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A labor union filed an unfair labor practice charge against an insulated cable products manufacturer, alleging the company cut off the health care coverage for over 160 employees after the workers rejected a contract offer. Teamsters Local 986 stated that Okonite, headquartered in New Jersey, terminated the health benefits for workers at the company's plant in Santa Maria, California, on May 19, one day before a strike began.

For this episode, I welcome Ethan Schaefer, a 21-year-old student at Purdue University participating in a co-op with Fluke Reliability. Schaefer said his interest in engineering dates back to middle school, which led to him pursuing a degree in electrical engineering at Purdue.In this episode, Schaefer discusses:How a company can improve its “vibe” (2:54)How to build a workplace where asking questions feels like a strength instead of a weakness (6:32)How young people view factory work (10:31)Why small manufacturers appeal to Gen Z and what those companies can do to capitalize (15:48)Saying, “That's the way we've always done it,” is one of the quickest ways to lose Gen Z talent (18:03)Please make sure to like and share this episode. To view previous episodes, visit manufacturing.net. If you are a member of Gen Z and would like to discuss your experience in the manufacturing industry, please contact Nolan Beilstein at nolan@ien.com.

For many buyers, the concept of the Lemon Law is a good one: when a consumer purchases a product that repeatedly fails to meet generally expected quality standards, they are provided with a legal remedy to pursue a refund.And while many automakers find themselves involved in Lemon Law cases, this next instance is a bit unique. For Ford Motor Company, instead of facing off in lawsuits over defective products it is filing a suit against a group of Lemon Law attorneys alleging widespread fraud.Companies who are found in breach of Lemon Law are often on the hook for the legal fees of the customer, which means there are certain law firms that specialize in – and seek out – these specific types of consumer protection cases. In Ford's instance, the automaker claims that a group of nine attorneys have been presenting them with inflated bills for Lemon Law-pursuing customers, to the tune of millions of dollars.

The US Attorney's Office in Central California recently issued a press release detailing the activities of a crime syndicate that targeted one of the country's largest retailers – Amazon – in a scheme that involved A LOT of stolen goods.Officers in Florida and California are said to have arrested 13 alleged members and associates of Armenian organized crime syndicates.

A factory in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, reliant on automation, looks to help a shoe manufacturer navigate tariffs and labor shortages.The Wall Street Journal reported that Keen Footwear recently closed its facility in Portland, Oregon, with plans to relocate production to a 60,000-square-foot site in the Bluegrass State, scheduled to open next month. The company expects the new location to nearly double its domestic output and credits that growth to increased automation.

From Q1 2017 through the second quarter of 2021, Valdez and Olson allegedly withheld taxes from employee wages but didn't pay the IRS or report them on quarterly tax forms. During that time, according to LinkedIn, both worked for Stella Technology, which is based in Milpitas, a San Jose suburb. Stella specializes in healthcare technology services, primarily custom software development. According to their LinkedIn profiles, both Valdez and Olsen still work for Stella. 

Philips has announced a new strategy to enable its customers to produce spare parts for their trimmers at home using a 3D printer.

The 2024 Cybertruck AWD Foundation Series sold for $100,000. As reported by Electreck, Tesla is offering just $65,400 in trade-in value—a depreciation of nearly 35% in a year. Pickup trucks typically depreciate around 20% in the first year.

On March 28, 2024, at about 12:18 am, the American Mariner was traveling up the St. Marys River about 25 miles south of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, when a steering failure caused the bulk carrier to strike the Munuscong Channel Junction Light, a 31-foot-diameter cylindrical fixed concrete structure with a giant light on top. The vessel took on water, but the crew stabilized it using pumps, and none of the 18 aboard were injured. Still, the American Mariner sustained more than $800,000 in damage, and the light suffered an estimated $1.25 million in damage.

It seems it's been a while where EV maker Faraday Future has been hanging by a thread.In the past year or so, the company has barely avoided bankruptcy and being evicted from its California headquarters. Following a cash infusion, the company has worked hard to stay afloat, even showing off two prototype mules and announcing plans to ultimately offer a sub-$30,000 electric van early this year.So how has it been going since?

Another electric vehicle maker appears to be on the brink of collapse, the latest in a growing trend of EV startups failing to break through in a crowded marketplace.This time it's Bollinger Motors, a commercial EV company founded nearly 10 years ago. According to The Detroit News, the company, which was acquired by Mullen Automotive in 2022, has been struggling to pay employees, contribute to 401(k) accounts and cover debts. Those debts include a $10 million loan from founder Robert Bollinger, who earlier this year filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming it was broke and that production had stopped.

A leading global manufacturer of ammunition plans to spend $300 million to establish a new plant in Oklahoma, state and company officials announced Monday.CBC Global Ammunition, a Brazilian company that also owns the Magtech, MEN and Sinterfire brands of small-caliber ammunition, will establish what would be its third U.S. facility at the MidAmerica Industrial Park in the state's northeastern corner.

It so happens that occasionally a worker gets busted for theft that takes place in the workplace, but it's the scale of this next incident that makes it an eye-popping scenario.Four individuals have been charged in a theft ring that allegedly saw millions in car parts lifted from several Michigan Ford factories, and one of them was a Ford employee.Dearborn police say they've uncovered a scheme involving Ford-manufactured parts and accessories. After a monthslong investigation, authorities arrested the men for allegedly stealing Ford vehicle parts – and it wasn't something easily snuck out of a building.

Koenigsegg is a Swedish manufacturer of high-performance sports cars that has been credited with some of the most exciting designs to hit automotive since its founding in 1994.And its latest does not disappoint.New reports claim that a recent test of the Koenigsegg Jesko actually resulted in a world record.The vehicle was already known for being one of the fastest production cars of all time – but not THE fastest. That's because the vehicle's zero to 60 has been outpaced by others, specifically the Rimac Nevera which Carscoops says has the Jesko beat from a standstill

LEGO Group and Formula 1 unveiled 10 fully-drivable F1 cars in Miami on Sunday. The effort was the fruit of a partnership with all 10 teams on the grid and they made their debut at the Miami Grand Prix Driver's Parade. Each vehicle is made of some 400,000 bricks and weighs a little more than 3,300 pounds—2,200 of that is just the bricks. The average F1 car weighs only 1,759 pounds, including the driver but no fuel, and typically consists of zero LEGO bricks. The vehicles have a bit of a speed differential as well, the average F1 car tops out at 233 mph and their LEGO counterparts bury the needle at 12 mph, but hey they're twice as heavy. 

Back in February, President Donald Trump said Boeing's progress on the new Air Force One was taking too long, and he threatened to go another way, maybe even dipping into the used aircraft market to find something to convert. Well, it appears that the president has reached the end of his patience and is now repurposing a used Qatari plane to become the new Air Force One, and he's tasked one of Boeing's contractors to get it done.

A new recall, spotted by Electrek, is targeting the ID.Buzz for having too much space for passengers in the third row. The vehicle was designed to have two designated seating positions in the back row, so the bench seat is logically equipped with just two seatbelts. But, as the NHTSA puts it, the calculated seating surface width of the third-row rear bench exceeds the maximum value allowed by federal motor vehicle safety standards. In other words, it's too comfortable, making it too easy to squeeze in a third passenger who'd be left without a seatbelt.

From the inventor of the Jetson ONE hoverbike comes a new innovation in an open-air concept. Designed in stealth, Tomasz Patan gave zero updates on his latest project before the bike's unveiling on May 1st. As part of the announcement, Patan released a video in which he can be seen gliding around a forest and through a valley on his newest creation, which he claims to be a ‘breakthrough in personal air mobility.'

For many automakers the current market is clear as mud. Production shifts are being proposed as tariffs are hitting their supply chains, and pricing and buyer behavior are such a question mark that some have withdrawn their full year forecasts.But one EV brand may have had the foresight to get ahead of the drama.Carscoops recently reported that Rivian has been quietly amassing a “secret stockpile” of key components since before the 2024 election.They say that, because of this “refreshingly proactive strategy,” the California-based company is now sitting on a sizable stockpile of batteries.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced a new lawsuit against body armor manufacturer ShotStop Ballistics from Stow, Ohio, for allegedly importing Chinese-produced plates and labeling them as “made in Ohio” and compliant with standards from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the Department of Justice's testing arm.The lawsuit stated that the alleged actions by ShotStop, its Vallmar Studios affiliate and owner Vall Iliev violated the Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA). 

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Abitec makes ingredients used in the pharmaceutical, nutritional and specialty chemical industries. Specifically, the company manufactures functional lipids, products used in everything from making sure CBD stays evenly mixed in beverages to those used in suppositories to make sure they melt appropriately. The company operates a pair of manufacturing sites: a factory in Paris, Illinois that specializes in flaking, blending, and spray chilling, and another in Janesville, Wisconsin that does esterification, surfactants and specialty blending. But the plant in Janesville is old; it dates back to 1907, and Abitec is looking to modernize. 

The company joins an increasing number of tech giants making significant U.S. investment plans.

Welcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast that asks young people about their journeys in manufacturing, how they intend to influence the industry and what they are looking for from an employer.For this episode, I welcome Adam Saleh, the 24-year-old CEO and founder of Presq, a design services company that helps consumers launch foot products.Saleh started Presq in 2019 during his engineering design fellowship with The 1881 Institute of Technology in collaboration with NASA. Shortened from “presque vu,” a French term that roughly translates to “tip of the tongue,” Presq blends a prompt-to-product workflow, 3D printing technology from Carbon 3D and cultural intelligence to spotlight localized production stories.

With the shift to remote and hybrid work came what Microsoft calls “productivity paranoia”While many employers seek out the best ways to keep employees productive and on track, there can certainly be drawbacks to the most aggressive strategies.

“Christmas is in danger,” according to Toy Association CEO and president Greg Ahearn. In a report by NBC News, Ahearn said U.S. President Donald Trump's increasing tariffs are disrupting manufacturing in China, where the Toy Association estimated 80% of toys sold in the U.S. are sourced.

Amazon's Project Kuiper is an ambitious project and could eventually be a serious competitor to SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service. But that's only if Amazon can start building its satellites a little faster.According to Bloomberg, Project Kuiper has run into production delays. It's on a government deadline to have about 1,600 satellites in orbit by next summer, but so far it's only managed to churn out a few dozen of the spacecraft. The company will need to quadruple its production capacity if it still plans to meet that deadline.

On October 9, 2023, the Ocean Navigator passenger vessel owned by Victory Cruise Lines began a 10-night cruise from Montreal, Canada, to Boston, Massachusetts, with 128 passengers and 82 crewmembers aboard. Nine days later, at about 7:00 am, the vessel was docked in Portland, Maine, when a fire broke out in the engine room.The NTSB released a report this week that traced the fire to debris in the engine's lube oil system, which led to a catastrophic mechanical failure in the no. 2 auxiliary diesel generator engine. The fire injured a crewmember, but it self-extinguished after the crew ventilated the engine room. Still, the incident caused some $2.4 million in damage. 

While the ramp-up of autonomous driving tools has been years in the making, China appears to be tapping the breaks on this emerging tech – or at least how it's being portrayed.Recent reports say China has instituted a ban on certain words being used in advertising vehicles and their automated features. Such descriptions include the terms “smart,” “self-driving” and “autonomous driving.”But it doesn't appear to end there. Reuters cited a meeting between Chinese government officials and auto industry leaders that points to new rules about technology rollouts. 

Mack Trucks plans to lay off up to 450 workers at two facilities in Pennsylvania and Maryland, the company's director of public relations, Kim Pupillo, confirmed. The medium and heavy-duty truck manufacturer's job cuts will take place at the Lehigh Valley Operations center in Macungie [Muh-CUN-jee], Pennsylvania, and the Powertrain Development and Production plant in Hagerstown [HAY-guhrs-town], Maryland. 

ABB intends to establish a standalone robotics company next year.

The plaintiff in the lawsuit said he bought a used 2020 Model Y Tesla vehicle with 36,772 miles on it. He said he started to notice "peculiar patterns” in mileage while the vehicle was continually having problems with its suspension. He claimed his daily driving habits should have amounted to about 20 miles per day, but his Tesla's odometer was registering an average of 72 miles per day. As a result, he said Basic Warranty expired way ahead of schedule.

The company had recently spent $40 million on an expansion. 

The automaker wants 90% of all cars sold in the U.S. to be made in the U.S.In March, Honda became one of the first tariff dominos to fall when the company scrapped plans to make the Civic Hybrid in Mexico and moved production to Indiana. Now, according to Reuters, the automaker is looking to increase U.S. production by some 30% over the next two-to-three years. 

The 300+ workers supply Pyrex glass – a product line owned by Instant Brands until a 2023 bankruptcy led to the sale of its housewares division to a company called Centre Lane Partners, owner of glass company Anchor Hocking.

The Trump administration reportedly plans to end funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, a public-private partnership that supports small and medium-sized manufacturers, which represent nearly 98% of firms in the U.S. While the Department of Commerce did not officially announce a funding cut, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) issued a statement that said the Trump administration would halt funding for 10 MEP centers.

A stealthy EV startup with financial backing from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly building a $25,000 electric truck.According to TechCrunch, Slate has been up and running since 2022 and quietly assembling a team of automotive experts from companies like Ford, General Motors, Stellantis and Harley-Davidson. Drawing inspiration from the Model T Ford and Volkswagen Beetle, the company hopes to introduce a two-seat EV pickup with a significantly lower price point than many of its competitors.

Late last year, Michigan-based Grede LLC told workers at its 50-year-old foundry in Brewton, Alabama, that the company planned to shutter all manufacturing operations by the end of 2025. On April 1, the company issued a WARN notice with the state that says the wind down will begin on May 22, 2025, and some 160 employees will be affected. But it turns out many more will be out of work. 

GM yesterday unveiled a Chevrolet Corvette concept car with a 3D printed body. Not only is the body lighter, but additive manufacturing would allow GM to reduce the part count. According to GM Authority, the carmaker sold a little more than 33,000 Corvettes in the U.S. last year, and advancements in additive manufacturing can already suit applications with volumes in the low tens of thousands—and this one is in the future, so who knows what will be possible then, or, if there will be one. GM's UK team created the concept as part of an advanced design study that includes multiple studios currently preparing to reveal additional Corvette concepts throughout the year. 

Appliance manufacturer Whirlpool has announced that it will lay off 651 workers from its plant in Amana, Iowa.The company said that the layoffs, effective June 1, are “necessary adjustments to production” in response to consumer demand for the specific products being manufactured in Amana. These include French door and column refrigerators.While the company has said that tariffs are not a factor in this move, the decision nonetheless triggered a political backlash of a different kind.

Last week, Hyundai Motor Group announced a $21 billion investment in U.S. operations from 2025 to 2028, including some $6 billion earmarked for strategic partnerships with U.S. companies. As part of this new investment, Hyundai will purchase "tens of thousands of robots" from Boston Dynamics, according to the robot maker. As part of the partnership, the carmaker plans to help Boston Dynamics scale over the course of the next few years by integrating its manufacturing capabilities. Together, the two hope to create one of the biggest manufacturers of advanced mobile robots in the world. 

Reuters is reporting that Toyota's hybrid models are in such high demand that parts shortages have led to monthslong delays – or worse.

Situated just northwest of Oklahoma City, the Bethany-Warr Acres Water Treatment Plant was recently the scene of a crime – that is, according to Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna who has filed charges against two former employees.The water treatment plant handles three million gallons of raw sewage a day, and the County  alleges that 55-year-old Anthony Menzie and 63-year-old Glenn Brentnell committed multiple felonies in willfully allowing waste to leak into a nearby creek

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology researchers have developed a 3D printing food solution that combines the use of graphene heaters and starch-based printing material with generative AI, all in a single 3D printer. Traditional 3D printing food technologies typically require postprocessing steps that lead to imperfect shapes, use unappealing ingredients or even face microbial contamination. Using graphene heaters surrounding the extrusion head, the researchers cook the food as it is printed at a constant, controlled temperature. By heating the material as it is printed, the foods keep their intended quality and shape.

When the Dali containership struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the deadly collapse triggered an NTSB investigation into U.S. infrastructure. The safety agency wanted to see if other bridges could be susceptible to similar strikes. About two weeks ago, the NTSB identified 68 bridges across 19 states that should conduct a vulnerability assessment. 

Law enforcement stormed a flooring manufacturer in Cartersville, Georgia in connection with what the FBI described as an “active, ongoing labor trafficking investigation.”According to a news release, agents from the FBI, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other law enforcement partners entered the Wellmade Industries building to execute federal search warrants, alleging the company of using fraud and coercion to persuade Chinese nationals and other immigrants to work. The agents also carried out search warrants at multiple residences in the area.

After a challenging year of sales declines and a failed potential merger with Honda, Nissan wants to make it clear that it's not going anywhere.And based on the most recent announcements from the Japanese automaker, it appears Nissan is pinning its comeback hopes on an array of new and redesigned models, all due to hit the market by 2027.There are ten in fact, and the company says these new entries will span both the Nissan brand and its higher-end counterpart, Infiniti.

In a move that says just as much about the state of the steel industry as the automotive industry, Cleveland-Cliffs has confirmed that it will lay off 600 workers from its Dearborn Works facility in Michigan.Cleveland-Cliffs is the 4th largest steel maker in the United States, and shipped out record volumes to automotive in 2023.

One bearing company has found a way to optimize the design of a time-tested product that's used single every day: the wheel.The results are in after a yearlong trial of Spanish company Fersa's take on the wheel hub, and they say they've proven their new and efficient design.This fuel efficient wheel hub has been designed to reduce both friction and rolling resistance. According to reports, it uses a combination of high load capacity, advanced materials, optimized lubrication and "microgeometric enhancements for optimized surface geometry."

training for students seeking careers in various skilled trades. Her passion for motorsport led her to a UTI division called NASCAR Technical Institute.Ahmed's other professional experience includes working as a CNC and CNC Swiss lead operator at Victory 1 Performance and Trend Performance, which are owned by racing parts maker Race Winning Brands.Ahmed also hosts NextGenMFG, a podcast that features guests working in skilled trades and pursuing education in STEM fields. The podcast aims to elevate careers, teach younger audiences and their families about trades and inform business owners and employers about what the younger generation is looking for.In this episode, Ahmed discusses:How to engage young people with no connection to skilled trades (1:19)How manufacturers can use social media to find young talent (6:58)Which social media platforms companies should use (12:27)What a company needs to attract Gen Z (15:05)Upcoming episodes and guests on the NextGenMFG podcast (18:40)Please make sure to like and share this episode. To view previous episodes, visit Manufacturing.net. If you are a member of Gen Z and would like to discuss your experience in the manufacturing industry, please contact Nolan Beilstein at nolan@ien.com.

EV maker Longbow is taking two sleek new models to market – and analysts say the competition might be taking note.That's because Longbow's latest entries have more going for them than your average electric car.This UK-based startup is supported by a strong pedigree, including ex-employees from EV leaders like BYD, Tesla and Lucid. 

Tesla Cybertrucks have run into a spot of trouble, a defect that has forced the automaker to recall every truck it's ever sold. Luckily, that is only 46,096 vehicles, but unfortunately this one can't be fixed with an over-the-air update. The EV maker recently received several reports of pieces of the roof falling off while the vehicle was on the road. Specifically, the cant rail, the bit of electrocoated stainless steel trim above the doors that runs from the base of the windshield to the back door. Tesla says its part of the Cybertruck's "cosmetic applique" and, according to the recall, the assembly is affixed to the vehicle with fasteners. The panel is delaminating at the adhesive joint, causing it to separate from the vehicle.