Month: August 2026

SWORDS, Ireland, August 27, 2026 /3BL/ – Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator, today announced a major milestone in building automation research: the development of a Model‑Based Predictive Control (MPC) system powered by Neural Ordinary Differential Equations (Neural ODEs) forecasting. The MPC system combines intelligent optimization with advanced predictive modeling to deliver near‑optimal control of building performance, while Neural ODEs provide a powerful, flexible prediction engine that helps unlock new levels of energy efficiency, comfort and cost savings.

Based on research conducted at the BrainBox AI Trane Technologies AI Lab, with support and contributions from leading AI researchers at Mila, Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, the concept is akin to modern navigation apps that optimize the most efficient travel routes while balancing user-defined constraints, such as avoiding highways or tolls. MPC with Neural ODEs applies the same principle to building systems. This technique requires significantly less cloud computing energy than traditional Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models, supporting more sustainable and efficient AI use.

Operationally, the system can pre-cool a building in the summer or pre-heat it in the winter ahead of peak energy price periods, then minimize system operation when prices are highest, while maintaining predefined comfort parameters. In early testing, the control strategy demonstrated energy savings of up to 19%, exceeding BrainBox AI’s existing control algorithms by more than 3%. While still in the exploratory phase, these findings demonstrate strong potential for commercialization, following further advancement through field trials as a next step.

“MPC with Neural ODEs demonstrates what is possible when cutting‑edge mathematical modeling meets real‑world building challenges,” shared Jean-Simon Venne, President, Founder, Chief Technology Officer of BrainBox AI and Head of the AI Lab. “It allows us to simulate thousands of potential future control strategies in seconds and choose the path that positively impacts costs, emissions and occupant comfort. It marks a giant leap in the advancement of true predictive autonomy for HVAC systems, and we are proud to lead the industry in this new era of smart building control.”

The system uses a physics-informed Neural ODE model to predict thermal behavior. This enables smart buildings to proactively manage building energy systems rather than simply reacting to real-time changes. Unlike traditional reactive control, which waits for sensors to detect changes before taking action, predictive control leverages forecasts to determine an optimal path while simultaneously balancing multiple objectives and constraints.

Key features of MPC with Neural ODEs include:

• Objective-driven control: Balances multiple objectives, such as lowering energy costs and reducing carbon emissions.
• Scalable deployment: Requires less training data and fewer computational resources, accelerating onboarding of new buildings.
• Customizable constraints: Integrates parameters such as comfort ranges, equipment cycling frequency and grid emissions profiles for each building.
• Real-time re-optimization: Updates optimization at each control cycle, adapting instantly to changing conditions, sensor inputs and forecasts.
• Transparent insights: Provides clear, user-friendly feedback and reporting to help users and building managers understand what drives optimization choices.

MPC with Neural ODEs is engineered to support a wide range of applications, from demand response to overall energy reduction, by adjusting the objective function and weighting factors such as peak‑demand cost or total energy use. This flexibility enables buildings to intelligently reduce peak demand use and respond dynamically to grid conditions. By incorporating emissions data from energy providers, the approach can also help buildings improve sustainability outcomes alongside operational efficiency.

To learn more about the technical research, read the published findings in “Neural differential equations for temperature control in buildings under demand response programs,” published in Applied Energy and available on ScienceDirect.

 

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About Trane Technologies
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. Visit tranetechnologies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of securities laws, which are statements that are not historical facts, including statements that relate to the Company’s AI innovation initiatives and the anticipated benefits of the BrainBox AI Trane Technologies AI Lab and related technologies. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations. Factors that could cause such differences can be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as well as our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the Company. We assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

At DP World’s Prince Rupert terminal, the equipment that keeps cargo moving is becoming more efficient, and lower emission.

DP World recently launched its first hybrid rubber-tired gantry (RTG) crane retrofit at the terminal, converting an existing diesel-powered crane into a hybrid diesel-electric system that has reduced fuel consumption by more than 60% compared with a conventional diesel RTG. The upgrade is expected to avoid approximately 100 tonnes of CO₂e emissions annually.

The project represents a practical approach to port decarbonization: improving the environmental performance of existing equipment while maintaining the reliability and flexibility required to keep one of Canada’s key trade gateways moving.

Making Existing Equipment More Efficient

The retrofit replaces the RTG’s large diesel engine with a smaller 80 kW generator that charges onboard batteries as needed. The system also captures energy generated as containers are lowered and puts it back to use, further reducing fuel consumption.

Unlike a fully electric crane, the hybrid RTG does not require external charging infrastructure, allowing it to move independently throughout terminal operations while still delivering significant fuel and emissions reductions.

The benefits extend beyond sustainability. The hybrid system is also expected to reduce engine maintenance costs and improve crane reliability, demonstrating how investments in lower-emission technology can support environmental and operational performance at the same time.

“This retrofit is a practical example of how we are advancing decarbonization across our operations while maintaining high levels of productivity and performance,” said Doug Smith, CEO of DP World in Canada. “By integrating hybrid technologies into existing equipment, we can reduce emissions, improve fuel efficiency, and scale solutions that support more sustainable supply chains.”

Prince Rupert currently operates six RTGs. The first hybrid conversion was completed this year, with additional retrofits planned in the coming years as part of DP World’s broader equipment modernization and decarbonization strategy.

Building a Lower-Emission Gateway at Prince Rupert

The hybrid RTG is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of operations at Prince Rupert.

In 2025, DP World and its partners at the Port of Prince Rupert displaced more than 2 million litres of conventional diesel with renewable fuel, representing nearly 24% of conventional diesel use across participating port operations. The transition was equivalent to avoiding approximately 5,400 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions, with renewable diesel deployed across cargo-handling equipment, trucks, locomotives, and marine vessels.

Shore power is also helping reduce emissions from vessels while they are at berth. Infrastructure at DP World’s Fairview Container Terminal allows ships to shut down their auxiliary diesel engines and connect to British Columbia’s hydroelectric grid, with expanded shore power capacity forecast to reduce carbon emissions by nearly 30,000 tonnes annually.

These investments are advancing sustainability alongside growth. Fairview Container Terminal handled nearly 886,000 TEUs in 2025, as intermodal container volumes increased 20% year over year.

Advancing Sustainable Operations Across Canada

Prince Rupert is one part of a broader effort to test and scale lower-emission technologies across DP World’s Canadian network.

At the Port of Vancouver, DP World piloted a hydrogen-powered RTG crane as another potential pathway for reducing emissions from cargo-handling equipment. The company’s Vancouver and Fraser Surrey terminals were also recognized with 2026 Blue Circle Awards from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for their participation in the Energy Action Program and ongoing work to improve energy efficiency. The recognition marked the third consecutive award for Vancouver and the second consecutive award for Fraser Surrey.

DP World also achieved Green Marine recertification across four Canadian terminals in 2026, reflecting continued progress against environmental performance benchmarks spanning areas such as air emissions, waste management, spill prevention, and community impacts.

Environmental stewardship extends beyond terminal equipment. Through DP World’s partnership with Ocean Wise, teams across Prince Rupert, Vancouver, Nanaimo, Fraser Surrey, and Saint John removed 1,065 kg (2,350 lbs) of litter from 7.5 km (4.7 mi) of shoreline. DP World is also supporting the expansion of Ocean Wise’s Whale Report Alert System, which issued more than 39,000 alerts in 2025 to help mariners reduce the risk of vessel strikes.

Together, these initiatives reflect a multi-pronged approach to sustainability in Canada — combining cleaner fuels, equipment innovation, electrification, energy efficiency, and ecosystem protection.

At Prince Rupert, the new hybrid RTG shows how that transition can happen one piece of equipment at a time: reducing fuel consumption and emissions while keeping the cargo, businesses, and communities that depend on global trade moving.

Learn more about DP World’s sustainability initiatives. 

When a real patient arrived during a stroke-response training exercise, clinicians didn’t hesitate—they acted. That moment became early proof that Salta Stroke 360° wasn’t just preparing teams for emergencies but building a system ready to respond when every second matters.

When training turns into reality

It was supposed to be a simulation. Clinicians participating in a stroke-response training exercise were running through different possible scenarios when the unexpected happened: a real patient arrived and showed clear signs of an acute stroke. What followed was swift, coordinated, and effective. The patient received timely care and survived. Yet, days later, it happened again.

Two real-life stroke cases, managed successfully in rapid succession, revealed something critical. This wasn’t just luck. It was readiness. And it was the first visible proof of Salta Stroke 360°—a system designed not just to train for emergencies, but to respond effectively when they happen.

When geography decides outcomes

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability worldwide. In remote regions like the province of Salta in northwestern Argentina, communities are spread across vast distances and access to specialists can be limited, magnifying the potential risks.

For many patients, delays begin long before they ever reach a hospital. Distance, time, and fragmented care pathways create barriers that, in stroke care—where every second matters—can mean the difference between recovery and lifelong disability.

Salta Stroke 360° was created to confront that reality head-on. The initiative was born through collaboration between Boehringer Ingelheim Argentina, hospitals, government, NGOs, and international partners—anchored by formal support from the Ministry of Health.

At its clinical core is Dr. Gabriela Orzuza, a neurologist and Medical Director of the Stroke Unit at Hospital San Bernardo, which under her leadership achieved international certification as an Essential Stroke Unit by the World Stroke Organization.

Born in Salta, her commitment is deeply personal. She has spent years building multidisciplinary networks to improve stroke care in one of Argentina’s most underserved regions—where access to healthcare is often limited, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities. “When I first imagined a tele-stroke network,” she recalls, “I saw both the need and the obligation to offer equity. But at the time, it felt like an impossible dream—something we could only approach in very small steps.”

From idea to infrastructure

Those steps evolved into a system. Telemedicine now connects neurologists in the capital with clinicians in remote hospitals, enabling real-time consultation where in-person access is not possible. For this to work, every element must align: connectivity must be constant, imaging must be precise, and coordination must be seamless—because in stroke care, every second counts.

Training extends far beyond hospitals. Emergency teams, community leaders, and even staff in high-traffic public spaces—airports, companies, civic institutions—are being trained to recognize stroke symptoms and activate response protocols. These environments are becoming “neuroprotected,” forming a broader safety net across the province.

At the same time, awareness efforts reach deep into communities. Local NGOs and schools help share knowledge about symptoms and urgency. In underserved areas, messaging is adapted to local cultures and translated into indigenous languages—ensuring it resonates where it matters most.

A vision rooted in equity and execution

That vision is shared across leadership. “What struck me early in our Salta Stroke 360° initiative was realizing how much a person’s chances of surviving a stroke depended on their distance from care,” shares Martín Cottone, General Manager, Boehringer Ingelheim Argentina.

“As a leader, I felt a responsibility to challenge that. This project pushed us to rethink our assumptions and work together differently with government, clinicians, and local communities.”

Seeing remote hospitals treat patients on time for the first time shows what’s possible when purpose and execution come together.

Martín Cottone, General Manager & Human Pharma Head APUB (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay & Bolivia)

Building a system, not a solution

Salta Stroke 360° did not emerge from a single intervention. It evolved as a connected system—where training, infrastructure, community engagement, and policy reinforce one another.

Outdated CT scanners—the essential diagnostic “eyes” of neurologists—are being replaced with reliable equipment. Strategic partnerships are enabling access to advanced technologies that were previously out of reach.

Government engagement provides critical institutional support. In early 2024, Provincial Law No. 8420 established a formal Stroke Network in Salta, guaranteeing access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This was complemented by the launch of a Tele-Stroke Network, extending specialized care to hospitals without neurologists. What began as an initiative is now embedded within the public health system—ensuring continuity and scale.

From momentum to measurable impact

As the network matured, the results became visible. Thrombolysis rates are one of the most critical indicators of timely stroke treatment and reflect how quickly patients receive potentially life-saving care. The treatment helps dissolve blood clots that block blood flow to the brain, but it can only be given within a narrow time window after symptoms begin. Higher rates often indicate that patients are reaching diagnosis and treatment quickly enough for doctors to limit or prevent severe, long-term damage.

• Thrombolysis rates went up by 3.64 percentage points from 2024 to 2025, reaching 13.1% of patients treated on time.

For Dr. Orzuza, the transformation has been profound. “For a long time, we were building this network with the pedal power of a bicycle,” she reflects. “And suddenly, with the right partners and support, it felt like shifting into a completely different gear—able to reach places we never imagined.”

At the same time, strategic partnerships enabled access to capabilities that had previously been out of reach. Specialized diagnostic spaces were certified closer to patients’ homes, reducing delays when minutes matter most.

Impact that travels beyond the moment

As Salta Stroke 360° gained visibility, its story traveled far beyond Salta. World Stroke Day 2025 coverage reached millions, while targeted digital campaigns amplified awareness where it was needed most. But for those working within the system, the true impact is measured in quieter moments.

Growth hasn’t stopped. Some days it’s hard to pause and reflect because of the work we face. But we know this will mark a watershed moment.

Dr. Gabriela Orzuza, Medical Director and Head of the Stroke Unit at Hospital San Bernardo and tele-stroke network lead

What began as a training exercise became proof of possibility. Today, Salta Stroke 360° stands as a living system—designed to respond when it matters most, and to give more people a second chance, regardless of distance.

Our commitment

By 2030, we aim to expand access to healthcare for 50 million people, investing 35 billion EUR in health innovation and research to tackle non-communicable diseases and an additional 250 million EUR in partnerships to combat emerging infectious diseases.

Read more on Imagine – Boehringer Ingelheim’s sustainability story hub.

*Image credits: Header picture and quote pictures: Corporate Affairs Boehringer Ingelheim South America. Content pictures: Corporate Affairs Boehringer Ingelheim South America, Unión Industrial de Salta, Corporate Affairs Boehringer Ingelheim South America, Ministerio de Salud del Gobierno de la provincia de Salta.