What's happening: WITRON posts record order intake amid major retailer contracts
WITRON announced a record-breaking order intake, driven by new contracts with food retailers REWE, Tesco, Walmart and Ahold Delhaize. The company also completed a shift to a dual‑foundation governance model to strengthen independence and long‑term stability.
Also developing:

Emerson announced OPTIMIZE™ 26, a four‑day conference for AspenTech users in Houston from May 11‑14, 2026. The event expects 1,300 participants representing more than 50 nations and will spotlight industrial AI, data management, and advanced optimization tools. A new Innovation Zone will host interactive demos, while dedicated tracks address process and power & utilities sectors. Over 80 peer presentations will share real‑world case studies on digital transformation, sustainability, and operational excellence.

Local and regional leaders in Portugal and Spain are alarmed by the stalled cross‑border high‑speed rail projects linking Porto‑Vigo in the north and Faro‑Seville in the south. The Porto‑Vigo line, originally slated for 2030, now faces a likely 2038 completion...

RRD’s 2026 Integrated Packaging Report surveyed 400 packaging, label and supply‑chain leaders, revealing a stark gap between strong awareness of smart packaging and its limited real‑world adoption. While most respondents intend to adopt connected packaging—using RFID, QR codes and IoT...
Samsara unveiled a next‑generation Bluetooth asset tag and a smaller Asset Tag XS, expanding its IoT tracking portfolio for fleet equipment managers. The tags run on an enhanced Samsara Network that now incorporates Hubble’s 90 million‑device consumer smartphone mesh, boosting indoor...

Uber Technologies has teamed up with Irish drone startup Manna to launch Europe’s first aerial food‑delivery pilot in Ireland, integrating Manna’s autonomous quadcopter system with the Uber Eats platform. The drones can transport up to 4 kg, travel 50 mph and deliver...

Sculpteo announced the launch of an on‑demand HP Metal Jet binder‑jetting service, extending its metal portfolio across Europe and the United States. The offering combines HP’s high‑throughput printing, debinding and sintering workflow to deliver production‑grade metal parts from single prototypes...

In this episode, host decouple talks with nuclear fuel expert Michael Seeley about the unique nature of nuclear fuel, its manufacturing, and the evolution of fuel reliability. They explain how uranium dioxide pellets and zirconium cladding work together to contain...

Alto, the consortium behind Canada’s proposed high‑speed rail, is confronting the nation’s harsh winter as a central design challenge. The 1,000‑kilometre, 300 km/h electrified corridor must remain operational despite snow, ice and prolonged sub‑zero temperatures. Drawing on practices from Europe and...
Cargo thieves are moving from hand‑written signs to quickly produced vinyl decals that give trucks a convincing, temporary identity. These disposable decals can be applied and removed within hours, allowing fraudsters to look legitimate long enough to steal freight and...
The U.S. has expanded its critical‑minerals list to 60, adding ten new elements in 2025, underscoring a widening supply gap. Because new mines take 10‑30 years to develop, the government is urging a systematic exploration strategy on mine‑enabling public lands....
On December 25, the United States conducted its first airstrike against a jihadist stronghold in northern Nigeria, followed by the deployment of roughly 100 U.S. advisors to train local counter‑terrorism forces. The initial team is expected to be supplemented by...

India’s Railways unveiled two digital reforms under its “52 Reforms in 52 Weeks” agenda: the RailTech Policy to systemise innovation and the e‑RCT platform to digitise the Railway Claims Tribunal. The RailTech framework creates a single‑stage portal, offers up to...

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a temporary 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, to be applied for 150 days after a Supreme Court decision nullified the prior regime. The Airforwarders Association (AfA) warned the measure will...

reclaim, the premium luggage‑management platform, has added on‑demand service for the voco The Darwin Atlanta Midtown hotel, an IHG property. Guests can schedule bag pickup from the hotel lobby up to six hours before departure, with tamper‑evident tags and real‑time...

China’s lithium carbonate futures surged after Zimbabwe suspended all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports. The Guangzhou Futures Exchange contract jumped 6.07% to 178,020 yuan, having peaked above 9% earlier in the session. Zimbabwe, the continent’s top lithium producer, shipped...

Norse Cargo, the freight division of Norse Atlantic Airways, has launched on the CargoAi digital marketplace, allowing freight forwarders to search, compare and book its air‑cargo capacity online. The integration connects Norse’s B787‑9 freighter slots to CargoMART and CargoCONNECT APIs,...

Synergy Marine Group has taken technical management of the MAERSK FINISTERRE, a 5,915‑TEU container ship owned by NKS Canopus and chartered long‑term to Maersk. The vessel features a methanol dual‑fuel propulsion system that can run on conventional fuels or green...

Apparel brands are recognizing that returns have become a pivotal customer‑experience moment rather than a hidden back‑office cost. Over 80% of shoppers say return policies influence purchase decisions, and slow, opaque refunds erode trust and repeat‑purchase intent. Reverse‑logistics delays have...

China’s decades‑long dominance of rare‑earth processing is being challenged as the United States and allies pour over $8.5 billion into reshaping the supply chain. REAlloys Inc. has become the only North‑American company that can convert rare‑earth concentrates into metals and alloys,...

Spain’s infrastructure manager Adif has tendered a €130 million contract to build a 75‑kilometre standard‑gauge rail line between Alicante and La Encina. The new “third track” will accommodate freight trains up to 750 metres, creating a mixed‑gauge connection that joins the port...

Awery Aviation Software has been selected as the exclusive software provider for Group Concorde, India’s leading General Sales and Service Agent, delivering a total cargo management solution via its integrated Enterprise Resource Planning platform. The ERP system will centralize data...

Emirates SkyCargo is adding two weekly freighters to its India network, with a Mumbai service launching on 4 March and a dedicated Dubai‑Ahmedabad flight starting later that month. The expansion lifts the airline’s weekly uplift to roughly 3,000 tonnes and brings its...

The EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) is set to overhaul security requirements for the global rail supply chain, targeting connected products and software. Nomad Digital hosted a webinar with experts from Alstom, Durham University and its own security team to...

ECS Group has been named International General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA) of the Year at the 2026 STAT Trade Times International Award for Excellence in Air Cargo. The accolade was presented by Eric Wilson, senior vice‑president of cargo sales...

Aerion was awarded the Innovative Logistics Solutions in Air Cargo of the Year at the 2026 STAT Trade Times International Award for Excellence in Air Cargo. The accolade, presented by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport CEO Chris McLaughlin, acknowledges Aerion’s technology‑driven,...
In this episode of All Business No Boundaries, Yeti’s SVP of Supply Chain, Marty Duff, discusses how the brand’s rapid growth and product complexity are supported by a strategic partnership with DHL Supply Chain. Both companies emphasize a customer‑centric approach,...

EH Smith Civils Solutions, a division of the historic EH Smith Builders Merchants, was named the 2025 Builders Merchants Awards “Civils Merchant of the Year.” The business has posted nearly a 50% sales increase over the past two years, driven...

Kale Logistics Solutions introduced AvSys, a cross‑border e‑commerce platform that provides piece‑level tracking and end‑to‑end visibility for air cargo parcels. The system bridges the first, middle, and last mile, delivering real‑time data sharing and full regulatory compliance for airlines, e‑tailers,...

French rail operator SNCF Voyageurs has launched the O2D programme, modernising the first TGV INOUI trainset and targeting 104 high‑speed trainsets for life‑extension. The €600 million investment aims to stretch operating life from 34 to up to 50 years, adding roughly 15 % more...

The Czech Railway Administration (SŽ) will begin a sweeping organisational overhaul in April, eliminating more than 120 positions—mostly administrative—and centralising dispatch functions under two control centres in Prague and Přerov. The restructuring, driven by new Director General Tomáš Tóth, targets...

In this episode, Argus Brazil editor Renata Cardarelli and fertilizer specialist Gisele Augusto review how Brazil and the Southern Cone fertilizer markets have evolved a month after the Fertilizer Latino-Americano (FLA) conference. They note a sharp slowdown in RIA deals,...

The Port of Tilbury has secured outline planning consent from Thurrock Council for the Tilbury3 (T3) expansion, allocating 143 acres for port operations and ecological mitigation. The project will create a high‑capacity, rail‑connected multi‑modal hub with direct road links and...

Brazil’s Suape Industrial Port Complex signed two MoUs with Malaysia’s Westports and Northport at Port Klang, establishing a permanent communication channel between the two port groups. The agreements aim to launch new long‑distance maritime routes and expand logistics links, potentially...
Fabrinet reported record fourth‑quarter revenue of $753.3 million, a 15% year‑over‑year increase, and posted a new high EPS of $2.41. The board approved an additional $139.5 million share‑repurchase program, underscoring confidence in cash flow. Analysts upgraded the company to a Zacks Rank...

UPS’s Worldport hub at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport has overtaken FedEx’s Memphis super‑hub to become the world’s largest express air‑cargo hub by daily flights and tonnage capacity, according to the Chaddick Institute’s Global Cargo Hub Review. The Louisville hub...

Swiss performance brand On has inaugurated its second automated footwear factory near Busan, South Korea, featuring 32 robots. The new plant, together with the Zurich site, is projected to boost global production capacity by 30 times in 2026, shifting the...

Manufacturers are accelerating digital transformation, but internal expertise often lags, driving demand for third‑party process automation services. The article highlights five leading providers—Malisko, Emerson, ABB Group, ATS Automation, and Yokogawa—each offering distinct strengths from IoT integration to turnkey solutions. These...

The 2026 Year of the Fire Horse marks the 60th anniversary of the world’s first VLCC, Idemitsu Maru, and has sparked a surge in supertanker charter rates, with spot prices topping $200,000 per day and rumors of a one‑year deal...

Polish manufacturer Newag unveiled its first hybrid multiple‑unit for PKP Intercity, a train that combines electric and diesel power to operate on both electrified and non‑electrified lines. The units can reach 160 km/h on electrified tracks and 120 km/h on non‑electrified routes, with...

Boeing reported a 40% drop in quality rework hours over the past year, attributing the improvement to stronger collaboration with its 1,200‑plus suppliers. Senior Vice President Ihssane Mounir highlighted expanded engineering support and a heightened focus on defect prevention as...
Wio Bank PJSC has teamed up with UAE fresh‑food retailer Kibsons to embed digital banking services into the grocery ecosystem. The deal provides supply‑chain finance that improves liquidity and cash‑flow visibility across Kibsons’ import, distribution and e‑commerce operations. From now...
Enterprises must first secure master data, integrate applications via open APIs, and modernize processes before chasing generative‑AI projects. Proven technologies such as adaptive robotic process automation, predictive analytics, and point‑based neural networks deliver reliable, low‑risk outcomes. Talent acquisition and continuous...

Predictive maintenance robotics leverages AI and machine‑learning to shift industrial upkeep from fixed‑schedule preventive care to condition‑based, data‑driven actions. Continuous sensor streams—vibration, acoustic, thermal, electrical—are analyzed in real time to spot anomalies and forecast component failures. The approach integrates with...

Software development is now the backbone of AI robotics, enabling machines to perceive, decide, and act in real‑world environments. Frameworks such as the Robot Operating System (ROS) and edge‑AI hardware like Nvidia Jetson streamline sensor fusion, simulation, and real‑time control....

Nvidia CFO Colette Kress told analysts that the current shortage of graphics chips and cards for gaming rigs will persist for the next few quarters. The tight supply stems from Nvidia’s aggressive allocation of fab capacity to higher‑margin AI accelerators....

GB Railfreight has announced a March auction of its older diesel fleet, featuring ten Class 60 heavy‑haul locomotives, three Class 47s and several Class 08 shunters. The disposal is part of a broader renewal programme that will replace legacy diesel with bimodal Class 99...
Africa’s trade potential hinges on overhauling its digital infrastructure, not just fixing ports or roads. Current IoT systems rely on permanent roaming SIMs and single‑core networks that crumble at borders, inflating costs and risk. Surveys show operators are shifting to...
Co‑op announced the appointment of Andy Wilmot as group supply chain and logistics director, effective April 2026. Wilmot, a veteran of A.F. Blakemore and DHL, replaces Derek Furnival, who is retiring after three decades. The hire is positioned to accelerate Co‑op’s operational...

DMG MORI has launched Adaptive Drilling Control (ADC), a sensor‑driven cycle that standardises deep‑hole and gun drilling on universal machining centres. By monitoring pressure, flow and spindle load in real time, ADC continuously adjusts coolant delivery and feed rates, turning a...

Belgian shipowner CMB.TECH has secured five five‑year charters for its capesize bulkers, adding $304 million in revenue and lifting its contract backlog to roughly $3.05 billion. The deals, which start in the coming months, include vessels built between 2014 and 2018 and...