Know What's Happening in Manufacturing
Know What's Happening in Manufacturing
Japan launches $6.3B push to capture 30% of global physical AI robotics market
Japan is committing roughly $6.3 billion to accelerate AI‑powered robotics, targeting a 30% share of the global physical AI market by 2040. The initiative responds to a 14‑year population decline and a shrinking workforce, positioning robots as essential for factories, warehouses and critical infrastructure.
Also developing:
By the numbers: BlackRock acquires 5% stake in Samsung Heavy Industries
3D Systems reported a 12% YoY revenue decline for 2025, with healthcare down 5% and industrial solutions down 17%, though adjusted figures show a smaller dip after the Geomagic divestiture. The company confirmed Phyllis Nordstrom as permanent CFO while highlighting growth in med‑tech, dental, and aerospace markets. Materialise and Siemens launched the Additive Manufacturing Alliance to streamline AM adoption, building on the AM I Navigator and Leading Minds Consortium. Meltio added 3D Technology Ltd. as its sales and services partner for Ireland and Northern Ireland, and Stratasys posted a 4% revenue drop but raised manufacturing‑derived revenue to 37.5%.
Retailers worldwide are feeling the squeeze as global logistics and fulfillment costs have risen more than 20% over the past three years. At the same time, 66% of shoppers now bounce across two or more channels before buying, fragmenting the...
A Fleet Advantage survey reveals that nearly half of U.S. heavy‑duty trucking executives are stuck in "procurement paralysis" as shifting tariffs and low‑emission engine mandates create uncertainty about new truck purchases. The indecision has forced fleets to keep older trucks...
LG Display has begun mass production of Oxide 1Hz LCD panels for laptops, which automatically shift refresh rates from 1 Hz to up to 120 Hz based on on‑screen activity. The technology, derived from low‑temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) concepts, claims a 48 percent battery‑life...
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS will exhibit its latest high‑efficiency drive technologies at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, booth B14136. The lineup includes IE5+ permanent‑magnet synchronous motors delivering up to 95% efficiency, a range of centralized and decentralized NORDAC electronic controls, and the modular...
Swisslog used MODEX 2026 to unveil AgileStore, a 4‑way roaming pallet shuttle designed for high‑density, flexible storage, and its SynQ orchestration platform that unifies WMS, WES and WCS functions. The AgileStore system can travel forward, backward, laterally and vertically, allowing...
The sterile injectable contract manufacturing market is rapidly evolving as demand surges for both large‑scale biologics and niche, small‑batch therapies. Leading CDMOs are responding by expanding production capacity, building global redundancy, and investing heavily in specialized talent. Development and pre‑commercial...
On March 23, 2026 CubeSpace announced a production surge, shipping 2,118 standalone ADCS units and 71 mission‑tailored systems in January‑February. The South African firm claims its modular ADCS can cut costs by 50% compared with in‑house solutions, while maintaining an 8‑12‑week lead...
AI-driven platforms are transforming HACCP documentation, shrinking plan creation from weeks to roughly 30 minutes and adding real‑time monitoring, vision inspection, and predictive analytics. The global AI food‑safety market, valued at $2.7 billion in 2024, is projected to hit $13.7 billion by...
Radiate Engineering & Design AG of Zurich launched FlyBlocks, a production‑ready structural airframe platform targeting professional B2B VTOL UAVs focused on long‑range missions. The modular system includes three scalable models—VT‑14, VT‑22 and VT‑30—covering MTOW from 5 kg to 28 kg and ranges...
A 60 Minutes segment highlighted the widening gap between U.S. shipyards and Asian rivals, underscoring a long‑standing shipbuilding crisis. South Korean conglomerate Hanwha announced up to $5 billion to expand Philadelphia’s Philly Shipyard, aiming to boost annual output from under two...
Karli Sage, VP of Supply Chain Management, Technology and Engineering at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, is championing "human‑centered innovation" by deploying warehouse automation, drones, collaborative robots, and decision‑intelligence software that serve employees first. She emphasizes that technology should simplify...
Ford and SK On are winding down their $11.4 billion BlueOval SK battery joint venture, prompting a delay in the planned layoffs at the Glendale, Kentucky plant. The initial cut of roughly 1,500 workers, slated for mid‑February, has been pushed back, with...
Everlane has teamed up with Masters of Flax Fibre to launch a fully traceable linen collection sourced from cooperative farms in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The linen is grown without irrigation or GMOs and uses a 100 percent mechanical, zero‑waste...
Introducing Ⓛ 𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗬 A novel approach to chip-making that can extend Moore's Law 10x beyond what is possible with light — to atomic resolution. News today: "Manufacturers use light-based lithography systems made by the Dutch company ASML, which dominates the market....
Exel Composites announced that its Erlanger, Kentucky factory has earned ISO 14001 certification, confirming a robust environmental management system. The certification validates the plant’s waste‑reduction, energy‑efficiency and chemical‑use initiatives and embeds the Plan‑Do‑Check‑Act (PDCA) cycle into daily operations. It aligns the...
ABB has released SPR2025, the latest Symphony Plus distributed control system (DCS) package, integrating its Automation Extended platform. The update adds system‑wide OPC UA, an Ethernet backbone, and support for modern Microsoft operating systems and virtualization platforms, enabling secure, interoperable...
Source Logistics, a fast‑growing 3PL with 25 warehouses and over 5.8 million square feet of FDA‑ and SQF‑compliant space, has selected IFS Softeon’s warehouse management system to power its nationwide expansion. The Softeon platform offers multi‑tenant architecture, strong API integration and...
Cathay Cargo announced a strategic partnership with Wallenborn Transport to broaden its European trucking footprint. The agreement adds live shipment tracking and real‑time temperature monitoring, giving shippers greater visibility and control. Wallenborn operates 17 bases across 13 countries, linking more...
U.S. Central Command announced that airstrikes have demolished Iran's Qom Turbine Engine Production Plant, a facility that supplied gas turbine engines for IRGC attack drones. The strike, described by Adm. Brad Cooper as the longest field artillery operation in Army...
Rey Elbo, who has toured over 250 factories across Japan, Spain and the Philippines, explains that manufacturers deliberately invite external visitors as a strategic marketing tool. By showcasing clean, disciplined operations they build credibility and attract potential clients, especially decision‑makers....
Caterpillar unveiled its smallest mini‑excavator, the 1‑ton 301 CR, at ConExpo 2026, replacing the 300.9D model. The machine features zero tail swing, a retractable undercarriage that narrows to 29 inches, and a fold‑able blade, targeting utility, landscaping, demolition and trenching jobs in confined...
Renesas Electronics introduced a gallium‑nitride (GaN) half‑wave LLC (HWLLC) platform that delivers 500 W and higher power density for AC/DC adapters. The solution includes four new controller ICs, featuring the RRW11011 interleaved PFC/HWLLC combo, enabling up to 240 W USB‑PD EPR with...
Industrial automation is shifting toward software-defined automation (SDA), a paradigm that separates control logic from hardware using containerized, virtualized environments. By adopting IT‑like engineering practices such as DevOps, modular code, and version control, manufacturers can achieve rapid scaling, easier updates,...
Preventive maintenance is emerging as a competitive differentiator in the industrial real‑estate sector, according to Greek Real Estate Partners managing 23 million square feet. As post‑pandemic Class A warehouses enter their first major upkeep cycle, owners are shifting from reactive “fix fast”...
The first batch of 99.7%-pure copper anodes produced by our new smelter at Kamoa-Kakula was recently delivered to the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola. This shipment of anodes was the first to be transported along the Lobito Railway Corridor....
"The Hanwha Philly shipyard delivers around 1 ship a year. A South Korean Hanwha shipyard delivers 1 a week." https://t.co/OwUFfT0mmc
EKA Mobility, a Pune‑based EV firm, received a Letter of Award to supply and deploy 915 electric buses in Hyderabad. The fleet will consist of 100 nine‑metre and 815 twelve‑metre non‑AC buses, delivered through a consortium with GreenCell Mobility. The...
We don’t find out we have a supply chain problem when everything is fine; we find out when we’re in a crisis and the shelves are empty. https://t.co/I0LD02tiAd
Leaving Canada high and dry could backfire, as the U.S. benefits greatly from Canadian manufacturing. We'll see how the strategy changes throughout these NAFTA negotiations. #NAFTA #trade #geopolitics https://t.co/G5bk8aSGAU
ATC Manufacturing secured a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory contract to develop a large‑format hydraulic press capable of high‑rate thermoplastic composite (TPC) processing for parts up to 10 ft × 5 ft. The program, partnered with Anduril Industries and Toray Advanced Composites, aims to...
Modular #Robots That Reconfigure Like LEGO for Any Task or Environment via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #Technology https://t.co/kGyGT43Cy9
We just ordered Boom's first Scanning Electron Microscope. Extremely serious materials development is now happening. I think by the end of this year Boom will have the most advanced turbine blade manufacturing anywhere in the world.
DEEP Manufacturing will launch a 50,000‑sq‑ft wire‑arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) facility in Houston, Texas, in May—one year ahead of schedule. The plant will start with four WAAM platforms capable of printing carbon steel, nickel‑based alloys and Inconel 625, and will expand...
Lisa Anderson & Eric P. Rose discuss smart product redesign, regional supply chains, automation & the realities of bringing new products to market. 🎥 Watch Smart Product Redesign https://t.co/u4EuOwcFKd #SupplyChain #ProductInnovation #Manufacturing https://t.co/UGMQtlxsw1
De Havilland Canada has delivered its 1,000th DHC‑6 Twin Otter, handing the aircraft to Colombian regional carrier SATENA. The milestone underscores a production run that began in 1965 and highlights the model’s enduring appeal in remote‑operating markets. SATENA now operates...
Trimble and Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe have deepened their partnership to ship Hitachi excavators equipped with Trimble Earthworks 3D grade‑control as a factory‑installed option. The collaboration also adds Trimble WorksManager software, linking field machines with office project data. European customers will...
Moldex3D launched its 2026 release, embedding an Automation, Optimization, and Intelligence (A.O.I.) framework to accelerate digital transformation in mold design. The update revamps solver architecture for stable hot‑runner pressure prediction and delivers over four‑times faster multi‑cavity analysis via partial runner...
Stop the Xero/Zoho trap. Minutes matter in distribution. 🕒 SAP Business One gives real-time shop floor to back-office visibility. ⚡ Interested? Let's chat. Connect and let's talk how I can help you solve your problems. #Xero #Zoho #SAPBusinessOne $SAP #SupplyChain https://t.co/AbeWViEFr2
Look past the jargon and you have a major producer of a building block for plastics preparing to shutdown production soon. It's like financial contagion but its syringes and straws instead of structured derivatives https://t.co/TLVrzqtUVi
AkzoNobel’s International brand has introduced Intergard 6788, an aluminum‑pigmented universal primer designed for new‑building vessels. The product leverages pure epoxy technology to deliver higher solids content and meet tightening VOC regulations. Launching in Asia, the primer will be first available...
Metal Powder Works (MPW) will supply its DirectPowder titanium powder to Additive Manufacturing Solutions for a component produced via laser powder‑bed fusion under the UK Ministry of Defence’s Project TAMPA. The purchase order, a joint effort between the UK MOD...
Autodesk promotes its cloud‑based PLM solution, Fusion Manage, as a way to eliminate data silos and accelerate product development. The platform provides a single real‑time system of record for BOMs, change management, quality and supplier collaboration. Early adopters report up...
Manchester is emerging as Europe’s premier manufacturing hub for US firms, offering a dense cluster of over 8,000 companies and 115,000 skilled workers. Operating costs are up to 40% lower than London, and the city boasts world‑class research facilities in...
E‑magy will present new silicon‑dominant anode data at the 2026 International Battery Seminar in Orlando, showcasing 12 Ah 6S2P cells designed for high‑performance drone packs. The nanoporous silicon material promises higher energy density and faster charging compared with conventional chemistries, backed...
Jabil announced a $1.1 million donation over three years to St. Petersburg College, aimed at expanding advanced manufacturing training. The funds will support new lab equipment, curriculum development, and scholarships for soldering and mechatronics certifications. Jabil engineers will work with faculty to...
Cognex’s new study of more than 500 manufacturers shows 57% already use AI‑powered machine‑vision, with another 30% planning near‑term deployments. Adoption is strongest in automotive, electronics and logistics, where tighter tolerances demand higher accuracy. While initial drivers focus on defect...
Global gas turbine lead times have stretched to five years for large units and up to three years for smaller models, while prices have surged nearly 50% to about $3,000 per kilowatt. Demand is exploding, with 2025 orders projected at...
