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) to build a next‑generation electric‑vehicle production line at its Mulhouse facility, slated to start in 2029. The investment is part of France’s push to electrify its auto fleet and boost domestic manufacturing capacity.
Also developing:
By the numbers: TIEA Connectors raises $8M Series A
NEXIV Software AutoMeasure Makes Creating Measurement Programs Easier
Nikon Corp. unveiled AutoMeasure, the latest version of its NEXIV software, tailored for the VMZ‑S, VMZ‑H3030 and iNEXIV VMA measurement systems. The update introduces measurement code suggestion, auto‑focus retry, and automatic measurement path optimization to simplify program creation and accelerate inspections. By suggesting next‑step commands and auto‑retrying focus, the tool reduces operator input to the initial setup. Path optimization automatically orders CAD reference points for fastest execution, promising higher throughput across diverse workflows.
Midsize U.S. Firms See Tariffs Triple, Squeeze Cash
Tariffs paid by midsize US companies tripled last year, a JPMorganChase Institute study shows. Pass the cost on. Layoff employees. And/or take profit hit. Cash squeeze to pay duties and invoices. https://t.co/iPsMW2h5iP
China’s Factories Span From Ultra‑modern to Unsafe Extremes
True. Crazy what variety of manufacturing environments exist in China. From factories that are far more automated, clean, modern than any equivalent one in the US to ones that would get shutdown by a combined OSHA, EPA, NLRB squad in...
Think Lighting Audits Are Just About Energy Savings? Think Again
A lighting audit does more than cut electricity bills; it uncovers hidden operational risks and opportunities. By pinpointing fixtures that are near failure, audits help schedule replacements during planned shutdowns, avoiding costly unplanned downtime. They also improve worker safety, health,...
Hands On With The Bambu Lab P2S Combo, Part 1
Bambu Lab has launched the P2S Combo, its latest desktop 3D printer that supersedes the popular P1S. The machine retains the 256 mm cubic build volume but adds a rigid steel frame, 600 mm/s peak speed (practically 300 mm/s), and a 40 mm³/s material...
Saertex Strengthens Market Presence in Turkey with New Distribution Partner
Saertex announced a distribution agreement with Neva Kompozit Teknoloji ve Marine San. Tic. Ltd. Şti., expanding its footprint in Turkey. The partnership will bring Saertex’s multiaxial glass, carbon and natural fibre fabrics, plus custom lightweight solutions, directly to Turkish customers....
MTorres, Airbus Enable Next-Gen Composites via Thin-Ply AFP
MTorres has redesigned its automated fiber placement (AFP) heads to reliably handle ultra‑thin, low‑weight composite tapes, addressing twisting, wrinkling and misalignment issues. The company also upgraded its TorFiber CAM software—integrated with Dassault Systemes’ CATIA—to generate closed‑geometry and self‑intersecting tow paths automatically....
Sawmill Systems Test Assets Intangibly
Comact has deployed Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk Logix Echo to emulate 48 ControlLogix 5580 processors, expanding its testing capacity far beyond the limits of physical hardware. The virtual environment costs roughly one‑tenth of traditional PLC racks, delivering a scalable, cost‑effective platform for sawmill...
Execution, Not Chat: How Agentic AI Changes Supply Chain Operations
Agentic AI is shifting supply chain management from advisory chatbots to autonomous execution across ERP, WMS, and TMS systems. By embedding bounded autonomy, situational awareness, and direct action authority, these agents compress the detect‑decide‑act loop and reduce the costly “execution...
China State Shipbuilding Corporation Launches a Large-Scale Rotor Sail
China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) subsidiary Sunrui Environment and Sunrui Composites have launched a 5‑metre‑diameter, 35‑metre‑tall rotor sail at Dalian, touted as the world’s largest. The sail uses the Magnus effect to convert wind into thrust, offering lightweight, high‑efficiency propulsion...
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Kenco’s 2026 Innovation Report reveals that supply‑chain leaders are leaning heavily on AI and proven technologies to offset inflation and labor‑shortage pressures. While 83% of respondents maintain a dedicated innovation budget, only 35% increased it year‑over‑year, and half allocate at...
Viridi Replaces New York Municipal Diesel Generator with Battery
Viridi installed a 150‑kWh battery energy storage system at Erie County Sewer District No. 2 in Hamburg, New York, replacing a diesel backup generator. The BESS provides 32‑90 hours of power depending on pump demand, eliminating fuel use and cutting emissions. Real‑time...
How Automation Addresses Industry’s Worker Shortage While Improving Safety and Job Satisfaction
Manufacturers are turning to collaborative robots and machine‑tending automation to combat a persistent labor shortage. By moving workers from repetitive, ergonomically‑dangerous tasks—such as single‑cell welding or CNC loading—to supervisory roles across multiple cells, firms boost productivity and job satisfaction. Safety‑driven...
GameChange Solar Launches GeniusShip Logistics Aide
GameChange Solar introduced GeniusShip, a logistics platform that tags every delivery with a unique QR code, delivering component‑level data to site teams. The system provides real‑time calculations of installation zones, automatically adjusting to on‑site constraints. By improving material visibility and...
Talon PV Secures German Wafer Supply for American-Made Solar Cells
U.S. solar‑cell maker Talon PV has signed a long‑term supply agreement with German wafer producer NexWafe. The deal provides approximately 7 GW of NexWafe’s EpiNex silicon wafers through 2032 to fuel Talon’s planned 4.8‑GW TOPCon manufacturing facility in Baytown, Texas. The...
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Alloyed Ltd secured a £1 million grant from the UK ATI Programme to fast‑track the development of ABD®‑1000AM®, a nickel‑based superalloy engineered for laser powder‑bed fusion additive manufacturing. The project, run with ITP Aero and Cranfield University, aims to produce 3D‑printed jet‑engine...
ProEnergy Supply, OpenSolar Partner on Distributor Inventory Platform
ProEnergy Supply (PES) has launched an AI‑driven transactional gateway that integrates directly with OpenSolar’s new Shop platform, allowing solar designers to purchase equipment in real time. The solution connects live inventory to distributors’ ERP systems, reaching over 28,000 active solar...
SPE Opens Thermoset TopCon Student Poster Competition
The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Thermoset Division is hosting its fifth annual TopCon student poster competition at the Thermoset TopCon Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, on May 12‑13, 2026. Graduate and undergraduate students must submit abstracts by April 10, 2026,...
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Additive Manufacturing Powers the Future of Defense and Space
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is accelerating its defense and space programs by investing heavily in additive manufacturing, highlighted by the acquisition of a Velo3D Sapphire metal 3D printer and the launch of a CAMM materials‑characterization program. The company uses...
Roland DGA Launches Elevate Denture Solution for Digital Workflows
Roland DGA has introduced the Elevate Denture Solution, a digital denture kit that bundles Ivoclar Ivotion discs, hyperDENT CAM strategies, adapters and PMMA tooling for use with DGSHAPE DWX‑53 series mills. Developed with Ivoclar and FOLLOW‑ME! Technology, the solution offers...
DHL Expands Airfreight Cold Chain Network
DHL Group is expanding its dedicated air‑freight cold‑chain network, adding more than 30 GDP‑compliant aviation hubs and a new Brussels‑Cincinnati corridor. The rollout is part of a €2 bn investment in DHL Health Logistics and includes a dedicated Boeing 777 freighter painted...
L3Harris to Provide Communications Systems for Virginia and Columbia-Class Subs
L3Harris Technologies secured its largest full‑rate production contract to supply communications systems for 26 shipsets destined for the U.S. Navy’s Virginia‑class fast‑attack and upcoming Columbia‑class ballistic‑missile submarines. The award, granted by General Dynamics Electric Boat, spans production through 2033 and...
Nordlicht I Components Completed Early
Nordlicht I’s first monopiles and transition pieces were finished ahead of schedule by EEW and CS Wind, marking a key milestone before offshore construction begins later this year. The 68 steel structures, up to 80.5 metres long and 1,290 tonnes heavy, position the project...
Additive Screen Printing: Scalable Production Meets Micro Precision
Additive Screen Printing (ASP) merges industrial screen printing with additive manufacturing to produce metal and ceramic components with micro‑precision at high volume. The process deposits material paste through precision screens layer‑by‑layer, cures each layer, then sinters the green parts to...
Swarm Aero Opens Large Drone Production Hub in Arkansas
Swarm Aero inaugurated an 80,000‑square‑foot Advanced Manufacturing Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, dedicated to large‑UAV production. The facility is designed to mass‑produce the Group 5 swarming UAV, which the company claims will cost less than the MQ‑9 Reaper while delivering comparable capability....
Stratasys Introduces Multi-Material 3D Printed Anatomical Model Preset for Dental Training
Stratasys has launched a multi‑material 3D‑printed dental anatomical model preset using its PolyJet technology, enabling realistic, customizable training devices. The preset defines material ratios and distribution patterns to consistently mimic bone, teeth, nerves, and soft tissue. Models can be personalized...
Velo3D Receives $11.5M Defense Production Agreement for National Security Program
U.S. metal‑3D printer maker Velo3D has landed an $11.5 million multi‑year full‑rate production agreement with an undisclosed defense contractor for a sensitive national‑security program. The deal leverages Velo3D’s Rapid Production Solution, which couples large‑format laser powder‑bed fusion hardware with proprietary software...
Fourier Analysis in Production Metrology: Turning Measurement Data Into Process Insight
Fourier analysis, implemented via Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) in Mahr’s MarWin software, is being promoted as a core tool for production metrology. By converting measurement profiles into frequency spectra, it reveals hidden vibrations caused by tool wear, unstable clamping, or...
3D Printed Carbon Fiber Meta-Skins Improve Impact Mitigation in Foam-Core Composites
Researchers at San Diego State University have used automated tow placement to 3D‑print pseudo‑woven continuous carbon‑fiber skins, called meta‑skins, for foam‑core composites. In low‑velocity drop‑tower tests (4.43 m/s), a monocoque configuration with a single skin absorbed nearly 100 % of the impact...
Master Bond Debuts UV26DCMed Dual-Cure Adhesive
Master Bond introduced UV26DCMed, a single‑component, dual‑cure adhesive for medical device assembly that combines UV light for rapid fixturing with a heat bake for full polymerization. The formulation tolerates repeated sterilization methods—including steam autoclave, ethylene oxide, glutaraldehyde, and hydrogen‑peroxide—while meeting...
🦾 Robotics Funding Rounds by Month - December 2025
The episode reviews December 2025 robotics funding, highlighting 127 rounds that raised $2.74 billion, bringing the year’s total to roughly $35 billion. It notes a healthy volume of deals despite lower individual round sizes, with notable activity among humanoid, biotech‑robotics, construction, and...
Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Reveals Its 2026 Dealers of Excellence
Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas announced its 2026 Dealers of Excellence, honoring 17 top-performing dealers across North America. The award recognizes dealers that excel in selling and servicing Cat lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklifts, and Jungheinrich warehouse automation solutions. Recipients were selected for...
Century Aluminum Co (CENX) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Kaiser Aluminum reported $3.4 billion in net sales for 2025, generating $1.5 billion in conversion revenue after $1.9 billion of alloy metal hedge costs. Total shipments fell 5% to 1.1 billion pounds, while packaging conversion revenue rose 11% thanks to a shift toward coated...
Onto Innovation Inc (ONTO) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Onto Innovation reported Q3 2025 revenue of $218.2 million, surpassing the midpoint of its guidance, with a 54% gross margin and 21.1% operating margin. Advanced nodes contributed $54 million and are projected to reach $300 million for the full year, while specialty packaging...
Metallus Inc (MTUS) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Metallus Inc reported a sequential decline in fourth‑quarter shipments and net sales, resulting in a GAAP loss of $14.3 million and adjusted EBITDA of $2.4 million. Annual shipments rose 14% year‑over‑year, and the order book expanded over 50%, pushing lead times into...
Gentherm Inc (THRM) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Gentherm reported record $1.5 billion revenue for 2025, a 2.9% increase, and secured $2.2 billion of automotive new‑business awards, including $485 million in Q4. Adjusted EBITDA fell to $175 million (11.7% of sales) amid higher material costs, while operating cash flow rose 7% to...
Vicor Corp (VICR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Vicor reported Q4 2025 product revenue of $92.7 million, a 4.5% sequential rise and 15.3% YoY growth, while full‑year revenue climbed 4.1% to $350.3 million. Advanced‑product sales surged 26.6% YoY, pushing the advanced‑product share of total revenue to 58% despite a slight...
Garrett Motion Inc (GTX) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Garrett Motion reported $3.58 billion in 2025 sales and a $510 million adjusted EBIT, delivering a 14.2% margin despite a modest Q4 margin dip. The company converted nearly 80% of adjusted EBIT into free cash flow and returned $260 million to shareholders through...
NextGen Supply Chain Conference 2026 Opens Speaker Submission Process
The NextGen Supply Chain Conference 2026 has opened its speaker submission window, inviting senior supply‑chain leaders to present case studies at the event scheduled for Oct. 21‑23, 2026, in Nashville’s W Hotel. The conference’s theme, “Innovate. Upskill. Transform.”, signals a shift...
AllPIXA Neo 6k Line-Scan Camera Delivers Unmatched Speed and Precision for Automated Sorting Systems
Allied Vision introduced the allPIXA neo 6k 10GigE line‑scan camera, engineered for high‑speed automated sorting. It features a 6144 × 4 pixel CMOS multispectral sensor, 5 µm pixel size, and can capture up to 105 kHz in color or 300 kHz in monochrome. The camera delivers...
North Aircraft Industries Is Manufacturing the Cavorite X7 VTOL Composite Wings
North Aircraft Industries (NAI) has secured a partnership with New Horizon Aircraft to manufacture and test the composite wings for the Cavorite X7 VTOL, a novel aircraft whose wings open to expose twelve electric lift fans for vertical take‑off. The wing’s...
Supplier Spotlight: Aalberts IPS Nears 100 Years of U.S. Valve Manufacturing
Aalberts Integrated Piping Systems (IPS) is approaching a century of U.S.-based valve manufacturing under its Apollo brand, highlighting a vertically integrated model centered in South Carolina. The company offers a broad portfolio that now includes advanced press‑fitting solutions such as...
Weaving Flexibility Into Nitinol: IMDEA–UPM Advances 3D Printed Superelastic Metamaterials
Researchers at IMDEA Materials and the Technical University of Madrid have created interwoven, fabric‑like Nitinol structures using laser powder bed fusion, delivering superelastic metamaterials with unprecedented flexibility. By shifting focus from alloy composition to algorithmically designed geometries—such as tubular lattices...
Plastometrex Launches MultiScale Capability for Thin-Wall and High-Resolution Mechanical Property Mapping
Plastometrex has added a MultiScale capability to its PLX‑Benchtop system, enabling high‑resolution mechanical property mapping on parts as thin as 0.75 mm. The upgrade uses 1.5 mm indent spacing and interchangeable 250‑µm, 500‑µm, and 1000‑µm indenters to generate full stress‑strain curves in...
ABB Automation Extended
ABB announced its Automation Extended program, a strategic evolution of its distributed control systems that lets customers modernize without interrupting operations. The initiative builds on the long‑standing ABB Ability System 800xA platform, now released as version 7.0 with a separation‑of‑concerns...
Nova-Institut Reports Global Bio-Based Polymer Market to Rise 11% Annually Until 2030
The nova‑Institut report shows bio‑based polymers reached 4.5 million tonnes in 2025, representing about 1 % of total polymer output. Production is projected to grow at an 11 % compound annual growth rate through 2030, potentially doubling the market share to 2 %. Capacity...
Jonathan Stowell and Jean-Pierre Cauchois New Members of LICT Advisory Board
The Link Institute of Composites Technology (LICT) has appointed Jonathan Stowell, senior director of composites at Future Materials Group, and Jean‑Pierre Cauchois, founder of Composites Expert and E‑Learning Composites Academy, to its advisory board. Stowell brings over 35 years of...
Continuous Composites Awarded $1.25 Million to Advance Joining Methods with CF3D
Continuous Composites secured a $1.25 million AFWERX Manufacturing Challenge contract to advance CF3D joining and stiffening techniques for aerospace structures. CF3D merges precise fiber steering, rapid UV curing, and computational design into a digitally driven, scalable production process. The 15‑month project...
Walter Pritzkow OCMC Becomes Key Lightweight Enabler for Jetoptera Drone
Jetoptera is partnering with Walter E.C. Pritzkow Spezialkeramik (WPS) to integrate lightweight oxide ceramic matrix composite (OCMC) thrusters into its DARPA LIFT Challenge aircraft. The OCMC thrusters deliver 90 pound‑force of thrust while keeping the propulsion system light enough to meet...
Fenix Composites CFRTP Road Bike Featuring Lugged Frame Resolves Repairability Challenges
Fenix Composites unveiled a carbon‑fiber‑reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) road‑bike frame that uses titanium lugs joined by induction heating, eliminating adhesives and fasteners. The reversible joint design allows defective components to be removed and replaced, extending the frame’s service life. Joint strength...