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Update: Battery Testing Centers In Europe
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Battery News
Jan 10, 2025

Update: Battery Testing Centers In Europe

Battery-News presents an up-to-date excerpt of European testing centers for batteries and battery systems. As usual, the corresponding data are sourced from official announcements by the respective stakeholders.

The maps are also available in higher resolution. Anyone who would like to report missing companies or has general comments is welcome to contact the Battery-News editorial team.

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Trump's month-long delay for many goods from Canada and Mexico, for example, is set to elapse in early April. Earlier this month, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that the extension granted for Mexican imports covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement runs through April 2. But further confirmation around a specific date has not been issued since. Trump has said he will place a 25% tariff on all imports from any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela, which includes the U.S. itself, starting Wednesday — in addition to imposing new tariffs on the South American country. His 25% tariffs on auto imports will start being collected Thursday, with taxes on fully-imported cars kicking off at midnight. The tariffs are set to expand to applicable auto parts in the following weeks, through May 3. The White House says it expects to raise $100 billion in revenue annually from these new duties, but economists stress this trade action will upend the auto industry's global supply chain and lead to higher prices for consumers. Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports beginning Feb. 4, a levy he later doubled to 20% from March 4 onward. And China has hit back with retaliatory tariffs covering a range of U.S. goods, including a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas products and 10% tariff on crude oil from the U.S. that took effect Feb 10. China also imposed tariffs of up to 15% on key U.S. farm exports starting March 10. Trump's expanded steel and aluminum tariffs went into effect earlier this month, too. Both metals are now taxed at 25% across the board — with Trump's order to remove steel exemptions and raise aluminum's levy from his previously-imposed 2018 import taxes taking effect March 12. 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And many countries have promised retaliatory measures — if not already imposed them, like Canada. Trump has said he won't negotiate with other countries on Wednesday's tariffs until after they're imposed, though he has said his 25% taxes on auto imports would be permanent. In response to Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs, the European Union announced measures on U.S. goods worth some 26 billion euros ($28 billion) — to target steel and aluminum products, but also American beef, poultry, bourbon, motorcycles, peanut butter and jeans. The 27-member bloc had intended to roll out this retaliatory trade action in two phases, on Tuesday and April 13, but later said it will delay it until mid-April, without giving a specific date. We'll potentially see more retaliatory announcements this week, particularly if Trump confirms more details of sweeping reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday.
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Machine 3D Prints Food That Simultaneously Cooks
manufacturing net
Machine 3D Prints Food That Simultaneously CooksHong 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. Most Read on IEN: Supported by a generative algorithm that uses Python scripts, the 3D printer can create intricate food patterns on the fly. The AI food design text-to-print tech uses generative AI and Python scripts to create unique food printing patterns. The user puts in a prompt, such as "gingerbread man cookie, black and white image, vector style" and the 3D printer builds the design and the pathways -- though if you look at the before and after, the team still has a little design work to do.  For the future, the team looks to refine the technology, including the ability to preserve heat-sensitive vitamins. The researchers would also like to make the starch more digestible. Future work will also focus on real-world applications, including consumer buy-in through sensory evaluations getting feedback from children and even hospital caretakers. Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news. WEBVTTX-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:000:00.239 --> 00:05.420Hong Kong University of Science and Technologyresearchers have developed a 3D printing food00:05.420 --> 00:10.680solution that combines the use of grapheneheaters and starch-based printing material with00:10.680 --> 00:16.520generative AI, all in a single 3D printer.Traditional 3D printing food technologies00:16.520 --> 00:18.799typically require post-processing steps.00:19.075 --> 00:24.514That lead to imperfect shapes, use unappealingingredients, or even face microbial00:24.514 --> 00:27.434contamination.Using graphene heaters surrounding the00:27.434 --> 00:31.034extrusion head.The researchers cook the food as it is printed00:31.034 --> 00:32.865at a constant controlled temperature.00:33.075 --> 00:37.674By heating the material as it is printed, thefoods keep their intended quality and shape.00:37.950 --> 00:41.810Supported by a generative algorithm that usesPython scripts,00:41.970 --> 00:45.259the 3D printer can create intricate foodpatterns on the fly.00:45.459 --> 00:51.060AI food design text to print tech that usesgenerative AI and Python scripts to create00:51.060 --> 00:55.779unique food printing patterns.The user puts in a prompt such as gingerbread00:55.779 --> 01:01.180man cookie, black and white image, vector style,and the 3D printer builds the design and the01:01.180 --> 01:04.110pathways.Though if you look at the before and after.01:04.169 --> 01:07.389The team still has a little design work to dofor the future,01:07.480 --> 01:11.720the team looks to refine the technology,including the ability to preserve heat01:11.720 --> 01:15.440sensitive vitamins.The researchers would also like to make the01:15.440 --> 01:19.559starch more digestible.Future work will also focus on real world01:19.559 --> 01:24.500applications, including consumer buy-in,through sensory evaluations getting feedback01:24.500 --> 01:28.419from children or even hospital caretakers.I'm Devon Verbsky,01:28.519 --> 01:30.239and this is your manufacturing now.
factory
01 April 2025
U.S. Businesses Look For Ways To Offset Tariffs
manufacturing net
U.S. Businesses Look For Ways To Offset TariffsNEW YORK (AP) — Gadgets sold without batteries. Toys sold in slimmed-down boxes or no packaging at all. More household goods that shoppers need to assemble themselves. These are some of the ways consumer product companies are retooling their wares to reduce costs and avoid raising prices as President Donald Trump levies new import taxes on key trading partners as well as some materials used by American manufacturers. The economic environment in which the president has imposed, threatened and occasionally postponed repeated rounds of tariffs is more precarious than during his first term. U.S. consumers are feeling tapped out after several years of inflation. Businesses say tariffs add to their expenses and eat into their profits, but they are wary of losing sales if they try to pass all of the increase on to customers. Instead, some companies are exploring cost-cutting options, both ones that consumers likely would notice in time — remember "shrinkflation?" — and ones that exist too far down the supply chain for them to see. The changes may help minimize price increases yet won't be enough in every case to offset them completely. These are some of the strategies retailers and brands have in mind: After putting an extra 20% tariff on all goods from China, as well as a 25% tariff on imported steel, aluminum and automobiles, Trump said he would announce on Wednesday the targets of "reciprocal tariffs" that mirror the taxes all other nations apply to certain U.S. exports. He argues the tariffs will spur domestic manufacturing, among other goals. Also on the horizon: twice-delayed tariffs on most goods from Canada and Mexico, and duties on copper, lumber and pharmaceutical drugs. Kimberly Kirkendall, president of supply-chain consulting firm International Resource Development, has told clients — U.S. makers of shelving, home goods and food products — that given all the uncertainty, this is not the time for long-term moves like seeking factories outside of China. She encouraged them to focus on the short term, particularly the need to scrutinize product lines from every angle for possible savings. "You've got to collaborate and work together with your suppliers in this situation to be able to bring costs down," Kirkendall said. Sourcing concerns are not only a worry for big companies that rely on Chinese manufacturers. Sasha Iglehart, founder of a small online clothing company called Shirt Story, has a collection of upcycled men's shirts that sell for around $235. She said she typically gets her vintage buttons from an Austrian supplier and knows Trump has talked about taxing goods from the European Union. "I will continue to look for local vendors and collectors here in the States as back up," said Iglehart, whose company is based in Connecticut. For many companies, evaluating which components or details they can remove from their products or replace with less expensive ones is the go-to move for absorbing the potential financial hit from tariffs. Los Angeles-based toy company Abacus Brands Inc., which designs science kits and other educational toys, has most of its products made in China. By using slightly thinner paper in an 80-page project book that comes with two of its kits, the company expects to avert a $10 retail price increase, President Steve Rad said. "Three or 4 cents here," Rad said. "Seven or 6 cents there. Two more pennies over there. All of a sudden, you've made up the difference." Aurora World Inc., known for its plush pets and toy vehicles, is looking at using fewer paint colors as a way to counteract tariff costs, according to Gabe Higa, managing director of the California company's toy division. All of Aurora World's toys come from factories in China. "This is something that makes it a little bit simpler so that there's less manual labor involved or less material cost," Higa said. "(It) doesn't have a lot of incremental value so it's easy to take away." The company still may have to raise prices as long as the new tariffs are in effect, he said. Tweaking or reducing product packaging is another area where importers may cut back and carries the advantage of possibly appealing to eco-conscious customers. Basic Fun CEO Jay Foreman, whose company markets classic toys like Tonka trucks, Lincoln Logs and Care Bears, said he is presenting retailers with three different packaging options and asking them to decide which ones they prefer for the trucks and some other products that will be in stores next spring. The first is the current packaging, which consists of a box with a big open window that lets customers see what's inside. The second option: no box, just a tray attached to the bottom of toys to hold them in place on shelves. The third: unwrapped but affixed with a simple paper price tag that features brand information. The second-tier packaging would reduce the toy company's cost per item by $1.25, and the package-free version would yield savings of $1.75, Foreman said. Both would diminish the appeal of the products and would not come close to canceling out the tariff on goods made in China, Foreman said. He said he would make pricing decisions later this week after Trump provides details about his planned reciprocal tariffs. To further reduce its production costs, Abacus Brands is thinking of switching from plastic to cardboard for the package inserts that keep toy parts in place. Cardboard trays cost 7 cents per unit compared to 30 cents for the plastic version, according to Rad. The change requires finding a new factory to make the inserts, a move that did not make financial sense before now, he said. The various tariff-related modifications should be effective for fall and holiday deliveries to stores, Rad said. "The compromises we're making are things that do not matter to the consumer," he said. Steve Rad, CEO of toy maker Abacus Brands Inc., shows a newly improved matte box (left) that will replace its black plastic mold packaging insert (right) with an improved cardboard material to help offset the costs of future tariffs.AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes Shoppers will likely have to assemble more of their products at home as companies look to reduce shipping costs, according to Kirkendall of International Resource Development. One of her clients manufactures self-watering planters that are made in China. The product is undergoing a redesign so it can be shipped as separate nesting components instead of fully assembled. Companies also are reevaluating the pieces of their products that are essential or extra. Chris Bajda, managing partner at online wedding gift retailer Groomsday, said accessories like batteries and decorative gift boxes may end up in the latter category. "We now carefully assess what's truly necessary and avoid including items that don't serve a functional purpose for the customer," Bajda said. Reducing the size or weight of products without lowering prices proliferated as a business practice from 2021 through 2024 as companies grappled with rising costs for ingredients, packaging, labor and transportation. Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate and former assistant attorney general in Massachusetts, suspects the makers of consumer goods will embrace shrinkflation again to hide costs given the blast of new tariffs. The additional import tax on Canadian soft lumber, for example, might show up in smaller toilet paper rolls, he said. "Shrinkflation has been a little quiet" in the last few months, Dworksy said. "But I would expect to see both price increases and product shrinkage."
factory
01 April 2025
How Mesh Networks Get The Most Out Of Predictive Maintenance
manufacturing net
How Mesh Networks Get The Most Out Of Predictive MaintenanceIf you’re a developer in manufacturing, agriculture, oil and gas or any other industry using predictive maintenance, you know that some of the biggest challenges include getting timely and consistent — and the right — data from an amalgam of sensors and connectivity solutions spread across your facilities. When uptime is critical and asset availability is crucial, predictive maintenance can make all the difference. Consider this scenario: Thousands of sensors in your facilities create a flood of vibration and acoustic data from your key systems 24/7. Your job is to make sure your assets and infrastructure integrate so that you have one “source of truth” for watching operational insights and alerts. As the business grows, it’s time to scale, and you’re tasked with managing increasing complexities around frequencies, certifications and power requirements across geographies. Now it’s time to think about mesh networking. If you’re not taking advantage of mesh networking technologies for predictive maintenance applications, you’re missing one of the most scalable, robust and efficient architectures available today. Mesh networks offer enormous benefits that make setting up and scaling device networks seamless and simple. Mesh networking optimizes bandwidth allocation, extending range capabilities as data hops from node to node. Mesh networks such as Zigbee and DigiMesh® also “self-heal,” meaning they can create alternate paths when a node fails or connectivity drops. Finally, mesh networks are scalable, power efficient, secure and simple to manage. According to IoT Analytics, 95% of companies using predictive maintenance reported a positive return on investment. That’s because unplanned downtime can cost some $125,000 per hour for a midsized business. Just one correct prediction can pay for the entire investment. To drive the actionable insights and automation that support predictive maintenance requires intelligence at the edge, and mesh networking is an excellent methodology for OEMs building applications that require accurate data from across the network. Going from raw data to predictive maintenance sounds simple, and mesh technologies such as Zigbee and DigiMesh work well for capturing this data. And extremely low-power devices incorporating these technologies enable OEMs to build scalable networks for a range of industries. However, keep in mind that developers still need to create software and analytics dashboards to decide when vibration data might show an emerging issue.  ISO standards can help you differentiate between a bearing failure and a loose mounting. For example, ISO 13373 (condition monitoring and diagnostics of machines – vibration condition monitoring) is one of several standards relevant to industrial applications. ISO 13373 outlines procedures for setting alarm limits, trending vibration data, and performing diagnostics to identify the root cause of machine issues, such as bearing defects or imbalance. By using these standards, you can implement an effective condition monitoring program to predict failures in equipment such as bearings and mounts before they cause downtime. When it comes to building a mesh network, the size and scale will depend on the amount of data you send and how often you send it. However, a better way to decide on the size of your network is to understand the bandwidth necessary. Mesh networks can easily scale from a handful to hundreds of nodes, but if you’re transmitting lots of raw data over lots of devices, you can reduce the number of nodes and then separate them with network IDs and a single gateway. But if your sensors don’t send much data, you could scale to hundreds of nodes on a single gateway. In other words, mesh networks provide flexibility to design networks with different gateway and node configurations so you don’t have too many bandwidth-hogging devices clustered together. Developers working with mesh networks for predictive maintenance can really benefit from IoT development kits. Because they’re relatively inexpensive and come with all the hardware, they can simplify the design and provisioning processes. In fact, running tests through different protocols available with a development kit can even help you quickly decide which setup works best for your application before making a big investment. Zigbee is a popular open standard mesh networking protocol specifically designed for low-data rate, low-power applications. It offers interoperability between vendors and supplies robust security features. Proprietary third-party solutions built on top of the Zigbee protocol provide embedded solutions to make implementation easier for developers and integrators. DigiMesh offers a similar protocol, but is designed for fully battery-powered operation in the field, with simpler design and deployment. There are 900 MHz, 868 MHz, and 2.4 GHz frequency options that allow DigiMesh to run worldwide.  These products often simplify network set-up, enhanced security features and longer ranges. Best of all, some of these third-party devices integrate with remote management software that makes deploying and troubleshooting seamless. Quinn Jones, Senior Product Manager, Digi InternationalMesh networks are revolutionizing IoT applications in industries such as agriculture, oil and gas and manufacturing — especially through insights-driven predictive maintenance. These industries can’t afford even short outages, which can affect everything from customer satisfaction to the company’s bottom line. These scalable networks make it easy to add nodes as your needs grow. With one or more gateways integrated into the mesh network solution, these networks enable “over the air” updates to the firmware of deployed devices, as well as Bluetooth for configuration in the field , and provide reliable coverage. Finally, developers responsible for keeping these systems operational can tap into mesh networking to enable intelligent, real-time predictive maintenance monitoring through intuitive dashboard interfaces. When you’re ready to set up your mesh network for predictive maintenance, select a wireless partner that is technology-agnostic, so you get an objective perspective on which technology best fits your needs for today and tomorrow. Quinn Jones is a product manager at Digi International who has helped pioneer RF module adoption for IoT since 2011. During his more than 20 years at Digi, Jones has covered a broad portfolio, including the Digi XBee Ecosystem, system-on-modules and cellular modems. His expertise lies in helping customers navigate through different wireless topologies ranging from simple point-to-point networks to complex mesh networks using a variety of technologies including Zigbee, Wi-Fi, 900 MHz, and cellular.
factory
01 April 2025
Boomers And Genx Business Leaders Are Making A Big Mistake
manufacturing net
Boomers And Genx Business Leaders Are Making A Big MistakeI am a GenX myself, and I am absolutely flummoxed about how many of my peer group business leaders are poo-pooing Gen Zs. One gave me this response when we were talking about how difficult it is to attract new talent. "Give me a 35 to 45-year-old worker any day. They want to come to work, and I don’t need to remind them to stay off their phones and they stick around." Another one was bellyaching about how the good old days are over. "I wish it was 30 years ago. All people wanted was a paycheck and I could focus on getting work into the business.” "They are so entitled and need constant coddling." Ugh. How foolish this position is. Most Read on Manufacturing.net: I have been blessed to interview a lot of potential employees. I am so impressed with Gen Z and millennials. They interview us as much as we want to interview them. They want to know if they will be working for a pump-and-dump company where only money counts. Purpose is super important to them. It trumps over just making money. Will they be allowed to make a difference on the job and in general? Will there be training? It took decades to build the company and there is a lot of job knowledge. Did anyone record this so a new team member can quickly deliver quality work? Will there be possibility to grow their careers? How quickly will this be achievable? How easy is it to get information? Is there an open-door policy? Are there mentorships or is the manager coming around frequently to speak and support each team members? Does the output and quality of work count of just timeliness? How do the employees interact with each other during the interview? Is there tension? Are there toxic vibes? Why is the front lobby stuck in the 1980s theme? Why couldn’t the company be found on the internet or the website was clunky and stuck in the 1990s? How many bad reviews are out on social media and job seeker platforms? I could go on with this list.  Gen Z may totally skip and ghost you, or they will come and not stay when they get the notion that they are being viewed as a simple means for the business to make money. I have experienced some quitting a job without having secured another one. Just because a manager refused to listen to their concerns and repeated requests for training and support. Meanwhile, the older folks knuckle down and work harder, later and longer before they finally retire. It’s a double whammy for the aging business leaders who, themselves, may think about retirement and getting out of their business altogether. On average it takes around two to three younger workers to do the job of such GenX and Boomer workers. Only the later generations are okay with a totally screwed up work-life balance, knuckle down, come in early, stay late and figure stuff out on the fly because there is nobody else who would work like this.  I have found Gen Z team members to be incredibly talented. I vividly recall my one engineer to be able to look at two screens, work in an ERP on one, AutoCAD on the other, answer the phone and still listen to a podcast with one earbud. They are so creative and want to help however they can. One summer intern who had become a full-time team member after college was the single reason why we suddenly had half a dozen of such young talent working for us. All because this one person told his many friends about how cool our workplace was. Once they were in, they found exactly what they had been told they would find at work. Within a very short period of time, we had a vibrant and diverse workforce. Stuff got figured out, and information was freely shared. Information hoarding was abhorred as it was no longer equated to job security. When employees grew their competencies, the company grew as well and customer’s needs were better served. It does not take a genius to figure this out.  Think about it, this young talent comes loaded with fresh knowledge from school and post-secondary education. They know and embrace technology like no other generation before. Why on Earth would you not want this talent to show up at your doorstep? Why would you not spend some time to intentionally plan a career roadmap for everyone? With this planning comes also more financial planning stability. That’s not bad for businesses to have, is it?  Point is simply that I have found Gen Z be very interested in the big picture. They want to be included in it. They may not know how that all comes together, but they will embrace it if it is there and it makes sense. How is this any different for any other generation? It is not. That is why it is so important for businesses to map out career paths. Make sure that there is a stellar interviewing and onboarding process. It is super important to demonstrate authenticity and transparency. Frequent communication is today’s gold standard. That takes true leadership to be this way. But the rewards are totally worth it. To the GenX and Boomer readers, I highly recommend being self-reflective. Maybe it’s you and not them who need to change. You are missing out on a great talent pool.  chadwickoptical.com Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news.
factory
01 April 2025
Nasa'S Newly Returned Astronauts Say They Would Fly On Boeing'S Starliner Capsule Again
manufacturing net
Nasa'S Newly Returned Astronauts Say They Would Fly On Boeing'S Starliner Capsule AgainCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s celebrity astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams said Monday that they hold themselves partly responsible for what went wrong on their space sprint-turned-marathon and would fly on Boeing's Starliner again. SpaceX recently ferried the duo home after more than nine months at the International Space Station, filling in for Boeing that returned to Earth without them last year. In their first news conference since coming home, the pair said they were taken aback by all the interest and insisted they were only doing their job and putting the mission ahead of themselves and even their families. Wilmore didn't shy from accepting some of the blame for Boeing's bungled test flight. “I’ll start and point the finger and I’ll blame me. I could have asked some questions and the answers to those questions could have turned the tide,” he told reporters. “All the way up and down the chain. We all are responsible. We all own this.” Both astronauts said they would strap into Starliner again. “Because we're going to rectify all the issues that we encountered. We're going to fix them. We're going to make it work,” Wilmore said, adding he'd go back up “in a heartbeat.” Williams noted that Starliner has “a lot of capability” and she wants to see it succeed. “We're all in,” she said. The two will meet with Boeing leadership on Wednesday to provide a rundown on the flight and its problems. “It's not for pointing fingers,” Wilmore said. “It's just to make the path clearer going forward.” The longtime astronauts and retired Navy captains ended up spending 286 days in space — 278 days more than planned when they blasted off on Boeing’s first astronaut flight on June 5. The test pilots had to intervene in order for the Starliner capsule to reach the space station, as thrusters failed and helium leaked. Their space station stay kept getting extended as engineers debated how to proceed. NASA finally judged Starliner too dangerous to bring Wilmore and Williams back and transferred them to SpaceX. But the launch of their replacements got stalled, stretching their mission beyond nine months. President Donald Trump urged SpaceX’s Elon Musk to hurry things up, adding politics to the stuck astronauts’ ordeal. The dragged-out drama finally ended two weeks ago with a flawless splashdown by SpaceX off the Florida Panhandle. “It’s great being back home after being up there,” Williams told The Associated Press in an interview. She waited until she was steadier on her feet before reuniting with her two Labrador retrievers the day after splashdown. "Pure joy.” Wilmore already has a to-do list. His wife wants to replace all the shrubs in their yard before summer. “So I’ve got to get my body ready to dig holes,” he told the AP. NASA said engineers still do not understand why Starliner’s thrusters malfunctioned; more tests are planned through the summer. If engineers can figure out the thruster and leak issues, “Starliner is ready to go," Wilmore said. The space agency may require another test flight — with cargo — before allowing astronauts to climb aboard. That redo could come by year's end. Despite Starliner’s rocky road, NASA officials said they stand behind the decision made years ago to have two competing U.S. companies providing taxi service to and from the space station. But time is running out: The space station is set to be abandoned in five years and replaced in orbit by privately operated labs.
factory
01 April 2025
As War Draws Men To Fight, Ukraine'S Women Take Tough New Jobs In Machinery, Mines
manufacturing net
As War Draws Men To Fight, Ukraine'S Women Take Tough New Jobs In Machinery, MinesDNIPROPETROVSK REGION, Ukraine (AP) — Kateryna Koliadiuk was curious. The 19-year-old Ukrainian agronomy student spotted an ad seeking women to enroll in a tractor driving course and decided to try. But the industrial vehicle was huge and complex, and she wasn't sure she could operate it. "In the beginning I was so scared. In the beginning I couldn't do this," she said. She now drives with authority, her manicured fingers resting at the wheel. From driving tractors to working in coal mines, Ukrainian women are taking jobs once reserved for men, who are being drafted to the front lines in the war with Russia. Women have also signed up to join the armed forces at a higher rate. Koliadiuk said her family was shocked. "We were told that women should be in the kitchen, at home with children. That is why to go and study such equipment was so scary," she said. "But then we took care of ourselves." It's part of a crucial government effort to grow an economy devastated by three years of war and address labor shortages created by the mobilization, according to the economy ministry, which leads training programs in construction, agriculture and transport geared toward women. "Ukrainian women are under a lot of pressure because their men are on the front line," Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in an interview with The Associated Press. "When the man is mobilized, the woman is mobilized with him as well." Businesses want to hire again after the initial economic shock of Russia's full-scale invasion, but the labor force has shrunk. About 5 million Ukrainians left the country and are abroad, the minister said, and another million are serving in the armed forces. That's a lot considering about 9 million Ukrainians are currently employed, she added. Svyrydenko is Ukraine's first female economy minister and a symbol of the rise of women in the labor force because of the war. Before, women were mostly employed in education and health care, social protection and government service, she said. Now there's demand in the industrial and military areas. "It is the mindset of both women and employers that is changing," she said. "Employers are ready to take women on the job more often, and women are ready to diversify their skills." In coal mines in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland, women are now hired to operate machinery to keep production going. There and elsewhere, men still dominate jobs that require heavy physical labor. Former accountant Iryna Ostanko, 37, was looking for a new job and decided to become an elevator operator at a mine in the Dnipropetrovsk region. She was inspired by her husband, who has worked at the mine for 15 years. He supported her decision. "Before, in this place underground, there were no women at all," she said. "Women appeared here after the start of the full-scale invasion when a lot of men left to defend our country." Ostanko had never descended to the mine's depths of 260 meters (yards). Her training involved one month of theory and another of hands-on training. "War is making changes, always making changes," said Viktor Kuznetsov, the mine's head engineer. He said the lack of qualified personnel is the main challenge, as many male workers left to join the fight. He has hired over 100 women since Russia's full-scale invasion, a drastic change. Without them, the mine could not function, he said. In Kyiv region, Yulia Skitchko watched new female trainees operate excavators, her high-heeled black leather boots caked in mud. She is the head of Alef Stroy, a construction machinery rental service. For years, she had dreamed of hiring more women. The war gave her that chance, and U.S. funding gave her the ability to train female hires. They have trained 45 women so far. "We were told that we are crazy people, this is not possible. Women? Excavator? They will never do this," she said. "These days, our first women who graduated from this course already have jobs and started working on building construction sites." Modern building equipment is easier to operate, she said, and the idea that women can't do it is a gender stereotype. "This war has changed our women mentally, and they want to contribute to Ukraine's rebuilding," Skitchko said. "We need to give them an opportunity to learn." ___ Associated Press journalist Volodymyr Yurchuk contributed to this report.
factory
01 April 2025
Tokyo Gas Purchases Chevron'S Texas Gas Assets For $525 Million
manufacturing net
Tokyo Gas Purchases Chevron'S Texas Gas Assets For $525 MillionTOKYO (AP) — TG Natural Resources, owned by Tokyo Gas Co. and Castleton Commodities International, is acquiring a 70% stake in the East Texas gas assets of Chevron U.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corp., for $525 million. The move, announced Tuesday, marks Tokyo Gas’ expansion of its U.S. business at a time when President Donald Trump is seeking to boost U.S. gas exports. Tokyo Gas denies the move is in response to Trump’s policies — the investment was being studied long before he came to office — but an investment of this scale in the U.S. is expected to be seen favorably by the Trump administration. TGNR is a major gas producer in East Texas, jointly owned by TG East Texas Resources LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Gas America, and CCI U.S. Asset Holdings. Of the purchase amount, $75 million will be paid in cash and $450 million used as capital to fund the Haynesville development in Texas. The shale gas produced on the site is for the U.S. market for now, but exporting it in the form of liquefied natural gas to Japan is an option for the future, according to Tokyo Gas. Tokyo Gas is Japan’s largest provider of city-area gas, primarily serving the Tokyo area. Besides Texas, it also has operations in the U.S. in the Louisiana area. “We are excited to partner with a world-class company like Chevron on this transaction. There is considerable operational overlap between the Chevron acreage and the legacy TGNR acreage, which will allow TGNR to realize synergies of over $170 million during the development of the asset,” TGNR Chief Executive Craig Jarchow said in a statement. Resource-poor Japan imports almost all its energy, and its main sources for gas are now Australia and the U.S.
factory
01 April 2025
Japan'S Ishiba Says He Will Push For U.S. Auto Tariffs Exemption
manufacturing net
Japan'S Ishiba Says He Will Push For U.S. Auto Tariffs ExemptionTOKYO (AP) — Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday his government is making last ditch efforts to get U.S. President Donald Trump to exclude his country from an increase in auto tariffs due to take effect from Wednesday. Ishiba told reporters he is willing to fly to Washington to negotiate directly with Trump. The U.S. will begin collecting 25% tariffs on auto imports on Thursday, with taxes on fully-imported cars kicking in at midnight, U.S. time. The tariffs are set to expand to applicable auto parts in weeks to come. So far, Japan has not managed to win exemptions from the tariffs hitlist despite its status as the biggest U.S. ally in Asia. Japan has stepped up cooperation with other countries that also are being affected. Japanese Trade Ninister Yoji Muto flew to Seoul to meet with his counterparts from South Korea and China and agreed to promote a free and fair trade and investment, saying Trump's trade policies are fueling protectionism. The higher tariffs are a worry for Japan and major automakers like Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Their exports to the United States are a major driver for the Japanese economy. A quarterly survey by the Bank of Japan released Tuesday showed business sentiment among large manufacturers worsened in the past quarter for the first time in a year. "I don't mind going to Washington, if necessary," Ishiba said. He said officials from all related ministries, including foreign, trade and finance, are working "day and night," to negotiate with their U.S. counterparts to resolve the issue. "When I see the overall picture and judge that it is appropriate for me to go, I must do so without hesitation, he said. If the tariffs are imposed, he said the government will do what it must to minimize their impact on Japanese industries and jobs. As short-term measures, the government plans to set up 1,000 consultation windows across the country to respond to concerns of small to medium-size auto parts makers and other manufacturers that would be affected by the U.S. tariff increase. In case of damage to actual businesses, the government will do its utmost to support cash-strapped business owners, Ishiba said.
factory
01 April 2025
Airbus To Design, Build Esa'S Exomars Rover Lander Platform
manufacturing net
Airbus To Design, Build Esa'S Exomars Rover Lander PlatformAirbus has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Thales Alenia Space (TAS), the ExoMars industrial prime contractor, to build key systems for the lander that should safely place the Rosalind Franklin rover on the surface of the Red Planet. After entry and descent through the Mars atmosphere and a parachute assisted braking phase, the landing platform provided by Airbus will ensure a safe landing on the planet's surface and support the rover's deployment onto the surface. Airbus' ExoMars Lander upon landing.Airbus Under contract from TAS, which is leading the Rosalind Franklin mission, Airbus teams in Stevenage, England, will design the mechanical, thermal and propulsion systems necessary for the landing platform to ensure the touchdown is safe in 2030. This will include the landing structure, the large propulsion system used to provide the final braking thrust, and the landing gear to ensure the lander is stable on touchdown. The lander will feature two ramps that will be deployed on opposite sides to enable the rover to be driven onto the Martian surface using the least risky route. Airbus teams in Stevenage have designed and built more than 120 propulsion systems for more than 90 spacecraft, providing chemical, electric and cold gas systems for telecoms, Earth observation, science and exploration missions. The ExoMars landing system will need to slow the landing platform from 45m/s at the end of the parachute descent phase to less than 3m/s before touchdown using retro rockets. Airbus designed and built the Rosalind Franklin rover in the bio-burden cleanroom in Stevenage, before delivering it to TAS in 2019. Launch was originally scheduled for 2022, but the mission had to be postponed due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict. Airbus is working with TAS, ESA and NASA to maintain and upgrade various elements of the Rosalind Franklin rover in preparation for its planned launch in 2028 on a NASA supplied launcher. This includes the accommodation of NASA provided Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs) to keep the rover warm on the Martian surface as well as a new software mode to allow the rover to quickly transition into an autonomous state after landing. The rover is planned to touchdown on the surface of Mars in 2030 to avoid landing during the planet’s global dust season.
factory
01 April 2025
Shl Medical Opens New U.S. Manufacturing Facility
manufacturing net
Shl Medical Opens New U.S. Manufacturing FacilitySHL Medical, a company specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of self-injection solutions, has officially inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in North Charleston, South Carolina. The new facility will manufacture SHL Medical's autoinjectors, which are used in medications in areas such as endocrine and metabolic disorders (including GLP-1 therapies), dermatology, musculoskeletal diseases, and other therapy areas. It ensures a reliable supply of these devices to millions of patients worldwide.  The fully automated 360,000-square-foot facility represents a $220 million investment and has already created more than 300 local jobs. Equipped with medical device injection molding technology and fully automated assembly capabilities, the site ensures precision, efficiency, and quality in SHL Medical's advanced drug delivery solutions. By leveraging its existing final assembly, labeling, and packaging operations in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and integrating recent acquisitions under SHL Advantec, the North Charleston facility enhances SHL Medical's US presence and solidifies its leadership in large-scale autoinjector production. The company is on track to deliver 1.5 billion devices to customers in 2025.
factory
01 April 2025
Bankruptcy Judge Denies J&J Settlement Plan Related To Baby Powder Containing Talc
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Bankruptcy Judge Denies J&J Settlement Plan Related To Baby Powder Containing TalcA U.S. bankruptcy court judge has denied Johnson & Johnson's settlement plan related to baby powder containing talc, providing another setback in the company's efforts to resolve the matter. This is the third bankruptcy case for a J&J company as it relates to the baby powder issue. Red River Talc LLC, a J&J subsidiary, was seeking confirmation of a proposed prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan that would have been one of the biggest mass tort settlements in history, if approved. Red River and J&J proposed to pay $9 billion to settle ovarian cancer and other gynecological cancer litigation claims based on talc-related products. But Judge Christopher Lopez of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston division said in a court filing that J&J used a faulty voter solicitation process when dealing with personal injury claimants. J&J said in a statement that it will not pursue an appeal, and instead will return to the civil law system "to litigate and defeat these meritless talc claims." It will also reverse about $7 billion of a previous reserve. The company said that it has settled 95% of filed mesothelioma lawsuits, concluded all state consumer protection claims, and all talc-supplier disputes. Last year a subsidiary of J&J proposed to pay approximately $6.48 billion over 25 years as part of a settlement in the U.S. to cover allegations that its baby powder containing talc caused ovarian cancer. The lawsuits filed against J&J had alleged its talcum powder caused users to develop ovarian cancer through use for feminine hygiene, or mesothelioma, a cancer that strikes the lungs and other organs. The claims contributed to a drop in J&J's sales of baby powder, prompting the company to stop selling its talc-based products in 2020. In 2022, J&J announced plans to cease sales of the product worldwide. J&J said at the time that the reorganization plan for the subsidiary was significantly different from a previous reorganization that was announced. The company said that the plan would resolve 99.75% of all pending talc lawsuits against it and its affiliates in the U.S. At the time, J&J said that the remaining pending personal injury lawsuits that relate to mesothelioma would be addressed outside of the plan. Shares of J&J declined more than 3% before the market open on Tuesday.
factory
01 April 2025