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) in a next‑generation electric‑vehicle production line at its Mulhouse facility, slated to start in 2029 as part of France’s push to electrify two‑thirds of new cars by 2030.
Also developing:
By the numbers: TIEA Connectors raises $8M Series A
JELD‑WEN Q1 2026 Revenue Falls 6.9% as Supply‑Chain and Sales Execution Hurdles Persist
JELD‑WEN Holding posted net revenue of $722.1 million for the quarter ended March 28, 2026, a 6.9% drop from a year earlier. The company blamed the decline on weaker volume, mix shifts and ongoing supply‑chain constraints, while CEO William J. Christensen highlighted service investments and cost discipline as the path forward.
Tirupur Hit by Sharp Yarn Price Surge
Yarn prices in Tirupur rose by Rs 7 ($0.07) this month, bringing the five‑month cumulative increase to Rs 41 ($0.43). The hike follows the December termination of an 11% import‑duty waiver on cotton, which pushed candy‑cotton costs to Rs 5,500 ($58). Global crude‑oil...
Schaeffler AG Q1 Profit Falls 28% to €60M Amid Revenue Dip
Schaeffler AG announced a 28% drop in first‑quarter profit to €60 million ($65 million), with earnings per share falling to €0.06. Revenue also slipped 2.7% to €5.764 billion ($6.22 billion), underscoring pressure on Europe’s automotive supply chain.
Eurozone Manufacturing PMI Hits 52.2 in April, Highest in 47 Months
Eurozone factory activity surged in April, with the S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index climbing to 52.2 – the strongest reading in 47 months. The jump reflects manufacturers front‑loading orders amid war‑driven price spikes and supply‑chain disruptions, offering fresh data...
Volkswagen Launches Fully Automated 'Gamechanger' Production Line at Wolfsburg
Volkswagen Group has begun testing a fully automated production system, code‑named Gamechanger, at its Wolfsburg headquarters. The initiative combines AI‑driven robotics, megacasting and “unboxed” manufacturing to slash costs and help the automaker meet its goal of producing affordable electric vehicles...
What’s Inside Mahindra Auto’s Aggressive FY27 Playbook
Mahindra & Mahindra outlined an aggressive FY27 roadmap centered on SUV and electric‑vehicle growth, aiming for mid‑to‑high‑teen percent sales expansion. The automaker will boost monthly production capacity by 4,000 units to 68,500 by FY27 and add another 14,000 units later...
Structural Demand Shifts Pulverizing US Forest Exports
US forest product exports are entering a multiyear decline as demand shifts. Stagnant U.S. home sales, rising use of composite materials, and lingering trade‑policy uncertainty have reduced industrial production by 2.9% year‑over‑year in February 2026 and pushed capacity utilization down...
AI100 Finalist Interview: AMESA
AMESA, a provider of industrial AI, argues it belongs on the AI 100 because it delivers physical AI for autonomy. Unlike typical AI that offers generic insights, AMESA uses machine teaching where experts train AI on edge cases via simulation, digital...
Unique Group Expands Subsea Mechanical Capabilities for Decommissioning
Unique Group announced an expansion of its subsea mechanical division, adding hydraulic shears, diamond‑wire saws, recovery grabs and back‑deck support gear. The rollout includes the Uni‑FlowX mass‑flow excavation system, which offers non‑contact trenching for construction and late‑life decommissioning. The company...
LEAP 71 and Sindan Partner to Develop Aerospace Systems with Computational Engineering Tools
AI‑driven manufacturing firm Sindan and UAE aerospace startup LEAP 71 have signed a strategic partnership to develop air‑breathing jet engines and space propulsion systems using LEAP 71’s Noyron computational engineering model and Sindan’s AI‑powered additive manufacturing platform. The collaboration aims to compress...
JSR to Build First Taiwan Photoresist Plant to Co-Develop Advanced Resists with TSMC — Multi-Million Dollar Plant Could Come Online...
JSR, which holds about 20% of the global photoresist market, announced a joint‑venture to build its first production plant in Taiwan, targeting an operational date as early as 2028. The multi‑million‑dollar facility will co‑develop advanced photoresists directly with TSMC, closing...
Nissan Completely Abandons Plans for EV Production in Mississippi
Nissan has fully scrapped its plan to build electric vehicles at the Canton, Mississippi plant, a move that follows a year‑long postponement after U.S. federal EV incentives expired. The company had intended to launch two battery‑electric crossovers—one under Nissan and...
Plaid Technologies Provides Update on Graphene Coating Initiative for Drone Systems
Plaid Technologies announced that it has supplied a batch of high‑purity graphene material to Dr. Ian Flint for testing as part of its collaboration with Graphene Nano Works. The partnership is evaluating graphene‑based coatings to improve thermal management, durability, radar...
MSC Bridges the Strife with New Europe-Red Sea-Middle East Express
MSC announced the Europe‑Red Sea‑Middle East Express, a new container service that connects ten European and Middle Eastern ports, launching its first sailing from Antwerp on 10 May. The route bypasses the Strait of Hormuz by using a land‑bridge through Saudi...
Avassa and Alimak Group Announce Edge Platform Deployment for Industrial Applications
Avassa announced that Alimak Group will deploy its Edge Platform across the maker’s diverse equipment lineup, spanning construction, industrial, wind and infrastructure assets. The partnership brings Avassa’s low‑latency data processing and analytics capabilities directly to the field, enabling real‑time monitoring...
China Silicon Wafers Push Boosts Eswin Capacity
China has set an informal mandate for domestic silicon wafer suppliers to meet 70% of the 12‑inch wafer demand by 2026, intensifying its push to localise the semiconductor stack amid AI‑driven demand and U.S. export controls. Xi’an‑based Eswin Material Technology...
LOCO3 Project Advances Recycling of Long Carbon Fiber/Nylon Waste for Automotive
The Thermoplastic Composites Application Center (TPAC) is steering the Low‑CO2 Composite Components (LOCO3) project from 2025 to 2027 to prove industrial‑scale recycling of long‑fiber carbon‑fiber/nylon waste for automotive use. Partnering with Turkey’s BaX Composites and the Dutch firm Spiral RTC,...
China's Carmakers Chase 'Yaris Moment' To Ignite Overseas Growth
Chinese automakers are accelerating a shift from cheap, domestically‑focused models to vehicles engineered specifically for export markets, a strategy dubbed the “Yaris moment.” Companies such as BYD, Chery, SAIC’s MG, and Hongqi have unveiled Europe‑oriented hatchbacks, SUVs and pickups aimed...
The New Last Drop System Debuts at Luxe Pack New York - Baralan Redefines the User Experience
Baralan unveiled its new Last Drop System, a push‑button applicator, at Luxe Pack New York. The mechanism lets users reach product at the bottle’s base without unscrewing the brush, cutting waste and streamlining use. Designed for nail‑polish, lip, mascara and concealer...
Teleport Plans to Build Air Cargo Ecommerce Hub in Bahrain
Teleport, the Southeast Asian e‑commerce logistics specialist backed by Capital A, announced plans to build an air‑cargo hub in Bahrain despite recent regional conflict. The move follows Bahrain Airport’s reopening and strong government encouragement, though a timeline was not disclosed....
AI on the Shopfloor: Who Takes the Blame when a Machine Fails?
The article highlights that Indian factories deploying agentic AI lack clear accountability structures, leaving operators liable for autonomous decisions they cannot override. Executives like Infosys EVP Jasmeet Singh note missing audit trails, explainability tools, and documented authority boundaries. Recent high‑profile...
L&T to Develop Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project in Odisha
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a contract worth between ₹2,500 crore and ₹5,000 crore (approximately $300 million‑$600 million) from the Coal India‑BHEL joint venture to build a coal‑to‑ammonium nitrate plant in Odisha. The turnkey project will include design, engineering, procurement, construction and hand‑over of...
Explosion at Huasheng Fireworks Plant in Hunan Kills 26, Injures 61
A massive explosion at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co. in Liuyang, Hunan province killed 26 people and injured 61 on May 4, 2026. Local officials detained the plant’s head, ordered a shutdown of all fireworks production in the...
Ikarus Secures 150-Bus Electric Order in North Macedonia Tender (via Electrobus Europe)
Hungarian bus maker Ikarus, through its Electrobus Europe joint venture with China’s CRRC, secured a contract to deliver 150 battery‑electric buses to North Macedonia, the largest electric order in its history. The deal includes 75 fast‑charging stations and allocates 100...
Trex Names Zachary C. Lauer COO, Sets $493K Salary and 60% Bonus Target
Trex Company announced the promotion of Zachary C. Lauer to chief operating officer, pairing the role with a $493,000 base salary, a cash incentive equal to 60% of salary and a long‑term equity target of 135% of salary. The move...
Lucid Motors Launches Robotaxi Service with Uber and Nuro to Take on Tesla
Lucid Motors announced a robotaxi service built on its Gravity SUV, Uber's ride‑hailing platform and Nuro's Level 4 autonomous system. The partnership, showcased at CES, aims to rival Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions as Lucid ramps up production in Arizona.
AXT’s Revenue Grows 17% in Q1 After Greater-than-Expected Export Permits
AXT reported Q1 2026 revenue of $26.9 million, up 17% year‑over‑year and slightly above the $26 million forecast, driven primarily by a surge in indium‑phosphide (InP) sales. Export permits from China arrived better than expected, enabling higher InP shipments to U.S. AI...
Xenia Launches New Carbon-Fibre Reinforced PPA Filament
Xenia announced the launch of Xecarb PPA‑CF, a new 3D‑printing filament that combines a bio‑based polyphthalamide (PPA) matrix with 20 % carbon‑fibre reinforcement. The material delivers a high heat‑deflection temperature of 235 °C, a density of 1.21 g cm⁻³ and reduced shrinkage, providing superior stiffness...
M&J Recycling Debuts P3000e, New Brand Identity at IFAT
M&J Recycling unveiled the P3000e preshredder at IFAT Munich 2026, featuring eDrive technology, UltraBoost and ReCapture, and promising up to 80% energy savings while keeping throughput stable. The machine is built for mixed material streams, offers a compact, service‑friendly design...
Week in Review: A Net-Zero Factory Takes Shape in India’s Temple City
Epic Group is constructing a net‑zero manufacturing campus in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, blending large‑scale production with aggressive sustainability targets. The facility will rely on solar power, water recycling, and carbon‑capture technologies to achieve zero operational emissions by 2030. Design elements incorporate...
Advanced Air Mobility Is Moving Closer to Take-Off, but Who Will Be First to Fly?
Advanced air mobility (AAM) is shifting from prototype flights to certification, production and infrastructure build‑out. US eVTOL leaders such as Archer, Joby and BETA are advancing through the FAA’s type‑certification process while scaling factories and securing launch customers, whereas Chinese...
UK Car
UK new car volumes ~2.1M by 2026; EV share cut to 26.8% after weak Q1. Key: consumer demand, OEM transition. Risk: slower EV uptake. Trade: prefer diversified UK auto suppliers vs pure EVs. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Hexagon Launches QUINDOS 2026.1
Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has launched QUINDOS 2026.1, the newest version of its metrology software for complex geometries. The update adds full support for the CMM Check 3.0 standard, variable high‑speed scanning, and a rotary‑table workflow that streamlines multi‑axis measurement programming. Enhanced...
New Digital Cutting-Tool Reconditioning Portal Puts Customers Fully in Control
Sandvik Coromant has launched an upgraded digital portal for re‑conditioning solid round cutting tools, replacing a manual multi‑stage workflow with an instant‑quote, fully online experience. The platform lets customers enter product codes, receive immediate pricing, choose shipping options, and track...
I-Tac Inverse Design Tunes 3D Printed Elastomers’ Optics And Haptics
Researchers have unveiled i‑Tac, an inverse‑design workflow that simultaneously tunes the tactile response and optical appearance of 3D‑printed elastomers. The method builds a library of printed samples, trains a differentiable model, and runs an optimizer to generate printable voxel‑level material...
When Every Hour Counts: How Freight Disruption Is Hitting Manufacturing Where It Hurts Most
Manufacturers are feeling the squeeze as freight disruptions drive costs above budget, with 94% reporting overruns averaging 10% in the past year. The conflict in the Middle East slashed air‑cargo capacity by 18% in a day and left it 30%...
Rolls-Royce Inaugurates MOD-Backed Additive Manufacturing Development Cell
Rolls‑Royce has opened a 350 m² Additive Manufacturing Development Cell at its Bristol site, funded by the UK Ministry of Defence. The facility uses metal powder‑bed fusion to produce critical components for next‑generation military aircraft engines. It is directly linked to...
New BMF Resin Solves Optical Clarity Challenges in Micro 3D Printing
Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) has launched BMF Clear, a photopolymer resin delivering over 90% light transmittance and layer heights of 10‑50 µm for its high‑resolution micro‑stereolithography printers. The material combines optical clarity with micron‑scale dimensional accuracy, enabling transparent microfluidic channels, embedded...
Factory Workers Unwittingly Train Robots via Digital Harvesting
Factory workers are training their own replacements. Some Indian factory laborers are now wearing head-mounted cameras. They think it is just basic workplace surveillance. But it is actually Imitation Learning. Tech companies are recording their physical intuition. They use this POV data to train...
Siemens and Gray Construction Boost U.S. Manufacturing Investment
A couple of recent press releases from Siemens and Gray Construction highlight U.S. manufacturing investments. https://t.co/Q8ylywuocS
Nissan Cancels BEV Production Plans for Mississippi Plant in the US
Nissan Motor has abandoned plans to build two battery‑electric SUVs at its Canton, Mississippi plant, citing a slowdown in U.S. BEV demand after federal purchase incentives were withdrawn. The shift is part of the broader "Nissan Vision" strategy announced in...
Germany Launches €5 Bn Auction for Industrial Decarbonisation
Germany kicks off an auction to offer up to €5 billion to help heavy industries cut their carbon emissions https://t.co/2MKA0UuXtz
Effective Warehousing Is the Backbone of Supply Chains
If your warehousing doesn’t work, neither does your supply chain. That’s why intralogistics – what happens inside your four walls – matters. Lessons from my 45 years inside warehousing: https://t.co/2f3aFzbooL #Intralogistics #SupplyChain https://t.co/MUYegmczpc
New Technique Measures Water Ingress in PV Modules without Disconnecting Them
A German research team has unveiled a nondestructive, on‑site technique that quantifies water ingress in photovoltaic (PV) modules using near‑infrared absorption (NIRA) spectroscopy calibrated against Karl‑Fischer titration (KFT). The method delivers absolute moisture content without opening the sealed modules, enabling...
Foxconn Revenue Jumps 35% YTD Despite Base Effect
Just in: Hon Hai (Foxconn) revenue up 35% YTD (USD terms) Slight weakness in consumer electronics, but only because of a higher base the month prior. Some important things to remember: 1/ https://t.co/Gx6A1kdlF0
Wearable 3D Printing Turns Printers Into Body Tech
From Printer to Body: Wearable #3D Printing Takes Innovation to the Next Level by @Fabriziobustama #3Dprinted #Technology #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/nL5phqs85f
Recreate Project: Repairable Rotor Blades for Wind Turbines
The EU‑funded Recreate project is developing a modular wind‑turbine rotor blade that can be repaired and recycled, addressing the growing composite waste from decommissioned turbines. The demonstrator features detachable adhesive joints for a replaceable leading edge, a pultruded continuous spar...
Gebrüder Weiss Supports Woom’s European Logistics
Children’s bike maker woom has partnered with logistics provider Gebrüder Weiss to handle its European spring surge. Gebrüder Weiss moves bicycles and accessories from factories in Poland, Lithuania and Romania to a Vienna hub, then distributes to key markets such as Austria,...
Pakistan's Cement Dispatches Grew Significantly in April 2026
Pakistan’s cement dispatches jumped 11.1% year‑over‑year in April 2026, reaching 3.89 million tonnes. Domestic shipments surged 20.2% to 3.22 Mt, while export volumes slipped 18.2% to 0.67 Mt. The north‑based mills drove most of the domestic growth, posting an 18.3% increase, whereas the south...
BYD April NEV Sales Fall 26% Year-on-Year
BYD reported a sharp decline in April 2026 NEV output, producing 322,298 units and selling 321,123, a 26% year‑on‑year drop. Year‑to‑date figures show NEV production at 1.03 million and sales at 1.02 million, both down roughly a quarter from the prior year....