Enercon Signs Large Framework Deal to Supply New Flagship Turbine to Canada
Enercon has secured a framework agreement to supply its flagship E‑175 EP5 E2 turbine to Canadian wind projects totaling more than 440 MW. The 7 MW turbine comes equipped with a cold‑climate system and blade‑heating technology designed for the country’s severe winters. Delivery will span multiple sites, marking the first large‑scale rollout of this model in North America. The deal underscores Enercon’s push to expand beyond Europe into new markets.
Rand 3D Highlights Scalable PLM Adoption Strategies at PTC/USER Global Summit 2026
Rand 3D, a division of Rand Worldwide, will act as a Silver Sponsor at the PTC/USER Global Summit in Las Vegas, showcasing its PLM adoption framework at Booth #36. The company will co‑present a case study with Doosan Bobcat North...
Don’t Forget About Your Yard
Supply chain software has surged with AI‑enhanced WMS and TMS platforms, but the freight yard between them remains largely manual. Experts warn that yard inefficiencies waste up to 75 % of drivers' idle time, cutting average driving hours to 6.5 of...
Breakbulk26: Shippers Urged to Pivot From Typical View of Tariffs, Trade Compliance
At the Journal of Commerce Breakbulk and Project Cargo Conference 2026, industry leaders urged shippers to treat tariffs and trade compliance as strategic, not peripheral, tools. Mance Adams of SLB highlighted that many firms only assess tariffs after contracts are...
Ocean Shipping Surcharges Spurred by Iran War Weigh on Contract Talks
Ocean carriers are adding fuel surcharges and higher rates as the Iran‑triggered closure of the Strait of Hormuz pushes oil prices up. Shippers negotiating new ocean‑shipping contracts are grappling with these extra costs, while the Federal Maritime Commission has pushed...
FDA PreCheck Pilot Program Structure
The FDA PreCheck Pilot Program is a two‑phase initiative aimed at speeding the launch of new U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing sites. Phase 1 delivers early engagement through Pre‑Operational Reviews and the creation of a Type V Drug Master File that documents facility design,...
Accenture, Vodafone and SAP Trial Humanoid Robot
Accenture, Vodafone Procure & Connect, and SAP have completed a pilot that deployed humanoid robots in Vodafone’s Duisburg warehouse. Integrated with SAP’s Extended Warehouse Management, the robots performed visual inspections, flagged safety hazards, and reported optimization insights directly into the...
Breakbulk26: Repeated Global Crises Force Carriers to Adopt Strategies for Uncertainty
Breakbulk and project cargo carriers at the Journal of Commerce conference warned that global crises have turned uncertainty into a permanent condition. Executives cited COVID‑19, the Suez Canal blockage, Red Sea attacks, the Baltimore bridge collapse and Panama Canal drought...
Novel Chemical Reactor Boosts Methane Conversion
Researchers at the National University of Singapore unveiled a dual‑temperature chemical reactor that separates methane activation and product formation into hot (≈1,400 °C) and cool (≈400 °C) zones. The design uses an electrically heated molybdenum filament followed by a palladium catalyst, delivering...
The Modular Mandate to Future-Proof Packaging Automation
The packaging automation market is projected to reach $140.8 billion by 2033, prompting machine builders to embed modular, flexible designs. Physical modularity paired with intelligent software ensures seamless line reconfiguration and traceability. Industry events like Pack Expo 2026 highlighted AI‑driven flexibility as...
Energy, Intelligence and Social Impact to Drive CV Sector Transformation: Ashok Leyland MD & CEO
Ashok Leyland MD & CEO Shenu Agarwal told the CII Commercial Vehicle Summit that the commercial‑vehicle (CV) sector will be reshaped by three forces – energy, intelligence and social impact – as India eyes 2047. He called for a multi‑fuel strategy...
Titan America Hub Spotlights Advanced Materials, Digital Tech, Construction Solutions
Titan America inaugurated an Innovation Hub in Miami to fast‑track advanced materials, digital technologies, and construction solutions aimed at resilient, sustainable communities. The center unites customers, suppliers, universities, startups and public agencies around smart cement, recycled‑content concrete, AI‑driven ready‑mix logistics...
Carriers’ Handling of Fuel Surcharges Agitates Small, Midsize Trans-Pac Shippers
Small and midsize trans‑Pacific shippers are raising concerns over ocean carriers’ handling of bunker‑fuel surcharges. Many carriers are insisting on open‑ended emergency surcharge clauses that lack clear exit triggers, making it hard for shippers to compare pricing across lines. The...
SK Hynix to Invest $12.85bn in Advanced Packaging Plant in Cheongju, South Korea
SK Hynix announced a $12.85 billion investment to build the P&T7 advanced packaging plant in Cheongju, South Korea, with construction starting this month. The 230,000 sqm facility will house three floors of wafer‑level packaging and seven floors of wafer test lines, targeting...
Piper Aircraft Introduces Composite Seven-Blade MT-Propeller as Factory Option for M700 Fury
Piper Aircraft announced that the seven‑blade composite MT‑Propeller from MT‑Propeller Entwicklung has earned an EASA supplemental type certificate for the M700 Fury, with FAA approval expected soon. The new propeller promises shorter take‑off runs, higher climb rates and a quieter cabin...
Axens’ MACARON Cathode Plant Earns France’s Strategic Project Label and 25% Tax Credit
Axens’ MACARON cathode‑active‑materials plant in Saint‑Saulve has been named one of France’s 150 major strategic projects, earned a Net Zero label, and secured a 25 % Green Industry Investment Tax Credit. The design aims to supply cathode materials for French and...
ABB Robotics Launches High-Speed PoWa Cobot Family
ABB Robotics unveiled its PoWa cobot family, delivering industrial‑grade performance in a collaborative robot form. The lineup spans six payload options from 7 kg to 30 kg and reaches a top speed of 5.8 m/s, the fastest among cobots. Designed for compact environments,...
Sandvik's Storming March Quarter
Sandvik reported record orders for its March 2026 quarter, with order intake climbing 23% at constant exchange rates to SK 36.8 billion (approximately US$4 billion), a 12% rise in real terms. The surge marks an all‑time high and reflects the growing market advantage...
Boeing CEO Says 'All Systems Are Go' To Increase 737 Production as Company Narrows Loss
Boeing announced it will increase 737 Max production to 47 aircraft per month, up from 42, as part of a broader effort to improve profitability. The company reported a first‑quarter loss of $7 million, far better than analysts’ expectations, and revenue of...
Hexagon Launches QUINDOS 2026.1 with CMM Updates
Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division unveiled QUINDOS 2026.1, its latest metrology platform for special geometries. The update introduces CMM Check 3.0‑compliant machine monitoring, simplified high‑speed scanning, and CAD‑driven rotary‑table programming that consolidates multi‑axis point generation. New gear‑inspection modules add Hirth serration...
CG Roxane, Questar Solutions, Uline Announce Expansions
A wave of expansion announcements swept the North American packaging sector in spring 2026, with 13 manufacturers unveiling new facilities or upgrades. CG Roxane is adding roughly 60,000 sq ft in Benton, Tennessee to bring PET preform and HDPE cap production in‑house,...
Bel Group Accelerates the Shift to Paper Packaging by Taking a Holistic Transition Approach
Bel Group has pledged to switch all Babybel cheese sold in 50 countries to certified paper packaging by 2027, marking a major move toward plastic reduction. The company’s packaging research leader, Clément Ernest, says the transition requires a full system...
FANUC Adds CRX-3iA Cobot for High-Mix Automation
FANUC America has launched the CRX-3iA, an 11 kg collaborative robot designed for rapid redeployment in high‑mix, low‑volume tasks such as welding, assembly and inspection. The cobot offers a 3 kg payload, 692 mm reach and flexible mounting options, allowing one‑person transport to...
Geodis Adds Chicago Pharma Cross-Dock Facility
Geodis has launched a 78,000 sq ft cross‑dock and bonded facility near Chicago O’Hare, featuring a 5,200 sq ft temperature‑controlled area split into deep‑cold (15‑25 °C) and refrigerated (2‑8 °C) zones. The site earned IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification and Certified Cargo Screening Facility status, marking the...
WD-40 Deploys AI in Supply Chain, Business Processes
WD‑40 announced the rollout of AI‑enabled platforms—including Microsoft Dynamics 365, Salesforce and John Galt Solutions' Atlas—to boost efficiency and decision‑making across its operations. The ERP system now supports U.S., Latin America, Asia distributor markets and parts of Canada, covering roughly half...
87% of Ecommerce Businesses Likely to Change Manufacturing Locations
A Fidelity Fulfilment‑Opinion Matters survey of 1,500 ecommerce firms shows 87 % plan to relocate primary manufacturing within three years, driven by geopolitical uncertainty and supply‑chain disruptions. At the same time, 86 % intend to add new fulfilment centres, creating more distributed...
Colibrium Additive Secures $31 Million NAVAIR Contract
Colibrium Additive has secured a $31 million contract from the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to support its Additive Manufacturing Capability initiative. The agreement requires the company to deliver six metal alloy material‑process combinations, expand its alloy portfolio, and...
Packline Materials Handling Launch New Stainless Steel Roll Lifter for Wide Film and Foil Rolls
Packline Materials Handling, together with Ultrasource LLC, has launched a stainless‑steel roll lifter designed for long, wide film and foil rolls used in food, pharmaceutical and other hygienic sectors. The lifter features a vertical spindle with an extended‑reach arm, motorised lift,...
Delta Highlights AI-Driven Smart Factory and Energy Infrastructure Solutions as Key Drivers of Industrial Transformation at Hannover Messe 2026
At Hannover Messe 2026, Delta showcased its AI‑driven smart factory platform, DIATwin, which couples NVIDIA Omniverse physics simulations with live production lines to create a closed‑loop “Sim‑to‑Real” workflow. The company demonstrated a real‑time digital twin for PCB insertion that optimizes...
VELO3D and ANDRETTI PERFORMANCE PARTNER FOR 2026 IMSA MICHELIN PILOT CHALLENGE
Velo3D, the metal‑additive‑manufacturing specialist, has signed a sponsorship with Andretti Performance for two 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge races at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis. The deal positions Velo3D as the official additive‑manufacturing technology provider, supplying a custom‑engineered aluminum CP1 radio‑control mounting...
Andhra Pradesh to Host ₹5,400 Crore Solar Manufacturing Project Groundbreaking
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the foundation stone for ReNew Energy Global plc's new solar manufacturing complex in Anakapalli district on April 23. The plant, a 6 GW solar ingot and wafer unit, represents a ₹5,400 crore ($650 million)...
Samsara Eco and LSKD Team up to Make Leggings Out of Infinitely Recyclable Fibres
Australian activewear label LSKD has signed a decade‑long deal with biotech startup Samsara Eco to replace nylon 6,6 in its leggings with a recycled, infinitely recyclable version produced from end‑of‑life plastics. The transition begins in 2028, with LSKD planning to roll...
UPS’ Happy Returns Expands Reach to 10K Drop-Off Locations
UPS’s Happy Returns has added more than 1,700 UPS‑authorized shipping outlets, bringing its Return Bar network to 10,000 drop‑off locations nationwide. The expansion, driven by partnerships with Annex Brands and PackageHub Business Centers, lifts coverage so 79% of U.S. consumers...
Aiko Steps up ABC Transition with 11GW Capacity Upgrade and Equipment Investment
Chinese PV maker Aiko announced a RMB 1.665 billion ($243 million) investment to convert existing PERC and TOPCon lines into 11 GW of high‑efficiency all‑back‑contact (ABC) cell capacity across its Yiwu and Chuzhou plants. The Yiwu base will add a 5 GW ABC line starting...
Bowers & Jones Steels Itself for Change
Bowers & Jones, a West Midlands specialist in high‑precision roll tooling, has seen US tariff uncertainty erode its ability to quote fixed prices, threatening the 40% of total sales that previously came from the United States. The company, which earned...
Earth Week 2026: Advancing Sustainable Manufacturing for the Essential Technologies the World Relies On
GlobalFoundries (GF) used Earth Week 2026 to detail its 2025 sustainability progress across greenhouse‑gas cuts, energy efficiency, water stewardship, and waste reduction. The company lifted its 2030 Scope 1‑2 emissions target to a 42% absolute reduction, delivering about 105,000 tCO₂e cut in...
Faster, Cleaner, More Sustainable: S1 Optimizes SLS Post-Processing at FORMRISE
FORMRISE, a German 3D‑printing service, adopted AM Solutions' automated S1 blasting system to streamline its selective laser sintering (SLS) post‑processing. The 2‑in‑1 cleaning and surface‑finishing solution cut batch cycle time by roughly 50% and slashed polybead consumption by over 60%,...
Survey: US Industry Can’t Meet Global Munitions Demand
A recent survey of U.S. defense contractors reveals that the domestic munitions industry is unlikely to satisfy the soaring global demand for ammunition through 2025. Respondents cite a capacity shortfall of roughly 30 percent, driven by aging production lines, labor...
Survey: US Industry Can’t Meet Global Munitions Demand
A new industry survey reveals that U.S. munitions manufacturers are unable to keep pace with surging global demand driven by multiple conflicts. Production capacity gaps, especially for .50‑caliber rounds at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, are widening. Respondents cite...
Fandis Lumeis Enclosure Lights
AutomationDirect introduced the Fandis Lumeis series LED enclosure lights, delivering 600 lumens of uniform illumination while drawing less than 5 watts. The lights operate over a wide 20‑265 VAC/VDC range and feature screwless terminals, magnetic or screw mounting, and a 40° swivel...
Laumas Single Point Load Cells LE
AutomationDirect has added three Laumas single‑point load‑cell series—ALLUE, AZLUE and APLUE—to its catalog. The cells are manufactured in Europe, handle up to 600 kg (1,320 lb), and deliver 0.02% full‑scale accuracy with a 150% overload rating. They feature IP65‑rated aluminum housings, wide...
RHINO PSR Spring Clamp Power Supplies
AutomationDirect has launched the RHINO PSR series power supplies featuring tool‑free spring clamp terminals that lock without retorquing. The ultra‑slim units combine rugged metal or aluminum housings with high efficiency and power density, making them ideal for space‑constrained industrial panels....
AchieVe NEC2 Power Supplies
AutomationDirect introduced the AchieVe PSA series NEC Class 2 power supplies, offering a compact form factor with energy‑limited DC outputs for low‑voltage control and automation circuits. The units accept a wide 85‑264 VAC input range and provide selectable 5 V, 12 V, or 24 V...
Why Supplier Scorecards Rarely Improve Performance
Supplier scorecards are ubiquitous in procurement, but they function as lagging measurement tools that often fail to drive improvement. Because they are typically updated quarterly, they capture problems after they have already impacted production, inventory, or cost. The article argues...
CCTS to Keep Near-Term Costs Manageable but Raise Long-Term Pressure on Cement, Aluminium Firms: ICRA ESG
India’s newly launched Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) will keep short‑term compliance costs manageable for cement and aluminium producers, but it will tighten emission targets, creating larger credit deficits over the next two years. Under higher‑growth scenarios, cement firms could...
DHL Upbeat on Middle East Airfreight: Capacity Returns as Airspace Reopens
During a recent "navigating disruption" webinar, DHL Global Forwarding Middle East and Africa reported that Gulf airlines are steadily restoring air cargo capacity, with only Kuwait's airspace still closed. The company noted a modest softening in freight rates, though they...
Proposed Chinese Robot Ban Is Latest U.S. Tech Sovereignty Move
The bipartisan American Security Robotics Act, introduced by Senators Tom Cotton, Chuck Schumer and Rep. Elise Stefanik, would bar U.S. government use of Chinese‑made ground robots such as humanoids, quadrupeds and crawlers. The proposal follows the FCC’s recent crackdown on...
Mars Plans to Close Pet-Food Factory in Germany
Mars Pet Nutrition announced plans to shut its Minden, Germany dry‑pet‑food plant, affecting roughly 110 workers. Production would cease by late 2026, with output redirected to other European facilities. The closure comes as Mars rolls out a €1 bn ($1.18 bn) investment program...
AMA: Energy 2026: How Addept3D Sees the Gap Between AM Value and Industrial Adoption in Energy
Additive manufacturing (AM) is delivering measurable savings in the energy sector, exemplified by Equinor’s roughly $100 million cost reduction, yet large‑scale, high‑value components remain stuck in proof‑of‑concept stages. Tarun Chand of Addept3D explains that the primary barrier is cost – both...
Bambu Lab Discontinues the X1 Series After Four Years on the Market
Bambu Lab announced that production of its X1, X1 Carbon, and X1E 3D printers will cease on March 31, 2026, with after‑sales support guaranteed until March 2031. The X1 series, launched in 2022 via a $7 million Kickstarter, reshaped desktop printing by popularizing CoreXY...