Netherlands to Pitch Circular Solutions at Techtextil
The Netherlands will present a cluster of circular textile and digital traceability solutions at Techtextil, the premier international textile trade show in Frankfurt from April 21 to 24. The showcase targets global buyers and technology partners, emphasizing sustainable material loops and end‑to‑end supply‑chain visibility. By bundling innovative recycling processes with blockchain‑based tracking, Dutch firms aim to demonstrate viable pathways toward a circular apparel economy. The initiative aligns with Europe’s broader push for greener manufacturing and regulatory compliance.
Application Spotlight: Consolidated Helicopter Intake Duct Yields 80% Cost Saving
An aerospace OEM producing light‑helicopters replaced its traditional machined intake duct with a 3D‑printed carbon‑PEEK component. The additive‑manufactured duct consolidated multiple parts, cutting material and tooling costs by roughly 80% while also reducing weight and lead time. Performance testing confirmed...
Meriton’s New Brand Reflects Long-Term Partnerships in HVAC Industry
Meriton, a national alliance of HVAC manufacturer representatives, unveiled a newly defined brand at AHR 2026 in Las Vegas. The rebrand emphasizes Meriton’s shift from a holding company to a unified partnership network spanning 19 brands across 25 states and over 2,000...
5 Ways to Free Your Manufacturing From Inefficient, Outdated Processes
Manufacturers are turning to integrated ERP systems to break free from legacy, paper‑based processes. By consolidating production data, ERP delivers real‑time visibility, precise job costing, and customizable KPIs that drive faster, data‑backed decisions. The article outlines five pillars—visibility, metric improvement,...
GEARWRENCH Releases 4 New Products for Automotive Diagnostics
GearWrench announced four new automotive diagnostic products, expanding its portfolio with a wireless 10‑inch tablet, a handheld 5‑inch tool, a high‑definition inspection endoscope, and a universal TPMS programmer with sensors. Prices range from $99.99 for the GWSCOPE to $2,249.99 for...
Malaysia’s TTVision Enters India’s Solar Manufacturing Market
Malaysia’s TTVision Holdings Berhad will launch a joint‑venture manufacturing plant in India in the second half of 2026 to produce automated optical inspection and high‑speed processing systems for photovoltaic production lines. The facility will act as a localized integrator linking...
MHI Names 2026 Innovation Award Finalists in Advance of MODEX
MHI announced the finalists for its 2026 Innovation Awards ahead of MODEX, after receiving 220 product submissions. Eight industry judges narrowed the field to three finalists in each of four categories: Best New Innovation, Best Robotics Innovation, Best IT Innovation,...
Vanadium Flow and Lithium-Ion Combine in World’s Largest Grid-Forming Hybrid Storage Plant in China
China’s Inner Mongolia region has commissioned a 300 MW/1,200 MWh hybrid battery energy storage system that blends lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) modules with vanadium redox flow cells. The plant, located in the Kubuqi Desert, uses Sineng Electric’s grid‑forming converters to deliver rapid response, virtual...
Chinese Academy of Sciences Achieves World Record Efficiency of 15.45% for Kesterite Solar Cell
The Chinese Academy of Sciences has set a new world record for kesterite (CZTSSe) solar cells, achieving a 15.45% power conversion efficiency and a certified 15.04% efficiency. The breakthrough stems from an interfacial phase equilibrium strategy that introduces a lithium‑tin‑sulfide...
Arkema Will Highlight Lighter, More Efficient, and Sustainable Innovations in Specialty Materials at JEC World 2026
Arkema will use JEC World 2026 to showcase a suite of sustainable specialty materials, including recyclable Elium® resins, biobased Rilsan® PA11, and high‑performance Kepstan® PEKK and Zenimid™ polyimides. Demonstrations feature a boat hull component and a record‑breaking speed board that...
Chinese Scientists Build ‘Ultra-Stable’ Polymer Solar Cell with 19.1% Efficiency
Chinese researchers at Wuhan University of Technology have demonstrated a polymer solar cell with a record‑high power conversion efficiency of 19.1%. By blending a small fraction of linearly packed small‑molecule acceptors into a polymeric macromolecular acceptor matrix, they achieved ordered...
$6.9M Boost for Australian Manufacturing of Printed Solar and Semiconductors
The Australian Government has allocated $6.9 million through its Industry Growth Program to accelerate manufacturing‑focused innovation. Spark3D will receive $4.8 million to commercialise the Achyon semiconductor packaging tool, while Kardinia Energy secures $2.1 million to launch a pilot printed‑solar production line. Both projects...
Ideal Heating Launches New Monobloc Propane Heat Pump for Commercial Buildings
Ideal Heating has added a 65 kW monobloc air‑source heat pump to its Ecomod 290HT line, targeting commercial buildings that need higher temperature output. The unit runs on propane (R290), delivers up to 70 °C flow temperature and achieves a COP of...
CMMS Deployed to Drive Downtime Reduction, Boost Productivity
DLG Group, a leading Northern European feed manufacturer, has deployed the Fiix cloud‑based CMMS to modernize maintenance across its plants. Within the first month the rollout delivered measurable improvements in mean time between failures and set a target of cutting...
Automated Stochastics Metrology Drives Production Decisions at Top-Five Device Maker
Fractilia announced that its FAME 300 stochastic metrology system is now in‑line at a top‑five semiconductor device maker, marking the first full‑scale deployment of automated stochastic control in production. The solution monitors more than 200 metrology steps, generating real‑time SPC charts...
Methods Machine Tools Appoints VP of Aftermarket
Methods Machine Tools announced the appointment of Jon Casten as vice president of aftermarket, bringing over 25 years of post‑sales leadership to steer its service, parts, warranty and customer support operations. Casten previously drove on‑time delivery above 98% and lifted...
Studer Motion Meeting 2026 Emphasizes Strong Foundations
Studer, part of United Machining Solutions, reported a mixed 2025 performance with a slow first half but a strong Q4 that limited year‑over‑year sales decline. Machine orders rose, driven by 44% first‑time customers, and the service division set new maintenance...
Latrobe Magnesium Hits De-Risking Milestone in Critical Mineral Production Process
Latrobe Magnesium’s demonstration plant in Victoria produced roughly 20 tonnes of magnesium oxide (MgO) over a continuous two‑week run, confirming the viability of its patented low‑carbon extraction process. The achievement de‑risks the company’s transition to full‑scale magnesium metal production, slated for...
ARENA Advances Industrial Emissions Cuts with $400M Fund
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has launched the Powering the Regions Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS), a $400 million fund to cut greenhouse‑gas emissions from regional industrial facilities. The program, part of the broader Powering the Regions Fund, supports projects that...
5 Ways to Make Trusted Data the Backbone of Your Sustainable Supply Chains
Companies face mounting sustainability regulations and consumer scrutiny, yet their legacy supply‑chain systems hold fragmented, inconsistent product data. The article outlines five actions—gaining product visibility, feeding tools with clean inputs, extending traceability beyond distribution, building compliance‑ready data infrastructure, and treating...
CSIRO and AMRF Connect Launch Advanced Manufacturing Program for SMEs
CSIRO has teamed with the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF) Connect to launch "Innovate to Grow: Advanced Manufacturing," a free eight‑week online program aimed at Australian SMEs. The initiative blends self‑paced learning, expert coaching and peer discussion to help firms...
Feds Renew Wilson Logistics Waiver, Launch Training Data Inquiry
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has renewed Wilson Logistics' exemption allowing commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders to serve as team drivers without a front‑seat trainer, extending the waiver through February 2031. The renewal adds a 30‑day limit on...
Gunderson Marine & Iron’s McMurdo Docking Pier Arrives in Antarctica
Gunderson Marine & Iron’s McMurdo Docking Pier has reached Antarctica after a 9,159‑nautical‑mile, 69‑day tow from the Pacific Northwest. The structure, designed by Glosten for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, endured 30‑foot seas and route adjustments to avoid Southern...
JD Sports Expands RFID Across Europe
JD Sports has signed a multiyear agreement with Checkpoint Systems to deploy the ItemOptix RFID platform across its European footprint, beginning with more than 400 UK and Ireland stores by the end of 2024 and scaling to nearly 1,000 locations...
Australian-Made AS9 Huntsman Howitzers Roll Off Geelong Production Line
The first Australian‑made AS9 Huntsman self‑propelled howitzers have rolled off the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Geelong, marking the next phase of the LAND 8116 programme. The debut follows an earlier batch built in South Korea and initiates...
PAC Strapping Products to Showcase Innovative Strapping Solutions at PACK EXPO East 2026
PAC Strapping Products will exhibit at PACK EXPO East 2026, showcasing its SM‑65 FA fully automatic strapping machine, the DSP‑TOOL ergonomic cart, and a range of polyester strapping solutions. The company will also preview a new horizontal strapping machine with an...
Altech Introduces New Pluggable Terminal Block Range
Altech Corporation has launched a new range of pluggable terminal blocks designed for rapid, tool‑free installations and field wiring. The hybrid design merges spring‑clamp security with plug‑in convenience, offering instant connections that resist vibration and eliminate common assembly errors. Blocks...
Canada Should Brace for Tariffs No Matter What, US and Canadian Officials Say
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer warned that tariffs on Canada are here to stay, linking higher duties to reciprocal market access under the Trump administration’s “America‑first” agenda. Canada now faces a 10% ad valorem levy on non‑USMCA goods, 50% tariffs on...
Hanwha and Greece’s Onex Shipyards Partner to Expand U.S. Shipbuilding
South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Power Systems and Greece’s Onex Shipyards & Technologies signed a trilateral agreement, witnessed by U.S. officials, to develop LNG‑powered newbuildings and floating storage‑regasification units. Hanwha will supply critical equipment to Onex’s two Greek shipyards while sharing...
Due Diligence Required as More Biofuel Feedstocks Used
NorthStandard released a white paper outlining the rapid uptake of biofuels in commercial shipping, noting a twelve‑fold increase in testing volumes to over 1 million MT between 2021 and 2025. Current 5‑10% bio‑blend usage satisfies the 2022 FuelEU Maritime requirement, but upcoming...
Fundamentals of Position Feedback
Automation has shifted from simple limit switches to dynamic position‑feedback devices such as encoders and LVDTs, delivering continuous data across varying speeds. Encoders dominate motion‑to‑electrical conversion, with absolute models preserving position after power loss and incremental models tracking relative movement....
Project44 Launches AI Agent to Automate Freight Procurement
Project44 has introduced an AI Freight Procurement Agent within its Intelligent Transportation Management System to automate carrier selection, rate benchmarking, and negotiations across multiple modes. The agent replaces periodic bid cycles with continuous, AI‑driven sourcing using live market data, and...
How to Find US-Based Suppliers
American manufacturers are accelerating reshoring to cut costs, shorten lead times, and mitigate geopolitical risk. Xometry’s 2026 outlook shows 29% have reshored and 45% are actively planning it, citing tariffs and rising costs as primary motivators. Thomas, with a 125‑year...
This Biomaterial Becomes Stronger when Wet
Researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia have created a nickel‑linked chitosan material that becomes stronger when wet, achieving nearly a 50 % increase in tensile strength. By incorporating small amounts of nickel ions, the polymer forms water‑bridged networks that...
OEMs Monitor Shifting Tariff Landscape
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s broad “reciprocal” tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, but Section 232 duties on medium‑ and heavy‑duty trucks and key components remain untouched. Within days, President Trump announced a new...
In-Space Manufacturing Automated Platforms Market Analysis 2026
The 2026 market analysis shows free‑flying in‑space manufacturing platforms emerging as the commercial backbone of the broader in‑space manufacturing sector. Varda Space Industries has demonstrated repeatable pharmaceutical crystal production across five missions, while Space Forge proved orbital plasma generation for...
Ex-China Lithium Hydroxide Production Ramp-Ups Face Delays on Weaker Demand
Wesfarmers reported that its Covalent Lithium joint‑venture refinery in Kwinana is producing high‑quality lithium hydroxide, but the commercial ramp‑up has been delayed by intermittent odor issues. The plant’s gradual scale‑up mirrors broader challenges at ex‑China hydroxide assets, including Albemarle’s Kemerton...
AM I Navigator and Leading Minds Align Efforts Under a New Alliance
The Additive Manufacturing Alliance, uniting the AM I Navigator and Leading Minds, was announced at AMS 2026 to accelerate industrial adoption of additive manufacturing. The partnership will coordinate knowledge exchange, joint industry communication, and practical support for companies moving from pilot projects to...
Solving Global Supply Chain Complexity Using Interconnected Technology Solutions
The upcoming webinar, hosted on March 26, 2026, tackles the persistent challenges of fragmented supply‑chain systems, manual bottlenecks, and limited financial visibility. Featuring Infios Corporate Vice President Alan D. Rowlett, PhD, the session will demonstrate how interconnected technology can automate multimodal shipments, sync...
ZAG UBAC 95 Touring Ski Goes Bio-Based with Sicomin SR GreenPoxy80
French ski maker ZAG Skis unveiled a pre‑production UBAC 95 touring ski built with Sicomin’s SR GreenPoxy80 bio‑epoxy, which contains 80% renewable content. The resin meets the demanding mechanical and temperature requirements of high‑performance skis while fitting existing molding lines. The...
How Two AMUG Scholars Are Finding Their Place in Additive Manufacturing
Two AMUG scholarship winners—undergraduate Justin Levy and lecturer Colleen Murray—are shaping additive manufacturing through university‑level research and curriculum development. Levy’s work at Ohio State pivots toward optimizing support removal for laser powder‑bed fusion, while Murray expands her polymer background into...
E-Com Survey: Growth Is Inseparable From Operational Maturity
The 2026 State of Commerce Ops Report by Linnworks shows that mid‑market e‑commerce retailers in the U.K. and U.S. are experiencing robust year‑over‑year growth, with nearly 90% reporting moderate to significant expansion. However, the survey highlights that scalability hinges on...
MP Materials to Build New $1.25B Magnet Plant in Texas
MP Materials announced a $1.25 billion investment to build a 120‑acre rare‑earth magnet campus in Northlake, Texas, under its “10X” program and a public‑private partnership with the U.S. Department of War. The facility will add roughly 10,000 metric tons of NdFeB magnet...
Biden’s Green New Deal Supercharged Manufacturing Construction in USA, Trump Killing It
The Inflation Reduction Act and accompanying Bipartisan Infrastructure Law sparked a massive reshoring wave, tripling U.S. manufacturing construction spending between 2021 and 2024. The legislation attracted EV battery, solar, and other cleantech projects, creating a surge in blue‑collar jobs. Following...
Intermodal Volumes See 5.9% Annual January Decline, Reports IANA
Intermodal Association of North America reported January 2026 intermodal volumes dropped 5.9% year‑over‑year to 1.47 million units, with trailers down 7.2% and ISO containers down 8.9%. The decline follows a series of monthly drops after a modest 2.4% gain in September...
Saertex Expands Distribution Network in Turkey with Neva Composites
Saertex has partnered with Neva Composites to expand its Turkish distribution network, giving local customers direct access to high‑quality multiaxial glass, carbon and natural‑fiber fabrics. The move strengthens Saertex’s presence in marine, aerospace and automotive sectors across Turkey. In parallel,...
Innovation Awards: Toray’s Process for Reusing the Secondary Structure of the A380 for the A320 NEO Wins in the Circularity...
The JEC Composites Innovation Awards recognized Toray Advanced Composites for its breakthrough process that reuses secondary‑structure components from retired A380 aircraft in new A320 NEO parts. By reshaping carbon‑fiber‑reinforced polyphenylene sulphide (C/PPS) pylon covers while preserving long fibres, the method maintains...
Cass, Caspian Partner to Tackle Tariff Costs
Cass Information Systems announced a partnership with AI‑enabled tariff specialist Caspian to embed advanced customs audit and refund capabilities into its freight‑payment platform. The integration adds AI‑driven HTS modeling, detailed audit functions, and support for post‑summary corrections, protests, and duty‑drawback...
E-Con Systems to Showcase Next-Gen Edge AI and Multi-Camera Vision Solutions at NVIDIA GTC 2026 and Embedded World 2026
e-con Systems will unveil its next‑generation edge AI and multi‑camera vision solutions at NVIDIA GTC 2026 in San Jose and Embedded World 2026 in Nuremberg. The company will demo Darsi Pro, a production‑ready platform built on NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX that handles eight HDR GMSL...
3 Ways FedEx, UPS Competitors Are Leveling up in 2026
Alternative parcel carriers such as Veho, Gofo, UniUni and Maersk E‑Commerce are intensifying competition with FedEx and UPS in 2026. They are rolling out new tech‑driven features like real‑time performance portals, AI‑optimized FlexSave delivery windows, picture‑proof‑of‑delivery and weekend service. Coverage is...