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
Henkel Adds Specialty Tapes and AI-Powered Adhesive Simulation to Its EV Battery Portfolio
Henkel unveiled two new products for electric‑vehicle batteries at Battery Show Europe 2026: Loctite Specialty Tapes, a water‑based, low‑VOC tape line for bonding, insulation and thermal management, and Loctite Solve, an AI‑driven platform that simulates adhesive formulations virtually. The tapes extend Henkel’s portfolio beyond liquid adhesives, offering faster, consistent application on production lines. Loctite Solve creates digital twins of adhesive chemistries, allowing engineers to evaluate performance before physical prototyping. Together, the offerings aim to accelerate battery assembly, cut development time and support recycling and repair initiatives.
How U.S. Manufacturers Can Compete In A Global Market
U.S. manufacturers are grappling with offshore price pressure, but Kent Elastomer Products’ president John Danes argues that a total value proposition—combining quality, innovation, supply‑chain reliability and geographic proximity—offers a competitive edge. He highlights how advanced elastomer materials and strict purity...
SEG Solar to Launch 4GW US Plant Q3 2026
SEG Solar to open new US 4GW module assembly plant in Q3 2026 #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/QrJjTm3VT6
Airfreight Rates Remained Elevated in April Despite Ceasefire
Air freight rates stayed high in April despite the Iran‑U.S. ceasefire, with the Baltic Air Freight Index showing a 32.7% year‑over‑year increase. The surge follows March spikes triggered by regional air attacks and a closed Strait of Hormuz, which lifted...
Tariff Uncertainty Deepens for Shippers After New Court Ruling Against Trump
A U.S. Court of International Trade has struck down the administration’s latest 10% global tariffs, deeming them unauthorized under the Trade Act of 1974. The ruling follows a Supreme Court decision that barred broader duties, prompting the court to block...
Binhai Energy Terminates 15GW Ingot/Cell Manufacturing Plant, Redirects Resources to Battery Sector
Chinese energy firm Tianjin Binhai Energy has scrapped its planned 15 GW ingot‑pulling and PV‑cell manufacturing complex in Inner Mongolia, citing a collapse in solar‑module prices and industry overcapacity. The board approved a termination proposal and redirected capital toward silicon‑carbon anode...
SANY Rolls Out 1,000th Electric Excavator & Launches 5G Remote Control
SANY Group has delivered its 1,000th electric excavator, underscoring a rapid shift toward zero‑emission construction equipment. The company also launched the SY550HD, a 5G‑enabled remote‑controlled excavator that can be operated from up to 8,500 km with latency as low as 120‑140 ms....
Vertical, Hollow-Shaft Motors Meet Needs of Mexico’s Water Industry
ABB has secured NOM and ANCE certifications for its Vertical Hollow Shaft (VHS) motors, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for deployment across Mexico’s water‑related sectors. The VHS line, engineered for vertical pumping in agriculture, mining, municipal water and wastewater treatment,...
Amplify Battery Cell Manufacturing JV Faces More Delays
Daimler Truck announced a $235 million impairment charge as the Amplify Cell Technologies battery‑cell joint venture in Mississippi encounters further delays. The 2.6‑million‑square‑foot plant, projected to cost $2‑3 billion, had already seen its production start pushed from 2027 to 2028, and the...
The Achilles’ Heel of China’s Supply Chain Strategy: New Technology
Chinese EV leader BYD reported its weakest first‑quarter performance in six years, with profit plunging 55% to ¥4.1 billion (about $570 million) and revenue falling 12% to ¥150 billion (roughly $21 billion). Deliveries slipped 30%, underscoring a broader slowdown in China’s new‑energy‑vehicle (NEV) market...
ITER Magnet Milestone Tests Fusion’s Construction Supply Chain
The U.S. ITER program, managed from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has shipped the final components of the central solenoid magnet system to the ITER fusion reactor in Cadarache, France. This completes the American contribution to one of ITER’s most complex...
The US Marine Corps Is Looking for a Few Good Robots to Build Airfields
The U.S. Marine Corps has issued an SBIR solicitation to develop autonomous robots that can assemble Expeditionary Airfield (EAF) matting in austere, amphibious environments. The program, titled “Automated Expeditionary Airfield Assembly,” seeks systems capable of navigating uneven terrain, handling heavy...
Merck Advances Scalable Manufacturing for Oral PCSK9 Therapy
Merck has published a landmark study in Science describing a scalable biocatalytic synthesis platform for its investigational oral PCSK9 inhibitor, enlicitide decanoate. The enzyme‑driven process enables selective peptide fragment formation, coupling, macrocyclization and uses crystallization‑based purification, aiming to reduce reliance...
Malaysia Tightens Norms for Imported EVs
Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry announced that from July 1 2026 only franchise‑approved permit holders may import fully built electric vehicles (CBU) with a CIF value of at least RM200,000 (about $44,000) and a powertrain output of 180 kW. The rule...
Automation Needed to Return U.S. to Manufacturing #1
The U.S. is already the world’s #2 manufacturing powerhouse. To become #1 again, we need better automation. Make factories more productive, safer, and easier to work in. @goformic is leading that charge:
Maersk Mulls Potential Red Sea Return as Hopes Rise over US-Iran Deal
Maersk is weighing a restart of its Red Sea‑Suez Canal services as diplomatic momentum builds around a potential US‑Iran nuclear agreement. The carrier halted Red Sea transits in February 2024 after Houthi attacks escalated, forcing vessels onto longer routes around...
DTU Patent Targets Scanned Vat Photopolymerization
Technical University of Denmark has filed patent US‑20260116006‑A1 for a resin 3‑D‑printing system that moves the optics rather than exposing an entire layer at once. The design features a semi‑transparent membrane, an XY‑movable optical unit with a collimator, objective lens...
South Korea Demo Shows Humanoids, ‘Robot Dogs’ Teaming Up in a Warehouse
LG CNS showcased its PhysicalWorks Baton platform, letting humanoid, quadruped, AMR and AGV robots collaborate autonomously in a Seoul warehouse demo. The system coordinated a Unitree humanoid, Deep Robotics’ M20 quadruped, Dexmate’s wheeled robot and Bear Robotics’ Carti‑100 without human...
Chinese EV Maker Leapmotor Taps Stellantis’ Spanish Plant for EU Production
Leapmotor, backed by a 21% stake from Stellantis, will add a production line at the Stellantis‑owned Figueruelas plant in Zaragoza to build Opel‑branded electric SUVs and its B10 model for Europe. The joint venture, Leapmotor International, gives Leapmotor a 49%...
Kalyon PV Begins Production at New TOPCon Solar Cell Factory in Turkey
Kalyon PV has launched a new 1 GW TOPCon solar cell factory in Ankara, raising its annual cell output to 2.1 GW. The plant joins an existing 1.9 GW module facility and a 1 GW ingot‑and‑wafer line, creating a vertically integrated manufacturing hub. The...
Hormuz Tensions Threaten Supply Chains, Risk Demand Collapse
US, Iran Clash Near Hormuz as Response on Proposed Deal Awaited. The longer this goes on, the greater the global economic and supply chain disruption. What about the US? Is there a tipping point from supply shortage to demand destruction?...
Box Makers Struggle to Pass on War Costs
Packaging producers are feeling a double hit as the Middle East conflict pushes diesel and energy costs higher while consumer demand remains weak. The war‑driven surge in transportation expenses forced Sonoco to absorb an $8‑$10 million quarterly hit and Smurfit Westrock to...
ABS, HD KSOE Collaborate for Digital Shipbuilding, Vessel Intelligence
ABS and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) signed a memorandum of understanding to develop digital technologies that enhance safety and performance across the vessel value chain. The partnership will create Digital Threads for secure data flow, explore 3‑D...
Shipping Bottlenecks Prompt Auto Makers to Rethink Global Supply Chains
Auto manufacturers are scrambling to redesign global supply networks after the Strait of Hormuz and other key maritime routes were effectively shut down, driving up shipping costs and triggering a shift toward regional sourcing and alternative logistics.
China's State Council Forms Probe Team After Hunan Fireworks Plant Blast
China's State Council announced a dedicated investigation team to probe a fireworks factory explosion in Hunan province, signaling heightened scrutiny of occupational safety in the manufacturing sector. The move comes amid limited public details about casualties and damage, but officials...
Stellantis Launches $1.8 M Vehicle Dismantling Center in Morocco to Boost Circular Economy
Stellantis opened a $1.8 million vehicle dismantling center in Casablanca, Morocco, capable of handling up to 10,000 end‑of‑life cars per year. The site marks the automaker’s third global dismantling plant and the first in the Middle East and Africa, reinforcing its...
Trudeau’s Big EV Bet Is Officially a Flop – by John Ivison (National Post – May 6, 2026)
Canada’s high‑profile push to become North‑America’s EV hub hit a setback when Honda announced the indefinite suspension of its $15 billion (≈ $11 bn USD) electric‑vehicle plant in Ontario. The move underscores the fragility of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s strategy, which hinged on...
Aeva Delivers Atlas 4D LiDAR C‑samples to Daimler Truck for Autonomous Freightliner Cascadia
Aeva has shipped Atlas 4D LiDAR C‑samples to Daimler Truck North America for integration into the autonomous Freightliner Cascadia. The FMCW sensor, capable of detecting objects up to 500 metres, moves the program closer to series production and highlights a deepening...
ProPhotonix Announces COBRA Slim UV with up to 20,000 Wm-2 UVA Output for Inspection Applications
ProPhotonix, part of the Exaktera Group, unveiled the COBRA Slim UV LED line light capable of delivering up to 20,000 W·m⁻² UVA irradiance. The product offers four selectable wavelengths (365 nm‑405 nm), field‑adjustable optics, optional 4× strobing, and a modular design that can...
Hanwha Group Launches ‘Korean SpaceX’ Drive, Targets 8% Stake in KAI
South Korea's Hanwha Group unveiled a “Korean SpaceX” plan to build a vertically integrated space business, expanding from defense into launch vehicles, satellites and data services. The conglomerate has raised its stake in Korea Aerospace Industries to 5.09% and plans...
EGA Partners with ADNOC to Boost Aluminium Supply Chain
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S) have signed a high‑level agreement to explore joint logistics initiatives that will boost supply‑chain resilience in the aluminium sector. The collaboration, announced at the Make it in the Emirates event,...
Manufacturing Employment Drops 66K, Now 7.9%
Manufacturing again loses jobs, down 2k. Over the last year employment is down 66K. It's now 7.9% of total employment.
193: Is Apple DOWNGRADING the iPhone 18 Due to Memory Shortage?
The episode delves into rumors that Apple may be downgrading the standard iPhone 18 due to a surge in memory (RAM) costs driven by AI-driven chip shortages. Hosts discuss how this could lead to component sharing with the iPhone 18 E,...
US Private Equity Firm Acquires Controlling Stake in JinkoSolar’s American Operations
U.S. private‑equity firm FH Capital has signed a definitive agreement to purchase a 75.1% controlling stake in JinkoSolar’s U.S. subsidiary, leaving the Chinese parent with a 24.9% minority interest. The deal covers Jinko’s 2‑GW solar panel assembly plant in Florida,...
NVIDIA and Corning Expand U.S. Optical Manufacturing
NVIDIA and Corning announced a multiyear partnership to expand U.S. optical connectivity manufacturing for AI data centers. Corning will boost domestic capacity tenfold and increase fiber output by more than 50%, adding three new plants in North Carolina and Texas...
Water Shortage Disrupts Denim Washing Units in Karnataka’s Ballari
An acute water shortage in Karnataka’s Ballari district has forced more than 55 denim washing units to curtail or halt production over the past two weeks. Units now rely on costly private tanker deliveries, reducing output and delaying deliveries. The...
Successfully Machining Complex Jet Engine Vanes in 17‑4 Stainless
By popular account, jet engine vanes are nearly impossible to make. It took some iteration, and we are now having success machining stage 1/2 variable guide vanes out of 17-4 stainless steel—with exceptionally tight tolerances.
Vardhman Textiles Announces US $13.2 Million Punjab Expansion Plan
Vardhman Textiles' board approved a Rs.125 crore ($13.2 million) expansion of its Punjab garment unit, raising shirt output capacity from 2.20 million to roughly 4.5 million units per year. The plant, already operating at 95 % capacity, aims to complete the upgrade by FY ’27 using...
U.S. Army Selects Windchill for Product Data Management
PTC’s Windchill platform has been selected as the U.S. Army’s official product data management and PLM solution. The ePDM system will serve as the Army’s system of record for lifecycle data, workflows, and configuration management under the Department of the...
New Marketplace Simplifies Plastic Procurement and Trading
if anyone owns a plastics factory, pls DM so i can connect you to Bailey he traded millions of tons of plastics and is now building a marketplace to make procurement, trading, credit and freight less painful by moving the...
Vallarpadam Loses Transhipment Cargo Share to Newcomer Vizhinjam
DP World‑operated Vallarpadam terminal at Cochin saw transhipment volumes plunge 49% year‑on‑year to 85,911 TEU in FY 2025‑26, cutting total throughput to 767,948 TEU. In contrast, Adani‑run Vizhinjam, which opened in December 2024, handled 1.3 million TEU, surpassing its 1 million TEU design capacity....
Reborn Chinese Shipyard Secures Debut Order From Domestic Start-Up
China’s revitalised shipbuilder Tianjin Haiyu has secured its first contract, delivering two 353,147‑cubic‑foot refrigerated vessels for domestic start‑up Chishan Group’s Shandong Fuerdon plant. The order, reported by Clarksons, marks the yard’s debut in commercial production after a recent restructuring. The...
DP World’s Thailand Play and the Eastward Extension of Emirati Port Doctrine
DP World, the Abu‑Dhabi‑based terminal operator, announced a strategic push into Thailand, marking the first major Southeast Asian foothold for its expanding port network. The move aligns with a broader Emirati doctrine to extend maritime infrastructure eastward, targeting the region’s...
How a Robot (Sort of) Made Me Lunch
London startup Kaikaku AI is piloting a food‑assembly robot called Fusion at a poke‑bowl shop, backed by $1.8 million in funding. The machine automatically dispenses vegetables, sauces and raw salmon into a bowl, while a human adds rice and final seasoning....
AEM Report: Canada’s Equipment Manufacturing Industry Proving Resilient Amid Economic Headwinds
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ triennial report shows Canada’s off‑highway equipment sector generated roughly $40 billion USD in sales in 2025, an 11% increase over 2022, and supported 147,000 jobs. Employment grew 3.3% year‑over‑year, with direct wages averaging about $75,000 USD—30%...
DesignX: OS and AI Layer for Factory Decisions
DesignX introduced Df-OS, a no‑code Digital Factory Operating System, and Vish.ai, an AI reasoning layer that turn raw factory data into actionable decisions. The platform sits above existing ERP, MES and IoT tools, structuring process information and applying real‑time insights...
Hunan Yuneng Plans Cathode Material Factory in Spain
Chinese battery material maker Hunan Yuneng announced a €800 million ($872 million) investment to build a lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) cathode plant in Mérida, Spain. The first phase will cost €125 million ($136 million) and deliver 50,000 tonnes of cathode material annually, with a later expansion to...
Keysight Adds PCIe 7.0 Receiver Test Application
Keysight Technologies announced a new PCIe 7.0 receiver (RX) test application that extends its PCIe 7.0 portfolio to cover end‑to‑end transmitter and receiver validation. The solution pairs the M8050A BERT system with the M8042A pattern generator, M8043A error analyzer, and N5991PB7A automation...
Winchester Ammo Q1 Profits Slide on Pricing Pressures
Olin Corp.'s Winchester ammunition segment saw Q1 earnings drop 33.3% to $15.2 million, driven by higher commodity metal and operating costs. Despite the profit decline, segment sales rose 21.3% to $470.5 million, helped by stronger commercial ammunition pricing and military project revenue....
ROBOTERA Raises USD 200 Million To Scale Global Robotics Expansion
ROBOTERA announced a $200 million funding round led by SF Group, exceeding its original target and following a prior RMB 1 billion (~$140 million) strategic raise. The capital will fund production scaling, engineering for next‑gen models, and global market expansion. The company now has...