SSI Awards First Supply Traceability Certificates to Astronergy Module Factories
Europe’s Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) awarded its first Supply Traceability Standard Bronze certifications to two Astronergy module factories in China, marking the inaugural implementation of the standard launched in December 2024. The inspections, conducted by German technical institute TÜV Rheinland, confirmed that the facilities can trace material flows on a transaction‑by‑transaction basis, though sustained management evidence was not yet demonstrated. SSI’s voluntary certification aims to create a verifiable chain of custody for solar‑industry materials, addressing forced‑labour concerns linked to polysilicon and quartz mining in China’s Xinjiang region. The move positions European buyers to prefer SSI‑approved products while sparking criticism over Chinese manufacturers’ role in shaping the standards.
US ITC Opens Section 337 Probe Into Global TOPCon Supply Chain
The US International Trade Commission has opened a Section 337 investigation into TOPCon solar cells, modules and related products after First Solar filed a complaint naming 47 respondents across 11 countries. First Solar alleges infringement of patents 1, 2, 4 and 8 and seeks...
Aconity3D Launches Multi-Material Welding Head for AconityWIRE Metal 3D Printing System
Aconity3D unveiled a multi-material welding head for its AconityWIRE metal 3D printer, allowing up to three different wire materials to be switched during a single build. The powder‑free system, with a 400 mm diameter and 780 mm height build volume, targets medium‑to‑large...
Textile Exchange Publishes Major New Cotton LCA
Textile Exchange, in partnership with Sphera, has released a comprehensive life‑cycle assessment (LCA) of cotton that examines country‑average, organic, regenerative and recycled fibers. The study reveals that environmental impacts can vary dramatically across production systems and geographic regions. By applying...
Gartex Texprocess India to Showcase Innovations Across Textile Ecosystem
Gartex Texprocess India Mumbai will host more than 125 companies, showcasing over 500 products from 300 brands across the apparel and textile value chain. The trade fair, co‑organized by Messe Frankfurt and MEX Exhibitions, will feature garment machinery, digital printing,...
EU–US Turnberry Trade Deal Threatens Imports: CEOs Face Rising Costs
The European Parliament approved four conditional clauses—suspension, sunrise, sunset, and safeguards—within the Turnberry trade deal, giving the EU power to pause or revoke US tariff benefits if Washington fails to meet its commitments. The clauses could instantly raise tariffs on...
'Unless Things Change, We Will Not Survive': Even Toyota Doesn't Feel Safe Right Now
Toyota’s outgoing CEO Koji Sato warned suppliers that the automaker’s survival is at risk unless production standards are loosened and costs are reduced. Speaking to 484 suppliers, he highlighted pressures from low‑cost Chinese rivals, rising software demands, and lingering tariffs....
How Qargo Plans to Disrupt the US TMS Market
Qargo, a UK‑based transportation‑management‑system provider, has raised $33 million in Series B funding to launch its AI‑enabled platform in the United States. After five years of product refinement and scaling its European customer base to 600 fleets, the company now employs 170...
Heavy Equipment Manufacturers Are Using Robotics to Change Crane Trucks
Heavy equipment makers are embedding robotics‑driven assistance into truck‑mounted crane systems, shifting operators from direct control to supervisory roles. Integrated control units now fuse sensor data to monitor boom position, load weight, and vehicle stability in real time, delivering safety...
From Standards to the Shop Floor: Practical Robot Safety Steps Operators Can Apply
Robotic cells boost productivity but create safety hazards during non‑production moments such as setup, jams, or adjustments. The article outlines five practical steps operators can take: selecting appropriate tools, using controlled motion modes, performing thorough lockout/tagout with verification, keeping the...
Axtra3D Adds Elastomer Materials and Workflow Tools
Axtra3D introduced three new elastomeric photopolymers for the U.S. market, covering Shore 48A to 90A and targeting applications from gaskets to footwear components. The resins—Loctite 3D IND475, Loctite 3D Med414, and Ultracur3D EL 4000—offer high elongation and tear strength. Simultaneously, Axtra launched the Axtra Workflow suite, comprising...
Update: Bellatrix Aerospace Raises $20 Mn in Pre Series B Round
Bellatrix Aerospace, a Bengaluru‑based spacetech startup, closed a $20 million pre‑Series B round led by Cactus Partners, with participation from Hero Investment Office, 35 North Ventures and existing backers. The financing values the company at roughly $105 million, a 2.7‑fold increase from its previous...
Kia Begins Series Production of the EV2
Kia has begun series production of its new B‑segment electric SUV, the EV2, at the Žilina plant in Slovakia. The model launches with a €26,600 ($29,000) base price and a 42.2 kWh battery delivering up to 317 km WLTP range, while a...
AML3D Secures $9.9M ARCEMY X Order From HII for U.S. Navy Shipbuilding
AML3D Limited secured a ~AU$9.9 million (≈$6.5 million) order from Huntington Ingalls Industries for four ARCEMY X large‑scale metal 3D printers to be installed at Newport News Shipbuilding. The machines, based on the company’s Wire Additive Manufacturing (WAM) process, will raise the shipyard’s ARCEMY X...
Hikvision to Unveil Multidimensional AIoT Ecosystem at Hannover Messe 2026, Redefining Industrial Safety and Smart Manufacturing
Hikvision will unveil a multidimensional AIoT ecosystem at Hannover Messe 2026, held April 20‑24 in Hanover, Germany. The showcase will feature AI‑driven safety tools such as PPE compliance monitoring and gas‑leak detection, as well as predictive maintenance solutions like temperature...
Chip Industry Week In Review
Arm unveiled its first internally designed AGI CPU built on TSMC’s 3 nm process, targeting power‑efficient AI data‑center workloads. Gartner predicts inference costs for 1‑trillion‑parameter LLMs will fall more than 90 % by 2030, while Google warns quantum computers could break current...
China Solar Cell Prices Fall for Third Consecutive Week as Upstream Costs Ease
China's TOPCon M10 solar cell prices slipped for a third week, falling 0.36% to $0.0558 per watt as polysilicon and wafer costs eased. N‑type M10 wafer prices dropped 3.92% to $0.147 each, reflecting broader upstream price pressure. Production in January‑February...
Thai Factory Output Unexpectedly Dips in February, Could Rise in March
Thailand's manufacturing production index fell 0.04% year‑on‑year in February, missing a 2.4% Reuters poll forecast after a 1.64% rise in January. The dip was driven by temporary refinery maintenance that trimmed petroleum output and a slowdown in car production. Ministry...
Norsepower and COSCO Team up to Mass-Produce Rotor Sails
Finnish wind‑propulsion firm Norsepower has signed a long‑term agreement with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Equipment (CHIC) to mass‑produce its rotor‑sail technology. The partnership expands beyond an initial MOU to include manufacturing, sales, installation, service, and joint engineering development. Norsepower supplies...
Exploring the Future of Metrology at CMSC 2026
The Coordinate Metrology Society announced Dr. Sandrine J. Thomas, Rubin Observatory’s associate director, as the keynote speaker for CMSC 2026 in Dallas. Her talk will illustrate how metrology underpins the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, linking micron‑level precision to...
Comprehensive Reverse Engineering and Metallurgy Services Meet Aerospace Challenges
NVision, Inc. delivered a full‑service reverse‑engineering solution for an FAA‑certified repair station that lacked original CAD data for a piston and integrated sleeve. Using ultra‑high‑precision 3D scanners, the firm captured micron‑level geometry, performed detailed metallurgical analysis, and produced solid CAD...
Changan Commits US$950m to Brazil with Uni-T Production Start
Changan Automobile and Brazilian partner CAOA have launched the first locally assembled Uni‑T SUV from a new automated line in Anápolis, marking the start of a US$950 million investment cycle through 2028. The program brings total spending at the plant to...
BlueBotics Bridges the Gap Between AGVs and AMRs With SmartPass
BlueBotics unveiled SmartPass, a new feature in its ANT software suite that equips ANT‑driven AGVs and AMRs with configurable obstacle‑avoidance while preserving virtual‑path efficiency. The technology lets robots detour around blockages using the shortest permitted route, then instantly rejoin their...
3D-Scanning a Clarifier Cover for Agitator Application
Buffalo Metrology Inc. (BMI) was hired to reverse engineer an 8‑ft clarifier cover used in groundwater treatment agitators, inspecting a fracture on its tapered face. Using a Shining 3D FreeScan Trak Nova, the team captured high‑resolution scans in a single day...
Nanoverse Technologies Announces New Tools
Nanoverse Technologies (NVT) unveiled a new family of advanced packaging tools that combine laser singulation with integrated metrology. The flagship NVT 7700 can process up to 30 wafers per hour with sub‑3 µm placement accuracy and delivers die‑break strength two to three...
German ‘City of Peace’ Wrestles with Weapons Pivot to Save VW Jobs
Volkswagen’s plant in the German city famed for its peace heritage is under pressure as the automaker accelerates its shift to electric vehicles, threatening thousands of local jobs. City officials are courting defence‑contractors, proposing a pivot toward weapons manufacturing to...
ASML Seeks Partnerships with Indian Firms, Team to Visit Semiconductor Units Across the Country: Ashwini Vaishnaw
ASML announced plans to partner with Indian semiconductor firms, sending a delegation to visit local chip‑making units. The move aligns with India’s Semiconductor Mission 2.0, which expands focus from pure manufacturing to design, materials, equipment, chemicals and gases. Union Minister...
How White-Light Interferometry Enables Nanometer Surface Height Measurement of Critical Components
White‑light interferometry (WLI) provides non‑contact surface height measurement with vertical resolution down to single‑digit nanometers and even Angstroms, surpassing LED confocal microscopy’s 10 nm limit. By analyzing interference fringes between measurement and reference beams, WLI achieves precision unattainable with traditional lens‑based...
Australian Manufacturing Set for Global Defence Boost Under AUKUS, Says GME
Australian manufacturers are set to tap unprecedented access to U.S. and U.K. defence markets under the AUKUS partnership, unlocking long‑term contracts and deeper supply‑chain integration. The 50‑year nuclear‑powered submarine programme alone will drive sustained demand for advanced manufacturing, electronics, cyber...
MIT and Mecalux Launch AI Tool to Optimise Warehouse Inventory
MIT's Center for Transportation & Logistics and storage solutions provider Mecalux have unveiled GENESIS, an AI‑driven simulator that optimizes inventory distribution across warehouse networks. The platform combines machine‑learning models with a genetic algorithm to evaluate thousands of logistics scenarios in...
Solving Warehouse Chaos in Dynamics 365 Business Central with Mobile Barcoding
Manufacturing Tomorrow is hosting a webinar on April 1, 2026 to demonstrate how Dynamics 365 Business Central combined with mobile barcode scanning can eliminate warehouse inefficiencies. The session highlights replacing manual spreadsheets, clipboards, and re‑keying with a handheld‑driven WMS that provides real‑time...
HDR Completes Manufacturing-Focused Factory of the Future at Western Sydney University
HDR has delivered a two‑level, manufacturing‑focused "Factory of the Future" at Western Sydney University’s Bankstown City Campus. The facility integrates advanced manufacturing, robotics, and digital processes, with a lower‑level Discovery Space teaching Industry 5.0 principles and an upper‑level Immersive Training Hub...
Paragon Machine Works Has Closed
Paragon Machine Works, a Richmond, California shop that supplied dropouts, bottom‑bracket shells and braze‑ons for custom bike frames for over 40 years, announced an immediate shutdown on March 26, 2026. CEO Calvin Norstad, who took over in 2023, cited “industry and economic...
Nippon Paint Marine Launches New Biocide-Free Hull Coating
Japanese paint specialist Nippon Paint Marine introduced AQUATERRAS 1100, a low‑VOC, biocide‑free hull coating designed for medium‑ to high‑activity vessels. The product uses HydroPhix™ micro‑domain technology and the Advanced Fouling Control silicone‑modified binder to prevent marine growth without toxic biocides. Its...
LANL Develops Diffusion AI Model for Electroplating Process Optimization
Los Alamos National Laboratory researchers have created a generative diffusion‑based AI model that predicts the micro‑structure of electroplated materials. The system was trained on high‑resolution scanning electron microscope images of 57 rhenium samples, learning to map process parameters to surface...
Clarity Secures Large-Scale Manufacturing Agreement for Copper-64
Clarity Pharmaceuticals has signed a manufacturing supply agreement with Theragenics to scale up production of copper‑64, a radiometal used in its investigational prostate‑cancer tracer 64Cu‑SAR‑bisPSMA. The deal leverages Theragenics’ Atlanta‑area facility, which houses 14 cyclotrons capable of producing roughly 100...
Strait of Hormuz Shutdown Raises Risks to Japan's Aluminum Supply
The Strait of Hormuz shutdown threatens Japan’s aluminum supply chain, as the country imports roughly 20% of its metal from the Middle East. The closure disrupts shipments of primary ingots that feed industries ranging from beverage cans to bullet‑train components....
Memory Maker Micron Weighs Buying Shuttered Japan Display Plant
Micron Technology is in talks to purchase Japan Display's shuttered LCD production plant in Chiba, Japan. The U.S. memory maker plans to repurpose the facility for semiconductor chip assembly and testing rather than display manufacturing. Acquiring the site would give...
Energy Estate, QCAR Partner to Advance BioNQ Sugar-to-Fuel Project
Energy Estate has formalised a strategic affiliation with Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR) to accelerate the BioNQ project, which will convert North Queensland sugarcane into low‑carbon fuels for aviation, agriculture and shipping. The partnership will tap existing regional ports...
JLR Temporarily Halts Production at Solihull Plant
Jaguar Land Rover announced a temporary two‑week production pause at its Solihull facility due to a parts supply issue with a key vendor. The shutdown, which coincides with a pre‑planned Easter break, will affect the output of the Range Rover...
Warehouses Face $100K-Hour Downtime Risk as Cloud Outages Mount
Cloud‑based warehouse management systems have become essential, but outages are proving costly. Synergy Logistics reports that 84 % of warehouses experienced a significant cloud disruption in the past two years, with downtime costing $5,000 to $100,000 per hour. The study highlights...
AI Is Essential—So Why Are Manufacturers Still On Spreadsheets?
Fictiv’s 2026 State of Manufacturing report shows 95% of leaders deem AI vital and 98% are exploring automation, yet only 2% doubt productivity gains. While large firms pilot AI quickly, 42% abandoned projects in 2025, highlighting a widespread pilot‑to‑production gap....
5 Best Servo Drives for Factory Automation Systems
The article reviews the five leading servo drives for factory automation, highlighting Harmonic Drive’s integrated actuator, Yaskawa’s Sigma‑7 auto‑tuning, Mitsubishi’s high‑axis Melservo‑J5, Siemens’ TIA‑integrated Sinamics, and Allen‑Bradley’s single‑cable Kinetix 5500. Each solution is evaluated on precision, reliability, integration ease, and manufacturer...
Festo Unveils New Adaptive Gripper for ‘Faster, Gentler and More Hygienic Picking’
Festo has launched the HPSX Universal Adaptive Gripper, a pneumatic soft‑gripping solution designed for high‑speed, hygienic handling in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics production. The gripper delivers up to 0.5 kg payloads while withstanding 15 G acceleration, and its low‑air‑volume design enables multiple...
New Honeywell-DoW Deal to Scale up Defence Technology Production
Honeywell Aerospace has entered a multi‑year supplier framework agreement with the U.S. Department of War, committing $500 million to expand production of navigation, Assure electronic‑control, and electronic‑warfare components for the U.S. munitions stockpile. The deal is part of the DoW’s Acquisition...
HII Announces ROMULUS USV Site Expansion, Introduces HYPR Initiative
HII announced an expansion of its Breaux Brothers assembly facility in New Iberia, Louisiana, to enable serial production of its ROMULUS uncrewed surface vessels ranging from 20 to 190 feet. The company introduced the High‑Yield Production Robotics (HYPR) initiative, which...
Apple Taps TSMC Washington Plant As Valuation Debate Persists
Apple announced a partnership with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to produce sensing‑hardware chips at TSMC’s Washington‑state facility, expanding its American Manufacturing Program. The deal adds a domestic source for Apple’s specialized chips, diversifying its supply chain beyond Asian fabs....
It’s No Longer the ‘American Century,’ But the US Continues to Dominate in Important Ways
The United States continues to dominate key global pillars despite the waning of the so‑called “American Century.” Its dollar remains the world’s primary reserve currency and U.S. equities account for about half of global market capitalisation. The country leads high‑value...
War Adding $40-$50 Million per Week to Hapag-Lloyd's Costs: CEO
The Middle East conflict is inflating Hapag‑Lloyd’s operating costs by roughly $40 million to $50 million each week, according to CEO Rolf Habben Jansen. The surge stems primarily from higher bunker fuel prices, with insurance, container storage and inland transport also adding millions....