Explore manufacturing tech, processes, and insights on production, quality, and sustainability.
Automotive
Toyota announced a $922 million investment to build a new paint facility at its Georgetown, Kentucky factory, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and long-term operational efficiency. This marks the second major investment at Toyota’s largest global manufacturing site this year. Earlier in February, Toyota pledged $1.3 billion to
Quantum Computing
Google has unveiled its new quantum computing chip, “Willow”, which claims to solve problems in just five minutes that would take the world’s fastest supercomputers a staggering 10 septillion years to complete. This marks a significant milestone in the race for practical quantum computing – a field poised to revolutionize
Energy
New research reveals that twisted carbon nanotubes can store three times more energy per unit mass than lithium-ion batteries, making them an innovative solution for lightweight and safe energy storage. This breakthrough opens doors for applications in medical implants, sensors, and other compact technologies. The Discovery A global team of
Supply Chain
Apple Inc. plans to invest $1 billion in a manufacturing plant in Indonesia to produce components for smartphones and other products. This decision follows Indonesia's ban on iPhone 16 sales in October due to non-compliance with local content regulations, which require at least 40% of parts in domestically
Business Insights
On Monday, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger unexpectedly announced his retirement after serving less than four years. While officially framed as a retirement, reports indicate that the company’s board of directors forced him out, citing dissatisfaction with the speed of Intel’s recovery efforts. This leadership shake-up leaves Intel at
Economy
The U.S. manufacturing sector showed signs of recovery in November 2024, with the S&P Global U.S. Manufacturing PMI improving to 49.7, up from October's 48.5. Though still below the neutral 50.0 threshold, the index indicates a slower contraction in the sector
Small Business
U.S. small businesses remain heavily reliant on Chinese imports, despite existing tariffs and the looming threat of additional levies from the Trump administration. Efforts to diversify supply chains face significant challenges, including high domestic labor costs, a shortage of skilled workers, and potential tariffs on alternative manufacturing hubs like
Semiconductors
Canon has made a significant breakthrough in semiconductor manufacturing with the shipment of its first nanoprint lithography machine, the FPA-1200NZ2C, to the Texas Institute for Electronics (TIE). This innovative technology is poised to disrupt the industry by providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional photolithography methods dominated by companies like ASML.
Robotics
Elon Musk's vision of affordable humanoid robots is poised to revolutionize the workforce. Futurist Peter Diamandis forecasts that the global robot sector will soon be worth $24 trillion, driven by significant investments. These robots are expected to replace human roles in sectors like aged care, manufacturing, hazardous manual
Semiconductors
The U.S. government plans to reduce Intel's initial $8.5 billion federal chips grant to less than $8 billion. This adjustment considers a $3 billion contract offered to Intel for manufacturing chips for the Pentagon. Earlier this year, President Biden's administration announced nearly $20 billion
Supply Chain
In a recent policy shift, former President Donald Trump announced plans to reintroduce tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, aiming to bolster domestic manufacturing and protect American jobs. However, this move includes specific exemptions for certain countries, reflecting a strategic approach to international trade relations. Background on Tariffs During his
Semiconductors
MatX, an AI chip startup founded by former Google engineers, has secured $50 million in Series A funding, valuing the company at $300 million. The funding round was led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz and GV (formerly Google Ventures). Established in 2023, MatX focuses on developing specialized