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
Augury and MaintainX Partner to Deliver Closed-Loop Maintenance Execution for Frontline Teams
Augury and MaintainX announced an integration that turns Augury’s AI‑driven machine‑health insights into real‑time work orders within the MaintainX platform. The closed‑loop system automatically creates work orders when anomalies are detected, includes diagnostic context, and feeds completion data back to Augury to refine its models. This shifts maintenance from fixed schedules to dynamic, condition‑based actions, aiming to eliminate unexpected equipment downtime. The integration is available immediately with out‑of‑the‑box activation for existing customers, requiring no custom development.
Novartis Pledges $480M to Expand China Presence, Following Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca
Swiss drugmaker Novartis announced a $480 million investment to expand its manufacturing and R&D footprint in China. The plan allocates about $218 million to upgrade its Beijing Changping facility, which can produce up to 3 billion tablets annually, and $262 million to expand its...
Getac Announces CommandCore: Remote Drone Control Solution for Professionals Operating in Challenging Environments
Getac unveiled CommandCore, a rugged ground control station that unifies drone, surface and ground vehicle operations for defense, public safety and utilities. The solution pairs Getac’s hardened tablets and laptops—such as the ZX80 Android tablet and S510 Windows workstation—with interchangeable...
Digital Tech Redefines Pharma Manufacturing and Distribution
This book explains how disruptive technologies and emerging trends such as robotics, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, precision medicine or patient design will impact the manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceuticals in order to prepare successfully for a better future of healthcare. Everything...
Agile Robots and Google DeepMind Partner to Bring Intelligence to Robotics
Agile Robots and Google DeepMind have announced a strategic research partnership to embed DeepMind's Gemini Robotics foundation models into Agile's scalable industrial hardware. The collaboration will create adaptable, reasoning robots for high‑value manufacturing tasks, leveraging a data‑driven feedback loop that...
GCL Optoelectronics Wins China’s First Commercial Perovskite-Silicon Tandem PV Module Order
GCL Optoelectronics secured a 1.2 MW contract from China Huaneng to supply commercial perovskite‑silicon tandem solar modules. The tender required mass‑producible, IEC‑certified modules delivering at least 26% efficiency and a 25‑year performance warranty, with delivery by June 2026. GCL is the sole...
Dexory and Multipowr Advance Next-Generation Warehouse Robotics With Integrated Wireless Charging
Dexory has teamed with Multipowr to embed high‑power wireless charging into its next‑generation autonomous warehouse robots, allowing longer run times and flexible battery management. The integrated system supports a wide power range and multiple battery configurations, making it adaptable to...
Euler Motors Raises $47 Mn in Series E Round Led by Lightrock
Euler Motors secured a $47 million Series E round led by Lightrock, complemented by roughly $30 million in debt financing. The funding will boost product development, manufacturing capacity, and its dealer network across India. Revenue grew 12% to about $23 million in FY25 while...
Why Are U.S. EV Truck Costs Rising While Europe’s Fall?
U.S. Class 6‑8 electric trucks have risen 27% in price since 2020, with a sharp 40% jump between 2020‑2021, while comparable European models fell 32% and 23% respectively. The International Council on Clean Transportation attributes the U.S. increase to larger battery...
ASML Poised for Massive Growth From Chip Boom
$ASML will be one of the biggest winners for the next 5-10 years Elon Musk announced that Tesla and SpaceX will build an advanced chip “Terafab” manufacturing plant increasing demand for EUV machine SK Hynix is ordering $8B of $ASML...
Celsius Linked to Fresh LNG Carrier Order at Samsung Heavy
Denmark’s Celsius Tankers has secured a new order for two 180,000 m³ LNG carriers from Samsung Heavy Industries, valued at roughly KRW 770 billion ($514 million). The vessels are scheduled for delivery through September 2028, adding to Celsius’s existing portfolio of about 24...
TSMC Capacity Overstretched, Broadcom Says as It Flags Supply Constraints
Broadcom warned that its key foundry partner TSMC is hitting production limits, creating a bottleneck for AI chip supply in 2026. The strain extends beyond semiconductors, with printed circuit board lead times expanding from six weeks to six months and...
Untitled
TouchThink introduced the Z‑Series TPC14‑AIOT industrial PC, a single‑box solution that merges gateway, router, switch and data‑collector functions. Powered by a Rockchip RK3588 octa‑core CPU and a 6 TOPS NPU, it runs Android 12 out‑of‑the‑box and supports Linux, Ubuntu and HarmonyOS. The...
The Best Things Come in Small Packages as RoboTrex Compact Set to Make UK Debut at MACH 2026
Lang Technik UK will unveil the RoboTrex Compact at the MACH 2026 trade show in Birmingham, marking the system’s UK debut. The compact automation cell occupies just 2 square‑metres, handles workpieces up to 95 mm and 7 kg, and incorporates a Fanuc M‑10iD‑16s robot...
India Launches Six Textile Export Support Centres
India announced the establishment of six Textile Export Facilitation Centres across key production clusters, including Surat, Karur, Ichalkaranji, Jaipur, Varanasi and Ludhiana. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to lift the country's textile exports to $100 billion by 2030....
Synthetic DNA Manufacturing Hub Set Up in Boston by Artis BioSolutions
Artis BioSolutions, a San Diego‑based advanced therapies firm, has launched a synthetic DNA manufacturing hub in Boston using Syngoi Technologies' proprietary enzymatic platform. The new site complements its GMP manufacturing facility in Watertown, creating a bi‑continental network with an existing...
Powering Up: How Sentry Equipment Has Lasted 100 Years in Manufacturing and What It Has Planned for 100 More
Sentry Equipment, a century‑old, employee‑owned manufacturer, celebrated 40 years as an ESOP while expanding beyond traditional power‑generation equipment. The company has diversified into water and wastewater infrastructure, acquiring Rebuild‑it Services to rebuild aging treatment assets. Internally, Sentry invested in fiber‑optic...
How Far Has AM in Healthcare Really Come? Find Out at RAPID + TCT 2026
The RAPID + TCT 2026 Healthcare Conference track highlighted how additive manufacturing (AM) is moving from theoretical potential to concrete production in medicine. Speakers covered scaling custom orthotics through standardized workflows, navigating FDA‑driven documentation via OEM collaborations, and using bioprinting to create...
Can Computer Simulations Make Metal AM Certification in Aviation Faster and More Affordable?
NASA and the FAA released a 195‑page strategy that proposes using validated computer simulations to streamline certification of metal‑additive‑manufactured aviation parts. Developed by the CM4QC steering group of industry leaders and universities, the roadmap outlines a Simulation Maturity Level framework...
Balancing Costs, ESG Compliance, and Global Competitiveness with India’s Upstream Solar Policy
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has expanded its Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework to include solar ingots and wafers, creating ALMM List‑III that will take effect on June 1, 2028. The mandate forces all qualifying solar projects...
Navigating Complexity in Industrial 3D Printing Sales: An Interview with Corbel’s Le’ora Lichtenstein
Corbel’s AI platform tackles the knowledge bottlenecks that slow industrial 3D‑printer sales by turning dense manuals and tribal expertise into conversational answers. The system ingests PDFs, videos and sales conversations, then surfaces relevant specifications instantly for prospects. Feedback loops let...
Fire at Valero's Port Arthur Refinery Sparks U.S. Gasoline and Jet Fuel Concerns
A massive fire erupted at Valero Energy's Port Arthur, Texas refinery on Monday, disrupting a key Gulf Coast fuel hub. The incident, linked to a heater‑unit malfunction, has regulators and traders watching for possible impacts on gasoline and jet fuel...
Škoda Switches to LFP Batteries for Elroq and Enyaq Models
Škoda has refreshed its Elroq and Enyaq electric line‑up for the 2026 model year, introducing lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) batteries in the base‑grade Elroq 60 and Enyaq 60. The new APP350 motor provides 350 Nm of torque while output dips slightly to 140 kW, and charging...
Strike Halts Work at Maine Navy Shipbuilder Amid Questions Over New Mine‑Countermeasure Vessels
Workers at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, have walked out, pausing construction of U.S. Navy destroyers. At the same time, the Navy’s newly fielded Independence‑class littoral combat ships with mine‑countermeasure packages are under scrutiny for low reliability, highlighting broader...
Apollo Global Management to Acquire Japan's Nippon Sheet Glass for $3.7 Bn
Apollo Global Management’s funds have signed a deal to buy Japanese glass maker Nippon Sheet Glass Company for roughly $3.7 bn. The transaction, slated to close by March 2027, will inject equity and strategic support to accelerate growth and technology investment.
Rio Tinto Targets Broader Aluminium Footprint, Division CEO Says
Rio Tinto’s aluminium division is accelerating a global diversification strategy, adding projects in Europe, India and Brazil while expanding its low‑carbon AP60 smelter technology. The AP60 system, already operating in Quebec, reduces greenhouse‑gas emissions to about one‑seventh of the industry...
SolaX Power Validates System Level Safety Through Extreme Testing
SolaX Power’s ORI 5 MWh large‑scale energy storage system successfully completed the world’s first UL‑led system‑level deflagration test under the proposed UL 9540A:2025 framework. Real lithium‑ion cells were driven into thermal runaway while the emergency ventilation remained closed, forcing the pressure‑relief structure...
Submit to CW Top Shops 2026 Before March 31
CompositesWorld is launching its 2026 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey, requiring participants to complete a core set of questions by March 31, 2026. Respondents will receive a customized benchmarking report, qualify for Top Shops status, and gain honoree recognition. After the core survey,...
How China Made Itself Tariff-Proof
In this episode, Keith Bradshirp explains how China has become virtually tariff‑proof by rapidly expanding its advanced, robot‑driven manufacturing capacity. The discussion highlights four key factors: diversification of export markets, indirect shipments through third‑party countries, a deliberately weakened yuan, and,...
Robots Detect Microscopic Rail Flaws, Prevent Outages
Railway maintenance is becoming precise, fast, and increasingly automated. In China, a robot is now repairing track cracks at up to 10,000 RPM, while detecting flaws as small as 0.1 mm. That level of accuracy changes the game. Instead of reacting to visible damage, systems...
Shanghai Team Unveils Spider-Inspired 3D Printer
Spinning #Innovation: Shanghai Team Builds Spider-Inspired #3D Printer by @lukas_m_ziegler #3Dprinted #Technology #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/HrFAbAZf1L
SK Hynix Lines up $8B EUV Order with ASML
South Korean memory leader SK Hynix has signed a KRW11.95 trillion (~$8 billion) contract with Dutch lithography supplier ASML to acquire up to 20 extreme ultraviolet (EUV) scanners over the next two years. The agreement covers equipment, installation and modification costs, with...
Treat Your Supply Chain Like a Team, Not a War
If your supply chain isn’t functioning like a team, it’s fighting a civil war. Most organizations are closer to war than they think. Here’s how to fix it→ https://t.co/acbLuxh1EY #SupplyChain #SupplyChainManagement https://t.co/83xsm5n2jS
Naphtha Shortage Halts Plants, Sends Asian Markets Tumbling
"Petrochemical Shutdowns Spark Industry Shock, Asian Markets Plunge: Naphtha shortages force South Korea, Japan plant halts as Asian stocks crash amid supply fears" https://t.co/SZ6pwkCiSi https://t.co/se32khyggJ
Why Connected Worker Strategies Are Leaving Workers Behind
Manufacturers have poured billions into PLM, ERP and MES systems, yet shop‑floor workers still rely on static PDFs and printed checklists. The digital thread breaks at the “first mile” of capturing engineering knowledge and the “last mile” of delivering it...
Zurich Startup Creates Physical AI to Teach Robots Human Skills
Zurich-Based Startup Builds Physical #AI to Teach #Robots Human Skills by @mimicrobotics #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/gVymMFNGjp
Didero Raises $30 Million Series A to Bring AI Agents to Global Supply Chains
Didero, a New York‑based software firm, closed a $30 million Series A round led by Chemistry and Headline, with participation from Microsoft’s M12 venture fund. The financing will accelerate development of its AI‑agent platform that embeds directly into ERP, email and spreadsheet...
Plant Owned by a Hyundai-Kia Engine Parts Supplier Destroyed by Fire
A major fire at Anjeon Industrial's engine valve plant in Daejeon killed 14 people, injured 60, and destroyed much of the facility. The plant, which supplied Hyundai Motor and Kia with roughly 70 million engine valves per year, is now offline....
VW Plans Recall of Around 100,000 MEB Electric Cars
Volkswagen Group announced a recall of roughly 100,000 MEB‑platform electric vehicles, affecting 74,579 ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo models and 19,452 Cupra Borns built between February 2022 and August 2024. The recall targets potentially non‑spec battery modules that can lower...
TSMC Accelerates Fab 21 Expansion, 3nm Production Set for 2027
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is fast‑tracking its Fab 21 expansion, moving equipment installation to October 2026 and targeting initial production lines in early 2027. The company now expects mass production of 3 nm chips in the second half of 2027, a year...
DreamPartGen Brings Part Aware Text To 3D
DreamPartGen is a new research model that generates part‑aware 3D objects directly from natural‑language prompts, addressing the long‑standing gap where text‑to‑3D tools produce monolithic meshes unsuitable for functional assemblies. By representing each component separately and modeling their spatial relationships with...
Fanuc to Invest $90 Million in US Robot Manufacturing Capacity Expansion
Fanuc America announced a $90 million investment to build an 840,000 sq ft robot manufacturing plant in Michigan, slated for completion in late 2027. The expansion will add 225 jobs and bring Fanuc’s U.S. footprint to 3 million sq ft, reflecting nearly $300 million invested since 2019. The...
Jindal Steel Doubles Angul Plant Capacity to 12 MTPA
Jindar Steel announced that its Angul plant in Odisha has doubled its steel‑making capacity from 6 MTPA to 12 MTPA, making it one of India’s largest single‑location steel facilities. The expansion lifts the company’s total crude‑steel capacity to 15.6 MTPA, including 3.6 MTPA at...
STG Logistics Survey: Sourcing Diversification, Contract Flexibility, Logistics Network Changes…
STG Logistics released a new industry survey highlighting three emerging trends: shippers are diversifying their sourcing portfolios, demanding greater contract flexibility, and re‑engineering logistics networks to cope with volatile freight markets. Over 60% of respondents plan to add alternative carriers,...
Guangzhou Furniture Expo Showcases Smart Manufacturing Era
The CIFM/interzum Guangzhou 2026 exhibition runs March 28‑31 at the Canton Fair Complex, featuring a 180,000 sqm smart‑revolution theme. Around 1,600 leading global furniture‑manufacturing firms will exhibit, aiming to attract over 220,000 professional visitors. The fair emphasizes green, intelligent production and...
Optical Vision Systems Transform Microchip Handling Accuracy
esmo AG has integrated senswork’s optical vision technology into its Talos microchip handling system, delivering 5 µm resolution and 0.3‑second inspection cycles. The contact‑less solution eliminates particle contamination and supports chip sizes from 0.8 × 0.8 mm to 5 × 5 mm. Fully automatic calibration and plug‑and‑play...
RIKON Delivers Final A-RMG Cranes to Madrid Intermodal Terminal
JSC RIKON has delivered the final two A‑RMG automated rail‑mounted gantry cranes to the Madrid‑Vicálvaro Intermodal Terminal, completing the fleet slated for the $327 million project. The terminal, a €300 million investment, will handle roughly 150,000 intermodal units each year, linking Atlantic...
Micro, AMFI and CEiiA Partner on Turin Microcar Venture
Micro, Automotive Micro Factory Italy (AMFI) and Portuguese engineering firm CEiiA have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and manufacture micro electric vehicles. AMFI’s Turin facility will become the production hub for CEiiA’s BEN microcar, while both companies will...
Kulicke & Soffa Expands Memory Solutions Portfolio
Kulicke & Soffa announced an expanded memory interconnect portfolio, including the ProMEM suite, vertical‑wire innovations, advanced fluxless thermo‑compression and hybrid bonding solutions. The ProMEM enhancements promise up to 20% higher throughput and better bond quality across first‑bond, second‑bond, bumping and...
Inspection Robots Are Revolutionizing Maintenance Across Industries
Why Inspection and Maintenance #Robots Are Taking Over by @lukas_m_ziegler #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/zfzsEpnq8O