Shortening and closing supply chain gaps for essential products will immediately benefit the following industries: personal protective equipment (PPE), medical device manufacturing, electronics and defense. Sixty percent of reshoring cases after March 2020 mention the pandemic as a factor in the decisions. Already, reshoring cases among manufacturers of medical devices and PPE are double compared with last year.

PULLMAN, WA—Researchers and professors in the Washington State University School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering have developed a unique scaffold on their 3D printers that can be fine-tuned to grow natural replacement skin, cartilage or other tissue.

BRUSSELS—The European Union is advancing artificial intelligence regulations that could impact medical device and diagnostic companies around the world.

ST. PAUL, MN—Global medical device outsourcing provider Heraeus Medical Components has acquired Pulse Systems, which provides high-precision laser processing and manufacturing of Nitinol and other metal-based implants and delivery systems.

SANTA CLARA, CA—Absolute EMS Inc., an electronics manufacturing services provider here, has selected FactoryLogix manufacturing execution software from Aegis Software to support requirements for adaptability, traceability, paperless manufacturing and insights into its production processes.