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According to the Fayetteville-Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, the plant employed more than 2,100 workers as of February of last year, making it the fifth largest employer in the county.Unfortunately these workers may be coming to the end of the line at Goodyear, as the company revealed that is looking to wind down the facility.According to the Fayetteville Observer, Goodyear is in talks with the United Steelworkers Union on a plan to close the factory by the end of 2027. A company spokesperson said that, despite “extensive efforts” to make the facility competitive, this action is “necessary to strengthen Goodyear’s ability to compete.”Goodyear CEO Mark Stewart, in reporting the company’s dismal Q1 performance early this month, said its $249 million net loss “reflected a challenging environment, marked by weak consumer industry demand.” The business pointed to lower rates of OEM purchasing as well as fewer consumers replacing their tires.Stewart added that “increased pressure on industry demand and higher raw material costs stemming from the conflict in the Middle East” meant the company would “take meaningful actions to strengthen [its] cost structure." CityViewNC described the Fayetteville Goodyear plant as “a relatively rare manufacturing operation in a community with an economy dominated by lower-wage retail, rental, real estate, and service businesses that cater to the military families and defense workers of Fort Bragg, one of the largest military bases in the world.”The facility in Fayetteville is heavily represented by the United Steelworkers, though the union has yet to comment.#Goodyear #Manufacturing #FactoryClosure #NorthCarolina #TireIndustry #Layoffs #UnitedSteelworkers #USW #IndustrialNews #ManufacturingJobs #FactoryWorkers #AutomotiveIndustry #SupplyChain #EconomicImpact #FayettevilleNC #IndustryNews #BusinessNews #AmericanManufacturing #TireManufacturing #FactoryShutdown #LaborNews #AutomotiveManufacturing #OEM #IndustrialEconomy #GoodyearTires #ManufacturingCrisis #Workforce #MadeInAmerica #IndustrialJobs #EconomicDevelopment

Farmers in Central California have grown peaches for Del Monte for generations. But the nearly 140-year-old company recently initiated bankruptcy proceedings and closed two of its processing plants in the state, leaving cultivators with a whole lot of fruit they can’t sell.According to the Independent, the cannery closures in Modesto and Hughson caused hundreds of farm workers to lose work and growing operations to lose lengthy contracts with Del Monte. The impacted farms stand to lose significant revenue, but lawmakers are stepping in to help mitigate the financial burden.A bipartisan group of lawmakers said the USDA has granted their request for aid and will make up to $9 million available to fund the removal of up to 420,000 clingstone peach trees — approximately 3,000 acres — prior to the 2026 harvest season. They said based on USDA’s analysis, removing 50,000 tons of peaches from production could save growers roughly $30 million in projected losses.It sounds like a drastic step to destroy so many peach trees when selling them to wholesale food distributors seems like an obvious solution. But clingstone peaches are typically reserved for canning or making jelly since they are sweet and juicy but very stuck to their pits. Their relatively firm flesh is better equipped to deal with heat and machine processing. Freestone peaches, with flesh that separates much more easily from their pits, are the types of fruit often found in produce sections.Nevertheless, it’s a shocking number of trees to destroy. But, according to the Associated Press, it’s an effect of consumer preferences moving away from canned fruits and vegetables, and toward fresher options. That shift has caused sales to lag for Del Monte’s signature products and forced the company to restructure and pursue a sale of its assets.#DelMonte #Agriculture #CaliforniaFarming #Peaches #FoodIndustry #Manufacturing #USDA #Bankruptcy #FoodProcessing #Farmers #Agribusiness #SupplyChain #CannedFood #FoodManufacturing #California #FruitIndustry #FarmNews #AgricultureNews #FoodProduction #ClingstonePeaches #FreshFood #EconomicImpact #IndustrialNews #FactoryClosures #FoodSupply #Farming #ProduceIndustry #BusinessNews #FoodProcessingPlant #RuralEconomy

Porsche announced plans to shut down three German-based subsidiaries tied to battery technology, e-bikes and software development. The affected businesses include Cellforce Group, Porsche eBike Performance and Cetitech. The luxury automaker said the moves will affect more than 500 jobs.Porsche Executive Board Chairman Michael Leiters described the actions as an “indispensable foundation for a successful strategic realignment.”Cellforce develops lithium-ion pouch cells. However, Porsche said the division no longer offers a “sufficiently viable long-term perspective” under its revised strategy. The automaker expects about 50 workers to lose their jobs.#Porsche #EV #ElectricVehicles #BatteryTechnology #Manufacturing #AutomotiveNews #Germany #Layoffs #Ebike #SoftwareDevelopment #Volkswagen #LuxuryCars #Rimac #Bugatti #EVIndustry #AutoIndustry #TechNews #IndustrialNews #FutureOfMobility #BatteryCells #ElectricBikes #AutomotiveEngineering #Industry40 #BusinessNews #FactoryNews #Engineering #AutomotiveTechnology #ManufacturingNews #Mobility #IndustrialAutomation

SpaceX could invest as much as $119 billion to build its Terafab, a proposed semiconductor manufacturing and computing fabrication facility in Texas, according to local documents tied to a tax abatement request. The Commissioners Court of Grimes County will hold a public hearing on June 3 to consider the deal.The notice states that SpaceX would locate the multi-phase, vertically integrated Terafab at the Gibbons Creek Reservoir and surrounding areas between Austin and Houston. The project’s initial phases could involve up to $55 billion in investment, with total spending potentially reaching $119 billion if additional phases move forward.The project represents a collaboration between SpaceX, Tesla and xAI, all companies in which Elon Musk serves as CEO. According to a social media post shared by Tesla, the Terafab would manufacture 1 terawatt of chip output per year, which the company claimed would exceed the combined output of all global chipmakers.Neither the companies nor local officials announced a timeframe.SpaceX revealed Terafab in March and described it as “the next step towards becoming a galactic civilization.” The company said the plant would make chips for Tesla’s electric vehicles and Optimus humanoid robots, as well as SpaceX spacecraft.Tesla designed the bipedal, autonomous Optimus robot to perform dangerous, repetitive and boring tasks. According to CBS News, Musk said the automaker could begin selling the robot in 2027.As for space travel, the Terafab aligns with SpaceX's broader plans involving solar-powered AI satellites and future space operations.#SpaceX #Tesla #xAI #ElonMusk #Semiconductors #ChipManufacturing #AI #DataCenters #Manufacturing #Texas #TechNews #FactoryOfTheFuture #Terafab #Robotics #Optimus #ArtificialIntelligence #IndustrialAutomation #SemiconductorIndustry #FutureOfManufacturing #Automation #AdvancedManufacturing #SpaceTechnology #Computing #SupplyChain #Gigafactory #MadeInAmerica #SmartManufacturing #TechInnovation #IndustrialNews #Engineering

he world’s largest producer of cane sugar is planning its largest-ever capital expenditure to overhaul a historic — and timeworn — refinery near New Orleans.American Sugar Refining this week broke ground on the first phase of what the company said would be a $785 million project to modernize the   — the largest sugar processing plant in the Western Hemisphere.Initial construction, which is already underway, will build a new $200 million process building by 2028; state and company officials said that modernizing the overall campus’ refining capabilities would allow it to meet future demand, improve reliability, and reduce both water and energy use. Additional phases, officials said, would build on those process improvements, but the announcement did not outline the next steps of the overall project — or a timetable for starting them.ASR said that it anticipates adding 15 jobs to its current workforce of 500. NOLA.com reports that the state’s incentive package for the project included a 80% property tax abatement over 10 years.The Chalmette Refinery began operations at the campus along the Mississippi River in 1909, and it wears the scars of a 117-year history that has included hurricanes, fires and dramatic changes in the sugar market. Its 32 production lines can reportedly produce some 6 million pounds of sugar per day across dozens of product platforms. #manufacturing, #foodsupply, #sugarindustry, #refinery, #infrastructure, #capitalinvestment, #industrialupgrade, #madeinusa, #supplychain, #foodmanufacturing, #energyefficiency, #sustainability, #industrialnews, #businessnews, #louisiana, #economicdevelopment, #manufacturingjobs, #plantmodernization, #operations, #industryupdates

This morning, Corning and NVIDIA announced a multiyear commercial and technology partnership to significantly scale U.S.-based optical connectivity manufacturing and fiber production. To meet accelerating demand for new AI factory buildouts (data centers), Corning will increase optical connectivity capacity by 10x and boost U.S. fiber production by more than 50%. These are the components NVIDIA needs to power next-generation AI infrastructure. To make it happen, Corning will build three new advanced manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Texas, which are expected to create more than 3,000 new jobs.Corning will manufacture the optical connectivity new hyperscale data centers will use to deploy accelerated computing at scale. Modern AI workloads require thousands of NVIDIA GPUs which in turn demands unprecedented volumes of high-performance optical fiber, connectivity and photonics to move data at extraordinary speed and scale, according to the companies. #manufacturing, #AI, #datacenters, #opticalfiber, #photonics, #NVIDIA, #Corning, #advancedmanufacturing, #supplychain, #semiconductors, #infrastructure, #madeinusa, #factorybuildout, #techmanufacturing, #innovation, #industry40, #automation, #engineering, #futureofwork, #digitalinfrastructure

Hyundai placed a big bet on the future of humanoid robotics within its automotive manufacturing operations and it’s reportedly starting to get impatient with the results so far. In 2021, Hyundai acquired a majority stake in Boston Dynamics for $1.1 billion in a deal designed to “leverage each other’s respective strengths in manufacturing, logistics, construction and automation.” The plan was to create a robotics value chain, from robot component manufacturing to smart logistics solutions while supporting Boston Dynamics’ continued product expansion.Last year, Hyundai promised to make a $21 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing, a capital layout that would be used in part to purchase "tens of thousands of robots" from Boston Dynamics.But according to a new report from Semafor, the robot maker is still only making about four of its Atlas humanoid robots per month. At that rate, it would take more than 200 years to hit the 10,000 robot goal.#Hyundai, #BostonDynamics, #robotics, #automation, #humanoidrobots, #manufacturing, #AI, #industry40, #factoryautomation, #tesla, #toyota, #futureofwork, #smartfactory, #industrialrobots, #technews, #innovation, #roboticsrace, #supplychain, #advancedmanufacturing, #engineering

On Friday, Bridgestone Golf, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Bridgestone Sports, announced plans to close its golf ball manufacturing and testing facility in Covington, Georgia.The closure will be abrupt, with the facility about 45 minutes east of Atlanta closing on June 30, 2026.The plant made up to a billion balls a year, but according to the company, it must optimize its global supply chain to strengthen the foundation of its golf business.Some 86 employees in manufacturing roles will be out of work. Bridgestone Golf will work with local partners to provide access to employment resources.In a statement, the company said, the decision comes after "a thorough assessment of the increasing volatility in global markets and evolving challenges related to supply chain, operational efficiency, and cost management."#manufacturing, #golf, #bridgestone, #supplychain, #factoryclosure, #layoffs, #globalmanufacturing, #offshoring, #businessnews, #industrialnews, #sportsindustry, #economy, #operations, #costcutting, #manufacturingjobs, #industrynews, #marketshare, #logistics, #production, #corporatestrategy

Ford Motor announced its Q1 financial results on Wednesday, and while the automaker experienced a 6% uptick in revenue to $43.3 billion, it also recorded a one-time swing from tariff refunds. Ford's Q1 results include a $1.3 billion one-time IEEPA tariff benefit for tariffs paid from March 2025 to February 2026.Still, challenges remain, like the fallout from the Novelis fire in September. Sherry House, Ford's chief financial officer, provided an update on efforts to get the key aluminum supplier back online.The massive fire at the Novelis plant in New York leveled the plant’s hot mill last year, the facility’s primary aluminum sheet production area. Ford stood to withstand significant losses, and the fire threatened F-150 production.House said Ford will incur $1.5 billion to $2 billion in costs to secure alternatively-sourced aluminum until the Novelis facility is operating at full throughput later this year.House said F-Series sales remain healthy as inventory recovers from the Novelis supply disruption—and the company will have a richer product mix as Novelis ramps production.Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra said Ford still expects the Novelis hot mill to restart and begin to ramp in May. If the relaunch doesn't go according to plan, Ford has contingency plans in place, including additional aluminum supply to make sure production schedules aren't interrupted through the end of the year.Ford's global revenue grew by more than 6% despite a 4% decline in volume, which the automaker expected as it exited low-margin products like the Escape in North America and Focus in Europe.In the U.S., Ford had the highest Q1 revenue share in five years, driven by large utilities and trucks. House also said that Ford's balance sheet remains "strong," with some $22 billion in cash and $43 billion in liquidity.The company raised its full-year adjusted EBIT guidance to $8.5 billion to $10.5 billion, up from $8 billion to $10 billion. However, the guidance does not address the potential impact of sustained conflict in the Middle East or a significant downturn in the U.S. economy, which House said could materially affect industry demand.Ford also expects commodity headwinds of $2 billion, $1 billion higher than previous estimates, largely due to higher aluminum pricing driven by global supply constraints. That figure doesn’t even include Novelis-related aluminum costs.Finally, the impact of ongoing tariffs at Ford remains unchanged, at about $1 billion and is now a part of the automaker's run-rate costs.#Ford, #manufacturing, #automotive, #earnings, #supplychain, #aluminum, #tariffs, #F150, #industrialnews, #businessnews, #OEM, #manufacturingindustry, #economy, #production, #logistics, #globalmanufacturing, #industrynews, #trucks, #marketnews, #operations

Auto parts supplier First Brands will retain 345 employees previously slated for layoffs at its TMD Tiffin facility in Ohio. The company announced in February that it would close the site and cut 407 workers on April 30. It now plans to keep 345 of them through May 31, with the remaining employees losing their jobs as scheduled.The February WARN notice listed impacted employees, which included press operators, production handlers, engineers, maintenance workers and quality control staff.First Brands said the postponement stems from ongoing attempts to sell certain U.S. facilities. These efforts followed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in September 2025, when the company reported more than $10 billion in debt. In January, it launched a process to sell all or parts of the business, including brands such as Autolite spark plugs, Anco windshield wiper blades and FRAM filters.#manufacturing, #autoparts, #firstbrands, #layoffs, #bankruptcy, #accountingscandal, #fraud, #corporategovernance, #businessnews, #industrialnews, #supplychain, #workforce, #ohiojobs, #chapter11, #automotiveindustry, #financialcrisis, #industrynews, #marketnews, #operations, #restructuring

Last September, Gerresheimer's stock plunged after German regulators announced an investigation into potential accounting rule violations and compliance irregularities. The packaging maker's issues started when BaFin, Germany’s federal financial authority, began looking into a potential bill-and-hold scandal. The company may have recognized €35 million in inflated revenues for some contracts before the revenue was actually realized. In February, as the German manufacturer hired a second auditing firm to review accounting irregularities, the company also announced plans to cut costs, including the sale of Centor, its U.S. subsidiary in Ohio which makes packaging systems for dispensing prescription drugs. Gerresheimer also announced plans to close a glass factory in Chicago Heights, Illinois, laying off 172 workers and offshoring production to factories in Italy and India. The layoffs at Gerresheimer Moulded Glass Chicago will take place on September 30, 2026, according to a local report. A company spokesperson told IEN, "The planned closing of our facility in Chicago Heights is one of the measures of our comprehensive transformation program. It is a global program aimed at reducing costs and improving performance, including an optimized utilization of our global production network."After rejecting a takeover bid from U.S. rival Silgan earlier this month, the manufacturer faces heightened scrutiny. According to German financial media company Aktiencheck, BaFin has expanded its investigation even further as it looks into possible misstatements of millions in leasing liabilities, a review of supposed development costs and potentially inaccurate valuations of other company divisions. Still, the company expects to make up to €2.4 billion euros in 2026 fiscal year.#GenZ, #manufacturing, #skilledtrades, #workforce, #futureofwork, #HVAC, #tradesjobs, #careers, #podcast, #manufacturingjobs, #industry40, #automation, #youngprofessionals, #workforcedevelopment, #careergrowth, #training, #education, #techcareers, #industrialcareers, #nextgen

Welcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast that asks young people about their journeys in manufacturing, how they intend to influence the industry and what they are looking for from an employer.For this episode, I welcome Xavier Gonzalez and Jesse Tabango, two HVAC students at Texas State Technical College. We recorded the conversation live at Fluke’s Thought Leadership Day during the company’s Xcelerate conference in Austin, Texas.  In this episode, Gonzalez and Tabando discuss: • (:55) Aspects of skilled trades that attract young people• (5:01) What surprises Gen Z at their first manufacturing job• (7:12) How the Gen Z workforce wants to be trained• (13:16) How young workers view growth and where they find a sense of purpose Please make sure to like and share this episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing. To view previous episodes, visit manufacturing.net. If you are a member of Gen Z and would like to discuss your experience in the manufacturing industry, please get in touch with me, Nolan Beilstein, at [email protected].#GenZ, #manufacturing, #skilledtrades, #workforce, #futureofwork, #HVAC, #tradesjobs, #careers, #podcast, #manufacturingjobs, #industry40, #automation, #youngprofessionals, #workforcedevelopment, #careergrowth, #training, #education, #techcareers, #industrialcareers, #nextgen

A U.S. refrigerator factory will lay off 1,500 employees later this year ahead of a planned production change to laundry appliances including washing machines and dryers.Electrolux, a home appliance manufacturer based in Sweden, announced a retooling at its South Carolina plant as part of a new joint venture agreement with the Midea Group, which will own 45% of the facility. Food preservation production will be phased out by July 2026 and fabric care is expected to start in the first half of 2027.The JV is expected to hire up to approximately 1,200 employees gradually across 2027 and 2028 as laundry appliance production ramps up. According to WYFF, all the laid off employees will be offered severance packages and will be invited back to work in the retooled facility.Electrolux called the shutdown temporary, but said “we recognize the impact this decision will have on our valued employees. We are working closely with state and local agencies to support our employees and, where feasible, assist with placement in alternative roles within the Anderson community.”#manufacturing, #appliances, #electrolux, #midea, #layoffs, #manufacturingjobs, #factoryretooling, #supplychain, #industrialnews, #automation, #globalmanufacturing, #costcutting, #economy, #madeinusa, #southcarolina, #manufacturingindustry, #businessnews, #workforce, #factoryjobs, #industryupdates

JST Corp. is a Japanese company that makes electronic connectors found in nearly every industry, from the automotive and medical markets to robotics, gaming and even amusement. The company’s plant in Guntersville made every cable assembly used in The Las Vegas Sphere.This week, JST announced a new project, a $500 million expansion effort in North Alabama. The move will create 80 new jobs and add 540,000 square feet. The component maker is familiar with expansion projects—it now has more than 70 facilities in 17 countries—but in some cases it has design aspirations that are particular. For example, renderings of JST’s project in Guntersville are striking—the factory looks like rolling hills with a few loading docks. The connector maker wants the new site to incorporate a “natural setting” on the 240-acre property at Conners Island Business Park. More of a peninsula, Conners Island is about 40 minutes southeast of Huntsville.JST said the location is strategic given its proximity to Alabama’s auto manufacturing industry. However, Kevin Lauret, plant manager for the new facility, said the type of property also played a key role. The architectural design is meant to reflect and protect the natural setting adjacent to Lake Guntersville. The company’s development philosophy is heavily influenced by Japanese beliefs that view land and nature as sacred. #manufacturing, #advancedmanufacturing, #industrialdesign, #factorydesign, #sustainability, #greenmanufacturing, #architecture, #industrialarchitecture, #japanesedesign, #innovation, #automation, #supplychain, #automotiveindustry, #economicdevelopment, #madeinusa, #manufacturingjobs, #smartfactory, #engineering, #construction, #futureofwork

It’s clear that the goal of the United States tariffs on automobiles was to give American production a leg up. Adding costs to imports would - theoretically - encourage buyers to favor American-made vehicles, and encourage automakers to, perhaps, reshore their globally produced models.But as with many complex economic questions, the reality is a bit less straightforward – as evidenced by GM’s latest announcement.The Detroit-based automaker, who has long operated three factories in South Korea, revealed last month that it would be investing in Korea further. The goal for GM is to increase production capacity for vehicles that would be exported to U.S. buyers.GM’s Chevrolet Trax and Trailblazer, as well as the Buick Envista and Encore GX are currently produced across three factories in Korea which employ some 12,000 workers and churn out about 460,000 vehicles annually. #Tariffs #ManufacturingNews #AutoIndustry #GeneralMotors #GlobalManufacturing #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Economics #TradePolicy #AutomotiveNews #BusinessStrategy #GlobalTrade #FactoryProduction #IndustryTrends #CostAnalysis #AutoManufacturing #USManufacturing #KoreaManufacturing #MarketForces #EconomicReality

Senior defense officials in the Trump administration approached General Motors and Ford about supporting the U.S. military equipment supply chain, a source told the Detroit Free Press. The anonymous source said the separate conversations with CEOs Mary Barra and Jim Farley took place as early as last year.****Original Post: https://www.ien.com/supply-chain/video/22965095/gm-ford-asked-to-support-us-weapons-supply-chain-as-wars-drain-inventory ****The Pentagon reportedly wants to use the automakers’ workforce and facility capacity to boost weapons production as wars in Ukraine and Iran have strained U.S. inventory. The Wall Street Journal first reported the discussions, noting that officials described the request as a “matter of national security.”The Journal also reported that German manufacturing is shifting toward defense production as the automotive sector combats a slump in demand and growing competition from China, with the government pushing to convert struggling operations into defense contractors.According to the Detroit Free Press, GM and Ford would likely not directly produce weapons but instead make structural components for subcontracting to weapons manufacturers. Relevant capabilities could include casting, stamping, forging and working with plastics and other composites.The conversations remain exploratory with no defined details.#DefenseIndustry #ManufacturingNews #AutoIndustry #Ford #GM #NationalSecurity #SupplyChain #MilitaryProduction #DefenseManufacturing #IndustrialBase #USMilitary #ArsenalOfDemocracy #WarProduction #IndustrialStrategy #Geopolitics #GlobalManufacturing #FactoryCapacity #IndustryTrends #BusinessNews #Production

An attorney preparing to file a federal lawsuit against a Tennessee explosives manufacturer over a deadly 2025 blast alleged this week that the company pushed its production beyond a safe level in an effort to fulfill a Pentagon contract.Darren Richie, who represents the families of two of the 16 people killed in the October explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems, said during a Friday news conference that AES neglected safety hazards to increase production for the $120 million federal contract, the Tennessean reported. He indicated the families intend to file their lawsuit this month and will seek $150 million in damages.The statement came about a week after Tennessee's OSHA (TOSHA) department concluded a six-month investigation into the explosion and cited AES with 100 violations totaling over $3.1 million in penalties. The cited hazards included explosive dust buildup on equipment and workers spraying flammable paint near hot equipment without proper safeguards. The agency said the penalty is the largest in its history.#ManufacturingNews #IndustrialSafety #WorkplaceSafety #OSHA #Explosion #BreakingNews #IndustrialAccident #SafetyViolations #ChemicalSafety #ProcessSafety #WorkplaceHazards #FactoryExplosion #LegalNews #CorporateAccountability #CSB #SafetyFirst #USNews #IndustrialDisaster #Compliance #Engineering

BMW will pull the iX, the automaker’s first dedicated electric SUV, from its U.S. lineup as it shifts focus to a next-generation electric vehicle platform, BMWBlog reported. A spokesperson stated that the company will prioritize upcoming Neue Klasse models, beginning with the iX3 SUV.BMW announced the iX in 2021 and began sales in 2022. The vehicle features an estimated range of up to 364 miles, a bodyshell that includes carbon fiber-reinforced polymer and a starting MSRP of about $75,000. The iX drew mixed reactions, particularly over its interior design, which featured the high-resolution Curved Display, a hexagonal steering wheel and the option to integrate speakers into the seat. Jalopnik reported that BMW sold nearly 51,000 iXs from 2022 to 2025, while BMWBlog noted that the vehicle functioned as both a technological proof-of-concept and a production vehicle.#BMW #ElectricVehicles #EVNews #AutoIndustry #LuxuryCars #AutomotiveNews #EVTransition #FutureOfCars #NeueKlasse #BMWiX #BMWiX3 #CarTech #Innovation #ManufacturingNews #AutoTrends #EVMarket #Sustainability #LuxuryEV #CarLaunch #Mobility

The owner of a New Hampshire mustard company has been sentenced to prison for orchestrating a years-long scheme to send polluted water from his facility into a nearby river.Charles Santich, owner of the Old Dutch Mustard Company, was given an 18-month prison sentence while his company is being forced to pay $1.5 million for violating the Clean Water Act.The Greenville, New Hampshire facility, which makes Old Dutch brand vinegar and mustard products, generates acidic wastewater and stormwater. Without the necessary permit to discharge the polluted water, Old Dutch was required to store it in tanks and have a trucking company haul it away.Instead, Santich in 2015 hired an excavation company to bury a pipe from the Old Dutch Mustard facility to discharge the acidic water in the general direction of the Souhegan River near an abandoned railroad bed. He made sure the discharge point was downstream of continuous environmental monitoring required by the EPA and state of New Hampshire, according to a Justice Department complaint.#EnvironmentalCrime #CleanWaterAct #EPA #WaterPollution #EnvironmentalNews #ManufacturingNews #CorporateAccountability #Pollution #IndustrialWaste #LegalNews #Sustainability #PublicHealth #RiverPollution #Regulations #USNews #EnvironmentalProtection #Compliance #Justice #EcoNews #WasteManagement

Volkswagen of America released its sales figures for Q1 2026 and the results were mixed. Last week the automaker announced that it was going to stop assembling the ID.4 electric SUV in Chattanooga, Tennessee and retool to focus on the next-generation Atlas for model year 2027. Well, now, it's pretty clear why. Top manufacturing news: Slate Auto Raises $650M to Make $25,000 TrucksPodcast: Car Paint Gets Security Detail; Tyson Loses Bacteria Case; Stronger Ban on Chinese CarsBuyers Fret as Average New Car Cost Nears $50,000Wind Turbine Maker Sued After Catastrophic Collapse, Terminated Contracts According to VW's sales figures, the company sold 7,663 ID.4s in Q1 2025. Last quarter told a different tale, with a mere 338 ID.4s sold—a drop of 95.6%. Across the board, sales dipped 16.1% year-over-year, but there were some wins. The Tiguan LWB saw an increase of 55.2% and the Golf R sedan increased 4.7%, though the volumes were so low it was just a 36-unit increase. #Volkswagen #EVNews #ElectricVehicles #AutoIndustry #CarSales #ManufacturingNews #EVMarket #AutomotiveTrends #ID4 #IDBuzz #Atlas #CarMarket #AutoSales #IndustryNews #FutureOfCars #EVTransition #BusinessNews #SupplyChain #AutoIndustryNews #MarketTrends

Yesterday, Volkswagen announced plans to stop assembling the ID.4 electric SUV at its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as the EV market continues to "challenge the industry."Assembly will end quickly. VW says it will stop putting together the ID.4 in mid-April and that's (checks watch) five days away. The automaker will retool to focus on "higher-volume" models and launch the second-generation Atlas for model year 2027. The hope is to have production up and running this summer with vehicles in dealerships by fall. The Atlas is vital to the company's U.S. strategy. It's the automaker's second-best selling model for the past three years. The headwinds facing the EV industry, including the $7,500 federal EV tax credit that expired on September 30, 2025, have forced VW to make "measured decisions throughout the last few years to navigate this unpredictability."#Volkswagen #EVNews #ElectricVehicles #AutoIndustry #ManufacturingNews #EVMarket #SupplyChain #AutoProduction #Chattanooga #TennesseeManufacturing #AutomotiveNews #FutureOfCars #EVTransition #CarManufacturing #IndustryTrends #BusinessStrategy #AutoJobs #FactoryNews #VehicleProduction #Mobility

Firefighters in Ontario, California descended on a massive blaze just after midnight on Tuesday, when a distribution center erupted in flames.Local reports described an “orange glow” as the 1.2 million square foot warehouse burned for hours in a location the size of 11 city blocks, with smoke and flames reportedly visible for miles.The site is owned and operated by supply chain management company NFI Industries, but the warehouse had been leased by CPG giant Kimberly-Clark. It was stocked with paper products like Kleenex, toilet paper and diapers – ready fuel after the building became engulfed.Local law enforcement confirmed that the fire had been deemed “suspicious” due to its rapid spread and apparent evidence that suggested there may have been more than one point of origin. #WarehouseFire #BreakingNews #SupplyChain #Logistics #ManufacturingNews #IndustrialFire #ArsonInvestigation #KimberlyClark #NFIIndustries #FireResponse #EmergencyResponse #DistributionCenter #CPG #Operations #CrisisManagement #BusinessContinuity #Firefighters #USNews #IndustrialAccident #Safety

Brighton Central School District near Rochester, New York, halted construction on athletic fields after its contractor uncovered undocumented historical fill beneath the topsoil. The school district said the material likely dates back to 1830, when a brick manufacturer reportedly occupied the land. Materials found during early site preparation in January included ash, cinders, brick, glass, ceramic and metal at depths ranging from 2.5 to 7 feet. Once Brighton realized certain compounds exceeded regulatory thresholds, it contacted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Department of Health. The DEC classified the site as a spill.Brighton noted that historical fills exist across New York, citing that no regulations prohibited this type of disposal at the time. During a March Board of Education meeting, the district reported that Abner M. Buckland of Buckland Brick owned the area from 1830 to the 1920s and mined clay there to manufacture bricks. The school district purchased the property in 1925.#ConstructionNews #EnvironmentalSafety #SoilContamination #HistoricalFill #Infrastructure #PublicSafety #SchoolConstruction #EnvironmentalImpact #SiteCleanup #Regulations #Engineering #UrbanDevelopment #Excavation #ManufacturingHistory #IndustrialPast #SafetyFirst #CommunityImpact #Brownfield #NYSDEC #ConstructionDelay

Last week, following a four-week trial, an Alabama jury handed boat repairman Mark Griffin a $70 million victory after he contracted a flesh-eating bacteria in 2019. According to Griffin's lawsuit, Tyson and industrial plumbing contractor Hydraservice were responsible for a large wastewater spill that led to his infection. In June 2019, Tyson’s River Valley Ingredients facility in Hanceville discharged an estimated 220,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater into Mulberry Fork, a major tributary of the Black Warrior River. The spill was caused by a "mechanical failure" traced to some temporary piping work installed by Hydraservice. According to a report from AL.com, Griffin lives some 30 miles from the plant. Given his profession, he has spent most of his life on the Black Warrior River, but he became severely ill after coming into contact with bacteria in the water.Griffin contracted necrotizing fasciitis and had to undergo multiple surgeries. Some seven years later, he still has an open wound and a bone infection in his hips and pelvis. The jury awarded $25 million in compensatory damages and $45 million in punitive damages. #TysonFoods #EnvironmentalNews #WaterContamination #IndustrialAccident #ManufacturingNews #WorkplaceSafety #PublicHealth #LegalNews #Lawsuit #ToxicExposure #WaterSafety #InfrastructureFailure #IndustrialSpill #BreakingNews #HealthCrisis #CorporateAccountability #USNews #RiverPollution #SafetyFirst #EnvironmentalImpact

Luxury vehicle makers have a way of upping the ante, with features that seem more and more unique, opulent and, perhaps, unnecessary.When INFINITI recently unveiled its newest QX65 SUV, it led with the vehicle’s unorthodox paint color: dubbed Sunfire Red, this coating is described by the company as “something people will remember.”That’s because the rich paint hue, inspired by a "fiery morning sunrise” is said to be “infused with real gold-coated glass flecks.”INFINITI’s design team described the requirements of working with this very special paint, noting that INFINITI’s supplier must use armored trucks when transporting the gold that’s used in the making of Sunfire Red. #Infiniti #LuxuryCars #AutomotiveDesign #CarInnovation #LuxurySUV #CarPaint #AutoIndustry #Manufacturing #AIinManufacturing #FutureOfCars #CarTech #PremiumVehicles #AutomotiveNews #DesignInnovation #CarLovers #LuxuryLifestyle #MadeInUSA #SmartManufacturing #AutoTrends #VehicleDesign

A member of the Senate’s transportation oversight committee said this week that he hopes to effectively “seal off” the U.S. from vehicles made by Chinese automakers.U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said during remarks ahead of the New York Auto Show that he would introduce a bill in the coming weeks to strengthen an existing ban on Chinese vehicles, Reuters reported.Rules finalized under the Biden administration early last year sought to prohibit Chinese automakers from selling passenger vehicles in the U.S., citing data privacy and national security concerns, but Moreno indicated that his measure will go further, incorporating not just vehicle imports but “hardware” and “software,” as well as partnerships between Chinese vehicle makers and other companies.Moreno told the Automotive Forum event that he aims for a framework in which “there's never a scenario where a ​Chinese automobile will enter our market.”He also said that he hopes governments in other nations would make similar efforts, from Canada and Mexico to the rest of Latin America and Europe. Chinese cars, however, are already sold in many of those markets.U.S. automakers and other industry groups, meanwhile, recently called on the government to prevent Chinese cars from entering the domestic market altogether ahead of a planned visit to China next month by President Trump. Trump, Reuters noted, had suggested during an event in Detroit earlier this year that he would be open to a Chinese auto plant in the U.S.#China #AutoIndustry #TradePolicy #Tariffs #NationalSecurity #ElectricVehicles #EVs #Manufacturing #GlobalTrade #SupplyChain #Automotive #USPolitics #Geopolitics #TechPolicy #DataSecurity #Cybersecurity #IndustryNews #BusinessNews #USManufacturing #Imports #TradeWar #EconomicPolicy #FutureOfAuto #Regulation #AutoNews

Most people look at the abandoned former General Motors plant site in Janesville, Wisconsin and see a fenced-off, 250-acre plot contaminated with heavy metals and “forever chemicals” after decades of automotive manufacturing. But some just see a nice new home for an AI data center complex.According to Politico, the site, which has sat idle for years, could now be snapped up by a Colorado-based investment group. It’s promising to cover the $30 million bill to clean up the land and place an $8 billion data center campus where a busy factory once stood.GM’s Samson Tractor Division first started building tractors at the Janesville site in 1919 and vehicle production continued until 2008. About 10 years later, the factory was demolished. In the years since, the city sought to buy the brownfield site and redevelop it.#AI #DataCenter #Janesville #Wisconsin #Manufacturing #TechNews #ArtificialIntelligence #EconomicDevelopment #Brownfield #FactorySite #Industry40 #DigitalInfrastructure #EnergyUse #Sustainability #Jobs #Construction #FutureOfWork #SmartCities #Innovation #USManufacturing #IndustrialSite #CloudComputing #BigTech #Infrastructure #BusinessNews

 The plan is to move into factory fastening by combining Makita’s battery and motor technologies with Panasonic's fastening and IoT tech.Power tool maker Makita announced Tuesday that it plans to acquire the power tool business of fellow Japanese manufacturer Panasonic.Panasonic created a new division, known as Electric Works Company, to house its power tool business prior to the sale. Under the agreement, Panasonic will transfer all shares of the power tool business to Electric Works, then transfer those shares to Makita Corporation. Pending regulatory approval, Makita will acquire all product development, manufacturing and sales of Panasonic’s power tool products business, including factory and construction fastening equipment and factory‑related IoT solutions. The segment includes some 31,000 employees. Transaction details were not disclosed. #Makita #Panasonic #Acquisition #PowerTools #Manufacturing #IndustrialAutomation #IoT #SmartFactory #Industry40 #BusinessNews #TechNews #Automation #Construction #Engineering #FactoryTech #Tools #Innovation #SupplyChain #GlobalBusiness #MergersAndAcquisitions #IndustrialTech #ManufacturingNews #DigitalTransformation #Robotics #FutureOfWork

Welcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast where I talk to young people about their journeys in manufacturing, how they intend to influence the industry and what they are looking for from an employer.For this episode, I welcome Adam Zaouague, a 21-year-old automation and data specialist for Reata Engineering & Machine Works, an industrial machinery manufacturer for various sectors such as aerospace, medical, semiconductor and capital equipment. Zaouague originally got into CNC as he pursued aerospace engineering. He joined Reata as a machinist and transitioned into an engineering and software role. His recent duties include managing engineering and programming and overseeing quality. He has also spent time around AI companies and experimented how to apply these tools in a manufacturing environment.In this episode, Zaouague discusses:(1:18) The true issue with the manufacturing industry(5:44) Why young workers like to ask ‘Why?’(10:49) Interest in machining is dying, but something can still be done(15:19) The best way to implement new technology and where Gen Z will make the biggest impactPlease make sure to like and share this episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing. To view previous episodes, visit manufacturing.net. If you are a member of Gen Z and would like to discuss your experience in the manufacturing industry, please get in touch with me, Nolan Beilstein, at [email protected].

Ferraris go pretty fast. It’s crucial that drivers be able to see out the windows when they’re doing 200 MPH. But that’s just not the case with a recent batch of luxury sports cars the Italian automaker built for the U.S. So, they’re being recalled.The company sent out an alert for 80 12Cilindri models, which retail for around $500,000, because the windows are too tinted. Earlier this month, Ferrari said it was alerted to the issue with the black rear and side windows on certain units, which feature more tint than what’s allowed in some parts of the U.S.As the automaker pointed out in its recall, automobile glazing with less than 70% light transmittance can impair the driver’s visibility and lead to a crash.According to Tint Wiz, many U.S. states are totally fine with tint levels with less than 70% light transmittance. But markets like Florida and Illinois set their legal window tint levels much lower.#Ferrari #Recall #LuxuryCars #Supercar #CarRecall #AutoNews #Automotive #SportsCars #CarProblems #FastCars #CarCulture #LuxuryLifestyle #ExoticCars #Driving #CarEnthusiast #VehicleSafety #CarTech #Speed #HighPerformance #AutoIndustry #Engineering #Innovation #CarNews #USRegulations #CarLife

General Motors Flint Assembly plant has been operating for 80 years, and it's the automaker’s longest operating site in North America.And while it’s pushed a vast quantity of vehicles off its lines in that time, you might not believe just how big that number is: GM announced this month that Flint has just produced its 16 millionth vehicle.This milestone achievement took the form of a Lakeshore Blue Metallic Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Crew Cab LTZ – a heavy duty truck that rolled off the assembly line to a cheering crowd of Flint workers, along with its new owner.#GeneralMotors #GM #Chevrolet #Silverado #FlintMichigan #Manufacturing #AutoIndustry #TruckLife #BuiltInAmerica #MadeInUSA #FactoryLife #AssemblyLine #IndustrialHistory #Automotive #AmericanMade #ProductionMilestone #Engineering #SkilledTrades #ManufacturingPride #CarsAndTrucks #Workforce #Industry40 #Legacy #Innovation #AutoNews

Harley-Davidson notified an undisclosed number of workers that it would reduce its global workforce, Wisconsin Public Radio reported. A company spokesperson confirmed the layoffs but did not specify the number of impacted workers or where they work. WPR cited the sub-district director of the United Steelworkers District 7, who stated that none of the union’s 500-plus members at Harley-Davidson facilities in Milwaukee or Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, will be affected by the job cuts.The motorcycle manufacturer recently reported a 26% drop in profits from 2024 and an operating loss of $29 million in 2025. It added that new or increased tariffs cost the company $67 million in 2025 and posted a fourth-quarter gross profit loss of $30 million, compared to a $3 million loss in the same period in 2024, which it partially attributed to rising tariff costs. The company estimates that tariffs will cost it between $75 million and $105 million in 2026. #HarleyDavidson #Layoffs #Manufacturing #Tariffs #BusinessNews #Motorcycles #Economy #Workforce #JobCuts #IndustryNews #SupplyChain #MadeInUSA #USManufacturing #EconomicOutlook #CorporateStrategy #Restructuring #ProfitLoss #FactoryJobs #MarketTrends #GlobalBusiness #AutomotiveIndustry #FinanceNews #Leadership #CEO #IndustrialNews

Sofidel is one of the largest manufacturers of paper products in the world, but it’s primarily known in Europe, specifically in Italy, where the company is based. However, the toilet tissue and paper towel producer is making major moves in the U.S., where market leaders like Kimberly-Clark, Procter & Gamble, and Georgia-Pacific dominate.Last October, Sofidel announced plans for a major U.S. expansion to meet growing demand, particularly in the south. The company knew it was going to expand capacity at one of its 14 production sites in the U.S.— it just didn't know which one.#Sofidel #Manufacturing #PaperIndustry #TissueProduction #ToiletPaper #PaperTowels #IndustrialAutomation #SmartFactory #Industry40 #Automation #SupplyChain #CPG #ConsumerGoods #MadeInUSA #USManufacturing #FactoryExpansion #EconomicDevelopment #Logistics #Warehousing #Innovation #TechInManufacturing #Valmet #E80Group #PrivateLabel #BusinessGrowth

It’s a fresh example of the potential dystopian future of work.The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a factory in South Carolina has deployed a new humanoid robot to its assembly line.The bot, called Digit, is operating in a stamping press area at a Schaeffler auto parts plant, repetitively moving baskets of parts to a conveyor line. And while this type of robotics is a bit emerging in manufacturing, that’s not the unusual part: Wall Street Journal says the factory is paying humans to watch it.Entry level roles at Schaeffler start at $20 per hour and this one is referred to as an “Agility contractor.” More appropriately, it’s a glorified babysitter that observes Digit while it operates within its own plexiglass enclosure for 8 hours a day..And while this scenario is a bit unsettling, its future is, perhaps, moreso.#AI #Robotics #Automation #FutureOfWork #HumanoidRobot #DigitRobot #ArtificialIntelligence #Industry40 #Manufacturing #TechNews #Innovation #Robots #JobAutomation #Workforce #FactoryLife #Engineering #SmartFactory #Technology #DystopianFuture #FutureTech #LaborMarket #AutomationJobs #TechTrends #IndustrialAutomation #NextGenTech

Jeff Bezos is looking to raise $100 billion dollars for a new fund. According to the Wall Street Journal, the idea is to buy manufacturing companies and use AI to ramp automation. Described as a "manufacturing transformation vehicle," Bezos, who has a net worth of approximately $250 billion as of late last year, is reportedly reaching out to major financial players in the Middle East and Singapore to raise money. Bezos is reportedly looking to target large industries, including aerospace, chipmaking and defense. Last year, The New York Times reported that Bezos would return to an operational role for the first time since 2021, when he stepped down as Amazon CEO. He’ll serve ⁠as co-CEO of a new startup called Project Prometheus. Prometheus launched with some $6.2 billion in funding and a focus on using AI to engineer and manufacture hard goods, like cars, planes and computers. Project Prometheus reportedly built a staff of nearly 100 employees, including recruits from OpenAI, DeepMind, and Meta, to work on physical AI, machine learning systems that source real-world data to make decisions in real-time.#JeffBezos #Amazon #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Manufacturing #Automation #Industry40 #SmartManufacturing #FutureOfWork #Robotics #MachineLearning #TechNews #Innovation #Aerospace #DefenseIndustry #Semiconductors #SupplyChain #IndustrialAI #Engineering #FactoryOfTheFuture #DigitalTransformation #BusinessNews #Startups #VentureCapital #TechInvesting

Helium is a critical element for chipmaking, medical diagnostics, quantum computing and cryogenics. It could also kickstart fusion energy, which has the potential to deliver reliable, carbon-free power to hundreds of millions of people. However, it’s fairly scarce on Earth, where much of it comes from the decay of nuclear materials.Adding to the limited supply chain is potential disruptions due to the conflict in the Middle East. According to Reuters, chipmakers in Malaysia are still operating as normal but they’re monitoring the situation as helium prices rise. Helium is also a crucial part of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), so any supply chain disruptions have the potential to harm patients waiting for critical care.However, the U.S. Department of Energy has a plan to tap the reserves of Earth’s nearest neighbor. The DOE Isotope Program recently signed a supply contract with Black Moon Energy, a lunar development company that’s come up with a possible means for mining helium on the Moon and then transporting it back to Earth.#Helium #Helium3 #SpaceMining #FusionEnergy #QuantumComputing #Semiconductors #Chipmaking #SpaceTech #EnergyFuture #MoonMining #DOE #SupplyChain #TechNews #Innovation #FutureEnergy #Cryogenics #MRI #SpaceIndustry #AdvancedTechnology #ManufacturingNews

Hyundai has issued a stop-sale of certain 2026 Palisade SUV models in the U.S. and Canada due to an issue with the second and third-row power seats.The automaker is halting sales of the vehicles while it works on a recall after a young child died in an incident involving a Palisade. Hyundai said that it “does not yet have the full details and the incident is still under investigation” but that it “extends its deepest sympathies to her family.”Hyundai said in some situations the rear seats may not adequately detect contact with an occupant or object, particularly during power‑folding operations, as well as during use of the second-row one‑touch tilt‑and‑slide function.#Hyundai #HyundaiPalisade #AutoRecall #VehicleSafety #CarRecall #AutomotiveNews #SUVSafety #ConsumerSafety #CarNews #AutoIndustry #AutomotiveSafety #VehicleRecall #NHTSA #ProductSafety #FamilySafety #AutoManufacturing #IndustryNews #AutomotiveEngineering #CarIndustry #SafetyRecall

Ferrari is on the eve of introducing its first electric vehicle to the market, but not everything about it is new.Ferrari recently announced the name of its upcoming EV – the Luce. But there’s just one problem: the Luce is a name that’s already been used by another automaker, Mazda, who marketed its own Luce for decades.According to Carscoops, the original Luce was Mazda’s flagship sedan between the 1960s and the 1990s. The badge carries so much heritage with the brand that the automaker reportedly referenced it as recently as 2017, saying its Vision Coupe concept paid tribute to the 1969 Luce Rotary Coupe.Another indication that Mazda still carries a torch for the Luce is recent evidence of a potentially brewing patent battle.#Ferrari #Mazda #ElectricVehicles #EVNews #Supercar #AutoIndustry #AutomotiveNews #FerrariEV #TrademarkDispute #CarNews #LuxuryCars #AutoTechnology #EVPerformance #SupercarNews #AutomotiveDesign #JonyIve #CarIndustry #ElectricSupercar #VehicleLaunch #AutoTrends

Honda has decided to cancel the development and market launch of three electric vehicle models that had been planned for production in North America.Honda 0 SUV, Honda 0 Saloon, and Acura RSX were all scheduled to enter production at the automaker’s EV hub in Ohio. The vehicles first rolled out as concept prototypes at CES 2025, where Honda touted them as “near-production designs.” But now, the company has determined that starting production and sales of these three models in the current business environment where the demand for EVs is declining significantly would likely result in further losses over the long term.In the near term, though, the losses will be huge. Honda is expecting to take a $15.7 billion hit. As Reuters points out, the charges will drive Honda to its first annual loss in the nearly 70 years it's spent as a listed company.#Honda #ElectricVehicles #EVMarket #AutoIndustry #AutomotiveNews #EVNews #ManufacturingNews #OhioManufacturing #Acura #CES2025 #AutoIndustryTrends #EVTransition #Tariffs #GlobalAutomotive #HybridVehicles #AutomotiveStrategy #IndustryNews #BusinessNews #EVProduction #AutomotiveManufacturing

Yamaha Motor's U.S. subsidiary plans to relocate its headquarters from Southern California to suburban Atlanta. The maker of motorcycles, robotics and marine and power products said late last month that the move will begin at the end of this year and be completed by the end of 2028.Yamaha Motor U.S. intends to sell all fixed assets owned by the company in Cypress, California, including land, offices and warehouses. The Japanese company expects the move to help combat tariffs by improving efficiency and profitability in the U.S. market.Yamaha has maintained a corporate headquarters in California for nearly 50 years; it acquired the land in 1978 and opened its offices one year later. Twenty years later, however, Yamaha moved its marine business to Kennesaw, Georgia, and its motorsports division relocated to the state in 2019. It currently employs thousands of people in Georgia, including a 1.3-million-square-foot plant in Newnan with about 2,000 employees.#Yamaha #ManufacturingNews #AutoIndustry #Motorcycles #BusinessRelocation #CorporateMove #GeorgiaBusiness #ManufacturingJobs #IndustryNews #SupplyChain #GlobalManufacturing #USManufacturing #EconomicDevelopment #Tariffs #BusinessStrategy #MotorcycleIndustry #IndustrialNews #FactoryJobs #CorporateStrategy #BusinessExpansion

A group of wholesale steel distributors will pay more than $3.3 million to settle allegations that they made false statements in order to secure federal loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.The seven corporations in question, each part of Georgia-based steel company Allied Crawford, are incorporated across seven separate states, including Virginia, where federal prosecutors investigated the matter.Most Read in Manufacturing:Nestlé Overhauls Bonus StructureSK Lays Off Nearly 1,000 Workers at Georgia PlantAI-Designed 'Metamachines' Run WildPodcast: Stellantis Workers Get $0 Bonuses According to the Justice Department, they received more than $2.7 million combined in loans under the Paycheck Protection Program, which was designed to ensure that businesses could keep their doors open and continue paying their employees amid the pandemic. The companies, however, were actually ineligible to receive those loans, prosecutors claimed. They said company officials falsely certified that they were eligible for the loans — both on their initial applications, and on subsequent filings for the forgiveness of the loans in 2021.The case began with a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower under the provisions of the federal False Claims Act; that whistleblower will receive a 10% share of the settlement.The U.S. government reportedly allocated nearly $6 trillion in emergency spending during the pandemic, and although experts broadly agreed that the funding helped keep the economy afloat, it also created opportunities for fraud — investigations of which persist some six years later.Prosecutors noted that the settlement does not include a determination of civil liability.Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news.#PPPloans #COVIDRelief #LoanFraud #JusticeDepartment #FalseClaimsAct #ManufacturingNews #SteelIndustry #BusinessFraud #CorporateAccountability #PandemicRelief #Whistleblower #FinancialCrime #BusinessNews #IndustrialNews #EconomicPolicy #FraudInvestigation #GovernmentOversight #COVIDFunding #CorporateCompliance #IndustryRegulation

Last week, Taiwanese auto supplier Minth announced plans to invest some $430 million to breathe new life into a century-old steel mill site in Alabama.The Minth Group is a massive company with nearly 28,000 global employees spanning 78 plants, making trim and structural automotive parts. The company says it is the largest supplier of battery enclosures and body structure components in the world, making parts for more than 80 automotive brands, including Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Jeep, and Lucid.The Minth Group bought the former Republic Steel 400-acre brownfield site in Gadsden, Alabama, about 60 miles northeast of Birmingham.The project will become Minth's largest campus and is expected to create 1,325 jobs. Initially, the plant should bring a few hundred jobs, but new roles will be added as operations grow. The facility will produce plastic and aluminum components for Hyundai in Montgomery, Alabama, and for Kia in West Point, Georgia.Minth said the new location will help serve North American customers, including those transitioning to electric and advanced vehicles.Minth’s U.S. operations are part of Minth North America, with regional headquarters in Wixom, Michigan, and two other locations in Michigan and Tennessee.The Gadsden site is expected to be a flagship U.S. facility with nearly 1 million square feet of manufacturing space. The company plans to renovate and expand the site. The new jobs will average $49,000 in annual wages.When the steel plant shuttered in August 2000, some 1,800 workers lost their jobs. The Gulf States Steel plant had been in operation since 1903 and was acquired by Republic Steel in 1937.In a statement, William Chin, the son of Minth’s founder and the company’s chief strategy officer, said, “From rubble to renewal, from depression to prosperity – this site, once a reminder of jobs that moved overseas, now represents a bright future ... It’s not rubber and steel anymore; it’s plastic and aluminum.”#Manufacturing #AutoIndustry #EVManufacturing #AutoParts #EconomicDevelopment #FactoryJobs #USManufacturing #ElectricVehicles #AutomotiveSupplyChain #IndustrialRevival #ManufacturingNews #IndustryNews #SupplyChain #GlobalManufacturing #InvestmentNews #FactoryExpansion #AutomotiveManufacturing #EconomicGrowth #IndustrialHistory #MadeInAmerica

A leading global food manufacturer has reportedly overhauled its employee bonus program as part of a broader effort to revamp its corporate culture.Under the new structure at Nestlé, people familiar with the move recently told Bloomberg, workers deemed “exemplary” could get bonuses of up to 150% of company targets, while those at the other end of the spectrum, or “unsatisfactory,” would get a maximum of 50% of the target — or no bonus at all.The top bonuses were previously capped at 130%, but more importantly, according to the report, the changes represented a dramatic shift from a culture in which nearly all 271,000 employees tended to get bonuses of at least 80% of company targets.#Nestle #CorporateCulture #EmployeeBonuses #WorkplaceNews #BusinessNews #GlobalBusiness #WorkplacePerformance #CorporateStrategy #Leadership #WorkforceManagement #FoodIndustry #ConsumerGoods #ManufacturingNews #BusinessStrategy #EmployeePerformance #CorporateRestructuring #GlobalWorkforce #ManagementTrends #WorkplaceChange #IndustryNews

Swiss agricultural manufacturer Syngenta announced it will end global production of paraquat, an herbicide used to control weeds in farming operations, by the end of June. The company plans to phase out production at its facility in Huddersfield, UK, its only manufacturing site for the ingredient. Syngenta cited significant competition from global producers, which put pressure on the company’s competitiveness, as the reason for the decision.The release, however, did not mention ongoing legal challenges involving paraquat, including a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois that named Syngenta as a defendant and consolidated over 5,000 plaintiffs who alleged they developed Parkinson’s disease due to paraquat exposure.The MDL references expert witness Martin Wells, who conducted a meta-analysis of seven epidemiological studies that measured a potential association between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. According to the document, Wells determined that there was a “near tripling of [Parkinson’s] occurrence in [study] participants occupationally exposed to paraquat.”Syngenta previously rejected the claims of a causal link between paraquat and Parkinson’s, stating that the herbicide is “safe when used in line with registered label instructions.” In its announcement on ending production, the company mentioned that paraquat supports conservation practices such as no-till farming and added that the herbicide is registered for sale by more than 750 companies. Over 70 countries have banned or discontinued the use of paraquat. This includes the EU, which withdrew the herbicide from its market in 2007, as well as China, Brazil and Canada. In 2024, nearly 50 members of the U.S. Congress signed a letter to the EPA asking the agency to ban paraquat.#Paraquat #Syngenta #AgricultureNews #FarmingChemicals #Herbicides #AgTech #CropScience #ParkinsonsDisease #EnvironmentalHealth #Pesticides #AgIndustry #ChemicalIndustry #FarmNews #WeedControl #SustainableFarming #NoTillFarming #EPA #AgPolicy #FoodProduction #ManufacturingNews

Stanley Black & Decker plans to close its last manufacturing facility in New Britain, Connecticut, the city home to the company’s headquarters. Connecticut Public Radio reported that the action will impact nearly 300 workers at the factory, which primarily makes single-sided tape measures.Company spokesperson Debora Raymond told CPR that the facility’s products “are becoming obsolete” as more people rely on electronic devices to measure distance. The Hartford Courant reported that New Britain Mayor Bobby Sanchez blamed the decision on “ongoing uncertainty at the federal level, including shifting trade policies and tariffs that have driven up material and production costs.”#StanleyBlackAndDecker #ManufacturingNews #FactoryClosure #ConnecticutJobs #NewBritain #HardwareCity #IndustrialNews #Layoffs #USManufacturing #TradePolicy #Tariffs #CostCutting #SupplyChain #BusinessNews #EconomicImpact #GlobalCostReduction #MadeInUSA #ManufacturingJobs #CorporateRestructuring #IndustryTrends

Officers from a UK medicine regulator raided two sites in February during an ongoing investigation into a criminal network that manufactures and distributes unlicensed weight-loss medicines, also known as “skinny jabs.”The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) stated that the operation, which targeted farm and residential properties in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, resulted in the seizure of nearly 2,000 doses of unauthorized weight-loss medicines, including retatrutide, tirzepatide and peptide products. The agency added that officers also confiscated manufacturing equipment, suspected pharmaceutical ingredients, packaging and commercial vehicles. #MHRA #WeightLossDrugs #SkinnyJabs #IllegalMedicines #DrugSafety #PublicHealth #Tirzepatide #Retatrutide #GLP1 #PharmaceuticalCrime #HealthcareNews #MedicalRegulation #CounterfeitDrugs #FDA #UKNews #DrugEnforcement #HealthRisks #RegulatoryAction #LawEnforcement #MedicineSafety

Big 3 auto workers tend to rely on annual profit-sharing checks as a part of the compensation plans negotiated through the United Autoworkers Union.This year, Ford employees are taking home just shy of $7,000. GM’s union workers were just awarded $10,500.So how does Stellantis - the other piece of this Detroit auto trifecta – stack up when it comes to these bonus payouts? They’re not even on the board.Stellantis reported a significant annual loss for its 2025 fiscal year, which meant it fell below the minimum profit-sharing threshold spelled out in its 2023 contract with the UAW. And since there were no profits, the company’s employees received no bonus.According to the Detroit Free Press, this is the first year in history that Stellantis has failed to award the profit-sharing checks.#UAW #Stellantis #Ford #GeneralMotors #ProfitSharing #AutoIndustry #AutoWorkers #UnionNews #DetroitAuto #ManufacturingNews #FactoryWorkers #LaborRelations #AutomotiveBusiness #ShawnFain #CarlosTavares #Mopar #Ram1500 #BusinessStrategy #CorporateAccountability #IndustrialNews

Mexico’s largest cement producer — and one of the leading building materials manufacturers globally — hopes that a newly announced acquisition will bolster its position in the U.S. construction market.Cemex said Thursday that it reached an agreement to buy Omega Products International, a top provider of stucco in the western U.S.Omega, based in Southern California, operates four production facilities across California, Colorado and Nevada, and serves both residential and commercial construction. Cemex officials said that the company offers “significant synergies” with its existing U.S. business and aligns with its broader growth efforts north of the border.#Cemex #OmegaProducts #ConstructionIndustry #BuildingMaterials #ManufacturingNews #MergersAndAcquisitions #USConstruction #Infrastructure #Stucco #BusinessNews #IndustrialNews #SupplyChain #CementIndustry #PerformanceMaterials #MarketExpansion

Eight months after PepsiCo relegated a longtime Frito-Lay plant in Southern California to a distribution hub, the food and beverage giant is now reportedly closing the campus entirely — and laying off hundreds of workers.Frito-Lay halted snacks production at the Rancho Cucamonga plant last summer — one of several closures across the country as PepsiCo dealt with sluggish demand and rising costs — but left its warehouse and distribution operations in place.Earlier this month, however, the company informed California officials that it would close the warehouse in June and lay off 247 workers, the Los Angeles Times reports. #PepsiCo #FritoLay #PlantClosure #ManufacturingNews #FoodIndustry #SupplyChain #Layoffs #CaliforniaJobs #CPGIndustry #DistributionCenter #SnackIndustry #FlaminHot #BusinessNews #IndustrialNews #FactoryClosure

On October 10, 2024, at around 4:23 p.m., some 27,000 pounds of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas were released during a maintenance activity at the PEMEX Deer Park Refinery in Deer Park, Texas. The refinery makes more than a quarter of a million barrels per day of motor fuels, like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, that are exported to the U.S., Mexico, and Latin America. The toxic release fatally injured a pair of contract workers and injured several others. So, what happened?Instead of opening a pipe flange on empty piping, contract workers from industrial service company Repcon, Inc. -- which specializes in welding, pipe fabrication, and maintenance -- mistakenly opened identical piping about five feet away that contained hydrogen sulfide gas. The pipe released pressurized hydrogen sulfide gas and fatally injured one of the Repcon workers.The hydrogen sulfide traveled downwind, where a worker from ISC Constructors, an industrial engineering and construction company, inhaled the toxic hydrogen sulfide and was also fatally injured.#PEMEX, #DeerParkRefinery, #HydrogenSulfide, #RefinerySafety, #ChemicalSafety, #CSB, #ASME, #IndustrialAccident, #ProcessSafety, #WorkplaceSafety, #OilAndGas, #H2S, #IndustrialMaintenance, #PlantSafety, #SafetyInvestigation