InterTabac World Alternative Awards Names AIR’s Crown Switch™ 2026 Best Vape Device of the Year
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AIR Global PLC (“AIR” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AIIR), a global leader in advanced flavored inhalation technologies and pioneer of next-generation nicotine delivery systems, today announced that Crown Switch™, developed in partnership with Greentank Innovations Corp. (“Greentank”), a global leader of advanced vaporization hardware and technology, has been named Best Vape Device of the Year at the InterTabac World Alternative Awards. Crown Switch™, AIR’s first rechargeable pod vape system, debuted in Germany last year, and AIR plans to bring the product to market in the United States in the future. AIR’s Crown Switch™ is powered by Greentank’s Quantum Chip™ atomization technology.
The awards recognize alternative nicotine products and innovations in categories ranging from vape devices and e-liquids to modern nicotine pouches and reduced-risk concepts and innovations. Winners are chosen via a combination of public online voting and expert jury evaluations.
“We're thrilled to receive this exceptional honor, with Crown Switch™ named best vape device of the year,” said Stuart Brazier, CEO of AIR. “It reflects the meaningful progress we've made in developing cleaner inhalation platforms and validates what AIR and Greentank have built together. Greentank’s award-winning Quantum Chip technology is the cornerstone of that differentiation, and the reason Crown Switch™ earned this recognition as the best. We look forward to bringing this product to more markets in the coming months.”
Crown Switch™ uses disposable pods and contains zero ceramics or heavy metals in the vaporizer core unlike traditional coil and wick vapes. Greentank’s Quantum Chip™ was also recognized as Best Reduced Risk Concept / Innovation of the Year.
“Our partnership with AIR has allowed Crown Switch™’s innovative product to reach consumers at scale, and we look forward to continued growth for both companies,” said Corey Koffler, CEO and Co-Founder of Greentank. “Quantum Chip is engineered to advance reduced-risk solutions without compromising the user experience. This award-winning innovation, combined with AIR's flavor expertise and science-backed products, and Crown Switch™ being named best vape device, are testaments to AIR’s strong R&D and category leadership.”
In July 2026, AIR announced a USD $20 million strategic equity investment in Greentank, deepening a partnership the two companies formed in 2023. Additionally, the award recognition follows the release of a pilot study conducted by McKinney Specialty Labs, LLC, an independent, specialty analytical laboratory, that evaluated aerosol emissions from Crown Switch™ and compared its results against published data from a scientific study by Smith and colleagues on harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) in FDA-authorized e-cigarette products. The results showed Crown Switch™ pods produced aerosols with carbon monoxide below detection limits, approximately 94% less formaldehyde and 97% less nickel metal than other leading, comparable e-cigarette products in the Smith study.
About AIR
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Dubai, AIR is a global consumer brands and innovation company with a presence in more than 90 markets worldwide. Its portfolio reaches millions of adult consumers across social inhalation and modern nicotine categories through brands including Al Fakher (flavored shisha molasses), Crown Switch™ (rechargeable pod vape system) and Crown Gems™ nicotine pouches.
AIR's strategy combines category-leading brands, scientific research, and in-house innovation capabilities. Strategic investments such as Greentank and royalty-generating intellectual property partnerships such as Crown Bar enhance its participation in fast-growing nicotine and inhalation categories. The Company develops next-generation technologies and products, including OOKA.
By connecting brands, technology, science, and commercial partnerships, AIR is building a differentiated platform positioned to shape the future of adult consumer experiences.
About Greentank Technologies
Greentank is a cutting-edge technology company pioneering atomization and advanced material science across multiple industries. At the forefront of innovation, Greentank’s Quantum Chip™ technology is engineered to deliver a superior user experience while advancing reduced-risk solutions in the inhalable industry. This groundbreaking heating technology generates optimal particle size distribution and aerosol mass, ensuring exceptional taste and consistency over an extended lifespan. Supported by a robust patent portfolio dating back to 2014, Greentank continues to invest heavily in its fully owned and operated, semi-automated chip manufacturing and R&D facility, driving the future of vaporization products and technology.
Forward‑Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward‑looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. Such forward‑looking statements are based on available current market material and management’s expectations, beliefs and forecasts concerning future events impacting the Company. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward‑looking statements, including, among others: the Company’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Greentank investment and partnership; the potential exercise of warrants to increase ownership in Greentank; the Company’s U.S. market expansion strategy; the timing and outcome of regulatory submissions, including PMTA applications to the FDA; regulatory changes and enforcement trends in the tobacco and nicotine industries; the Company’s ability to execute its product development and commercialization strategy; the results of scientific studies and their acceptance by regulatory authorities; the preliminary nature of the McKinney pilot study data, which is subject to further testing and verification and may change materially as additional data becomes available; the Company’s ability to successfully launch Crown Switch™ in the United States and additional markets and to achieve consumer acceptance of Crown Switch™; the Company’s and Greentank’s ability to achieve continued growth and the expected benefits of their strategic partnership; supply chain constraints and costs; changes in consumer preferences; competition in the hookah, vaping and nicotine product markets; macroeconomic, geopolitical, and industry conditions; tax, legal, and accounting developments; and other risks described in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the SEC on August 28, 2026 and subsequent furnished or filed reports.
Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by the Company that the forward‑looking statements will be achieved. Forward‑looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward‑looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute (and shall not be construed as) an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
Contacts
AIR Investor Relations:
Gaurav Jain: Gaurav.jain@air.global; +971-56-439-4296
Anuja Shendye: Anuja.shendye@air.global; +971-58-907-8782
investor@air.global
AIR Media Relations:
ICR for AIR
For more information, email inquiries to AIRglobal@icrinc.com
Greentank
For more information, email inquiries@greentanktech.com
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