Today's Manufacturing Pulse
Supply‑Chain Volatility Becomes the New Normal, Report Finds
The 2026 State of Logistics Report says volatility will remain a permanent condition for global supply chains. U.S. logistics costs dropped to $2.4 trillion, equal to 7.8% of GDP, down from $2.6 trillion in 2025. Five structural forces—uneven growth, tighter finance, geoeconomic shifts, labor constraints, and energy price swings—drive the trend, while AI and automation reshape operations.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Olin and Huntsman merge in $12.5B all‑stock deal
Report: Warehouse Automation Order Intake up by 7%
A new Interact Analysis report shows warehouse‑automation order intake rose 7 % in 2025 despite a weak macro environment, driven largely by inflated project values from rising steel and labor costs and large‑scale investments by retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Tesco. The report forecasts regional growth variations, with EMEA leading at roughly 7 % annual growth through 2030, the Americas at 6 % and APAC lagging due to a Chinese demand slowdown. Longer‑term outlook points to a 6 % global CAGR, buoyed by parcel‑sector automation but tempered by structural headwinds.
India Is Conducting Exercise for Mapping Import Reliance
India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has launched an exercise to map import reliance by cataloguing goods that lack domestic manufacturing across all ministries. The initiative will compile five‑year public procurement data, targeting the $650 billion import...
Cadence Closes on Nastran, Adams, and More From Hexagon
Cadence has completed its €2.7 billion acquisition of Hexagon’s design and engineering business, securing MSC Software’s flagship simulation tools Nastran and Adams. The deal also brings AMendate, Romax, CADLM and CAEfatigue into Cadence’s portfolio. By adding these multiphysics and AI‑driven analysis...
Europe Aligns on CE Marking and Design Rules for GFRP Reinforcement
In January 2026 the European Rebar Association reaffirmed that CE marking via European Technical Assessment (ETA) is the reference route for placing GFRP reinforcing bars on the European market. The Italian CNR DT 203 R1 guideline now explicitly recognises CE‑marked GFRP as...
RXO: TL Market Seeing ‘Biggest Structural Change’ Since Deregulation
Freight broker RXO reports truckload spot rates outpacing contract rates as capacity tightens, marking the most significant structural shift in the U.S. carrier market since the 1980 deregulation. Its proprietary spot‑rate index rose 5.2% year‑over‑year in Q4 and is up...
Okibo Announces General Availability of Robotic BLASTER Technology for Construction Industry
Okibo has launched the general availability of its BLASTER gun, a dual‑nozzle airless spray system designed for the EG7 and EG7+ autonomous construction robots. The technology can coat a four‑foot board width and up to 24 feet in height in just...
Avio to Build $500 Million Facility in Hurt, Virginia
Italian rocket builder Avio announced a $500 million solid‑rocket‑motor manufacturing complex in Hurt, Virginia, pending approval by the Virginia General Assembly. The 860,000‑square‑foot facility, financed by a €400 million capital increase, will create more than 1,000 jobs and may receive a $97.7 million...
CSX CEO: Flat Industrial Results Holding Back Railroad Freight Growth
CSX Chief Executive Steve Angel told investors that flat industrial production worldwide is the primary reason railroad freight volumes have stagnated. He noted that China’s growth engine has faded, Europe never delivered growth, and emerging markets lack the scale to...
Expeditors Numbers Reflect Difficult Ocean Freight Market in 4Q
Expeditors International reported a weak fourth quarter 2025, with ocean freight tonnage down 6% year‑over‑year and revenue slipping 3% to $2.86 billion. Operating income fell 17% to $250.9 million and net income dropped to $200.7 million, while salaries and other expenses rose 6%....
SONAR Launches 30-Day Free Trial of Blue to Blue iOS App for First-Time Users
SONAR, a leading freight market intelligence platform, announced a limited‑time promotion that gives first‑time users a 30‑day free trial of its Blue to Blue iOS app. The trial runs through March 31 2026 and provides full access to lane‑level spot rates, custom...
New Report Confirms Business and Economic Benefits of Using Green Chemistry
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation announced a $93.4 million, seven‑year Green Chemistry Initiative, the first chemistry‑focused effort in its 25‑year history. A new report, Green Chemistry in America 2026, surveyed 300 R&D leaders and 3,000 consumers, revealing strong industry support for...
How Rokbak Haulers Maximize Uptime and Cut Lifecycle Costs
Rokbak concentrates exclusively on articulated haulers, positioning itself as a niche expert for mining and quarry operations. Its RA30 and RA40 models achieve high physical availability by integrating robust structures, proven components, and low warranty claim rates. The company extends...
Unlock the ROI of Mobile Robots: Roboteon Launches New Complimentary Robotics Investment Impact Analysis
Roboteon has introduced a free Robotics Investment Impact Analysis that leverages its vendor‑independent simulation platform to model warehouse automation scenarios. The service promises detailed insights into robot‑human staffing, cost per pick, throughput, and ROI within a 2‑3 week timeframe. It...
Pharmaceutical Executive Daily: Novo Nordisk Announces Price Reductions for GLP-1 Products
Novo Nordisk announced steep price cuts for its GLP‑1 diabetes and obesity drugs, aiming to broaden patient access amid intensifying pricing scrutiny. AbbVie is committing $380 million to expand API manufacturing capacity, reinforcing supply‑chain resilience. Bora Pharmaceuticals and GSK sealed a...
Mitsubishi Electric US Announces Structural Reorganization in the US
On February 5, 2026, Mitsubishi Electric US announced a structural reorganization that consolidates Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. (MEAU) and Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America’s (MEAA) operations under Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. (MEUS). The automation business becomes the Industrial Automation Division of...
Prusa Details XL Roadmap, Prices, And Toolheads
Prusa Research announced a $200 price reduction for the assembled Original Prusa XL, positioning it as the most affordable multi‑material tool‑changer in its lineup. The XL retains its active tool‑changing architecture, supporting up to five full heads, while the newer INDX...
Powerful New Royal Navy Warship Programme Advances as Milestones Reached for Two Ships
Two of the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 frigates, HMS Active and HMS Bulldog, have reached critical production milestones at Babcock’s Rosyth yard, with Active rolled out and Bulldog’s steel‑cut ceremony held. The programme sustains roughly 2,500 jobs across shipyards and the UK...
The Age of Physical AI: Inside Oshkosh’s Blueprint for an Autonomous Future
Oshkosh Corp., led by EVP Jay Iyengar, is championing a "moments of autonomy" strategy that embeds physical AI into high‑value, repetitive or hazardous tasks rather than pursuing full automation. The company is rolling out autonomous jet‑bridge docking systems that align...
Mastercam 2026.R2 Delivers GPU-Accelerated Simulation and AI-Powered Assistance
Mastercam unveiled its 2026.R2 update, the second release in a new semi‑annual cadence, delivering GPU‑accelerated simulation and an AI‑driven Copilot assistant. The GPU engine reduces verification times from roughly 90 minutes to just over 22 minutes while preserving accuracy. Copilot...
Red Bull Ford Powertrains Uses Hexagon Technology to Ensure Performance
Hexagon’s high‑precision metrology tools have been integral to building Red Bull Ford Powertrains’ new 1.6‑liter V6 turbo‑hybrid unit for the 2026 F1 rule changes. The company’s Leitz PMM‑C CMMs, Leica Absolute Scanner AS1 and QUINDOS/Q‑DAS software deliver sub‑micron tolerances across thousands of...
Don’t Let Innovation Overtake You
The article links ISO 9001:2015 Clause 6.1’s risk‑opportunity focus to the broader concept of waste, arguing that hidden wastes often outweigh visible quality defects. It warns that neglecting innovation—whether AI, quantum computing, or disruptive processes—can render entire business models obsolete. Examples range...
Conformity Assessment Is Not Enough
The article argues that traditional conformity assessments—focused on documented procedures and checklists—provide a false sense of security because they only prove a system exists, not that it works. It introduces impact assessment as the next‑generation audit, measuring real performance, consistency...
GelSight Introduces GelSight Mobile 4.3 Software
GelSight has launched GelSight Mobile 4.3, a software update that adds a high‑performance 3D rendering engine and expands defect detection to curved surfaces. The release also introduces custom 3D cropping, circular roughness profiling, and a suite of automation tools such as...
UK to Remove Turkish HDG Quota Exemption
The UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) plans to strip Turkey of its developing‑economy exemption for hot‑dip galvanised (HDG) steel, moving Turkish shipments into the capped “other countries” quota. The move follows Tata Steel’s complaint that Turkish imports surged to 58,030 t...
Further Delay to Alstom Norwegian EMU Fleet
Norway's state‑owned rolling‑stock lessor Norske Tog has called Alstom senior managers to Oslo after the French manufacturer halted local testing of its N05 EMU due to suspected bogie fatigue faults. The contract, signed in 2021 for up to 200 trains, includes...
Industrial Sector Hits 30‑year Valuation Peak Amid Optimism
S&P 500 Industrials’ forward P/E, at 26.5X, matches sector P/E in 2021, when earnings were impaired by the pandemic, and at 1.24X the index, is higher than at any point in the last 30 years. EV/Forward EBITDA, Price-to-Sales and Price-to-Book...
Dyze Design Patents Modular Motion Control For AM
Dyze Design has filed a patent proposing a modular motion‑control architecture that separates command streams into priority queues and splits telemetry into real‑time and archival channels. The design adds edge‑processing modules for sensors, stepper and BLDC drives, and even a...
Siemens to Deliver Industry-Leading PCB Test Engineering Solutions
Siemens announced the acquisition of ASTER Technologies, a specialist in PCB test and reliability solutions, to bolster its electronic design automation (EDA) portfolio. ASTER’s design‑for‑test, design‑for‑manufacturing, and design‑for‑reliability tools will be integrated into Siemens’ end‑to‑end digital‑thread platform, enabling earlier validation...
Minke Marine Air Lubrication System Receives Second ClassNK AiP
Minke Marine A.L. LLC has obtained a second Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK for its patented air lubrication system (ALS), following a prior DNV endorsement. The company is now receiving verified performance data from its first ALS installation on...
Here’s How Much Shipowners Have Saved up to Invest in US-Built Tonnage
U.S. shipowners and domestic shipyards have set aside roughly $2.59 billion in tax‑deferred Capital Construction Funds earmarked for new U.S.-built vessels, according to the Trump administration’s Maritime Action Plan. The plan touts the accounts as a successful incentive mechanism designed to...
Hoyer VMS Group Strengthens Chinese Presence with Headquarters Expansion
Hoyer VMS Group is expanding its Asian headquarters in Ningbo, China, adding a 3,800‑square‑meter warehouse and workshop. The new facilities boost the company’s ability to serve shipowners, fleet managers, shipyards and OEMs throughout Asia. This is the first major strategic...
AM SOLUTIONS INTRODUCES THE M4 BASIC, A COST-EFFECTIVE ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL POST-PROCESSING SYSTEM
AM Solutions, a brand of the Rösler Group, launched the M4 Basic, a compact, cost‑effective vibratory finishing system for additive‑manufactured metal and polymer parts. The unit processes workpieces up to 70 × 70 × 25 mm and combines a 20‑litre rotary vibrator with a 25‑litre...
Podcast: Rethinking Industrial Equipment Sales: Inside Corbel’s AI-Driven Approach
Corbel, a next‑generation CPQ platform, is using generative AI to overhaul industrial equipment sales. The system mines unstructured data—PDFs, videos, sales transcripts—to deliver instant technical answers and embeds financing options directly into the buying flow. By keeping human sales reps...
Revealing the ‘50 to Know,’ ‘50 to Watch,’ ‘Future 5’ Start-Ups and ‘Hall of Fame’ Procurement Provider Lists for 2025-2026
The Hackett Group’s Solution Intelligence team released its 13th 50 to Know and 50 to Watch procurement provider lists, alongside the Hall of Fame and the 8th Future 5 for 2025‑2026. After evaluating roughly 220 global vendors, 117 solutions earned placement across the...
Kongsberg Maritime Expands Offerings in Indonesia with PT PAL MoU
Kongsberg Maritime has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with PT PAL, Indonesia’s largest state‑owned shipyard, to deepen collaboration on marine technology solutions. The ceremony in Surabaya was attended by senior officials from both companies and the Norwegian ambassador. The MoU follows...
Silicon Becomes Core Driver of Data Center Networking
#Technology #Thread #Semiconductor #Manufacturing #Data The Semiconductor Data Networking: 1/ - Modern Data Center Networking Is No Longer Just A Software Or Infrastructure Challenge. It Starts With Semiconductor Capability. - Bandwidth Growth, AI Traffic, And Cloud Scale Push Silicon To Become The Core...
Tariffs Boost Steel Jobs, Undermine U.S. Manufacturing
"Trump’s Tariffs Are Adding Steel Mill Jobs, and Crushing American Factories" https://t.co/EdQKmnKPzv You guys will never believe this, but heavily taxing a vital manufacturing input isn't good for manufacturing. https://t.co/6IRvgAXzPH
Silk Searoad Appoints V. For Bulk, Tanker Fleet Management
V. has entered a technical management partnership with Greek shipowner Silk Searoad Maritime to oversee its eight‑vessel fleet, comprising five bulk carriers and three tankers. The agreement gives Silk Searoad access to V.’s global marine services, data‑driven performance platforms, and the Marcas...
VCs Misuse Dual‑use Hype; Stop Relying on Grants
Certainly GTM is very different. And there are supply chain issues in current environment. Would add: NOT doing dual use is not an excuse to rely on grants and research money, stuff becoming too expensive, and not being able to...
Europe Must Block Chinese‑Made Cars From Flooding Market
Good points from Thorsten Brenner -- The "car bosses" are tempted to use their Chinese factories to supply the European market. Deindustrializing Europe isn't their concern. European policy makers need a policy framework that makes this impossible...
Europe Losing Investment Attractiveness for Food, Drink Producers, Says Survey
A FoodDrinkEurope survey shows Europe has slipped to third place as a preferred location for food and drink manufacturing investment, behind Asia and North America. Only 31% of CEOs view Europe as attractive, yet 51% still plan to increase spending...
Importers May Front‑Load Amid Flat Trump Tariffs
Countries and export options other than the US. Trump flat tariff. Will importers front load like before? Five years and continuing supply chain importance.
AI Could Outperform Executives in Designing Resilient Supply Chains
Would AI, instead of the C-suite, improve supply chain design and performance? Especially after five years of disruption and now unpredictability. https://t.co/Z60firMpE4
Big Joe Forklifts Launches WS25-40 High Performance Lithium-Ion Stacker to Boost Productivity in Tight Spaces
Big Joe Forklifts introduced the WS25‑40 High Performance Lithium‑ion Stacker, a walk‑straddle stacker designed for tight warehouse aisles. The model lifts between 2,500 and 4,000 lb and features a compact footprint, fully proportional controls, and an integrated lithium‑ion battery with onboard...
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Zebra Technologies’ AltiZ 3D sensors now power EBI Electric’s Inspector T lumber‑scanning system, delivering an eightfold increase in measurement precision. The AI‑enhanced solution identifies defects such as knots, cracks and rot, enabling manufacturers to boost usable wood yields by up to...
How SCADA and Analytics Software Improve OEE
Manufacturers and OEMs are turning to integrated SCADA and analytics software to boost overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Real‑time visibility into availability, performance, and quality replaces manual PLC checks and paper logs, enabling instant downtime tracking and quality monitoring. The combined...
Torc Robotics and Daimler Truck Expand Autonomous Truck Testing to Michigan Public Roads
Torc Robotics announced that its autonomous trucks will now be tested on public roads in Michigan, using the latest‑generation Daimler Truck Freightliner Cascadia chassis. The expansion builds on existing test sites in Dallas‑Fort Worth and Blacksburg and moves development from the...
Supply Chains Brace for Post‑Tariff Uncertainty
What will Trump do with tariff that expire in 150 days? What next? What are China’s countermeasures? What will supply chains do now? After these tariffs expire? Prepare or react?
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Stäubli Robotics unveiled the next‑generation Sterimove at INTERPHEX 2026, positioning it as the world’s first mobile robot certified for Grade A, B, C and D cleanroom environments. The platform combines sealed, cleanroom‑compatible construction with advanced collision‑avoidance sensing, dual emergency stops...
Dutch and Korean Builders Achieve the Impossible
I visited this ship when she was being built. Truly a “How the F are they going to make this work?” moment. When they work together the Dutch and South Korean shipbuilders accomplish the impossible. And this isn’t even the most...