Engineers at the VTT Technical Research Centre here recently developed a process to print smart shafts. It combines metal additive manufacturing, sensor technology, wireless data transfer and condition monitoring in the same package.

Newport News Shipbuilding has partnered with 3D Systems to develop metal additive manufacturing technologies. The goal of the joint effort is to revolutionize how the next generation of warships is assembled.

Daimler AG is developing a sustainable supply chain for its worldwide assembly plants. In particular, the automaker is strengthening enforcement activities that relate to human rights, including the responsible procurement of raw materials.

DAYTON, OH—Engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory here recently developed a robot for aerospace manufacturing applications.

Engineers at General Motors are using advanced software to tackle next-generation vehicle lightweighting challenges.

COOKEVILLE, TN—Integrator and specialty machine builder ATC Automation recently expanded its operations here with a 72,000-square-foot facility focused solely on clean assembly. An open house held May 16-18 to celebrate the new facility drew nearly 700 people, including employees and their families, local chamber of commerce members, customers and supplier representatives. Visitors were able to view more than 25 robots performing their routines, as well as machine assembly operations.

TONAWANDA, NY—General Motors' Tonawanda Engine plant has been chosen to produce next-generation engines for the Chevrolet Silverado, the company's flagship product. GM unveiled updates Monday to its 2019 Silverado 1500, which will be sold in the fall. The truck features updated versions of the 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engines.

COLOGNE, Germany—At Ford’s new state-of-the-art Environmental Test Centre at John Andrews Product Development Centre here, the company can simulate a variety of testing conditions on 10 cars simultaneously on an area the size of a football field. It allows for conditions akin to the Sahara desert in December and snow in July, as well as having the capability of generating up to 95 percent humidity.

WILMINGTON, DE—Dickinson High School’s Robotics Laboratory is an incubator where kids learn and use engineering and software skills to work with Lego and Erector Set-like creations they design and build. An outgrowth of the school’s STEM program, the robotics course began in 2010. Only a handful of kids enrolled the first year, but now about 100 of Dickinson’s 600 kids take a robotics class.