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
10 Automation Trends Shaping Skilled Trades
Automation is reshaping skilled trades rather than replacing them, as robots, sensors, and AI become commonplace on job sites. Robotic welding cells, autonomous mobile robots, and AI‑driven quality systems are shifting workers toward programming, diagnostics, and system oversight. The rise of EV battery assembly, smart building controls, and predictive‑maintenance sensors is creating new high‑voltage, data‑analysis, and controls roles for electricians, welders, and refrigeration technicians. Industry reports predict continued growth through 2025, underscoring the need for targeted training.
NB Corp. Of America Plans Live Demos This Week
NB Corp. of America will showcase live demonstrations of its NV Slide Way configuration and the 3‑axis BG Actuator at the MD&M South trade show, Booth #2311 Automation. The Slide Way delivers precise linear motion without the need for a...
Circulose Steps up Commercial Lyocell Ambitions
Swedish recycling specialist Circulose has inked a deal with China Textile Academy Green Fibre (CTA) to supply pulp derived from textile waste for commercial lyocell fiber production. The agreement introduces both standard and non‑fibrillating pulp grades, a clear off‑take commitment,...
Dutch Lead Circular Textiles Push at Techtextil
The Netherlands made its debut as a national exhibitor at Techtextil Frankfurt, presenting a public‑private pavilion that brings together 11 Dutch companies to showcase a complete circular textile chain—from fibre recycling to digital traceability. The effort is backed by several...
DARPA's Smash Program Targets Rare‑earth Processing Bottleneck with Distributed Model
DARPA has begun a 48‑month "Smash" effort to create a distributed, near‑zero‑waste processing system for rare‑earth elements and up to 80 other stable metals. The program seeks to replace the current reliance on centralized refineries such as the Mountain Pass...
Baolai International Boosts Seamless Pipe Production to Meet Global Demand
Tianjin Baolai International Trade Co., a subsidiary of Baolai Steel Group, announced a major expansion of its seamless pipe operations, adding capacity and reinforcing its role in oil, gas, and power sectors. The move leverages its 33‑year legacy, 1,260‑person workforce...
Hyundai Glovis Expands US Logistics Footprint with New Hubs
Hyundai Glovis, the logistics arm of Hyundai Motor, opened two new U.S. facilities—a 12,000‑square‑metre multimodal hub near Los Angeles and a 69,000‑square‑metre integrated warehouse in Savannah. The LA centre sits 25 minutes from the port and airport, enabling rapid air‑sea...
Nissan Advances Solid-State EV Battery Towards 2028 Production
Nissan announced that its prototype all‑solid‑state battery pack has met key performance goals, featuring a 23‑layer cell stack and targeting mass production in fiscal 2028. The new pack promises roughly twice the energy density of conventional lithium‑ion cells, which could...
Quality of Supply Is an Important Aspect of the Procurement Process
The article emphasizes that supply quality in municipal procurement extends beyond product specs to include reliable, financially stable vendors and timely delivery. It advises municipalities to assess a supplier’s financial health, past performance, and ability to integrate new technology with...
ESG Beyond Compliance: How Sunwoda’s Long-Termism Is Reshaping the Battery Industry
Sunwoda, the world’s leading smartphone battery pack shipper, is expanding into power batteries, storage, recycling and energy services while embedding ESG into every business layer. The company launched a Battery Passport platform in 2025, earning two spots in the Global...
AAFA Guide Introduces ‘Practical’ Steps for Workplace Heat Safety
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) released the AAFA Guide to Protecting Workers from Heat Stress, offering practical recommendations for factories across global supply chains. The guide urges temperature caps, schedule adjustments, water provision, training, and buyer‑supplier collaboration to...
BlackBerry QNX Deepens Nvidia Edge AI Tie‑up, Fuels Enterprise Growth
BlackBerry's QNX division announced an expanded integration of its Safety 8.0 OS with Nvidia's IGX Thor edge AI platform at Hannover Messe, while Chinese EV maker Leapmotor selected QNX for its new D19 SUV. The moves broaden QNX's reach beyond automotive...
RWE And EMR Transform Fire-Damaged Components Of Scroby Sands Turbine
RWE has partnered with UK recycler EMR to deconstruct and recycle fire‑damaged components from its Scroby Sands offshore wind turbine. Over 140 tonnes of steel, aluminium, copper and composite materials were recovered, achieving a 99% recycling rate and avoiding more than...
China’s Tsingshan Plans to Build Another Aluminium Smelter in Indonesia
Chinese aluminium giant Tsingshan announced plans to build a new $3 billion smelter at Weda Bay Industrial Park in Indonesia, with a planned annual capacity of 800,000 tonnes split into two phases. The project joins existing Tsingshan‑linked facilities that will together...
Skoltech Finds a Viable Path for 3D Printing Aluminum Bronze
Researchers at Skoltech, in collaboration with Russian and Indian partners, have demonstrated that laser powder bed fusion can reliably print aluminum bronze (Cu‑9.5Al‑1Fe) with mechanical and thermal properties comparable to cast material. By fine‑tuning laser power (90‑150 W) and scan speed...
Blue Ops Partners with HADDY to 3D Print Military Unmanned Surface Vessels at Scale
Red Cat Holdings’ maritime unit Blue Ops has teamed with robotic‑fabrication firm HADDY to embed large‑scale 3D printing into its Georgia plant. The partnership will double production of its 5‑meter and 7‑meter unmanned surface vessels (USVs) by using AI‑driven printers...
MASkargo and Teleport Team up on Southeast Asia Cargo
MASkargo and Teleport have formed a partnership to add dedicated Airbus A321F freighter capacity on intra‑Southeast Asia routes, starting with Kuala Lumpur‑Phnom Penh. The deal gives MASkargo, Malaysia Airlines’ cargo arm, greater flexibility and faster transit times amid rising e‑commerce, perishables...
Advantest Announces Strategic Partnership with Applied Materials and Joins EPIC Platform
Advantest Corporation became the first automated test equipment (ATE) firm to join Applied Materials' EPIC (Equipment and Process Innovation and Commercialization) platform in Sunnyvale. The partnership links Advantest’s Innovation Center with Applied’s EPIC Center, creating a joint R&D pipeline for...
Japan Quake May Disrupt Semiconductor Supply Chain, Hit NAND and Photoresist Output
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Japan’s northeast coast on April 20, prompting safety shutdowns at several semiconductor facilities. Kioxia halted production at its Iwate NAND flash plants, which represent roughly 5‑8% of global supply, while Tokyo Electron stopped operations at...
Volvo Trucks Drives Electrification Forward: New Electric Trucks with up to 700 Km Range Set a Technology Benchmark
Volvo Trucks unveiled the FH Aero Electric, a battery‑electric long‑haul truck capable of up to 700 kilometers on a single charge. The model uses a new e‑axle that integrates dual motors and a transmission, freeing space for a larger battery and...
Shin-Etsu to Raise Silicone Prices as Costs Pressure Semiconductor Materials
Shin‑Etsu Chemical announced a worldwide price increase of more than 10% for all silicone products, effective May 1. The hike reflects rising crude oil, naphtha, energy, packaging and logistics costs that have squeezed margins. Silicone, a key material for thermal management...
Researchers Automate Calibration For 3D Printer Swarms
Researchers have introduced an automated calibration workflow that synchronizes multiple robotic FFF 3D printers into a shared coordinate system. The method replaces manual probing and external rigs with onboard sensing and iterative error minimization, achieving sub‑millimeter alignment before and during...
Fabricating Perovskite Solar Cells with Robotic Boxes
An international team unveiled an AI‑driven robotic platform that autonomously designs, fabricates, and optimizes perovskite solar cells. The closed‑loop system produced and tested 50,764 devices, achieving a peak power conversion efficiency of 27% (certified 26.5%). The workflow combines a recipe...
How to Control Quality Risk When Motion-Control Parts Become Obsolete
Manufacturers often keep motion‑control equipment in service long after OEM support ends, creating hidden quality risks when parts become obsolete. The article outlines a systematic approach—identifying critical components, mapping functional roles, pre‑defining replacement paths, qualifying repairs, and managing parameters—to turn...
10 Novelis Plants Achieve New Level of Manufacturing Maturity
Novelis Inc. announced that ten of its manufacturing plants have earned first‑level certification in the company’s Novelis Operating System (NOS), the initial step of a four‑tier global standard. The certified sites span the United States, China, Germany, Brazil, Switzerland and...
Field Vs. Lab Testing: Why the Gap Leads to Costly Mistakes
Material testing in construction often appears foolproof on paper, but real‑world failures persist. Lab‑controlled conditions—temperature, curing, moisture—produce consistent results that can diverge sharply from field realities such as heat spikes or unexpected rain. The article cites concrete and soil cases...
Waygate Technologies, GE Aerospace Drive Future of Automated Engine Maintenance
Waygate Technologies, a Baker Hughes unit, and GE Aerospace have launched automated menu‑directed inspection (MDI) templates for GEnx‑1B and ‑2B engine borescope inspections. The templates are integrated into Waygate’s Mentor Visual iQ+ borescope and leverage AI‑assisted guidance to standardize image...
Construction Begins on New NSW Electric Bus Manufacturing Facility
Construction has begun on Foton's 6,000‑square‑metre electric bus plant in Nowra, NSW. The facility will support the Transport for NSW Zero Emissions Bus program by delivering 128 electric buses and a line of battery‑electric trucks. It will scale the workforce...
Tenax and Air Industries Merge Into $210M Aerospace Platform
Tenax and Air Industries plan to merge, creating a $210mn aerospace and defense manufacturing platform. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/tenax-aerospace-air-industries-merger.html
New Podcast Connects Today’s Events to Supply Chain History
Hey peeps. Jon of @asianometry and I have just launched @Supply_Chained A podcast exploring the link between current events & historical developments in technology, manufacturing, and supply chains. We hope you enjoy. https://t.co/4OJ57fzg0N
VICEM Targets AI-Led Safety and Emissions Reduction in Cement Operations
Vietnam Cement Corporation (VICEM) is rolling out artificial‑intelligence‑driven safety systems across its plants to monitor equipment, environment and worker behavior in real time. The AI platform will flag anomalies such as excessive vibration, temperature spikes or unsafe actions, allowing preventive...
America’s Manufacturing Still Stagnates Despite AI Tailwinds
No, America is not in a "stealth manufacturing boom". All the numbers still look bad. Tariffs and uncertainty are fully canceling out the tailwind from the AI boom and the legacy of Biden's industrial policy. https://t.co/lKJ7Ji7ugq
CSIRO Report Highlights Manufacturing in Regional Blueprint to Safeguard Australia’s Food Future
CSIRO’s new South East Queensland Food System Strategy places manufacturing at the core of a coordinated regional plan to strengthen Australia’s food security. The blueprint responds to climate volatility, population growth and supply‑chain disruptions, targeting a projected six‑million‑plus population by...
Mapei Invests $60M in Melbourne Manufacturing Plant to Back Construction Growth
Mapei has broken ground on a $60 million (≈ $40 million USD) manufacturing plant in Truganina, Melbourne, slated to open in 2026. The facility will produce high‑performance construction materials for major Victorian projects such as the Suburban Rail Loop and North East Link....
VW Builds One Millionth Atlas in Chattanooga Plant
Volkswagen celebrated the production of its one‑millionth Atlas family SUV at the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant, a milestone reached after a decade of assembly that began in 2016. The achievement underscores the model’s strong U.S. demand, with over 100,000 units sold...
Inline 3D Metrology Transforms Shipbuilding by Enabling Real-Time Forming Accuracy
Germany’s DIKUQ project, led by Fraunhofer IOF and shipbuilder Ostseestaal, has unveiled a semi‑automated inline 3D metrology system that captures steel sheet geometry in under half a second. The low‑latency sensor network uses synchronized cameras and structured‑light projection to generate...
Rise of Physical AI – KUKA and NVIDIA Partner to Launch Automation 2.0
KUKA and NVIDIA announced a strategic partnership at NVIDIA GTC, unveiling the KUKA Automation Management Platform (KUKA AMP) that blends traditional rule‑based control with intent‑based AI. The collaboration marks the launch of what KUKA calls Automation 2.0, a Physical AI framework that...
Polytec’s FTP Measuring Module: A New Perspective on Areal Surface Metrology
Polytec has launched the FTP (Front‑Topography‑Profile) measuring module, which captures both front and back surfaces of a component in a single areal acquisition. The dual‑surface approach eliminates the need to flip or reposition samples, cutting handling time and reducing alignment...
CHUWI Admits to Incorrect Ryzen Configuration: CoreBook X and CoreBook Plus Can Be Returned by the End of May
On March 23 2026, CHUWI announced a recall of a limited batch of CoreBook X and CoreBook Plus laptops that were shipped with the wrong processor. The devices were marketed as AMD Ryzen 5 7430U but actually contain the older Ryzen 5 5500U, a discrepancy AMD has publicly...
Weld Australia Backs Cairncross Dockyard Redevelopment as Manufacturing Capability Model
Weld Australia has endorsed the Cairncross Dockyard redevelopment in Brisbane, a $2.5 bn (≈US$1.65 bn) privately‑funded project designated by the Queensland Government. The initiative aims to create more than 1,000 direct jobs while reviving the Morningside site as a ship‑sustainment hub for...
Cummins Reaches 100-Year Milestone in Global Mining Operations
Cummins is celebrating a century of supplying power to the global mining sector, marking its first involvement in rope shovels and excavators in the 1920s. Over the decades the company has expanded from basic diesel engines to high‑horsepower platforms, turbocharging,...
Bucher Group Becomes Airbus SFE Galley and Stowage Supplier
Bucher Group has been chosen by Airbus to supply safety‑focused galley and stowage equipment for the A320 family. The Swiss firm will begin delivering its newly developed G1B galley platform later in 2026 after three years of engineering. The G1B...
China Flashes New Tech Swagger to World Markets Convulsed by War
At this year’s Canton Fair, China showcased a surge in high‑tech exports despite the ongoing Middle East war disrupting traditional trade routes. Companies like Guangdong‑based X‑Human predict a 300% jump in overseas revenue, while overall high‑tech shipments rose nearly 30%...
EnergyX Starts First U.S. Direct Lithium Extraction Plant in Texas
EnergyX has commissioned the United States' first direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant at its Texas site, aiming to prove the technology at commercial scale and cut reliance on imported lithium. The modest‑capacity pilot marks a tangible move toward a homegrown...
Indra Group USA Launches $50 Million Manufacturing Center in Kansas for Next‑Gen FAA Radar
Indra Group USA opened a $50 million, 118,000‑square‑foot Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Olathe, Kansas, adding more than 200 high‑skill jobs. The facility will fulfill a multi‑million‑dollar FAA contract to build next‑generation air‑traffic surveillance radars and other defense communications equipment.
Siemens Unveils Eigen Engineering Agent, Boosting Automation Efficiency by Up to 50%
Siemens announced the general availability of its Eigen Engineering Agent, a purpose‑built AI that executes automation engineering tasks rather than merely suggesting them. The tool promises 2‑5× faster workflows, up to 80% higher solution quality and 50% greater engineering efficiency,...
Milvus Robotics Launches SEIT F1500S, Fastest Forklift AMR with 3,500‑lb Capacity
Milvus Robotics introduced the SEIT F1500S forklift‑type autonomous mobile robot, boasting a 3,500‑lb payload and the highest speed among forklift AMRs. The new unit aims to replace manual forklift work with a fully autonomous, safety‑focused solution for dynamic warehouse and...
Lattice and TI Join Forces to Advance Real-Time Edge AI Sensor Fusion
Lattice Semiconductor and Texas Instruments have teamed up to simplify sensor integration for edge AI, pairing TI’s mmWave radar and camera technologies with Lattice’s low‑power Holoscan Sensor Bridge FPGA solution. The joint architecture streams synchronized sensor data directly into GPU‑accessible...
Manufacturing Potential Highlighted as Australia Eyes Share of $68.56B Upcycled Food Market
Australia’s manufacturing sector is poised to capture a share of the fast‑growing global upcycled food market, which Fortune Business Insights projects will reach $68.56 billion by 2032. A two‑and‑a‑half‑year study by Queensland University of Technology, End Food Waste Australia and the...
How to Ready Operational Technology for Intelligent AI Orchestration
Process manufacturers are rapidly adopting AI, with 64% using the technology and 35% already deploying it in production, according to an MIT Technology Review survey. The industry is moving from isolated point solutions toward a unified AI integration engine that...