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
Siemens Delivers Verified AI-Driven Cybersecurity Solution for Industrial 5G with Palo Alto Networks
Siemens announced a verified AI‑driven cybersecurity solution for private industrial 5G networks, developed with Palo Alto Networks. The offering integrates Siemens’ private 5G infrastructure, the SINEC Security Monitor, and Palo Alto’s next‑generation firewall optimized for OT protocols, delivering IEC 62443‑grade protection without latency penalties. Extensive testing in Siemens’ Digital Connectivity Lab confirmed high availability and resilience across multiple manufacturing scenarios. The solution is now part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, targeting sectors such as pharmaceuticals and automotive.
Southco’s New Heavy-Duty Rotary Latch Simplifies Cab Access While Enhancing Operator Safety
Southco has launched the R4‑50 Rotary Latch with Dual Triggers, a heavy‑duty cab‑door solution for off‑highway and agricultural equipment. The latch offers independent interior and exterior actuation, a pre‑loaded hand lever that dampens vibration, and mechanisms to prevent accidental release....
Sensy Load Cells From AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect launched the Sensy 2172L single‑point, 5510 shear‑beam, and 2782 tension/compression load‑cell series, targeting applications from small packaging scales to rugged industrial tanks. The cells are constructed from aircraft‑grade aluminum or stainless steel, offer built‑in overload protection, and achieve accuracies...
Schmersal PROTECT PSC1 Safety Controller From AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has added the Schmersal PROTECT PSC1 safety controller to its catalog, offering two base models—PSC1‑C‑10 and PSC1‑C‑100. Both units deliver 14 safe inputs rated up to PL e or SIL 3, multiple safe outputs, and optional built‑in fieldbus support for EtherCAT,...
Torc Robotics Takes Autonomous Trucks Into Michigan’s Snow and Ice
Torc Robotics is extending its autonomous‑truck program to Michigan, testing the latest Freightliner Cascadia‑based chassis on snow, ice and rain‑slicked roads. The initiative marks a strategic shift from the Sun Belt corridors that dominate the industry, allowing Torc to validate...
Next Step in a Peaceful 10-Hour Truck Driver Rest Period: Lithium Batteries
Dragonfly Energy showcased its lithium‑iron‑phosphate battery‑powered auxiliary power unit (APU) at the Truckload Carriers Association meeting, targeting the 10‑hour mandatory rest period for drivers. The battery, charged by the truck’s alternator, can run the sleeper‑cab’s heating, cooling and electricity without...
Xiaomi Trials Humanoid Robots in Its EV Factory — Says They're Like 'Interns'
Xiaomi has begun testing its self‑developed CyberOne humanoid robots on the production line of its electric‑vehicle factory. In a trial reported at Mobile World Congress, two robots completed roughly 90% of assigned tasks within three hours, keeping pace with a...
FedEx Hub Chemical Spill Leads to Postal Service Shipping Restrictions
The U.S. Postal Service has placed an embargo on Priority Mail Express shipments until Friday following a chemical spill at FedEx’s Memphis World Hub on Feb. 25. The spill forced a partial shutdown of the facility, which can sort up to 484,000 packages...
GE Vernova Wins 100MW Italian Supply Deal
GE Vernova has been awarded a contract by Italy’s IVPC Group to supply 17 on‑shore wind turbines, delivering more than 100 MW for the Fortore wind farm in Benevento. The 6.1 MW, 158‑metre machines will be delivered starting in the second quarter...
Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Expansion and 3D Printing
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is undergoing a rapid expansion, driven by $500 million local acquisitions, a $750 million Afreximbank partnership, and the launch of the 650,000 bpd Dangote refinery. Production has already surpassed 1.5 million barrels per day, with a government goal to...
Levidian and J.O. Enter MOU for Graphene R&D and Commercial Production
Levidian and J.O. have signed an MOU to jointly develop and commercialise graphene nanoplatelets using Levidian’s catalyst‑free LOOP process that also yields clean hydrogen. J.O. will adapt its carbon‑nanotube mass‑production expertise to scale graphene output and design domestic equipment for...
Memory Makers Shift to Hourly Contracts as AI Demand Continues to Climb
Memory manufacturers such as SK hynix, Samsung and Micron have moved to hourly DRAM pricing contracts, forcing OEMs to secure quotes within a single hour. The shift reflects soaring AI‑driven demand that makes prices fluctuate by the hour, prompting faster settlement...
Warp Nacelle Print Collapse Leaves Me with Spaghetti
Well dang. Bound to happen. Enterprise’s warp nacelle pylon’s fell during printing and I got spaghetti.
Vietnam Emerges as Global Economic Growth Leader: Harvard, S&P Research
Vietnam is projected to outpace all economies in GDP growth over the next decade, according to Harvard’s Growth Lab and S&P Global research. Manufacturing activity accelerated in February, with the PMI rising to 54.3, marking eight months of expansion and...
Germany’s Texxecure Launches Standardized Quality Rating for PV Systems
Germany’s Texxecure Rating Foundation has launched a standardized quality rating for photovoltaic (PV) systems that grades modules, inverters and whole projects on a AAA‑to‑D scale. The two‑step process combines a document review with an on‑site inspection, producing a single risk...
Ecoflow Debuts 5 kWh Residential Inverter Battery with 100% Depth of Discharge
EcoFlow unveiled the Ocean 2 all‑in‑one battery inverter at the Key Energy show in Rimini. The system pairs a 5 kWh LiFePO₄ battery with a single‑phase inverter, delivering 3.4 kW continuous discharge and 100 % depth of discharge. Units are compact, IP66‑rated and can...
Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy Signals New Opportunities for Additive Manufacturing
Canada’s 2025 Defence Industrial Strategy, backed by an $81.8 billion budget, earmarks $6.6 billion to boost domestic defence production and supply‑chain security. The new Build‑Partner‑Buy framework directs procurement toward sovereign capabilities such as aerospace, land and marine platforms, ammunition, and uncrewed systems....
Tata Motors, Stellantis Explore Hybrids, Lightweight Tech Under MoU – Report
India’s Tata Motors and Stellantis have signed a memorandum of understanding to broaden their existing partnership into hybrid powertrains and lightweight engineering. The MoU targets development of engines and hybrid systems that meet the upcoming CAFE Phase III fuel‑efficiency standards, with...
Ampere and Basquevolt Partner to Develop New Battery Tech
Ampere, Renault Group's EV and software arm, has signed a Joint Development Agreement with Basquevolt to fast‑track lithium‑metal battery technology for future electric vehicles. The partnership leverages Basquevolt's polymer‑electrolyte cells, which promise a substantial jump in energy density, lighter packs,...
GLS and APES Launch Advanced Semiconductor Packaging Partnership in New York
Great Lakes Semiconductor (GLS) and Advanced Printed Electronic Solutions (APES) have formed a strategic partnership to fuse GLS's ChipForge semiconductor platform with APES's Matrix6D additive‑manufactured electronics system. The joint effort will deliver a full design‑to‑manufacturing workflow for chips and sensors,...
ETH Zurich-Led Study Produces Functional 3D Printed Ear Cartilage, Paving Way for Clinical Reconstruction
Researchers from ETH Zurich, the Friedrich Miescher Institute and the Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne have 3D‑printed elastic ear cartilage that closely replicates natural tissue mechanics. Using patient‑derived cartilage cells embedded in a bio‑ink, they produced ear‑shaped constructs that retained shape...
Sandvik Unveils New CH442 and CH662 Cone Crushers at CONEXPO
Sandvik Crushing Solutions unveiled the CH442 and CH662 cone crushers at CONEXPO‑CON/AGG 2026, marking the next evolution of its CH400 and CH600 series. The models feature a strengthened top shell, new main shaft, and a backing‑compound free liner design that...
Navigating Uncertainty and Building Resilient Supply Chains: The Case for US-Based CDMO Partnerships
Pharmaceutical firms are accelerating onshoring efforts, with more than $270 billion pledged for U.S. manufacturing since early 2025 and 80% of global producers weighing domestic or near‑shore options. Legislative moves such as the BIOSECURE Act and incentives like BARDA Project NextGen are...
Researchers Test 3D Printed Milling Cutter With Conformal Cooling
Researchers have 3‑D printed a milling cutter using laser powder bed fusion with internal conformal cooling channels that follow the cutting edge. The freeform coolant paths keep coolant closer to the shear zone, potentially lowering tool temperature and wear. Tests...
Komatsu Introduces Next-Gen HM460-6 Articulated Haul Truck at CONEXPO 2026
Komatsu unveiled the HM460-6 articulated haul truck at CONEXPO‑CON/AGG 2026, targeting quarry, construction and mining sites with challenging terrain. The new model raises the rated payload to 46.3 tons and incorporates a proprietary DBA127 engine delivering 518 hp with improved fuel efficiency....
Leadership Overreaction: The Hidden Cause of Organizational Failure
The article argues that leaders’ overreactions to normal variation, waste, and mistakes generate fear that silences improvement efforts. Across his four books, the author shows that tools like Lean or Kaizen succeed only when leadership responds calmly and proportionately. Overreactive...
One Tape Dispenser at a Time: Lean Lessons From GE Aerospace’s CEO Letter
GE Aerospace’s 2025 shareholder letter spotlights a simple tape‑dispenser fix that illustrates the company’s deep‑rooted lean culture. The CEO describes how frontline empowerment, respect for people, and the SQDC framework drive continuous improvement across the factory and supply chain. Small...
Where Is Warehouse Technology Heading with Gary Allen of Ryder
In this episode, Kevin Lawton chats with Gary Allen of Ryder about the rapid evolution of warehouse technology, focusing on automation and AI. Allen explains how automation—from autonomous mobile robots to autonomous forklifts and emerging humanoids—is becoming more affordable and...
Automotive Supply Chains Juggle Speed, Cost and Risk
Automotive logistics providers such as Geodis and CEVA are balancing cost efficiency, risk mitigation and speed across OEM and aftermarket flows. Ocean freight remains the primary mode, while air freight is reserved for line‑down prevention, recovery and high‑value spare‑part deliveries....
Revised UK Night Flight Policy Needed
The UK government must overhaul its night‑flight regime before 2028 as the delayed Aviation Night Noise Effects (ANNE) study pushes policy decisions into the autumn. Night flights underpin the air‑freight sector, delivering express services that 95% of businesses label essential...
Future Drive Success Demands Broader, Deeper Technical Knowledge
Drives are becoming more complex. And knowledge is turning into a key success factor. 🚀 Today we had an intensive exchange at GROLLMUS with Danfoss about training and future skill requirements. Marco de Jong and Mieslinger Christian joined us to...
Validate Cloud SCM Fits Your Real Workflows
Manufacturers: how do you know if cloud SCM enhancements fit your reality? Assess future state operating models and product capabilities against your workflows and data. It's about how the software truly works day-to-day. #SCM #Cloud https://t.co/K8BkrmvMyN
SK Telecom, Supermicro, Schneider Electric Partner on AI Data Centers
SK Telecom, Supermicro, and Schneider Electric signed an MOU at MWC26 to create a prefabricated, modular solution for artificial‑intelligence data centers. The joint effort will combine Supermicro’s high‑performance GPU servers, Schneider Electric’s MEP design expertise, and SK Telecom’s operational know‑how...
Industrial Economy Gains Momentum, War Boosts Manufacturing
ISM and flatbed freight data are showing the same thing: the industrial economy is starting to ramp up. The war in Iran will also drive more strength in manufacturing, as military related manufacturing is approx 8% of all US domestic...
Collaborative Knowledge Sharing Transforms Manufacturing Industry
Explore the power of knowledge sharing in manufacturing with 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬! Discover how overcoming challenges together and sharing insights can revolutionize the industry. Stream now: 🔗 https://t.co/JFMJsNopKK 📽️ https://t.co/La7geK8pNN 🔗 https://t.co/DmYp21NDA3 https://t.co/xUFgMTsjpi
Siemens to Deploy Cloud SCADA for Australian Renewables
Siemens, together with Mescada, will install an AI‑ready, cloud‑based SCADA platform for Global Power Generation Australia, covering eight renewable sites across four states. The Simatic WinCC Open Architecture system will handle roughly 300,000 data tags, delivering real‑time monitoring from a...
In-House Exciter Repairs Underpinning Sandvik Rock Processing Screening Support
Sandvik Rock Processing operates an in‑house Exciter Repair and Refurbishment Facility in South Africa to restore vibratory screen components to OEM specifications. The centre strips, inspects, replaces worn parts and tests exciters to the same standards as new units, delivering...
3D Scanning Accuracy Brings Mold Repairs Back on Track
Nemak, a Tier‑1 aluminum die‑casting supplier, equipped its Spanish plant with Creaform’s HandySCAN BLACK | Series and the Inspection software to modernize mold maintenance. The portable, high‑accuracy 3‑D scanner replaced manual checks, delivering precise deviation data against CAD models. Technicians used the scan...
Kwinana Lithium Refinery Deemed High Health Risk, Controls Tightened
Tianqi and IGO’s Kwinana lithium refinery was a ‘high’ health risk says DWER, with controls now tightened https://t.co/JeO6Zmmi3x
AGTEK Launches Reveal Transform AI Module
AGTEK, a Hexagon subsidiary, announced Reveal Transform, an AI‑driven module that converts PDF construction plan sheets into CAD‑like linework and structured data. The tool automates text extraction, alignment, and classification, then exports the results to AGTEK’s Gradework platform for rapid...
Force Testing Adapts to Smaller, Smarter, and More Connected Products
Force testing is shifting from a simple verification step to an integrated, data‑driven function as products become smaller, more complex, and digitally connected. Manufacturers now demand low‑force, high‑precision sensors, semi‑automated test sequences, and software that standardizes methods across multiple labs....
Meviy Batch Dimension, Tolerance Feature Supports CNC Milling Workflows
Misumi Group has enhanced its Meviy on‑demand parts service with a batch dimension and tolerance feature that lets engineers assign a single positional tolerance to all holes of a given type, accelerating CNC milling detailing and supporting tolerances as tight...
The Technical Edge Behind One-Piece Carbon Fiber Wheels
One‑piece carbon‑fiber wheels deliver a distinct performance edge by marrying high lateral stiffness with dramatically reduced gyroscopic torque, resulting in sharper steering response. Weighing roughly 40% less than conventional aluminum alloys, they lower unsprung mass and rotational inertia, which translates...
Manufacturing Clarity Needed on Proposed Work-From-Home Legislation, Says SEMMA
Australian manufacturing group SEMMA has warned that Victoria’s proposed work‑from‑home legislation could clash with federal industrial‑relations law and is ill‑suited to many manufacturing operations. The alliance highlighted that most small and medium manufacturers already negotiate flexible arrangements directly with employees...
Divergent Chinese PMIs Suggest Resilient External Demand, but Soft Domestic Environment
China's official manufacturing PMI slipped to 49.0 in February, matching a 33‑month low, while the private RatingDog index rose to 52.1, highlighting a split between domestic weakness and export‑driven resilience. Sub‑indices show production, new orders and employment contracting, even as...
First Symphony Engine Prototype Enters Production with 3,000lb Aluminum Frame
As the first prototype Symphony engine approaches assembly, we've launched manufacturing for the first production unit. Here is 3,000lbm of cast aluminum, which will be HIP'd and then machined into an inlet frame. https://t.co/8yiGkixeJ6
Farm Worries Crop up as Fertiliser Companies Fear a Gas Crunch
India faces a looming gas crunch after Qatar halted LNG production, jeopardising the primary feedstock for urea manufacturing. The country currently holds only about two months of buffer stocks for urea and DAP, and prolonged shortages could force local plants...
Good Trouble
Bruce Hamilton recounts how Douglas McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y framework shaped his 1988 effort to transform a U.S. factory from a fear‑driven, autocratic culture into a Shingo‑Prize‑winning, employee‑centric operation. He describes confronting a list of so‑called “troublemakers” and using respectful dialogue...
New Research Shows Top OEMS Cut Downtime Recovery by 40%
Rockwell Automation’s new "OEM Advantage Playbook" surveyed 500 OEM leaders across 17 countries, revealing that top machine builders now prioritize rapid downtime recovery over pure machine performance. Average outages last 40 hours and cost $3.6 million, yet leading OEMs restore operations...
FARO and Creaform Combine to Form Two New Business Units
FARO Technologies and Creaform, both AMETEK subsidiaries, announced a structural split that creates two distinct business units: FARO CREAFORM for portable metrology and FARO INSIGHT for reality‑capture solutions. The reorganization consolidates FARO’s 3D measurement portfolio with Creaform’s handheld expertise, while separating the...