Modern Materials Handling
The National Association of Manufacturers has released the results of the Manufacturers’ Outlook survey for the first quarter of 2019. The survey shows nine consecutive quarters of record optimism, with an average of 91.8 percent of manufacturers feelign positive about their own company outlook over that time frame, compared to an average of 68.6 percent across 2015 and 2016.

LIFT press release
Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow, a Detroit-based national manufacturing innovation institute, celebrating the 5th anniversary of its founding, today announced that the Department of Defense has extended its cooperative agreement for another year while negotiations are underway for a new long-term partnership.

3DPrint.com
Additive manufacturing will play a significant role in a major project gearing up between Caterpillar and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory to explore better efficiency and reduced emissions of heavy-duty diesel engines. This is another extensive project meant to bring together the vast resources of large manufacturers in the U.S. with scientists working for Department of Energy lab.

SRN
Seats are filling fast for this year’s AGMA Strategic Resources Network Event. Day one will be held at MxD (formerly DMDII) in the Goose Island area of Chicago. Attendees will hear presentations on generative software, IIoT, steel market report, and more. Day 2 will take you on three tours: IMS Global Gear & Machining, Precision Arrow Gear Group and Argonne National Laboratory. Register before this fills.

MIT Sloan
Digital transformation is no longer optional for industrial companies. The problem is it’s really, really hard.

The Detroit News
The great auto-industry shakeout has started to arrive in force. Anyone paying attention knows change is looming for global automakers grappling with new technologies, stricter emissions standards and apps that have turned car buyers into renters or just riders.

This course focuses the supporting elements of a gearbox that allow gears and bearings to do their jobs most efficiently. Learn about seals, lubrication, lubricants, housings, breathers and other details that go into designing gearbox systems.

Bloomberg News
German factory orders unexpectedly fell in January, piling on more evidence that Europe’s largest economy continued to lose momentum at the start of the year. Orders were down 2.6 percent, the most since June, defying expectations for a 0.5 percent gain. 

Manufacturing.net
In the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, there is a debate as to whether our technologically advanced economy benefits or disadvantages the U.S. workforce. Artificial intelligence, robotics and the internet of things are sweeping across industries, triggering job security fears among some workers. In reality, companies are utilizing such technology to find the right employees, at the right time. 

Flight Global
Northrop Grumman received a $323 million contract from the U.S. Navy for engineering and manufacturing development work on its Advanced Anti-radiation guided missile-extended range (AARGM-ER), an air-launched weapon designed to seek and destroy radar sites on the ground.

New York Times
Last week, a large group of striking factory workers, United Electrical Workers union officials and community members gathered in the freezing temperatures in Wilmerding, Penn., across the railroad tracks from the Wabtec Corporation, holding signs denouncing corporate greed and announcing support for the union. 

Press release
Halo Energy LLC, a micro wind turbine manufacturer, is now in production of its innovative, high-efficiency shrouded wind turbines, with their first 10 commercial units scheduled for delivery in Q2 2019.

Join the 300 gear and bearing executives from around the world who gather every year for the unparalleled experience that is offered through this event. Engage with expert industry speakers, learn from panel presentations on the future of gears and manufacturing and join your peers for a meeting that will connect you with the opportunity to drive your business into the future.

Nanalyze
One reason why you should be overly cautious when it comes to technology investing is that great stories don’t often make for great investments. You also need a stomach for volatility, since technology stocks are extremely volatile due to the technology itself changing so fast. 

Industrial Laser Solutions
Sports car maker Bugatti used SLM Solutions' metal additive manufacturing technology to produce automotive components. The components were manufactured in the aerospace alloy Ti6Al4V in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Bionic Production on a SLM 500 selective laser melting system featuring four 400 W lasers.

Manufacturing.net
Industry 4.0 and digital transformation bring with them smart factories and smart manufacturing units, which are fully integrated, collaborative manufacturing systems capable of adapting to supplier and customer needs in real time. The latest technologies in Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, data analytics and artificial intelligence are forming an integral part of this digital-driven industry. 

Manufacturing Global
The automotive manufacturer, Honda Canada, has celebrated 50 years of growth and success in the country with a commemorative ceremony at its headquarters near Toronto.

The Atlantic
In the car of the future, you may care more about how the driver’s seat swivels than how the engine purrs.