manufacturing

Experts say a plan backed by Donald Trump to license Patriot missile production for Ukraine, rather than supply the systems directly, could take years to implement. Setting up licensed manufacturing would require technology transfers, industrial agreements and training, raising questions about whether such an arrangement could help Ukraine's air defenses in the near term.

Dutch chipmaking equipment giant ASML has no sales of its lithography machines within Europe, an executive said, despite the company being one of Europe's most valuable tech firms. Its customers are overwhelmingly concentrated in Asia, notably Taiwan and South Korea, with US fabs also important buyers. The admission highlights Europe's limited domestic chip manufacturing capacity even as the bloc pushes to expand semiconductor production.

Donald Trump has announced plans for a steel mill in Iowa, framing it as a win for American manufacturing and jobs in the state. The announcement is drawing attention from business and political observers, with debate over the project's details, financing and timeline likely to follow.

GrapheneOS, the privacy-focused Android operating system long limited to Google Pixel devices, has selected the Motorola Signature 27 as its first officially supported phone made by another manufacturer. The move expands hardware choices for users seeking hardened security without buying a Pixel, and is drawing attention from security and open-source communities discussing what it means for the project's future and Motorola's software support.

Yamaha and Honda are preparing to bring their electric motocross bikes together to Ernée, France, a venue associated with major motocross events. The joint debut is drawing attention in the motorsport world, as the two rival manufacturers rarely coordinate showcases. Interest is focused on what electric dirt bikes from the big Japanese brands could mean for the future of competitive motocross.

Tesla has arranged $30 billion in new credit facilities as it prepares to scale up production of its Cybercab robotaxi and Optimus humanoid robot. The funding gives the company financial room to expand manufacturing for its autonomy and robotics programs. The move is drawing attention as a sign Tesla is committing serious capital to its driverless and robotics ambitions.

Backblaze has released its drive statistics report for the second quarter of 2026, continuing its long-running series detailing failure rates across the hard drives in its cloud storage fleet. The reports are closely watched in the tech community as a rare public source of real-world reliability data for consumer and enterprise drives, often sparking debate over which manufacturers and models perform best.

Nikon has added 3D vision tracking capability to its robot vision system, the company announced. The upgrade is designed to let industrial robots recognise and track objects in three dimensions, expanding potential uses in manufacturing and automation. Details on availability and specifications remain limited, and reaction from the robotics industry has so far been muted.

A second RITM-200C small modular reactor unit has been manufactured for a floating nuclear power plant intended to supply electricity to a copper mining centre in Chukotka, in Russia's far east. The project highlights growing use of small modular reactors to power remote industrial sites far from grid connections.

Consumer advocates are arguing that Australian consumer group CHOICE should test cars not just for performance but for connectivity — what data vehicles capture, where it is sent, and to whom. The discussion cites findings that all connected cars tested contacted their manufacturer's servers, raising questions about how much driving and personal data automakers collect and share.

An investigation is drawing attention to the wave of new "protein" products flooding supermarkets, questioning whether they are designed for consumers' health or mainly for profit. The report examines how manufacturers use protein claims to market processed foods at premium prices, and asks whether these products genuinely offer nutritional benefits or simply capitalize on a booming health trend.

Solidion Technology has issued an open letter addressed directly to shareholders of Flux Power Inc., the battery manufacturer traded on NASDAQ under the ticker FLUX. The letter was distributed via PR Newswire. The contents of the letter and the response from Flux Power or its investors have not been disclosed, so the motive behind the public appeal remains to be seen.

Qualcomm Senior Vice President and Head of Mobile Handsets Chris Patrick has confirmed the company is conducting in-depth work on Samsung's 2nm process, signalling a close partnership between the two firms. The move suggests future Snapdragon chips could be manufactured by Samsung, intensifying competition with TSMC for advanced chip production.

Apple accessory maker Twelve South has introduced the AirFly Drive, its first adapter that adds wireless CarPlay to vehicles. The device lets iPhone users connect to their car's infotainment system without a cable, and it also supports Android Audio, making it usable with Android phones as well. The release adds another option to a growing market of wireless CarPlay adapters from third-party manufacturers.

Battery industry groups are lobbying to retain the current post-Brexit rules of origin requirements for electric cars traded between the UK and EU. The rules govern how much of a vehicle's content must come from Britain or the EU to qualify for tariff-free trade, and manufacturers are split over whether they should be relaxed or left in place.

Satellite manufacturer Astro Digital plans to go public through a SPAC merger, with proceeds earmarked for expanding its satellite production capacity and growing its defense business. The move would give the small-satellite firm access to public markets as demand for spacecraft manufacturing and defense-related space technology accelerates, positioning it alongside a wave of space companies seeking public listings.

Coverage is spotlighting the semiconductor technology behind artificial intelligence, focusing on the advanced chips that process AI queries and generate responses. As demand for AI services surges, attention is turning to the companies designing and manufacturing these processors, and to how critical chip supply has become to the broader AI boom.

The U.S. is pushing to bring semiconductor manufacturing back home, but Electronic Design reports the effort is overlooking a critical piece of the supply chain: board designers. While billions are being invested in fabs and chip production, the domestic workforce needed to design the printed circuit boards that turn chips into working electronics is shrinking, leaving a skills gap in American electronics manufacturing.

Indonesia is being urged to position itself strategically in the global semiconductor supply chain, as major powers seek alternatives to Taiwan and reduce dependence on Chinese manufacturing. Commentators argue the country could leverage its nickel resources, large workforce and geopolitical neutrality to attract chip investment. The debate centres on whether Jakarta can convert diplomatic balancing between Washington and Beijing into concrete industrial gains.

A software firm argues that spring manufacturers lose time when wire stock, purchasing and production operate in silos, and that ERP software can tie inventory, MRP, procurement and shop-floor scheduling together. The pitch says linked systems help teams track wire specifications, material batches, stock levels and replenishment, reducing delays. No specific company or incident is cited.

Tesla has arranged $30 billion in credit lines as it ramps up capital spending and accelerates its artificial intelligence programs, according to Reuters. The financing gives the electric car maker additional flexibility to fund factory expansion, new vehicle programs and its AI and computing ambitions, and is drawing attention as investors watch how aggressively the company will spend in the coming years.

Reports indicate Apple is encountering production difficulties with two upcoming iPhone models ahead of their planned launch. The claims come from multiple technology news outlets, though Apple has not commented and details about which models are affected or how severely remain limited. Industry watchers are weighing whether the issues could delay the devices' release or limit initial supplies.

Fresh content is drawing large audiences to how BYD builds its electric cars, with detailed footage of the company's manufacturing lines and production techniques. Viewers are reacting to the scale of BYD's factory operations as the Chinese automaker keeps expanding its global presence in the electric vehicle market. Interest reflects wider curiosity about how EVs are mass-produced and why BYD has become one of the world's biggest electric car makers.

The US Army has chosen Navitas Semiconductor, a US-based gallium nitride power chip maker, to build high-voltage semiconductors domestically. The move supports Washington's push to secure critical chip supply chains for defence applications and reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing. Details on contract size and timeline have not been disclosed.

BMW is preparing a new generation of the 3 Series that will reportedly be offered with both an electric i3 variant and a traditional petrol six-cylinder engine. The approach lets buyers choose between zero-emission driving and a performance-oriented combustion option. Details on specifications, pricing and launch timing have not yet been confirmed by the manufacturer.

Bethel has presented its new robot joint modules at the 2026 World Manufacturing Convention, marking the company's debut of the components at a major industry event. The joint modules are designed for use in robotics, and the unveiling signals Bethel's push into the robotics supply chain. Little further detail about specifications or partners has been released so far.