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Mercedes-Benz starts production of GLC electric drive units in Romania

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Mercedes-Benz has started production of electric drive units for the all-new, fully electric GLC SUV at its Star Assembly plant in Sebeș, Romania.

The facility, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz, now forms part of the company’s global electric powertrain network, supplying components to vehicle plants in Bremen, Germany and Kecskemét, Hungary.

Jörg Burzer, Mercedes-Benz board member responsible for production, quality and supply chain management, says: “Producing the electric drive units for the new all-electric Mercedes-Benz GLC is an important milestone in the transformation of our plant and underlines the role of Sebeș in the global Mercedes-Benz production network. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz starts production of GLC electric drive units in Romania

BMW begins production of all-electric iX3 at its new Hungarian plant with more than 1,000 robots

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BMW Group has begun series production of its all-electric BMW iX3 at its new plant in Debrecen, Hungary – the company’s first facility designed to operate entirely without fossil fuels.

Speaking before the opening, Milan Nedeljković, BMW board member responsible for production, said: “The start of series production for the BMW iX3 signals a new era of automotive manufacturing. Digital from the very beginning, the plant will offer a new dimension in efficient production without fossil fuels.”

The €2 billion Debrecen facility embodies BMW’s iFACTORY strategy, focused on digitalisation, efficiency, and sustainability. It will run exclusively on electricity from renewable sources, including a 50-hectare on-site solar farm that provides about a quarter of its annual power needs. [Read more…] about BMW begins production of all-electric iX3 at its new Hungarian plant with more than 1,000 robots

Continental celebrates grand opening of new hydraulic plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico

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Continental’s group sector ContiTech has celebrated the grand opening of its new hydraulics production facility in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

The new plant underscores ContiTech’s commitment to strengthening local supply chains, expanding its manufacturing footprint in the Americas, and advancing its “in the region, for the region” strategy.

The grand opening event was attended by officials from the state of Aguascalientes, led by Governor Maria Teresa Jiménez Esquivel, alongside Head of ContiTech group sector Philip Nelles, CFO Matthias Reinsberg, ContiTech USA CEO and Head of Business Area Industrial Solutions Americas Andreas Gerstenberger, and employees. [Read more…] about Continental celebrates grand opening of new hydraulic plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico

Data center robotics market set to ‘double by 2032’, says report

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A new market analysis from Credence Research predicts that the global “data center robotics” market will roughly double in size from an estimated $18.5 billion in 2024 to around $37.41 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual rate of about 9.2 percent.

What exactly is meant by “data center robotics”? According to the report, the term covers robotic systems deployed within large data centre facilities to assist with tasks such as hardware maintenance, transport of parts and components, inspection and monitoring of equipment, and other operational support functions.

For example, it highlights emerging use-cases for collaborative robots (cobots) that work alongside human technicians and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that navigate between racks and service zones. [Read more…] about Data center robotics market set to ‘double by 2032’, says report

Delta breaks ground on new sustainable development center in Emmendingen, Germany

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Delta Electronics, a global company with interests in robotics and green power solutions, has celebrated the groundbreaking of its new development center in Emmendingen, near Freiburg, in Germany.

The new facility, scheduled for completion in early 2027, will provide approximately 7,480 square meters for over 200 R&D, engineering, business development, and management talent to support future expansion, invest in local talent, foster collaboration, and accelerate product innovation for both local and international markets.

Delta’s own smart energy-saving solutions will support the new building to attain the DGNB Gold Certification for sustainable construction – a benchmark for energy efficiency and environmental performance in Germany. [Read more…] about Delta breaks ground on new sustainable development center in Emmendingen, Germany

Daifuku doubles production capacity with US factory expansion

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Daifuku has completed a major expansion of its US subsidiary’s manufacturing plant in Hobart, Indiana, doubling production capacity to meet rising demand for automation systems.

Daifuku Intralogistics America Corporation (ILUS), which oversees the company’s intralogistics business in North America, will begin operating the expanded facility in October.

The site produces conveyors, sorters, and automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) for distribution centers and manufacturing plants. [Read more…] about Daifuku doubles production capacity with US factory expansion

Nidec expands in Mena, Arkansas, with $19 million investment

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Nidec Motor Corporation is expanding its existing facility in Mena, Arkansas, with an investment of more than $19 million. With the expansion, Nidec aims to create 35 new jobs over five years.

Claudemir dos Santos, COO of Nidec Appliance, Commercial and Industrial Motors (ACIM) and vice president of operations for North America and Latin America, says: “This significant investment in our plant in Mena marks a milestone in our growth as a manufacturer of electric motors.

“We’ve essentially outgrown our facility, and the new space we add will allow us to expand not only our manufacturing capabilities but also our testing labs and to improve the experience for customers who visit the location.” [Read more…] about Nidec expands in Mena, Arkansas, with $19 million investment

Toyota opens Woven City as a testbed for future mobility

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Toyota, one of the world’s largest automotive companies, and its business unit Woven by Toyota have officially launched the “Woven City”, first unveiled at CES 2020 and jointly developed by the two companies.

To mark the occasion, Toyota and WbyT hosted a launch event in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, with key stakeholders.

With residents beginning to move in and partner companies starting co-creation, Woven City takes its first steps as a real-world test course for mobility and a key driver of Toyota’s transformation into a mobility company. [Read more…] about Toyota opens Woven City as a testbed for future mobility

Mitsubishi Electric to roll out digital maintenance platform for elevators and escalators

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Mitsubishi Electric Building Solutions (MEBS) will introduce KEGMIL, a cloud-based field service management platform, to streamline elevator and escalator maintenance, starting in Singapore from October 2025.

The company plans to expand the system across Southeast Asia and eventually other global markets.

KEGMIL, developed by Singapore-based FTV LABS, digitizes much of the manual work still common in field services. Through a mobile app, it enables everything from issuing work instructions and checklists to real-time progress tracking, emergency dispatching using GPS, and electronic reporting with digital signatures. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric to roll out digital maintenance platform for elevators and escalators

ABB to invest an extra $110 million in US manufacturing

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Industrial automation and energy giant ABB says it will invest a further $110 million in the United States in 2025 to expand the R&D and manufacturing of its advanced electrification solutions as customers focus on improving energy efficiency and uptime while reducing their energy costs.

The IEA estimate US wholesale electricity prices rose by 30-40 percent in the first half of 2025, compared with 2024.

Creating nearly 200 new jobs, the investment will support expected future growth in key industries, including data centers and the power grid. Rapid expansion of data centers in the US is expected to keep annual electricity demand growth above 2 percent in both 2025 and 2026, more than double the average growth rate over the past decade (IEA). [Read more…] about ABB to invest an extra $110 million in US manufacturing