Manufacturing & Industrial Technology

Cape Canaveral, Fla. – September 14, 2026 -- Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET) has entered a memorandum of understanding with Vaya Defense & Space, Inc. to jointly evaluate captive-carry flight testing and air-launch propulsion, targeting a gap in hypersonic development where demand for test flights has outrun available capacity. The global hypersonic technology market is valued at approximately US$8.49 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach roughly US$15.73 billion by 2030, according to Research and Markets, a compound annual growth rate of about 13.2%.

Arkansas – September 14, 2026 -- Japan remains the largest foreign investor in Arkansas, operating more than 65 offices, research facilities, and manufacturing plants through over 30 companies, a footprint now extending into agricultural technology collaboration.

IEEE-USA and NARO convene the IWRC Smart Agriculture Technology Summit in Arkansas

The summit brings together NARO leadership, U.S. and Japanese agtech companies, entrepreneurs, researchers, and government officials to address open-field agriculture, controlled-environment farming, and food technology. Breakout sessions will cover advanced farming equipment, international research collaboration, and fertilizers and pesticides.

Seoul – September 14, 2026 -- DB HiTek has completed reliability qualification for its 1,200V silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET manufacturing process on 8-inch (200mm) wafers, establishing what the company calls the world's first complete 8-inch SiC foundry process. Mass production is scheduled for 2027.

DB HiTek builds the industry's first full-scale 8-inch SiC foundry pipeline

The South Korean foundry, which specializes exclusively in 8-inch wafer production, has set up an end-to-end service covering design, fabrication, electrical characterization, and reliability qualification for high-power SiC MOSFETs. Most SiC production today runs on 6-inch wafers, but major chipmakers are shifting toward 8-inch substrates to cut per-unit costs and boost manufacturing efficiency, a transition DB HiTek is positioning itself to capture early.

Chicago – September 14, 2026 -- Copia Automation has extended its OT code management and recovery platform to support Omron Sysmac Studio, enabling automated backup, version control, and rapid recovery for manufacturers running Omron NJ and NX-series controllers.

Copia DeviceLink now covers Omron NJ and NX-series devices

The integration allows Copia customers to bring the same code management discipline already applied to Rockwell and Siemens environments to Omron-based operations. Copia DeviceLink automatically backs up Sysmac Studio projects so OT teams retain a verified last known version for restoration.

Vancouver – September 14, 2026 -- Salazar Resources Limited (OTCQB: SRLZF) (TSXV: SRL) (FSE: CCG) has spent US$66.2 million on construction of the Curipamba-El Domo polymetallic project in Ecuador through September 14, 2026, with commissioning targeted for July 2027 under a fully funded build.

Salazar holds a 25% carried interest while Silvercorp funds and operates the build

Salazar retains a 25% carried interest in Curipamba-El Domo, located in Ecuador's Bolivar and Los Rios provinces. Silvercorp holds the remaining 75%, operates the project and is funding construction, meaning Salazar pays nothing to reach production but does not control the schedule or budget.

Saddle Brook, N.J. – September 14, 2026 -- Arrow Tool Group has signed on as a Diamond Sponsor for the 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, committing tools, equipment and public relations support to move the tree from Idaho's Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

Arrow supplies tools and holiday kits for the cross-country tree tour

The New Jersey-based manufacturer, founded in 1929, will provide tools and equipment to the Capitol Christmas Tree team, donate holiday tool kits, and support public relations efforts aimed at community engagement along the tree's route. The partnership operates in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and the Society of American Foresters.

Israel – September 14, 2026 -- Elmo Motion Control has completed Functional Safety certification across its entire Titanium servo-drive line, embedding 20 certified Safety Functions directly into the drive architecture and supporting safety levels up to SIL 3 (EN 61508), PL e, CAT4 (EN ISO 13849), and FSoE (IEC 61784-3).

Certification Covers Both Industrial and Harsh-Environment Servo Drives

The certified portfolio spans four product families. The Titanium Castanet and Solo Castanet deliver up to 1.2 kW per axis (2.4 kW total) at 2 x 15A continuous, 30A peak, up to 100V, while the Titanium Harmonica scales to 2.5 kW per axis (5 kW total) at 2 x 25A continuous, 50A peak, up to 100V, or 2 x 15A continuous, 20A peak, up to 200V. For extreme operating conditions, the Titanium Lizard, Solo Lizard, and Titanium Falcon replicate these power specifications in ruggedized designs built for temperature extremes and demanding industrial settings.

Pittsburgh – September 14, 2026 -- MSA Safety has launched the A1X, a vacuum anchor weighing 7 kg, 35% lighter than its predecessor, designed to speed up fall-protection deployment during aircraft maintenance checks.

Smaller footprint opens access to more aircraft types

The A1X reduces its pad diameter to 350 mm from 480 mm, allowing use on executive jets, private aircraft and smaller commercial planes previously outside the range of MSA's WinGrip technology. The system is approved by Airbus and Boeing, giving maintenance teams clearance to adopt it into standard procedures.

Pittsburgh – September 14, 2026 -- MSA Safety has launched the WinGrip A1X vacuum anchor, a fall-protection device for aircraft maintenance that weighs 7kg, 35% lighter than its predecessor, and shrinks its pad diameter from 480mm to 350mm.

Smaller footprint opens new aircraft segments to WinGrip technology

The reduced pad diameter allows the A1X to be deployed on business jets and private aviation aircraft that previously fell outside the scope of MSA's WinGrip system, alongside commercial airliners. The device is approved for use by Airbus and Boeing, positioning it for adoption as standard equipment across major maintenance operations.

Research Triangle Park, N.C. – September 14, 2026 -- RTI International has secured $5.5 million in combined federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for two projects converting common minerals and used cardboard into high-value industrial materials.

DOE funds dual technology tracks at expanded pilot facility

Both projects will run at the RTI Pilot Xcelerator, a pilot-scale testing platform on RTI's campus. The institute is set to open a $14 million facility expansion on Sept. 10, doubling its infrastructure for testing energy and industrial process innovations before they reach commercial scale.