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.
Also developing:

DigiKey will showcase more than a dozen new embedded‑system products from leading suppliers at Embedded World 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany. The booth (4A‑633) features live demos ranging from thread‑network sensor arrays to single‑pair Ethernet video streaming and AI‑enabled microcontrollers. DigiKey also highlights its TechBench, local shipping, and export‑compliance services to accelerate design cycles for European engineers. Attendees can engage with technical experts, receive giveaways, and enjoy free coffee at the DigiKey Café.

Flexxbotics has released an updated Beckhoff ADS TwinCAT connector driver in its open‑source GitHub repository, expanding compatibility to both TwinCAT 2 and TwinCAT 3 environments. The driver introduces multi‑threaded data pipelines, secure bi‑directional read/write, and a many‑to‑many interoperability model that eliminates point‑to‑point...
Hartman Seatrade has equipped its newest vessels with two Liebherr LS 250 heavy‑duty ship cranes, configured for tandem operation and capable of lifting up to 500 tons combined. Each crane offers a 250‑ton capacity, 36‑metre outreach and a lightweight 150‑ton deadweight, enhancing...

China plans to quintuple its leading‑edge chip output within two years, raising 7 nm and 5 nm wafer starts from under 20,000 to about 100,000 per month. The long‑term goal is to reach 500,000 advanced‑node wafers monthly by 2030. SMIC, the only...
The U.S. Postal Service is field‑testing a new camera feature on its Mobile Delivery Device app that captures photos of delivered packages. The pilot runs in Phoenix, New York City, Dallas and Fargo, but images are not yet available to customers....
Apparel brands are turning to "friendshoring," a supply‑chain model that selects production sites based on shared regulatory standards, sustainability values, and political alignment rather than pure cost advantage. The approach spreads sourcing across trusted partners such as Vietnam, Egypt, Colombia...

Demographic shifts—aging populations, declining fertility, and rising one‑person households—are reshaping supply chain strategy more profoundly than traditional shocks. These trends create uneven labor availability, smaller basket sizes, and higher order frequency, forcing a move from bulk efficiency to precision fulfillment....
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) now forces U.S. retailers to prove that imported goods are free of forced labor, shifting the evidentiary burden to importers. Within its first year of enforcement, Customs and Border Protection detained more than...

The Manufacturing & Automation eXchange (MAX) will debut March 24‑26, 2026 at Nashville's Music City Center, merging the former Assembly Show South and Quality Show into a single, cross‑functional event. MAX will showcase a broad spectrum of manufacturing technologies, from...
Mesh Feigenbaum, a leading forging‑press expert, released an updated benchmark revealing that global capacity for massive aerospace and defense forging presses is shrinking as aging equipment retires faster than replacements arrive. The study warns that unplanned press failures can stall...
BMO’s first‑quarter 2026 earnings show a modest reversal in trucking‑related credit stress, with gross impaired loans falling to C$563 million and provisions dropping to $39 million. At the same time, allowances for credit losses rose to $77 million and the net transportation loan...

Stratasys announced a 22% year‑over‑year reliability increase for its F900 industrial 3D printer, driven by manufacturing enhancements co‑developed with its Customer Advisory Board (CAB). The CAB, composed of aerospace, defense and automotive leaders, identified production‑scale barriers and helped shape improvements...
Retail and e‑commerce leaders are repeatedly overspending on warehouse and fulfillment platforms because they mistake a technology business case for a supply‑chain strategy. Vendor‑supplied ROI models promise payback in 12‑18 months but ignore data quality, process complexity, and organizational readiness....
Container carriers on the India‑Europe and Mediterranean lanes have raised February spot rates sharply, reflecting heightened seasonal booking demand and constrained vessel capacity. Forwarder data show spot asks climbing $400‑$500 per TEU since January, pushing average prices from Nhava Sheva/Mundra...

The Deep Current survey of 600 freight decision‑makers shows decision density rising despite AI adoption, with 74 % making over 50 operational choices daily and half exceeding 100. System fragmentation forces professionals to juggle five or more disconnected platforms, leading to...
Severe congestion at Kenya's Port of Mombasa is disrupting East Africa's coffee trade, with major exporter Sucafina warning of missed shipments and rising costs. Truck queues, customs bottlenecks, and limited empty‑container depots have left vessels idle and cargo handovers delayed....
Freight tenders often miss targets because shippers launch them without a market‑led strategy, treat all corridors alike, and rely on outdated benchmarks. Over‑engineered processes and insufficient competitive tension further erode pricing discipline, while an excessive focus on rates ignores service...

Tuofa CNC Machining, an ISO 9001:2015 certified supplier, expands its global support for precision CNC components across automotive, robotics, and medical sectors. The company emphasizes datum control, process stability, and measurable verification for function‑critical assemblies. Recent work on robot joint shafts...
Progressive Robotics unveiled AnyStack, a turnkey robotic palletizing system that combines an industrial arm, AI‑driven vision, and intelligent stacking software into a single, ready‑to‑deploy cell. The solution dynamically identifies cases, calculates optimal stacking sequences, and builds stable mixed‑SKU pallets even...

Three of six electric gantry cranes have been installed at the Milano Smistamento intermodal terminal, marking a key milestone for the project. The facility, jointly managed by FS Logistix and Swiss operator Hupac through TerAlp, aims to handle 44 trains...
Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) and Frankfurt Airport (FRA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a more integrated cargo corridor between South India and Europe. The agreement outlines joint trade‑lane analytics, a digital corridor, pharma integrity standards and...
Genpact’s supply‑chain chief warns that escalating tariff volatility is driving firms to diversify suppliers and shift toward regionalized networks by 2026. Pandemic‑era investments in control towers and risk‑monitoring tools have equipped shippers to react quickly without external advisory projects. Companies...
Japanese chemical giants such as Mitsui Chemicals and Sumitomo Chemical are scaling back their China operations and redirecting capital to India. Investment in China dropped 46% year‑over‑year in 2024, while the number of Japanese sites in India rose to 5,205,...

Fincantieri has delivered Four Seasons I, the first ultra‑luxury cruise yacht equipped with an intelligent Navis Sapiens digital architecture. Built at the Ancona shipyard for Marc‑Henry Cruise Holdings, the 207‑metre, 34,000‑gross‑ton vessel features 95 all‑suite residences and AI‑driven systems for safer, more...

AutomationDirect announced the addition of Penn‑Union split bolt connectors, aluminum power bars, and bronze service post connectors to its catalog. The split bolts accommodate CU‑CU, CU‑AL, and AL‑AL conductor pairs, while the power bars support two to four conductors in...

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has placed a new Communications‑Based Train Control (CBTC) system into revenue service on its Media–Sharon Hill line, the last interurban trolley network in the U.S. The upgrade, delivered by Hitachi Rail, covers 11.9 miles between...

Streem has appointed Peter Reinshagen to spearhead sector‑related initiatives and broader development in European rail freight, leveraging his experience as Ermewa’s Managing Director. Within Ermewa, Deputy Managing Director Cyrille Guyon steps up as Managing Director, providing continuity after a decade...
Mersen has introduced its Critical Power Panel (CPP) series, a fully customizable fused panelboard that combines a lightweight design with a reduced footprint. Targeted at NEC‑required and non‑required applications—including UPS systems, data centers, medium‑voltage eHouses, emergency circuits, and DC utility...

Finland’s Digirail project marks Europe’s first split‑procurement signalling system, separating a centralised safety interlocking from distributed object controllers. The open‑architecture approach lets multiple manufacturers contribute components, boosting competition and modularity. Recent live integration tests at the ROK facility demonstrated seamless...

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) is gaining traction in railways, but misconceptions persist. The technology cannot eavesdrop on conversations in real‑world deployments, and it works with standard telecom‑grade fibers rather than costly specialty cables. While DAS units carry a high upfront...

Dual Inventive has completed field trials of its next‑generation rail safety suite, including the RCS 3000 remote‑control signal, the RSS 3000 PC off‑grid points controller, and the RDI 3000 v2 remote detonator isolator. Tests in Germany, France, Belgium and the UK demonstrated clear visibility...

Inmarsat Maritime has secured a contract to outfit Vega Reederei’s ten new diesel‑electric coaster vessels with its NexusWave bonded connectivity service. The 89‑meter, 3,800‑dwt ships are slated for delivery by July 2026 and will also receive Fleet Secure UTM and endpoint...

Australia’s Gorgon‑linked LNG exporter sent a cargo aboard the Maran Gas Hector to eastern Canada, covering roughly 16,000 miles – the longest route for Australian LNG to date. The move reflects a sharp slowdown in Asian demand, where shipments to...
Bot Auto announced a strategic partnership with Ryan Transportation to launch driverless freight operations on a 200‑mile overnight corridor between Houston and Dallas, slated to begin this spring. The route, traditionally hard to service due to tight delivery windows and...
Ingram Content Group is expanding its partnership with RELEX Solutions to add AI‑driven forecasting, capacity optimization, vendor‑managed inventory and assortment planning across six global distribution centers. The new capabilities will automate planning for more than 1 million SKUs, boost forecast accuracy...

Cyber attacks on the maritime sector are accelerating, with the cost of a single incident rising to an average of $550,000 between 2022 and 2023. Marinelink’s security operations centre recorded 9 billion security events and more than 10,000 malware detections across...

RailFreight.com’s webinar featuring Silvia De Rocchi and Akos Ersek dissected the EU Greening Freight Package, pinpointing fragmentation across member states and the freight sector as a major obstacle. The discussion centered on three pillars – the Combined Transport Directive, the...
Art of Procurement has launched the ProcureTech Insider, a new podcast series aimed at demystifying procurement technology. The show targets CPOs and digital leaders who are overwhelmed by rapid AI‑driven platform growth and need practical guidance. In its inaugural episode,...
Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris has been named the World’s Leading Sustainable Supply Chain Programme 2025 at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards in Dubai. The hotel’s responsible purchasing charter now covers 14 product categories, with 66% of...
Etihad Cargo has unveiled the Etihad Cargo Excellence Hub, the airline industry’s first dedicated logistics training academy. The digital academy delivers mandatory and elective courses covering operating standards, safety, compliance, and soft‑skill development for Etihad’s global partners. By standardising training,...
Authentic Brands Group and IAC have signed an agreement to expand Dockers apparel across Central America, the Andean region, Ecuador, and select Caribbean markets. IAC will manage manufacturing and distribution for men’s and women’s lifestyle apparel and accessories. The partnership...

Longford’s SMEs face rising input costs, supply‑chain volatility and stricter sustainability rules, prompting a shift toward circular economy practices. The Circular Advantage event on 3 March, co‑funded by the Irish government and the EU Just Transition Fund, offers practical tools to...
nShift warns EU and UK retailers that the upcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), effective July 2026, will ban the destruction of returned clothing, footwear and accessories. The firm recommends integrating returns with logistics, warehousing and backend systems to...

India is launching a ₹77,000 crore programme to build a domestic merchant fleet and expand shipbuilding, aiming to cut its reliance on foreign vessels that handle more than 90% of imports and exports. The plan prioritises ship construction, port upgrades, and...
Indonesia is preparing a state‑backed overhaul of its textile and clothing industry, aiming to tighten integration across the supply chain. The sector, which employs roughly 3.75 million workers, has faced slowing growth, rising imports and eroding competitiveness over several years. Policymakers...
Graphite Connect has moved from the Hackett Group’s 50 To Watch list to the elite 50 To Know roster, reflecting rapid expansion and product innovation. Its Supplier Network now hosts over 700,000 suppliers, generating more than one million data updates each month, which are...

Kongsberg Maritime has been chosen to provide a fully integrated equipment suite for LS Marine Solution’s next‑generation ultra‑large cable‑laying vessel being built at Turkey’s Tersan Shipyard. The 148.4‑metre ship will carry up to 13,000 tonnes of subsea HVDC and optical cable...
The article argues that supply‑chain inefficiency is the greatest ESG shortfall, with roughly $3 trillion of fast‑moving consumer goods wasted each year due to blind, push‑based logistics. Manufacturers lack real‑time visibility beyond the factory gate, leading to overproduction, excess inventory, and...

Interest in rail‑based semi‑trailer transport from Ukraine to Europe is rising as driver shortages and war‑related disruptions strain road freight. East‑West Intermodal Logistics (EWIL) launched a new Lviv‑to‑Fényeslitke service in partnership with Ukrainian Railways and UZ Cargo Poland, despite attacks...
In this episode, VP of Operations Drake Meyer discusses Atomics' rapid growth, its unique high‑touch 3PL model, and the development of its proprietary WMS. He shares how his hands‑on warehouse background informs his leadership style, emphasizing a continuous‑improvement mindset rooted...