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
APM Terminals to Build $1.8 Billion Terminal in Da Nang
APM Terminals and Vietnam’s Hateco Group have secured a 50‑year concession to build the $1.8 billion Lieu Chieu container terminal in Da Nang. The facility will handle up to 5.7 million TEUs annually, with the first two berths slated for 2028 and full completion by 2035. Approval came from Da Nang’s People’s Committee, positioning the project as a cornerstone for central‑Vietnam logistics. The new hub is expected to serve domestic cargo, Laos’s landlocked trade, and broader transshipment traffic.
Engine Air Filtration System
Donaldson Co. introduced ArmorSeal, a new air filtration system designed for off‑highway equipment engines. The system uses a precision spin‑welded joint and a geometry‑based seal to replace traditional snaps and adhesives. This design delivers consistent sealing pressure, cuts filter removal...
Batch Automation, Recipe Management Software
Valmet announced the release of FlexBatch 8, a batch automation and recipe‑management solution that lets operators build and modify batch processes with drag‑and‑drop tools, eliminating the need for custom programming. The platform integrates tightly with Valmet DNAe and the D3 distributed...
Conveyor Skirboards, Skirting Liners
Superior Industries unveiled its Adjustable Skirtboard Systems and RockGuard Skirting Liners, targeting conveyor load zones and transfer points. The modular, 3‑inch incremental design enables precise length and height adjustments, creating tighter seals that curb fugitive dust and material spillage. Integrated...
Icomat to Open Two New Factories in the UK and the US
Icomat, the British composites specialist behind the patented Rapid Tow Shearing process, is launching two new factories – a 40,000‑sq‑ft plant in Swindon, UK, and a 41,000‑sq‑ft facility in Vandalia, Ohio, USA. The Swindon site adds 20 CNC machines, four...
Advantech and FORT Robotics Collaborate to Advance Safe Physical AI on MIC-735
Advantech and FORT Robotics announced the MIC‑735, an industrial‑grade edge AI system built on NVIDIA’s IGX Thor platform and powered by the IGX T5000 module. The solution embeds functional safety through NVIDIA Halos and FORT’s Nano Safety Controller Pro, delivering up to 2,070 FP TFLOPS...
BlueBotics Bridges the Gap Between AGVs and AMRs with the Launch of SmartPass
BlueBotics introduced SmartPass, an add‑on to its ANT software suite that equips AGVs and AMRs with configurable obstacle‑avoidance while keeping them on virtual paths. The function lets robots take the shortest detour around blockages, then return to their predefined route,...
NVIDIA GTC 2026: Universal Robots, Scale AI Launch Imitation Learning System to Accelerate AI Model Training
Universal Robots and Scale AI unveiled the UR AI Trainer at NVIDIA GTC 2026, a system that captures high‑fidelity force, torque and vision data to train AI models directly on production‑grade robots. The trainer uses a leader‑follower configuration to record...
Energy Department Offers $500M to Scale Critical Minerals Production
The U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $500 million in grants to expand domestic production of critical minerals for advanced batteries, marking its third funding round since 2022. The Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation will fund up to...
The Robotics-Powered Retail Revolution and How It Is Taking Us From Scale to Agility
Big‑box retailers built on scale are losing ground as e‑commerce drives demand for faster, more flexible fulfillment. Labor shortages and recurring supply‑chain disruptions expose the fragility of cost‑focused, static operations. Robotics—autonomous mobile robots, AI‑driven picking arms, and integrated software—offers a...
Braided Robotic Hands Cut Costs, Enable Rapid Customization
This robotic hand can weave itself together in minutes. Allonic developed a process that "braids" robot bodies around a 3D-printed skeleton in a single automated step. The tech draws from the textile industry, using braided fibers instead of traditional mechanical joints and...
NVIDIA GTC 2026: Vention Debuts Rapid Operator AI for Autonomous Bin Picking
Vention unveiled Rapid Operator AI at NVIDIA GTC 2026, a turnkey system that automates deep bin picking in unstructured environments. Built on the Generalized Robotic Industrial Intelligence Pipeline (GRIIP) and integrated with NVIDIA Isaac models, the solution delivers up to...
HB 2320 Advances in Washington While Broader 3D Printer Control Bill Stalls
Washington’s legislature has cleared HB 2320, an intent‑based bill targeting the illegal manufacture of 3D‑printed weapons, and it now awaits the governor’s signature. A companion proposal, HB 2321, which would have mandated online database checks and firmware controls on all printers, stalled...
How Alternative Low-Impact Fibers Are Changing the Fabric of Denim
Denim makers are moving beyond cotton, embracing natural low‑impact fibers such as hemp and linen. Innovations like The Flax Company’s Smart Linen and Marmara Hemp provide recycled, water‑saving alternatives that can be blended up to 30% without sacrificing hand feel....
A Book on the History of Composites Released
At JEC World, Ignaas Verpoest and co‑editors unveiled *The History of Composites: People, Science, Technology, and Society*, a near‑1000‑page reference documenting the evolution of composite materials. The volume aggregates contributions from more than 50 international experts, tracing developments from ancient...
Teledyne SP Devices Introduces High?Speed Disk Streaming with ADQ35 and Libads for Extreme Data Capture
Teledyne SP Devices announced a high‑speed disk‑streaming solution built around its ADQ35 digitizer and the open‑source libads library. The platform promises sustained multi‑gigabyte‑per‑second data rates, enabling continuous capture of extreme‑volume signals without loss. Integration with standard PCIe storage and configurable...
Spend Aggregation Gives Way to New Approaches in a Tariff-Driven Supply Chain
The traditional procurement playbook of aggregating spend to secure rebates is eroding as tariffs become a permanent, volatile cost factor. Companies now must treat tariffs as explicit line‑item expenses and redesign sourcing models to reflect ongoing trade policy shifts. Geographic...
Ocean Shipping Patterns Erode Intermodal Share From West Coast: Analyst
A new analyst report shows the West Coast’s share of U.S. and Western Canadian import TEUs has slipped from 59% in 2010 to below 49% in 2025, marking a ten‑point decline. The drop mirrors a broader erosion of intermodal rail’s...
Insight Works Announces Strategic Partnership with 2Ship
Insight Works announced a strategic partnership with 2Ship to embed the 2Ship carrier platform into its Dynamic Ship app for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. The integration adds parcel, LTL and FTL shipping support, delivering carrier rates, label generation and...
Tesla to Solely Build V4 Power Units in the US – as V3 Production Phased Out
Tesla announced that its New York Gigafactory will now exclusively produce V4 power cabinets for Superchargers, ending the seven‑year run of V3 cabinets after 15,000 units. The V4 cabinets enable up to 500 kW at charging stalls and can support 800‑volt...
Körber Teams With NVIDIA to Bring AI Simulations to Warehouses
German automation leader Körber has partnered with NVIDIA to embed AI‑driven simulation tools into warehouse operations. Using NVIDIA’s Omniverse platform, the two companies will create digital twins that let users model layouts, workflows, and new automation before physical changes. The...
Rail Demand Remains Stable Amid Service Gains
Rail demand is muted but stable. On Talking Transports, I speak with @BNSFRailway CMO Tom Williams about service gains, rail vs truck dynamics, tariffs, the $UNP – $NSC merger — and Indiana football. 🎧 Listen - Episode 130 of Talking Transports: Apple:...
Saks Distribution Center Layoffs to Impact Nearly 600 Employees
Saks Global announced the permanent closure of two Pennsylvania distribution centers, eliminating 590 positions. The Wilkes Barre facility will lay off 155 workers starting April 11, while the Pottsville site will cut 435 jobs beginning May 3. Both locations lack union...
CEAT’s ₹1,300-Cr Chennai Plant Expansion Takes Cumulative Investment to ₹4,800 Crore
CEAT Ltd is injecting an additional ₹1,300 crore into its Chennai tyre plant, lifting total outlay to ₹4,800 crore and surpassing its original ₹4,000 crore pledge. The expansion will boost passenger‑car radial (PCR) output by roughly 35 lakh tyres a year, taking capacity to...
3 Finalists Announced for 2026 Hermes Award
The 2026 Hermes Award finalists are Festo, Schaeffler and Ziehl‑Abegg, each showcasing breakthrough automation technology. Festo presents integrated fluid‑handling manifolds with embedded sensors, Schaeffler offers compact high‑torque actuators for humanoid robots, and Ziehl‑Abegg delivers a rare‑earth‑free synchronous elevator motor. The...
Porsche Shares Battery Production Insights for the Cayenne Electric
Porsche has moved battery module assembly for the Cayenne Electric in‑house, operating a new Smart Battery Shop in Horná Streda, Slovakia. The plant assembles 32 LG Energy Solution prismatic cells into modules, which are combined into a 113 kWh pack without a...
REalloys’ Breakthrough Could Eliminate Hydrofluoric Acid From Rare‑earth Metallization
REalloys announced a patent‑pending, hydrofluoric‑acid‑free fluorination process that converts rare‑earth oxides into metallization‑grade fluorides. Independent testing showed the product contains only 0.34 wt % oxygen, well under the <1 wt % specification. The HF‑free method removes the need for hazardous HF, cutting safety, regulatory...
Multi Wire FSAM Patent Targets Bigger Metal Builds
A new patent filed by Blue Origin describes a multi‑wire friction stir additive manufacturing (FSAM) tool that replaces a single feed channel with several spindle‑integrated channels. Each channel can accept wires of different gauges or materials, supported by internal sleeves...
MRPL Dispatches 1000th Petcoke Rake to JSW Cement From Mangalore
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) dispatched its 1000th petcoke rail rake, bound for JSW Cement’s Karnool plant. The shipment completed a second batch of 500 rakes, moving 40% faster than the first, highlighting MRPL’s operational improvements. Senior executives from...
Bones Studio to Release BONES-SEED - the First Multimodal Motion Dataset Purpose-Built for Humanoid Robotics
Bones Studio announced the release of BONES‑SEED, a multimodal motion dataset tailored for humanoid robotics. The open‑source collection contains 142,000 high‑fidelity human motion sequences, each enriched with up to six natural‑language captions, precise temporal segmentation, and detailed skeletal metadata. Built...
PTC Teams with NVIDIA to Unite Design and Robotics Simulation by Connecting Onshape to NVIDIA Isaac Sim
PTC announced a cloud‑native integration that links its Onshape CAD and PDM platform directly with NVIDIA’s Isaac Sim robotics simulation framework. The workflow streams mechanical relationships from Onshape into Isaac Sim, automatically updating physics‑based simulations whenever designs change. Demonstrated at...
FANUC Accelerates Physical AI in Industrial Robotics, Leveraging NVIDIA Technologies
FANUC announced a strategic partnership with NVIDIA to accelerate "physical AI" in its industrial robot lineup. The collaboration embeds NVIDIA Jetson edge modules, Isaac Sim, and Omniverse into FANUC's robots and ROBOGUIDE software, enabling photorealistic digital twins and real‑time AI...
Supply Chain Diversification: How Can You Build Supplier Options for Greater Resilience?
Supply chain diversification has shifted from an optional efficiency tweak to a core resilience strategy. The guide outlines how reliance on a single supplier exposes firms to operational disruption, price volatility, quality stagnation, and geopolitical exposure, as highlighted by recent...
Polymer Price Surge Disrupts Footwear Supply Chain, Forces Manufacturers to Consider Price Hikes
Footwear manufacturers in India are confronting steep cost pressures as polymer‑based sole producers in Kerala scale down operations. Approximately 20‑25% of the state’s plastic processing units have halted due to capital shortages, while polymer prices have jumped nearly 59% since...
How the Automotive Markets in the US and Europe Are Changing
Automotive manufacturers are navigating a rapid shift from combustion engines to electric vehicles, with global EV sales projected to rise from 14.7 million in 2025 to 17.4 million in 2026. In the United States, California accounts for roughly 35% of EV registrations,...
AI Moves From Emails to Controlling Physical Infrastructure
AI writing emails was just the warm-up. The real disruption came when #AI started running factories, warehouses, and infrastructure. In other words: AI got hands. Great conversation at #SXSW with @shantnu, Nadia V. Gil, and @roopaonline. #Innovation @sxsw https://t.co/tFEVwM0qvh
VinFast Resumes US EV Plant, Scaled‑down Amid Growing Losses
"VinFast to Resume US EV Plant Construction as Loss Widens" https://t.co/iDt2io8Uw2 "The US factory’s scale is likely to be much smaller than first envisaged." 🤔🤔 https://t.co/mHd22RogbL
Disney’s Big Bet on Storytelling, Parks and Products
Disney is committing $60 billion through 2033 to expand parks, launch the Disney Adventure cruise ship and deepen its experiential portfolio. Roughly 3,000 Imagineers are tasked with turning narrative concepts into immersive attractions, merchandise and ship environments. The new cruise ship,...
Diab and Hankuk Join Forces to Advance High-Value-Added Marine Composites
Diab, a Swedish supplier of high‑performance core materials, and South Korea’s Hankuk Carbon signed a memorandum of understanding at JEC World 2026 in Paris. The agreement targets joint research on marine‑grade structural sandwich panels and sustainable composite solutions. Both firms...
Crane Worldwide Integrates cargo.one for Air Cargo Booking
Crane Worldwide Logistics has embedded the cargo.one air‑freight booking portal into its transport management systems across 33 countries. The integration brings live rates, AI‑driven quoting, and a comprehensive Quotes API into a single interface. Cargo.one’s platform will automate quoting and...
Cobots Handle Furniture-Making Drudgery, People Focus on Company Growth
Furniture maker Foliot equipped its Quebec and Las Vegas plants with Fanuc CRX‑30 collaborative robots after a successful pilot, expanding to 31 cobots in 2026. The automation shifted operators from repetitive panel‑feeding tasks to supervisory roles, boosting line throughput by 15%...
SLS Prints Programmable Bonded Magnets
Researchers at Auckland University of Technology have demonstrated a field‑assisted selective laser sintering (SLS) process that prints polymer‑bonded magnets with locally programmable pole patterns. By integrating under‑bed electromagnets and a powder‑handling bar, they can deposit different magnetic powders point‑wise and...
B9Creations and Würth Additive Group Target the Quality Gap in Distributed Spare Parts Production
B9Creations and Würth Additive Group announced a strategic partnership at the AMUG Conference, merging B9Creations' validated 3D‑printing technology and quality‑control framework with Würth's global logistics and digital inventory platform. The joint solution lets manufacturers store spare‑part designs as digital files...
NSW Pours $20M Into Manufacturing and High-Tech Startups
The New South Wales government has unveiled a $20 million Emerging Technologies Commercialisation Fund to accelerate high‑tech startups and strengthen local manufacturing. The first round, opening on 6 March, allocates $7 million in repayable grants to firms with early evidence ready to scale....
GMG Secures US EPA Approval for THERMAL-XR Coating
Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) received U.S. EPA approval to import, sell and distribute its THERMAL‑XR graphene‑based coating system across the United States. The consent order under TSCA allows unlimited shipments, enabling GMG to launch commercial sales through exclusive North American...
Weaving the Digital Thread – The Interoperability Standards Powering Smart Manufacturing
The article explains how a suite of interoperability standards underpins the digital thread in smart manufacturing. Core standards such as STEP/AP242 for model‑based definition, DMIS and QIF for metrology, and STEP‑NC for manufacturing execution enable seamless data exchange across CAD,...
NVIDIA’s Industrial AI Thesis
At GTC 2026 Jensen Huang outlined NVIDIA’s "Industrial AI" thesis, arguing that compute has moved from a cost‑center to a production capacity and that AI tokens are becoming commoditized outputs. The company positions its 20‑year‑old platform as the sole infrastructure...
Inside Harim’s First Kitchen: A Bet on Premium Home Meals
Harim Group, Korea’s leading poultry conglomerate, has opened a 520 billion‑won “First Kitchen” complex in Iksan to produce premium ready‑to‑eat meals under its The Mishik brand. The facility houses dedicated lines for home‑style meals, microwavable rice, instant noodles with a proprietary...
Robotic Tea Harvester Cuts Manual Labor Drastically
#WhosNext? Tea harvesters? This motorized tea plucking machine eliminates a lot of manual labor and as a result laborers. (GiGadgets) #AgTech #Automation https://t.co/saGtJTH3Dk
Drone Strike Threatens Fertilizer Supply, Endangering Global Harvest
Drone strikes fuel truck at Dubai airport. What is happening is more than the Strait of Hormuz and oil. Supply and supply chains. A key product not moving is fertilizer as planting season is arriving. The impact on crop output...