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ABB expands dam electrification and automation at Boliden’s Aitik copper mine

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ABB has expanded the electrification and automation infrastructure at Boliden’s Aitik mine, enabling safe and efficient growth of one of Europe’s most important tailings facilities.

The upgrade strengthens water storage, recycling and monitoring capabilities, enabling Sweden’s largest open-pit copper mine to safely scale operations amid increased global demand for copper production.

According to the International Energy Agency, global refined copper demand is projected to grow by around 22 percent by 2035 under the Stated Policies Scenario. [Read more…] about ABB expands dam electrification and automation at Boliden’s Aitik copper mine

Wisk completes first flight of Generation 6 autonomous eVTOL

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Wisk Aero, an autonomous aviation company, has announced the successful completion of the first flight of its Generation 6 aircraft. The flight is a pivotal step forward in Wisk’s journey to deliver the first certified, autonomous passenger-carrying eVTOL to market in the US Wisk says it is the only company to have designed, built, and flown six generations of eVTOL aircraft.

The aircraft performed its initial vertical takeoff, hover, and stabilized flight maneuvers at Wisk’s flight test facility in Hollister, California.

This success validates the aircraft’s core flight systems and is a critical first step in an extensive testing campaign. This Generation 6 aircraft is the subject of Wisk’s type certification application and ongoing certification project. [Read more…] about Wisk completes first flight of Generation 6 autonomous eVTOL

New technology uses lasers to bend glass ‘with speed and precision’

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The glass industry is entering a new era of digital precision as a result of an EU-funded DiMAT project, which is helping companies like Hegla-Hanic transform complex production processes into more sustainable operations efficiently driven by data.

As demand grows for spectacular glass façades and free-formed 3D designs in modern architecture, like the Vaghuset Business Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden, for example, manufacturers face increasing pressure to deliver ever more complex, high-performance glass products.

Hegla-Hanic, part of the Hegla Group based in Beverungen, Germany, is a leader in ERP and MES software for glass manufacturing, and is collaborating with Fraunhofer IMW in the DiMAT project to bring cutting-edge digital tools into the glass forming process. [Read more…] about New technology uses lasers to bend glass ‘with speed and precision’

Lock Joint Tube acquires Atkore’s Tectron tube product line and facility

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Lock Joint Tube, a manufacturer of mechanical and structural grade steel tubing, has acquired the Tectron mechanical tube product line and manufacturing facility in De Pere, Wisconsin, from Atkore.

The acquisition enhances LJT’s small-diameter tubing capabilities and broadens its range of solutions for its diverse customer base that includes agricultural, automotive, healthcare, furniture, and other transportation industries.

The 140,000 square foot De Pere, Wisconsin facility and all employees will now operate as Lock Joint Tube Wisconsin. With the acquisition, LJT operates six locations across Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin that serve fabricators, distributors, and OEMs nationwide. [Read more…] about Lock Joint Tube acquires Atkore’s Tectron tube product line and facility

Thermal Insulators Explained: Why Mica Outperforms Alternatives

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The thermal insulation landscape is crowded with options: fiberglass, ceramic wool, aerogel, foam composites, and mineral-based materials. Yet when engineers need reliable insulation in demanding environments like aerospace applications, industrial furnaces, and high-temperature equipment, mica emerges as the best choice. The reason isn’t marketing. It’s performance in the real world.

Understanding why mica outperforms alternatives requires comparing not just thermal conductivity numbers, but overall performance across temperature range, durability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. When you understand the full picture, mica sheets and mica components become the logical choice, not the expensive alternative. [Read more…] about Thermal Insulators Explained: Why Mica Outperforms Alternatives

Siemens launches PAVE360 Automotive to accelerate software-defined vehicle development

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Siemens, an industrial technology company, unveiled its PAVE360 Automotive technology, a new category of digital twin software that is pre-integrated and designed as an off-the-shelf offering to address the escalating complexity of automotive hardware and software integration.

PAVE360 Automotive empowers automotive manufacturers and suppliers to speed the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with early full-system, virtual integration that mirrors real vehicle hardware and accelerates both application and low-level software development for ADAS, AD and IVI.

This removes the need for customers to build their own digital twins before testing software and significantly reducing time to market for critical applications – from months to days. [Read more…] about Siemens launches PAVE360 Automotive to accelerate software-defined vehicle development

Drako Tech launches ‘world’s first single-ECU automotive platform’

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Drako Tech has announced DriveOS with HyperSafety, which the company describes as “the automotive industry’s first single-ECU hard real-time automotive operating system”.

The Drako DriveOS platform was launched in 2015 and has been battle-tested in Drako GTE and Drako Dragon high performance vehicles. It consolidates all vehicle subsystem, including control systems, ADAS, digital cockpit, and entertainment, into a single standard PC – reducing cost, enabling faster development, and delivering cyber-secure OTA updates. DriveOS supports all propulsion systems – ICE, EV, and hybrid. [Read more…] about Drako Tech launches ‘world’s first single-ECU automotive platform’

BlackBerry QNX embedded technology ‘now powering more than 275 million vehicles on the road’

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QNX, a division of BlackBerry has announced that Counterpoint Research, a technology analysis and market research firm, has confirmed that QNX software is now embedded in more than 275 million vehicles worldwide; an increase of 100 million since 2020.

As automakers continue to navigate a period of profound transformation, the shift to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) is accelerating – placing software at the center of innovation, safety, and the in-vehicle experience.

This evolution is redefining how vehicles are designed, built, and maintained, making robust, scalable software platforms like QNX mission-critical for OEMs worldwide. [Read more…] about BlackBerry QNX embedded technology ‘now powering more than 275 million vehicles on the road’

Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales projected to reach record $156 billion in 2027, says SEMI

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Global sales of total semiconductor manufacturing equipment by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are forecast to reach a record high of $133 billion in 2025, growing 13.7 percent year-on-year, SEMI predicted in its Year-End Total Semiconductor Equipment Forecast – OEM Perspective at SEMICON Japan 2025.

Growth in semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales is expected to continue in the two following years of the forecast period, with projections of $145 billion in 2026 and $156 billion in 2027.

This growth will be driven primarily by investments related to AI, particularly in leading-edge logic, memory, and the adoption of advanced packaging technologies. [Read more…] about Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales projected to reach record $156 billion in 2027, says SEMI

Aneli Capital launches €35 million fund for high-growth robotics and tech startups in Europe

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A team of experts with over 15 years of experience in funding businesses has launched Aneli Capital, a fund to support early-stage startups in the Baltics, Poland, and other Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

The €35 million fund will primarily focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as robotics, space, photonics, and energy startups, with the goal of helping them grow and become ready for follow-on investors.

While CEE startups are gradually becoming more visible in the international startup scene, they still face issues such as a lack of funding and difficulties in scaling compared to their Western counterparts. [Read more…] about Aneli Capital launches €35 million fund for high-growth robotics and tech startups in Europe