Manufacturing & Industrial Technology

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.

Chicago – September 14, 2026 -- The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) is deploying 56 Taiwanese manufacturers to IMTS 2026, opening September 14 at McCormick Place under the Taiwan Flagship Showcase banner.

Taiwan concentrates 56 manufacturers at a single North Building booth

The showcase occupies Booth #236834 in the North Building, giving international buyers direct access to engineers and executives from Taiwan's machine tool and precision component sector for the duration of the show.

Akron, Ohio – September 14, 2026 -- Harmoni, a Factory Orchestration platform for manufacturers, has raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners, the company announced. Alongside the raise, Harmoni unveiled HAL, an AI system designed to deliver context-aware intelligence directly to the factory floor.

Manufacturers face a projected shortfall of 3.8 million workers by 2033

Nearly half of those U.S. manufacturing positions risk going unfilled as reshoring initiatives and rising costs compound labor pressure, according to Harmoni. Founded in 2023 by David Caputo and Adam Ellis, the company built its platform to address fragmented factory-floor execution that persists despite heavy investment in ERP systems, machine connectivity, and automation.

Westminster, Colo. – September 14, 2026 -- Ball Corporation (NYSE: BALL) has appointed Darlene J. Nicosia, CEO of Maker's Pride, and Sherry L. Buck, former CFO of W. L. Gore & Associates, to its board of directors, adding decades of manufacturing, procurement and finance expertise ahead of the company's push for profitable growth.

Nicosia brings 30 years of food and beverage operations experience

Nicosia spent much of her career at The Coca-Cola Company, where she served as President of Canada and Northeast U.S. and Chief Procurement Officer. She began her career at PepsiCo and Kraft Foods Group, and previously chaired the Audit Committee at Foot Locker, Inc. from 2020 to 2025. At Ball, Nicosia will join the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee and Finance Committee.

Austin, Texas – – September 14, 2026 -- La Luce Cristallina has launched a 0.5-micrometer silicon-based quantum paraelectric strontium titanate on insulator (QP-STOI) wafer platform, giving researchers and national laboratories a new tool for building next-generation cryogenic and quantum devices.

Pittsburgh – September 14, 2026 -- Industrial Scientific has launched TectraTM, a connected personal gas monitoring ecosystem designed to replace standalone monitors with an integrated safety network for industrial plants.

Tectra iX5 monitor delivers 20-hour runtime and peer-to-peer alerts

The Tectra iX5 personal monitor combines rugged reliability with a 20-hour runtime, peer-to-peer alerts, and effortless data transfer, according to the company. It is built to protect workers throughout every shift without disrupting operations.

System bump-tests and calibrates six monitors simultaneously

Tectra streamlines daily maintenance by supporting quick bump tests and calibrations for up to six monitors at once, cutting the time workers spend preparing equipment before a shift. Hands-free data sharing and over-the-air updates remove dependence on individual docking devices for data transfer, improving system uptime.

Lexington, Ky. – September 14, 2026 -- Valvoline Global Operations has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Luval S.A., a Chilean manufacturer and distributor of high-performance lubricants, greases, and maintenance products, deepening its footprint in Latin America. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Deal builds on 37-year partnership between the two companies

Valvoline Global and Luval have maintained a commercial relationship spanning 37 years, with Luval serving as the brand's representative in the Chilean market. The acquisition formalizes that relationship by merging Valvoline Global's fluid technology leadership with Luval's local operational and commercial infrastructure.

Rochester, N.Y. – September 13, 2026 -- Owl Autonomous Imaging, Inc. (Owl AI) has been selected for an award supporting the Pentagon-led Delivering Unmatched Thermal Capability–Hastened (DUTCH) initiative, backed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center.

Owl AI will apply uncooled LWIR semiconductor technology to next-generation defense thermal systems

As a fabless semiconductor company, Owl develops technology across the full thermal imaging chain, from focal plane arrays and digital readout electronics to camera cores and complete thermal camera systems. Under the award, the company will focus on developing and demonstrating next-generation uncooled long-wave infrared (LWIR) thermal capabilities.

Delray Beach, Fla. – September 13, 2026 -- The global automotive adhesives market will expand from $9.27 billion in 2026 to $12.36 billion by 2031, a 5.91% compound annual growth rate, according to MarketsandMarkets. Growth is being driven by lightweighting mandates, electric vehicle production, and manufacturing automation that favor adhesive bonding over traditional mechanical fastening.

Asia Pacific commands 59.3% of global adhesive value as regional vehicle output scales

Asia Pacific dominated the market in 2025 with a 59.3% value share, while Europe ranked second, supported by robotic dispensing and automated curing systems across vehicle plants. Passenger cars accounted for 70.7% of automotive adhesive demand by vehicle type in 2025, with light commercial vehicles holding the second-largest share as fleet operators standardize high-volume production runs.

Toronto – September 13, 2026 -- Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSXV: CNC) (OTCQB: CNIKF) has filed independent NI 43-101 technical reports on SEDAR+ supporting the initial mineral resource estimate for its Nesbitt Nickel Sulphide Project and an updated estimate for the Deloro Nickel Sulphide Project, both located near Timmins, Ontario and 100% owned by the company.

Technical reports confirm resource figures disclosed July 23, 2026

The two reports, issued September 8, 2026, carry mineral resource estimates with an effective date of July 23, 2026, and show no material differences from the figures the company disclosed in its July 23, 2026 news release. The estimates were prepared following CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Reserves dated November 29, 2019.