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
World Industrial Equipment & Materials Supply Chain Expo 2026
The World Industrial Equipment & Materials Supply Chain Expo 2026 will run Oct. 15‑17 in Foshan, showcasing robotics, automation and machine‑tool technologies across 70,000 sqm. China’s industrial robot output surged 33.2% in Q1 2026 and more than 35,000 smart factories now span all 41 major categories, underscoring robust demand. Guangdong’s new action plan places humanoid robot design at the top of its agenda, adding policy momentum. International visitors can tour the nearby Midea‑Kuka Intelligent Manufacturing Park, China’s largest robot production hub, during the event.
Schneider Electric Says VFD Can Cut Conveyor Installation Time by 30% or More
Schneider Electric unveiled the Altivar Machine ATV350, a variable frequency drive designed for direct on‑machine mounting on conveyors and material‑handling equipment. By eliminating the need for a protective enclosure and reducing wiring, the drive can shorten conveyor installation time by...
Autonomous Resource Corporation and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Partner to Accelerate AI-Enabled Defense Manufacturing at National Scale
Autonomous Resource Corporation (ARC) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch the Exascale Foundry, a joint effort that fuses ORNL’s high‑performance computing and advanced manufacturing assets with ARC’s AI‑driven ARCNet platform. The collaboration...
Roland Betancourt on Disneyland and the Rise of Automation
Roland Betancourt’s new book, *Disneyland and the Rise of Automation*, argues that the 1955 theme park served as a cultural laboratory that familiarized Americans with industrial automation. Drawing on patents, corporate archives and declassified military documents, he shows how rides...
Textile Body Urges Inclusion of Spinning Segment in TEEM to Boost Competitiveness
The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) is urging the government to bring the spinning segment into the Textile Expansion and Employment Mission (TEEM), a scheme announced in the Union Budget to modernise textile clusters. CITI warns that 25% of...
Menarini’s Parent Company Seri Industrial Plans International Expansion of Bus Business
Seri Industrial’s 2025 results show a 24% revenue jump to €373 million (≈$407 million) and an adjusted net profit of €15.4 million (≈$16.7 million), up €18.6 million from the prior year. Its Menarini bus subsidiary completed a turnaround, reporting the strongest performance in recent history...
French Firm Gets More Work with Samsung Heavy Industries for LNG Vessel Pair
Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) has secured a new contract with Samsung Heavy Industries to design the cryogenic tanks for two 180,000‑cubic‑metre LNG carriers on behalf of shipowner Celsius Tankers. The vessels will employ GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system and are slated...
How Are Food Processors Faring in 2026?
Food processors are proceeding with equipment upgrades in early 2026 despite economic headwinds, driven by protein and health‑focused consumer trends. Flexibility and modularity now outweigh large fixed‑line commitments as firms seek to stay competitive. Automation and AI adoption are accelerating...
Indcar Reports 46% Revenue Growth and Record Production in 2025, Targets 650 Units in 2026
Indcar posted a 46% revenue jump to €67 million (about $73 million) in 2025, alongside a record 555 units produced – the highest output for the Spanish bus bodybuilder. The growth was bolstered by the September integration of Car‑Bus.net, expanding its Mercedes‑chassis...
Editor’s Comment: Navigating Supply Chain Chaos Together
Drapers editor Jill Geoghegan warns that the war in Iran is intensifying supply‑chain disruptions for fashion retailers, pushing freight rates higher and extending lead times. She argues that isolated responses are no longer viable and that industry players must collaborate...
Concepts NREC Names Innovalues Labs ASEAN Reseller
Concepts NREC has appointed Innovalues Labs Pvt Ltd as its exclusive reseller for the full suite of turbomachinery software across India and the ASEAN region. The partnership covers local support, demonstrations, training, and engineering services for the Agile Engineering Design...
DuPont Launches AI Tool for Reverse Osmosis Operations
DuPont Water Solutions introduced the RO Operations Advisor, an AI‑enabled digital platform that analyzes historical plant data to recommend optimal cleaning and membrane‑replacement schedules for reverse osmosis systems. By delivering system‑specific guidance, the tool aims to cut downtime, extend membrane...
Rana Plaza’s Legacy Still Tests Brand Safety Vows
Thirteen years after the Rana Plaza collapse, the International Accord on health and safety is entering a new negotiation round, testing how far global fashion brands will commit to binding factory‑safety measures. The Accord has completed more than 48,000 inspections, remedied...
K+N Sees Airfreight Revenues and Profits Slide in Q1
Kuehne+Nagel reported a 9% year‑on‑year decline in Q1 airfreight revenue to Sfr 1.6 bn (≈$1.76 bn) and a 4.3% drop in EBIT to Sfr 111 m (≈$122 m), even though volumes nudged up 0.4% to 516,000 tonnes. The revenue dip was partly due to a weaker...
Nike Cuts ~1,400 Jobs in Global Operations Overhaul
Nike's chief operating officer Venkatesh Alagirisamy said the company will cut roughly 1,400 roles across its Global Operations, chiefly in technology, as part of the final phase of its "Win Now" plan. The move aims to simplify structures, speed up...
Copper Supply Squeeze Deepens, Threatening Auto and Tech Makers
New data from analysts and miners shows the global copper gap widening to a 10 million‑metric‑ton shortfall by 2040, with 2026 deficits already exceeding 400,000 tons. The squeeze is pushing prices toward $12,650 per ton and forcing automotive, electronics and renewable‑energy manufacturers...
European Buyers Circle Chinese Feeder Ships as Supply Tightens
European liner operators are intensifying outreach to Chinese feeder ship owners as the market faces a shortage of small and mid‑size vessels. Brokers report that owners of ships like Shishi Hengtong’s Heng Hui 5 and Heng Hui 6 are fielding inquiries from European buyers...
Samsung Boosts GDDR6 Output for Tesla as Auto Memory Demand Rises
Samsung Electronics has tripled its monthly output of 8GB GDDR6 memory chips to satisfy Tesla’s growing in‑vehicle computing needs. Production was redirected in April to the Hwaseong plant, where capacity now supports Tesla’s infotainment and autonomous‑driving platforms. The ramp‑up follows...
Chinese PV Industry Brief: DKEM Seeks Cash Injection to Scale up Gigawatt-Level Production of Copper Metallization Paste
Chinese PV materials maker DK Electronic Materials (DKEM) announced a private placement to raise up to CNY 3.0 billion ($413 million). The proceeds will fund a 2,000‑ton‑per‑year low‑silver, base‑metal paste line, a 1,450‑ton‑per‑year electronic‑grade metal‑powder expansion, R&D for next‑generation metallization and repayment...
Premier Energies Unveils ESG Roadmap Targeting 10 GW Capacity and Decarbonisation
Premier Energies Limited announced a Mission‑2028 ESG strategy that places decarbonisation, circular manufacturing and supply‑chain control at its core. The plan targets 10 GW of integrated solar capacity, a 95% reduction in water use at cell facilities and a 34% women...
Apple’s M4 Mac Mini Sells Out on Apple.com, Sparking Supply Worries
Apple’s latest M4‑chip Mac Mini 2026 model sold out on its website, prompting supply‑chain worries as memory chip shortages and AI demand strain inventory. The stockout underscores broader challenges for Apple as it prepares for a CEO transition and an...
Jägermeister Opens €17.6m Barrel Storage Site
Mast‑Jägermeister has finished a €17.6 million (≈US$20.6 million) barrel‑storage project in Kamenz, Saxony. The 5,000‑square‑foot facility can hold up to 225 additional barrels, expanding the brand’s production capacity. Built primarily from timber and equipped with photovoltaic panels and rain‑water management, the site...
Mediterrania Capital Partners in Packaging Deal
Mediterrania Capital Partners (MCP) has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of Société Marocaine des Manufactures de Mohammedia (SMMM), the holding company of Amcor Flexibles Mohammedia (AFM). AFM is a Moroccan producer of flexible packaging serving dairy, pharmaceutical,...
Eurozone PMI Shows April Contraction, Manufacturing Holds Up Amid War‑Driven Cost Surge
Eurozone business activity slipped into contraction in April, as the composite PMI fell below the 50‑point growth line and Germany’s private‑sector index dropped to 48.3. Manufacturing, however, posted a surprise expansion at 52.2, buoyed by export demand but weighed down...
Sandvik to Supply Three DR413i Rotary Drill Rigs to Glencore for Alumbrera Restart
Sandvik secured a Q1 2026 order from Glencore to supply three DR413i rotary blasthole drill rigs for the restart of Argentina’s Bajo de la Alumbrera copper mine. The first rig arrives in April 2026, with the remaining two slated for Q4...
Nissan Plans $45m Egypt Expansion for African Exports – Report
Nissan Motor announced a $45 million investment to expand its Cairo‑area plant, adding a new line capable of producing at least 10,000 extra vehicles per year. The upgrade will lift total output by roughly one‑third and deepen the automaker’s export pipeline...
ABS Signs Pact with Fleet Robotics on Maritime Robotics
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Fleet Robotics have signed a memorandum of understanding at Singapore Maritime Week to develop autonomous robotic systems for hull cleaning and inspection. The partnership will assess robot suitability, validate sensor data and imagery,...
BelAZ Teams up with Nornickel as Russia's Equipment Shortage Bites
BelAZ, the Belarusian maker of ultra‑large dump trucks, has entered a joint venture with Russia's Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) to construct a new mining‑equipment factory near Krasnoyarsk in Siberia. The partnership responds to a growing shortage of heavy‑duty trucks and other...
Volvo Holds US EV Course as Market Conditions Turn Against It
Volvo Cars will keep its schedule to launch US production of the EX60 midsize electric SUV in late 2026, even as the removal of the federal EV tax credit and a weak domestic market create headwinds. The EX60, built at...
Trimco Group, Retraced Partner for Integrated Transparency Solutions
Trimco Group and sustainability platform Retraced have formed a partnership to deliver an end‑to‑end transparency solution that links verified upstream supply‑chain data to individual products via QR‑code labels. The joint offering combines Trimco’s labeling, packaging and RFID capabilities with Retraced’s...
Suzuki: India Production to Offset Decline in Japan, Hungary
Automotive World projects Suzuki will build about 3.5 million vehicles in 2026, a 2‑3 % increase from 2025. Growth will be driven primarily by expanded output in India and Indonesia, while output in Japan and Hungary is expected to fall further. Over...
SDVs Pose Challenges to Automotive Supply Chains, Moody’s Says
Moody’s warns that software‑defined vehicles (SDVs) will expose automotive supply chains to heightened cost pressures and security risks. As cars become updatable software platforms, traditional hardware‑centric quality controls no longer apply, creating uncertainty over code provenance and cyber‑vulnerability. The surge...
Suzuki Profile and Production Forecast to 2030
Suzuki Motor Corp. posted a modest rebound in 2023, driven by strong demand for its compact cars in emerging markets and a renewed focus on cost efficiency. The firm released a production roadmap that targets 5 million vehicles per year by...
Valmet Automotive to Support Carrus Delta in Volvo Coach Body Production, Including Electric Models
Valmet Automotive and Carrus Delta have signed a long‑term deal to serially produce Volvo‑branded coach bodies at Valmet’s Uusikaupunki plant, with production slated to start in 2026. The partnership will cover both diesel‑powered and fully electric single‑deck coaches, complementing Carrus...
Wavelength-Dependent SLA: 3D Printed Action Plots
Researchers have unveiled “3D printed action plots,” a physical artifact that maps a resin’s cure efficiency across different illumination wavelengths. By exposing a standardized geometry to controlled doses at wavelengths such as 385 nm, 405 nm and visible light, the surviving features...
Forest Industry Shifts Toward AI and Sustainability, Pulp & Beyond Speakers Say
The Pulp & Beyond conference in Helsinki highlighted a rapid shift in the forest sector toward an integrated strategy that blends resilience, artificial intelligence and sustainability. AI is now deemed essential for pulp and paper operations, delivering measurable gains in...
LISI Aerospace Awarded Aero Excellence Bronze Certification
LISI Aerospace announced that its Saint‑Brieuc facility in Brittany has earned the Aero Excellence Bronze certification, the fifth of the group’s sites to do so. The award, administered by GIFAS and SPACE Aero, gauges organizational maturity and operational performance in...
SK Hynix to Deploy 2,000 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs at Cheongju Fab for AI Infrastructure
SK hynix is installing a dedicated AI system at its Cheongju fab, deploying 250 servers equipped with 2,000 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs. The infrastructure, costing tens of millions of dollars, will support digital‑twin simulations and proprietary AI agents that automate workflow...
PAL Robotics to Debut New Manipulation Robot at ICRA 2026
PAL Robotics will unveil a new manipulation robot at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Vienna from June 1‑5, 2026. The company will host interactive demos that let visitors teleoperate the robot, collect data, and test...
China Unveils a Fixed-Wing Drone Made of Bamboo Fibre Composite Material
China’s International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan, together with Beihang University and Long Bamboo Technology, flew the world’s first fixed‑wing drone built largely from bamboo‑based composite material. The UAV’s fuselage contains over 25% bamboo, achieving a weight reduction of more...
ZeroPol: Towards Circular Manufacturing of Aerospace Components
ZeroPol, a Swiss Innosuisse‑backed flagship project, announced the launch of Best Carbon Footprint Materials—a new generation of bio‑derived epoxy resins, vitrimers and debondable adhesives designed for circular aerospace composites. The initiative includes a full‑scale demonstrator of an aircraft sandwich component...
What Hormuz Exposed About Our Semiconductor Supply Chain
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in early March has halted Qatar’s Ras Laffan helium plant, sending spot helium prices soaring and exposing a critical dependency in the semiconductor supply chain. South Korea and Taiwan source roughly two‑thirds of their...
Star Robotics Unveils New Security Robot with Improved Autonomy and Navigation
Star Robotics introduced Watchbot 2, an upgraded autonomous security robot designed for continuous surveillance in demanding environments. The new model offers up to 16 hours of operation daily, thanks to a battery that doubles the capacity of its predecessor, and can...
BNDES Funds CBA Aluminum Upgrade for Efficiency and Sustainability
Bndes will fund CBA’s aluminum unit upgrade in Brazil to improve efficiency, logistics, and environmental performance. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/brazil-aluminum-unit-upgrade-gains.html
From Stockpiling to Optimization: Flexibility Becomes Priority
Supply chain priorities are shifting in the late 2020s. Organizations are moving from stockpiling inventory to optimizing it, focusing on flexibility and resilience. End-to-end visibility is no longer just aspirational. #SupplyChain #Optimization https://t.co/lW8GKvdQYX
Far North Hunts for White Knight Before It’s Too Late for Juken Mills
Far North authorities are spearheading a PwC‑run tender to sell Juken New Zealand’s Northland Mill and adjacent Triboard plant in Kaitāia. The Japanese parent plans to exit next month, putting 200 local jobs at risk. Councils and Northland Inc are...
New EU‑UK Steel Rules Spark Allocation and Origin Debates
The new EU and UK steel measures bring up a lot of important questions around country-specific allocations, melt and pour origin requirements and NI. It was good to chair a meeting with MEP @KarinKarlsbro in the Brussels Chamber of...
3D Printed Battery Powers Predictive Maintenance in Steel Production
A consortium of IREC, UOC and steelmaker CELSA launched the 3Dstore project, deploying a 3D‑printed solid‑oxide battery to power a low‑consumption, cellular‑connected sensor on a rolling‑mill shaft. The self‑powered device continuously records vibration and temperature, enabling predictive maintenance that can...
Kollmorgen Launches Layout Analysis Tool to Improve Mobile Robot Performance
Kollmorgen unveiled the NDC Layout Assistant, a software tool that evaluates and optimizes routes for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in factories and warehouses. By breaking down routes into smaller sections, the assistant highlights travel‑time, speed...
How BIPV Façades Behave Under Enclosure Fire Conditions
A research team led by the University of Science and Technology of China built a stainless‑steel compartment to evaluate how building‑integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) façades behave in enclosure fires. The study tested three PV module types—CdTe thin‑film, double‑glazed crystalline silicon and...