Manufacturing News and Headlines
Manufacturing News and Headlines
The European Alliance has announced the three finalists for the 2026 SMC BMC Design Award, a competition that celebrates sustainable design using composite materials. The nominees are Dave Rook’s Domum Shelter, Lucía Bonmatí and Bernat Rucabado’s Hedera vertical garden, and Bárbara Quelhas and Zohar Saar’s GROWi aeroponics system. All entries target the award’s theme “Live Better, Live Green,” focusing on quality‑of‑life improvements through innovative, lightweight solutions. The finalists will present their concepts at JEC World 2026 in March.
Stellantis announced a €22.2 billion ($26 billion) write‑down tied to its electric‑vehicle strategy and sold its 49 % stake in the NextStar Energy battery JV to LG Energy Solution for a nominal $100. The charge reflects cancelled EV platforms, supply‑chain resizing and quality‑related...
Rheinmetall has inked a mid‑three‑digit‑million‑euro contract with General Dynamics European Land Systems to supply its CT‑025 unmanned turret, main armament and simulation technology for the Bundeswehr’s new Luchs 2 reconnaissance vehicle. The deal calls for 274 turrets to be delivered between...
Safran posted a strong 2025 performance, reporting €31.33 billion in revenue, €5.197 billion recurring operating income and a 16.6% operating margin, while raising its 2028 free‑cash‑flow target to €21 billion. The company delivered more than 1,800 LEAP engines—a 28% year‑over‑year increase—supporting Airbus’s plan...
Wrangler, a Kontoor Brands label, has launched its first women’s riding jeans incorporating Dyneema, an ultra‑high‑strength polyethylene fiber. The new high‑rise styles blend 90% cotton with 5% Dyneema, 4% T‑400 and 1% elastane, delivering enhanced tear resistance while remaining soft...
Trans‑Pacific ocean carriers and U.S. importers are deliberately postponing contract sign‑offs for the 2026‑27 service year as spot rates to the West Coast have slumped more than 20% since early January. Both sides hope that underlying market fundamentals will improve,...
Natilus secured a $28 million Series A round led by Draper Associates, bringing strategic aerospace and logistics investors on board. The funding will finance the first full‑scale prototype of its regional cargo aircraft Kona, slated to fly within 24 months, and further development...
Dutch tulip nursery Rainbow Colors has become the first agricultural firm to commission a 1 MW solid‑oxide electrolyzer for on‑site hydrogen generation, integrated with a solar array and battery storage. The system, built with Denmark’s Dynelectro and Ekinetix, can produce hydrogen...
IndustryWeek’s weekly roundup spotlights Rivian’s aggressive expansion plan and GlobalFoundries’ rollout of practical AI systems. Rivian aims for more than 45% delivery growth in 2026, adding a second R2 production shift and raising capital spending to roughly $2 billion. GlobalFoundries introduces...
Madewell has teamed with renowned denim designer Benjamin Talley Smith to release a seven‑piece women’s capsule collection. The line blends Madewell’s focus on fit and durability with Talley Smith’s artisanal expertise, featuring pieces like the Putney jean and Allerton jacket. Garments are...
Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest lithium‑metal producer, has begun mass‑producing semi‑solid‑state batteries with energy densities ranging from 400 to 650 Wh/kg. The company secured supply agreements with major OEMs including Tesla, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and BMW for lithium hydroxide and other battery...
The semiconductor industry is moving from planar MOSFETs to 3D structures such as FinFETs and GAA transistors, reshaping how patents are drafted and enforced. These architectural shifts create new layers of patent risk, especially around enablement, claim construction, and apportionment....
Ocean carrier schedule reliability plunged in January 2026 as congestion at Asian hubs and severe North Atlantic weather disrupted liner networks. Rate‑benchmarking platform Xeneta reports a sharp decline in on‑time arrivals across most carriers, with only non‑alliance services showing modest...
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president to impose broad tariffs, overturning Trump’s IEEPA tariff regime. The decision opens a path for importers to seek refunds, but claims must...
Aalborg University researchers demonstrated that FiberJoint’s wedge‑shaped reinforcement patch boosts pull‑out strength of sandwich‑composite inserts by 38%, promising more durable marine structures. Meanwhile, Gurit is expanding its Corecell SAN‑foam structural core production in Dallas, Texas, with a new facility slated...
Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits inaugurated a 412,500‑square‑foot distribution center in West Columbia, South Carolina. The 85‑acre facility can store 1.39 million cases, with 13 receiving and 22 shipping docks, parking for 279 vehicles and capacity for 108 trailers. Equipped with...
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the president lacks authority to impose broad tariffs without congressional approval, striking down the 10% baseline tariffs Trump enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The decision leaves intact steel and aluminum...
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 ruling that President Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, invalidating most of the administration’s reciprocal tariffs. The decision overturns the 34% tariff on China and the 10% baseline...
Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) are shifting from headline tariff figures to category‑level exposure mapping, allowing precise risk assessment and targeted mitigation. By integrating total cost of ownership into tariff response, they avoid costly over‑reactions and focus on long‑term spend efficiency....
Averitt, a leading less‑than‑truckload carrier, announced a multiyear expansion that will add nearly 900,000 square feet of warehouse space, 379 dock doors, and about 2,000 truck‑parking spots by 2027. The plan includes new or expanded terminals in Ocala, FL; Oklahoma...
The EU‑funded RECREATE project will host a free conference on April 23, 2026 in Brussels, bringing together industry, policymakers, and investors to showcase circular‑composite technologies. RECREATE aims to transform end‑of‑life carbon and glass‑fiber composites into profitable feedstock through AI‑driven sorting,...
FedEx announced it remains "highly confident" that its fleet of 28 MD‑11 freighters will be cleared to fly by the end of May, despite an FAA grounding triggered by fatigue cracks discovered after UPS Flight 2976. The airline has already...
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) launched “Age of Automation,” a global film series produced by BBC StoryWorks that showcases how automation is reshaping industries and daily life. The series combines short films and articles that highlight real‑world applications in...
Ocean Alliance is injecting targeted capacity into Vietnam and Thailand in its Day 10 network update, turning ports like Haiphong and Laem Chabang into core deep‑sea origins. The shift adds four trans‑Pacific services to Haiphong and doubles West‑Coast sailings from Laem Chabang, while...
Insight Works announced Quality Inspector version 7.25 for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, adding several workflow‑centric enhancements. Inspectors can now log test results directly from Microsoft Teams via adaptive cards, and grade‑based blocking rules tighten control over sales order releases and outbound...
Origis Energy has brought three Swift Air Solar facilities online in West Texas, delivering a combined 500 MWdc of renewable power. The projects, completed in three phases with the final stage slated for late 2025, represent more than $650 million in capital...
Boeing has inaugurated a 9,000‑square‑foot electro‑optical infrared (EO/IR) production line at its El Segundo satellite facility to support the Space Force’s Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking (MWT) program. The line will help Millennium Space Systems deliver 12 medium‑Earth‑orbit satellites by 2027,...
Boeing has opened a 9,000‑square‑foot production facility at its El Segundo campus to manufacture electro‑optical infrared (EO/IR) sensors for U.S. military satellites. The plant will support Millennium Space Systems’ near‑$1 billion contract portfolio, including 12 missile‑warning satellites and a $414 million award...
Stratasys unveiled a new dental anatomical model preset that leverages its multi‑material 3D printing platform to produce highly detailed, biomechanically accurate replicas for dental education and device training. The preset standardizes material ratios and printing parameters, enabling on‑demand, repeatable models...
University of Nottingham researchers, together with the Manufacturing Technology Centre and Autodesk, examined how interface orientation influences defect formation and microstructure in multi‑material laser powder bed fusion of Inconel 718 and GRCop‑42. They printed horizontal, vertical and 45° angled interfaces using...
WiseTech Global and Hapag-Lloyd have launched a trial that equips the carrier’s more than two million containers with IoT smart devices, delivering real‑time location updates to WiseTech’s CargoWise platforms. The pilot processes millions of data points daily and introduces a...
Modern Mill’s ACRE composite, launched in 2020, blends 50 % up‑cycled rice hulls with PVC resin to create wood‑like profiles for siding, decking, trim and other non‑structural applications. The material cuts, feels and stains like wood while offering water resistance, rot...
Waaree Energies announced a ₹8,175 crore investment to build India’s largest lithium‑ion battery gigafactory in Andhra Pradesh. The greenfield plant will have a 16 GWh annual capacity, covering cell production, battery packs and large‑scale energy storage systems, and is projected to generate...
OpenBOM and AMC Bridge have deepened their integration partnership to create a seamless digital thread linking CAD, PLM, ERP and supply‑chain systems with OpenBOM’s cloud‑based product data platform. The collaboration, highlighted at Autodesk University 2025, leverages Autodesk Platform Services to...
CONTACT Software has become a member of the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) platform in Heilbronn, Germany. The move gives the company access to IPAI’s training programs, ethical AI standards development, and a network of business, academic, and public‑sector partners....
VARD has secured an order from Orange Marine for two additional VARD 9 03 cable‑laying and repair vessels, to be constructed at Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka. The ships will follow the CS Sophie Germain design delivered in July 2023, emphasizing sea‑keeping, low fuel consumption...
Roland DGA unveiled a UV Direct‑to‑Film (DTF) system that pairs new UV‑DTFA print sheets with UV‑DTFB transfer film. The media delivers up to twice the adhesion of competing solutions while eliminating residue and boosting dimensional stability. Designed for VersaOBJECT MO,...
Chinese photovoltaic wafer prices fell for a fourth consecutive week, with n‑type M10 wafers dropping 2.38% to $0.164 per piece and n‑type G12 falling 4.98% to $0.191. Operating rates at major wafer producers have slipped below 50%, while inventory levels...
Medical device makers face a perfect storm of innovation pressure and a severe talent shortage, causing development cycles to stretch 18‑24 months. Rapid prototyping technologies can compress these cycles by up to 40%, enabling faster design iteration and ISO 13485‑compliant...
Window and door maker Pella has deployed a proprietary voice‑activated connected‑worker platform built on Honeywell software. The system guides operators through tasks, slashing error rates and shortening the time needed to reach full productivity. By standardizing on a scalable solution...
Swoboda CZ in the Czech Republic has installed a fully automatic production cell to manufacture metal‑plastic switchbox housing components. The new cell, built around a 270‑ton Wittmann vertical injection‑moulding machine with a two‑station rotary table, has doubled the plant’s capacity...
SNCF Voyageurs and Île‑de‑France Mobilités have issued a joint tender for more than 300 Z2N NG double‑deck EMUs under a framework worth over €8 billion. The 23‑year agreement, running to December 2052, includes a firm order for 52 trains valued at €1.5 billion and optional tranches...
German solar tracker developer Sunoyster Systems has launched the G440, a 440‑watt TOPCon photovoltaic module that weighs just 12 kg and features a 2 mm tempered‑glass cover. The panel delivers 22.2 % efficiency using 108 half‑cut monocrystalline cells and can be glued directly...
The Gitana Team unveiled the 104‑foot Gitana 18 Maxi Edmond de Rothschild in Lorient on 14 February. Designed with Guillaume Verdier, the trimaran features fully foiling hulls, retractable Y‑foils and a rotating diamond mast. North Sails, Southern Spars and Future Fibres supplied...
Nivalon, founded by Todd Hodrinsky and Marcel Janse, is preparing to launch its AI‑designed, patient‑specific spinal implant system, EvoFlex, in first‑in‑human trials slated for 2026. The implants are generated through machine‑learning algorithms that model each patient’s vertebral geometry, aiming to...
Austal Defence Australia secured a $4 billion Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement to build eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels for the Australian Defence Force. The 100‑metre, 4,000‑ton ships, based on the Damen LST100 design, can carry over 200 personnel, six M1A2 Abrams tanks...
7 Steel UK is scaling a fully domestic, circular steel model that turns the UK’s 8 Mt of annual scrap into low‑carbon billets using an electric arc furnace. By keeping scrap in‑country, the company shortens supply chains, boosts material traceability and cuts embodied...
INSPECTIS AB introduced the HD‑124‑WUV Dual White & UV Ring Light, featuring 32 white and 8 UV LEDs for high‑intensity, interchangeable illumination. The product will debut at the IPC/APEX Expo in March 2026 and integrates directly with INSPECTIS digital microscopes,...
Additive manufacturing is projected to generate $110 billion in market impact by 2034, up from $24.5 billion in 2025, according to AM Research. The forecast draws on more than ten years of historical data and covers metal and polymer parts across eight...
Swedish metrology firm Hexagon unveiled the HYPERSCAN 3D scanner, a portable, marker‑free system designed for large‑scale production inspection. Certified to VDI/VDE 2634‑3 and validated by an ISO 17025 lab, the scanner offers two models—Ultra (5.5 m range) and Super (7 m range) with up...
