VentureBeat The venture arm of European engineering company Siemens, Siemens Venture Capital, has launched a new $100 million "Industry of the Future" fund for early-stage startups, the firm announced today. Siemens said it will focus its investments on industrial tech involved with machine automation and new technology related to manufacturing processes.

Wednesday, February 19 The objective of this webinar is to examine the basics for troubleshooting gearbox problems. The presentation will define the main problem areas for gearing and gearboxes including vibration; heat generation; noise alignment; wear on gearing, bearings seals and gearbox casing; lubrication; and then failures.

The Verge Google and Foxconn have been working together to develop new robotic manufacturing technologies. Experts say the partnership could have major implications for both the tech industry and the American economy, though the nature of those implications remains unclear — and an issue of intense debate.

The Detroit News American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. said Friday that it has sold its former 108-acre Detroit manufacturing complex to California-based Industrial Realty Group LLC, which plans to redevelop the land for "industrial purposes."

The Blade Even with an outsized pool of unemployed workers, the National Association of Manufacturers has claimed their members have some 600,000 job openings they can’t fill because they can’t find people with the right skills. But some academics have found strong evidence that the skills gap is not nearly as wide as many have claimed — if it exists at all.

Manufacturing.net Cheap natural gas will have a greater impact on U.S. manufacturing over the next several years than is commonly assumed, giving the U.S. a powerful—and unique—cost advantage that will benefit a wide range of industries across the full value chain, from feedstock to finished goods. This cost advantage has already started to boost investment and employment and will persist for at least five years, according to new research released today by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Join us March 11-13 in Philadelphia. This training helps gear designers gain a better understanding of various types of gears and bearings.

Puget Sound Business Journal Here’s one manufacturer that’s doing something surprising: not leaving Seattle. Instead, Machinists Inc., which fabricates parts and tooling for the aerospace, transportation and marine markets, is expanding with a seventh building.

Forbes Caterpillar‘s 2013 results were severely impacted by mining sector weakness. The company’s revenues contracted by 16% annually to $55.7 billion due to reduced spending by mining companies on new machines and equipment purchases. However, looking ahead, there’s some cheer for CAT as certain trends in the mining sector point towards a recovery.

Sun Star The shortage of mining engineering graduates is adding to the burden holding back potential growth of the mining industry in the Philippines, said a top official of the Philippine Society of Mining Engineers (PSEM). PSEM president Caesar Lao-as said the country produces 60 to 70 mining engineers a year, which is way below the required number of 200 engineers annually on the average.

Aerospace Manufacturing and Design Airbus, in conjunction with its hiring partner AIDT, is seeking its first candidates to fill manufacturing positions for its assembly line in Mobile, Ala. The positions are the first wave of hourly manufacturing jobs announced for the company’s U.S. aircraft assembly line. The open positions include aircraft structure/installation mechanics, installers for aircraft cabin furnishings, and aircraft electricians.

Aerospace Manufacturing and Design Pratt & Whitney's PurePower engine family has completed more than 7,600 hours and 17,000 cycles of full engine testing, including 850 hours of flight time. Engine testing has validated the fuel efficiency target of up to 16% for the Geared Turbofan engine architecture and has confirmed other predicted engine characteristics. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company.

Bloomberg General Motors Co. (GM) will spend 250 million euros ($342 million) expanding its auto-engine plant in Tychy, Poland, as the largest U.S. carmaker seeks to return to profit in Europe. The factory will be upgraded in preparation for building a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder diesel engine starting in 2017 in vehicles made by GM’s Opel and Vauxhall divisions in Europe.

Automotive World Jaguar Land Rover welcomed the Prime Minister David Cameron to its world-class Engine Manufacturing Centre in the West Midlands. The Prime Minister was given a tour of the new plant where he saw the on-going installation of the manufacturing equipment first hand.

Digital Journal Ford will build an all-new Edge utility vehicle for global markets at its Oakville Assembly plant, near Toronto, and export to more than 60 countries. Adding a new global product at Oakville follows Ford's C$700 million investment in the plant to make it one of the most competitive and advanced global manufacturing facilities in Canada.

The New Zealand Herald A problem with Honda's seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission (DCT) has resulted in the Japanese manufacturer to recall over 80,000 units of new Jazz Hybrid hatch and all-new Vezel compact crossover.