Sweden Awards Contracts for the Ostlänken High-Speed Line
Sweden’s transport authority Trafikverket has awarded two design‑and‑build contracts for the Ostlänken high‑speed railway, covering 60 km of the 160 km line between Järna and Skavsta. Hochtief Infrastructure will construct the Vagnhärad section while Bouygues Travaux Publics will handle the Skavsta segment, both slated for completion around 2035. The project, valued at €10.4 billion, includes bridges, tunnels and a new intermodal passenger centre, and will enable trains to run at up to 250 km/h. Five new transport hubs will link the Östergötland region with Stockholm, enhancing speed and sustainability.
Additive Manufacturing Set to Drive $110B Market by 2034, Reports AM Research
Additive manufacturing is projected to generate $110 billion in market impact by 2034, up from $24.5 billion in 2025, according to AM Research. The forecast draws on more than ten years of historical data and covers metal and polymer parts across eight...
Who Is Your Best Supplier?
The article argues that many procurement teams lack the data needed to identify their best suppliers, despite the strategic importance of supplier performance. It proposes a three‑step framework—clear KPIs, right data sources, and business‑intelligence tooling—to modernize supplier evaluation. By centralizing...
Job Searching in 2026 Is Tough. Here’s How to Cut Through the Noise.
In 2026, supply chain leaders are scrambling to fill niche, tech‑driven roles as digitalization accelerates. AI‑powered job‑search tools have become indispensable, offering resume optimization and targeted outreach, but misuse can hurt candidacy. The article advises job seekers on leveraging AI...
Scaling Warehouse Operations Through 3PL Outsourcing Models
Third‑party logistics (3PL) outsourcing is emerging as the preferred model for scaling warehouse operations amid surging freight volumes driven by e‑commerce. Purpose‑built 3PL facilities combine high‑speed infrastructure, real‑time inventory technology, and trained staff to keep inventory moving efficiently. Flexible capacity...
YARDS Project Will Restore Railroad Yards in Four States
The Yard Area Rail Decongestion and Safety (YARDS) project will rehabilitate rail yards on five lines across four states, consolidating them under OmniTRAX Holdings. The $51.194 million effort is funded primarily by a $40.955 million CRISI grant, supplemented by a $10.239 million local...
Network Rail Completes £4m Infrastructure Upgrades on Inverclyde Line
Network Rail has finished a £4 million upgrade programme on Scotland’s Inverclyde line, reinforcing bridges, retaining walls and platform structures. The eight‑day, two‑weekend engineering effort replaced the River Gryffe bridge deck and repaired steel components at multiple sites. Modern, durable materials...
DHL Group Invests €2bn in Healthcare Logistics Push
DHL Group announced a €2 billion strategic investment to expand its Life Sciences & Healthcare air‑freight cold‑chain network. The rollout adds more than 30 GDP‑compliant aviation hubs and a dedicated Boeing 777F route between Brussels and Cincinnati, linking Europe’s life‑science cluster...
GTR Africa 2026 Is Back in Cape Town for Its 20th Year – Get Your Tickets Soon
GTR Africa, the premier trade, supply chain, infrastructure and commodity finance conference, returns to Cape Town for its 20th edition on 12‑13 March 2026. The event, hosted at CTICC 2, follows a record 2025 attendance of over 700 delegates and will...
UP Rail Gang 9001 Completes Rail Replacement Project in Arizona
Union Pacific’s Engineering Rail Gang 9001 finished an eight‑mile rail‑replacement project in Arizona in just 16 days, showcasing the speed of the Class I’s $3.3 billion 2026 infrastructure program. The crew deployed 24 pieces of heavy equipment and employed a rail‑heating technique to...
Wedimuller Striping & Crimping Tools From AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has expanded its catalog with Weidmuller stripping, cutting and crimping tools, including the all‑in‑one STRIPAX PLUS 2.5 that merges cutting, stripping and ferrule crimping. The tools feature automatic ferrule feeding, adjustable stops, replaceable blades and specialty screwdrivers for tight‑space...
British Steel Launches Round the Clock Production for Türkiye High Speed Rail Deal
British Steel has landed an eight‑figure contract to supply 36,000 tonnes of 60E2 rail for Turkey’s new 599‑km Ankara‑İzmir high‑speed line. The order, backed by UK Export Finance, triggers 24/7 production at the Scunthorpe plant for the first time in...
The Biggest Supply Chain Risks of 2026 (and How to Navigate Them)
2026 opens with heightened supply‑chain volatility as markets grapple with tight capacity, an early Chinese New Year, and the Red Sea’s tentative reopening. Geopolitical fragmentation, lingering trade‑policy uncertainty and economic instability force shippers to rethink tender timing and rate‑locking strategies....
Knorr Bremse Accelerates AI Transformation Through Strategic AWS Partnership
Knorr Bremse has entered a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services to fast‑track its AI transformation, leveraging AWS cloud and AI services to modernise technology, processes and organisational structures. The collaboration introduces an AI operating model, autonomous industrial solutions and a...
Hitachi Rail Commissions Digital Interlocking on Norway’s Dovre Line
Hitachi Rail and Bane NOR have commissioned a Hitachi L90‑5 electronic interlocking at the Hove stabling facility on Norway’s Dovre Line near Lillehammer. The system digitises points, signals and level crossings, replacing legacy hardware to improve operational reliability and increase passenger‑service...
BIR World Mirror: Scrap Supply Tightness Boosts Steel Prices
The Bureau of International Recycling’s World Mirror report shows U.S. recycled‑steel prices rising as winter storms forced yard closures, tightening obsolete scrap inflows and bolstering export demand. Japan’s prices also firmed amid weak scrap generation and a depreciating yen. In...
Global GSA Group to Market Alaska Airlines Cargo on Rome–Seattle Route
Global GSA Group has become Alaska Airlines' General Sales & Service Agent for cargo on a new Rome‑Seattle route launching in late April. Daily Boeing 787‑9 flights will connect Italy to Alaska's Seattle hub, opening access to over 100 U.S.,...
NAM Moves 3,100 Tonnes of Flowers in Record Valentine’s Rush
Network Airline Management (NAM) executed its largest Valentine’s peak, moving 3,100 tonnes of fresh cut flowers from Nairobi to Liège over two weeks. The carrier operated 31 dedicated Boeing 747F flights, including 16 scheduled services and a record 15 extra...
Xeneta Schedule Reliability Scorecard - January 2026 - Monthly Update
Xeneta’s January 2026 schedule reliability scorecard shows global on‑time arrivals slipping to 29%, the lowest since mid‑2025. Average delay severity increased to 3.7‑4.2 days at berth, while key trades such as Africa (20% on‑time) and Europe‑North America (32%) suffered double‑digit...
Saudia Cargo Posts Steady Growth Across 2025 Operations
Saudia Cargo reported moving 573,000 tonnes of freight across roughly 4,000 flights in 2025, with exports totaling 15,000 tonnes and on‑time performance above 90%. The carrier secured a lease for two Airbus A330‑300F freighters for delivery in 2026 and launched...
Comparing the 2026 FedEx and UPS General Rate Increases
The 2026 FedEx and UPS General Rate Increases both headline a 5.9% base‑rate hike, but the report shows that minimum‑charge adjustments, accessorial fees, fuel surcharges and off‑cycle rate changes add significant hidden costs. By juxtaposing domestic, international and ground services,...
What America Forgets About the UN
The Financial Times opinion piece argues that the United States increasingly overlooks the strategic value of the United Nations, treating the body as a bureaucratic relic rather than a vital platform for multilateral problem‑solving. It highlights how U.S. disengagement erodes...
Riley Departs RSI
Railway Supply Institute (RSI) abruptly dismissed President Jim Riley after just under a year in the role, citing the need for a leadership change amid a volatile economic and geopolitical environment. Board Chair Greg Dalpe announced the decision and praised...
EFW Signs New A330 Freighter Conversion Contract with Hengqin Winglet
Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) has secured a new passenger‑to‑freighter (P2F) conversion contract with Chinese lessor Hengqin Winglet Aircraft Technology. The A330‑P2F conversion will be performed at a partner facility in China, with work slated to begin in mid‑2026 and technical support...
Valentine’s Volumes Bloom at Dnata’s Dubai Flower Centre
dnata processed 227,530 kg of flowers over five days at Dubai Flower Centre, handling 274 shipments and more than 18,700 boxes. The operation peaked on February 10 with 59,800 kg moved, more than double typical daily volumes. The purpose‑built 3,500 sqm facility can handle...
TE Connectivity Snap-On Markers From AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect announced it now stocks TE Connectivity Snap‑on markers, a C‑profile wire labeling solution that can be applied to already‑terminated conductors. Each marker is pre‑printed with a single character and comes on an applicator that prevents over‑expansion. The tags fit wire...
DHL eCommerce Taps Georgia Tech to Build Engineering Talent Pipeline
DHL eCommerce announced a strategic partnership with Georgia Tech’s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering to create a direct pipeline of engineering talent. The agreement includes on‑campus recruiting, advisory board participation, and sponsorship of a senior‑level student...
Issue 58, 2026
AutomationDirect’s Issue 58 (2026) spotlights how artificial intelligence is poised to deliver tangible ROI on plant floors, with expert Bill Makley outlining five growth avenues. The issue also promotes headless HMIs as a flexible, cost‑effective alternative to traditional panel‑mounted interfaces. Additional focus...
Five Ways AI Will Grow ROI on Plant Floors in 2026
AI adoption on the plant floor is accelerating in 2026 as edge processors, standardized data pipelines, and emerging governance frameworks remove long‑standing barriers. Manufacturers can now run deep‑learning models locally, achieve millisecond decision times, and integrate clean, contextual data via...
How Small Incidents Can Ripple Through the Supply Chain
Even minor incidents can trigger a rock‑in‑a‑pond effect that reverberates through global supply chains, as illustrated by the 2021 Ever Given blockage that stalled $9.6 billion of goods daily. A recent study shows 52 % of companies lose more than a month...