LOLC Holdings PLC, has already demonstrated leadership in addressing this issue. In 2023, the company invested in and commissioned Sri Lanka’s first commercial-scale waste-to-fuel plant at Kerawalapitiya. By 2024, the plant had successfully completed its first full year of operations, converting non-recyclable plastics—materials that cannot easily be reused through conventional recycling—into an alternative fuel source. This pioneering effort provided a proof of concept that plastics, often treated as a terminal waste product, could instead serve as a resource with economic and environmental value.

The newly announced partnership with Corsair Group International, an Amsterdam-headquartered company with a rapidly expanding global footprint in plastic recycling, is set to elevate this initiative to a new level. Corsair specializes in advanced pyrolysis technologies, developed in collaboration with its network of technology partners. These proprietary processes convert end-of-life plastics into ISCC PLUS-certified Pyrolysis Oil, a premium-grade raw material that can be reintegrated into the petrochemical industry. Unlike approaches that simply burn plastics to generate energy, Corsair’s model keeps materials within the economic cycle, enabling the creation of new plastics and other products while avoiding further carbon emissions.

Through this collaboration, the Kerawalapitiya facility will undergo a major upgrade and expansion. The new plant will be designed to handle up to 12 million kilograms of plastic waste every year—a substantial increase in capacity compared to the existing operation. Once operational, the facility will not only absorb a larger share of Sri Lanka’s plastic waste stream but will also be able to process a broader range of plastic types. The output—high-quality pyrolysis oil—will be supplied to petrochemical companies, which can use it to produce new, recycled plastics that meet international standards of sustainability. In this way, the facility becomes a crucial link in the circular plastics economy, ensuring that what was once waste can be continually repurposed.

The economic implications are equally significant. By transforming discarded plastics into commercially valuable feedstock, the initiative creates new opportunities for investment, innovation, and employment. Green jobs will be generated across engineering, plant operations, logistics, and research. The project also supports Sri Lanka’s aspirations to position itself as a regional hub for sustainable technologies and environmental solutions. With global awareness of plastic pollution at an all-time high, the country’s progress in this area is likely to attract attention from neighboring nations seeking similar models.

Construction on the expanded facility is scheduled to commence in 2025, with completion expected within two years. Corsair Group will bring its technical expertise, proprietary processes, and international project experience to the effort, while LOLC AT will contribute its operational capacity and local insights. Together, the companies intend not only to deliver immediate waste management benefits but also to set the stage for a series of additional initiatives that will further strengthen Sri Lanka’s position in the sustainable economy.

In comments shared with the announcement, Mr. Danesh Abeyrathna, Director and CEO of LOLC Advanced Technologies, emphasized the transformative potential of the project:
“This partnership represents more than just a technical upgrade—it is a strategic commitment to reshaping how Sri Lanka handles plastic and polythene waste. By combining our operational expertise with Corsair’s innovative waste-to-fuel technologies, we are confident in our ability to deliver measurable environmental benefits while also advancing the country’s economic resilience. Our goal is to show that environmental responsibility can be directly tied to social and financial returns.”

Corsair Group’s CEO, Mr. Jussi Saloranta, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of collaboration between local and global players:
“We are proud to partner with LOLC, one of Sri Lanka’s most respected and diversified conglomerates. The Kerawalapitiya facility is only the beginning; it is the first in a series of planned initiatives aimed at advancing plastic recycling and circular economy solutions across the region. Our technology has already proven its value in other markets, and we are eager to invest our resources and knowledge here in Sri Lanka. Together, we can turn the tide on plastic pollution and build a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.”

About LOLC Advanced Technologies

LOLC Advanced Technologies (Pvt) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of LOLC Holdings PLC, serves as the Group’s innovation and new business development arm. The company focuses on projects that blend research with practical application, targeting sectors that offer both socio-economic value and financial sustainability. Its portfolio includes initiatives in advanced materials such as graphene, high-value spice extraction, and waste-to-value solutions designed to address critical environmental and economic challenges in Sri Lanka and beyond.

About Corsair Group International

Corsair Group International, headquartered in Amsterdam, is one of the fastest-growing global companies specializing in plastic waste recycling. The firm’s advanced pyrolysis technology converts end-of-life plastics—often destined for landfills or the ocean—into ISCC PLUS-certified Pyrolysis Oil. With projects and partnerships spanning Asia, Europe, and North America, Corsair emphasizes solutions that keep resources in circulation rather than removing them from the economy. By diverting thousands of tons of plastic from the environment and reintegrating them into the value chain, Corsair has established itself as a leader in scaling commercially viable circular economy solutions worldwide.

source https://newsroom.seaprwire.com/technologies/sri-lanka-moves-to-the-forefront-of-circular-economy-with-lolc-and-corsairs-advanced-waste-to-fuel-partnership/