Production Industry Research Articles

Lactiplantibacillus argentoratensis AGMB00912 alleviates diarrhea and promotes the growth performance of piglets during the weaning transition

BackgroundPreventing post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in weaned piglets is a crucial challenge in the swine production industry. The stress of weaning, dietary shifts from maternal milk to solid feed, and environmental changes lead to decreased microbial diversity, increased pathogen abundance, and compromised intestinal integrity. We have previously identified Lactiplantibacillus argentoratensis AGMB00912 (LA) in healthy porcine feces, which demonstrated antimicrobial activity against pathogens and enhanced short-chain fatty acid production. This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of LA strain supplementation as a strategy to inhibit PWD and enhance overall growth performance in weaned piglets.ResultsLA supplementation in weaned piglets significantly increased body weight gain, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake. It also alleviated diarrhea symptoms (diarrhea score and incidence). Notably, LA was found to enrich beneficial microbial populations (Lactobacillus, Anaerobutyricum, Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae, and Blautia) while reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria (Helicobacter and Campylobacter). This not only reduces the direct impact of pathogens but also improves the overall gut microbiota structure, thus enhancing the resilience of weaned piglets. LA treatment also promotes the growth of the small intestinal epithelial structure, strengthens gut barrier integrity, and increases short-chain fatty acid levels in the gut.ConclusionsThe study findings demonstrate the promising potential of LA in preventing PWD. Supplementation with the LA strain offers a promising feed additive for improving intestinal health and growth in piglets during the weaning transition, with the potential to significantly reduce the incidence and severity of PWD.

Promoting fine particle removal in cyclone by spray agglomeration and heterogeneous condensation

By adding a spray chamber in front of the cyclone separator, spray agglomeration and heterogeneous vapor condensation were combined to improve the removal effect of the cyclone separator on fine particles, which is used for the deep treatment of high-humidity industrial flue gas and fine particles. Fine particles can form agglomerates through the capture effect of micron droplets, and can also grow in size through heterogeneous vapor condensation in supersaturated water vapor environment, thus being effectively removed by cyclone separators. Supersaturated water vapor environment was a necessary condition for heterogeneous vapor condensation. Numerical simulation results showed that supersaturated water vapor environment can be formed in the spray chamber when the relative humidity of the original flue gas was high, and the higher the relative humidity, the higher the supersaturation and the larger the supersaturation area. The experimental results indicated that spray agglomeration and spray coupling heterogeneous condensation increased the particle removal efficiency of the cyclone separator by 11.6 % and 22.6 %, and the removal efficiency in the 2–4 μm “fish-hook” range was increased by 21.6 % and 41.7 %, respectively. This technology was successfully applied for the first time in the deep treatment of the tail gas in Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalyst production industry, which can ensure that the particle emission concentration was within 20 mg/Nm3.

Genome-Scale Metabolic Models in Fungal Pathogens: Past, Present, and Future.

Fungi are diverse organisms with various characteristics and functions. Some play a role in recycling essential elements, such as nitrogen and carbon, while others are utilized in the food and drink production industry. Some others are known to cause diseases in various organisms, including humans. Fungal pathogens cause superficial, subcutaneous, and systemic infections. Consequently, many scientists have focused on studying the factors contributing to the development of human diseases. Therefore, multiple approaches have been assessed to examine the biology of these intriguing organisms. The genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) have demonstrated many advantages to microbial metabolism studies and the ability to propose novel therapeutic alternatives. Despite significant advancements, much remains to be elucidated regarding the use of this tool for investigating fungal metabolism. This review aims to compile the data provided by the published GEMs of human fungal pathogens. It gives specific examples of the most significant contributions made by these models, examines the advantages and difficulties associated with using such models, and explores the novel approaches suggested to enhance and refine their development.

Quantification of soluble protein content and characterization of protein secondary structure by Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometrics

In the large-scale industrialized production of soymilk, the accurate monitoring of protein content and its secondary structure is crucial to guarantee product quality and enhance nutritional value, while traditional protein detection methods have significant limitations. In this study, Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize the changes in the relative content of protein secondary structures during boiling, in which the α-helix structure was converted to other unstable secondary structures, indicating that the protein was thermally denatured. The study also accurately predicted the soluble protein content of soymilk for the first time by combining Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics based on algorithms such as Partial Least Squares (PLS), Least Squares Support Vector Machines (LSSVM), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). The results showed that the relative percentage deviation (RPD) values of all models were greater than 2, indicating that the models all possessed a certain degree of robustness; The PLS-based regression prediction model (with an average RPD value of 3.5592 and an average R2p of 0.9597) had the best overall prediction. The study's results can guide the soymilk production industry into online monitoring of soymilk quality.

Hemp for health: a historical perspective on the marketing of cannabis-based foods in Sweden

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide the first comprehensive examination of the early cannabis-based food products industry, using Sweden as a case study. Drawing upon historical newspaper articles and advertisements from the Swedish Historical Newspaper Archive, the authors trace the short-lived development of the industry, from the initial exploitation of fears of tuberculosis in the late 19th century, followed by the “boom” in hempseed extract products and the widening of its claimed effects and, finally, increased skepticism and critiques of such products across the popular press in the early 20th century. Design/methodology/approach A rigorous search of the Swedish Historical Newspaper Archive was conducted to gather newspaper articles and advertisements on cannabis-based foods. The collected resources were scrutinized using critical discourse analysis to tease out key discourses at work, particularly around the concepts of health, nutrition and science. Findings The authors find that central to the marketization of cannabis-based foods was the construction of disease based on scientific and medical discourse, fearmongering to create a strong consumer base and individualization to place responsibility on consumers to take action to protect their family’s health. This demonstrates not only the long historical relationship between science and food marketing but also how brands’ health claims could often be fraudulent or overstated. Originality/value It is important to cast a historical lens on the commercialization of cannabis-based food products because demand for similar types of products has rapidly grown over the past decade. Now, just as before, manufacturers tap into consumers’ insecurities about health, and many of the same questions continue to be mooted about products’ safety. Paying greater attention to the broader and problematic history of commercial cannabis can, thus, serve as a reminder for both consumers and policymakers to think twice about whether hemp really is for health and if the claims it espouses are a mirage rather than a miracle.

A maturity assessment methodology for ISO 13485 implementation in the medical devices industry

PurposeThis study aims to develop a novel diagnostic methodology for implementing ISO13485:2016 and test its applicability to improve quality management systems (QMS) in the medical devices industry context.Design/methodology/approachFirst, a literature review on the topic was conducted. Second, insights gained from the literature and expert interviews were employed to develop the new maturity assessment methodology. Subsequently, the methodology was tested on a medical device manufacturer. Next, based on the evaluation of the intervention, actions were recommended to improve the QMS.FindingsResearch findings have developed a maturity assessment methodology comprising 52 certifiable requirements structured into four macro-requirements derived from ISO 13485:2016. Findings show that the methodology is valuable for aiding QMS implementation, and the diagnosed maturity levels corresponded with the company’s empirical perceptions of the requirement’s maturity.Practical implicationsEmpirical evidence validates the significance and practical utility of the proposed methodology, as evidenced by the company’s attainment of FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) approval after the intervention. Findings suggest that the methodology could be replicated within the medical products industry or adapted to assess other QMS, leveraging the organizational alignment with the international regulations of the sector and the ISO 9000 requirements.Originality/valueThe developed methodology fills existing gaps in both literature and practice within the medical devices industry, providing a valuable contribution by addressing the limited research on diagnostic methodologies designed for ISO 13485:2016 implementation. The article assists medical device enterprises in addressing QMS maturity levels as a metric for evaluating QMS requirements, which is an underexplored avenue in existing QMS evaluation approaches.

Accelerated Data Engine: A faster dataset construction workflow for computer vision applications in commercial livestock farms

Large-scale, high-quality dataset was the foundation of developing advanced artificial intelligence applications. However, creating such a benchmark dataset in a professional field, such as precision management of animals, was always a challenge because of the costly and labor-intensive process of annotation and review. This study introduced a novel workflow named Accelerated Data Engine (ADE), designed to efficiently produce representative and high-quality computer vision datasets from raw animal surveillance footage. By incorporating referring and grounding models (R&G models) as auto-annotators, along with a distillation mechanism for dataset-auditors, ADE significantly speeded up the dataset construction process. The new workflow received natural language inputs as referrals to identify animal instances, delineated their body shapes, and then refined the auto-annotated data through a selection process. To demonstrate the efficacy of ADE, three 30-minute surveillance video samples featuring pigs, sheep, and cattle were discussed in this study. The results indicated the R&G models effectively annotated animals across various farms, while distillation mechanisms could identify various detection errors, balance the data representations, refine annotations, and verify the data quality. Two high-quality cattle datasets (6.5 k and 486 frames), including 26 k and 2.5 k cattle instances, were generated through the ADE workflow from 24-hour surveillance videos on a commercial cattle farm and made publicly available. The proposed dataset has achievable performance between 74.6 %∼84.1 %. The ADE workflow saved 78.4 % of manual work compared to the traditional dataset construction workflow (approximately 141 h). This pioneering approach empowered the fast creation of benchmark animal datasets and would enhance computer vision applications in the livestock production industry in the future.

Colamine and tartaric acid based innovative antioxidant and anti-spoilage food additive for fish product industry

Background: Fish farming is a vital sector of the global food industry, facing the challenge of developing efficient, chemical-free feeds for high-value fish species. To address this, innovative antimicrobials and antioxidants are crucial. This study explores the antioxidant and anti-spoilage properties of novel N-containing derivatives of natural L-tartaric acid (TA), a safe and widely used food additive. Objectives: Current research is devoted to L-tartrates’ new derivatives’ anti-spoilage and antioxidant potential as an innovative combined feed additive for fish farming. Results: TA Cyclic imide obtaining modified technology was advised. According to the obtained results, TA itself didn’t show antioxidant activity: nevertheless, in combination with new N-containing derivatives, it increased the antioxidant properties of L-ascorbic acid by about 20%. The studied TA amino-derivatives have demonstrated the emphasized activity against the fish-pathogenic Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, and other pathogenic microbes. Conclusions: TA and tartrates, in combination with new N-containing derivatives generated based on the vital compound colamine, have demonstrated several synergic antioxidant activities. They can be recommended for potential application as a cheap and effective alternative to classical anti-spoilage and preservative agents for animal feed production. Also, they showed the prolongation of feed expiration periods. It will significantly increase the quality of final fish products. A further detailed study of toxicological properties of amino derivatives is planned. Keywords: tartaric acid derivative, colamine, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-spoilage, feed additive

Maximizing efficiency in C45 steel machining: an integrated AI-based approach to coated insert optimization

AbstractMachining involves the subtraction of the material from the sample workpiece to achieve the desired shape or surface. This versatile method is capable of producing a wide range of parts, varying from simple to intricate profiles. Coating materials are increasingly being utilized in tool inserts in the production industry owing to their superior thermal properties and wear resistance. The shielding of hard coatings, with thicknesses of only a few microns, enhances performance and durability. In this study, machining of C45 steel using distinct coated inserts was explored. The experimental trials employed PVD and CVD methods for coated tungsten carbide (WC) tools/inserts and PVD-coated cermet tools/inserts with different machining parameters. Performance metrics, such as the surface finish and reliability of the tool, were considered for the evaluation. The average tool life variation between the PVD-coated cermet and PVD-coated WC was 178.86%, and 30.11% between the PVD-coated cermet and CVD-coated WC at 1 mm DOC. ANOVA was performed using Response Surface Methodology to explore the influence of input parameters on output. The results indicate that the depth of machining and spindle speed significantly influence Ra, whereas spindle speed and type of tool insert have a considerable impact on the life span of the tool. The developed mathematical model for the prediction of tool life and Ra indicates its potential for performance forecasting during C45 steel machining. Grey relation analysis was employed to optimize the process parameters. Optimal results were achieved with a spindle speed of 400 m/min, 0.5 mm depth of cut, and cermet tool inserts. PVD-coated WC inserts performed better. ANFIS was applied for the prediction and optimization of the machining parameters.

Physical, functional and bioactive properties of microencapsulated powders from banana pseudostem and inflorescence extracts

Application of agricultural by-products in the functional food and beverage industry is currently gaining prominence. Banana (Musa spp) is a popular tropical fruit with global production of 124.97 million tonnes. The banana production industry contributes to large amount of solid waste/ banana by-products, such as, pseudostem and inflorescence. Palayankodan (Musa × paradisiaca Mysore AAB group), Nendran (Musa × paradisiaca AAB group) and Njalipoovan (Musa × paradisiaca AB group) are three popular and common cultivars in Kerala, a state in South India. The present study was aimed to extract the potential bioactive compounds from the pseudostem and inflorescence of the above-mentioned cultivars and to standardise the process of microencapsulation using spray drying. Ultrasonication assisted extraction using ethanol as solvent was carried out. The extract and wall material parameters were standardised for microencapsulation. The encapsulated powders were analysed for encapsulation yield, retention efficiency, physical properties, phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential and anti-diabetic activity. The encapsulation yields and retention efficiencies of the encapsulated powders were found to be approximately 75 and 70.51%, respectively. Results revealed that the powders exhibited lower bulk density, good solubility and reconstitutability. Scanning electron microscopy was also conducted to reveal the particle morphology. All the powders exhibited smooth, spherical shape, with no pores. The phenolic and flavonoid contents of the encapsulated pseudostem and inflorescence extract powders ranged from 2.75 to 3.13 mg GAE/ g of powder and 34.83 to 46.67 mg QE/g of powder, respectively. The present study also reported the in vitro bioactive properties, in terms of antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities of the encapsulated powders. The HPLC analysis of the microencapsulated powders revealed the presence of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, trans cinnamic acid, trans ferulic acid, epicatechin and syringic acid. It is clear from the study that the encapsulated powders from banana by-products have a great potential to be utilised by the functional food industry.Graphical

Tracking the Economic Contributions West Virginia’s Forest Products Industry During the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Look at 2019 Through 2022 Data

Abstract West Virginia’s forest products industry’s (FPI) contributions to the state’s economy have historically been influenced by factors such as increasing global competition, increasing automation, recessions, the shale gas boom, and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are limited data regarding the impact of the pandemic on the industry and state economy. Given its importance to the state economy, it is therefore important to examine the effect of the pandemic on the industry and the state economy and its recovery postpandemic. This study quantifies the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on West Virginia’s FPI from 2019 through 2022, highlighting significant recovery postpandemic. As expected, during the peak of the pandemic spanning the periods of 2019 and 2020 marked a decline in the West Virginia FPI performance across all measures of economic contributions. However, the magnitude and length of the adverse impact is not as significant as the impact of the Great Recession. The forestry sector experienced the largest decline in terms of direct and total economic contributions while the furniture sector remained relatively resilient. By 2021, the industry already experienced recovery which continued through 2022. In fact, 2022 levels were higher than the prepandemic levels except for employment and direct employee compensation. In general, most sectors of the industry have shown recovery and are even performing better than before the pandemic, except for the logging sector. The West Virginia FPI has proven its resiliency during the pandemic and capitalized on opportunities to respond to the changing demand for forest products.

Enhancement of carotenogenesis by Blakeslea trispora in a mixed culture with bacteria.

Among carotenoids, ꞵ-carotene has the highest biological activity and is found as an all-trans isomer in many biological systems. Blakeslea trispora is a microorganism that is of interest to industries for the commercial production of ꞵ-carotene. This study investigated the effect of different bacteria on carotenogenesis in B. trispora. The B. trispora bisexual mold was cultured in a production medium, and different bacterial cells were added to it after 24 h. Then, the culture conditions and the culture medium were optimized in the presence of the selected bacteria using the experimental design. The percentage of carotenoids obtained from the mixed culture was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed that Kocuria rhizophila had the greatest effect on increasing the production of carotenoids in B. trispora. The highest content of carotenoids obtained during optimization was 770 ± 7.5 mg/L, a 6.8-fold increase compared to the control. HPLC analysis of carotenoids indicated the presence of two main peaks, ꞵ-carotene and γ-carotene, in which the primary carotenoid was ꞵ-carotene followed by γ-carotene with a lower content. Therefore, due to the importance of ꞵ-carotene in industry, the use of biostimulants is one of the appropriate strategies to increase the production of this pigment in industry.

Utilization of Flours Derived from the Waste from the Frozen Vegetable Industry for Bakery Product Production

Utilization of Flours Derived from the Waste from the Frozen Vegetable Industry for Bakery Product Production

Bioprospecting for sustainable and eco-friendly bioproducts: A case study of multi-enzyme production by soil microbes

Microbial multi-enzyme production is a promising research area involving microbes that can simultaneously synthesize numerous enzymes for the degradation of substrates with environmental sustainability and other industrial applications as the focus. During this study, we isolated, screened, and identified some multi-enzyme-producing microbes from three soil sites in Ibadan: Apete Dumpsite (ADS); Botanical Garden University of Ibadan- (BGUI); and Eleyele Cassava Processing Field- (ECPF). Precisely 500 g of soil were collected per point at different depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm) and further analyzed. The microbial load and type and enzyme assays were determined. The highest average microbial count (6.9 × 108 CFU/g) was recorded in the ECPF soil sample at 0–10 cm depth, while the lowest microbial count of 3.3 × 105 CFU/g at 20–30 cm soil depth in BGUI. Multi-enzyme-producing microbes were identified phenotypically and molecularly. This study revealed an inverse relationship between microbial community composition and soil depth. Bacterial and fungal genera had higher species richness, biodiversity, and evenness than yeast from all sampled points. With significant amylolytic, proteolytic, lipolytic, cellulolytic, and pectinolytic activities, 22 of the 193 isolates were identified as multienzyme producers. The blasted 16S rRNA and ITS rRNA amplicon sequences compared with sequences in the NCBI gene bank identified Bacillus, Roseomonas, Aeromonas, Phanerochaete, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Trametes, and Rigidoporus species. Results from this study show that topsoils (0–10 cm), rich with organic matter, are good reservoirs of multienzyme-producing microorganisms- applicable for environmental sustainability and in other important industries for waste management, food processing, and biomaterial production.

The impact of museum creative products involvement on purchase intention: The mediating role of perceived value

In recent years, against the backdrop of the flourishing cultural industry, innovation and promotion of museum cultural and creative products have gradually attracted widespread attention. We investigated the influence of product involvement on purchase intention among 566 consumers of museum creative products, assessing the mediating role of perceived value in this relationship. The results indicate a significant positive correlation between product involvement and purchase intention. Additionally, perceived value plays a mediating role in the relationship between product involvement and purchase intention. Our research contributes to understanding the relationships among consumer product involvement, willingness to consume, and perceived value regarding museum creative products. These findings also offer practical insights for museums and related institutions to enhance purchase intention. Future research directions are suggested.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Animal Nutrition: Historical Insights, Technical Principles, and Practical Applications

Optimizing forage quality is vital for enhancing animal performance and supporting the global animal production industry. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy offers a rapid, non-destructive alternative to traditional, time-intensive laboratory analyses, enabling the on-site assessment of forage properties with significant advantages in cost, speed, and environmental impact. This review traces the development of NIR spectroscopy, outlines its core principles, and highlights its applications in animal nutrition. Additionally, it discusses the current technological state, challenges, and future prospects, emphasizing NIR’s growing role in promoting more sustainable and efficient animal production systems.

Protecting whose welfare? A document analysis of competition regulatory decisions in four jurisdictions across three harmful consumer product industries

Background and methodsCompetition regulation has a strong influence on the relative market power of firms. As such, competition regulation can complement industry-specific measures designed to address harms associated with excessive market power in harmful consumer product industries. This study aimed to examine, through a public health lens, assessments and decisions made by competition authorities in four jurisdictions (Australia, South Africa, the United States (US), and the European Union (EU)) involving three harmful consumer product industries (alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, tobacco). We analysed legal case documents, sourced from online public registers and dating back as far as the online records extended, using a narrative approach. Regulatory decisions and harms described by the authorities were inductively coded, focusing on the affected group(s) (e.g., consumers) and the nature of the harms (e.g., price increases) identified.ResultsWe identified 359 cases published by competition authorities in Australia (n = 202), South Africa (n = 44), the US (n = 27), and the EU (n = 86). Most cases (n = 239) related to mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Competition authorities in Australia, the US, and the EU were found to make many decisions oriented towards increasing the affordability and accessibility of alcohol beverages, soft drinks, and tobacco products. Such decisions were very often made despite the presence of consumption-reduction public health policies. In comparison, South Africa’s competition authorities routinely considered broader issues, including ‘Black Economic Empowerment’ and potential harms to workers.ConclusionMany of the competition regulatory decisions assessed likely facilitated the concentration of market power in the industries we explored. Nevertheless, there appears to be potential for competition regulatory frameworks to play a more prominent role in promoting and protecting the public’s health through tighter regulation of excessive market power in harmful consumer product industries.

Bacillus Sp. as Potential Probiotics for Use in Tilapia Fish Farming Aquaculture – A Review

Abstract Aquaculture is a crucial and rapidly expanding industry in global food production. Fisheries are also an essential socio-economic activity, providing abundant resources and remarkable prospects. However, due to the deteriorating ecological environment, aquatic animals are often exposed to traumatic conditions and are susceptible to bacterial infections that pose significant challenges for aquaculture production. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics in the past has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens and sudden outbreaks of infectious diseases, resulting in serious economic losses. Moreover, the use of expensive chemotherapeutic drugs and antibiotics has negative impacts on aquatic environments. Therefore, it is increasingly important to adopt alternative natural agents, such as probiotics and their metabolites, to enhance healthy fish production. Probiotics are microorganisms that have numerous beneficial effects on their hosts. They are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and cost-effective. This review specifically focuses on the use of Bacillus sp. as probiotics to promote healthy tilapia production in the aquatic sector, while also examining their interactions with the immune system and gut micro-biota. The information presented in this review can guide future research and promote effective and healthy tilapia culture production.

Valence electronic engineering of hollow-nanocube-structured CoFeNi-layered double hydroxides for highly efficient oxygen evolution

The sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the high-cost of catalysts currently limit the large-scale industrialization of hydrogen production through water electrolysis, so developing efficient and inexpensive catalysts is a top priority. Herein, we employed a facile solvent method to synthesize a well-defined hollow nanocube-structured CoFeNi layered double hydroxide (LDH) with an optimized valence electronic structure of metal sites as an efficient electrocatalyst for accelerating the kinetics of OER. The optimal catalyst with the regulated valence electronic structure exhibited a strong synergistic catalytic effect and an excellent activity and stability. It achieved a lower overpotential of 294 mV at 100 mA cm−2, and high durability exceeding 100 h at 1 A cm−2, surpassing the performance of commercial Ir-/Ru-based catalysts. The optimized the coordination environment and valence electronic structure of metal sites can definitely serve as active centers for triggering OER, thereby improving the intrinsic electrocatalytic performance.

Industry clusters and firm performance: Evidence from the leather product industry in Addis Ababa

Industrial clustering is the co-location of firms in a geographic area, which can lead to numerous economic benefits such as joint resources and knowledge pooling, R&D collaboration, technology sharing, and joint marketing. This study aims to examine the influence of industrial clustering on the performance of firms in the leather and leather products industry in Addis Ababa. Moreover, this study aims to investigates whether innovation capacity and collaboration networks indirectly contribute to the relationship between clustering factors and firms' performance. In this study, both primary and secondary data were collected for analysis. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was employed to explore the impact of clustering on performance in terms of innovation, job creation, attracting investment, export intensity, and productivity growth. This study found that a one-unit increase in cluster factors is associated with a 0.43-unit increase in firm performance. The mediation analysis revealed that collaboration networks mediate the relationship between cluster factors and firm performance by 0.21 and innovation capacity mediates the relationship between cluster factors and firm performance by 0.15 units. The findings indicate that industrial clusters strongly influence firm performance within the leather industry in Addis Ababa. Therefore, the results suggest that innovation capacity and collaboration networks are mechanisms through which industrial clusters affect firm performance. Future researchers should explore the cluster effect in other industrial sectors and regions to validate the research findings.