Manufacturing News and Headlines
Manufacturing News and Headlines
Researchers at Princeton unveiled two low‑impact lithium extraction techniques that could dramatically accelerate supply growth. The porous‑string method uses capillary‑wicking cotton fibers to concentrate lithium chloride up to 6% in a process up to twenty times faster than conventional evaporation, while requiring minimal land and water. The humid‑air slag‑column passes moist air through mining residues, extracting up to 96% of the lithium and producing a 97,000 ppm LiCl solution—nearly twice the typical industry grade. Both approaches aim to tap unconventional brines and waste streams, offering a simpler, energy‑light alternative to existing DLE technologies.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) embarked on a SAP S/4HANA migration to replace a legacy ERP and create a future‑proof, agile foundation. The project centered on a Clean Core strategy, keeping the system as standard as possible while using a governance...
Engineers at the AMUG 2026 conference learned that metal additive‑manufacturing parts almost always require post‑processing, and that surface‑finishing strategies must be defined during the design phase. The panel highlighted how material‑removal budgets, print orientation, and surface‑roughness metrics such as Rt...
Asian ocean carriers are currently managing bunker fuel supplies, but tightening inventories signal a looming shortage if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. Global fuel suppliers warn that prolonged closure could trigger worldwide deficits. To cushion the impact, operators are...
Torsten Slok warns that roughly $14 trillion of intermodal (IG) capacity will hit the market over the next two years, driven by a wave of new rail, truck and terminal assets. The surge could outpace demand, creating excess supply in freight...
A new WBR Insights LogiPharma Playbook surveyed 100 European pharma supply‑chain heads and found that while AI is being piloted, confidence remains low. Sixty‑five percent of leaders doubt AI can reliably predict or mitigate disruptions, and only 36% have moved...
The robotics and automation sector is at a pivotal inflection point as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in physical systems, expanding the market beyond traditional industrial applications. Zeno Mercer of VettaFi highlighted rapid advances in autonomous aerial and ground robots, driven...
Canadian auto production slipped another 7% in 2025, falling to 1.2 million vehicles, marking a second consecutive year of decline. The drop is largely attributed to the United States’ 25% tariffs imposed in March and lingering uncertainty around the electric‑vehicle transition....
Swiss spin‑off Sallea is extending its proprietary salt‑based templating platform from biomanufacturing to advanced composites and high‑performance materials. The process creates water‑soluble salt cores that act as temporary molds, allowing intricate internal geometries that are later dissolved away. It works...
Sonair is launching its award‑winning ADAR 3D ultrasonic sensor at MODEX 2026, marking the technology’s first North American debut. The sensor provides a full 180°×180° field of view and real‑time 3‑D perception using sound, eliminating blind spots and overcoming optical...
CaPow will showcase its Power‑in‑Motion™ Genesis platform at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, demonstrating wireless energy delivery to two distinct robot models—Ocado Chuck and MiR600—via a modular charging pad. The live demo highlights continuous power transfer that eliminates traditional docking stops, promising...
Amtech Electrocircuits has introduced a Multi‑Path Sourcing Initiative to help original equipment manufacturers reduce reliance on single suppliers. The program maps bill‑of‑materials vulnerabilities, validates alternative vendors, and implements continuous monitoring across regions. It targets high‑risk sectors such as medical devices,...
Dutch scientist Huub Lelieveld received the 2026 World Food Prize for pioneering modern food‑processing safety standards that dramatically cut foodborne illness and waste. His work at Unilever introduced hygienic production methods that reduced reliance on heavy preservatives, salt, sugar and...
Host-cell proteins (HCPs) remain a persistent impurity risk in biomanufacturing, with regulators demanding levels below 100 ppm in final drug products. Traditional ELISAs measure total HCPs but cannot identify individual proteins, while conventional multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) suffers from retention‑time shifts...
Umoe Advanced Composites has launched industrial‑scale production of Type 4 composite cylinders at its new 12,000‑sqm Jiaxing plant in China, the company’s largest global manufacturing base. The facility can produce up to 20,000 cylinders a year, effectively tripling UAC’s worldwide capacity...
D&L Industries, the Philippines’ largest oleochemical and specialty plastics producer, warned that the ongoing Middle East war is creating supply‑access challenges as crude‑oil prices and raw‑material costs surge. CEO Alvin Lao said 2026 brings new uncertainties, with many suppliers invoking...
Toronto‑based Beachman Motor Co. assembles all‑electric, retro‑styled motorcycles using mostly Chinese‑made components, employing about a dozen staff in a scaled‑down plant. The flagship Beachman ’64 retails for roughly $4,400 USD and targets urban commuters seeking a simple, design‑forward ride. After a...
EFT has teamed with Bharat Skytech Pvt Ltd (BSPL) to launch the EFT BHARAT brand, localising production of its E610P agricultural drone in India. The partnership includes the transfer of production moulds for key components, enabling ‘Make in India’ manufacturing, distribution,...
Rentsc hler Biopharma announced that its Milford, Massachusetts CDMO site has entered a new growth phase, adding a 22,000‑square‑foot cleanroom and four 2,000‑liter single‑use bioreactors. The expansion, the largest in the company’s 150‑year history, brings the U.S. facility to the...
Seagate’s SVP Jason Feist says the company is doubling down on areal‑density growth, leveraging its Mozaic 3 and upcoming Mozaic 4 HAMR drives that deliver 3‑4 TB per platter, rather than adding more platters like Western Digital. He notes that hyperscalers prefer higher‑density, cost‑efficient...
Vericut’s CNC simulation software is now a core tool for Formula 1 teams, enabling engineers to verify and optimize complex composite and metal parts before they hit the shop floor. The platform creates digital twins of machines, detects collisions, and validates...
Baker Hughes has been awarded a contract to provide gas compression and power generation equipment for ST LNG’s proposed 8.4 million‑tonne‑per‑annum offshore export terminal off Matagorda, Texas. The deal includes two LM6000PF turbine‑driven centrifugal compressor trains and three NovaLT16 turbine generator...
Baker Hughes secured a contract to supply gas compression and power generation equipment for ST LNG’s proposed offshore liquefied natural gas export terminal off Matagorda, Texas. The agreement includes two LM6000PF turbine‑driven centrifugal compressor trains and three NovaLT16 turbine generator packages,...
American Battery Factory (AFB) has locked in offtake agreements for 4.5 GWh of the 5.5 GWh output slated for its Arizona LFP gigafactory, clearing a major financing hurdle. The plant, built with Sprung Structures’ rapid‑deploy fabric modules, will begin production in late 2027...
RELEX Solutions' State of Supply Chain 2026 report shows AI moving from experiment to core decision support, with 47% of firms using or planning AI-driven inventory optimization and 41% applying AI to logistics. Confidence in AI has risen, as 67%...
UCB announced a $2 billion investment to build a 460,000‑square‑foot biologics manufacturing plant in Gwinnett County, Georgia, its first U.S. production site. The facility will create about 330 permanent jobs and over 1,000 construction positions, leveraging AI, robotics and automation. Georgia...
China’s semiconductor sector is set to capture nearly half of global wafer‑fabrication capacity by 2028, rising to 42% from 32% in 2025. The growth is being propelled by the adoption of agentic AI, which dramatically increases inference compute needs, and...
U.S. companies are pouring billions into reshoring manufacturing, spurred by the CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act, but a critical workforce gap threatens these investments. Research from the University of Tennessee shows only one‑third of firms have advanced reshoring plans,...
Honda Motor Co. and Sony Group have scrapped their joint Afeela electric‑vehicle project, ending development of the first‑ and second‑generation models. The decision comes as Honda faces $15.7 billion in EV‑related charges and a broader EV overhaul, while Sony Honda Mobility...
The Pentagon has signed multiyear agreements with BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin to quadruple production of infrared seekers for the THAAD missile‑defense interceptor. Annual output will rise from 96 to 400 units, while BAE’s seeker contracts run for seven years...
SBI Securities has upgraded NALCO to a Buy with a target of ₹420.9 (~$5,070) versus the current ₹367.15 (~$4,425). The integrated aluminium producer is moving ahead with a 0.5 mtpa capacity expansion, with a detailed project report due by mid‑2026 and...
Syncore and AI‑robotics specialist Sereact announced a letter of intent at LogiMat to roll out more than 100 AI‑powered robotic systems across Europe in the coming years. The collaboration builds on existing pick‑and‑place units and inventory‑monitoring vision, and now adds...
Bold Laser Automation has launched the LPCl1820UV, a Class 1 industrial laser system that uses a 349 nm Q‑switched UV source delivering up to 120 µJ per pulse for precision surface cleaning. The platform integrates nanosecond laser processing, high‑accuracy motion control, advanced beam...
Raymond Corporation will showcase its end‑to‑end intralogistics portfolio at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, featuring new electric lift trucks, automated Courier trucks, and the iWAREHOUSE intelligent‑warehouse suite. The booth will host six 10‑minute "Material Handling Moments" sessions that deliver actionable solutions...
A study by Germany’s VDMA and Fraunhofer projects global capital expenditure on photovoltaic manufacturing equipment to rise from about $16.6 billion in 2025 to $43.8 billion by 2035, roughly 2.6 times current size. The growth mirrors an expected 2.5‑fold increase in annual...
Porsche Design inaugurated a new Timepieces Manufactory in Grenchen, Switzerland, moving from its Solothurn site and consolidating development, engineering, assembly, quality management, and after‑sales under one roof. The historic 1955 building, formerly home to Eterna, has been modernized with ISO‑classified...
Swedish deep‑tech startup Renasens closed a €10 million seed round (about $11 million) to build a pilot plant in Borås, Sweden, for its waterless, chemical‑free textile recycling platform. The technology uses supercritical carbon dioxide to dissolve polymer chains, enabling the separation of...
Täby Air Maintenance (TAM) received Federal Aviation Administration approval for its Saab 2000 freighter conversion Supplemental Type Certificate, clearing the path to sell the modified aircraft in the United States. The conversion, which began in early 2022, offers a 55.4 m³ cargo...
Basler AG and Chinese robotics specialist Orbbec have formed a strategic partnership to develop industrial 3D vision solutions for logistics and factory automation. Their first joint product, the Basler Stereo mini camera, will debut at LogiMAT 2026 and targets autonomous mobile...
AutomationDirect launched the IronHorse ACM series AC drives, offering V/Hz and sensorless vector control for low‑horsepower motors using single‑phase 120 V or 230 V power. The drives cover 1/8 to 3 HP, feature five digital inputs, two relay outputs, analog I/O, dynamic braking,...
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has completed a transition to 100 % closed‑loop recycled plastic sheets for its cargo operations, after piloting 30‑50 % recycled content since 2022. The program, developed with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, uses post‑consumer...
AutomationDirect announced the launch of new Shaviv deburring tool sets, including a premium 21‑piece and a 12‑piece kit, both featuring ergonomic universal handles and quick‑change blade holders. The expanded Heavy‑duty and Mango IIB/IIE configurations add compact, direct‑blade designs for tight‑space...
AutomationDirect has added Define Instruments digital panel meters, signal conditioners, and temperature transmitters to its catalog. The Merlin series meters accept current, temperature, voltage, potentiometer and pulse inputs, feature advanced scaling, USB‑based configuration and an IP65‑rated LED display. The LPI610...
AutomationDirect has added two new Datalogic Smart‑VS vision sensors to its catalog: the Smart‑VS Plus and the Smart‑VS EVO. The Plus model introduces a third object classification and expands image storage to 20 frames while maintaining a 50‑400 mm range and...
Australian freight forwarders, backed by APSA and the Freight & Trade Alliance, are seeking government assistance to offset soaring shipping costs caused by the US/Israeli war against Iran. Conflict‑related surcharges and end‑of‑voyage fees are adding up to about $4,000 per...
Flexport is suing former employees and rival startup Freightmate AI over alleged misuse of shipment documents to train AI tools. The dispute centers on thousands of real‑world freight documents that were downloaded and could give Freightmate a data advantage, rather...
imc Test & Measurement UK is hosting a free, full‑day FAMOS Live Workshop on March 25 2026 at the British Motor Museum in Warwick. The hands‑on event targets engineers, test specialists and analysts, offering practical sessions on data visualization, import/export, automated workflows,...
Maximo, an AES‑incubated solar‑robotics firm, installed 100 MW of panels at the 1‑GW Bellefield project in Kern County, California, using a coordinated fleet of four robots. The robotic system achieved peak installation rates of 474 modules per day, boosting human installer...
