Acumatica Targets Supply Chain Volatility With AI Workflows, Shop Floor Precision
Acumatica unveiled its 2026 R1 release, adding AI Studio—a no‑code framework for building AI‑driven workflows—alongside a Shop Floor Kiosk and enhanced omnichannel commerce tools. The upgrades target manufacturers, distributors and retailers coping with volatile demand and fragmented supply chains. Market data shows cloud ERP is set to exceed $210 billion by 2033, while cloud supply‑chain software is projected to hit $30.56 billion by 2031 at a 16.95% CAGR. Together, the new features promise real‑time execution data, tighter cost control and reduced working‑capital waste.
3DMakerpro Lowers the Barrier to LiDAR-Based Metrology
3DMakerpro introduced Raven, an entry‑level LiDAR scanner that dramatically reduces cost and complexity compared with traditional metrology systems. The handheld device delivers up to 2 cm accuracy at 10 m, a 50 m detection range, and captures roughly 150 000 points per second. Weighing...
Renishaw Introduces True-Absolute Multi-DoF Encoder System for High-Performance Motion Control
Renishaw has launched a new multi-degree-of-freedom optical encoder system that delivers true‑absolute position measurement across up to six axes. The solution pairs RXMA30 1.5D scales with RESOLUTE™ absolute readheads, providing direct X and Y measurement without homing and enabling real‑time...
Rio Tinto Secures Power Deal to Keep Boyne Aluminium Smelter Lights On
Rio Tinto, the Queensland and Commonwealth governments have sealed a A$2 bn ($1.4 bn) partnership to guarantee power for the Boyne aluminium smelter through 2040, extending its competitive edge beyond the current contract that expires in 2029. The deal builds on Rio...
7 Best Inventory Management Software in 2026
TechRepublic’s 2026 roundup identifies the top inventory management platforms for businesses of all sizes, from enterprise‑grade NetSuite to free‑tier Zoho and Odoo. The guide highlights pricing structures, core features such as demand planning, multi‑location tracking, and API/webhook support, and rates...
Steel Companies Gear up for Further Hike in Prices
Indian steel producers are preparing for another price increase as U.S. attacks on Iran lift coking coal, ferro‑alloy and shipping costs. Domestic hot‑rolled coil prices have risen 23 percent to roughly $650‑$700 per tonne, up from about $566 a month earlier....
SMW Autoblok Mechatronic Grippers Feature High Gripping Forces
SMW Autoblok has expanded its MOTIACT line with the MX‑L 335 and MX‑L 520 long‑stroke mechatronic grippers, delivering up to 40 kN of gripping force and jaw strokes of 55 mm and 99 mm respectively. The grippers feature aluminium housings, integrated absolute position sensors, and...
Integrated Metrology Solution Powers Lights-Out Aerospace Production
Acutec Precision Aerospace equipped three DMG MORI NZX 2000 nine‑axis mill‑turn centers with an inline metrology cell that combines a Mitutoyo MiSTAR 555 CMM and a FANUC robotic arm. The system moves parts directly from machining to measurement, delivering inspection results...
GSEM, NRFC Highlight Manufacturing Investment Pathway in Melbourne’s South East
A joint event by Greater South East Melbourne (GSEM) and the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) highlighted manufacturing investment pathways in Melbourne’s south‑east. The region accounts for about $89 billion Australian (≈$59 billion USD) in annual manufacturing output, hosts over 3,800 firms...
Michigan Knifemaker Closes Shop After Admitting to Using Chinese Steel and Labeling It USA-Made
Michigan‑based Bark River Knives announced it is closing after confirming that several recent models were produced with imported Chinese steel while being marketed as U.S.–made CPM‑154. Owner Mike Stewart said the decision was a cost‑cutting measure and took full responsibility....
Strohm to Supply TCP Production Jumpers for Deepwater Malaysia Field Extension
Strohm has secured a contract to supply insulated thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP) production jumpers for a deep‑water field extension offshore Sabah, Malaysia. The order covers two 7‑inch carbon‑fiber‑reinforced PA12 jumpers destined for installation at roughly 1,350 m water depth, with delivery...
Tolomatic Doubles Force Capacity of RSX Linear Actuators With New RSX50
Tolomatic introduced the RSX50, a new electric linear actuator that delivers 50 tons of force while occupying nearly the same frame size as the 25‑ton RSX25. The RSX series offers a hydraulic‑free alternative, featuring planetary roller screws, up to 66,000 pounds‑force capacity,...
Was Your Labubu Made With Forced Labor?
Pop Mart’s Labubu plush, a viral collectible, has driven sales past $4 billion in 2025, but a China Labor Watch investigation uncovered forced‑labor indicators at Shunjia Toys, the sole factory producing the doll. Workers reported excessive overtime—up to 145 hours a month—extremely...
Fenner Conveyors Takes Major Circularity Step with Launch of INFINITYSERIES Recycled-Content Belts
Fenner Conveyors, a Michelin Group subsidiary, launched the INFINITYSERIES, a new conveyor‑belt line that incorporates 10% locally sourced recycled material. Unveiled at the K‑MIX Material Innovation Hub, the belts target heavy‑industry applications such as mining, ports, processing and agriculture while...
Exotec Rolls Out Skyfleet Program to Scale Decathlon Warehouse Automation Across Europe
Exotec has launched the Skyfleet program, rolling out standardized robotic warehouse solutions to seven Decathlon logistics sites across five European countries. Each site features 150‑200 Skypod robots, up to 200,000 items processed daily, and full automation of inbound and outbound...
Geekplus Launches RoboShuttle V5 to Enable Fully Autonomous Warehouse Picking
Geekplus unveiled the RoboShuttle V5 at LogiMAT 2026, upgrading its tote‑to‑person system with a native Robot Arm Picking Station for fully autonomous warehouse picking. The solution claims 99.99% accuracy, up to 700 units per hour, and a plug‑and‑play rollout in as...
Haad Thip Turns to Returnable Glass
Haad Thip Plc, the exclusive Coca‑Cola bottler for 14 southern Thai provinces, is targeting a rise in returnable glass bottle (RGB) revenue to 6‑7% of total sales this year, up from roughly 3% in FY2025. The move aims to offset...
AI Sees Rising Use in Packaging Sector, PMMI Says
Embodied artificial intelligence is reshaping robotics by applying large neural networks to perception, planning, and manipulation. Advances in data collection—through real‑world demos, simulation, and video mining—are addressing the historic shortage of training material for physical tasks. Coupled with cheaper, less...
FedEx Launches Two-Hour and End-of-Day Delivery Options
FedEx announced FedEx SameDay Local, a new parcel service that lets shoppers choose two‑hour or end‑of‑day delivery at checkout. The offering is built on a partnership with Florida‑based last‑mile platform OneRail and taps a national network of more than 1,000...
Manz Asia and Epson Form Strategic Partnership
Manz Asia and Seiko Epson have formed a strategic partnership to bring advanced inkjet printing to semiconductor manufacturing. The collaboration merges Manz’s equipment engineering and software with Epson’s high‑precision printhead technology to create a lab‑to‑fab inkjet platform spanning R&D, pilot,...
PI Expands High-Performance Gantry Positioning Platform Portfolio
Physik Instrumente (PI) has launched the X‑365 Precision XY Gantry System, a modular Cartesian platform offering travel ranges from 200 × 200 mm up to 600 × 800 mm with nanometer‑class position feedback. The system combines high load capacity, rigid recirculating‑ball guides and thermally decoupled components...
AtomBite.AI Unveils Flexible Manipulation Robotics Designed to Solve the “Grasping Problem” In Commercial Kitchens
AtomBite.AI launched its first commercial robot, the M1 Takeout Packing Robot, to automate the chaotic "last meter" of food‑delivery fulfillment in restaurants. The system runs on a proprietary dual‑model AI brain that lets existing hardware manipulate unpredictable items like crushed...
Improving Fleet Management
Fleet management has shifted from basic maintenance to a data‑driven strategic function, leveraging real‑time GPS, AI routing, and predictive analytics to cut costs and boost utilization. Modern platforms integrate telematics, driver safety, and fuel monitoring, turning vehicles into measurable business...
March 24 Business Watch: Helium Capacity Taken Out in Qatar; Novartis to Pay $2 Billion for Small Molecule
Missile strikes in Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial zone knocked 14% of the complex’s helium capacity offline, removing roughly 5% of global supply. Novartis agreed to pay $2 billion for Synnovation Therapeutics' PI3Kα inhibitor portfolio, bolstering its oncology pipeline. Ecolab announced a...
DPIIT Partners with Blue Star to Boost Startup Innovation in Manufacturing
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Blue Star Limited to accelerate startup innovation in India’s manufacturing sector. The partnership targets emerging technology domains such as HVAC, digital solutions, advanced...
L3Harris Ramps VAMPIRE Drone-Killer System Production
L3Harris has launched high‑volume production of its VAMPIRE counter‑UAS system at a new Huntsville, Alabama facility to satisfy growing demand from the United States and allied forces. The system, combat‑proven since 2023 in European conflicts including Ukraine, detects, tracks and...
Signode Showcases Integrated Automation and ASRS Solutions at MODEX 2026
Signode will showcase its integrated automation and ASRS portfolio at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, highlighting how its packaging, robotics, and material‑handling technologies work together as a connected system. The exhibit features the Octopus Prestige stretch‑wrapping machine paired with an autonomous mobile...
BLT Reaches 100,000 Part Milestone with Copper Additive Manufacturing Capability
BLT announced that its eight‑laser BLT‑S400 powder‑bed fusion system has produced its 100,000th copper component, marking a milestone for industrial‑grade copper additive manufacturing. The machine leverages a combination of red and green lasers to overcome copper’s high reflectivity and thermal...
AI Gains Ground in Packaging Industry - Lower Costs and Greater Functionality Are Helping Increase Adoption.
AI adoption in packaging is accelerating as costs drop and functionality expands, according to PMMI’s February 2026 report. Consumer packaged goods firms and equipment OEMs are moving beyond pilot projects toward plant‑wide AI orchestration, especially in machine vision, knowledge transfer,...
Case Re-Enters 200-Plus-HP Motor Grader Market with GR Series
Case Construction Equipment (Case CE) announced the GR series, a trio of motor graders ranging from 240 to 325 horsepower, marking its return to the 200‑plus hp segment. The lineup—GR925, GR930, and the flagship GR935—will be built by South Africa’s...
Fusion Enzyme Boosts Polyester Textile Recycling – Study
Researchers at the University of Portsmouth and the University of Manchester have engineered a “plastic‑eating” enzyme that dramatically speeds the depolymerisation of PET, the polymer used in polyester clothing. The enzyme remains highly active even at the high substrate concentrations...
COTS & Custom Battery Management Systems for Drones & Robotics
Eberspaecher Vecture, a Toronto‑based developer of battery management systems, has joined Unmanned Systems Technology’s supplier ecosystem as a Silver partner. The company offers commercial‑off‑the‑shelf, custom and build‑to‑print BMS solutions for drones, robotics and autonomous vehicles, covering voltage ranges from 12 V...
Chobani Doubling Down on La Colombe’s Growth
Chobani is committing $567 million to expand La Colombe’s Norton Shores, Michigan plant, adding more than 200,000 square feet of production capacity. The move follows its 2023 $900 million acquisition of the specialty coffee brand and reflects a broader rollout that includes a $500 million upgrade of...
Chobani Announces $567M La Colombe Michigan Plant Expansion
Chobani is investing $567 million to expand its La Colombe plant in Norton Shores, Michigan, adding over 200,000 square feet of production space. The expansion will create roughly 340 new jobs while preserving 312 existing positions. The move targets soaring demand for La Colombe’s ready‑to‑drink...
NOVACAVI Launches Tow Cable Identification Solution
NOVAVACI, an Italian underwater‑cable specialist, introduced a fast, reliable identification system for steel‑wire armored cables used on research and defense vessels. The solution, displayed at stand D80 during UDT 2026 in London, lets operators instantly distinguish active cables when multiple systems...
Introducing the New DWS1215 Draw-Wire Encoder System for Long-Range Linear Positioning
Industrial Encoder Corporation launched the DWS1215 draw‑wire encoder system, offering precise linear position feedback up to 15 m. The device provides both incremental and absolute outputs with ±0.01 % linearity and high‑flex stainless steel wire. Targeted at printing, material handling, elevators, gantries,...
Why a Secure Industrial Supply Chain Depends on Layered AI
Industrial supply chains are increasingly exposed to AI‑driven cyber threats that bypass traditional perimeter defenses. Vendors, OT devices, and cloud services now intersect, creating a unified attack surface where a single compromised credential can cascade across production, logistics, and revenue...
3PLs Struggle to Address Shippers’ Tech, Service, Cost, and Data Needs
Third‑party logistics providers (3PLs) face mounting pressure as shippers seek greater resilience, reliability and real‑time data amid rising costs, labor shortages and geopolitical volatility. Industry leaders like Ryder emphasize deep customer understanding, rapid startup execution and continuous KPI‑driven improvement to...
Addressing Lithium Supply Risks for U.S. Battery Resilience
The United States relies on foreign sources for more than 90% of the lithium used in its batteries, exposing warehouses, manufacturers and logistics networks to geopolitical risk and price volatility. With global demand projected to quintuple by 2040, policymakers and...
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Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has expanded its partnership with Corvus Robotics, deploying more than 40 Corvus One autonomous drones across nine distribution centers nationwide. The drones have completed roughly 5,000 flights, uncovering over 35,000 inventory discrepancies and shifting cycle...
Despite Low Demand, China Drives 5% Increase in Iron Ore Shipments
Global iron ore shipments rose 5% year‑over‑year in the first 12 weeks of 2026, driven by stronger Chinese import demand. Yet Chinese steel production slipped 4% in the same period, pushing inventories to a record 179.5 million tonnes by March 12....
Dixstone Receives Third Offshore Support Vessel From Holland Shipyards Group
Holland Shipyards Group has delivered Men Skey, the third and final offshore support vessel for Dixstone, completing a three‑ship program that began earlier in 2025. The 52‑metre, shallow‑draft OSV features a 73‑ton bollard pull, hybrid propulsion and DP0 station‑keeping, tailored for...
First Welded 3D-Printed Component Installed on US Navy’s Virginia-Class Sub
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has inspected, tested, and installed the first welded additively manufactured copper‑nickel flange on the Virginia‑class submarine USS Washington, marking a historic milestone for US Navy maintenance. The component, produced via 3D printing, underwent full weld qualification and...
Augury and MaintainX Partner to Deliver Closed-Loop Maintenance Execution for Frontline Teams
Augury and MaintainX announced an integration that turns Augury’s AI‑driven machine‑health insights into real‑time work orders within the MaintainX platform. The closed‑loop system automatically creates work orders when anomalies are detected, includes diagnostic context, and feeds completion data back to...
Novartis Pledges $480M to Expand China Presence, Following Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca
Swiss drugmaker Novartis announced a $480 million investment to expand its manufacturing and R&D footprint in China. The plan allocates about $218 million to upgrade its Beijing Changping facility, which can produce up to 3 billion tablets annually, and $262 million to expand its...
Getac Announces CommandCore: Remote Drone Control Solution for Professionals Operating in Challenging Environments
Getac unveiled CommandCore, a rugged ground control station that unifies drone, surface and ground vehicle operations for defense, public safety and utilities. The solution pairs Getac’s hardened tablets and laptops—such as the ZX80 Android tablet and S510 Windows workstation—with interchangeable...
Agile Robots and Google DeepMind Partner to Bring Intelligence to Robotics
Agile Robots and Google DeepMind have announced a strategic research partnership to embed DeepMind's Gemini Robotics foundation models into Agile's scalable industrial hardware. The collaboration will create adaptable, reasoning robots for high‑value manufacturing tasks, leveraging a data‑driven feedback loop that...
GCL Optoelectronics Wins China’s First Commercial Perovskite-Silicon Tandem PV Module Order
GCL Optoelectronics secured a 1.2 MW contract from China Huaneng to supply commercial perovskite‑silicon tandem solar modules. The tender required mass‑producible, IEC‑certified modules delivering at least 26% efficiency and a 25‑year performance warranty, with delivery by June 2026. GCL is the sole...
Dexory and Multipowr Advance Next-Generation Warehouse Robotics With Integrated Wireless Charging
Dexory has teamed with Multipowr to embed high‑power wireless charging into its next‑generation autonomous warehouse robots, allowing longer run times and flexible battery management. The integrated system supports a wide power range and multiple battery configurations, making it adaptable to...