Limited Pressings and Other Takeaways From the Making Vinyl Conference
Vinyl records are experiencing a robust resurgence, pushing industry revenue past $1 billion in 2025—a 9.3% increase over 2024. The growth is fueled by limited‑edition releases, colored variants, and high‑profile artist involvement such as Jack White’s Third Man Pressing and Metallica’s Furnace Record Pressing. Distributors like Alliance Entertainment reported a 15% year‑over‑year rise in Q3 vinyl sales, while CD sales also jumped 90% on collectible demand. Panelists at the Making Vinyl conference highlighted challenges including price pressures, consumer misinformation, and the need for transparent planning with artists.
Physical AI Is Ready for Wider Adoption in some Applications: CreateMe CEO
CreateMe has launched a Physical‑AI platform that replaces traditional sewing with digitally bonded construction, using robotics, proprietary adhesives and AI‑driven control. The Modular‑Engineering Robotic Assembly system is billed as the world’s first autonomous tailoring line, capable of handling deformable fabrics...
Fanuc, Google Advance Industrial Robotics as Part of Recent AI Deals
Industrial robot maker Fanuc teamed with Google to embed advanced AI across its robot portfolio, from 3‑kg payload units to multi‑ton machines, leveraging Google’s ROS contributions via Intrinsic. Kawasaki Heavy Industries opened a Silicon Valley physical‑AI center, collaborating with Nvidia,...
Why Most US Manufacturers Still Aren’t Using AI and Automation
AI and automation remain scarce in U.S. manufacturing, with 80% of facilities reporting no automation. While 92% of manufacturers view smart manufacturing as a competitive imperative, only about 29% have deployed AI/ML and 24% use generative AI. Experts cite fragmented...
What Is a vCISO? A Guide for Manufacturers
Manufacturers are confronting cyber risk as a business‑critical issue that threatens uptime, contract eligibility, and compliance. A virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) offers part‑time, executive‑level security leadership without the expense of a full‑time hire. By consolidating scattered tools, establishing...
Data Is the ‘Number One Challenge’ as Manufacturing Tech Evolves
Manufacturers are confronting a data deluge as they adopt automation, AI and advanced analytics, making data standardization the top operational challenge. Executives from Magna, Ford, Carpenter Technology and others highlighted that raw signals from machines overwhelm plants without cohesive data...
Hanmi Semiconductor to Enter US Market with California Subsidiary
Hanmi Semiconductor announced the formation of a U.S. subsidiary, Hanmi USA, in San Jose, California, slated for launch by the end of 2026. The office will deliver on‑site technical support to AI‑focused fabs being built by Intel, Micron, SK hynix and others,...
Boeing, Lockheed Supplier Raises $300M, Plans to Expand Factory Footprint
Advanced Manufacturing Company of America (AMCA) secured $300 million in a Series B round, pushing its valuation to $1 billion. The capital will fund the creation and acquisition of additional factories and expand its AI‑driven platform, Rapid, which accelerates component design to production....
EPA’s ‘Actual Construction’ Permitting Rule a ‘Win for Manufacturers’: NAM
The U.S. EPA has proposed a rule that would redefine “begin actual construction” to allow manufacturers, power generators, and data‑center developers to start building non‑emitting components before securing a major New Source Review (NSR) permit. The change adds a definition...
Entergy Signs with Hyundai Steel-Posco as Part of Recent Metals Deals
Entergy signed a power agreement on April 30 to supply electricity to Hyundai Steel‑Posco’s new electric‑arc furnace mill in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. The 1,800‑acre plant, Hyundai Motor Group’s first North American steelmaking venture, is backed by a $582 million, 20% stake investment from...
Anduril Raises $5B, Plans to Invest in Manufacturing, R&D
Defense startup Anduril Industries announced a $5 billion Series H financing round, lifting its valuation to about $61 billion. The capital, led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, will be deployed to expand manufacturing capacity, accelerate R&D, and build launch infrastructure for advanced...
NAM Calls for Making the USMCA Even More Manufacturing Friendly
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) praised the USMCA as a catalyst for U.S. manufacturing, noting that 15 of the 18 sectors have boosted exports to Canada and Mexico since its 2018 ratification. U.S. firms now hold $116.3 billion in Canadian...
Q1 Saw Net Loss of 5,900 Renewable Energy Manufacturing Jobs: EDF Report
The Environmental Defense Fund reports that U.S. renewable‑energy manufacturing shed a net 5,900 jobs in Q1 2026, despite a $1.1 billion net increase in investment. Canceled projects cost $1.4 billion, driven by federal rollbacks on EV rebates, tax credits and emissions standards. While...
Goodyear in Talks to Close North Carolina Tire Factory that Employs 1,700
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is negotiating with the United Steelworkers to shut its Fayetteville, North Carolina plant, which employs 1,700 workers, by the end of 2027. The closure is part of a broader domestic restructuring aimed at improving competitiveness...
Boeing Plans $1B Investment in Kansas Facilities
Boeing announced a $1 billion investment in its Wichita, Kansas facilities over the next three years to upgrade factories, expand training and boost manufacturing capacity. The spend follows the $8.3 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems and is part of a broader $4 billion...