JetZero Embarking on Home Facility Revamp
JetZero Inc. is renovating its 32,000‑square‑foot headquarters at Long Beach Airport, with Mark Odom Studio leading the redesign. The modernized campus will feature flexible workspaces around a central hangar to accelerate decision‑making and foster innovation. The upgrade follows a $175 million Series B round, bringing total commercial and public‑sector commitments to over $1 billion, including a $235 million U.S. Air Force demonstrator deal. JetZero also plans a large manufacturing plant in Greensboro, North Carolina, slated to employ about 14,500 staff.
Primoco UAV Reports Strongest Q1 in Its History: Robust Performance, New Contracts and Infrastructure Expansion
Primoco UAV posted its strongest first‑quarter ever, generating roughly $4.5 million in revenue and $2.7 million EBITDA. The company now holds a $38 million backlog of 30 aircraft, including a rapid one‑month delivery to Spain’s Guardia Civil. It is expanding infrastructure with a new...
Schlam Expanding in Response to Global Opportunities
Load‑and‑haul attachment maker Schlam is expanding its global operating model by adding new bucket and ground‑engaging tool product lines and appointing a Chief Commercial Officer. The company will launch broader bucket ranges, high‑quality ground engaging tools and installation kits for...
Cemtech Europe 2026 Announced for Paris
Cemtech Europe 2026 has been confirmed for October 7‑9 at the Hyatt Regency in Paris. The conference, themed “Innovation and manufacturing excellence,” will convene cement producers, equipment suppliers, technology innovators and policymakers. Sessions will spotlight decarbonisation tactics such as calcined...
Caribbean Cement Co Clarifies Production Performance
Caribbean Cement Co clarified its 2025 production performance, noting that a $42 million kiln expansion and debottlenecking project forced a 55‑day shutdown that cut output by 167,500 t. The plant also faced severe weather, with Hurricanes Beryl, Rafael and Melissa disrupting operations...
Iraqi Cement Producers Association Tackles Market Stability and Green Innovation
The Iraqi Cement Producers Association held its second regular board meeting on April 23, 2026, emphasizing tighter coordination to balance supply and demand amid a weakening domestic market. The board approved Dabin Cement Industry Co Ltd as a new member,...
Middle East Crisis Strains Cement Sector
Bangladesh’s cement sector faces a sharp output decline as the Middle East conflict disrupts imports of clinker and limestone, driving production costs up 30‑40%. A concurrent diesel shortage worsens logistics, while weak domestic demand prevents price passes. Output has fallen...
ENC Hosts Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco at California Production Facility
U.S. bus maker ENC welcomed the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco to its Jurupa Valley plant on May 1. The tour showcased a 227,000‑sq‑ft, ISO‑9001‑certified facility that produces Buy America‑compliant transit buses in multiple configurations and powertrains. ENC, recently acquired...
Toray Announces Preceramic Resin System at SAMPE
Toray Advanced Composites unveiled TC1810, an ultra‑high‑temperature polysiloxane‑based pre‑ceramic resin system at SAMPE. The resin can cure as low as 225 °C and operate from 260 °C up to 1,000 °C with minimal weight loss. It is co‑curable, compatible with hand lay‑up and...
Taiwan Weighs Stricter Air Pollution Rules that Could Force Factory Shutdowns
Taiwan lawmakers have introduced draft amendments that would shorten air‑pollution permit validity to two years and require renewal reviews within two months, with non‑compliance potentially forcing factories to shut down. The proposal also empowers local governments to revise permit conditions...
Bajaj Auto Sales Rise 40% in April on Export Surge; Buyback Ahead
Bajaj Auto posted a 40% year‑on‑year rise in April sales, moving 513,000 units, driven largely by an 83% jump in exports to 265,000 units. Export growth was powered by a 125% surge in three‑wheelers and a 78% rise in two‑wheelers,...
Manufacturing Shrinks in April as Costs Surge on Mideast War
Indonesia's manufacturing sector contracted in April, with the PMI slipping to 49.1 from 50.1 in March, the first sub‑50 reading in nine months. The drop reflects surging raw‑material costs and supply disruptions tied to the Middle‑East conflict, leading to the...
Australia–Japan Deal Targets Manufacturing Growth Through Critical Minerals Cooperation
Australia and Japan announced a deepened critical‑minerals partnership during a Canberra summit, earmarking up to $1.3 bn (about $860 m USD) in financing for joint projects. The deal expands the 2022 partnership, targeting on‑shore processing of gallium, nickel, graphite, rare earths and...
Indian Private Sector New Order Growth Quickens in April but Remains Slowest in 4 Years: PMI Survey Shows
India’s private‑sector manufacturing PMI rose to 54.7 in April, up from 53.9 in March, indicating modest expansion as the new fiscal year began. The improvement was driven by stronger new orders and output, with export orders hitting a seven‑month high....
Driving Quality Through Manufacturing Intelligence
Manufacturers are moving from reactive, end‑of‑line inspections to a continuous, data‑driven quality regime powered by manufacturing intelligence. By linking metrology data with IIoT connectivity and advanced analytics, firms can detect deviations in real time and shift toward predictive quality control....
Metrology Driven Speed Monitoring for Safer Industrial Environments
Westcotec introduced the Automatic Speed Watch Camera (ASWC), a system that merges radar, ANPR and high‑resolution imaging to monitor vehicle speed in industrial zones. The camera, built around IDS Imaging’s uEye LE sensor, captures speed, licence‑plate and vehicle details, feeding data...
Sandvik Coromant Sensorized Turning Adapter Provides Real-Time Insight for Turning Operations
Sandvik Coromant introduced the CoroTurn Plus sensorized turning adapter, which captures cutting forces, vibration, chatter and incut status in real time. The data streams to CoroPlus Viewer for passive visualization or to CoroPlus Connected for active machine‑level protection. By flagging...
Fabs & Labs: Spectrum Control
Spectrum Control announced the opening of its new Marlboro facility, a 150,000‑sq‑ft campus that merges RF design, testing and semiconductor fabrication under one roof. The site features cleanrooms, anechoic chambers, high‑speed signal labs and $45 million of cutting‑edge equipment. By consolidating...
Beverage Operations Turn to Customized Conveyor Systems to Meet Evolving Trends
Beverage manufacturers are rapidly upgrading to customized conveyor systems that can adapt to ever‑changing packaging formats, higher line speeds, and tighter changeover windows. Industry leaders from AMMEGA, Dematic and Swisslog note that flexibility, low‑friction belting, tighter roller spacing and seamless...
Starrett Digital Comparator Streamlines Part Inspection
Starrett introduced the HDV250 digital comparator, replacing traditional projection screens with a high‑resolution camera, LED‑ring illumination and fully digital traceability, delivering micron‑level accuracy and easier training for small‑to‑mid‑scale shops. Mitutoyo launched the Crysta‑Apex V Plus CMM, which adds real‑time temperature...
WEBINAR: From Machine Data to Guided Action: How Modern Shops Are Closing the Execution Gap
MachineMetrics hosted a webinar titled “From Machine Data to Guided Action,” highlighting how manufacturers can close the execution gap that separates real‑time machine data from actionable decisions. The session featured Product Manager Josh Fish and Pindel Global Precision’s Thomas Deslongchamps,...
A.H. Beard Enters Voluntary Administration as Manufacturing Sector Faces Mounting Pressure
A.H. Beard, a fifth‑generation Australian mattress maker with more than 125 years of history, has entered voluntary administration. The move highlights mounting cost pressures and fierce import competition that are straining the broader Australian manufacturing sector. The Australian Made Campaign...
Conifex Takes Mackenzie Mill Offline Again — 25M Board Feet Stripped
Canadian lumber producer Conifex announced a seven‑week shutdown of its Mackenzie sawmill in northern British Columbia starting May 19, removing roughly 25 million board feet of Western SPF from the market. The curtailment stems from limited log inventory and fibre availability...
Northrop Grumman, Australia Move Toward Sovereign Rocket Motor Manufacturing Capability
Northrop Grumman has been chosen by the Australian government for structured engagement to develop a sovereign solid‑rocket motor (SRM) manufacturing capability. The partnership will involve detailed discussions with government and industry to define requirements, production pathways, and integrate Australian suppliers...
Philippine Manufacturing Shrinks in April as War-Driven Costs Bite
The Philippines’ manufacturing PMI slipped to 48.3 in April, its first sub‑50 reading since November 2023, indicating contraction. The decline was driven by a sharp fall in new orders—the steepest since August 2021—and a surge in input‑price inflation, the fastest...
Ship Repair USA: The Business Impact of At-Risk Behavior and Safety in Shipyards
Marine Log’s Ship Repair USA conference will host a panel titled “Safety Isn’t What You Think: The Real Cost of At‑Risk Behavior.” The discussion examines how operational pressure, competitive bidding and tight schedules foster risky actions that undermine traditional safety...
Manufacturing PMI Rises in April as Supply Disruptions and Inflation Intensify, S&P Global Says
Australia’s manufacturing PMI edged up to 51.3 in April, pulling the sector back into modest expansion after a March dip below 50. The rise was driven mainly by longer supplier delivery times and higher input inventories, not by stronger demand....
The US Has Banned the World’s Best Drones. It Has Not Figured Out How to Make Them.
The FCC’s December 2025 decision automatically placed DJI on the Covered List, halting imports of new DJI drones that command roughly 80% of the U.S. consumer and commercial market. In response, Skydio unveiled a $3.5 billion, five‑year SkyForge program to build a...
China’s Production Capacity for Green Fuels Reaches Eight Million Tons
China’s National Energy Administration reported that green‑fuel production capacity now totals about 8 million tons of oil‑equivalent per year, up from traditional ethanol and biodiesel to include green ammonia and methanol. Green hydrogen capacity has surpassed 1.1 million tons, with 250,000 tons already...
The Hidden Cost of Absenteeism in Manufacturing and Why It Is Rising
Australian manufacturers are confronting a rising absenteeism problem, with workers missing roughly 9‑10 days per year on average. The surge is driven by three intertwined forces: chronic fatigue from overtime and shift work, an ageing labour pool that experiences more...
Chinese Manufacturing Growth Hits Highest Level Since 2020 – RatingDog
China's General Manufacturing PMI jumped to 52.2 in April, the strongest reading since December 2020 and the fifth consecutive month above the 50‑point growth threshold. The surge was fueled by a rapid rise in new orders, especially in consumer goods,...
ULVAC Brings New Production Line of Magnet Vacuum Melting Furnaces to Japan
ULVAC, a Japanese specialist in vacuum melting furnaces, is launching a new production line in Japan to meet soaring demand from magnet makers in Europe and North America. The company projects a threefold increase in annual furnace orders as rare‑earth...
War in Middle East Drives Japan’s Sharpest Supply Delays in 15 Years
Japan’s manufacturing sector rebounded strongly in Q2, with the S&P Global PMI climbing to 55.1 in April – the highest level since 2014. The surge was driven by a mix of robust sales, inventory‑building, and heightened demand for AI‑related equipment....
Robots Are Building Clay Homes In Texas Using Dirt From the Ground
A Texas startup near Austin has developed a robotic system that constructs homes from on‑site clay. The robot extracts dirt, mixes it into adobe, and uses a claw and hammer attachment to shape walls, guided by machine‑learning feedback. The pilot...
XCMG Again Ranks Among Global Top Three in KHL Group's 2026 Yellow Table
XCMG Machinery reported $14.0 bn in 2025 revenue, an 8.4% year‑over‑year increase, and secured the third‑largest global construction‑equipment sales rank in KHL Group’s 2026 Yellow Table. Overseas sales surged 16.6% to $6.8 bn, representing 48% of total revenue, while new‑energy equipment generated...
Geekplus Reports 50 Percent Growth in Americas as It Pushes Embodied Intelligence Into US Warehouse Market
Geekplus reported a 50% year‑on‑year increase in new orders across the Americas in 2025, driven primarily by U.S. demand. The Chinese‑origin robotics firm now has more than 72,000 autonomous mobile robots deployed in over 40 countries, serving roughly 950 customers,...
New Wafer Inspection and Metrology Platform From TRI
TRI unveiled the AI‑powered TR7950Q SII wafer metrology and inspection platform, targeting back‑end process and advanced‑packaging applications. The modular system handles 6‑inch to 12‑inch wafers on a high‑stability granite base and offers automated visual inspection for particles, scratches, and contamination....
Isolated 15 W and 30 W Converters Cut Complexity
TDK‑Lambda has introduced the CCGS series, a line of isolated DC‑DC converters delivering 15 W or 30 W in compact chassis‑mount (52 × 93 × 23.5 mm) and DIN‑rail (52 × 93 × 31.9 mm) formats. The converters accept 9‑36 V or 18‑76 V inputs and provide selectable single or dual outputs from 3.3 V...
Global Carmakers Desperately Want to Be More Chinese
The Beijing International Auto Exhibit, now twice the size of its 2024 edition, displayed roughly 180 new vehicles, underscoring China's dominance in the automotive sector. Chinese manufacturers are outpacing foreign rivals in electric‑vehicle technology and autonomous‑driving showcases. Global OEMs are...
Textile Ministry Moves to Shield Clusters From West Asia Gas Supply Shocks
India’s textile and handicraft clusters are confronting acute natural‑gas and LPG shortages as West Asia supply routes remain disrupted. The Textile Ministry has launched a comprehensive assessment of all 1,200+ clusters and, in partnership with state‑owned GAIL, can tap the...
Japan Is Building Military Drones Out of Cardboard, and They're Faster and Cheaper than You'd Expect
Japanese startup Air Kamuy is introducing the AirKamuy 150, a fixed‑wing drone built from corrugated cardboard that costs roughly $3,000 per unit—significantly cheaper than the $10,000 Lucas drone. The design folds flat, can be assembled by hand in about five minutes,...
Here's How Star Wars Action Figures and Collectibles Get Made, According to the Experts
Hasbro Pulse’s Star Wars action‑figure line is built through a rigorous, multi‑step pipeline that moves from theme planning to sculpting, engineering, paint‑deco, and final factory sign‑off. Chris Reiff, the product‑design manager, explained how the team balances fan expectations, budget constraints, and...
Scaling for the Frontlines: Meeting the Department of War’s Urgent Demands
Kraus Hamdani Aerospace announced that it has scaled its production of the K1000ULE drone to meet the Department of War’s urgent demand. The company now controls the entire supply chain, from in‑house computer boards to mission‑system integration, eliminating reliance on...
This $25,000 Robot Looks Right Out of Star Wars
LimX Dynamics unveiled the Tron 1, a two‑legged robot priced at $25,000 that looks like a miniature Star Wars AT‑ST. Initially shown at CES with basic pre‑programmed motions and remote control, the robot now demonstrates real‑world tasks such as guiding hotel...
Report: Humanoid Robots Represent a Premium Growth Market for Motion Controls
Interact Analysis reports that motion‑control demand tied to humanoid robots will surge, with a projected 102% compound annual growth rate from 2023 to 2029. Shipments are expected to jump to roughly 20,000 units in 2025, up from 2,000 in 2024,...
Ramkrishna Forgings Set to Foray Into Forged Wheel Production Next Month
Ramkrishna Forgings will launch commercial operations at its Chennai plant in June, marking its entry into forged‑wheel production. The $240 million facility, built in two phases, will become Asia's second‑largest wheel unit with an annual capacity of 228,000 wheels. In FY26...
Borderlands Mexico: Nearshoring Fuels 800K-Square-Foot Industrial Build in El Paso
Dallas‑based Formation Interests has broken ground on FORM375, an 800,000‑square‑foot industrial park in El Paso, Texas, adjacent to the Zaragoza port of entry. The four‑building campus includes a 513,000‑square‑foot cross‑dock designed to provide “zero‑distance” logistics for cross‑border freight. Trade through the...
The AI Supercycle's Most Undervalued Manufacturer
Sanmina Corp. posted a blockbuster Q2 fiscal 2026, with revenue soaring to $4.01 billion—a 102% year‑over‑year jump—driven largely by its AI data‑center hardware push. The acquisition of ZT Systems added $1.88 billion in revenue and accelerated compute shipments for hyperscale customers. While...
Scaling Battery Production: The Growing Importance of Quality Assurance and Multi-Modal Inspection
The global battery market, valued at $181 bn in 2025, is projected to more than double to $432 bn by 2034, driven by a 10% CAGR. As factories scale—exemplified by a $4.3 bn U.S. plant and CATL’s $8.55 bn Hungarian gigafactory—quality assurance becomes a...
Expert Raises Concern over Disruptions to Naphtha Supply
Academic Pakorn Opaprakasit warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict threatens naphtha imports, a critical feedstock for Thailand's plastic pellet production. He estimates pellet prices could jump 30‑40% and downstream packaging costs 60‑70%. The expert urged the Thai government to...