All posts tagged: manufacturing

Musk’s never been more powerful so why are Tesla shares tanking? | Automotive Industry News

Musk’s never been more powerful so why are Tesla shares tanking? | Automotive Industry News

Published by Sam

The “bromance” between United States President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk was on full display on Tuesday when the White House South Lawn was transformed into a miniature Tesla showroom. Musk lined up Tesla cars to showcase the electric car producer’s latest innovations while Trump promised to brand anyone vandalising a Tesla car a “domestic terrorist” following reports of a spate of vandalism and arson attacks on Tesla cars across the country. Trump, known for his strong stance on domestic manufacturing and business leadership, has given Musk a prominent role in his new administration as leader of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which claims to have uncovered “billions and billions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse” in the US federal government – claims for which Musk and Trump have yet to show significant evidence. Meanwhile, Tesla shares, which are listed on the NASDAQ, are floundering. On Monday this week, they plummeted by 15 percent to end the day at $215 – the worst day for the stock since 2020 and …

EU invests €227M in Austrian wafer manufacturing plant

EU invests €227M in Austrian wafer manufacturing plant

Published by skeptic

The European Commission has approved a €227m Austrian initiative to support ams Osram in constructing a state-of-the-art wafer manufacturing facility in Premstätten. This initiative is a major step toward strengthening Europe’s semiconductor supply chain, enhancing resilience, and advancing technological autonomy. The investment aligns with the European Chips Act, reinforcing Europe’s role in global semiconductor production. Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, stated:“This Austrian project will have wide positive effects on the European semiconductor ecosystem. “It will support the development of a strong and resilient digital economy in Europe, ensure a secure supply of semiconductors for the industry and help create high-skilled employment while limiting any potential distortion of competition.” Strengthening European semiconductor independence Semiconductors power modern technology, from automobiles to industrial equipment and medical devices. Europe has long relied on foreign chip manufacturers, particularly in Asia and the United States. Recent global supply chain disruptions have highlighted Europe’s dependency on semiconductor imports, affecting industries from automotive production to consumer electronics. By investing in local wafer manufacturing, Europe can reduce reliance on …

Sofas that self-assemble when you heat them up? How 4D printing could transform manufacturing

Sofas that self-assemble when you heat them up? How 4D printing could transform manufacturing

Published by skeptic

Imagine buying a flat sheet from a furniture store that changes into a sofa when you heat it with a hairdryer. Or consider the value of a stent that precisely expands inside a patient’s artery, adapting to their unique anatomy. Welcome to 4D printing, a frontier in material and manufacturing science that has been rapidly expanding over the past decade. While 3D printing has captured global attention for its ability to create objects layer by layer, 4D printing adds the element of time. It involves 3D-printing adaptable objects from materials such as polymers or alloys that can bend, twist or transform entirely when they come into contact with heat or moisture. By moving beyond the constrictions of static designs, it opens up remarkable possibilities in areas such as medicine, aerospace, robotics and construction. I was recently the lead author on a comprehensive report published in the journal of Smart Materials and Structures, charting the advances and challenges in this field. We outlined this industry’s potential, offering a vision of a future where smart materials redefine …

EU battery manufacturing gets €3bn boost through EIB partnership

EU battery manufacturing gets €3bn boost through EIB partnership

Published by skeptic

The EU is making a bold move to strengthen its battery manufacturing capabilities with a groundbreaking partnership between the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB). This collaboration, announced today, will inject €3bn in public funding into the EU’s battery value chain, aiming to establish a competitive, sustainable, and innovative battery industry across Europe. Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, explained: “Europe is set on a path to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Battery production is a priority for the clean energy transition in the transport and power sectors and beyond. “The European Commission is committed to mobilising much-needed investments in cutting-edge technologies to support a resilient European battery sector. “We are combining different financial instruments to target our support in the most efficient way and maximise private investment. The partnership with the EIB will help EU businesses and innovators to reap the benefits of innovative net-zero technologies.” Why the EU must enhance battery manufacturing capabilities The expansion of EU battery manufacturing is more than just a matter …

Trump Victory Sparks Renewed Optimism In Manufacturing Surveys

Trump Victory Sparks Renewed Optimism In Manufacturing Surveys

Published by skeptic

While Services surveys are soaring, Manufacturing continues to stagnate (below 50) despite a serial improvement in US Macro ‘hard’ data. However, November saw a post-Trump resurgence in confidence with S&P Global’s Manufacturing PMI rising to 49.7 (highest since June) and ISM’s Manufacturing PMI jumped from 46.5 to 48.4… Source: Bloomberg While both of the surveys rose notably, they do both remain in contraction (sub-50). One more silver lining is that while new orders rose, prices actually fell (for now)… Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence noted optimism is on the rise: “The mood among US manufacturers brightened in November, though any feel-good factor has yet to feed through to higher output on the factory floor. “Optimism about the year ahead has improved to a level not beaten in two and a half years, buoyed by the lifting of uncertainty seen in the lead up to the election, as well as the prospect of stronger economic growth and greater protectionism against foreign competition under the new Trump administration in 2025. But, it’s …

0m funding to boost US semiconductor manufacturing

$160m funding to boost US semiconductor manufacturing

Published by skeptic

The United States Department of Defense has announced a new $160m investment to bolster US semiconductor manufacturing. This funding, part of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, supports the Microelectronics Commons, a network of eight technology hubs dedicated to advancing the nation’s semiconductor production capabilities. This latest allocation follows earlier CHIPS Act investments, totalling nearly $269m in September and nearly $240m the previous year, to strengthen the United States’ global semiconductor leadership. Strengthening US semiconductor manufacturing: The role of the hubs Of the latest $160m, $148m will be directed toward Microelectronics Commons Hubs to support infrastructure, operations, and workforce development. This investment, distributed across the eight established hubs, targets regional semiconductor innovation and workforce readiness. Each hub collaborates with local universities, research foundations, and industry leaders to address key challenges in the US semiconductor manufacturing industry. Here’s a closer look at the funding distribution: Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC), led by Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, received $18.7m. Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons (SCMC), led by the Applied Research Institute in Indiana, was awarded $16.6m. California Defense Ready Electronics …

UK welcomes £50m boost for medicines manufacturing

UK welcomes £50m boost for medicines manufacturing

Published by skeptic

On a visit to Newcastle, the Chancellor welcomed a £50m deal with Accord – one of Europe’s largest suppliers of chemotherapy products  - to build a state-of-the-art medicines manufacturing facility incorporating the latest automation technology. The investment will create over 50 skilled jobs and safeguard the site’s long-term future in medicines manufacturing. The investment will be vital to addressing the growth challenge, and Accord’s commitment to the UK is just the kind of partnership investment that will grow our economy and show that Britain is open for business. Backed by government investment, the deal will enable Accord to continue producing and supplying lifesaving medicines for oncology and autoimmune disease treatments to the NHS alongside health systems and patients across Europe. Boosting the UK’s supply of critical medicines Investment in medicine manufacturing will also support efforts to shore up the UK’s supply chain of critical medicines and boost UK health resilience. The site’s capabilities are also expected to be highly valuable in the event of a future pandemic. The Chancellor welcomed the investment just two days after …

Manufacturing dissent: welcome to the political excesses of the election campaign | General election 2024

Manufacturing dissent: welcome to the political excesses of the election campaign | General election 2024

Published by skeptic

People say manufacturing has declined under the Conservatives, but the sheer volume of outrage manufactured by Rishi Sunak’s national service wingnuttery at the weekend was last night compounded by his decision to unveil a quadruple lock to the state pension. Truly the seven-blade razor of advanced pensions technology. It’s so innovative it might even spin off and manufacture another deranged Loose Women segment. I am still howling at the moment on the show a couple of weeks ago when Janet Street-Porter demanded of Sunak: “Why do you hate pensioners? WHY DO YOU HATE PENSIONERS? That is the only conclusion I can come to.” State of the art lunacy, made end-to-end in the UK. Let’s face it: this is what you call a joined-up manufacturing industry. But look, for whatever reason, Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves preferred to spend their afternoon at a facility where they manufacture something other than abstract nouns: Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage. A lot of election campaign visits are to places connected with jobs the politician probably wanted to do …

UK economy emerges strongly from recession

UK economy emerges strongly from recession

Published by skeptic

The U.K. economy grew for the first time in a year in the first quarter of this year, exiting a shallow recession in the second half of 2023. Gross domestic product grew by 0.6 percent in the three months to March and was up 0.2 percent from a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics said in a first estimate for the quarter on Friday. That was stronger than the 0.4 percent expected by analysts ahead of time, due partly to the manufacturing sector performing better than expected in March. Manufacturing output rose 0.3 percent, rather than contracting by 0.5 percent as expected. The figures come a day after the Bank of England signaled it’s getting closer to cutting interest rates for the first time since the post-pandemic surge in inflation. This is a developing story. Source link