VFabTech Launches to Help Solve the Semiconductor Capacity Bottleneck Behind the Next Wave of AI and Advanced Manufacturing
VFabTech, a new semiconductor engineering and consulting firm, launched to address the growing capacity bottleneck that’s limiting AI, robotics and advanced manufacturing growth. The company offers end‑to‑end services—from cleanroom planning and equipment qualification to process integration and workforce training—covering the entire fab lifecycle. Founded by Ph.D. engineer Binh Vu, whose background includes stints at Intel and Applied Materials, VFabTech promises practical, execution‑driven expertise to accelerate fab build‑outs. Its launch signals a shift toward specialized engineering support as capital alone proves insufficient for rapid capacity expansion.
Lean Solutions Group Unveils New AI-Powered Capabilities for Its LeanTek Platform Including LeanTek AgentEdge and LeanTek Connect at MODEX 2026
Lean Solutions Group announced at MODEX 2026 a suite of AI‑powered extensions for its LeanTek platform, including LeanTek AgentEdge and LeanTek Connect. The new features add decision intelligence, automated email processing, AI‑driven contract analysis, interview screening, and wellbeing monitoring, aiming to...
Hogan Lovells Expands Ukrainian Mandate
Law firm Hogan Lovells has broadened its Ukrainian engagement to include a 50/50 partnership that will develop critical mineral and energy projects under the newly launched US‑Ukrainian Investment Fund. The firm’s mandate now spans the Ministry of Economy, the Agency for...
DT Research Debuts GMS-Enabled DA323EP Rugged Tablets for Logistics at MODEX 2026
DT Research unveiled the DA323EP, a Google Mobile Services‑enabled rugged tablet designed for logistics and warehouse operations. The 13.3‑inch device combines a sunlight‑readable display, hot‑swappable batteries, and optional 4G LTE for continuous, real‑time data capture. Certified for GMS, it offers...
YMX Logistics Introduces The First Autonomous Yard Operating System
YMX Logistics unveiled an expanded Yard Operating System (YMX OS) that automates data capture, AI‑driven decision making, and autonomous yard trucks across multi‑site networks. The platform combines an embedded Yard Management System, computer‑vision sensors, a digital‑twin engine, and integrated electric‑vehicle...
Preliminary Class 8 Truck Net Orders See Strong Annual Gains in March
Preliminary March data show Class 8 truck net orders jumping to 38,200 units, a 137% year‑over‑year increase according to FTR and 126% YoY to 37,200 units per ACT. The surge marks the fourth straight month of over 20% annual growth and...
Wah Kwong Unit Lines up Green Methanol Supply Deal
Wah Kwong’s fuel subsidiary Venture Energy has signed a supply agreement with Shanghai Shenji Energy to import ISCC‑certified green methanol, with first deliveries slated for the first half of 2026. The methanol, derived from municipal waste, crop residues and livestock...
Scientists Just Created Super-Strong Steel That Never Rusts. It'll Change Manufacturing.
Researchers at Purdue and the University of South China used an interpretable machine‑learning algorithm to design a new 3D‑printable steel alloy. By analyzing 81 physicochemical features, the team created Fe‑15Cr‑3.2Ni‑0.8Mn‑0.6Cu‑0.56Si‑0.4Al‑0.16C, which achieved roughly 1,713 MPa strength and over 15% elongation. The...
Reinventing Supply Chains With Gabi Gantus, CFO Of Mytra
Gabi Gantus, CFO of Mytra, is leading a push to overhaul warehouse automation with bots that move inventory in any direction, including vertically, promising higher density and throughput. Drawing on a decade at Tesla, she applies FP&A rigor and a...
MODEX 2026: GreyOrange Launches GreyMatter Foundry
GreyOrange unveiled GreyMatter Foundry at MODEX 2026, an AI‑driven simulation platform that unifies warehouse flow design, technology sizing, and layout planning in a high‑fidelity environment. The tool lets customers, integrators and fulfillment teams model heterogeneous robot fleets and human processes,...
MODEX 2026: Gartner Predicts Half of New Warehouses Built in Developed Markets Will Be Human-Optional Facilities by 2030
Gartner’s latest supply‑chain research predicts that by 2030 half of all new warehouses built in developed markets will be designed as robot‑centric facilities where human labor is optional. The forecast reflects mounting labor shortages and rising wage pressures that are...
Pharma Firms Accelerate Regional Capacity Building to Secure GLP-1 Supply and Mitigate Geopolitical Risks
Pharma companies are reshaping supply chains by regionalizing GLP‑1 manufacturing to mitigate geopolitical risks and meet soaring demand for metabolic therapies. Eli Lilly announced a $3 billion investment in China and a ¥20 billion ($126 million) upgrade of its Kobe plant in Japan, targeting...
Eni Invests $70MM in Canadian Battery Feedstock Project
Italian energy giant Eni is injecting $70 million USD in equity into Quebec‑based Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG) and will purchase up to 15,000 tonnes per year of graphite concentrate from the second phase of NMG’s Matawinie Mine. The deal gives Eni an...
Corvus Robotics Launches Corvus Trident, an AI Powered Device That Tracks Every Pallet From Dock Door to Departure
Corvus Robotics unveiled the AI‑powered Corvus Trident at MODEX 2026, a device that mounts on forklifts and other material‑handling equipment to automatically capture every pallet movement from dock to departure. The system uses onboard AI and industrial‑grade scanners to read multiple...
Strait of Hormuz Shipping Decline Deepens as U.S. Blockade Adds Pressure to Global Supply Chains
The United States will enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports, formalizing a trend that began in late February when vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz sharply declined. Daily transits have dropped from roughly 120‑135 ships to about 40,...
Andy Start Departs MoD After Completing Procurement Restructure
Andy Start retired from the UK Ministry of Defence after establishing the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group, a consolidation of key defence organisations launched in March 2025. He served as interim director, then deputy director, before handing over to Rupert Pearce...
Murata Starts Mass Production of High-Capacitance Automotive MLCCs
Murata Manufacturing has begun mass production of seven automotive‑grade multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) that deliver higher capacitance in smaller footprints. The new parts meet AEC‑Q200 standards, with five low‑voltage devices for ADAS and two 25 V power‑line models. Notably, Murata achieved...
MODEX 2026: Dexory Unveils DexoryView Adapt for Warehouse Operations
Dexory unveiled DexoryView Adapt at MODEX 2026, adding an AI reasoning layer to its existing DexoryView digital‑twin platform. The new capability transforms real‑time warehouse sensor data into autonomous, evidence‑backed operational decisions. By linking robot‑collected signals, site‑specific rules, and a growing...
Star Air Launches 70 Weekly Flights, Introduces First‑Ever Direct Mundra-Delhi NCR Route
Star Air has launched India’s first direct air link between Hindon (Delhi NCR) and the port city of Mundra, adding 38 direct weekly flights as part of a 70‑flight summer schedule. The new service makes Mundra its 32nd destination and...
Lloyds Metals & Energy to Use Metso for Iron Plant Expansion
Lloyds Metals & Energy (LMEL), an Indian iron miner and steelmaker, has contracted Metso to deliver ten Larox fast‑opening filter presses for its iron beneficiation plants. The equipment will support LMEL's ongoing expansion of its pellet production capacity, though the...
Surging Traffic at Transhipment Hubs Hits Container Supply Chain Efficiency
Sea‑Intelligence Consulting’s latest study shows that the world’s biggest container transhipment hubs are eroding overall schedule reliability. By comparing un‑weighted regional averages with volume‑weighted figures, the analysis reveals a five‑point drop in Asia‑North Europe trade performance driven by congestion at...
AI-Enabled ETA Management Could Be the Key to Solving Port Congestion
Port congestion is worsening as megaships and trade volumes outpace infrastructure, driving higher costs, emissions, and supply‑chain delays. AI‑driven predictive ETA management leverages real‑time weather, vessel performance and traffic data to forecast arrival times with greater accuracy. By aligning berth...
Friedland Warns About Strait of Hormuz Impact on Copper Mining
Ivanhoe Mines Co‑Chairman Robert Friedland warned that the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens sulfur supplies essential for copper leaching, potentially curbing global copper output. He noted that roughly 20% of worldwide copper production depends on sulfuric‑acid leaching,...
STG Picks up Freight Management Software Firm Carrier Logistics Inc
STG announced the acquisition of Carrier Logistics Inc., a freight‑management software provider. The deal will embed advanced agentic AI frameworks into CLI’s platform, aiming to automate routing, capacity matching, and real‑time decision making. By combining STG’s capital and market reach...
Spain's Corrugated Cardboard Sector Posts €7.2 Billion in 2025, Holding Third Place in Europe
Spain’s corrugated cardboard industry posted €7.168 billion in 2025 (≈ $7.7 billion), cementing its position as the third‑largest producer in Europe behind Germany and Italy. The sector comprises 66 corrugating firms operating 89 factories, generating 5.94 billion m² of board and consuming 3.35 million tons of paper....
War in Iran: Fertilizer Sector Warns of Lasting Supply Risk
A two‑week U.S.–Iran ceasefire will temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for roughly 30% of global fertilizer trade and 20% of natural‑gas flows. The closure has already forced several Gulf fertilizer plants offline, tightening worldwide supply and...
EU Exempts Wooden Pallets From PPWR Reuse Requirements
The European Commission clarified that wooden pallets are exempt from reuse obligations under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The guidance applies to pallets used for imports, exports and intra‑EU trade, as well as custom‑designed transport packaging. Industry concerns...
Trump Threatens Hormuz Blockade as FMC Eyes Probe Into Carrier Surcharges
Donald Trump announced a potential naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, heightening geopolitical risk for Gulf shipping. The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) responded by warning shippers it is monitoring carrier war‑risk surcharges and may launch a probe for...
How Shipway Is Rewriting the Economics of D2C Shipping
Shipway, the AI‑driven logistics platform owned by Unicommerce, has reached a Rs 100 crore annualised run‑rate and breakeven adjusted EBITDA after crossing 1 million monthly shipments. Its ShipSense AI engine evaluates warehouse proximity, courier performance, payment mode and return patterns in real time...
Top ICT Tenders: Transversal Computing Contract up for Grabs
The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has issued a new transversal computing contract that will replace the 2020 RFB 740 tender. The contract covers outright purchase of desktop and mobile PCs, monitors, printers, biometric devices, consumables and related services for South...
Engineering Reliability in a Changing Rail Industry
FreightCar America argues that the future of freight rail hinges on engineering discipline that couples safety with manufacturing consistency. By embedding layers‑of‑protection into design and production, the company reduces error and variability, enabling scalable output even as demand fluctuates. Targeted...
FAO: Protracted Strait of Hormuz Crisis Could Turn Into Global Agrifood Catastrophe
The FAO warned that a prolonged crisis in the Strait of Hormuz could halt shipments of essential agricultural inputs, sparking a surge in food‑price inflation comparable to the COVID‑19 shock. About 20‑45% of global fertilizer and energy imports travel through...
Perspective: How True AI Changes the Cost of TMS Training
The trucking and logistics sector has long wrestled with costly, weeks‑long training for transportation management systems (TMS). While many vendors tout "AI," most solutions are merely automated workflows that still demand extensive user instruction. True generative AI, exemplified by large...
ORR: UK Rail Productivity Remains Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
The Office of Rail and Road’s latest report shows UK rail productivity rose 3% in 2024‑25, yet total costs remain 21% above 2014‑15 levels. Passenger operators improved 2% but face a 40% cost increase, with rolling‑stock leasing and maintenance costing...
Kuka Outlines ‘Automation 2.0’ Strategy, Combining AI Software with Industrial Robotics
Kuka unveiled an "Automation 2.0" roadmap that blends artificial intelligence with its industrial robots, positioning the firm at the forefront of the emerging "physical AI" wave. The centerpiece is Kuka AMP, a software‑defined platform that layers AI‑driven decision‑making over existing hardware....
How to Confidently Forecast Costs in Food and Beverage Procurement
Fastmarkets released a free Forecasting with Confidence Playbook that showcases how independent market intelligence can help food‑and‑beverage (F&B) procurement teams anticipate packaging and ingredient price swings. The piece highlights that global volatility—driven by geopolitical conflict and energy shocks—often leads suppliers...
From Indaba to the Budget: Will Fiscal Policy Unlock Mining-Led Growth?
South Africa’s mining sector, responsible for roughly 6% of GDP and about R440 billion ($23 billion) in annual output, is hampered by chronic freight bottlenecks. At the February Mining Indaba, industry leaders called for policy certainty and reliable logistics, prompting Finance Minister...
Managing Commercial Drone Fleets Across Multiple Locations: Why Inventory Tracking Matters
Scaling commercial drone operations across multiple sites introduces logistical friction that basic spreadsheets cannot resolve. Centralized inventory tracking systems consolidate aircraft, batteries, pilots, and maintenance records into a single, real‑time view, enabling rapid deployment decisions. The unified platform also automates...
Jazeera Airways Adds Air-Land Cargo Operation to Navigate Airspace Closures
Kuwait‑based low‑cost carrier Jazeera Airways has launched an air‑land cargo service from Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Qaisumah‑Hafar Al‑Batin to bypass the closure of Kuwait International Airport amid the US‑Iran conflict. The cargo is processed by...
Taiwan Launches National Robotics Center with $629 Million Startup Funding Plan
Taiwan has inaugurated the National Center for AI Robotics (NCAIR) and unveiled a NT$20 billion ($629 million) funding program slated for 2026‑2029. The initiative targets the creation of at least three home‑grown robotics startups and aims to accelerate testing, talent development, and...
The SB Podcast: Why Distribution Needs a Shake-Up
Eoin Bara, founder of Tipple, argues that spirits brands must generate demand before chasing distribution. After burning out selling his own Mór Irish Gin, he created Tipple, a digital platform that lets brands sell directly to consumers and businesses while...
TemperPack Launches New Mailer to Replace Boxes for E-Commerce Shippers
TemperPack unveiled a recyclable padded mailer that replaces traditional cardboard boxes for e‑commerce shipments. The mailer uses proprietary WaveKraft® paper‑based material, delivering 50‑80% better cushioning than plastic or standard padded mailers. Its gusseted design opens wide, speeds packing, and meets...
Guidance: Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Market Orders and Calculator
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has refreshed its domestic bulk LPG market orders and the accompanying tank‑transfer price calculator, the latest update issued on 13 April 2026. The orders limit exclusivity periods to two years, require a 42‑day notice to...
Stolen Freight Is Still Moving Through Clean Systems
A $1 million LEGO shipment was recovered in California only after a suspicious‑activity tip, not through any automated verification. The incident mirrors a broader trend where cargo theft slips through normal freight workflows, as seen in Texas with $470,000 of stolen...
EU Businesses Warn China’s New Supply Chain Law Puts Firms on Collision Course with Bloc’s Rules
A EU business lobby, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, has condemned China’s new Regulation 834, which took effect last week. The law gives Chinese authorities sweeping powers to investigate and punish companies or individuals deemed to threaten industrial...
France, UK to Lead Multinational Mission to Restore Navigation in Strait of Hormuz: Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and the United Kingdom will co‑lead a multinational, strictly defensive mission to restore free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative will convene a conference in the coming days with nations ready...
Asian LNG Imports Plummet to Six-Year Low on Middle East Crisis
Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports have slumped to the lowest level since June 2020, with the 30‑day moving average falling below 600,000 tons. The decline follows the escalation of the Middle East conflict, which has cut roughly 20% of global LNG...
Pakistan Launches Iran Transit Corridor with First Shipment to Central Asia
Pakistan has inaugurated an overland trade corridor through Iran, dispatching its first export—a refrigerated truckload of frozen meat—from Karachi to Tashkent. The road link offers a shorter, faster alternative to traditional maritime routes, promising lower freight costs and reduced handling...
E-Commerce Surge Reshapes Air Cargo Demand as Parcel Volumes Soar
J&T Express processed 8.3 billion parcels in the first quarter of 2026, a 26.2% year‑on‑year increase, with Southeast Asian volumes surging almost 80%. The surge reflects broader global e‑commerce growth that is reshaping air‑cargo demand, especially on Asia‑Pacific and trans‑Pacific routes....
Oil Tankers Steer Clear of Hormuz Ahead of US Blockade
Two Iranian‑linked tankers left the Gulf on Monday, each carrying roughly 330,000 barrels of oil, as the United States announced a blockade of Iranian ports. President Trump said the Navy would enforce the blockade on vessels entering or exiting Iranian...
