The Best Things Come in Small Packages as RoboTrex Compact Set to Make UK Debut at MACH 2026
Lang Technik UK will unveil the RoboTrex Compact at the MACH 2026 trade show in Birmingham, marking the system’s UK debut. The compact automation cell occupies just 2 square‑metres, handles workpieces up to 95 mm and 7 kg, and incorporates a Fanuc M‑10iD‑16s robot for five‑axis vice transfers. Lang Technik promotes a plug‑and‑play setup that can be commissioned in seconds, delivering up to eight additional production hours per day with minimal training. The launch highlights the company’s broader range of zero‑point clamping and work‑holding solutions.
Small Businesses Urge Governments to Keep Momentum on Reducing Internal Trade Barriers: CFIB
Business owners continue to face obstacles such as duplicative testing requirements, inconsistent provincial regulations, and restrictions on moving goods and services across provincial borders. The post Small businesses urge governments to keep momentum on reducing internal trade barriers: CFIB appeared first...
Can Central Asia Become a New Hub in the Global Fertilizer Market?
Central Asian states are mobilising substantial resources to become a new fertilizer hub, with Kazakhstan targeting 6 million tonnes of potash by 2028, Uzbekistan scaling green ammonia, and Turkmenistan expanding phosphate output. The region’s existing gas‑chemical complexes, such as KazAzot and...
India Launches Six Textile Export Support Centres
India announced the establishment of six Textile Export Facilitation Centres across key production clusters, including Surat, Karur, Ichalkaranji, Jaipur, Varanasi and Ludhiana. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to lift the country's textile exports to $100 billion by 2030....
Akiem Orders First Battery-Electric Vectron
Akiem, a European rolling‑stock leasing firm, signed a framework agreement with Siemens Mobility for up to 80 battery‑electric dual‑mode Vectron locomotives, including a firm order for 50 units and an option for 30 more. The locomotives replace the diesel engine...
Marcos Declares State of National Energy Emergency
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 110 on March 24, declaring a one‑year state of national energy emergency in the Philippines. The order responds to the Middle‑East conflict that has disrupted global oil supplies and driven price volatility. It creates the Unified Package...
Balancing Costs, ESG Compliance, and Global Competitiveness with India’s Upstream Solar Policy
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has expanded its Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework to include solar ingots and wafers, creating ALMM List‑III that will take effect on June 1, 2028. The mandate forces all qualifying solar projects...
How TraceX Is Building The Data Layer For Verifiable Supply Chains
TraceX Technologies, a Bengaluru‑based startup founded in 2019, is building a unified data layer that captures every step of food supply chains using AI and blockchain. The platform addresses fragmented, manual records that hinder compliance and sustainability reporting, especially as...
Africa: Alake Advocates Regional Hubs to Power Africa's Mining Industry
Nigerian Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake called for creation of regional energy hubs to boost Africa’s mining industrialisation at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington. He highlighted that over $2.6 bn of foreign direct investment has flowed into Nigeria’s mining...
Governments Tighten Scrutiny on Carrier Pricing as Crisis Surcharges Mount
Governments in the United States and India are tightening oversight of ocean carrier pricing amid rising emergency surcharges linked to the Middle East crisis. The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission rejected liner requests for war‑related fees without a 30‑day notice, while...
MST Reports Faster Flower Processing than Rival EU Airports
Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) disclosed that its flower cargo hub processes shipments in an average of three hours, roughly half the time required at other European airports, which typically take between 3.5 and 6.5 hours. Even during peak periods, MST...
FMC’s DiBella: Ports Are Key to U.S. Economic Security and Stability
Federal Maritime Commission Chair Laura DiBella told a ports conference that the United States faces a "critical moment" for revitalizing its shipping industry. She highlighted that more than 95% of U.S. imports and over 80% of global trade move by...
DHL Express and SHEIN Expand Partnership with SAF Push
DHL Express and fast‑fashion retailer SHEIN have deepened their partnership to trial sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in SHEIN’s international air freight. The collaboration, part of DHL’s GoGreen Plus programme, aims to scale SAF use across cross‑border e‑commerce logistics. DHL reports...
More Speakers Confirmed for the European Cargo Experience
The inaugural European Cargo Experience will take place in Gdansk, Poland, on May 6‑7, 2026, with a program centered on terminal automation and digitalisation. Organized alongside WorldCargo News and Project Cargo Journal, the two‑day event features a high‑profile speaker lineup,...
Alstom to Modernise Houston Airport Skyway with New APM Trains and Systems
Alstom secured a roughly $415 million contract to modernise Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport Skyway system, delivering 16 new Innovia APM R vehicles and a 15‑year operations‑and‑maintenance package. The upgrade includes Urbalis automatic train control, new communications, an operations control centre, and...
Government Sets £7.4 Billion Procurement Target with Small Businesses
The UK government has announced a £7.4 billion (about $9.3 billion) annual procurement target for small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) by 2028. For the first time, each department receives a specific percentage goal – ranging from 30 % at the Cabinet Office to...
Itochu Enters E-Waste Management with View to Rare Earths Recycling
Itochu Corp., one of Japan's largest trading houses, announced a joint venture with a U.S. firm to manage electronic waste and recover rare earth metals from devices such as laptops and smartphones. The company projects Japan's e‑waste management market to...
LATAM Pushing Ahead with Transatlantic Expansion
LATAM Airlines is expanding its transatlantic network, launching São Paulo‑Amsterdam flights on March 30 with four weekly B787‑9 services, increasing to six by mid‑April, and adding a São Paulo‑Brussels route in June with three weekly flights. The airline’s cargo division saw revenues rise...
Magma Aviation Appoints Hoatson to New Director Role
Specialist air cargo manager Magma Aviation has appointed Paul Hoatson as director of commercial and network planning. Hoatson, who previously led network planning and alliances for eight years, will now align commercial objectives with network strategy. The expanded role is...
Sea Cargo Charter Leaders Warn Against Decarbonisation Slowdown
Shipping leaders warned that scaling back decarbonisation amid IMO regulatory delays would jeopardise long‑term competitiveness. The Sea Cargo Charter, now with 33 charterers and operators, provides a voluntary framework to measure and disclose emissions. Signatories are reporting more than 90%...
Cathay Cargo Reports February Tonnage Rise but Flags Geopolitical Volatility
Cathay Cargo lifted February 2026 cargo tonnage 7% year‑on‑year, with Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) rising 4%. The first two months of the year saw a 6% tonnage increase versus 2025, despite a mid‑month dip linked to Lunar New Year...
Rio Tinto Targets Broader Aluminium Footprint, Division CEO Says
Rio Tinto’s aluminium division is accelerating a global diversification strategy, adding projects in Europe, India and Brazil while expanding its low‑carbon AP60 smelter technology. The AP60 system, already operating in Quebec, reduces greenhouse‑gas emissions to about one‑seventh of the industry...
Policy Paper: Cabinet Office and HM Treasury Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Action Plan: 2025 to 2028
The UK Cabinet Office and HM Treasury have published a small and medium‑sized enterprise (SME) action plan covering April 2025 to March 2028. The policy aims to lower barriers for SMEs to win public‑sector contracts and to raise the share...
DOE: PH Fuel Supply Will 'Run Dry' If Middle East Tensions Escalate
The Philippines, which imports over 90% of its petroleum, faces a potential fuel shortage if Middle East tensions disrupt global oil routes, especially the Strait of Hormuz. DOE Secretary Sharon Garin warned that gasoline stocks could last about 64 days...
2000-Built VLCC Sold for Further Trading
The 26‑year‑old Hitachi‑built VLCC Kin A, a 298,000 dwt tanker, has been sold to undisclosed interests and renamed Helga. The vessel, flagged in Comoros, is now unclassed after its Bureau Veritas class was withdrawn and is anchored in southern China. No...
Russian Drone Strike on Ukrainian Regional Train Kills Passenger (61)
A Russian FPV drone struck a Kharkiv regional electric train on March 24 at 05:20, killing a 61‑year‑old passenger and injuring two crew members who suffered acute stress. Ukrainian prosecutors have opened a pre‑trial investigation and classified the incident as...
Procurement Is Where Nature Strategy Becomes Real
Corporate nature strategies often remain isolated from day‑to‑day spending, leaving procurement as the missing link. The article argues that purchased goods and services generate the bulk of a company’s nature‑related impact, making supply‑chain risk a procurement priority. It outlines four...
SK Hynix Lines up $8B EUV Order with ASML
South Korean memory leader SK Hynix has signed a KRW11.95 trillion (~$8 billion) contract with Dutch lithography supplier ASML to acquire up to 20 extreme ultraviolet (EUV) scanners over the next two years. The agreement covers equipment, installation and modification costs, with...
Swedish Freight-Only Railway Fails to Attract Freight
The West Dalarna Line, Sweden's sole freight‑only railway, has failed to attract freight traffic due to its unique ERTMS Regional signalling system, which limits locomotive compatibility and causes frequent delays. In 2024, 40% of trains to the Fiskarheden sawmill were...
Didero Raises $30 Million Series A to Bring AI Agents to Global Supply Chains
Didero, a New York‑based software firm, closed a $30 million Series A round led by Chemistry and Headline, with participation from Microsoft’s M12 venture fund. The financing will accelerate development of its AI‑agent platform that embeds directly into ERP, email and spreadsheet...
Plant Owned by a Hyundai-Kia Engine Parts Supplier Destroyed by Fire
A major fire at Anjeon Industrial's engine valve plant in Daejeon killed 14 people, injured 60, and destroyed much of the facility. The plant, which supplied Hyundai Motor and Kia with roughly 70 million engine valves per year, is now offline....
Conflicting Hormuz Claims Leave Shipping in Limbo and Markets Swinging
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a five‑day pause on military strikes against Iranian energy assets, claiming productive talks toward ending the Middle East conflict, while Iran refuted any negotiations. Analysts say the Strait of Hormuz remains only partially open, with...
Contract Signed but No Money for Bulgaria-North Macedonia Border Crossing
The Bulgarian Ministry of Transport signed a contract in February to build the first rail border crossing with North Macedonia, but the required €50 million (≈ $54 million) funding has not been secured. The project centers on a 2.4‑kilometre tunnel under the Deve Bair...
New Footage Exposes Conditions on Livestock Ship Stuck for Weeks
Fresh video from the livestock carrier Spiridon II reveals dire conditions after the ship spent weeks stranded off Turkey with nearly 3,000 cattle. Documentation disputes left about 500 animals missing from official lists, forcing a prolonged offshore wait. The footage shows...
Russia Builds LNG Dark Fleet
Russia is expanding its clandestine LNG shipping network by acquiring three 20‑year‑old carriers that have been transferred to a newly created Turkish company and reflagged under Sierra Leone. The vessels are currently idle, sailing in ballast around the Cape of...
German Shipowners Seek to Make Seafaring Part of National Service
German shipowners, led by VDR President Gaby Bornheim, urged the inclusion of merchant shipping in Germany's national service framework as a civilian maritime reserve. The call follows the stranding of roughly 20,000 seafarers and 50 German vessels in the Gulf...
![O9 Solutions Recognized in Three New 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ Reports for Supply Chain Planning [Process and Discrete] and Decision...](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://salestechstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Supplychain-4.jpg)
O9 Solutions Recognized in Three New 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ Reports for Supply Chain Planning [Process and Discrete] and Decision...
o9 Solutions was named a Leader in Gartner’s 2026 Magic Quadrant for Supply Chain Planning – both Discrete and Process Industries, and a Niche Player in the inaugural Decision Intelligence Platforms MQ. The company is one of only two vendors...
Xeneta Schedule Reliability Scorecard - February 2026 - Monthly Update
Xeneta’s February 2026 Schedule Reliability Scorecard shows global on‑time performance slipping to 27 %, the lowest level since January 2025. Average vessel delay rose by 12 hours, pushing the mean delay to 4.9 days. The decline is evident across most trade lanes, with Far East‑Europe...
UK Freight Industry Urged to Join New Police Survey to Tackle Rising Organised Crime
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is urging logistics firms to join a national police‑led survey aimed at quantifying organised acquisitive crime in UK supply chains. The survey, run by Opal – the National Police Chiefs’ Council intelligence unit –...
Fanuc to Invest $90 Million in US Robot Manufacturing Capacity Expansion
Fanuc America announced a $90 million investment to build an 840,000 sq ft robot manufacturing plant in Michigan, slated for completion in late 2027. The expansion will add 225 jobs and bring Fanuc’s U.S. footprint to 3 million sq ft, reflecting nearly $300 million invested since 2019. The...
DB Cargo to Use AI to Improve Locomotive Spare Parts Forecasting
DB Cargo has launched an AI‑driven Spare Parts Forecasting 1.0 system at its Darmstadt railport to improve spare‑part provisioning for about 60 Class 77 diesel locomotives. The model predicts irregular demand, exemplified by correctly forecasting five oil pumps (six actually used) despite...
STG Logistics Survey: Sourcing Diversification, Contract Flexibility, Logistics Network Changes…
STG Logistics released a new industry survey highlighting three emerging trends: shippers are diversifying their sourcing portfolios, demanding greater contract flexibility, and re‑engineering logistics networks to cope with volatile freight markets. Over 60% of respondents plan to add alternative carriers,...
Optical Vision Systems Transform Microchip Handling Accuracy
esmo AG has integrated senswork’s optical vision technology into its Talos microchip handling system, delivering 5 µm resolution and 0.3‑second inspection cycles. The contact‑less solution eliminates particle contamination and supports chip sizes from 0.8 × 0.8 mm to 5 × 5 mm. Fully automatic calibration and plug‑and‑play...
Japan Says to Release About One-Month Supply of Crude Oil Reserves Next
Japan announced it will release roughly 80 million barrels of crude from its strategic reserves starting 26 March, supplementing a 15‑day private‑sector release earlier in the month. The drawdown will be executed across 11 sites nationwide, bringing Japan’s total contribution to the...
Micro, AMFI and CEiiA Partner on Turin Microcar Venture
Micro, Automotive Micro Factory Italy (AMFI) and Portuguese engineering firm CEiiA have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and manufacture micro electric vehicles. AMFI’s Turin facility will become the production hub for CEiiA’s BEN microcar, while both companies will...
Carmakers Rush to Secure Aluminium as Middle East War Hits Supply
Automakers are accelerating aluminium purchases as the Israel‑Hamas conflict disrupts key smelting hubs in the Middle East. Export restrictions and port closures have tightened global supply, pushing spot prices above $2,500 per metric ton. Companies such as Volkswagen, Toyota and...
A Summer of Worry for Food Delivery, Quick Commerce Companies
India’s food‑delivery and quick‑commerce platforms are bracing for a summer surge driven by the IPL season, but rider availability is uncertain as many gig workers return to rural areas for harvest work and elections. Demand for gig labor could rise...
Amazon Pressures Walmart, Other Retailers with One-Hour Delivery
Amazon has launched a $9.99 one‑hour delivery service in hundreds of U.S. cities, adding a three‑hour option in more than 2,000 markets. The offering focuses on pantry, cleaning, health‑beauty items and OTC meds, leveraging Amazon’s existing same‑day hubs and AI‑driven...
Iran War Threatens Global Food Supply Chains
The Iran war has choked the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting shipments of fertilizer and liquefied natural gas that underpin global food production. About one‑third of seaborne fertilizer, 35% of nitrogen‑based urea and 45% of sulfur exports now face delays, pushing...
What Should You Consider When Choosing a Ring Light for Optical Inspection and Quality Control with Digital Microscopes?
Lighting is the linchpin of optical inspection with 4K digital microscopes, and a professional ring light supplies the brightness needed for sharp, low‑noise images without increasing camera gain. Sufficient illumination lets users narrow the aperture for greater depth of field...