Today's Manufacturing Pulse
JetZero breaks ground on $4.7B Greensboro aircraft factory
JetZero has started construction of an 8‑million‑square‑foot aircraft plant in Greensboro, North Carolina, backed by a $4.7 billion investment and the largest state startup incentive ever granted. The facility will create 14,500 jobs over ten years and will serve as the final‑assembly hub for the Z4, a 250‑passenger, 5,000‑nautical‑mile range aircraft that is up to 50% more fuel‑efficient than comparable models.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Donaldson Company acquires Facet Filtration
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 into negative earnings and 10% capacity utilization. The host highlights the absence of a genuine recovery plan, showing that merely having a paper strategy isn’t enough. The lesson underscores the need for competent leadership, diversified customer bases, and proactive sales and turnaround tactics.
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...
Supreme Court Strikes Down Most Trump Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the president lacks authority to impose broad tariffs without congressional approval, striking down the 10% baseline tariffs Trump enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The decision leaves intact steel and aluminum...
Supreme Court Strikes Down Majority of Trump’s Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 ruling that President Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, invalidating most of the administration’s reciprocal tariffs. The decision overturns the 34% tariff on China and the 10% baseline...
Supreme Court Destroys Trump Tariffs, Supply Chains Reset
With the Supreme Court striking down Trump’s tariffs, how will supply chains and logistics reset?
How CPOs Can Protect Their Supply Chains Against Tariff Risk—Without Overreacting
Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) are shifting from headline tariff figures to category‑level exposure mapping, allowing precise risk assessment and targeted mitigation. By integrating total cost of ownership into tariff response, they avoid costly over‑reactions and focus on long‑term spend efficiency....
Averitt Announces Expansion Plans to Terminal Network
Averitt, a leading less‑than‑truckload carrier, announced a multiyear expansion that will add nearly 900,000 square feet of warehouse space, 379 dock doors, and about 2,000 truck‑parking spots by 2027. The plan includes new or expanded terminals in Ocala, FL; Oklahoma...
RECREATE Project Conference Connects Industry to Viable Circular Composites
The EU‑funded RECREATE project will host a free conference on April 23, 2026 in Brussels, bringing together industry, policymakers, and investors to showcase circular‑composite technologies. RECREATE aims to transform end‑of‑life carbon and glass‑fiber composites into profitable feedstock through AI‑driven sorting,...
FedEx ‘Highly Confident’ Grounded MD-11s Will Return to Service
FedEx announced it remains "highly confident" that its fleet of 28 MD‑11 freighters will be cleared to fly by the end of May, despite an FAA grounding triggered by fatigue cracks discovered after UPS Flight 2976. The airline has already...
Telemeter Launches 3D Printable Electromagnetic Absorber Filament for Automotive Radar
Telemeter Electronic introduced a 1.75 mm FFF filament engineered to absorb electromagnetic energy in the 76‑81 GHz automotive radar band and broader 50‑100 GHz millimeter‑wave spectrum. The PLA‑based material prints on standard desktop printers using typical PLA temperatures, yet its dielectric loss enables...
A3 Presents ‘Age of Automation,’ Global Film Series Produced by BBC StoryWorks
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) launched “Age of Automation,” a global film series produced by BBC StoryWorks that showcases how automation is reshaping industries and daily life. The series combines short films and articles that highlight real‑world applications in...
CEO Interview with Aftkhar Aslam of yieldWerx
YieldWerx, led by semiconductor veteran Aftkhar Aslam, offers a data‑centric yield‑analytics platform that consolidates fragmented fab, test, and packaging information into a single, actionable environment. The solution tackles extreme data volumes and multi‑domain complexity, supporting advanced packaging, silicon photonics, MicroLED,...
‘Targeted Injection of Capacity’ Into Vietnam, Thailand Reshapes Ocean Networks
Ocean Alliance is injecting targeted capacity into Vietnam and Thailand in its Day 10 network update, turning ports like Haiphong and Laem Chabang into core deep‑sea origins. The shift adds four trans‑Pacific services to Haiphong and doubles West‑Coast sailings from Laem Chabang, while...
Preserving the American Edge: Revitalizing the Defense Industrial Base
Episode 147 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast argues that America’s defense industrial base has been the engine of military advantage from Roosevelt’s World War II mobilization to Cold‑War stealth breakthroughs. The hosts warn that China’s rapid expansion of defense manufacturing is...
Future‑Focused Supply Chains Need Flexibility, Not Past Data
Supply chains are measured by what happened last month, the year—the past. The last six years have shown unpredictability. From Covid to Trump & trade. A lesson not learned: Firms must look forward not backwards. And that also requires supply...
Insight Works Releases Quality Inspector v7.25 for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Insight Works announced Quality Inspector version 7.25 for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, adding several workflow‑centric enhancements. Inspectors can now log test results directly from Microsoft Teams via adaptive cards, and grade‑based blocking rules tighten control over sales order releases and outbound...
Origis Completes 500-MW Swift Air Solar Project in Texas
Origis Energy has brought three Swift Air Solar facilities online in West Texas, delivering a combined 500 MWdc of renewable power. The projects, completed in three phases with the final stage slated for late 2025, represent more than $650 million in capital...
Boeing Adds Production Line to Boost Space Force’s Missile Warning Push
Boeing has inaugurated a 9,000‑square‑foot electro‑optical infrared (EO/IR) production line at its El Segundo satellite facility to support the Space Force’s Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking (MWT) program. The line will help Millennium Space Systems deliver 12 medium‑Earth‑orbit satellites by 2027,...
Boeing to Boost Production of Missile-Tracking Sensors for Military Satellites
Boeing has opened a 9,000‑square‑foot production facility at its El Segundo campus to manufacture electro‑optical infrared (EO/IR) sensors for U.S. military satellites. The plant will support Millennium Space Systems’ near‑$1 billion contract portfolio, including 12 missile‑warning satellites and a $414 million award...
Israel Considers Updating 50-Year-Old Building Codes to Enable 3D Concrete Printing
Israel is reviewing its 50‑year‑old building construction regulations to accommodate 3‑D concrete printing (3DCP). The push follows exposure to advanced construction tech at the World of Concrete expo and a severe labor shortage caused by the Gaza conflict. Officials argue...
Stratasys Introduces 3D-Printed Dental Training Preset
Stratasys unveiled a new dental anatomical model preset that leverages its multi‑material 3D printing platform to produce highly detailed, biomechanically accurate replicas for dental education and device training. The preset standardizes material ratios and printing parameters, enabling on‑demand, repeatable models...
University of Nottingham Researchers Examine Interface Orientation in Multi-Material LPBF of IN718 and GRCop-42
University of Nottingham researchers, together with the Manufacturing Technology Centre and Autodesk, examined how interface orientation influences defect formation and microstructure in multi‑material laser powder bed fusion of Inconel 718 and GRCop‑42. They printed horizontal, vertical and 45° angled interfaces using...
Hapag-Lloyd, WiseTech Global in Container Visibility Initiative
WiseTech Global and Hapag-Lloyd have launched a trial that equips the carrier’s more than two million containers with IoT smart devices, delivering real‑time location updates to WiseTech’s CargoWise platforms. The pilot processes millions of data points daily and introduces a...
Modern Mill Evolves Its Composite ACRE Into New Construction Applications
Modern Mill’s ACRE composite, launched in 2020, blends 50 % up‑cycled rice hulls with PVC resin to create wood‑like profiles for siding, decking, trim and other non‑structural applications. The material cuts, feels and stains like wood while offering water resistance, rot...
Andhra Pradesh Secures ₹8,175 Crore Battery Gigafactory, Boosting Clean Energy Ambitions
Waaree Energies announced a ₹8,175 crore investment to build India’s largest lithium‑ion battery gigafactory in Andhra Pradesh. The greenfield plant will have a 16 GWh annual capacity, covering cell production, battery packs and large‑scale energy storage systems, and is projected to generate...
OpenBOM, AMC Bridge Expand Integration Partnership
OpenBOM and AMC Bridge have deepened their integration partnership to create a seamless digital thread linking CAD, PLM, ERP and supply‑chain systems with OpenBOM’s cloud‑based product data platform. The collaboration, highlighted at Autodesk University 2025, leverages Autodesk Platform Services to...
CONTACT Software Joins IPAI Platform in Heilbronn
CONTACT Software has become a member of the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) platform in Heilbronn, Germany. The move gives the company access to IPAI’s training programs, ethical AI standards development, and a network of business, academic, and public‑sector partners....
Orange Marine Orders Two More Cable Laying and Repair Vessels From Vard
VARD has secured an order from Orange Marine for two additional VARD 9 03 cable‑laying and repair vessels, to be constructed at Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka. The ships will follow the CS Sophie Germain design delivered in July 2023, emphasizing sea‑keeping, low fuel consumption...
Roland DGA Launches UV Direct-to-Film System with New Media
Roland DGA unveiled a UV Direct‑to‑Film (DTF) system that pairs new UV‑DTFA print sheets with UV‑DTFB transfer film. The media delivers up to twice the adhesion of competing solutions while eliminating residue and boosting dimensional stability. Designed for VersaOBJECT MO,...
China Wafer Prices Fall for Fourth Week as Discounting Deepens Under Inventory Pressure
Chinese photovoltaic wafer prices fell for a fourth consecutive week, with n‑type M10 wafers dropping 2.38% to $0.164 per piece and n‑type G12 falling 4.98% to $0.191. Operating rates at major wafer producers have slipped below 50%, while inventory levels...