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
Okuma Launches High-Pressure Coolant System for CNC Machines
Okuma America has introduced the Okuma High‑pressure Coolant System (OHP), a new solution designed to deliver variable‑flow, high‑pressure coolant to CNC machine tools. The system provides up to 8 gallons per minute at 1,000 psi, featuring a 50‑gallon reservoir, dual 5‑micron quick‑change filters, and built‑in pump for extended cycles. Targeted at mining and other heavy‑duty manufacturers, OHP aims to improve chip evacuation, tool life, and surface finish on hardened steels and alloys. The unit fits standard shop footprints and comes with a two‑year parts warranty.
Fundamentals of Proximity Sensors: Inductive Vs. Capacitive Vs. PIR
Proximity sensors—inductive, capacitive and passive infrared (PIR)—are replacing mechanical switches across factories because they detect objects without contact, eliminating wear and enabling faster cycles. Inductive sensors excel at metal detection and thrive in dusty, oily environments, while capacitive units sense...
What Is Warehouse Collaboration? How Human-Robot Automation Improves Efficiency, Safety & Scalability
Warehouse collaboration pairs human workers, robots, and AI‑driven systems to meet soaring e‑commerce demand, fluctuating order volumes, and tighter service‑level agreements. The article argues that the next wave of automation must be adaptable, focusing on cooperative designs rather than isolated...
Electron Beam Welding: Unlocking a New Era for Heavy Section Nuclear Components
Electron beam welding (EBW) for heavy‑section nuclear components has moved from a research concept to a production‑ready technology. Recent demonstrations show full‑girth welds on 1.8‑meter‑diameter shells completed in under an hour, a dramatic drop from the week‑long arcs previously required....
Second-Life EV Battery Packs to Provide Energy Storage to Rivian Car Factory in Illinois
Rivian has teamed with battery recycler Redwood Materials to install more than 100 second‑life battery packs at its Normal, Illinois factory, providing roughly 10 MWh of on‑site energy storage. The partnership repurposes EV batteries that retain capacity after vehicle retirement, turning...
Samsung Doubles Exynos 2700 Output, Hikes Memory Die Prices
Samsung plans to more than double production of the Exynos 2700 next year compared to the 2600 The company also increased basic memory die prices by up to 50%
Lower Freight Rates Hit Q1 Revenues for Taiwan’s ‘Big Three’ Carriers
Taiwan’s three major container lines reported lower operating revenues in Q1 2026 as freight rates slipped year‑over‑year. Evergreen Marine, the largest carrier, saw its revenue drop 21% to $2.7 billion, down from $3.5 billion a year earlier. The decline follows the disappearance...
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NOBLELIFT unveiled NobleOne, the material‑handling industry’s first fully integrated AI forklift platform, at MODEX 2026. The system pairs AI‑driven operator coaching, advanced driver‑assist safety, and direct control of autonomous mobile robots with Gather AI’s MHE Vision camera that records every pallet move...
Mercedes‑Benz Deploys Private 5G Network to Automate Factory Production Lines
Mercedes‑Benz has begun deploying dedicated mobile private 5G networks in its factories to achieve zero‑latency communication between robots, AGVs and logistics platforms. The move underscores the rapid growth of private‑network solutions for industrial IoT and puts pressure on traditional telcos...
Critica Hits 81% Magnet Rare Earth Recovery at Jupiter Pilot, Boosting Supply Outlook
Critica Limited announced that its Jupiter Rare Earth pilot plant achieved an 81% recovery of magnet rare earths and a 71% recovery of total rare earth oxides, a 45% improvement over previous benchmarks. The results validate the project's beneficiation circuit...
Tech Giants Spend $100M on Chip Backup Plans
Pat’s Law of Always strikes again. But let’s treat it as 🚨news. Every large technology company is ALWAYS considering alternatives when it comes to differentiated, high dollar everything. Every model maker is considering: -doing their own chips if they aren’t already -if...
Canton Fair Expands to 1.55 M Sqm, Showcases Advanced Manufacturing to 210K Global Buyers
The 139th China Import and Export Fair opened in Guangzhou on April 15, covering 1.55 million square meters, 75,700 booths and more than 32,000 enterprises. Over 60% of exhibitors are using AI, 5G and industrial‑internet tools, while 210,000 overseas buyers pre‑registered...
What Is the Manufacturing Execution Gap, and What Does It Cost You?
The manufacturing execution gap describes the growing disconnect between ERP‑driven production plans and the actual conditions on the shop floor. While ERP systems schedule jobs efficiently, real‑time events—machine breakdowns, priority shifts, and undocumented setup knowledge—cause deviations that traditional MES platforms...
Impact of Ionic Wind-Driven DBD Plasma on the Surface Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical Characteristics of Polyethylene, Polypropylene and CR-39
Researchers demonstrated that ionic‑wind driven dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma can implant nitrogen ions into polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and CR‑39 polymer substrates. Operating at 18 kV for up to 50 minutes, the process created ion tracks 0.17–0.2 µm deep, altering surface morphology,...
Brick Making Machines: Guide for Efficient and Scalable Production
Modern brick‑making machines have evolved with precise hydraulics, advanced PLC controls and flexible mold options, delivering up to 95% uniformity. Semi‑automatic models such as the QT4‑25C dominate the market, offering 300‑1,500 blocks per hour while cutting labor costs by 40‑65%....
UPS Growing RFID Usage to Boost Shipper Visibility, Trim Manual Scans
UPS announced a U.S.-wide expansion of its RFID package‑sensing system, adding sensors to hubs later this year and offering RFID label‑printing to customers in 2026‑27. The rollout aims to eliminate nearly 20 million manual scans each day, improving visibility and delivery...
Coexpair Will Deliver Advanced Hot Press for Safran New Composites Development Lab
Safran Aircraft Engine has contracted Belgian equipment maker Coexpair to supply and install an advanced pneumatic heated press for its new Composite Development Laboratory in Villaroche, France. The press supports thermoset and thermoplastic processes such as RTM, SQRTM, compression molding...
Serbia to Jointly Produce Drones with Israel, President Confirms
Serbia announced a joint venture with an Israeli defence firm to produce combat drones, a move President Aleksandar Vucic described as a 50‑50 partnership. The collaboration follows Serbia’s recent $335 million purchase of Elbit Systems drones and a $1.6 billion deal for...
Stainless Steel Filter Cartridges: Benefits, Applications, and Selection Tips
Stainless steel filter cartridges, built from SUS304 or 316L steel, are becoming the go‑to solution for high‑temperature, high‑pressure industrial filtration across pharma, food, petrochemical and semiconductor sectors. They offer pore sizes from 0.2 µm to coarse grades, withstand temperatures from –25 °C...
New CellCelector CLD Takes You From Thousands of Candidates to the Top Clone, Faster
German biotech equipment maker Sartorius has launched the CellCelector CLD, an automated imaging and cell isolation platform that accelerates monoclonal cell line development. The system combines high‑speed scanning, advanced imaging and gentle clone retrieval to screen up to 885 nanowell...
Meyer Werft Opts for Steelpaint System for Dry Dock Wall Refurbishment
Meyer Werft in Papenburg is refurbishing 7,600 m² of its uncovered dry‑dock sheet‑pile walls using Steelpaint GmbH’s Stelpant corrosion‑protection system, applied by Tecton Service. The walls, last treated in 2009, are being blasted to Sa 2½ and coated with a two‑layer PU‑Zinc...
How Precision Machining Is Powering the Future of Innovation
Precision machining has moved from basic subtractive processes to ultra‑precise, multi‑axis CNC operations capable of nanometer tolerances. Shops like XTJ CNC in Indiana combine 5‑ and 6‑axis machines, AI‑driven monitoring, and robotic automation to cut waste and accelerate production. The...
ASE Ramps up Expansion with Six New Plants as AI Drives Packaging Demand
ASE Technology Holding announced its largest expansion yet, planning construction of six new advanced‑packaging plants this year to meet surging AI‑driven demand. The company may lift its capital spending beyond the previously targeted $7 billion, with a single Kaohsiung Renwu site...
Why Integrated FPC-Based Cell Contact Solutions Are Essential to Battery Pack Manufacturing
Battery pack manufacturers are turning to flexible printed circuit (FPC)‑based cell‑contact solutions to boost energy density while maintaining safety and cost efficiency. Traditional discrete wiring is being replaced by integrated FPCs that deliver higher‑quality temperature and voltage data to the...
Icelandair Renews and Expands with ACL Airshop
Icelandair has renewed and expanded its partnership with ACL Airshop, signing a five‑year agreement to manage its unit load device (ULD) fleet. The contract adds dedicated fleet management for scheduled flights, short‑term ULDs for charters, global MRO services, consumables, logistics...
Future-Proofing Mining
A new webinar highlights how private 5G networks are powering autonomous mining equipment such as trucks, loaders, and drills. The session showcases real‑world deployments that boost operational efficiency while improving worker safety. By delivering low‑latency, high‑capacity connectivity underground, private 5G enables real‑time...
Raise3D Expands SLS Portfolio With New B520 Sandblaster and Advanced PA Materials
Raise3D announced the B520 SLS sandblaster and two next‑generation PA powders, completing its RMS220 end‑to‑end SLS solution. The sandblaster clears loose powder from prints, while PA Next Powder delivers higher toughness and isotropy, and PA Next GB adds glass‑bead reinforcement...
Quantum WIY Industries and Quantum Tencore Industries to Strengthen Air Defence and Ground Systems
Quantum Systems announced two new joint ventures under its “Build with Ukraine” programme: Quantum WIY Industries (QWI) to boost Ukrainian air‑defence with interceptor drones, and Quantum Tencore Industries (QTI) to scale unmanned ground‑system production. Both ventures partner with Ukrainian firms...
Europe Ramps up Autonomous Warfare Capabilities with German–Ukrainian Drone Production Pact
Germany and Ukraine have signed a cooperation agreement that enables the Auterion‑Airlogix joint venture to begin large‑scale production of thousands of mid‑range, heavy AI‑guided autonomous strike drones in Germany. The deal fulfills a February 2026 Munich Security Conference pledge and becomes...
3D Systems Adds SLA Printer and AddiTrak Software
3D Systems unveiled the SLA 825 Dual, a stereolithography printer that delivers a 22% larger build volume and up to 25% faster print speeds, targeting high‑volume industrial production. The company also launched AddiTrak, an on‑premise software platform that centralizes monitoring, analytics, and...
Dematic Expands Flexible Automation Capabilities Through GreyOrange Partnering Relationship
Dematic announced a strategic partnership with GreyOrange to integrate the GreyMatter AI‑powered orchestration platform into its supply‑chain automation suite. The collaboration unifies robots, autonomous mobile robots and human workflows under a single, hardware‑agnostic software layer. By embedding GreyMatter, Dematic aims...
HP Announces New 3D Printer, Productivity Boosts and More at RAPID + TCT
HP used the RAPID + TCT show to unveil a suite of additive‑manufacturing upgrades as it celebrates ten years in 3D printing. The Jet Fusion 5600 gains a High Productivity mode that lifts output by roughly 20% and introduces Dual...
Continuous Fermentation Cuts Costs, Beats Traditional Bioreactors
The biomanufacturing bottleneck isn't biology. It's economics. Building bigger bioreactors doesn't fix unit costs. https://t.co/2RAcw704uk's bet: continuous fermentation decouples growth from production, keeps cells in an ultra-productive state for weeks, and runs like a conveyor belt instead of a batch process. ...
Native AI Empowers Infor with Heavy‑Industry Diagnosis, Automation, Optimization
MyPOV: what do the native AI solutions for @Infor look like? Heavy industry specific capabilities that diagnose, automate, and optimize #InforAnalystSummit https://t.co/x1axPxovSD
Suniva to Open Second Solar Cell Manufacturing Facility in the United States
Suniva announced a $350 million investment to build a 4.5‑GW monocrystalline silicon solar cell plant in Laurens, South Carolina, slated for a Q2 2027 opening. The new facility will join its existing 1‑GW Georgia site, raising total U.S. manufacturing capacity to 5.5 GW...
Proactive Planning Safeguards MedTech Performance and Margins
Medtech has no margin for error. Lisa’s MPO article: From Reactive to Proactive—planning strategies to protect customer performance + margins. #MedTech #SupplyChain #Planning https://t.co/gQf2Q4uUXD
Kimbrell and Allies Drive DC Shipbuilding Revival via SHIPs Act
Excellent article by CDR Kimbrell who - along with Capt @brentdsadler and a few others - was a leading architect of the SHIPs Act and the recent shipbuilding and maritime revival in DC
Used Cooking Oil Finds New Life in Innovative Materials for Cars, Homes
Italian researchers at the University of Pisa have demonstrated that used cooking oil can be chemically converted into polyols, the key building block for polyurethane foams, phase‑change heat‑storage panels, and bio‑lubricants. Funded by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the...
Don't Cut China Supply Chain; De‑risking Brings Consequences
China. Do not reduce your China supply chain. Or face the consequences. The risk of de-risking.
EPC Releases 5kW GaN 3-Phase Inverters for Robotics and Light EVs
Efficient Power Conversion Corp (EPC) unveiled two 5 kW GaN‑based 3‑phase inverter evaluation boards, the EPC9186HC2 and EPC9186HC3, targeting robotics, light electric vehicles and high‑power drones. The boards use EPC2361 eGaN FETs, delivering up to 150 A RMS phase current and 120 kHz...
U.S.-bound Imports Post Strong March Gains, Notes Descartes Global Shipping Report
Descartes' 56th Global Shipping Report shows U.S.-bound container imports surged 12.4% month‑over‑month in March to 2.35 million TEU, the fourth‑highest monthly total on record. Imports remain 32.3% above pre‑pandemic March 2019 levels despite a 4.8% year‑to‑date decline. China‑origin shipments slipped slightly,...
ALLPLAN Launches Steel Genie for Steel Estimating
ALLPLAN introduced Steel Genie, an AI‑driven tool that automatically extracts steel quantities from structural drawings and creates estimating‑level 3D models. The software identifies member types, dimensions, weight, and connection details, and incorporates an AISC‑based connection engine. By linking directly with...
New Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge Transported to Stockholm by Sea
A new 230‑metre pedestrian and cycle bridge for Stockholm’s Slussen district arrived by sea from Poland on April 12. The structure was delivered in six sections, the largest weighing 152 tons, using the Commander 1 vessel towing the Carrier 17 barge. After being lifted...
Dust Collection Filter Solutions
Midwest Filter’s online division, Filterbag.com, now offers a full catalog of OEM and replacement dust filtration products, including baghouse filter bags, pleated filters, and dust cartridges. The platform features extensive cross‑referencing tools that help customers quickly locate exact replacements for...
Congressman Seeks to Classify Cement as Critical National Security Material
Congressman Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania has written to President Trump urging an executive order that would label cement a Critical National Security Material. The order would require federal agencies to give preference to domestically produced cement in procurement and federally...
China's Premiere Memory-Maker YMTC Plans Two Additional Wuhan Fabs Using Homegrown Chipmaking Tools — Phase 3 Crosses 50% Domestic Tooling...
Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) is adding two new 100,000‑wafers‑per‑month fabs in Wuhan, more than doubling its current output. The upcoming Phase 3 plant, slated to start late 2024, will operate with over 50% of its equipment sourced from Chinese vendors, marking...
Thoro Unveils New Autonomous Solution Powered by Orbbec, Driving Scalable Material Handling Innovation
At MODEX 2026, automation specialist Thoro introduced CoreFlex, a modular, infrastructure‑free autonomy stack that can power a variety of industrial vehicles. The solution relies on Orbbec’s Gemini 336 stereo 3D camera to deliver high‑precision depth perception, robust obstacle detection, and reliable performance...
Rocket Lab Ramps up NZ-Built Gauss Thrusters for Constellations
.@RocketLab says its Gauss electric thruster is built in New Zealand, so no US tech-export control issues; now producing the thrusters at 200-per-year rate.
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Tennant Company announced a three‑year exclusivity extension with AI specialist Brain Corp, accelerating its robotic floor‑care roadmap. The partnership will deliver ten new autonomous cleaning products over the next 24 months and streamline the buying process with an integrated solution....
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RobotShop announced a strategic partnership with AGIBOT Innovation, becoming its value‑added distribution partner across the United States and Canada. The agreement gives RobotShop access to AGIBOT’s legged inspection robots and humanoid platforms, while providing integration, onboarding and deployment services. AGIBOT,...