Bull of the Day: Fabrinet (FN)
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 #1, lifting earnings estimates across all horizons. The stock now trades at a forward P/E of 29.3×, well above its 10‑year median, reflecting a premium valuation for its high‑quality manufacturing franchise.
Global Supply Chain Volatility Pushes Sports Brand On to Open Robot-Centric South Korean Factory
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...
Where to Buy Process Automation Services for Manufacturing
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...
Fire Horse Freight Frenzy: VLCC Markets Smash Records in Supertanker Anniversary Year
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...
Newag Hybrid Multiple Unit for PKP Intercity
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...
Wio Bank and Kibsons Partner to Bolster UAE Food Supply Chains and Reward Grocery Shoppers
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...
Predictive Maintenance Robotics: How AI and Automation Are Redefining Industrial Asset Reliability
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 AI Robotics: Engineering Intelligent Machines for the Real World
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’s Comments on Supplies for Gaming Chips: Tight for a Couple of Quarters
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 Confirms Diesel Auction
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...
Trade Doesn't Flow on Roads − It Flows on Data
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 Appoints Andy Wilmot as Group Supply Chain and Logistics Director
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...
Standardising Deep Hole Drilling Through Adaptive Process Control
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...
CMB.TECH Seals Five-Year Capesize Charters
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...
NSW Backs Startup Manufacturing and Innovation with $1M MVP Ventures Boost
The New South Wales government has allocated more than $1 million to 22 early‑stage companies through the first round of the 2025‑26 MVP Ventures Program. The grants target priority sectors such as housing, manufacturing, energy, health and digital technologies, helping firms...
Kennametal Announces Search for ‘Machinist of the Year’
Kennametal has launched a global "Machinist of the Year" program to honor long‑term customers who excel in machining. Regional marketing teams in the Americas, EMEA, APAC and India will each select a winner based on video submissions that showcase tool...
LFI Expands Manufacturing Focus with Asia Pacific HQ in Newcastle
La Force International (LFI) has launched LFI Asia Pacific Pty Ltd in Newcastle, marking its first overseas entity outside the United States. The new hub will serve Australia, Singapore and the broader Asia‑Pacific market, targeting mining, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and...
From Leftover Plums to Health Products: Nutrafruit Advances Manufacturing From Fruit Waste
Australian firm Nutrafruit is converting bruised or sun‑burnt Queen Garnet plums—fruit that fails supermarket standards—into health‑focused powders, drinks and other nutraceuticals under its PurQ brand. The plums are freeze‑dried to lock in colour, flavour and antioxidant content, turning waste into...
Dar Ports Become Bargaining Chip Against Mombasa for EA Traders
South Sudan is redirecting most of its import‑export cargo from Kenya’s congested Mombasa port to Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam and Tanga terminals after a bilateral agreement. The shift follows persistent delays, a $5,000 security levy per container, and higher handling...
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Rolls Out Secure Edge Data Center Brand DIAVAULT
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has launched DIAVAULT, an industrial‑grade edge data centre platform that integrates power, cooling and AI compute for on‑premise processing. The solution targets low‑latency, secure workloads in manufacturing, defense and 5G environments, addressing data‑privacy and latency concerns of...
Queensland Startup Receives ARENA Backing for Critical Minerals Innovation
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing up to $5 million to Queensland‑based Banks Minerals to develop a pilot plant for its electro‑chemical copper extraction technology. The funding, delivered through the Advancing Renewables Program over three years, aims to de‑risk the...
Global Air Cargo to Expand for Second Successive Year; What Makes for a Winning Cargo-Only Airport?
Air cargo is set to grow for a second consecutive year in 2026, despite lingering global economic uncertainty. While it moves only 1% of world trade by volume, it represents more than 35% of trade value, underscoring its strategic importance....
Purecycle Technologies Inc (PCT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
PureCycle Technologies reported Q4 2025 revenue of $2.7 million, marking a fourth consecutive quarter of sequential growth, while achieving record production at its Denver (14 million lb processed) and Ironton (7.5 million lb produced) facilities. The company reduced feedstock procurement costs by $0.06 per pound,...
3ME Technology Eyes Arctic-Ready Battery Systems Under South 8 LOI
3ME Technology and South 8 Technologies have signed a Letter of Intent to develop lithium‑ion batteries for extreme cold‑weather and Arctic defence use. South 8 will supply its LiGas‑enabled cells, which operate from –60 °C to +60 °C, for integration into 3ME’s EdgeVOLT Cold...
Report: Agentic AI to Reduce Entry-Level Hiring Needs
Gartner’s 2025‑2026 survey of 509 global supply‑chain leaders finds that 55% expect agentic AI to shrink entry‑level hiring, while 51% anticipate broader workforce reductions. The majority (86%) agree AI adoption will force new talent‑pipeline processes, especially among high‑performing firms that...
Beyond Visibility: AI Redefines Logistics
The recent SupplyChainBrain webinar highlighted how generative AI is moving logistics beyond static visibility toward proactive orchestration. Speakers explained that intelligent agents can monitor, decide, and act, turning dashboards into autonomous execution engines. They presented a framework for selecting GenAI...
Smart Strategies that Will Help Australian Manufacturers Succeed in 2026
Australian manufacturers face high labour, energy and logistics costs in a small domestic market, forcing them to seek niche growth rather than volume. To stay competitive, firms must maintain deep customer insight and articulate a clear "secret sauce" that differentiates...
Hazer Reports Revenue Growth and 27% Cost Reduction in H1 FY26
Perth‑based Hazer Group reported a strong start to FY26, posting $1.5 million revenue in the first half, primarily from an R&D tax refund and two paid project studies. Operating expenses were cut by 27%, reflecting a leaner cost structure as the...
NORD Extends IE5+ Synchronous Motor Line with New 112 Frame Size
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS has launched the SK 112, expanding its IE5+ permanent‑magnet synchronous motor line to a 15 hp, 112‑frame size. The new motor maintains up to 95 % efficiency and offers both ventilated TEFC and smooth‑body TENV housings, the latter available with IP69K...
Shipper Purchase Orders Hold Steady Despite Tariff Uncertainty
Shippers continue to place purchase orders with Asian factories despite ongoing tariff uncertainty, according to Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. January TEU volumes fell about 12% year‑over‑year, with imports down 13% and exports down 8%, while empty...
The 4-Stage Integration Gap Holding Food Manufacturers Back in 2026
Food manufacturers are largely stuck in a hybrid, partially connected integration state, where systems like ERP and MES exchange data inconsistently. A 2025 survey shows nearly 70% of firms cite cost as the primary obstacle to deeper digital transformation, yet...
Moody’s: Port Import Gains From Supreme Court Tariff Ruling May Prove Fleeting
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, potentially unlocking refunds on more than $90 billion of duties and lowering landed costs for importers. Moody’s expects a short‑term surge in cargo volumes at major...
New eBook From Mouser, Microchip, and Samtec Examines PCIe Design for Emerging Embedded Systems
Mouser Electronics, in partnership with Microchip Technology and Samtec, has released an eBook titled “8 Experts on PCIe for Emerging Embedded Systems.” The guide gathers insights from eight industry leaders—including Bosch, DANA, Synopsys, Tektronix and Visteon—to help engineers tackle PCIe integration...
Can Project Vault Fortify the US Industrial Base Against Mineral Chokepoints?
In February 2026 the U.S. Air Force faced F‑35 radar delays because gallium supplies were blocked by China, prompting the launch of Project Vault, a $12 billion strategic critical‑mineral reserve backed by the Export‑Import Bank and private investors. Unlike the historic...
NEW PRODUCT: FlexiSan Modular Spray System for Mobile and Efficient Equipment and Plant Sanitation
BETE introduced the FlexiSan Modular Spray System, a portable, cost‑effective solution for equipment and plant sanitation. The base model features a mobile cart with a clean‑in‑place spray header, dual blending pumps that can hold two liquids, and connects to existing...
IAG Cargo Launches AOG Service
IAG Cargo announced a dedicated Aircraft on Ground (AOG) service that operates 24/7 across its 250‑destination network. The offering targets urgent transport of aircraft parts to minimize downtime and protect schedule integrity. Intel Market Research projects the AOG logistics market...
The New Age of Western Industrial Policy: Is There a New Playbook?
A virtual “Trade Winds” event on March 11, 2026 gathered top economists and policymakers to assess the resurgence of Western industrial policy. Speakers outlined a growing toolbox—including procurement preferences, subsidies, and public‑private partnerships—driven by competitiveness, innovation, and economic‑security concerns. The measures aim...
The State of US-Japan Economic Relations in a Changing Global Economy
A recent webinar examined the evolving economic partnership between the United States and Japan, highlighting trade, investment, and supply‑chain dynamics amid shifting global patterns. Experts discussed how post‑pandemic realignments and technological change are reshaping bilateral ties. The dialogue also addressed...
Eidesvik Wins PSV Extension From Aker BP
Eidesvik Offshore has secured an additional contract extension from Aker BP for its 2012-built platform supply vessel Viking Prince. The extension adds roughly two months to the vessel’s hire, pushing the end‑date to the end of April 2026. This follows...
Five Major Shifts Shaping 2026 Manufacturing Tech Priorities
Rootstock’s 2026 State of Manufacturing Technology Survey shows five pivotal shifts in tech priorities. Workforce talent shortages have risen to become the leading barrier, increasing from 25% to 33% of respondents. AI investment is moving sharply toward supply‑chain execution and...
Bahri Charters Five Supertankers as Rates Approach $200K/Day
Saudi Arabia’s largest oil shipper, Bahri, provisionally chartered five very large crude carriers as daily charter rates neared $200,000, the highest level since 2020. The vessels are slated to move Saudi crude to Asian markets, chiefly China, in the coming...
SPS Commerce Introduces MAX, Embedded AI for Supply Chain Workflows
SPS Commerce has launched MAX, an AI‑driven set of capabilities embedded in its supply‑chain network that currently operates in an advisory mode, surfacing anomalies and recommending actions within existing EDI workflows. The system is designed to improve supplier compliance, order...
Air France KLM Targets High Tech Cargo with Incheon Freighter Service
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo is adding a dedicated freighter service between Amsterdam Schiphol and Incheon, launching on 30 March with three weekly Boeing 747‑400 flights. The route integrates into the carrier’s Schiphol‑Hong Kong rotation, raising the frequency to six flights per week. The...
Cold Storage Market Working Off Oversupply
Lineage reported flat Q4 revenue of $1.34 billion and a modest $6 million net profit as the cold‑storage market works through a 10% oversupply. New refrigerated space expanded 14.5% from 2021‑2025, while demand rose only 5%, creating a capacity gap that is...
Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs – What It Means for Freight Markets
The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the Trump administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose country‑specific tariffs, but the tariffs themselves remain in place through a new global duty under Section 122, initially set at 10%...
U.S. Treasury Sanctions 12 Tankers in Iran’s Shadow Fleet
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions on 12 tankers and their owners that have shipped hundreds of millions of dollars in Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products. The designations also include nine individuals and entities in Iran,...
ESAB Launches Ruffian EMP 270G Engine Drive
ESAB, together with Linde Gas & Equipment, unveiled the Ruffian EMP 270G engine‑driven welding generator at CONEXPO‑CON/AGG 2026, offering show‑only pricing and bundled accessories. The unit delivers 270 A at a 100 % duty cycle and 11 kW of generator power from a 23.5‑HP KOHLER...
Donald Trump’s Tariffs Affect AmiAmi, Aitai Kuji, and Hobby-Genki
U.S. courts have struck down President Donald Trump’s 2025 tariff authority, prompting a revised global tariff of 10%. The ruling has forced Japanese hobby retailers AmiAmi, Aitai Kuji, and Hobby‑Genki to hold or delay shipments to the United States. Both...
Keolis Retains Virginia Railway Express Operating Contract
Keolis North America has been awarded a new contract to operate Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter rail services after a competitive procurement process. The award confirms Keolis as the incumbent operator, extending its role in providing daily passenger service across...
Walmart: Supply Chain Spending Set to ‘Peak’ Next 2 Years, CEO Says
Walmart’s CEO John Furner said the retailer’s supply‑chain capital spending will likely peak this year and next, as automation projects accelerate. Twenty‑three of its 42 U.S. distribution centers are being retrofitted with robotics, and similar initiatives are beginning abroad. About...