This collection of news briefs includes stories from several news brands under IndustryWeek parent company Endeavor Business Media.
- Pratt & Whitney Expanding Jet Engine Complex. American Machinist reports on Pratt & Whitney’s $206 million capital investment program for its engine overhaul center in Columbus, Georgia. Expected to create about 400 new jobs, the investment will expand the overhaul capacity, allow for machinery updates and expand manufacturing capabilities.
- A different perspective on AI, ChatGPT and job security. Brian Sathianathan explores the exciting and innovative opportunities presented by the rise of AI. Even though the unknown can be scary, this Smart Industry piece will remedy that fear and harness the optimistic outlook of this technology in the manufacturing space.
- IAM Union Members Continue Spirit AeroSystems Strike. After rejecting a proposed contract last Wednesday, the International Association of Machinists (IAM) union workers at Spirit AeroSystems’ Wichita, Kansas, site began striking on Saturday; the plant has suspended production. The union will hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss a new proposal presented by the company.
- Industry Increases Use of Robots-as-a-Service. Automation World Editor-in-Chief David Greenfield connected with Rapid Robotics’ chief marketing officer at Automate 2023 to learn more about the ongoing trend of robotics-as-a-service. Don’t miss the video at the end of the article highlighting some of these specific applications.
- Meet Navistar’s International Truck 2023 Top Team technician. “Navistar hosted its first Top Team technician skills competition in May of this year, offering ten technicians the chance to prove their skills,” writes Alex Keenan. The Fleet Maintenance associate editor learns more about winner Nathan Reed in this Q&A-style article.
- Remembering Lithium-Ion Battery Developer John Goodenough. Known for creating the lithium-ion battery, a critical component to many electric vehicles, A professor at the University of Texas, John Goodenough has died at the age of 100. Goodenough won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2019 for his contribution to battery research.
- FTA awards nearly $1.7 billion in bus grants across two federal programs. The Federal Transit Administration grants will upgrade bus facilities and support sustainable transit for 130 projects in 46 states and territories. Mischa Wanek-Libman, Mass Transit editor-in-chief, reports on this second round of grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
- Stellantis and Foxconn Joint Venture to Supply Semiconductors. SiliconAuto is a 50/50 joint venture of Stellantis N.V. and Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn). Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company will design and sell semiconductors for the automotive applications starting in 2026.
- Fleet costs jump 21.3%, with fuel by far the leading expense. Managing Editor Scott Achelpohl dives into recent industry reports and statistics to analyze the current state and outlook of the trucking industry.
