MONTGOMERY, AL—First Solar Inc. has opened its new $1.1 billion, vertically integrated thin-film solar panel assembly plant here. 

RALEIGH, NC—Hitachi Energy will invest $155 million to expand manufacturing capacity across three plants in North America.

Boston startup is lauded for its fully automatic motion planning software for industrial robots. The software develops an optimized “choreography” for robots that work closely together in cells. By coordinating the motion of each robot, the software prevents collisions.

The new WeldMAX Model MH-15100 from Sonobond is the industry’s largest, most powerful, and most rugged ultrasonic spot welder.

Low-cost robotic systems are available through an online platform that aggregates components from various industrial suppliers, enabling engineers to design, build and buy a robotic system that meets their application and budget requirements. 

FRANKFURT, Germany—More than 4.2 million robots were employed in factories worldwide in 2023—a record high and an increase of 10 percent from 2022.

In deciding what drives the creation of sub-BOMs and whether to divide a larger assembly into subassemblies, it’s essential to evaluate the long-term impact on production. A flexible enterprise resource planning (ERP) system allows the creation of complex, multilevel BOMs, but also supports simple, flat BOM structures.

DUBLIN, VA—The trucks are being assembled at the New River Valley Assembly Plant in Dublin, Virginia, Volvo Group’s largest global facility, spanning 2.3 million square feet across 566 acres. 

TOYOTA CITY, Japan—Toyota Motor announced a new $500 million investment in Joby Aviation to support the certification and production of Joby’s electric air taxi.

LANSING, NY—After two weeks on the picket line here, Teamsters Local 317 members have voted overwhelmingly to approve a contract with auto parts manufacturer BorgWarner, securing wage increases and expanded benefits.