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
IndySoft Empowers Technicians With Launch of Scales
IndySoft has introduced IndySoft Scales, a mobile calibration app built for field technicians. The touch‑optimized, voice‑enabled, offline‑first solution promises to accelerate scale calibration jobs by roughly 30% while delivering instant, compliant records. It embeds seven industry‑standard test types and NIST Handbook 44 tolerances, eliminating manual data entry and paper workflows. The app is now available on any device technicians carry, positioning IndySoft as a pioneer in digitizing calibration processes.
NESI Technology Powers New Low-Carbon Lithium Plant in Germany
Vulcan Energy Resources has begun building a low‑carbon lithium plant in Frankfurt using NORAM Electrolysis Systems Inc. (NESI) proprietary NORSCAND technology. The project is backed by a €2.2 billion (~$2.4 billion) funding package and targets 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year—enough for...
Europe Allocates €3 Bn to Critical‑Mineral Financing, Plans Strategic Stockpiles
The European Union announced up to €3 billion ($3.2 bn) in financing through its ReSourceEU programme and is advancing plans for strategic mineral stockpiles. The moves aim to bridge a financing shortfall that industry estimates place at tens of billions of euros...
ABB Commits $200 Million to Expand Medium‑Voltage Production Across Europe
ABB announced a $200 million, three‑year investment program to expand medium‑voltage manufacturing capacity across Europe, highlighted by a $100 million new facility in Dalmine, Italy. The rollout targets Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Norway and Poland, aiming to meet rising demand from utilities,...
VinMotion Unveils Motion 2: Next‑Gen Industrial Humanoid
Motion 2 Arrives: VinMotion’s Next-Gen Humanoid for Industrial #Logistics by @CyberRobooo #AI #Robotics #Engineering #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/YlIqrISIBJ
COMAU and OMRON Robotics to Collaborate on Expanding Advanced Industrial Automation Solutions Across Light Industry, Electronics, and Medical Manufacturing
COMAU and OMRON Robotics have signed a strategic collaboration to jointly develop advanced industrial automation solutions for light‑industry, electronics, semiconductor, and medical manufacturing. The partnership merges COMAU’s robot hardware with Omron’s control and software platforms, aiming to deliver flexible, scalable...
LG Electronics CEO Ryu Jae‑cheol Launches ‘Reinvent 2.0’ Push for 1% Daily Improvement
LG Electronics chief executive Ryu Jae‑cheol introduced the Reinvent 2.0 transformation agenda at his first town‑hall meeting, calling for a 1% daily improvement mindset. The plan ties problem‑identification to execution, with quality, cost and delivery as the three pillars of competitiveness.
Virgin Galactic Starts Production Acceptance Tests on Delta‑Class Spaceplane
Virgin Galactic has begun static and fatigue trials on Delta 1, the first of its new Delta‑Class spaceplanes, after completing structural assembly in April at its Mesa, Arizona facility. The tests mark a critical phase toward the company’s long‑term commercial launch...
STARTS Corp Posts 4% Profit Rise on B2B Manufacturing Wins
STARTS Corp reported a full‑year profit of ¥25.311 bn, up 4% from the prior year, as revenue rose 8.1% to ¥251.911 bn. The gains stem from expanded B2B manufacturing solutions and a refreshed go‑to‑market strategy that secured larger enterprise contracts.
Tesla Waves Goodbye To Model S And Model X As The Last Cars Roll Off The Line
Tesla announced the final Model S and Model X rolled off the Fremont assembly line, ending a 14‑year production run that defined the luxury EV segment. The vehicles, once benchmark setters for range and performance, have been eclipsed by higher‑volume...
Tesla Bear Cases Are Getting Defused
Tesla’s recent financial and operational metrics are eroding the bearish narrative surrounding the automaker. The company reported profit margins back above 20% and rising, while vehicle deliveries accelerated in China and Europe, with exports from China also climbing. Full Self‑Driving...
IKO to Showcase Crossed Roller Bearings, Mechatronics and More at Automate 2026
IKO International will exhibit at Automate 2026 in Chicago, showcasing its crossed‑roller bearings, NT Series positioning tables, and a new Fast Track production program. The company highlights the high rigidity, accuracy, and compactness of its CRBs, while the NT tables combine...
US Transformer Shortages Push Lead Times to Four Years
U.S. transformer market faces severe supply constraints as lead times extend to four years #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/FIwhA7Z3bJ
Discover Hidden Printer Feature: Easy Mode & Firmware
I am always surprised how few people discovered this little gem in our printers 🤔 Here is the easy mode https://t.co/yQcVi1asP9 or you can dive deeper in the firmware repo https://t.co/NG7QsSjFlQ
Ford Formally Launches Grid-Scale Battery Business Ford Energy
Ford formally launched its new subsidiary, Ford Energy, to sell grid‑scale battery energy storage systems in the United States. The unit will produce at least 20 GWh of BESS each year, targeting data centers, utilities and large commercial‑industrial customers, with first...
Europe’s Battery Law Has a Chemistry Problem
The EU Battery Regulation mandates recycled‑content quotas for cobalt, nickel, lithium and lead, but it does not reward lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) chemistry. As European automakers increasingly adopt LFP for low‑cost EVs and stationary storage, recyclers face slimmer margins because LFP lacks...
Tormach Launches Automatic Collet Closer for 8L Lathe, Boosting Speed, Precision for Small-Part Production
Tormach has unveiled an Automatic Collet Closer for its 8L Lathe, adding air‑actuated 5C collet clamping that speeds up part changes and improves repeatability. The accessory integrates with the PathPilot control system and offers optional foot‑pedal actuation for hands‑free operation....
Robots for America Launches National Coalition to Advance U.S. Robotics Deployment Policy
Robots for America (RFA) unveiled a national coalition of 21 robotics firms on May 8, 2026, at the SCSP AI+ Expo in Washington, D.C., responding to a direct request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Commerce, SBA and...
The Planning Window Just Got Shorter
The latest Under the Hood briefing highlights a tightening planning horizon for automotive suppliers. Honda has stretched the production cycles of five high‑volume models by up to seven years, shifting focus to hybrid powertrains. Ford is redirecting a $2 billion battery...
The Sad Demise of the Food Industry
The food industry’s supply‑chain performance has collapsed between 2016 and 2025, with average operating margins slipping to 11% and inventory turns falling to 7.82, marking a 35% decline in inventory efficiency. Legacy 1990s practices—such as rigid demand‑error reduction and outsourced...
China Controls Rare Earths Powering U.S. Tech
My take in @FortuneMagazine on China’s ace - rare earths: “Every advanced weapons system, electric drivetrain, wind turbine, and smartphone in the US runs through China’s critical materials.” The rules are being rewritten, and they are being rewritten in Beijing. https://t.co/m5S1TtrB5g
Trucking Fleets Embrace Gen AI, but Data Problems Slow Growth
Trucking fleets are rapidly adopting generative AI, with 87.1% using large language models for back‑office functions, driver feedback and document extraction. AI tools for driver safety have reached 61.3% adoption, yet only 9.7% of fleets feed telematics or ELD data...
Siemens and OnLogic Partner On Industrial Edge
Siemens and OnLogic announced a strategic partnership to bring Siemens Industrial Edge to extreme edge environments. The collaboration pairs Siemens’ Industrial Edge software platform with OnLogic’s fanless, ruggedized edge computing hardware, enabling deployment in high‑vibration, wash‑down and other harsh conditions....
Germany's Industrial Output Contracts Again, Undermining Rearmament
For the second consecutive month, Germany’s industrial production SHRANK. Warmonger Merz’s rearmament plans aren’t working. GERMANY = IN THE TANK. https://t.co/i6QfH6Ef4w
Creotech Plans $118 Million Capital Raise, Investment in New Satellite Factory
Polish space‑tech firm Creotech Instruments announced a $118 million capital raise to fund a new satellite factory slated for completion by 2029. The investment will enable the company to quadruple its output to roughly 40 satellites a year, addressing a current...
SOSV Deep Tech Live – The Atomic Architect: Rick Gottscho on Plasma’s Role in Semiconductor Fabrication & Physical AI Infrastructure
The SOSV Deep Tech Live event on June 2 will feature Rick Gottscho, former CTO of Lam Research, discussing how plasma technology is reshaping semiconductor fabrication as Moore's Law stalls. Gottscho will explore the physics behind plasma processing, its impact on...
Industrial Security, Thermal Management and Longevity for Edge Controllers
AutomationDirect’s C2‑NRed module brings Node‑Red edge functionality to Click Plus PLCs without requiring a separate gateway. It runs an embedded Linux environment alongside the deterministic PLC scan cycle, communicating over the backplane while keeping control logic isolated. The module offers native...
Electric Vehicle Motors Convert Rare Earths Into Torque
Electric vehicle (EV) traction motors rely heavily on rare‑earth permanent magnets, especially neodymium‑iron‑boron (NdFeB), to deliver high torque and efficiencies above 94 %. These magnets contain roughly 30 % rare earths, with small additions of dysprosium or terbium preserving performance at temperatures...
British Steel: More Questions than Answers on the Future | Nils Pratley
The UK government has taken control of British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant, inheriting an operating loss of £615 m (≈$780 m) and facing a projected taxpayer bill of over £1.5 bn (≈$1.9 bn) by 2028. Full nationalisation is now being considered to provide stability for...
Tesla Giga Texas Buzzing as New Cybertruck Appears to Enter Production
Tesla’s Giga Texas plant appears to have started series production of the newly launched Dual‑Motor AWD Cybertruck, priced at $59,990. Drone footage captured multiple units staged for shipment, confirming the model’s move from prototype to ramp. At the same facility,...
Manufacturing Industry Lost 2,000 Jobs in April: BLS
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that manufacturing shed 2,000 jobs in April, a 50% year‑over‑year increase but a 113% drop from March’s 15,000‑job gain. The ISM employment index fell to 46.4%, confirming a contraction in hiring. Transportation equipment...
Russia Expands Alabuga Drone Hub by 340 Hectares and Restarts Re‑exports to Iran
Russia has enlarged the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan by 340 hectares, adding new hangars and worker housing, while also restarting the re‑export of Geran strike drones to Iran. The expansion underscores Moscow’s push to boost high‑tech defense output...
Century Aluminum Advances Oklahoma Smelter Project, CEO Says
Century Aluminum announced progress on its joint Oklahoma smelter with Emirates Global Aluminum, targeting a final investment decision and groundbreaking by year‑end, which would double U.S. aluminum output. The company is also ramping up production at its Mt. Holly, South...
Advancing Aseptic Precision: How Modern Filling Lines Elevate Sterility, Flexibility, and Throughput
Modern pharmaceutical filling lines are adopting isolator‑based, fully automated systems that integrate washing, sterilization, filling, sealing, and environmental control. Automation and AI‑driven analytics are boosting sterility assurance, reducing human intervention, and meeting stricter EU GMP Annex 1 and FDA requirements. These...
ABTC Claims Record Revenue, Positive Growth Margin in Third Quarter of FY26
American Battery Technology Co. (ABTC) reported a record $7.8 million in third‑quarter FY26 revenue, up 64 percent QoQ, and posted its first positive gross margin of $738 k. The Nevada recycling plant’s improved efficiency drove cost‑of‑goods‑sold growth to only 11 percent, while the company...
China Pushes Level‑4 Autonomous Robovans Into Urban Delivery and Long‑Haul Freight
China is moving Level‑4 autonomous logistics from test beds to commercial fleets, with MINIEYE's Bamboo Robovan T5 Pro and Carl Dynamics' KargoBot Space slated for delivery within months. The rollout targets 18 cities and long‑haul routes, promising rapid payback through...
Fincantieri Raises 2026 Outlook as Backlog Hits Record
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced a record €74.2 billion (~$80 billion) backlog, pushing order visibility out to 2039. The firm lifted its 2026 outlook, now targeting €9.3‑9.4 billion (~$10 billion) in revenue and €700‑710 million (~$756‑$767 million) EBITDA. While headline Q1 revenue fell 10% to €2.14 billion, cruise...
Sereact Secures $110 Million Series B to Accelerate AI Robotics Platform
German AI robotics firm Sereact raised $110 million in a Series B round led by Headline, with participation from Bullhound Capital, Daphni and Felix Capital. The funding will scale its Cortex 2.0 AI brain and fund a U.S. market entry, adding to...
Record Diesel Prices Threaten Truckers, SMEs, and Consumers
If diesel hits an all time record? What will it do to trucking? Especially owner operators? And to supply chains? Especially SMEs? And consumers?
Why I Started Testing Automation Scripts Through Residential Networks
A warehouse‑automation engineer struggled with datacenter proxies that triggered CAPTCHAs and silent bans, limiting data‑collection reliability. By routing requests through residential and mobile proxies, the success rate jumped from 61% to over 95% and content accuracy improved. The new setup...
US Rare‑earth Push Meets Malaysian Ethical Opposition
Fascinating, the U.S. attempt to break China's rare earth magnet monopoly is running into opposition from the refiners in Malaysia, who don't want to produce materials that Israel can use to kill children. https://t.co/tDIKoVJGhP
Researchers Explore Two Very Different Routes To Plastic Breakdown
Researchers reported two distinct biotechnological routes to break down plastic waste relevant to 3‑D printing. The MDPI paper characterizes a thermophilic cutinase, CtCut, from Chaetomium thermophilum that remains active up to roughly 69 °C, offering a structural blueprint for high‑temperature polyester...
Nexans to Acquire Republic Wire
Nexans announced it will acquire 100% of Republic Wire for an enterprise value of about €680 million (≈$741 million), with a possible €43 million (≈$47 million) earn‑out. Republic Wire generated roughly €520 million (≈$567 million) in revenue over the year to February 2026 and operates a...
Going Industrial. Manic Metals Report 05/11/2026
The Manic Metals Report shows industrial metals such as copper and aluminum surged after a robust jobs report and strong manufacturing data signaled a resilient U.S. economy. Meanwhile, gold and silver gained as oil prices slipped, reaffirming the classic inverse...
DMG MORI Launches LASERTEC 65 DED Hybrid 2 for Additive and Subtractive Metal Manufacturing
DMG MORI UK has unveiled the LASERTEC 65 DED hybrid 2, a second‑generation production centre that merges directed energy deposition (DED) with 5‑axis machining, measurement and 3D scanning in a single setup. The machine delivers a 35% faster build rate and a 170%...
US Offers Lower Tariffs for Canada, Mexico Steel, Aluminum Producers
The U.S. Commerce Department unveiled a process that lets Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum producers halve the Section 232 tariff from 50% to 25% if they pledge to build or expand primary production facilities in the United States. To qualify,...
MDA Space Officially Opens New Montreal Facility to Support Satellite Prime Contractor Strategy
MDA Space has opened a 185,000‑square‑foot satellite manufacturing plant in Montreal, doubling its production footprint. The facility is designed for high‑volume assembly of the AURORA software‑defined satellites, targeting up to 400 units per year. Automated equipment and a proprietary test...
Intel to Make Apple Chips: Report
Apple and Intel have reached a preliminary deal for Intel to manufacture certain Apple processors, including chips for the upcoming MacBook Neo and possibly entry‑level M‑series SoCs. Apple is looking to diversify its supply chain as TSMC faces capacity constraints...
Construction Sector: Kerakoll Partners with Fibre Net
Kerakoll, the Italian public‑interest construction group, has announced a partnership with Fibre Net, a B‑Corp‑certified leader in structural reinforcement systems. The two firms will integrate gradually, keeping Fibre Net’s founders as CEOs, to create a European platform targeting more than...
Kuehne+Nagel Adds New Hyderbad Airfreight Cross-Dock
Kuehne+Nagel has opened a 248 sq m air‑freight cross‑dock in Hyderabad to serve the city’s booming pharmaceutical sector. The facility features dedicated temperature zones of 2‑8 °C and 15‑25 °C and complies with the company’s HealthChain quality standard. Hyderabad accounts for more than 40%...