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Low earth orbit is a vast place, but that doesn't mean it's empty.And as countries across the globe are increasingly using this space for connectivity and research, satellite populations are skyrocketing – and we may witness some close calls.It was recently revealed that a SpaceX satellite nearly collided with another, unexpected satellite, the source of which is still not fully understood.According to SpaceX VP of engineering Michael Nicholls, a SpaceX satellite encountered another satellite that had been launched sometime in the previous 48 hours from China's CAS Space.Nicholls said “no coordination or deconfliction with existing satellites operating in space was performed” by CAS Space and that the two spacecraft came within 200 meters of one another. As tech reporter Nicholas Werner pointed out, “in space terms, they basically high-fived.”

Welcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast where I talk to 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 Gabe Schulze, a 25-year-old industrial engineer at Path Machining + Automation.Schulze holds a bachelor's and master's in industrial engineering and has worked for Path Machining for just over one year. At the company, Schulze leads initiatives to optimize CNC machining operations, implement standardized processes and improve unattended shift performance. His role includes CNC programming, process capability studies, tooling strategy and data-driven problem solving.

Another community filed a lawsuit against a group of fire truck manufacturers, alleging a price-fixing conspiracy that forced cities and fire departments to overpay for their vehicles. The latest legal action comes from the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and targets REV Group, Oshkosh Corporation, Pierce Manufacturing (owned by Oshkosh) and Rosenbauer America.The city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, filed the first lawsuit in August, claiming that the aforementioned companies conspired to restrict supply and drive up fire truck prices and that inflation alone does not explain the increases. Other entities with cases include Onalaska, Wisconsin, and fire departments in Pennsylvania, Maine and New York. Ann Arbor's filing claims that the companies control up to 80% of the fire truck market and that their alleged conspiracy contributed to prices doubling over the past decade, while also extending delivery times from 18 months to four years. The argument echoed La Crosse's case from August, which stated that a fire truck priced at $500,000 in the mid-2010s now costs about $1 million, while specialized units that once sold for $900,000 now exceed $2 million. 

Earlier this week, Ford scrapped the fully-electric F-150 Lightning and pivoted away from aggressive EV plans after losing $13 billion on the category since 2023.As consumer demand wanes and the company plans to take another $19.5 billion hit in Q4, Ford is shifting gears toward extended-range gas-powered vehicles and hybrids.The ripple effects throughout the supply chain will be far-reaching, including its $6.5 billion deal with LG Energy Solutions to make some 500,000 batteries per year. According to recent regulatory filings, that deal has been scrapped.

About two weeks ago, I was on a plane in Minneapolis that touched down a bit later than scheduled. As soon as that seat belt light turned off, a line of anxious passengers with tight, some impossible, connections, smashed into the center aisle. Some would make it, some would not, and maybe if this odd Mazda concept from the 1990s made it to market, everyone would have made their flights. 

Volkswagen announced that it plans to establish a research hub at its Transparent Factory in Dresden, Germany. The company noted that this realignment will phase out vehicle production at the site by the end of the year — marking the automaker's first plant closure in Germany, according to the New York Times.Transparent Factory Dresden, famous for its glass walls, opened in 2001 and began producing Volkswagen's ID.3 electric vehicles in 2021. The company plans to dismantle the ID.3 production line in January, with the first joint research projects with the Technical University of Dresden beginning in mid-2026 and regular operations scheduled for 2027. 

Anhueser-Busch's U.S. brewing footprint will soon be reduced by three facilities in moves that will impact more than 400 workers, according to reports.The brewer of Bud Light and Michelob Ultra has sold its plant in Newark, New Jersey, to property developer the Goodman Group, and will close down other breweries in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and Fairfield, California, early next year.A company spokesman said that the production at those plants will be moved to its other U.S. breweries, and that the moves would allow it to “invest even more” in its remaining operations. The brewer has touted a $300 million dollar spending push at its U.S. facilities in recent months, including updates at hubs in Georgia, upstate New York, Houston and its flagship St. Louis brewery, among others.The some 475 workers at the affected plants will be offered full-time positions at other Anheuser-Busch facilities, the company said, along with relocation stipends and training.Each of the facilities set for closure, however, date back decades in their respective cities. The Fairfield and Merrimack breweries were established 49 and 54 years ago, respectively, while the Newark brewery, established in 1951, is Anheuser-Busch's oldest outside St. Louis.

On Monday, OSHA announced more than $986,000 in safety violations for the largest transformer manufacturer in North America.​According to the U.S. Labor Department, OSHA inspectors visited Virginia Transformer Corp.'s (VTC) plant in Pocatello, Idaho, in June 2025. The visit was a follow-up after a pair of inspections last year found cranes used to handle heavy loads with faulty brakes and switches.

A former plant worker received an eight-year prison sentence for committing wire fraud and cheating his employer out of nearly $500,000, the Department of Justice announced. The perpetrator, 57-year-old John Laakso — who also went by John Trebesch — reportedly worked as a contractor and later became an engineering manager at GAF Materials Corporation's roofing factory in Savannah, Georgia. His responsibilities included securing equipment and services for the facility, which makes products for residential and commercial roofing applications.

Next month, Mecum Auctions hopes to cash in with a 1995 Corvette ZR1 Phase 5 engine still sealed in its original crate. The engine will go up for sale at Mecum's Kissimmee (kuh-si-mee) 2026 sale.The factory‑sealed LT5 crate engine underscores a growing demand for standalone powerplants as collectibles. Mecum has seen a surge in “component collectibles” as enthusiasts are increasingly bidding on rare transmissions, engines, and even factory tools. The auction listing emphasizes the engine's untouched condition, complete with original packaging and documentation.Recent sales of LT5 engines have fetched up to $50,000.

Jaguar's longtime design chief Gerry McGovern – and designer of the 00 – has reportedly been fired this past week.

Last Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that Taylor Farms New Jersey, a vegetable processing subsidiary of bagged salad maker Taylor Farms, faces more than $1 million in fines following an inspection triggered by a workplace fatality in Swedesboro, New Jersey. The investigation began in May 2025 after a worker was killed while cleaning a machine, and OSHA inspectors found 16 willful and repeated safety violations related to a lack of lockout/tagout procedures and training during sanitation activities. The safety agency proposed $1,125,484 in citations. OSHA also hit PL Solutions Group, which does business as People Logistics, with three serious violations and penalties of $33,100. The on-site temporary employment agency was fined for failing to implement or train workers on lockout/tagout procedures.

Within the studio's ‘Invent and Integrate' design approach, Mask Architects has unveiled a fully self-chargeable solar motorcycle named Solaris. At its core, Solaris looks a little bit like any other bike, but upon charging, retractable photovoltaic wings unfold, collecting rich sunlight to supply energy to the bike's lithium storage unit.The project serves as an exploration of autonomous mobility, focusing on vehicles capable of generating their own power without relying on fuel, charging networks, or electrical grids. When parked, Solaris effectively becomes its own charging station, operating independently and supporting site-free energy use. This technical foundation is paired with a distinctive biomimetic design philosophy.

Welcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast where I talk to 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 23-year-old Roman Andrew, an applications engineer at Fristam Pumps USA.  Andrew spent nearly two years interning at Fristam Pumps while in college, gaining experience in design engineering and quality assurance. During that time, he worked on pump assemblies and part design, collaborated with machinists on the shop floor and performed gauge calibrations and part inspections.In his current role, Andrew configures and quotes pump systems, helps with repairs and diagnosing failure points and offers technical support to customers.In this episode, Andrew discusses:How to keep interns coming back and eventually join full-time (1:14)Do young workers lack communication skills (3:00)What career growth means to Gen Z (8:15)Signs that your company is driving away young talent (12:44) Please make sure to like and share this episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing. 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 get in touch with me, Nolan Beilstein, at nolan@ien.com.

Last Friday, Able Groupe pleaded guilty to a pair of felony charges for smuggling illegal baby formula into the United States. According to the Justice Department, the company, which also did business as Little Bundle and Huggable, sold European infant formula to U.S. consumers beginning in the spring of 2019 on LittleBundle.com. https://www.ien.com/food-beverage/video/22955484/guilty-pleas-follow-scheme-to-smuggle-illegal-baby-formula-into-us#InfantFormula, #BabyFormulaRecall, #FDA, #FoodSafety, #Smuggling, #JusticeDepartment, #DOJ, #FDCA, #PublicHealth, #InfantHealth, #FormulaShortage, #BotulismOutbreak, #ConsumerSafety, #ImportAlerts, #NewsUpdate

Aluminum manufacturer Novelis suffered a third fire in two months at its plant in Oswego, New York. The company announced on its website that the fire began around 8:45 a.m. on Nov. 20 and that multiple local fire departments extinguished it by 3:25 p.m. The company added that all workers safely evacuated.The Wall Street Journal cited anonymous sources who said the incident appeared to occur in the same area as the first blaze in September. Novelis has not disclosed any details regarding damage.

In March 2024, a nearly 1,000-foot-long container ship lost power and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing the structure to collapse. Six highway workers were killed in the accident and estimates for replacing the bridge are as high as $5.2 billion.And now it looks like the whole tragic accident was caused by a single loose wire.

Ford has revealed a new sales strategy that's incorporating the biggest e-commerce seller in America.The automaker recently announced that, starting this week, buyers can purchase pre-owned Ford vehicles on Amazon.

California Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday announced nearly $100 million in tax credits spread across nine different companies to create new jobs and strengthen manufacturing in the Golden State. The Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development awarded $99.9 million in California Competes Tax Credits to support some 2,752 new jobs with an average weighted annual salary of $139,000. According to Governor Newsom, the investment will fetch more than $370 million in new private money.

Tesla is asking suppliers to remove all Chinese components used in the manufacturing of its cars for the U.S. market. According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, the company had previously stopped using Chinese suppliers for automobiles destined for the U.S. market, and now it's asking suppliers to do the same. 

Tesla yesterday issued a recall for its Tesla Powerwall 2 AC Battery Power Systems. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the lithium-ion battery cells in about 10,500 Powerwall 2 systems can cause the unit to stop functioning during normal use. The systems are overheating. Tesla has already received 22 reports of malfunctioning devices, including six in which the unit started smoking and five fires that resulted in minor property damage. As of press time, no injuries have been reported. 

On the heels of securing an $89 million U.S. Army modernization contract and introducing a new family of multi-mission autonomous vehicles, Oshkosh Defense is making headlines again; this time for workforce reductions.Following a $52.8 million decline in third-quarter sales, the company announced plans to lay off 160 employees at its Oregon Street plant in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, effective January. The decision was confirmed by both Alexandra Hittle, Oshkosh Corporation's Director of Global Marketing and Communications, and Bob Lynk, President of Auto Workers Local 578. According to both, the layoffs come after all other options were considered.

Honda has issued a massive recall impacting hundreds of thousands of Civic models and the root cause is, you guessed it, a mixup with a fence in Italy.The automaker warned that 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels that were sold as accessories could detach from the vehicle due to a manufacturing error. As the company points out, having the wheels fly off your car can result in “a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.”

A fascinating feat of automotive engineering is set to be auctioned later this month. The 'Beast' is a 19-foot long, two-door station wagon made in 1972 by British engineer John Dodd, and combines an aircraft-derived engine in a custom chassis. Station wagons are typically 15 feet to 16 feet long. According to Historics Auctioneers, which will set the Beast free to the highest bidder on November 29, 2025, the unique car traces back to engineer Paul Jameson. In the late 1960s, Jameson made a custom chassis big enough to hold a Rolls-Royce Meteor, an engine initially developed to power tanks in the second world war. 

The Boring Company, a tunneling firm founded by Elon Musk, received a fine of about $500,000 for dumping wastewater at two sites across its Las Vegas project, Fortune reported.Musk's company wants to build a network of tunnels beneath cities to decrease traffic congestion. The company's website mentions that it has received approval for 68 miles of tunnel and 104 stations for its Vegas Loop.However, Clark County Water Reclamation District (CCWRD) reportedly caught the company dumping fluids and spoils into two manholes and two on-site cleanouts. A notice of violation cited by Fortune stated that the actions led to “substantial damage” and required water agency crews to clean 12 cubic yards of mud, spoils and solid waste from a sewage treatment facility.

Novelis announced in its latest quarterly report that it plans to restart a hot mill damaged by a fire at its Oswego, New York plant. The metal manufacturer expects operations to resume in December. 

A McAdenville, North Carolina carpet factory will be closing its doors, with layoffs set to begin just two days after Christmas.Mannington Mills is a fifth generation family-owned business based in Salem, NJ that's produced flooring products for 110 years. On its website, the company claims to have more than 3,500 associates and multiple locations globally.But those figures will be shifting measurably near the end of the year, according to a WARN notice filed with two states.One of those filings details 296 job cuts at the McAdenville facility – a plant the company purchased from yarnmaker Pharr in 2020 when Mannington first entered the residential carpet industry.

Last month, Andersen Corporation, a leading manufacturer of windows and doors, sued automation company ATS Corporation, for allegedly failing to deliver equipment for a multi-million dollar factory project at its Iowa subsidiary, Eagle Window and Door Manufacturing, Inc.Andersen claims it poured millions into the facility to increase production of its high-end E-Series windows for the custom homebuilding market.Andersen claimed ATS missed deadlines, demanded millions in additional payments, and halted work on the project altogether, citing “poor project management” that made the equipment 860 days late. Well, late last week, ATS filed an answer and counterclaim as well as a motion to dismiss against Andersen Corporation and Eagle Window and Door.

It looks like an escape pod. 

The project went from prototype to fleet in less than three years.

Swedish engineering company Sandvik says the global transition to sustainability faces a major challenge: while technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels depend on “clean” minerals, the demand for materials like copper, nickel, and lithium is rapidly outpacing supply.To draw attention to the source of these essential resources, Sandvik has introduced the eNimon, or Nomine car. More than 90 percent of an average EV's components originate from mined materials, but the eNimon is built entirely without metal or minerals—if you didn't catch it eNimon is “no mine” spelled backwards.

Welcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast where I interview 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 Kyle Walter, a 24-year-old analyst at Deloitte.Walter graduated from Wichita State University, where he studied mechanical engineering and worked at Smart Factory by Deloitte @ Wichita, which is located on the university's Innovation Campus. Walter became a student team lead at The Factory and was eventually hired by Deloitte full-time. His passions include drones, robotics and the Internet of Things.In this episode, Walter discusses:What surprises a young worker at their first job (:51)What goes through a Gen Z's mind when deciding between a university and a trade school (4:40)How manufacturers can reach those who don't pick trade schools (11:07)How to encourage Gen Z workers to share ideas (16:32)Please make sure to like and share this episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing. 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 get in touch with me, Nolan Beilstein, at nolan@ien.com.

Automating most company operations could prevent more than 600,000 new hires.

Electric vehicle maker Rivian plans to lay off approximately 4% of its workforce, according to the Wall Street Journal. The report stated that the development would impact over 600 employees. However, the company has not provided further details.The news comes after a WSJ report in September that Rivian would cut about 1.5% of its workforce. A company spokesperson said that the previous layoffs impacted the commercial team as the automaker worked to “improve operational efficiency” for its upcoming R2 model, planned for launch in 2026.

Some marketing efforts are just simple PR stunts, while others are truly revolutionary feats of engineering. But when a gamer and a hip-hop artist take to the skies to play a video game on a giant screen suspended from a helicopter while flying in a different helicopter, why can't both be true?

Even a fairly straightforward pizza delivery still requires at least 30 minutes to bake the pie, throw it in a car and drive it to your door. But Inversion, an aerospace and defense technology company, is raising the stakes by promising to deliver cargo from space to just about anywhere on Earth within one hour.

The goal of Project Artemis has been characterized as a journey to the Moon “for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars.”

Researchers from University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital recently announced the results of a trial for a new device that helps the blind not just see again, but read again.The Prima device is a novel wireless subretinal photovoltaic implant paired with specialized glasses that project near-infrared light to the implant, which acts like a miniature solar panel. The device is being developed by Science Corporation, which specializes in brain-computer interfaces and neural engineering. So, how does it work? 

The Austin American-Statesman reported that battery manufacturing startup Base Power moved into the newspaper's former downtown Austin building. Founded in 2023, the startup makes residential batteries and plans to use the publication's previous site temporarily.

In the heart of Chillicothe, Ohio, a 175-year-old paper mill, long considered an unofficial symbol of the community, was forced to end production in August. Once a cornerstone of the town of 22,000, demand for the specialty paper it produced steadily declined, leading to its closure. First announced in April, the shutdown affected roughly 750 employees, who were notified months in advance. As Pixelle Specialty Solutions, the plant's owner, prepared to relocate operations, workers were left facing difficult choices about their futures.

An engineering brand synonymous with bots will divest its robotics division.ABB has announced that it is selling this business to SoftBank – a Japanese financial holding company with a heavy emphasis in technology.SoftBank owns significant stakes in major companies like Nvidia and T-Mobile, and recent reports have suggested that the firm is carving out a strategic growth plan specific to AI.And that's likely where ABB comes in.

The Ford F-150 has been a top-selling pickup truck in America for many years running, but a recent disaster at the plant of one of the automaker's key suppliers speaks to the precarious nature of even the most valuable supply chains.On September 16th, a fire took place at the Oswego, New York factory of metal manufacturer Novelis – an event that reportedly leveled the plant's hot mill, which is the facility's primary aluminum sheet production area.

The maker of windows and doors says that its equipment is more than two years overdue.

The owner, identified as Li Xiaoshuang, parked his SU7 outside of a store, and what happened next was captured on a surveillance camera: while Li and another person conducted some business in the store, the blue vehicle began to drive away. Aware within moments, Li rushed outside to chase down the vehicle, which was reportedly stopped before any damage was done to people or surroundings.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has restarted manufacturing and is working with suppliers to keep them in business as the U.K. automaker works to recover from a cyberattack that crippled production for more than a month.The company announced that its phased manufacturing restart will begin Wednesday, when a pair of plants in the West Midlands — the Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Center, where JLR builds engines, and the Battery Assembly Center — come back online.Employees will also return to work at the company's stamping operations in Castle Bromwich, Halewood and Solihull. The company is also recalling workers to its body shop and paint shop in Solihull, as well as its Logistics Operations Center, which distributes parts to global manufacturing sites.

Another day, another update on fledgling electric carmaker, Faraday Future.Recent reports point to an incident in a satellite building to the company's Los Angeles headquarters, in which a vehicle prototype allegedly caught fire.https://www.ien.com/safety/video/22951814/ev-prototype-explodes-damages-company-hq

A federal grand jury charged two Colorado companies and some of their executives with conspiring to avoid paying tariffs on forklifts imported from China into the U.S. Court documents accused the companies, Octane Forklifts, Inc. and Endless Sales, Inc., which does business as Discount Forklifts, of selling the machines to federal government agencies as “Made in America,” disguising their Chinese origin. Individuals mentioned in the indictment include current executives Brian Firkins and Jeffrey Blasdel, as well as former executive J.R. Antczak. 

A manufacturer of agricultural equipment is citing tariffs in its decisions about its operations in the U.S.But rather than expanding its U.S. production, it will instead shift some work overseas.

A former production operator and production technician filed a lawsuit against electric vehicle battery maker BlueOval SK, a joint venture created by Ford and Korean manufacturer SK On. The lead plaintiffs, Sean O'Brien and Randall Moore, allege that the company violated the Fair Labor Standards Act and Kentucky Wage and Hour Laws, Western Kentucky University Public Radio reported.

Sandro Dias is a 50-year-old Brazilian skateboarding legend; he's a six-time vert world champion. Well, he recently made history once again when he dropped in from the curved facade of a 22-story building in Brazil. Until now, the Centro Administrativo Fernando Ferrari (CAFF) building in Porto Alegre, standing 88.91 meters high, has been a white whale in the skateboarding community, which has dubbed the unique structure the "ultimate skate ramp." — Dias himself says he has dreamed of riding CAFF for some 13 years. 

For this episode, I welcome Marco Ristano, a 28-year-old senior industrial engineering and planning specialist at machinery manufacturer Caracol.Ristano joined Caracol after a contact in the investment sector recommended the company. After nearly four years with the company, his duties include collecting and analyzing data, interaction with a range of teams, troubleshooting analysis and digitalization and management of internal information flows.Ristano hopes to grow into a strategic role where he not only analyzes data and suggests operational improvements, but also contributes to high-level strategic decision-making.