Know What's Happening in Manufacturing
Know What's Happening in Manufacturing
Goodyear launches $320M expansion of its Lawton plant, boosting capacity 30%
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced a $320 million, four‑year expansion of its Lawton, Oklahoma facility. The upgrade will raise production capacity by nearly 30%, adding about 10 million tires a year—roughly 120,000 units per day—and positions the plant as the largest Goodyear site in North America, targeting higher‑margin, larger‑rim tires for electric vehicles.
Also developing:
By the numbers: BlackRock takes 5% stake in Samsung Heavy Industries
The Pentagon approved a $53.1 million contract modification for Lockheed Martin to upgrade the Long‑Range Anti‑Ship Missile (LRASM) production line, adding tooling and test equipment to boost output. The amendment lifts the overall contract value to $462.9 million and extends work through November 2028. LRASM, derived from the JASSM family, features autonomous targeting for contested maritime environments. The upgrade supports both Air Force and Navy platforms, reinforcing the U.S. long‑range strike capability.
Techman Robot Korea and Tesollo unveiled an adaptive robotic gripper solution for high‑mix, low‑volume manufacturing at the 2026 Smart Factory & Automation Industry Exhibition. The system pairs the TM5S collaborative robot with Tesollo’s DG‑3F‑M three‑finger articulated gripper, offering 2.5 kg pinching...
China chlorination titanium dioxide expansion doubles Tianyuan capacity with a new 100,000 t/yr chloride TiO₂ plant. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/china-chlorination-titanium-dioxide.html
#Technology #Thread #Semiconductor #Manufacturing #Agentic The Semiconductor Let Us Explore Agentic AI In Semi: 1/ - Agentic AI Is Emerging As A New Paradigm In Semiconductor Engineering. - Where Intelligent Systems Assist Engineers Across Design, Manufacturing, And Test Workflows.
Armed attacks on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in early 2026 forced shipping lines to reroute around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. The Cape route, once a contingency, saw usage surge, echoing past disruptions of the...
Epicor is leveraging channel partners Technology Coast Partners (TCP) and Auros to expand its Kinetic ERP platform across Latin America. TCP helped Mexican water‑treatment firm Impelmex implement Kinetic, SugarCRM and the Fluent platform, delivering faster decision‑making and higher profitability. Auros...
U.S. critical‑minerals strategy is shifting from mining to processing, and Oklahoma is positioning itself as a domestic hub for refining, smelting and magnet manufacturing. The state is courting major projects, including a $4 billion aluminum smelter by Emirates Global Aluminium at...
Norgine announced a £23 million injection to expand its Hengoed, Wales, manufacturing site, taking total investment at the location to more than £50 million since 2022. The upgrade will add high‑speed, energy‑efficient production lines and increase warehousing capacity, allowing the company to...
The piece surveys Canada’s five biggest auto manufacturers—Ford, General Motors, Honda, Stellantis and Toyota—and the models they currently assemble on Canadian soil. Ford redirected its Oakville plant to Super Duty trucks, committing $3 billion, while GM’s Oshawa facility now only builds...
Brazilian steel slab exports more than doubled in February, reaching 835,327 metric tonnes, up 117% year‑over‑year. The United States and the European Union drove the surge, with U.S. shipments rising 54% despite 50% tariffs and EU imports jumping from 50...
Shintech, the U.S. arm of Japan's Shin‑Etsu Chemical, announced a $3.4 billion expansion at its Plaquemine, Louisiana complex, adding a 625,000‑ton ethylene cracker, a 500,000‑ton vinyl chloride monomer plant, and a chlor‑alkali unit producing 310,000 t of caustic soda and 280,000 t of...
Statement from Trump after meeting with RTX, Lockheed, Northrop, Boeing, L3Harris and Honeywell on munitions. Trump says: "They have agreed to quadruple Production of the 'Exquisite Class' Weaponry" but unclear what is new from previously announced agreements.
Researchers at INL have introduced a fluorine‑free technique that coats cotton with hydrophobic nanoparticles and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane, creating a water‑repellent, stain‑resistant fabric. The treatment forms micro‑ and nanoscale textures that preserve breathability while allowing oil to pass, enabling efficient oil‑water separation....
Qnity Electronics announced a $61.5 million investment to acquire a new advanced semiconductor research and manufacturing facility in Taiwan’s Hsinchu Science Park. The site will house state‑of‑the‑art clean rooms, research labs, warehousing and office space to boost advanced‑node and packaging capacity....
Container shipping giant CMA CGM warned that its 2025 revenue and profit will fall, signalling a tougher outlook for the sector. The company projects only moderate growth in 2026, with freight rates likely to be influenced by escalating tensions in the...
Daher and partners unveiled a 64‑ply carbon‑fiber‑reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) wing rib that weighs 22% less than aluminum and eliminates rivets through patented infrared welding. The rib’s 12 mm thickness meets high‑load requirements while cutting assembly cost by 15% and shortening production...
Gemini Cooperation announced the suspension of several Middle East services, including routes to Europe and Asia, as well as regional shuttle operations, citing the escalating war in the Gulf. The alliance, which includes Maersk and Hapag‑Lloyd, is launching a new...
China providing money to 168 ports in 90 countries. Add the very large Chinese Cosco shipping firm. China and control of global trade and international logistics. The silent trade war.
US admin denies refunds on Trump’s illegal tariffs. While interest on refunds grows at $23mil/day. Add legal cost to fight against refunds. Cost to taxpayers could become significant. Importers fighting for their legally entitled refunds.
The SAUBER 4.0 project, a collaboration led by CTC Stade and Airbus, has demonstrated a fully digitalized, high‑rate resin transfer molding (RTM) production line for large composite structures. By embedding high‑tech sensors and using induction heating, the team achieved real‑time...
In this podcast episode, we covered how one UK machine shop used optimization tech to cut cycle times by 21% in just one week, and won back a contract from overseas, increasing profits and quality. Stream now: 🔗 https://t.co/qcr2ent2we 📽️ https://t.co/80kIXr8Tg3 https://t.co/yODH1EBpTL
Master plugs are critical tooling components for large composite structures such as marine hulls, decks, and wind turbine nacelles. The article outlines a multi‑stage production workflow—from CAD file to high‑gloss physical plug—highlighting CNC machining, fiberglass reinforcement, epoxy paste application, precision...
SK Battery America announced the termination of employment for 958 workers at its Commerce, Georgia plant, marking the largest layoff in the facility’s two‑year history. The cuts follow Ford’s December decision to cancel the fully electric F‑150 Lightning, a key...
CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Co. has filed an ICC arbitration seeking at least $2 billion after Panama seized the Balboa and Cristobal terminals in February. The company alleges an illegal state takeover, breach of a bilateral investment treaty, and unlawful seizure...
The Logistics Manager’s Index rose to 61.5 in February, the strongest reading since February 2025 and above the long‑term average of 61.3. Inventory levels slipped to 53.8 while inventory cost pressure eased, yet warehousing utilization accelerated and transportation prices jumped...
Logic Robotics unveiled a logistics operating system designed to automate the movement of palletized cargo from terrestrial factories to spaceports and beyond. The platform, called LINK, integrates an AI‑driven digital twin that models facilities, vehicles, and missions in real time,...
.@MDA_space: Factory for software-defined sats is now open; 1st @Telesat Lightspeed sats expected by year-end; @EchoStar liability for termination of D2D constellation has been paid in full; pursuiing multiple commercial/government constellations.https://t.co/GlbOBv9RT1 https://t.co/kfSe5lSe1k
Qcells announced that its Cartersville, Georgia plant has resumed solar‑panel assembly after customs‑clearance delays tied to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. The facility will expand to integrate ingot, wafer and cell production, targeting a 3.3 GW annual capacity. By the...
Schneider Electric introduced Foxboro SDA, a software‑defined distributed control system that decouples control software from hardware. The open architecture offers vendor independence, scalability, and seamless integration with legacy plants. Built on IEC 62443‑3‑3 standards, it delivers cyber‑secure, AI‑ready operations while lowering...
A UNIST research team engineered a methanol‑tolerant *Methylobacterium extorquens* strain that grows 1.7 times faster than conventional microbes at 2.5 % methanol. Using adaptive laboratory evolution, they identified recurring mutations in the metY and kefB genes that boost detoxification and energy...
What would this mean to global supply chains and logistics? The risk—both operational and financial.
Scientists from Chile and the UK have created a laboratory method that captures real‑time movement and deformation of individual textile fibres under washing‑like conditions. The technique reveals how yarn design, fabric structure and wash parameters affect fibre shedding. Tests show...
What would such a US oil price mean to the prices of distillates used by the various transport modes—and to supply chains?
Researchers identified that the porous ceramic spines of sea urchins generate millivolt‑scale electrical signals when water flows over them, a phenomenon driven by electrokinetic charge separation rather than biological activity. By replicating the spine’s graded stereom architecture with a triply...
Philippine manufacturing output grew 1.2% in January, a slowdown from the 2% rise in December and the 3.2% gain a year earlier. The deceleration was driven by declines in food products, non‑metallic mineral products and transport equipment. Capacity utilization edged...
Rice University researchers led by James Tour have demonstrated a fluorine‑assisted flash Joule heating (FAF) process that transforms waste glass and coal residues into silicon carbide (SiC) nanowires in seconds. By packing ground glass, carbon black and sodium fluoride into...
The white paper highlights that relying solely on security guards leaves critical blind spots in trucking yards and terminals, exposing cargo to theft. It identifies seven specific gaps, supported by industry statistics that show rising risk across logistics sites. The...
Maersk suspending two-Middle East services with Europe and Asia because of the war. Global supply chains and risk.
The Berlin University of Applied Sciences (HTW Berlin) and spin‑off Aquu released the 2026 Energy Storage Inspection results, testing twelve 5 kW and 10 kW photovoltaic storage systems. Fox ESS topped the 10 kW DC category with a record 97 % System Performance Index...
Digital twins have evolved from simple simulations to comprehensive, living operational assets that mirror plant behavior in real time. By layering process dynamics, control logic, instrumentation, and scenario data, they enable predictive insights, safe rehearsal of high‑risk events, and continuous...
The February nonfarm payroll report showed an unexpected 92,000‑job decline, with truck transportation employment slipping by 500 to 1,462,500 positions. This marks a 22,100‑job shortfall compared with a year earlier and a net loss of 4,700 jobs since December. Warehouse...
Pultron Composites, a New Zealand‑based maker of corrosion‑resistant composite rebar, secured the City of Moreton Bay’s $1 million Ultimate HQ headquarters package after a live pitch at an Investor Safari. The award provides five years of rent‑free space at Moreton Bay Central,...
The Iran‑Qatar conflict has forced QatarEnergy to shut down the Ras Laffan helium plant, removing roughly one‑third of the world’s helium supply from the market. Experts warn that if the shutdown extends beyond two weeks, the disruption could linger for months,...
DARPA has launched the Carbon Crunch program to speed up manufacturing of carbon‑carbon aeroshell heat shields for hypersonic weapons. The initiative targets the slow, costly, and hard‑to‑scale production process of existing C‑C composites, not new materials. By encouraging radical process...
Siemens Smart Infrastructure has broadened its industrial control lineup by enhancing the semiconductor‑based SENTRON Electronic Circuit Protection Device (ECPD) and launching the SIRIUS 3RW5‑Z R11 refurbished soft starter, its first product built on circular‑economy principles. The upgraded SENTRON ECPD now...
Sanmar has delivered four fully electric ElectRA 2500SX tugboats to Turkey’s state‑owned energy company BOTAŞ. The tugs, named BOTAŞ HİLAL, BOTAŞ BAYRAK, BOTAŞ AY and BOTAŞ YILDIZ, will serve the Marmara Ereğlisi LNG Terminal and the Saros FSRU Terminal, providing 70 tons of bollard pull...
The McNAIR Center at the University of South Carolina has installed a Roctool induction‑heated platen press, integrating a 400‑ton hydraulic press with 150‑kW induction platens. The system can heat to 427 °C, enabling rapid cure of thermoset and thermoplastic composites and...
The pharmaceutical supply chain is a globally dispersed network dominated by China and India, where most active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are produced. Stringent regulations such as the FDA’s Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) demand full batch traceability, limiting rapid...
U.S. manufacturers are accelerating reshoring and onshoring, with Apple committing over $500 billion and Johnson & Johnson earmarking $55 billion for domestic production through 2029. Companies cite supply‑chain resilience, tariff pressures, and ESG goals as drivers, while surveys show cost remains the dominant factor...
CMA CGM announced a new standalone service linking India directly to the U.S. West Coast, extending its Pearl River Express loop. The weekly rotation will call at Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Karachi and Colombo, using a fleet of 13 vessels sized between 10,000...
