Today's Manufacturing Pulse
Honeywell rolls out AI‑driven Experion upgrades and new cybersecurity suite
At the 2026 Honeywell Users Group conference, Honeywell introduced Feature Pack 3 for its Experion Process Knowledge System, adding Module Type Packages and a new Unit Operations Controller version. The company also launched Experion Cognition R100, an AI‑assisted platform designed to cut the $2 million average cost of unplanned downtime. A parallel announcement detailed an expanded OT Cybersecurity Suite with five new AI‑powered protections.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Factorial Energy completes $1.3B SPAC merger and Nasdaq listing
How Deutsche Aircraft Is Differentiating with Its D328eco Strategy
Deutsche Aircraft is pushing its D328eco 40‑seat turboprop toward a first test flight in the second half of 2026, with certification and deliveries slated for the fourth quarter of 2027—about a year later than originally planned. The company is using the extra lead time to reinforce its supply chain and to launch a unified, end‑to‑end customer experience that bundles sales, aftermarket support, training and predictive‑maintenance tools. Chief Commercial Officer Anastasija Visnakova says the strategy centers on integration, predictability and day‑one readiness, aiming to differentiate Deutsche Aircraft from traditional OEMs. While no firm orders are announced, the firm has about 150 letters of intent and a pipeline of roughly 600 units, with Private Wings as the first disclosed customer.
US Fixation on the Hard-Hat Economy and Making Manufacturing Great Again Makes Little Sense
The article argues that U.S. political focus on reviving the “hard‑hat” economy is misplaced. Manufacturing now comprises under 8% of employment, and recent tariff and subsidy policies have raised input costs without restoring jobs. Federal initiatives like the Inflation Reduction...
Manifest 2026 Recap
In episode 230 of The Robot Report podcast, hosts Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre recap the Manifest 2026 supply‑chain trade show in Las Vegas and interview eight robotics CEOs, including leaders from Gather AI, Robust.AI, Slamcore, Slip Robotics, Ambi Robotics, Corvus Robotics, Glid Technologies and AutoPallet. The episode...
Enemy Weapons Detector in the Hands of Soldiers Five Years Early
The British Army will field Leonardo UK’s SONUS acoustic weapon‑locating system five years ahead of schedule, with a rollout to frontline units within the next 12 months. Weighing 70% less than its predecessor, SONUS can be deployed in under three...
Manifest 2026 Recap
Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre recap their experience at the Manifest 2026 tradeshow, highlighting cutting‑edge developments in warehouse and supply‑chain robotics. The episode features rapid‑fire news, a Zoox autonomous‑taxi demo, and in‑depth interviews with CEOs and executives from Gather AI,...
Build with Ukraine: Wingcopter and TAF Industries Establish Joint Venture to Scale Production of Reconnaissance Drones in Germany for Ukraine
Wingcopter and Ukraine’s TAF Industries signed an MoU at the Munich Security Conference to create a joint venture that will produce reconnaissance drones in Germany for Ukraine. The partnership combines TAF’s licensed battlefield‑proven designs with Wingcopter’s manufacturing and engineering capabilities,...
Pod-Based, On-Demand Media and Buffer Manufacturing System
Nucleus Biologics introduced the Krakatoa K500, the first bioreactor‑scale, pod‑based system that manufactures sterile cell‑culture media and buffers on‑demand at point‑of‑use. The solution combines pre‑filled powder pods, a closed single‑use workflow and automated mixing, delivering up to 500 L in under three...
AI in Fulfillment: Separating the Hype From the Operational Reality
Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering warehouse fulfillment, but its impact is often overstated. Fidelity Fulfilment’s pilots show AI can increase picker efficiency, reduce errors, and improve exception handling when paired with human oversight. Modern AI solutions are modular, cloud‑based, and...
Guest: Lisa DeNight of Newmark on the Industrial Real Estate Market on the Rise; Thoughts on Improving Infrastructure; Striving for...
Lisa DeNight, Newmark’s North American Industrial Research head, discussed a rebound in industrial real estate as manufacturers seek new facilities. The National Association of Manufacturers highlighted chronic infrastructure underinvestment, linking highway congestion to higher freight costs. A recent Infios survey...
NUBURU Activates Q1 Production Ramp for 40 High-Power Blue Laser Systems
NUBURU Inc. has launched its Q1 2026 production ramp for 40 high‑power blue laser systems through its Italian subsidiary Lyocon, fulfilling an $850,000 contract with Dutch agritech firm Trabotyx. The order comprises 24 units of 100 W and 16 units of 200 W...
Electronics Exporters Can Grab a Greater Share of the US, EU Markets: Niti Aayog Report
India’s electronics sector can tap a $1.6 trillion US‑EU market after the India‑EU free trade deal and a modest 18 % U.S. tariff, giving it a cost edge over China, Vietnam, Mexico and Thailand. Currently, India holds only about 1 % of the...
Fincantieri Partners with Generative Bionics to Develop Humanoid Shipbuilding Robots
Fincantieri has entered a four‑year industrial partnership with Italian robotics firm Generative Bionics to develop a humanoid welding robot for its shipyards. The robot will incorporate AI‑driven perception, vision and manipulation to operate safely alongside human workers, targeting initial on‑site...
Clorox Completes SAP ERP Overhaul as Purell Acquisition Tests Integration Capacity
Clorox wrapped up a five‑year, multi‑plant SAP rollout, replacing a two‑decade‑old legacy system with a cloud‑based ERP that unifies finance, supply chain, sales and planning. The deployment spanned 21 U.S. and Canadian factories and required over 5,000 employees to complete...
Didero Raises $30M Series A for AI Procurement Platform
AI startup Didero announced a $30 million Series A round, co‑led by Chemistry and Headline with participation from Microsoft’s M12 venture fund. The financing will accelerate adoption of its AI‑driven procurement platform, which embeds autonomous agents into existing ERP and communication tools...
EFW Signs New A330 Freighter Conversion Contract with Hengqin Winglet
Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) has secured a new passenger‑to‑freighter (P2F) conversion contract with Chinese lessor Hengqin Winglet Aircraft Technology. The A330‑P2F conversion will be performed at a partner facility in China, with work slated to begin in mid‑2026 and technical support...
SlipLift Automates Trailer Unloading for More Sites, Says Slip Robotics
Slip Robotics unveiled SlipLift, a new autonomous platform that separates the mobile robot from its payload, allowing it to load or unload any trailer in roughly five minutes. The system supports freight up to 20,000 lb and requires no Wi‑Fi or...
Backing Philly Mayor’s Manufacturing Push Amid NY Crisis
I’ve seen her positive words — If @PhillyMayor is serious about supporting manufacturing, shipbuilding, and the defense industrial base in Philadelphia, I will help her. New York is in a rapidly accelerating crisis of conscience.
Nanostructured Plasma Engineering Extends the Life of Industrial Steel
A plasma‑based low‑energy nitrogen ion implantation (PBLEII) treatment dramatically improves the corrosion resistance of 17‑4PH martensitic stainless steel, with peak performance at 450 °C. Electrochemical tests show the corrosion potential shifting to –169.4 mV (SCE), passive current density dropping to 0.5 µA cm⁻², and...
Trener Robotics Acteris Platform Brings Pre-Trained Physical AI Skills to Industrial Robots
Trener Robotics unveiled the Acteris platform, a software layer that equips existing ABB, Universal Robots and FANUC machines with pre‑trained Physical AI skills. Backed by a $32 million Series A round, the company’s total funding now exceeds $38 million, enabling rapid market expansion...
Simplifying Complex Systems
Two major automation vendors, ABB and Schneider Electric’s Foxboro unit, announced distinct strategies for upgrading existing process control systems. ABB leverages its extensive installed base to offer a comprehensive modernization pathway, while Schneider emphasizes a modular, open architecture aimed at...
Tariffs Won’t Drive Reindustrialization Without Consistent Policy
Its a warning shot to people who think tariffs are going to secure reindustrialization. Is it sustainable? Industrial policy can't be on and off and work.
Ford Repurposes Idle Plant for Batteries Amid Market Growth
Ford is going to try to make a go at batteries in its idled plant. I find it hard to be optimistic about that, but it's at least a growing market https://t.co/37Ns45bbLE
New NPS Challenge Aims to Rewrite How the Military Builds Missiles
The Department of Defense has long struggled with the high cost and long timelines of traditional missile programs, where a single system can exceed millions of dollars. To counter this, the Naval Postgraduate School introduced the Tactical Missile Innovation Challenge,...
How to Make Automation and Process Control Ideas Work
Huffman Engineering, a 40‑year‑old system integrator, delivers end‑to‑end automation for highly regulated sectors by designing, building, and validating UL‑certified panels in‑house. The firm completes roughly 100 full‑scale projects each year, emphasizing custom, full‑process solutions over simple machine integration. By merging...
Private 5G Networks: Solving the Space and Power Problem
Samsung introduced a ‘Network in a Server’ (NIS) solution that consolidates private 5G core, RAN, transport and AI functions onto a single COTS server. By virtualising these network elements on an AMD EPYC 8000 platform with GPU support, the architecture...
What It Really Means: Supply Chain Control Towers
Supply chain control towers are organizational hubs that combine people, data, and decision rights to manage complexity, rather than merely software platforms. Enabled by integrated digital tools, they can focus on logistics, planning, or end‑to‑end execution across varying time horizons....
IIAs 2026 | Sensirion’s Expansion in Debrecen, Hungary
Swiss sensor specialist Sensirion expanded its Debrecen, Hungary facility, earning the top award for Europe’s most impactful small operational project. The plant, originally opened in 2021, added capacity through a 2023‑24 expansion and is projected to create 200 jobs by...
IIAs 2026 | SK’s Expansion in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland
South Korean conglomerate SK Group’s battery separator plant in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland, was named the second‑most impactful operational mega project in Europe for 2026. The €4.4 bn investment has created more than 1,200 jobs and strengthens Europe’s battery supply chain amid rising...
IIAs 2026 | CATL’s Gigafactory in Debrecen, Hungary
Chinese battery giant CATL is investing €7.34 bn to build a gigafactory in Debrecen, Hungary, the country’s largest greenfield project. The company has already assembled over 120,000 battery modules in a rented facility and aims to start lithium‑ion cell production in...
IIAs 2026 | Harro Höfliger’s Expansion in Debrecen, Hungary
Harro Höfliger, a German machinery maker, is expanding its Debrecen plant with a €15 million investment, creating 100 jobs. The project follows the 2024 acquisition of Manz’s Hungarian operations and was ranked the second most impactful small‑scale FDI in the 2026 Investment...
IIAs 2026 | Copeland’s Site Expansion in Cookstown, Northern Ireland
US‑based climate‑tech firm Copeland announced a £19 million expansion of its Cookstown, Northern Ireland factory, adding a new production line for heat‑pump compressors. The investment, the most impactful small‑sized project in Europe according to the 2026 Investment Impact Awards, is projected...
IIAs 2026 | Smart Solar Technologies’ Solar Module Factory in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Smart Solar Technologies, a Turkish cleantech firm, announced a €122 million investment to build a solar cell and module factory in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. The plant will target 1,500 MW of wafer, cell and module output and is expected to generate more than...
Next Tech Bubble? China Warns of Robot Overcapacity
The episode examines China's rapid expansion of the humanoid robotics industry, driven by government subsidies and venture capital, and the resulting overcapacity warning from the National Development and Reform Commission. It highlights the high costs, limited real-world demand, and technical...
Spain Becomes Fourth Country to Join Aero Excellence Initiative to Improve Supply Chain
Spain has become the fourth nation to join the European Aero Excellence International initiative, a collaborative program aimed at boosting aerospace supply‑chain resilience. The scheme, originally launched by France’s GIFAS in 2023 and expanded with Germany’s BDLI and the UK’s...
Reed Critical Frequency in Vertical Motors: Improving Resonance Prediction
Vertical motors are prone to resonance because their shaft behaves like a cantilevered reed, making the reed critical frequency (RCF) the first natural bending mode. When operating speeds, especially with variable frequency drives, intersect this frequency, vibration amplitudes can surge,...
Human-Machine Interfaces Redefine SCADA and Cloud Integration
Human‑machine interfaces (HMIs) have shifted from proprietary, real‑time screens to versatile edge devices that can log data, communicate via open Ethernet protocols, and push information to the cloud. The adoption of standards such as OPC UA and MQTT enables seamless...
Lubrizol Launches Tolerathane TPU for Implantable Medical Devices
Lubrizol has launched Tolerathane™ TPU, a medical‑grade thermoplastic polyurethane designed for implantable devices. The material offers superior resistance to oxidative and hydrolytic degradation while maintaining exceptional softness and mechanical resilience. It integrates with standard thermal processing, enabling thinner‑wall, miniaturized designs...
Forterro Defies European IT Spending Caution with Strong Cloud and AI-Driven Growth in 2025
Forterro posted €375 million in 2025 revenue, delivering double‑digit growth in sales, recurring revenue, and bookings despite a cautious European IT climate. Cloud bookings surged 30% year‑over‑year, pushing recurring revenue to 74% of total. Net revenue retention hit 114% and gross...
Press Release: ACS UK Wins Two New Contracts with Tier-One Airlines
Aircraft interiors specialist ACS UK has secured two contracts with tier‑one global airlines to design and manufacture bespoke monuments for wide‑body aircraft, with deliveries slated for 2027. The deals were signed only months after the company reopened its order book,...
Recovery of the 737 Program Is Unglamorous and Arduous: Boeing Exec
Boeing’s 737 program, still emerging from a six‑year safety and production crisis, is now outputting 42 aircraft per month. The company plans incremental rate increases, targeting 52 and eventually 63 jets monthly by activating a new North Line at the...
Re-Engineering Construction Flow with Takt
In this episode, host Aarni Heiskanen interviews Aleksi Heinonen, a Finnish operations‑management consultant and lean‑construction thought leader, about the rise of Takt production in Finland’s building industry. Heinonen explains how defining a firm Takt time—sometimes years before ground‑break—revolutionized scheduling, logistics,...
CSG and Aselsan Form EU-Based Joint Ventures to Unveil the Korkut Air Defense System
Czech defence group CSG and Turkey’s Aselsan signed a joint venture on 4 February 2026 to produce the Korkut short‑range air‑defence system in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The partnership relocates manufacturing and integration to EU facilities, ensuring compliance with NATO...
What Does Malaysia’s Complete Ban on E-Waste Imports Mean for Battery, Aluminium, Copper Recyclers?
Malaysia upgraded its e‑waste import prohibition from a conditional to an absolute ban, ending all shipments of end‑of‑life batteries and related waste. The move creates immediate supply uncertainty for battery recyclers that rely on imported black mass, likely driving up...
Industrial and Medical AI Drive Real Profits, Not Hype
Flashy AI tools make headlines, but industrial or medical AI often generates the real profits. https://t.co/phSUIEUOy5
TE Connectivity Snap-On Markers From AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect announced it now stocks TE Connectivity Snap‑on markers, a C‑profile wire labeling solution that can be applied to already‑terminated conductors. Each marker is pre‑printed with a single character and comes on an applicator that prevents over‑expansion. The tags fit wire...
Natural Cleaner Manufacturer Cuts Delivery Times with Smarter Planning
The episode follows Ymani Efunyale, founder of Good Vibes Clean, who created a natural cleaning product after her toddler suffered an asthma attack from conventional cleaners. She discusses how she scaled her business to ship nationwide and dramatically reduced delivery...
Sweden’s IPercept Secures Large-Scale Gulf Rollout with Quant Gulf
Sweden‑based industrial AI firm IPercept has inked a partnership with Quant Gulf to roll out its CNC machine intelligence platform across the Gulf region. The deal, valued at up to €10 million, will see the patented diagnostics and universal data layer...
The Mineral Imperative: How and Why China Became a Metals and Minerals Superpower
The episode traces how China transformed from a post‑1949 poverty-stricken nation into the world’s dominant metals and minerals superpower through a deliberate, century‑long strategy that placed mining, processing, and heavy industry at the core of national sovereignty. It outlines three...