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
Feds to Axe Multi-Language Testing for Truckers
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a rulemaking that will require all commercial driver knowledge and skills tests to be administered exclusively in English, ending the current multi‑language options available in states like California. The change is part of a broader DOT effort to tighten oversight of non‑domiciled CDL holders, curb trucking fraud, and modernize carrier registration and electronic logging device vetting. FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs also signaled upcoming rules to qualify brokers, end self‑certification for driver schools, and tighten ELD manufacturer standards. Industry groups warn the shift could strain drivers with limited English proficiency.
Determine Limiting Crack Sizes and Remaining Life to Improve Your Next Equipment Inspection
The article explains how identifying limiting crack sizes before an inspection can streamline equipment assessments and guide repair decisions. It highlights the use of the Failure Assessment Diagram (FAD) from API 579‑1/ASME FFS‑1 to evaluate crack stability through the Kr (toughness) and...
Behind the Bulletin: WRC Bulletin 599 Recommendations for Evaluating Resistance to Brittle Fracture for Carbon and Low Alloy Steel Equipment...
WRC Bulletin 599, released in 2023, delivers a comprehensive set of recommendations for assessing brittle‑fracture resistance in carbon and low‑alloy steel pressure vessels and piping. The bulletin critiques existing screening methods in ASME Sections VIII‑1, VIII‑2, B31.1, B31.3, B31T and API 579, exposing...
Reynolds Wrap Up: Developing and Applying FEMI Wisdom Leads to Success in FEMI Problem Solving
John Reynolds revisits the distinction between fixed equipment mechanical integrity (FEMI) knowledge and FEMI wisdom, emphasizing that accumulating a robust body of knowledge alone does not guarantee effective problem solving. He argues that wisdom—knowing when, how, and what to communicate—transforms...
Sunsetting API RP 581, Part 2: RBI Quantitative POF Model Examples
The Inspectioneering article presents next‑generation quantitative RBI examples that tackle three key limitations of API RP 581: poor CML/TML data utilization, cumbersome piping modeling, and vague inspection recommendations. By applying probabilistic algorithms, the authors demonstrate how historic corrosion‑monitoring data can be...
Progress Toward Fitness-for-Service Assessment of FRP Equipment
The Inspectioneering Journal highlights growing capabilities to perform fitness‑for‑service (FFS) assessments on fiber‑reinforced polymer (FRP) equipment. Since 2017, a series of technical articles have built a data foundation that bridges the gap between construction codes and real‑world operating conditions. While...
Piping and Pressure Vessel Failures Associated with Secondary Stresses
Secondary stresses, often hidden behind welding, temperature changes, and deformation, are a leading cause of piping and pressure vessel failures. The article highlights three case studies—a PWHT carbon steel pipe, a high‑temperature austenitic tube, and a boiler feed‑water system—where secondary...
Restoring Integrity: In-Situ Repair of Circumferential Weld Seams on a Vintage CO₂ Absorber
The Fauji Fertilizer Company’s Port Qasim plant performed an in‑situ rehabilitation of two circumferential weld seams on its vintage CO₂ absorber (C‑208), originally built in 1964 and relocated from the United States. The repair followed ASME Section VIII guidelines, employing heat‑treated...
Material Failure Investigation of High-Pressure Impulse Tubing
A recent investigation uncovered that a ½‑inch high‑pressure impulse line made of Tungum alloy on a North Sea platform failed due to mercury‑induced liquid metal embrittlement (LME). The leak was traced to aggressive mercury in the production fluid, which compromised...
Failure and Residual Life Analysis of Service Exposed Hydrogen Reformer Tubes
The study examines premature failures of service‑exposed hydrogen reformer tubes used in steam‑reforming plants. It identifies creep rupture initiating at dendritic boundaries and localized overheating from burner misalignment as primary damage mechanisms. The research compares a failed bottom section with...
When Infrastructure Problems Become Energy Assets
Denver’s National Western Center repurposed two 72‑inch wastewater mains as a heat‑recovery source. By extracting waste heat from the constant‑temperature sewage flow, the system now provides low‑carbon heating and cooling for the campus. The solution avoided costly new boiler plants,...
Eli Lilly Invests $3.5B in Pennsylvania to Scale Next‑Gen Obesity Drug Manufacturing
Eli Lilly announced a $3.5 billion investment to build a new injectable‑medicine plant in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. The facility, slated to break ground in 2026 and run by 2031, will focus on next‑generation obesity and metabolic drugs such as the triple‑agonist retatrutide....
EnVista Launches enMotion WES for Automated Warehouses
enVista unveiled enMotion WES+, a cloud‑based warehouse execution system designed for highly automated distribution centers. The platform integrates third‑party WMS, WCS and robotic assets, using a visual Material Flow Graph to model every process from inbound to outbound. Machine‑learning analytics...
Croom Medical Breaks Ground on R&D Site in Ireland
Croom Medical has broken ground on ACOT, a 38,000‑square‑foot Advanced Centre of Orthopaedic Technologies in Croom, County Limerick. The project represents the company’s largest capital outlay in its 42‑year history and will serve as a combined R&D and industrialisation hub....
Hutchison Makes Overtures to Panama for Negotiations Over Terminal Ops
Hong Kong‑based CK Hutchison has formally asked Panama to reopen talks on the concession to operate the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals that flank the Panama Canal. The request follows a Panama Supreme Court ruling that declared the law granting the...
Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape: February 20, 2026
Ryan McCormack’s February 2026 Operational Excellence Mixtape warns that change fatigue is eroding continuous‑improvement efforts. He urges leaders to anchor teams to core values, embed quality as the operating architecture, and use process confirmation to lock improvements into daily work, citing Toyota’s...
EPA Moves to Rescind Much of a 2024 Chemical Safety Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a proposal to roll back most of the 2024 amendments to its Risk Management Program (RMP) rule, which governs safety at roughly 11,000 chemical manufacturing, storage, and warehousing facilities. The 2024 rule introduced...
Orange Marine Orders Two Cable Laying Vessels
Norwegian shipbuilder VARD has received an order from France’s Orange Marine for two additional cable‑laying and repair vessels based on the VARD 9‑03 design. The ships will be constructed at Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka and follow the same specifications as...
Quality Management and Traceability in Regulated Manufacturing:
Regulated manufacturers are confronting a surge in quality data requirements while many still rely on fragmented systems that isolate documents, training records, and production data. This siloed approach erodes traceability, hampers audit readiness, and raises compliance risk. Modern quality platforms...
Hapag-Lloyd Set to Grow Its Intra-Asia Network Through Zim’s Gold Star Line
German carrier Hapag-Lloyd plans to leverage its $4.2 billion acquisition of Zim Integrated Shipping Services to expand its intra‑Asia footprint through Zim’s Hong Kong‑based affiliate Gold Star Line. Gold Star operates 20 liner services with a fleet of 40 vessels totaling roughly 100,000 TEU,...
Ryerson Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Results
Ryerson Holding Corp reported Q4 2025 revenue of $1.105 billion, a 4.9% QoQ decline but a 9.7% YoY increase, while full‑year revenue slipped 0.6% to $4.57 billion. The company posted a Q4 net loss of $37.9 million and a full‑year loss of $56.4 million,...
Reframe Automates Hardware Procurement, Replacing Spreadsheets
Reframe (@usereframe) automates the hardware supply chain, starting with procurement. Upload your BOM, connect your ERP, and their system will handle sourcing, ordering, vendor coordination, delay resolution, and real-time build plans. Hardware procurement still runs on spreadsheets and emails, until today....
NextPower Supplies Steel Frames for JinkoSolar Florida Plant
Nextpower supply steel frames for JinkoSolar factory in Florida #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/DI2iUubaD0
Digital Collaboration in Chemical Logistics
Transport decarbonisation is shifting fuel flows from traditional crude‑based products to low‑carbon chemicals such as ammonia, methanol and advanced biofuels. These fuels travel through the same chemical‑logistics network, but the sector’s coordination remains fragmented, causing costly buffers and delays. Experts...
Project OVERMATCH Scales UK Drone Production
Project OVERMATCH - how one company is scaling up production of #drones in the UK #avgeek https://t.co/sEEOjJQprt https://t.co/PjEtX67uHA
ACS Nigeria 11th Annual Symposium Focuses on Emerging Technologies and Chemistry for Sustainable Development
The American Chemical Society Nigeria Chapter hosted its 11th Annual Symposium from Feb. 8‑11 at the University of Ibadan, spotlighting “Emerging Technologies in Chemistry for Sustainable Development.” The event featured international academics and industry leaders, including speakers from Cambridge and Bristol...
On the Radar: The Role of T-Glass in AI
T‑glass, an ultra‑thin glass fiber fabric with low thermal expansion, is becoming essential for AI chips in smartphones and data‑center servers. Its high tensile strength and heat‑dissipating properties stabilize substrates as chips grow larger and more power‑dense. Nitto Boseki dominates...
Feb. 20 Policy Watch: Trump Orders More Glyphosate and Phosphorus Production
President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act on Feb. 18 to prioritize domestic production of glyphosate‑based herbicides and elemental phosphorus, granting liability protection to Bayer, the sole U.S. phosphorus supplier, amid thousands of cancer lawsuits and an upcoming Supreme Court...
Real-World Manufacturing Lessons From a Failing Business
The episode dissects a failing small machine‑shop that illustrates common ownership pitfalls in SME manufacturing. It reveals how a founder’s hand‑off to inexperienced children, over‑reliance on a single automaker client, superficial diversification, and lack of sales expertise drove the business...
U.S. Businesses Line up for Tariff Refunds After Supreme Court Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, opening the door for refunds of roughly $130 billion collected by the Treasury. Importers, retailers and apparel groups are already petitioning for clear guidance on how to reclaim these...
Court Says Small Trucking Company Must Negotiate with Union Defeated in a Vote
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed an NLRB Gissel bargaining order requiring Garten Trucking to negotiate with the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers, even though the union lost the representation vote 65‑30. The union...
SMC BMC Design Award 2026 Finalists Target Quality of Life Improvements
The European Alliance has announced the three finalists for the 2026 SMC BMC Design Award, a competition that celebrates sustainable design using composite materials. The nominees are Dave Rook’s Domum Shelter, Lucía Bonmatí and Bernat Rucabado’s Hedera vertical garden, and...
Stellantis Takes $26B Write-Down over EVs, Sells Stake in Battery JV for $100
Stellantis announced a €22.2 billion ($26 billion) write‑down tied to its electric‑vehicle strategy and sold its 49 % stake in the NextStar Energy battery JV to LG Energy Solution for a nominal $100. The charge reflects cancelled EV platforms, supply‑chain resizing and quality‑related...
Rheinmetall Secures Major Order for Bundeswehr Reconnaissance Vehicle
Rheinmetall has inked a mid‑three‑digit‑million‑euro contract with General Dynamics European Land Systems to supply its CT‑025 unmanned turret, main armament and simulation technology for the Bundeswehr’s new Luchs 2 reconnaissance vehicle. The deal calls for 274 turrets to be delivered between...
Safran Releases Robust 2025 Financial Results, Advances LEAP Production Ramp
Safran posted a strong 2025 performance, reporting €31.33 billion in revenue, €5.197 billion recurring operating income and a 16.6% operating margin, while raising its 2028 free‑cash‑flow target to €21 billion. The company delivered more than 1,800 LEAP engines—a 28% year‑over‑year increase—supporting Airbus’s plan...
Wrangler Enhances Women’s Riding Jeans with Dyneema
Wrangler, a Kontoor Brands label, has launched its first women’s riding jeans incorporating Dyneema, an ultra‑high‑strength polyethylene fiber. The new high‑rise styles blend 90% cotton with 5% Dyneema, 4% T‑400 and 1% elastane, delivering enhanced tear resistance while remaining soft...
Trans-Pacific Carriers, Importers Slow-Walking Service Contract Negotiations
Trans‑Pacific ocean carriers and U.S. importers are deliberately postponing contract sign‑offs for the 2026‑27 service year as spot rates to the West Coast have slumped more than 20% since early January. Both sides hope that underlying market fundamentals will improve,...
Natilus Raises $28 Million to Commercialize Family of BWB Composite Aircraft, Evolves Horizon Evo
Natilus secured a $28 million Series A round led by Draper Associates, bringing strategic aerospace and logistics investors on board. The funding will finance the first full‑scale prototype of its regional cargo aircraft Kona, slated to fly within 24 months, and further development...
The Hydrogen Stream: Dutch Agribusiness Installs 1 MW Electrolyzer
Dutch tulip nursery Rainbow Colors has become the first agricultural firm to commission a 1 MW solid‑oxide electrolyzer for on‑site hydrogen generation, integrated with a solar array and battery storage. The system, built with Denmark’s Dynelectro and Ekinetix, can produce hydrogen...
Rivian's Growth Goals, GlobalFoundries' AI Implementation: IndustryWeek's Weekly Review
IndustryWeek’s weekly roundup spotlights Rivian’s aggressive expansion plan and GlobalFoundries’ rollout of practical AI systems. Rivian aims for more than 45% delivery growth in 2026, adding a second R2 production shift and raising capital spending to roughly $2 billion. GlobalFoundries introduces...
Madewell Partners With Denim Expert Benjamin Talley Smith
Madewell has teamed with renowned denim designer Benjamin Talley Smith to release a seven‑piece women’s capsule collection. The line blends Madewell’s focus on fit and durability with Talley Smith’s artisanal expertise, featuring pieces like the Putney jean and Allerton jacket. Garments are...
The World’s Largest Lithium Metal Maker Is Now Producing Semi-Solid-State EV Batteries
Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest lithium‑metal producer, has begun mass‑producing semi‑solid‑state batteries with energy densities ranging from 400 to 650 Wh/kg. The company secured supply agreements with major OEMs including Tesla, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and BMW for lithium hydroxide and other battery...
Semiconductor Litigation: Advanced Process Transitions and the Next Wave of Patent Risk
The semiconductor industry is moving from planar MOSFETs to 3D structures such as FinFETs and GAA transistors, reshaping how patents are drafted and enforced. These architectural shifts create new layers of patent risk, especially around enablement, claim construction, and apportionment....
Ocean Carrier On-Time Arrivals Tumbled in January: Xeneta
Ocean carrier schedule reliability plunged in January 2026 as congestion at Asian hubs and severe North Atlantic weather disrupted liner networks. Rate‑benchmarking platform Xeneta reports a sharp decline in on‑time arrivals across most carriers, with only non‑alliance services showing modest...
Proximal Sound Prints Elastomer Microstructures Using Ultrasound
Proximal Sound Printing (PSP) is an ultrasound‑driven additive manufacturing technique that cures native PDMS at a localized barrier, achieving a practical feature size of 0.2 mm. The process reduces electrical input to roughly 5 W—four times less than its predecessor Direct Sound...
Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s IEEPA Tariffs: What Procurement Leaders Must Do Next
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president to impose broad tariffs, overturning Trump’s IEEPA tariff regime. The decision opens a path for importers to seek refunds, but claims must...
What Is the 3nm Pessimism Wall and Why Is It An Economic Crisis?
The article defines the “3 nm Pessimism Wall” as the excessive 25‑35% clock‑period guard bands that arise from abstraction‑based sign‑off methods rather than physical limits. These inflated margins force over‑design of buffers, increase power consumption, and waste silicon area, turning advanced‑node...
FiberJoint Reinforcement Patch Improves Through-the-Thickness Insert Designs for Sandwich Composites
Aalborg University researchers demonstrated that FiberJoint’s wedge‑shaped reinforcement patch boosts pull‑out strength of sandwich‑composite inserts by 38%, promising more durable marine structures. Meanwhile, Gurit is expanding its Corecell SAN‑foam structural core production in Dallas, Texas, with a new facility slated...
Above the Fold: Supply Chain Logistics News (February 20, 2026)
In this episode Adrian Gonzalez reflects on the hype around AI and existential risks, then dives into the week’s supply‑chain headlines, highlighting record U.S. imports despite steep Trump tariffs, Mexico overtaking Canada as the top U.S. export destination, and the...
Southern Glazer’s Opens South Carolina Distribution Center
Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits inaugurated a 412,500‑square‑foot distribution center in West Columbia, South Carolina. The 85‑acre facility can store 1.39 million cases, with 13 receiving and 22 shipping docks, parking for 279 vehicles and capacity for 108 trailers. Equipped with...