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.
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By the numbers: TIEA Connectors raises $8M Series A
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Exel Composites announced that its Erlanger, Kentucky factory has earned ISO 14001 certification, confirming a robust environmental management system. The certification validates the plant’s waste‑reduction, energy‑efficiency and chemical‑use initiatives and embeds the Plan‑Do‑Check‑Act (PDCA) cycle into daily operations. It aligns the facility with Exel’s broader sustainability agenda, including circular‑economy targets and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The achievement also signals to customers, suppliers and investors that Exel prioritises transparent, accountable environmental stewardship alongside high‑performance composite production.
ABB Adds Symphony PLus to Automation Extended
ABB has released SPR2025, the latest Symphony Plus distributed control system (DCS) package, integrating its Automation Extended platform. The update adds system‑wide OPC UA, an Ethernet backbone, and support for modern Microsoft operating systems and virtualization platforms, enabling secure, interoperable...
Source Logistics Selects IFS Softeon WMS, Supported by Alpine Supply Chain Solutions, to Accelerate Rapid Nationwide Expansion
Source Logistics, a fast‑growing 3PL with 25 warehouses and over 5.8 million square feet of FDA‑ and SQF‑compliant space, has selected IFS Softeon’s warehouse management system to power its nationwide expansion. The Softeon platform offers multi‑tenant architecture, strong API integration and...
Cathay Expands European Trucking Operations with Wallenborn Agreement
Cathay Cargo announced a strategic partnership with Wallenborn Transport to broaden its European trucking footprint. The agreement adds live shipment tracking and real‑time temperature monitoring, giving shippers greater visibility and control. Wallenborn operates 17 bases across 13 countries, linking more...
U.S. Airstrikes Obliterate Iran's Qom Turbine Engine Plant, Cutting Drone Production
U.S. Central Command announced that airstrikes have demolished Iran's Qom Turbine Engine Production Plant, a facility that supplied gas turbine engines for IRGC attack drones. The strike, described by Adm. Brad Cooper as the longest field artillery operation in Army...
Reasons Why Factories Actually Want You to Visit
Rey Elbo, who has toured over 250 factories across Japan, Spain and the Philippines, explains that manufacturers deliberately invite external visitors as a strategic marketing tool. By showcasing clean, disciplined operations they build credibility and attract potential clients, especially decision‑makers....
Cat Unveils 301 CR 1-Ton Mini Excavator at ConExpo
Caterpillar unveiled its smallest mini‑excavator, the 1‑ton 301 CR, at ConExpo 2026, replacing the 300.9D model. The machine features zero tail swing, a retractable undercarriage that narrows to 29 inches, and a fold‑able blade, targeting utility, landscaping, demolition and trenching jobs in confined...
Renesas Adds GaN-Based Half-Wave LLC Platform to AC/DC and Power Adapter Range
Renesas Electronics introduced a gallium‑nitride (GaN) half‑wave LLC (HWLLC) platform that delivers 500 W and higher power density for AC/DC adapters. The solution includes four new controller ICs, featuring the RRW11011 interleaved PFC/HWLLC combo, enabling up to 240 W USB‑PD EPR with...
Software-Defined Automation Ushers in IT-Like Engineering
Industrial automation is shifting toward software-defined automation (SDA), a paradigm that separates control logic from hardware using containerized, virtualized environments. By adopting IT‑like engineering practices such as DevOps, modular code, and version control, manufacturers can achieve rapid scaling, easier updates,...
Preventive Maintenance Called a Difference-Maker in Industrial, Logistics Markets
Preventive maintenance is emerging as a competitive differentiator in the industrial real‑estate sector, according to Greek Real Estate Partners managing 23 million square feet. As post‑pandemic Class A warehouses enter their first major upkeep cycle, owners are shifting from reactive “fix fast”...
First Low‑Carbon Copper Anodes Shipped via Lobito Railway
The first batch of 99.7%-pure copper anodes produced by our new smelter at Kamoa-Kakula was recently delivered to the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola. This shipment of anodes was the first to be transported along the Lobito Railway Corridor....
Smart Redesigns Need Regional Chains and Automation
Lisa Anderson & Eric P. Rose discuss smart product redesign, regional supply chains, automation & the realities of bringing new products to market. 🎥 Watch Smart Product Redesign https://t.co/u4EuOwcFKd #SupplyChain #ProductInnovation #Manufacturing https://t.co/UGMQtlxsw1
EKA Mobility Bags Order for 915 E-Buses in Hyderabad
EKA Mobility, a Pune‑based EV firm, received a Letter of Award to supply and deploy 915 electric buses in Hyderabad. The fleet will consist of 100 nine‑metre and 815 twelve‑metre non‑AC buses, delivered through a consortium with GreenCell Mobility. The...
ATC Manufacturing, U.S. Air Force Contract Grows Larger-Scale, High-Rate TPC Capabilities
ATC Manufacturing secured a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory contract to develop a large‑format hydraulic press capable of high‑rate thermoplastic composite (TPC) processing for parts up to 10 ft × 5 ft. The program, partnered with Anduril Industries and Toray Advanced Composites, aims to...
DEEP Manufacturing Accelerates Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing Expansion in U.S.
DEEP Manufacturing will launch a 50,000‑sq‑ft wire‑arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) facility in Houston, Texas, in May—one year ahead of schedule. The plant will start with four WAAM platforms capable of printing carbon steel, nickel‑based alloys and Inconel 625, and will expand...
De Havilland Canada Delivers 1,000th Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada has delivered its 1,000th DHC‑6 Twin Otter, handing the aircraft to Colombian regional carrier SATENA. The milestone underscores a production run that began in 1965 and highlights the model’s enduring appeal in remote‑operating markets. SATENA now operates...
Trimble and Hitachi Expand Grade Control in Europe
Trimble and Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe have deepened their partnership to ship Hitachi excavators equipped with Trimble Earthworks 3D grade‑control as a factory‑installed option. The collaboration also adds Trimble WorksManager software, linking field machines with office project data. European customers will...
Moldex3D Releases 2026 Version with A.O.I. Updates
Moldex3D launched its 2026 release, embedding an Automation, Optimization, and Intelligence (A.O.I.) framework to accelerate digital transformation in mold design. The update revamps solver architecture for stable hot‑runner pressure prediction and delivers over four‑times faster multi‑cavity analysis via partial runner...
Real‑time SAP Business One Eliminates Xero/Zoho Delays
Stop the Xero/Zoho trap. Minutes matter in distribution. 🕒 SAP Business One gives real-time shop floor to back-office visibility. ⚡ Interested? Let's chat. Connect and let's talk how I can help you solve your problems. #Xero #Zoho #SAPBusinessOne $SAP #SupplyChain https://t.co/AbeWViEFr2
Major Plastics Feedstock Producer Faces Imminent Shutdown
Look past the jargon and you have a major producer of a building block for plastics preparing to shutdown production soon. It's like financial contagion but its syringes and straws instead of structured derivatives https://t.co/TLVrzqtUVi
International Launches New Intergard 6788 Universal Primer for Newbuilds
AkzoNobel’s International brand has introduced Intergard 6788, an aluminum‑pigmented universal primer designed for new‑building vessels. The product leverages pure epoxy technology to deliver higher solids content and meet tightening VOC regulations. Launching in Asia, the primer will be first available...
Metal Powder Works to Support AMS in Delivery of 3D Printed Part via Project TAMPA
Metal Powder Works (MPW) will supply its DirectPowder titanium powder to Additive Manufacturing Solutions for a component produced via laser powder‑bed fusion under the UK Ministry of Defence’s Project TAMPA. The purchase order, a joint effort between the UK MOD...
Improve Speed, Cost and Quality Through Cloud PLM
Autodesk promotes its cloud‑based PLM solution, Fusion Manage, as a way to eliminate data silos and accelerate product development. The platform provides a single real‑time system of record for BOMs, change management, quality and supplier collaboration. Early adopters report up...
Why Manchester UK Should Be Your Next Manufacturing Investment
Manchester is emerging as Europe’s premier manufacturing hub for US firms, offering a dense cluster of over 8,000 companies and 115,000 skilled workers. Operating costs are up to 40% lower than London, and the city boasts world‑class research facilities in...
E-Magy Presents Silicon-Dominant Anode Breakthroughs for Next-Gen Drone Power & Electronics
E‑magy will present new silicon‑dominant anode data at the 2026 International Battery Seminar in Orlando, showcasing 12 Ah 6S2P cells designed for high‑performance drone packs. The nanoporous silicon material promises higher energy density and faster charging compared with conventional chemistries, backed...
Jabil Announces $1.1M Multi-Year Donation to St. Petersburg College to Strengthen Local Manufacturing Talent Pipeline
Jabil announced a $1.1 million donation over three years to St. Petersburg College, aimed at expanding advanced manufacturing training. The funds will support new lab equipment, curriculum development, and scholarships for soldering and mechatronics certifications. Jabil engineers will work with faculty to...
New Cognex Research Reveals Manufacturers Increasingly Expect AI Vision Systems to Deliver Both High Performance and Simplicity
Cognex’s new study of more than 500 manufacturers shows 57% already use AI‑powered machine‑vision, with another 30% planning near‑term deployments. Adoption is strongest in automotive, electronics and logistics, where tighter tolerances demand higher accuracy. While initial drivers focus on defect...
5-Year Waits and Rising Costs: How Demand Is Redefining the Gas Turbine Market
Global gas turbine lead times have stretched to five years for large units and up to three years for smaller models, while prices have surged nearly 50% to about $3,000 per kilowatt. Demand is exploding, with 2025 orders projected at...
Video: Expectations for Air Cargo Demand in 2026
At the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Lima, executives forecast that air cargo volumes will keep expanding in 2026 despite ongoing market volatility. LATAM Cargo reported moving over one million tonnes in 2025, generating $1.7 billion in revenue, underscoring the sector’s...
USS John F. Kennedy Construction Drags on 17 Years
“Can take twice as long” Are you kidding me?? We have been building the aircraft carrier USS John F Kennedy for SEVENTEEN YEARS and it’s still not completed.
Cocoon Raises $15 Million to Scale Low-Carbon Building Materials
Cocoon Carbon, a London‑based startup, closed a $15 million Series A round to accelerate its low‑carbon cement alternative. The company transforms steel‑making electric arc furnace (EAF) slag into a supplementary cementitious material that can cut concrete’s embodied CO₂ by up to 40%...
HIRECT Names New Global Growth Chief, Launches Copper Conductor Line
Hind Rectifiers Ltd appointed Chidambaram Balakrishnan as Chief Global Growth Officer, adding to its recent hire of Douglas J. Bailey as global CEO. The company also launched three advanced copper conductor variants—CTC, PICC and EPICC—from its newly expanded Nashik facility....
West Asia Conflict Triggers Industrial Strain in Gujarat as Textile Mills Cut Operations
Escalating crude oil prices and supply‑chain disruptions from the West Asia conflict have forced Surat’s textile mills to curtail operations, instituting two‑day weekly shutdowns. Rising costs of yarn, coal and energy have left mills with only 10‑20 days of coal...
Amplio's CEO on Closing the Loop in Industrial Supply Chains With AI
U.S. manufacturers sit on roughly $350 billion of unused equipment, spare parts and MRO inventory each year, much of which ends up scrapped or landfilled. Amplio, founded by Trey Closson and Taha Zinifi, pivoted from risk‑monitoring software to an AI‑driven platform...
Is Indonesia’s Special Economic Zone Strategy Starting to Bear Fruit?
Indonesia’s special economic zone (SEZ) program has expanded to 25 operational zones with seven more under construction, attracting roughly $19.7 bn in cumulative investment and creating about 248,000 jobs by the end of 2025. Early zones like Sei Mangkei and Gresik...
3Deus Dynamics Obtains EN 9100, Entering Aerospace and Defense Supply Chain
3Deus Dynamics, a deep‑tech firm founded in 2020, has earned ISO 9001 and the demanding EN 9100 aerospace certification, complementing its 2023 ISO 13485 medical accreditation. The company’s high‑performance silicone portfolio includes fire‑resistant seals that survive 1,200 °C kerosene flames and EMI‑shielding components attenuating...
Alstef Group Unveils AI-Powered Autonomous Industrial Vehicle Ahead of LogiMAT
Alstef Group announced an AI‑powered autonomous industrial vehicle (AIV) ahead of LogiMAT 2026, featuring a real‑time "perception bubble" that continuously maps its surroundings. The system uses onboard cameras and AI models to classify objects, adjust speed, routing, and docking, and...
India Tightens Quality Rules for Apparel
India’s Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has rolled out new quality benchmarks for woven shirts and trousers, covering fabric strength, stitching durability, colour retention and shrinkage limits. The move seeks to inject uniformity into a sector that has long relied...
Kiewit on Module Fabrication Duty for Lone Star State’s $5.7 Billion LNG Project
Texas LNG Brownsville, a $5.7 billion export project, has appointed Kiewit Offshore Services to fabricate its liquefaction, pretreatment and pipe‑rack modules at the company’s Ingleside, Texas yard. The decision keeps module production in‑state, sidestepping tariffs, heavy‑lift shipping and Panama Canal transit...
Gautam Solar Breaks Into Global Top 30, Earns Prestigious ‘Grade A’ Classification by Wood Mackenzie
Gautam Solar has entered Wood Mackenzie’s 2025 Global Top 30 solar module manufacturers and earned the elite Grade A classification, marking it as one of the world’s most reliable and bankable producers. The ranking places the Indian firm alongside dominant Chinese manufacturers,...
Through a Partnership with Ban Mao Green Coating, Swancor Launches Its CleaVER Solution in the Construction Sector
Swancor Regener has teamed with Ban Mao Green Coating to launch the Eco‑Stone Circular Economy Series, using CleaVER® technology to chemically degrade wind‑turbine thermoset waste into high‑purity oligomers. The recovered oligomers are blended at 11 % into Ban Mao’s construction coatings,...
AI Battle Now Hinges on Silicon, Not Models
Musk: $20B chip factory. Amazon: $50B into OpenAI + new Trainium lab. The AI race is no longer about models. It is about who controls the silicon underneath. Current fab capacity covers 2% of what is needed. Two percent. https://t.co/cl1qOf5ih0
The ‘Nail Test’: Why This $54 Billion Innovation Is Terrifying Western Auto Executives
BYD demonstrated its second‑generation Blade battery surviving a six‑inch nail puncture without entering thermal runaway, contrasting sharply with a conventional NCM cell that erupted into a 500 °C fire. The dramatic nail test, staged for European industrial executives, highlighted the Blade’s...
Dainty Foods to Build Ohio Facility
Dainty Foods, a Canadian private‑label rice and ready‑to‑heat meal producer, announced a $150 million investment to build its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Batavia Township, Ohio. The 250,000‑sq‑ft facility will create about 240 jobs and generate roughly $15.8 million in annual payroll....
Bridges Air Cargo Begins Regular E190F Operations
Bridges Air Cargo has launched regular operations with a converted Embraer E190F freighter, linking Rome Fiumicino, Malta International and Mitiga Airport in Libya. The aircraft, registered 9H‑BRD and leased from Regional One, completed its first commercial flight earlier this month. Bridges, a Malta‑based...
Voestalpine Secures EUR 500 Million in Orders in Germany and Switzerland
voestalpine Railway Systems secured €500 million (approximately $545 million) in orders from Deutsche Bahn and Swiss Federal Railways for rails, switches, signaling and monitoring solutions. The contracts cover the modernization of Frankfurt Central Station, the Hamburg‑Berlin high‑capacity corridor, and a 20‑year digitalisation framework...
Study Probes Long-Term Degradation of AM Polymers
A new study published in the Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing examines how additive‑manufactured polymers degrade under heat, humidity, UV exposure, and cyclic loads. It compares degradation mechanisms across FFF, SLS and vat‑photopolymer processes, highlighting the role of porosity,...
AMTS 2026 Automotive Manufacturing Show Opens Registration
The Shanghai International Automotive Manufacturing Technology & Materials Show (AMTS) opens registration for its 2026 edition, scheduled for July 8‑10 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The three‑day event will host more than 850 global exhibitors and attract around 70,000...
Using Kamishibai Boards to Strengthen Leader Standard Work and Layered Audits
Kamishibai boards, a visual control tool from Toyota‑style Lean, are gaining traction as a core mechanism for reinforcing Leader Standard Work and Layered Process Audits. By displaying colored cards that represent routine checks—such as safety, 5S, and coaching—leaders can instantly...