Today's Manufacturing Pulse
Stellantis to pour $1.08B into next‑gen EV line at Mulhouse plant
President Emmanuel Macron announced Stellantis will invest more than €1 billion (about $1.08 billion) in a next‑generation electric‑vehicle production line at its Mulhouse facility, slated to start in 2029 as part of France’s push to electrify two‑thirds of new cars by 2030.
Also developing:
By the numbers: TIEA Connectors raises $8M Series A
Insufficient Source Data to Verify Navy Submarine Automation Funding
The claim that the U.S. Navy allocated nearly $1 billion to automate submarine production cannot be substantiated from the provided source material. Consequently, specifics about the program, its participants, and its impact remain undisclosed.
Chinese and Italian Universities Launch Joint Drone Vocational Training Program
Chinese and Italian higher‑education institutions have signed a partnership to roll out a joint drone‑based vocational training program. The initiative blends curriculum design, certification pathways and industry placement, aiming to boost technical skills for emerging drone markets.
Ford Adds Third Shift as F-150 Shortage Lifts Prices by $35K
Ford Motor Co. is adding a third shift at its Dearborn Truck Plant to produce an extra 50,000 F-150 pickups in 2026 after a fire at aluminum supplier Novelis crippled output. The shortage has forced the automaker to prioritize high‑margin...
Amazon's Project Kobe Aims to Build Walmart‑Style Supercenters with Robots
Amazon announced its internal Project Kobe, a blueprint for 225,000‑sq‑ft supercenters that blend grocery, general merchandise and a warehouse‑scale fulfillment hub. The pilot stores in Illinois and New Jersey will rely on AI‑driven assortment planning and warehouse robots, a move...
ELEGOO Makes PAX East Debut with Immersive 3D Printing Showcase, Featuring First Exhibition of Centauri Carbon 2 Combo
ELEGOO made its PAX East debut, unveiling an immersive 3D‑printing experience that highlighted the first public showcase of its new Centauri Carbon 2 Combo desktop printer. The booth combined live printing demos, influencer‑led cosplay displays and gaming‑themed models to illustrate how...
EU and Australia Seal Eight-Year Free-Trade Pact, Unlocking Critical Minerals
The European Union and Australia have signed a comprehensive free‑trade agreement after eight years of talks, eliminating most tariffs on goods and creating a dedicated pathway for critical minerals. The pact is expected to boost Australian exports, tighten supply chains...
Brazil PV Module Imports Fall 24% to 17.9 GW in 2025
Brazil imported 17.9 GWp of photovoltaic modules in 2025, a 24% drop from 2024’s 22.3 GWp. Distributed‑generation projects absorbed 79% of the volume, even as new installations slowed to 8.8 GW, down from 10 GW a year earlier. The decline coincided with a sharp...
Reconomy to Open Plastic Recycling Plant in Corby
Reconomy is investing about $25.4 million to launch a 138,000‑sq‑ft plastic‑recycling plant in Corby, Northamptonshire. The Eurokey‑branded facility will process up to 38,000 tonnes of plastic each year, turning sorted material into recycled pellets for supermarket packaging. Expected to be operational in...
CADEXSOFT Announces the Release of Manufacturing Toolkit 2026.2
CADEXSOFT unveiled Manufacturing Toolkit 2026.2, a CAD SDK aimed at developers of quoting and Manufacturing‑as‑a‑Service platforms. The update introduces oriented bounding cylinders, external thread recognition for CNC machining, and enhanced workbench and web visualization features. New measurement tools and real‑time parameter...
Nippon Cargo Airlines and ANA Cargo to Merge Sales and Warehousing
ANA Holdings is consolidating the sales and warehousing functions of its recent acquisition, Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), with its ANA Cargo unit starting 1 April. The move creates a single global sales point and merges domestic warehouses at Chubu Centrair and...
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Global metal additive manufacturing leader Eplus3D has announced a partnership with Turkish engineering firm infoTRON to bring its metal powder‑bed fusion (PBF) systems to the Türkiye market. The collaboration integrates Eplus3D’s large‑format, multi‑laser printers into infoTRON’s portfolio, targeting aerospace, automotive,...
Damen Shipyards Posts Revenue and Profit Growth in 2025
Damen Shipyards Group closed 2025 with revenue climbing to $3.58 billion, up from $3.32 billion, and EBITDA rising roughly 10% to $204 million. Net profit reached $67 million, a modest increase from $64 million the prior year, while the order book now tops $11 billion, underpinning...
SSI Awards First Supply Traceability Certificates to Astronergy Module Factories
Europe’s Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) awarded its first Supply Traceability Standard Bronze certifications to two Astronergy module factories in China, marking the inaugural implementation of the standard launched in December 2024. The inspections, conducted by German technical institute TÜV Rheinland, confirmed...
Nordic Cold Chain Solutions Launches Lab to Meet GLP-1 Demand
Nordic Cold Chain Solutions (NCCS) has opened a GLP‑1 & Small‑Format Packaging Innovation Lab to help pharmaceutical manufacturers, specialty pharmacies and e‑commerce players manage temperature‑sensitive drugs. The lab provides end‑to‑end services from early‑stage design and pilot testing to high‑volume production,...
US ITC Opens Section 337 Probe Into Global TOPCon Supply Chain
The US International Trade Commission has opened a Section 337 investigation into TOPCon solar cells, modules and related products after First Solar filed a complaint naming 47 respondents across 11 countries. First Solar alleges infringement of patents 1, 2, 4 and 8 and seeks...
Episode 150: House Building Robots - Vikas Enti
In this episode, Claire Asher talks with Vikas Enti, co‑founder and CEO of Reframe Systems, about how their robotic micro‑factory platform enables mass‑customized, climate‑resilient homes. Enti explains the end‑to‑end workflow—from site analysis and automated design to robot‑guided panel fabrication and...
Aconity3D Launches Multi-Material Welding Head for AconityWIRE Metal 3D Printing System
Aconity3D unveiled a multi-material welding head for its AconityWIRE metal 3D printer, allowing up to three different wire materials to be switched during a single build. The powder‑free system, with a 400 mm diameter and 780 mm height build volume, targets medium‑to‑large...
Textile Exchange Publishes Major New Cotton LCA
Textile Exchange, in partnership with Sphera, has released a comprehensive life‑cycle assessment (LCA) of cotton that examines country‑average, organic, regenerative and recycled fibers. The study reveals that environmental impacts can vary dramatically across production systems and geographic regions. By applying...
Gartex Texprocess India to Showcase Innovations Across Textile Ecosystem
Gartex Texprocess India Mumbai will host more than 125 companies, showcasing over 500 products from 300 brands across the apparel and textile value chain. The trade fair, co‑organized by Messe Frankfurt and MEX Exhibitions, will feature garment machinery, digital printing,...
EU–US Turnberry Trade Deal Threatens Imports: CEOs Face Rising Costs
The European Parliament approved four conditional clauses—suspension, sunrise, sunset, and safeguards—within the Turnberry trade deal, giving the EU power to pause or revoke US tariff benefits if Washington fails to meet its commitments. The clauses could instantly raise tariffs on...
'Unless Things Change, We Will Not Survive': Even Toyota Doesn't Feel Safe Right Now
Toyota’s outgoing CEO Koji Sato warned suppliers that the automaker’s survival is at risk unless production standards are loosened and costs are reduced. Speaking to 484 suppliers, he highlighted pressures from low‑cost Chinese rivals, rising software demands, and lingering tariffs....
How Qargo Plans to Disrupt the US TMS Market
Qargo, a UK‑based transportation‑management‑system provider, has raised $33 million in Series B funding to launch its AI‑enabled platform in the United States. After five years of product refinement and scaling its European customer base to 600 fleets, the company now employs 170...
Heavy Equipment Manufacturers Are Using Robotics to Change Crane Trucks
Heavy equipment makers are embedding robotics‑driven assistance into truck‑mounted crane systems, shifting operators from direct control to supervisory roles. Integrated control units now fuse sensor data to monitor boom position, load weight, and vehicle stability in real time, delivering safety...
From Standards to the Shop Floor: Practical Robot Safety Steps Operators Can Apply
Robotic cells boost productivity but create safety hazards during non‑production moments such as setup, jams, or adjustments. The article outlines five practical steps operators can take: selecting appropriate tools, using controlled motion modes, performing thorough lockout/tagout with verification, keeping the...
AirGas Forces Helium Shipments to Half, Adds $13.50 Surcharge Amid Qatar Collapse
AirGas, an Air Liquide subsidiary, announced a force majeure on helium shipments on March 17, limiting deliveries to roughly 50% of normal volumes and tacking on a $13.50 per hundred cubic feet surcharge. The move follows QatarEnergy’s shutdown of LNG‑linked...
Supply Chains Must Reprice Diesel and Diversify Before Q3 2026
𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗢𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗤𝟯 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 The compounding crises of March 2026 are not temporary noise. They are permanent signals. Here's what the data says about where supply chains must evolve — and how fast. 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲...
Axtra3D Adds Elastomer Materials and Workflow Tools
Axtra3D introduced three new elastomeric photopolymers for the U.S. market, covering Shore 48A to 90A and targeting applications from gaskets to footwear components. The resins—Loctite 3D IND475, Loctite 3D Med414, and Ultracur3D EL 4000—offer high elongation and tear strength. Simultaneously, Axtra launched the Axtra Workflow suite, comprising...
The SpaceX and Tesla Playbook for Hard Tech Startups
In this episode, Erin Price‑Wright talks with Chandler Lujica, CEO of Galadine (next‑generation missile propulsion), and Turner Caldwell, CEO of Mariana Minerals (critical mineral supply chains) about how their time at SpaceX and Tesla shaped the way they build hard‑tech...
Update: Bellatrix Aerospace Raises $20 Mn in Pre Series B Round
Bellatrix Aerospace, a Bengaluru‑based spacetech startup, closed a $20 million pre‑Series B round led by Cactus Partners, with participation from Hero Investment Office, 35 North Ventures and existing backers. The financing values the company at roughly $105 million, a 2.7‑fold increase from its previous...
Kia Begins Series Production of the EV2
Kia has begun series production of its new B‑segment electric SUV, the EV2, at the Žilina plant in Slovakia. The model launches with a €26,600 ($29,000) base price and a 42.2 kWh battery delivering up to 317 km WLTP range, while a...
Predictive Low Power DED Nails 316L Repeatability
Researchers at Tecnológico de Monterrey and Mexico’s MADIT lab demonstrated a data‑driven, low‑power Directed Energy Deposition (DED) process for 316L stainless steel that consistently achieves sub‑5 % porosity and forged‑level microhardness. By fixing specific energy (E = 21–27) and mass‑per‑unit‑length (MUL = 0.019–0.022 g/mm), they identified...
AML3D Secures $9.9M ARCEMY X Order From HII for U.S. Navy Shipbuilding
AML3D Limited secured a ~AU$9.9 million (≈$6.5 million) order from Huntington Ingalls Industries for four ARCEMY X large‑scale metal 3D printers to be installed at Newport News Shipbuilding. The machines, based on the company’s Wire Additive Manufacturing (WAM) process, will raise the shipyard’s ARCEMY X...
Hikvision to Unveil Multidimensional AIoT Ecosystem at Hannover Messe 2026, Redefining Industrial Safety and Smart Manufacturing
Hikvision will unveil a multidimensional AIoT ecosystem at Hannover Messe 2026, held April 20‑24 in Hanover, Germany. The showcase will feature AI‑driven safety tools such as PPE compliance monitoring and gas‑leak detection, as well as predictive maintenance solutions like temperature...
Chip Industry Week In Review
Arm unveiled its first internally designed AGI CPU built on TSMC’s 3 nm process, targeting power‑efficient AI data‑center workloads. Gartner predicts inference costs for 1‑trillion‑parameter LLMs will fall more than 90 % by 2030, while Google warns quantum computers could break current...
China Solar Cell Prices Fall for Third Consecutive Week as Upstream Costs Ease
China's TOPCon M10 solar cell prices slipped for a third week, falling 0.36% to $0.0558 per watt as polysilicon and wafer costs eased. N‑type M10 wafer prices dropped 3.92% to $0.147 each, reflecting broader upstream price pressure. Production in January‑February...
Thai Factory Output Unexpectedly Dips in February, Could Rise in March
Thailand's manufacturing production index fell 0.04% year‑on‑year in February, missing a 2.4% Reuters poll forecast after a 1.64% rise in January. The dip was driven by temporary refinery maintenance that trimmed petroleum output and a slowdown in car production. Ministry...
Norsepower and COSCO Team up to Mass-Produce Rotor Sails
Finnish wind‑propulsion firm Norsepower has signed a long‑term agreement with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Equipment (CHIC) to mass‑produce its rotor‑sail technology. The partnership expands beyond an initial MOU to include manufacturing, sales, installation, service, and joint engineering development. Norsepower supplies...
Exide Industries Accelerates Shift to EV Battery Market
This is a significant move for Exide Industries, signaling their aggressive push to pivot from traditional lead-acid batteries to the high-stakes EV ecosystem.
Mike Payne Reveals Keys to Machine Shop Success
Secrets to Machine Shop Success Discover insights on thriving in the competitive machine shop industry with 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞! Stream now: 🔗 https://t.co/aAuD37n56n 📽️ https://t.co/vDhYvaP0S3 🔗 https://t.co/DmYp21N5Kv #MachineShop #EconomicImpact #Capitalism https://t.co/VLsCgTGA9l
Exploring the Future of Metrology at CMSC 2026
The Coordinate Metrology Society announced Dr. Sandrine J. Thomas, Rubin Observatory’s associate director, as the keynote speaker for CMSC 2026 in Dallas. Her talk will illustrate how metrology underpins the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, linking micron‑level precision to...
Helium Shortage Threatens Semiconductor Production, Says CEO
NEW ODD LOTSL The helium shortage @tracyalloway and I talk to Nicholas Snyder, CEO of North Americah Helium about a commodity with a surprising number of industrial applications, including and especially the semiconductor industry https://t.co/QjwqFhMsdO
Iran’s Gas Attacks Threaten Persian Gulf Aluminum Production
Aluminum production in the Persian Gulf is going bye-bye. As Iran ramps up strikes on gas fields, pipelines, and power plants, the countries that depend upon cheap natural gas will no longer be able to run their smelters. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/HA7AqLgHqP...
Comprehensive Reverse Engineering and Metallurgy Services Meet Aerospace Challenges
NVision, Inc. delivered a full‑service reverse‑engineering solution for an FAA‑certified repair station that lacked original CAD data for a piston and integrated sleeve. Using ultra‑high‑precision 3D scanners, the firm captured micron‑level geometry, performed detailed metallurgical analysis, and produced solid CAD...
America Must Secure Supply Chains by Reshoring Production
This is the primary reason that I am adamant about moving production back to the Americas. It’s more expensive, but without it, we are incredibly vulnerable. If kinetic war breaks out in Asia, our supply chains are at substantial risk....
Human‑Inspired Gripper Moves Multiple Items Simultaneously
MOGrip: Human-Inspired Gripper That Moves Multiple Objects in One Motion via @WevolverApp #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/DRV8sbsdn2
Changan Commits US$950m to Brazil with Uni-T Production Start
Changan Automobile and Brazilian partner CAOA have launched the first locally assembled Uni‑T SUV from a new automated line in Anápolis, marking the start of a US$950 million investment cycle through 2028. The program brings total spending at the plant to...