Manufacturing & Industrial Technology

Shanghai – September 18, 2026 -- DongCheng Company held separate global online product launch events in August for its three power tool brands -- DongCheng, DCA and DCK -- unveiling new lineups spanning construction, metalworking, woodworking and home renovation applications.

Three brands livestream distinct product launches worldwide

Each event was broadcast live through the company's official Facebook page and YouTube channel, combining real-world product demonstrations with 3D virtual scenes. Gu Zhiping, Chairman of DongCheng Company, opened each session, with product engineers and managers leading technical presentations.

DongCheng brand targets professional segment with new tool series

DongCheng, which has over 30 years in the professional power tool industry, launched a new series under the theme "Unmatched Power, Ironclad Quality," covering impact wrenches, rotary hammers, angle grinders and drills.

Toronto – September 18, 2026 -- Hemlo Mining Corp. (TSX: HMMC) (OTCQX: HMMCF) confirmed a temporary electrical outage on September 18, 2026, at an underground substation feeding the Alimak production area on the 9765 level of its flagship Hemlo Gold Mine in northwestern Ontario, with no injuries reported and all underground personnel safely evacuated.

A replacement substation ordered under a critical spare parts audit is due in December 2026 at an estimated cost of US$250,000

The company had pre-ordered the replacement unit before the failure occurred, a move that now shortens the repair timeline. In the interim, technical teams have installed a temporary electrical bypass that restores power to the affected zone at reduced capacity, allowing some mining to continue while development and exploration work remains constrained.

New York – – September 18, 2026 -- KPS Capital Partners, LP has signed a definitive agreement to sell its portfolio company Metra to Warsaw-listed Grupa Kęty S.A. for €645 million, with closing expected in the first quarter of 2027 pending customary approvals.

Metra operates nine plants and 1,400 employees across Europe and North America

Metra, headquartered in Rodengo Saiano, Italy, is a vertically integrated manufacturer of extruded aluminum profiles offering painting, oxidation, machining, welding and assembly services. Its products serve rail, industrial and building & construction end-markets. The company runs nine global manufacturing facilities with roughly 1,400 employees.

Hewitt, Texas – September 18, 2026 -- UTEM, a Hewitt, Texas-based manufacturer of purpose-built aerial lift trucks for the fiber, telecommunications, municipal and utility sectors, has appointed Kim Zander as Chief Executive Officer.

Kirk Zander steps back to President as company adds first CEO

Kirk Zander, who has led UTEM, will continue in the role of President, retaining the same relationships and points of contact with customers and partners. The company described the appointment as timed to "its next phase of growth," with Kim Zander spending the coming months meeting employees, customers and partners nationwide to build an operational understanding of the business.

Chicago – September 18, 2026 -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) has been designated the Official Tooling Supplier of NASCAR, the company announced at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2026 in Chicago.

Kennametal unveils NASCAR designation at IMTS 2026 booth in Chicago

Dave Bersaglini, Kennametal Vice President and President of Metal Cutting, revealed the partnership at the company's Next Level Shop exhibit, Booth No. 431800, West Building Level 3, during IMTS 2026, running Sept. 14–19 at McCormick Place.

San Jose, Calif. – September 18, 2026 -- GS Microelectronics U.S., Inc. (GSME) has officially joined TSMC's Open Innovation Platform (OIP) Value Chain Alliance (VCA) as a North American member partner, expanding its role in delivering full-lifecycle ASIC services from IP development through advanced packaging and testing.

GSME expands ASIC services across the full IC value chain

The partnership integrates GSME's design enablement tools with the broader OIP Ecosystem, covering front-end architecture, back-end physical design, wafer manufacturing, advanced packaging, assembly and testing under a single execution framework.

Beijing – September 18, 2026 -- A 4-meter hydraulic-electric hybrid humanoid robot capable of carrying a 500 kg dual-arm payload while maintaining fingertip repeatability of ±0.05 mm has been unveiled by Beijing-based NeodraDynamics Robotics at the World Robot Conference (WRC) in Beijing. The machine, named Neo1, combines digital hydraulics with electric actuation, a pairing the company says eliminates the industry's long-standing trade-off between raw force and fine motor precision.

Neo1's core cylinder drives 1,000 kg at 1-micrometer precision

At the center of the robot's design is a micro digital hydraulic cylinder weighing 1.1 kg that can drive a 1,000 kg load with repeatability down to 1 micrometer. The company states the component withstands nuclear radiation, deep-sea pressure, extreme temperatures, heavy dust and intense vibration, conditions that typically degrade pure-electric actuators.

Arlington, Va. – September 18, 2026 -- The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) has released ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026, the updated American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection, approved by the American National Standards Institute.

Head injuries caused nearly 700 worker fatalities in the last year, ISEA says

"This isn't a routine update — it's the roadmap for an industry transformation," said Cam Mackey, President & CEO of ISEA. He noted major employers are now mandating enhanced protection, prompting the need for a new technical framework. ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 is referenced in OSHA regulations and remains the primary benchmark for industrial head protection in the United States.

London – September 17, 2026 -- BASF retook the top spot in the ICIS Top 100 Chemical Companies ranking with $70.0 billion in 2025 sales, even as sector-wide net profits collapsed 81.9% year-on-year.

BASF overtakes Sinopec to lead global chemical rankings

The Germany-based producer displaced China's Sinopec, which posted $66.3 billion in sales for second place. US-based ExxonMobil ranked third at $53.4 billion, followed by PetroChina at $42.1 billion and Dow at $40.0 billion, according to the annual ICIS Chemical Business ranking, which converts figures to US dollars using year-end 2025 exchange rates.

Little Rock, Ark. – September 17, 2026 -- The Systems Group (TSG), a family-owned steel-industry service provider founded in 1970, has launched Systems Cool Air Solutions, an eighth operating division dedicated exclusively to HVAC work at steel mills and metal-related industrial facilities.

New division targets installations, maintenance and 24/7 emergency response for steel mills

Systems Cool Air Solutions will handle new HVAC installations, preventive maintenance programs and round-the-clock emergency service built for extreme steel mill conditions. Service offerings span control room and motor control center (MCC) climate systems, overhead crane cab HVAC and pressurization, custom ductwork and sheet metal fabrication, ventilation and exhaust systems, building automation and controls, and industrial refrigeration.