Manufacturing & Industrial Technology

United States – October 19, 2026 -- SupplyOne has secured two locations of a private equity-owned plastic fabrication company, consolidating the customer's packaging vendors under stocked inventory programs and just-in-time (JIT) service.

The customer needed fewer suppliers and dependable support across multiple sites as it expanded. SupplyOne built a localized support model aimed at faster responsiveness, streamlined inventory programs and the customer's acquisition-driven growth strategy.

SupplyOne converts corrugated in-house and consolidates complementary packaging under one partner

Under the hybrid manufacturing and distribution approach, SupplyOne converts corrugated packaging in its own manufacturing facilities. It also supplies complementary packaging products, which reduces supplier complexity across the customer's locations.

Guangzhou – October 18, 2026 -- Phase 1 of the 140th Canton Fair opened on October 15 under the "Advanced Manufacturing" theme, with service robots and smart-living products anchoring the Consumer Electronics and Information Products zone through October 19.

Smart-living exhibits target health monitoring and elderly care

Exhibitors are showing wearable devices and continuous glucose monitoring systems that track indicators such as heart rate and blood glucose. Wearable exoskeletons and other AI-powered devices support mobility training and functional recovery.

For home and elderly care, companion robots, electric nursing beds and home-use hyperbaric oxygen chambers combine daily care with wellness support and lifestyle assistance.

Strasbourg – – October 18, 2026 -- Strasbourg-based startup AMFREE says its wire laser additive manufacturing (WLAM) technology cut the lead time for a stainless steel mold from 12 months to 3 weeks. The company says the process can produce metal parts of up to 5 metres, which it describes as the largest in Europe.

Pilot unit deposits iron-, nickel-based and hardfacing materials

AMFREE's pilot unit processes iron-based and nickel-based alloys as well as hardfacing materials. Co-founder Félix Boisselier, who leads technical activities, and Sales Director Clément Knittel are scheduled to present the technology in a digital session on June 26, 2026, from 11:15 to 12:00.

ArianeGroup tests three aluminum alloys for rocket parts

In a collaboration with ArianeGroup, AMFREE tested three aluminum alloys for rocket components. Alloy 2319 reached strength above 400 MPa. Alloy 5183 proved harder to deposit but cost-effective.

Sarasota – October 17, 2026 -- Kreate, a product development and manufacturing company, has been named The Home Depot's 2026 Partner of the Year, its third consecutive year receiving the recognition, following a $100 million expansion in Tiffin, Ohio.

The award comes from The Home Depot's annual Supplier Partnership and Innovation Awards, which recognize suppliers that deliver value, innovation and performance for DIY and Pro customers. Kreate said the recognition reflects a multi-year collaboration to expand and improve The Home Depot's storage assortment.

Tiffin expansion adds capacity closer to customer demand

The $100 million Tiffin investment adds production capacity and brings advanced manufacturing closer to customers. Kreate said its manufacturing and distribution locations help cut freight, handling and lead times.

Geneva – October 17, 2026 -- Gécamines, the Democratic Republic of Congo's state-owned mining enterprise, has finalized an offtake agreement for Kipushi zinc concentrate, with up to 240,000 tonnes to be marketed over the next two years, Mercuria announced.

Gécamines and Mercuria joint venture to market Kipushi output

Gécamines will sell the volumes through its joint venture with Mercuria. The multi-year agreement allows for potentially higher volumes after the initial two-year period and sets a strategic focus on Western supply chains.

The deal marks Gécamines' entry as a major exporter of zinc concentrate to international markets. Mercuria will contribute its global trading capabilities, logistics expertise and market access to connect Kipushi's production with international customers.

Wadsworth – October 16, 2026 -- Rohrer Corporation has promoted Nadine Powell to Vice President, Product Strategy and Marketing, giving the thermoformed and contract packaging provider a new seat on its Executive Leadership Team. Powell will report directly to Danny Teixeira, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Powell takes charge of product, innovation and branding at Rohrer

Powell will lead Rohrer's Product Strategy and Marketing organization, which covers product management, innovation strategy, market development, branding and long-term business planning. She currently serves as Senior Director of Product Management and Marketing at the company.

Wadsworth – October 16, 2026 -- Rohrer Corporation has promoted John Fuchs to Vice President, Commercial, giving him control of the thermoformed packaging maker's commercial strategy, sales organization, business development and customer growth efforts.

Fuchs joins the Executive Leadership Team and reports to the CEO

Fuchs reports directly to Danny Teixeira, President and Chief Executive Officer, and becomes a member of Rohrer's Executive Leadership Team. He will work with that team to support the company's long-term growth objectives and customer relationships.

Las Vegas – October 16, 2026 -- PANDAG will show two configurations of its G1 autonomous mower at EQUIP EXPO 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky, from October 21–23, marking its second consecutive appearance at the U.S. professional equipment show.

The G1 has a 48-inch cutting width, covers up to 12 acres per day and operates on slopes of up to 38°. It combines LiDAR, AI Vision, RTK and 4G for autonomous navigation and mowing. Listed features include obstacle detection, automatic return-to-charge and resume, and multi-site management.

PANDAG splits G1 display between indoor and outdoor booths

The G1 M1500 SD (Side Discharge) will be on indoor display at Booth #21062 in the Kentucky Exposition Center. PANDAG positions it for fine-turf work requiring a consistent cut, including golf courses and sports turf.

Washington – October 16, 2026 -- The United States now produces just 1% of global aluminum, down from industry leadership 25 years ago, according to a study presented by economist Dr. Adam Hersh at an event hosted by the American Primary Aluminum Association (APAA).

Smelter count falls from 23 to four, none military-grade

In 2000, 23 primary aluminum smelters operated in the United States, against 10 in Canada. Four remain in the US, and none can produce military-grade aluminum. The last US smelter capable of making the high-purity aluminum required for many defense applications closed in 2022, leaving the country reliant on foreign sources.

Hersh, a research fellow at the University of Massachusetts, attributed the decline to foreign government subsidies and unfair trade policies. He called the loss of smelting capacity a market failure that exposes the US economy to supply chain disruption.

Shenzhen, China – October 16, 2026 -- ONERugged, a brand of Emdoor Information (SZ:001314), has expanded its Vehicle PC (VPC) portfolio with rugged vehicle-mount computers aimed at precision agriculture and autonomous mining, citing a market where autonomous mining vehicles are moving from pilot programs to full-scale commercial deployment.

Five models span 8-inch and 10.1-inch displays

The VPC line covers the V80J, V80T, V10J, V10T and V12R, in 8-inch and 10.1-inch form factors. Each unit uses a high-performance CPU architecture for edge processing and offers CAN bus communication for integration with native vehicle systems. Connectivity options include aviation-grade or Deutsch connectors and CAN, RJ45, RS232, RS485, USB and GPIO interfaces.