The Latest

  • robots sit on the floor of a display area at IMTS 2026
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    Jeff Kinney/Manufacturing Dive
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    2027 manufacturing conferences and trade shows

    Upcoming industry events will showcase the latest products and cover key topics such as tariff mitigation, automation and artificial intelligence.

  • Engineer check and control automation robot arms machine in intelligent factory industrial
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    Adobe Stock/ Sasint

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    Sponsored by Infosys

    AI on the shop floor: Manufacturing’s physical AI moment

    Physical AI is here. Is your IT/OT foundation ready for it?

  • Red private equity labels on a U.S. hundred-dollar bill.
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    Getty Images
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    Defense, data centers and AI driving private equity manufacturing investments

    Defense-related companies made up 29% of private equity-led acquisitions in the first half of 2026. Another 29% came from data center and AI-related companies, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder project.

    Updated Oct. 6, 2026
  • Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds speaks during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on "Rightsizing Federal Government," on Capitol Hill, on Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
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    Al Drago via Getty Images
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    Iowa governor signs bill allowing $1.4B in tax incentives for steel project

    While a majority of lawmakers moved the legislation through Friday, several raised concerns that the project was being rushed and without public input.

  • A white Leidos logo sign on a building, being back lit with red, white and blue lights.
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    Courtesy of Leidos
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    Leidos completes security screening joint venture with medical imaging manufacturer

    The Fortune 500 company’s new entity with Analogic aligns with its 2030 growth strategy and the Trump administration’s homeland security priorities.

    Updated Oct. 5, 2026
  • A person whose upper body is blurred as they work on an engine inside a factory.
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    Getty Images
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    Manufacturing industry adds 9K jobs in September

    The plastics and rubber products sector added the most jobs last month with 4,600, while paper, furniture and related segments each lost at least 2,000, according to BLS. August’s adjusted new jobs count dropped to 15,000.

  • Kawada Robotics demonstrates its Fillie humanoid robot at IMTS 2026 in Chicago.
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    Courtesy of IMTS
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    IMTS 2026 highlights the evolution of AI and automation

    Manufacturing Dive gathered insights from several sessions and interviews about additive manufacturing, robotics and other factors shaping the industry.

  • Person in blue suit at a podium surrounded by people beside and behind.
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    (2026). "Thune: Congress Has Important Work Ahead, Starting With Government Funding" [Video]. Retrieved from John Thune.
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    Manufacturers ‘all in’ on Senate permitting reform bill: NAM

    The bill aims to cut through red tape and speed up environmental permitting for major infrastructure projects. It now awaits consideration in the Senate. 

  • Caterpillar's compact telehandler raises its industrial arm above a house during a construction project.
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    Courtesy of Caterpillar
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    Caterpillar and Ultium Cells make $1B facility investments

    Additionally, Genentech and Avio USA broke ground on separate projects this week including a device fill-finish expansion and a solid rocket motor factory.

  • A gray building with glass windows and the white Boeing logo on its top front.
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    Sara Samora/Manufacturing Dive
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    Nearly 10K Boeing workers ratify contract, avoiding West Coast strike

    The union contract between SPEEA-represented employees at the company’s facilites across Washington, Oregon, Utah and California was set to expire Oct. 6.

  • Colorful shipping containers stacked onboard an ocean vessel at a water port.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Manufacturing expands in September, but uncertainty weighs on sentiment

    Although the sector remained in expansion, "not being able to rely on a steady economic policy" is worrying manufacturers, said Susan Spence, chair of the Institute for Supply Management.

  • A large group of people standing behind a podium as confetti falls on them, with the blue Nasdaq screen in the background.
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    Courtesy of Nasdaq
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    Trump family-backed drone manufacturing merger closes

    Drone maker Powerus and golf course company Aureus Greenway Holdings completed the merger on Thursday. Experts raised concerns about the president’s sons’ conflicts of interest.

    Updated Oct. 1, 2026
  • Caracol's additive manufacturing robot automates component fabrication.
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    Courtesy of Caracol
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    How microfactories are changing the manufacturing playbook

    These small, modular facilities are leveraging robotics, additive manufacturing and advanced technologies to alleviate long lead times for parts and components.

  • A device releasing a large spray of water onto a tank emitting smoke.
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    Apu Gomes via Getty Images
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    Newsom signs California explosive chemical safety legislation

    The initial bill was reworked after a May chemical spill at GKN Aerospace’s facility in Garden Grove. The Boeing supplier agreed to pay up to $100 million to reimburse residents forced to evacuate over a five-day period.

  • U.S. President Donald Trump speaks next to Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16, 2025 in Kananaskis, Alberta.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Has Washington’s approach to manufacturing incentives really changed?

    In addition to tariffs, the Trump administration has taken a more sector-specific approach to incentives compared to the Biden administration. A recent Department of Commerce report laid out the current tools available.

  • Ford Michigan Van Dyke Powertrain Center Sterling Heights Michigan
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    Provided by Ford Motor Co. 

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    Ford, JPMorgan Chase and Michigan establish $3B manufacturing initiative

    The automaker and bank are partnering with the state to tackle challenges in scaling robotics and automation, critical minerals processing and other priority areas.

  • Seven silhouettes of fighter jets flying upward in a pyramid position above a dollar sign, with the sun setting in the background.
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    Getty Images
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    Private investment gaps persist in US defense: AIA, Bain report

    Private investment could resolve issues to help the industy meet surging demand for munitions amid ongoing global threats, according to the Aerospace Industries Association and Bain & Co. report.

  • Workers collaborate at ABM's technical training center in Boise, Idaho.
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    Courtesy of ABM
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    ABM launches semiconductor technical training facility in Boise, Idaho

    The facility extends ABM's existing semiconductor training footprint in Austin, Texas, and is meant to help increase the supply of skilled technicians.

  • U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters during an announcement in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 28, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Trump unveils plans to build $15B steel mill in Iowa

    Mesabi Metallics’ steel facility will be the largest in the U.S., creating 1,750 jobs and adding 10 million tons of annual production capacity. The company is also investing $3 billion to complete an iron ore mine in Minnesota.

  • A silver screw laid on a white table.
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    Courtesy of Garrett O'Brien/Saginaw Precision
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    Salient Motion establishes precision ball screw manufacturing segment

    The startup has implemented its process with Saginaw Precision’s expertise to reduce ball screw production time from years to about eight weeks, which are a critical component in missiles such as Raytheon’s PAC-2. 

  • Neura's 4NE1 humanoid works an automotive assembly line.
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    Courtesy of Neura Robotics
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    Factory robots surpass 5M worldwide, IFR reports

    That number has doubled over the past seven years and is set to continue growing as manufacturers navigate labor and cost pressures, according to the robotics trade group.

  • A person wearing safety glasses and a dark blue t-shirt working a machine.
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    Retrieved from Jonathan Estrada-Eguizabal / U.S. Navy.
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    Defense Department expands workforce development program to 3 states

    The BuildFreedom.US initiative will extend to Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin. The program launched in July and aims to bring awareness to “AI-proof” jobs in the defense industrial base’s talent pipeline.

  • robots sit on the floor of a display area at IMTS 2026
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    Jeff Kinney/Manufacturing Dive
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    These ‘4 pillars’ are critical for successful automation

    “People, processes, data and systems” are essential elements of any automation strategy, Sven Diedrich, head of digital transformation and business solutions at Pinaxis, said at IMTS in Chicago.

  • Workers operate Amazon's robotics manufacturing line in Massachusetts.
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Amazon, US Steel, Pirelli and others make facility investments

    Additionally, Eli Lilly broke ground on its Houston facility, and auto parts suppliers Hansae and Toyotetsu announced U.S. expansions. Meanwhile, Amy’s Kitchen and others are shuttering facilities.

  • Cheerios boxes on a store shelf
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    6 food manufacturers talk supply chain tactics

    General Mills, Nestlé and more discussed how they are cutting operational costs, navigating uneven freight rates and sharpening demand forecasting at a Barclays conference.

  • A stone-gray shade building with onyx shade lining, with the red, white and yellow Lego logo sign on the side of it.
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    Courtesy of The Lego Group
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    Lego to spend $400M expanding manufacturing facility in Mexico

    The toymaker plans to add packing and warehousing capabilities, as well as create 1,300 jobs at the Monterrey site.