ASSEMBLY

East West Manufacturing Acquires Vexos, Expands Global Manufacturing Network

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0400

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — East West Manufacturing has acquired electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider Vexos, expanding its engineering, manufacturing and supply chain capabilities across North America and Asia.

Drone Industry Forecast Sees $77 Billion Market by 2035

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400

DETROIT — Global drone revenue is expected to reach $77 billion by 2035, more than doubling from current levels as commercial adoption accelerates across manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure inspection, agriculture and public safety, according to a new report from Counterpoint Research.

Crimping Tools Are Qualified for Military Applications

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The equipment needed to cut, strip, crimp and assemble wiring is always changing. Here’s a look at some of the latest products.

PODCAST | Why AI in Manufacturing Depends on Fixing Factory Data

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:31:00 -0400

Manufacturers are investing heavily in AI and automation, but many still can’t access or organize the data needed to make those systems useful. Aron Semle, CTO of HighByte, explains how fragmented factory systems and proprietary data structures are limiting smart manufacturing—and why initiatives such as i3X are becoming critical to making industrial AI practical on the plant floor.

Integrated Motion Systems Help Manufacturers Build More Flexible Automation Cells

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400

MILWAUKEE — As manufacturers expand their use of robotics, cobots and connected production systems, motion control components are becoming increasingly important to flexible automation design.

Toyota, Tesla and BYD Rank Among World’s Best for Revenue and Profit per Employee

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

BYD might produce and sell more EVs than Tesla, but Tesla operates with significantly fewer employees and generates higher revenue per worker model.

USMCA Renegotiation Could Create Manufacturing Uncertainty

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 17:48:11 -0400

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it will seek to renegotiate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) rather than renew the trade pact, a move that could create new uncertainty for manufacturers with integrated North American supply chains.

U.S. Army Invests in New Assembly Technology to Boost Drone Production

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:00:00 -0400

TOBYHANNA, PA—As part of a new Drone Dominance initiative, the U.S. Army is scaling up parts production at its facility here.

GM and Rheem Honored for Digital Manufacturing Transformation

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:00:00 -0400

WASHINGTON—General Motors and Rheem Manufacturing Co. recently received top honors in the 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards Competition sponsored by the Manufacturing Leadership Council.

Made in America Showcase Spotlights Domestic Manufacturers

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400

WASHINGTON—The Alliance for American Manufacturing has compiled a list of “made in USA” products to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday.

VIDEO | Desoutter Targets Production Complexity with Connected Manufacturing Ecosystem

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400

What happens when assembly systems, process control, motion tracking and production data all operate in separate silos? In this episode of ASSEMBLY Audible, Russ Hughes of Desoutter Industrial Tools discusses the manufacturing challenges that inspired the Desoutter Ecosystem and why manufacturers are increasingly focused on connecting fragmented assembly operations across the factory floor.

GoodBulb Brings A19 LED Bulb Manufacturing Back to the U.S.

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400

FARGO, N.D. — GoodBulb has opened a factory in Fargo that the company says is the only U.S. facility assembling A19 LED light bulbs.

25 People Who Shaped American Manufacturing

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In honor of the country’s 250th birthday, here’s a brief look at 25 people who were responsible for breakthroughs and innovations that helped U.S. manufacturers grow and thrive.

Siemens Financing Unit Targets Manufacturing Equipment Loans

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

WASHINGTON — Siemens Small Business Lending Inc. has been approved as a Small Business Lending Company, allowing the Siemens Financial Services-owned company to originate U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) loans for small businesses.

Ford Pivots From EVs to Energy Storage Systems

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Ford is shifting its focus to hybrid vehicles and conventional gas-powered models, and it’s repurposing two new assembly plants that suddenly have nothing to make.

Ford Rehires Veteran Engineers to Improve AI, Vehicle Quality

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:25:23 -0400

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Ford has rehired some 300 experienced engineers and technical specialists over the past three years after determining that artificial intelligence and automated quality systems alone were not enough to improve vehicle quality.

Shell Concept EV Features Innovative Thermal Management System

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

LONDON—Shell has unveiled a concept EV that features an innovative thermal management system and an ultra-fast charging capability.

Automated Machine Tending Boosts Output

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Manufacturers continue to struggle with a lack of skilled workers, and for many, robots are the obvious answer to the problem.

Validate and Optimize Your Assembly Process with the Promess Process Development Center

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Reduce risk, improve quality, and accelerate production with real-world assembly process validation, testing, and engineering support at the Promess Process Development Center.

Humanoids Take on New Role at BMW’s U.S. Assembly Plant

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0400

SPARTANBURG, SC—BMW Group is expanding its use of humanoid robots at its assembly plant here.

Whirlpool Celebrates Its American Manufacturing Heritage

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:00:00 -0400

BENTON HARBOR, MI—Whirlpool Corp. is celebrating its 115th anniversary this year.

GM to Invest $275 Million at Tennessee Engine Assembly Plant

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

SPRING HILL, TN—General Motors plans to invest $275 million to upgrade its 36-year-old flexible assembly plant here.

VIDEO | Humanoid Robot Shows Off Its Moves at AME

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Joe Teague, owner and organizer of the Advanced Manufacturing Expo, says humanoid robots will be a major part of this year’s event in Grand Rapids. DOBOT will bring Atom, its humanoid robot, for a keynote and live demonstration.

Daimler-Volvo Joint Venture Advances Software-Defined Truck Platform

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Coretura, the software-defined vehicle platform company founded by Daimler Truck and Volvo Group, has signed an engineering agreement with Accenture to accelerate development of a software platform for trucks, buses and other medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

New Fastening Technologies Improve Flexibility and Throughput

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As manufacturers push for lighter designs, faster cycle times and more reliable joints, new fastening technologies are helping simplify assembly while improving performance.

Real-Time Monitoring Brings Process Control to Two-Part Adhesive Dispensing

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Unlike one-part adhesives, which are ready to use straight from the container, two-part systems require precise metering and mixing before they can be applied.

PODCAST | Why Manufacturers Are Choosing Flexibility Instead of Reshoring

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Tariffs have reduced direct imports from China, but that doesn't mean manufacturing is coming back to the United States. Patrick Van den Bossche of Kearney explains why companies are building supply chain flexibility instead of committing to reshoring — and why much of the production leaving China is simply moving somewhere else.

ABB Robotics Named Ford Supplier of the Year

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

DEARBORN, Mich. — ABB Robotics has been named a 2026 Ford Supplier of the Year.

Slate Unveils Bare-Bones Electric Pickup Truck

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:00:00 -0400

LOS ANGELES—Slate recently unveiled the design of its much-anticipated electric pickup truck.

Cyber-Physical Systems in Automotive Assembly

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Our new flexible transportation positioning device (FTPD) enables rapid, model-specific reconfiguration within the BIW manufacturing process.