What's happening: WITRON posts record order intake and expands AI tools
WITRON announced a record‑breaking order intake driven by new contracts with major food retailers such as REWE, Tesco, Walmart and Ahold Delhaize. The company also completed a shift to a dual‑foundation governance model to strengthen independence. Parallel to growth, WITRON is rolling out AI‑driven solutions for master data, image recognition and maintenance.
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V. has entered a technical management partnership with Greek shipowner Silk Searoad Maritime to oversee its eight‑vessel fleet, comprising five bulk carriers and three tankers. The agreement gives Silk Searoad access to V.’s global marine services, data‑driven performance platforms, and the Marcas purchasing consortium. Management will be executed from V.Ships Greece, leveraging more than three decades of local ship‑management experience. Daily operations will focus on crew welfare, proactive maintenance, and standardized processes to boost compliance and efficiency.

Port of Grangemouth has completed a structural upgrade of two Liebherr ship‑to‑shore gantry cranes originally installed in 2006. The refurbishment extends their operational lifespan, offering a cost‑effective alternative to full replacement while keeping the terminal’s annual throughput of over 250,000...

Big Joe Forklifts introduced the WS25‑40 High Performance Lithium‑ion Stacker, a walk‑straddle stacker designed for tight warehouse aisles. The model lifts between 2,500 and 4,000 lb and features a compact footprint, fully proportional controls, and an integrated lithium‑ion battery with onboard...

Zebra Technologies’ AltiZ 3D sensors now power EBI Electric’s Inspector T lumber‑scanning system, delivering an eightfold increase in measurement precision. The AI‑enhanced solution identifies defects such as knots, cracks and rot, enabling manufacturers to boost usable wood yields by up to...
Manufacturers and OEMs are turning to integrated SCADA and analytics software to boost overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Real‑time visibility into availability, performance, and quality replaces manual PLC checks and paper logs, enabling instant downtime tracking and quality monitoring. The combined...

France’s Geodis has launched a multimodal rail‑road service for skincare specialist Naos, moving products from a northern collection point in Neuville‑en‑Ferrain to a southern warehouse in Port Saint Louis via a 45‑km truck leg to Dourges and then by train...

Riyadh Air announced daily service between Riyadh and Cairo, launching soon on its new Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner. The route taps a high‑traffic corridor that carried 2.7 million passengers last year and joins the airline’s forthcoming London and Dubai flights. The addition...

Nomad Digital has achieved over 2,000 consecutive days without a lost‑time injury, covering 2.7 million working hours across 13 countries. The milestone, reached in December 2025, follows a prior record of 2.5 million hours LTI‑free earlier in the year. During the period the...

Rockwell Automation’s new OEM Advantage Playbook, based on a survey of 500 machine‑builder leaders across 17 countries, shows top OEMs have reduced average downtime recovery from 40 hours to 24 hours – a 40% improvement. The research links faster recovery...

Physik Instrumente (PI) unveiled the X‑365 Precision XY Gantry System, a modular Cartesian robot that delivers nanometer‑class positioning across travel ranges from 200 × 200 mm up to 600 × 800 mm. The platform combines high load capacity with integrated linear‑encoder feedback and EtherCat‑based controller compatibility,...

Toronto chef Brandon Olsen and entrepreneur Michael Held are launching As We Do Chocolate, a premium Canadian‑made chocolate manufacturer aimed at the B2B market. The venture seeks to fill a gap left by U.S. and European conglomerates by offering high‑quality,...

6K Additive has signed a global long‑term supply agreement with Siemens Energy to receive spent nickel‑alloy powder from Siemens’ additive‑manufacturing sites. The reclaimed material will be processed in 6K’s UniMelt microwave plasma system, converting it into virgin‑grade, AM‑ready powder. To...

Mechatronics is evolving from isolated components to fully integrated motion systems, where motors, drives, controllers, and software operate as a single organism. Kollmorgen’s SFD‑M feedback device exemplifies automatic motor‑drive parameter exchange, cutting commissioning time and eliminating manual errors. Integrated design...

Melotte, Additive Center, and amsight GmbH have deployed a full‑process data capture system at Melotte’s facility. The platform records structured data from raw material receipt through printing, post‑processing and CT scanning, creating a unified digital thread for each semiconductor component....

Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced the extension of its Belawan Service 1 (BMX) to include Kuala Tanjung in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The new rotation—Singapore‑Belawan‑Kuala Tanjung‑Singapore—will commence with MV Sinar Sunda’s arrival on March 9, 2026. By linking Kuala Tanjung directly...

Malaysian tanker owner Orkim has signed a six‑month time‑charter for its 2012‑built Orkim Citrine MR2 tanker with PETCO Trading Labuan, the trading arm of Petronas. The agreement, effective at the end of February 2026, includes an option to extend another six...

Spanish shipbuilder C.N.P. Freire has secured a contract with Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to build four 47‑meter naval support vessels. The ships are designed for harsh weather and ice, carrying 16 crew, reaching 12 knots and sustaining up to...

A recent Fleetio survey of 600 fleet professionals reveals that rising operating costs and tightening emissions regulations dominate executive concerns, with over half of respondents flagging cost inflation and 46 % citing compliance pressures. While more than 70 % have adopted dedicated...

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has shipped the first ammonia fuel supply system (AFSS) and ammonia gas abatement system (AGAS) for Japan Engine Corporation’s inaugural ammonia‑fueled marine engine, model 7UEC50LSJA‑HPSCR. The AFSS delivers ammonia to the engine safely and steadily, while the AGAS...
Ukrainian bitumen imports held steady in 2026, following a record‑high 190,000 tonnes in 2025 after a 111,700‑tonne year‑on‑year jump. Major suppliers from Poland and Lithuania, led by Orlen, plan to ship roughly 100,000 tonnes this year, while Orlen Lietuva targets about 550,000 tonnes...

USDOT is evaluating a sweeping restructuring of Amtrak, proposing a holding company with three subsidiaries for infrastructure, rolling stock, and operations. The Rail Passengers Association warns that without guaranteed public funding, the plan could jeopardize service levels, increase fares, and...

China’s state‑owned and private firms have built a maritime logistics empire spanning 133 ports in 67 countries, turning the global ports network into a new geoeconomic battleground. The United States, European Union and Australia are mounting legal, regulatory and acquisition‑based...
Egyptian state‑owned NCIC announced the award of its latest fertilizer sales tender on 19 February, covering March loading. The tender granted 20,000 t of DAP at $750/t FOB, 25,000 t of TSP at $560/t FOB, 20,000 t of granular urea at $492/t FOB, 20,000 t...
European governments are stepping up to shield Ukraine from a U.S. push for a rapid peace settlement that would require territorial concessions. While Washington seeks a quick ceasefire, the EU has increased military aid by 67 percent in 2025 and approved...

Mexico’s exports to the United States reached record levels last week, yet the country’s trade surplus with its northern neighbor contracted. Analysts attribute the paradox to a strategic reconfiguration of Mexican supply chains, increasingly funneling production toward the U.S. market...

IAG Cargo has been appointed the ground handling agent for Qatar Airways Cargo at Dublin International Airport. The deal covers all cargo processed through IAG’s Dublin facility and supports 17 weekly belly‑hold flights between Dublin and Doha. It is part...

Sciwind Biosciences granted Pfizer China exclusive rights to commercialize ecnoglutide injection in Mainland China. Sciwind will keep the marketing authorization and handle R&D, registration, manufacturing, and supply, receiving up to $495 million in milestone payments. Ecnoglutide, a cAMP‑biased GLP‑1 receptor agonist,...
The United States has activated a 10% tariff on all imported fashion goods, marking the first phase of former President Trump’s global levy program. Industry analysts warn that a further increase to 15% is possible, intensifying cost pressures across the...

DB Cargo UK tested the Stadler‑built Class 93 tri‑mode locomotive on an intermodal service between Seaforth and Mossend, hauling up to 1,500 tons. The trial, run with Rail Operations Group, Network Rail and ASLEF, showcased electric, diesel, hybrid and battery‑only operation on...

Cathay Cargo reported a 5% year‑on‑year increase in total cargo for January 2026, alongside a 3% rise in available freight tonne‑kilometres (AFTKs). Growth was driven by strong demand for fresh produce from Oceania, increased pharmaceutical shipments from Europe and Central...
DHL Express and LODD Autonomous have signed an MoU to explore integrating LODD’s Hili unmanned aircraft into DHL’s express network. The Hili UAV can lift up to 250 kg, carry two Euro pallets, and fly 700 km with VTOL capability. Both parties...

Stadler and Critical Software have created a joint venture, Stadler Digital Labs, with a 51%/49% ownership split. The new company will develop railway‑specific software, cybersecurity solutions, and digital products from offices in Coimbra and Lisbon. It launches with roughly 100...

ZeroMoblt, a student‑mobility platform founded in April 2024, announced a pre‑seed round of ₹1.5 crore co‑led by JioMart CEO Sandeep Varaganti, Ashok Agrawal and high‑net‑worth investors. The capital will accelerate its AI‑native technology, expand operations across key Indian education hubs, and...

ABB Marine & Ports, acting as the propulsion single‑source vendor for Washington State Ferries, has selected Corvus Energy’s Dolphin NxtGen battery systems for two new hybrid ferries. The 1,500‑passenger vessels, built by Eastern Shipbuilding and slated for delivery in 2030‑31,...

Twenty European transport associations have issued a joint statement urging revisions to the EU Weights and Dimensions Directive (WDD) before gigaliners are widely deployed. They argue the current draft fails to address modal shift, road safety, infrastructure wear and intermodal...

The World Bank’s Board approved an $846 million IBRD guarantee, mobilising $1.41 billion in private financing for Kazakhstan’s Middle Corridor and rail operator KTZ. The funding will finance a 322.3 km Moyynty‑Kyzylzhar line, tariff reforms and institutional support, including IPO preparation. The project...

Industrial water treatment is shifting from manual oversight to a continuously monitored, data‑driven asset within automated factories. Sensors on reverse‑osmosis units feed pressure, conductivity and flow data into PLCs and SCADA systems, allowing real‑time alignment of water quality with production...
Large importers typically budget ocean freight as a fixed line item, assuming rates will stay within a narrow range. However, Xeneta data shows that container rates can swing 500% during crises and still move 20‑30% within a single fiscal year,...

The Gemini alliance of Hapag‑Lloyd and Maersk has lifted its on‑time delivery rates well above industry averages, though it still falls short of its 90% target for most services. Xeneta data shows global carrier punctuality plunged to 30% in January,...

The Slovenian Port of Koper reported a robust 2025, handling 23.0 million tonnes of cargo while rail’s share of total throughput rose to 51%. Net sales reached €380.3 million, up 13% versus the plan and 15% year‑on‑year, and EBIT surged 44% to...

Smarter Airports, the joint venture of Copenhagen Airports and Netcompany, announced that Heathrow Airport has selected the AIRHART platform as its new digital backbone. The multi‑year agreement will replace Heathrow’s legacy Airport Operational Database and embed collaborative decision‑making and predictive...
Apple will begin assembling the Mac mini in the United States in 2026, a notable shift for a product that makes up about five percent of global Mac sales. The 2024 redesign introduced the first major update since 2010, pairing...

Freightos reported $29.5 million revenue for 2025, a 24 % increase over 2024, driven by higher carrier participation and transaction volume. Adjusted EBITDA narrowed to a $11.2 million loss, improving from $12.6 million the prior year, while cash reserves remain sufficient to fund growth....
Apple’s Mac lineup is experiencing unprecedented demand, pushing US lead times to two‑four weeks, the longest in years. The Mac Studio now has a 27‑day wait, followed by the M4‑powered MacBook Pro at 23 days and the Mac Mini at...

ECER.com is transforming international B2B trade by turning smartphones into full‑service sourcing hubs. The platform adds instant mobile alerts, multilingual AI chat and live video, letting buyers respond to inquiries any time, as demonstrated by a Guangzhou firm that closed...

The International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM) warned that heightened government oversight is tightening the global metals cycle, curbing the explosive price spikes typical of past supercycles. In its 2025 Tax Contribution Report, ICMM members paid $37 billion in taxes...

RATP Dev has secured a 10½‑year contract to operate the Caen metropolitan rail network, starting July 2027. The deal covers ten key routes, representing about 20% of the region’s TER traffic, and follows an 18‑month pre‑operation phase aimed at a smooth...

The European Coordinator for ERTMS released its third work plan, confirming that deployment across EU Member States remains markedly behind schedule. In 2024 only 12,400 km – about 10% of the TEN‑T network and 17% of the core network – were...

GB Railfreight has signed a non‑binding memorandum of understanding with US clean‑energy developer HyOrc to launch Project Phoenix, a feasibility study that will explore retrofitting ageing Class 66 diesel locomotives with a multi‑fuel engine that first runs on natural gas or...

Mirvac and Australian Retirement Trust have secured state approval for the first stage of SEED, a $1.9 billion industrial precinct in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. The 39‑hectare development, part of a 90‑hectare masterplan adjacent to the upcoming Western Sydney International Airport,...