Free Robotic Learning Event in Northern Nevada
OnRobot is hosting a free, in‑person “Build Your Automation Roadmap” event in Reno on April 9, 2026, showcasing FANUC robots and end‑of‑arm tooling for manufacturers. The session targets metal fabrication, CNC machining, electronics, aerospace, food & beverage, and industrial equipment firms facing severe labor shortages. Speakers include OnRobot’s GM Kristian Hulgard, FANUC’s Brian La Plante, and Nevatio Engineering’s Marc Magarin, who will demonstrate practical automation use cases. Registration includes lunch, but space is limited.
Yale Lift Truck to Share Automation Experience at MODEX
Yale Lift Truck Technologies will showcase a suite of automated lift trucks and operator‑assist solutions at the MODEX supply‑chain exhibition in Atlanta. The booth features an interactive Automated Lift Truck Portal that lets visitors map routes without coding, the Reliant...
10 Steel Marvels of Aviation
During World War II and the early post‑war period, aircraft designers turned to steel when aluminium was scarce or when extra protection was essential. Notable examples include the German Henschel Hs 129 and Soviet Ilyushin Il‑2, both featuring steel “armoured tubs” that...
Press Release: Greenpoint Delivers VVIP BBJ 787-9 Interior Completion
Greenpoint Technologies, a Safran company, has delivered a VVIP Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) 787‑9 interior completion to an undisclosed client, reinforcing its leadership on the 787 platform. The project showcases Greenpoint’s vertically integrated execution model that combines design, engineering, manufacturing,...
Why Apple’s LiTo Research Could Matter To 3D Printing
Apple researchers introduced LiTo, a latent 3D representation that jointly models object geometry and view‑dependent appearance. The method captures surface points, color, and viewing direction, improving reconstruction of glossy and reflective objects that challenge existing image‑to‑3D pipelines. While LiTo is...
Ericsson Welcomes US Economic Affairs Under-Secretary to 5G Manufacturing Base
Ericsson hosted U.S. Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg at its 5G Smart Factory in Lewisville, Texas, showcasing a domestic manufacturing hub for next‑generation network equipment. The tour, attended by the U.S. ambassador to Sweden, the Swedish ambassador, CEO...
Thermwood Gear Pump Patent Optimizes Large Format Extrusions
Thermwood’s new patent tackles bead‑size inconsistency in large‑format pellet extrusion by inserting a gear pump between the screw extruder and nozzle. The pump’s fixed displacement, synchronized with screw speed and guided by pressure feedback, decouples melt flow from rapid gantry...
Nvidia GTC 2026: Solidigm Introduces Luceta AI Software Suite AI Vision Platform
Solidigm unveiled the Luceta AI software suite, an end‑to‑end vision platform that lets enterprises build, deploy and continuously improve visual models for manufacturing, logistics, retail and more. The suite bundles a Data Agent, Model Agent, Pipeline Manager and Adaptive Agent,...
Vision Transformers Boost Real Time FFF Quality Monitoring
Researchers at LSU and Auburn University introduced a Vision Transformer (ViT) system that fuses 2D laser‑generated depth maps with self‑attention to detect FFF 3‑D‑printing defects in real time. The approach classifies normal, under‑extrusion, over‑extrusion and void regions, delivering predictions in...
Change Incorporation, Configuration Control, and the High Cost of Getting It Wrong
Boeing has assembled more than 30 Boeing 777‑9 airframes while the type certificate remains pending, exposing the program to extensive change incorporation work. Earlier, the 737 MAX grounding and 787 production flaws forced costly rework through shadow factories, taking months per...
Support Your Local Collaborator
The author argues that moderate Republicans and conservative‑aligned think‑tank experts are essential buffers against extreme Trump‑era policy proposals, such as bans on aluminum or the blocking of a flu vaccine. Public pressure from liberals to denounce these insiders often backfires,...
DH Shipbuilding Closes in on Annual Target with New Suezmax Order
DH Shipbuilding landed a 130 billion KRW (~$98 million) contract for a new Suezmax crude oil tanker from an Oceania shipping firm, pushing the yard to 82% of its 2026 order target within the first quarter. The deal marks the ninth order the...
Boeing 737 MAX Deliveries Hit by Quality Glitch
Boeing disclosed a machining error at its Renton plant that left small scratches on wiring bundles in a batch of 737 MAX jets. The company is reworking the affected aircraft to meet its quality standards before delivery. While the issue...
HB 2320 Advances in Washington While Broader 3D Printer Control Bill Stalls
Washington’s legislature has cleared HB 2320, an intent‑based bill targeting the illegal manufacture of 3D‑printed weapons, and it now awaits the governor’s signature. A companion proposal, HB 2321, which would have mandated online database checks and firmware controls on all printers, stalled...
Multi Wire FSAM Patent Targets Bigger Metal Builds
A new patent filed by Blue Origin describes a multi‑wire friction stir additive manufacturing (FSAM) tool that replaces a single feed channel with several spindle‑integrated channels. Each channel can accept wires of different gauges or materials, supported by internal sleeves...
Disney’s Big Bet on Storytelling, Parks and Products
Disney is committing $60 billion through 2033 to expand parks, launch the Disney Adventure cruise ship and deepen its experiential portfolio. Roughly 3,000 Imagineers are tasked with turning narrative concepts into immersive attractions, merchandise and ship environments. The new cruise ship,...
SLS Prints Programmable Bonded Magnets
Researchers at Auckland University of Technology have demonstrated a field‑assisted selective laser sintering (SLS) process that prints polymer‑bonded magnets with locally programmable pole patterns. By integrating under‑bed electromagnets and a powder‑handling bar, they can deposit different magnetic powders point‑wise and...
NVIDIA’s Industrial AI Thesis
At GTC 2026 Jensen Huang outlined NVIDIA’s "Industrial AI" thesis, arguing that compute has moved from a cost‑center to a production capacity and that AI tokens are becoming commoditized outputs. The company positions its 20‑year‑old platform as the sole infrastructure...
The Industry Is Repricing Survivability
Honda announced the cancellation of three North‑America EV programs, pivoting toward hybrid models amid weak demand, tariff pressure, and policy volatility. Simultaneously, freight surcharges and semiconductor price hikes are compressing margins across the automotive supply chain, while stranded battery capacity...
Micron Completes Acquisition of PSMC's P5 Site in Taiwan
Micron Technology announced the completion of its purchase of Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation’s P5 site in Tongluo, Taiwan. The acquisition, first disclosed on January 17, gives Micron control of a 300,000‑square‑foot, 300 mm clean‑room facility. Located roughly 15 miles from Micron’s...
US Industrial Production Rises For 4th Straight Month In February (0.2% MoM, 1.4% YoY)
U.S. industrial production posted a fourth consecutive monthly gain in February, rising 0.2% month‑over‑month and 1.44% year‑over‑year, outpacing the 0.1% consensus. Manufacturing output mirrored the broader trend, also expanding 0.2% MoM, with durable goods edging up 0.1% and nondurables up...
THE SECRET TO GOOD WRITING
The blog post dissects a vivid passage by Mary Heaton Vorse describing the 1920 Pittsburgh Steel Mill Strike, highlighting the massive, ritualistic atmosphere of the mills and the minimal human presence. Vorse, a pioneering feminist journalist who covered both World...
US February Industrial Production vs +0.2% Expected
U.S. industrial production rose 0.2% in February, edging past the 0.1% forecast and following a robust 0.7% gain in January. Capacity utilization held at 76.3%, still well below its long‑run average, signaling lingering slack in the sector. Manufacturing output matched...
New MIT AI System Designs Structurally Sound 3D Printable Objects
MIT CSAIL introduced PhysiOpt, an AI system that creates 3D printable objects with built‑in structural integrity. Trained on a library of functional shapes, the model automatically refines designs to address overhangs, weight‑bearing limits, and other physical constraints. Users can describe...
Synopsys Explores AI/ML Impact on Mask Synthesis at SPIE 2026
Synopsys hosted a Lithography VIP Symposium at SPIE 2026, featuring a panel on AI/ML in mask synthesis. Executives from photomask makers, fabs, and EDA discussed how GPUs and advanced AI are already addressing the exploding complexity of EUV mask design....
Ferguson Marine Shipyard Looks to Expand as Yard Grows
Ferguson Marine’s chief executive warned that the Port Glasgow yard will run out of space within five years as it prepares for a potential four‑vessel contract programme. The company is reviewing layout optimisation and a semi‑automated panel line while scouting...
March Empire Fed Manufacturing Survey Index -0.20 versus 3.90 Estimate
The Empire State Manufacturing Survey slipped to a -0.20 index in March, well below the 3.90 estimate. New orders edged higher while shipments plunged, creating a mixed demand picture. Delivery times stretched and supply availability weakened, yet employment rose modestly...
3D-Printable Metallic Glass Alloys Could Cut Electric Motor Energy Losses
Researchers at Saarland University have identified three iron‑based metallic‑glass alloys that can be fabricated with laser powder‑bed fusion 3D printing. The amorphous composition eliminates crystal‑lattice friction, dramatically reducing hysteresis (iron) losses in electric‑motor stators and rotors. These alloys contain 70‑80%...
The Giant Vending Machine Company Compounding at 15% With Zero Debt
A European maker of vertical storage units—often called giant vending machines—has been compounding earnings at roughly 15 % while carrying zero interest‑bearing debt. The firm boasts a sustained 35 %+ ROIC over three years, over 140 000 machines installed worldwide, and a near‑€1 billion...
Cyberattacks on Connected Factories Are Putting the Auto Industry Under Immense Pressure
The Center of Automotive Management and Cisco report finds cyber‑attacks on connected factories have surged, now costing the global automotive sector over $20 billion—roughly twenty times the 2022 figure. Attackers concentrate on suppliers, which account for 57% of incidents, followed by...
Unraveling Dose Reduction in Metal Oxide Resists via Post-Exposure Bake Environment
Researchers at imec introduced the BEFORCE platform to study how post‑exposure bake (PEB) environments affect metal‑oxide EUV resists. By precisely mixing oxygen, humidity, and other gases, they demonstrated that raising O₂ to 50 % and adjusting relative humidity can lower the...
Quality Control Challenges CO2 Gas Cylinder Suppliers Face And How the Best Ones Solve Them
CO2 aluminum cylinders used in beverage, fire‑suppression and medical systems demand rigorous quality control. Suppliers must verify 6061 alloy composition, execute documented internal cleaning, and perform hydrostatic burst tests at least 2.5 times service pressure. Leading manufacturers also run over...
Inside Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas
Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas, spanning roughly 2,500 acres with over 10 million square feet of production space, serves as the company’s global headquarters and a hub for Model Y and upcoming Cybertruck builds. A recent tour revealed a manufacturing philosophy centered on extreme...
Rutte Calls for Stronger Defence Industry at Brussels Expo
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte used the Brussels European Defense Exhibition to stress the Alliance’s reliance on a robust defence industrial base. He reminded industry leaders that modern forces need advanced equipment as much as personnel, and called for expanded...
Dallas, Texas Is a Drone and 3D Printing Place to Be
North Texas, particularly the Dallas suburbs, has quietly become a national hotspot where drone manufacturing and 3D printing intersect. Companies such as Eagle NXT, Shield AI, and Delta Black Aerospace are scaling operations in Allen, Frisco and McKinney, using additive manufacturing for rapid...
Survey Notes Most Companies Lack Customer Feedback
The Interact Analysis survey of over 200 global executives reveals that most companies still lack a formal, structured customer‑feedback program. Only 30% of respondents have a fully developed system, and those are primarily large firms with revenues above $1 billion. Smaller...
Ameralabs Publishes Comprehensive 23-Point Safety Analysis of 3D Printing Resin
Ameralabs, a Lithuanian 3D‑printing resin producer, released a free 23‑point safety analysis exposing persistent misconceptions about resin toxicity. The report highlights that most resins are toxic, with health effects often manifesting after repeated exposure, leading many users to mistakenly deem...
ISO 14001 Positions Shapeways for Growing Demand in Sustainable Manufacturing
Shapeways announced it has earned ISO 14001 certification, establishing an Environmental Management System that meets international sustainability standards. The certification is crucial for service bureaus targeting regulated sectors such as healthcare and defense, where customers must source parts from certified facilities....
3D Printing Smaller Than a Human Hair: A BMF Deep Dive with John Kawola
Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) showcased a dual‑resolution 3D printer capable of producing functional parts with tolerances in the tens of microns—smaller than a human hair. CEO John Kawola explained how the machine alternates between macro and micro modes, delivering both...
New Materials and Workflow Platform Strengthen Axtra3D’s Resin Manufacturing Ecosystem
Axtra3D unveiled three new elastomeric resins—Loctite 3D IND475, Loctite 3D Med414, and Ultracur3D EL 4000—broadening its material lineup from soft to hard shore‑A grades. The company also introduced the Axtra Workflow, an all‑in‑one manufacturing bundle that pairs the Lumia printer...
The Gemba Was Always There. We Just Couldn't See It.
The article argues that most knowledge‑work time is spent on coordination rather than value creation, a form of hidden waste that traditional lean methods struggle to expose. It highlights how the Toyota Production System’s gemba concept worked on the factory...
The Capital-Intensity Trap: The Decoupling Mechanism of Emerging Market Foundries and U.S. Fabless
The article outlines a "capital‑intensity trap" where rising energy prices and higher U.S. Treasury yields squeeze margins for hardware manufacturers while leaving asset‑light designers relatively untouched. It illustrates the mechanism with a March 13 case study: Brent crude above $100 and...
OM in the News: The Robotics Supply Chain
Industry Week highlights that the next two decades of robotics will be defined less by software breakthroughs than by the physical components that power machines. Cost analysis shows actuators and gearboxes consume 35‑40% of a robot’s bill of materials, followed...
How Could Large Scale Slurry Ceramic 3D Printing Work?
A recent Open Ceramics paper compares the mature sand binder‑jetting workflow, now used for high‑volume core production, with emerging slurry‑based ceramic 3D printing. While binder jetting offers large build volumes, fast job‑box swapping and high sand‑reclaim rates, slurry printing delivers...
Germany's Industrial Collapse: Degrowth And Ideology At Work
Germany’s industrial heartland in Baden‑Württemberg is experiencing a sharp decline, with trade‑tax revenues halving and major manufacturers cutting thousands of jobs. The article attributes the downturn to aggressive green policies and state subsidies that divert capital from private investment. Election...
Subscriber Update – Boeing 737 Production and Deliveries
Boeing recorded 16 first flights of the 737 MAX through March 11, showing the assembly line is still operating at a normal rate. However, only three MAX aircraft were delivered in March, leaving thirteen completed jets in inventory awaiting a wiring repair....
Hands On with Helio Additive and 3D-Fuel PCTG
Helio Additive provides a subscription‑based thermal‑optimization service for desktop 3D printers, automatically tweaking G‑code to improve layer adhesion and speed. In tests with 3D‑Fuel’s PCTG filament on a BambuLab P2S, the Enhance feature reduced print times between 8% and 66%...
Samsung Reportedly to Use 2 Nm Process on HBM4E Base Die
Samsung is set to fabricate the base die of its next‑generation HBM4E memory using a 2 nm process, following the recent launch of the industry’s first commercial HBM4. The move coincides with a redesign of the HBM4E power‑delivery network, raising the...
Huistone Patent Targets Large Area Resin Printing Economics
Fujian Huistone 3D Technology has filed Chinese patent CN121608383A describing a 3D printer that relocates a UV light source across the build area instead of using a fixed, full‑size array. The moving‑light engine is driven by dual servos and screw mechanisms,...
Why Recycling 3D Printed Plastic Remains Difficult Despite Growing Interest
The Tyee reports that recycling 3D‑printed plastic remains a major hurdle despite growing interest. Most desktop printers produce more waste than finished parts, and the waste stream is heterogeneous. Industrial‑scale filament production equipment is costly, and sorting by polymer type...