28 February 2026

Apricorn, a manufacturer of software-free, 256-bit AES XTS hardware-encrypted USB drives, claims it has become the first and only encrypted USB storage device manufacturer to achieve AS9100 certification, the internationally recognised Quality Management System (QMS) standard for the aerospace and defence industry.

AS9100 is a quality management standard for aerospace suppliers that builds on ISO 9001 with aerospace-specific requirements and complements the EU's EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) rules as an organisational QMS used by manufacturers, maintenance and design organisations to ensure consistent quality and customer confidence. The standard incorporates additional, stringent criteria specific to aviation, space, and defence organisations, including enhanced risk management, supply chain oversight, configuration control, product traceability, and continuous improvement. 

18 February 2026

Kao Data, a specialist developer and operator of data centres tailored for AI and advanced computing, has released a new report detailing how Slough has transformed into Europe’s largest data centre cluster and the UK’s de facto AI Growth Zone (AIGZ).

The report, titled “The Quiet Revolution: How Data Centres Remade Slough and Secured the UK’s Digital Future,” underscores Slough’s hosting of over 675 MW of hyperscale data centre capacity, supporting more than 14,000 jobs and generating over £30 million annually in business rates, significantly boosting the local economy.