LIFTING THE INDUSTRY HIGHER Hangcha Forklift Canada A SHINY NEW FUTURE FOR TEXTILES IN ALBERTA Davey Textile Solutions COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP, CUSTOMER CARE, AND SHARED KNOWLEDGE Mahler Machining MANUFACTURINGINFOCUS.COM D EC 2 02 3 - JA N 2 02 4EDITOR’S CORNER 3 There is a particular nobility to the art of repair, as it requires a combination of knowledge, dexterity, and experience. If you consider the intricacy of the gears on a mechanical watch, the close proximity of solder points on a circuit board, or precisely the right spot for an arc weld connection to patch a muffler, then you probably have some respect for the patience and precision needed for this kind of work. I imagine a certain level of satis- faction in this work as well; to repair something, to make it right, to keep something precious out of a trash bin—this is noble. But as technology gets smaller and more complex and com- panies push for the next sale instead of a repair, there seems to be less we can fix and more we must replace. Cell phones, tablets, and portable computers are particularly difficult to fix, where even the original manufacturer is likely to just issue a replacement instead of troubleshooting the problem. Small appliance repair shops have all but disappeared, and consumers are more likely to just buy a new toaster instead of having a simple solder connection restored. Even in the automotive industry, where repair shops are still quite preva- lent, a mechanic will tell you that newer vehicles need parts replaced outright, as repairs are less possible, particularly for computerized components and sensors. In an effort to curb this trend, governments are looking to promote the repair culture. There has been some success on this front in the European Union, and proposals to bring similar legislature to North America are in progress as well. Robert Hoshowsky delves into the topic in his latest piece, Making it Right – The Right to Repair. Tim Hocken Editor Suite 300, 7071 Bayers Rd. | Halifax, NS | B3L 2C2 | Canada P: 1-647-479-2163 | E: EDITOR Tim Hocken DEPUTY EDITOR Jaime McKee COPY EDITORS Thora Smith | Allister Havercroft CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alan Tughan | Allison Dempsey | Jessica Ferlaino Karen Hawthorne | Margaret Eaton | Nate Hendley Pauline Müller | Robert Hoshowsky | William Young DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS James Corbett OPERATIONS MANAGER Severina Gachparova OPERATIONS ASSISTANT Marc Arsenault CONTENT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Scott Forbes CONTENT DEVELOPERS Jamal Francis-Anderson | Lily Mitchell | Taylor Dunne SALES TEAM LEAD Pamela Taylor SALES TEAM Morgan Culpepper | Dean Lucas GRAPHIC DESIGN TEAM LEAD Laura Pratt GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ashley Dowling | Ebic Tristary Isaac McWhinnie | Yoana Ilcheva SENIOR STAFF ACCOUNTANT Christi Lingard OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Julia MacQueen BUSINESS COORDINATOR Abigail Potter IT ADMINISTRATOR Rebecca Sanford PUBLISHER Jeff HockenINSIDE DEC - JAN FOCUS ON: MICHIGAN’S MANUFACTURING REVOLUTION PLAY EQUIPMENT AUTOMATION & TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING 4 The Right to Repair Technology has given the world televisions, computers, monitors, printers, copiers, and smartphones, but also a new term for the growing mountains of dead electronics: e-waste. The issue of e-waste has sparked endless debates over what we can do to keep millions of discarded devices out of landfills, and this month, we look at the right to repair. FABRICATION & MACHINING ENGINEERING & DESIGN 5 MANUFACTURING IN FOCUS MEDICAL DEVICE SAFETY MONITORING REPORTING AND SURVEILLANCE 29 – 30 January, San Diego, CA This premier marcus evans conference explores future implications for post-market management planning, risk management, complaint handling, and clinical evaluations to align with revised and ever-changing industry deliverables. Moreover, attendees will be provided a blue- print on how to develop innovative PMCF, PSUR, safety, quality, adverse event, and post-market reporting document processes. For more information IME WEST 2024 6 – 8 February, Anaheim, CA Advancing manufacturing excellence through five connected expos, this event brings together MD&M West, WestPack, ATX West, D&M West, and Plastec West under one roof. From packaging to plastics to robotics, this five-in-one design and manufacturing event connects you across multiple industries. View hundreds of products and solutions and see what innovations you can expect for 2024. For more information CROSS SECTOR SUPPLY CHAIN AND OPERATIONAL RESILIENCE 12 – 14 February, Houston, TX This GFMI conference will provide attendees with practical solutions and rich perspectives to better adapt their supply chain and operations to improve their resilience, account for the impact of current complexities and global instability, and minimize exposure to threats. Key chal- lenges to be addressed include geopolitical concerns and interdependencies, monitoring different links of the supply chain, IT and cyber resilience, and more. For more information BETTER WORKPLACE CONFERENCE 26 – 28 February, online At the 27th annual Better Workplace Conference, Human Resources professionals will discover impactful, research-based solutions to a variety of issues in the workplace. This virtual event from the Conference Board of Canada offers three days of captivating keynote speakers, panel discus- sions, and best practice showcases, with the aim of shining a light on improving workplace culture and responding to employees’ changing needs. Topics include the future of mental health in the workplace, integrating psychological safety, wellbeing and inclusion, and more. For more information AVIATION WEEK’S AERO-ENGINES AMERICAS, CO-LOCATED WITH ENGINE LEASING, TRADING & FINANCE AMERICAS (ELTF) 28 February – 1 March, Miami, FL Aero-Engines Americas is the largest event exclusively dedicated to the trends and issues related to the region’s engine community. Bringing together senior representatives from airlines, lessors, MROs, OEMs, suppliers, financiers, and consultancies, these co-located events provide the best forum to network and discuss the aero engine market. For more information INDUSTRY EVENTS 6 Are you planning an event relating to North America’s growing Manufacturing Industry? To get your event listed in Manufacturing in Focus, please contact us at least six to eight weeks before the event takes place at or call 1-647-479-2163INDUSTRY NEWS EPSILON ADVANCED MATERIALS SELECTS NORTH CAROLINA FOR $650M FACILITY Epsilon Advanced Materials is set to begin construction on its Wilmington, North Carolina graphite anode facility and it looking to capitalize on federal government funding to do so. The $650 million project will produce 50,000 tons of graphite anode a year when fully operational, which is slated for 2026. The 1.5 million square foot facility is strategically located at the Mid-Atlantic Rail Industrial Park site, and will offer proximity to PENTAGON AWARDS $1.3B IN CONTRACTS FOR SATELLITES Northrop Grumman and York Space have received $1.3 billion in contracts from the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency (SDA) to build 100 communications satellites which will strengthen the U.S. military’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture network. The satellites will be “Alpha” variant prototypes in the “Tranche 2 Transport Layer” constellation, or T2TL-Alpha, and will provide encrypted communications. These investments are part of the modern-day race to space, as the U.S. is increasing its capabilities to compete with China. The first satellites launched in April and demonstrated the feasibility of the network. Northrop Grumman was previously awarded an SDA contract for Beta variants alongside Lockheed Martin, and again was selected to build 38 data transport satellites valued at $732 million, while York will build 62 satellites for the remaining $617 million. The agency has scheduled the satellites to launch in 2026. the Wilmington Port and a rich pool of suppliers. The facility will employ 500 people and will utilize green technologies. The manufacturer is in talks with local raw material suppliers, education, and transportation partners to ensure it has the capacity to produce enough graphite anode annually to power 850,000 electric vehicles by 2030. 7SPACEX AND ULA RECEIVE $2.5B IN ROCKET CONTRACTS The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command agency has awarded $2.5 billion in rocket contracts to SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) for 21 rocket launches, in what should be the last round of orders under a mul- tiyear national security program called National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2. Phase 2 of the program was to consist of 34 missions, 60 percent of which would go to ULA and 40 percent to SpaceX, but increased demand for national security launches spurred growth of the program to 48 missions, with ULA securing 26 missions and SpaceX, 22. Eleven missions valued at $1.3 billion were assigned to ULA. Through a joint venture with Boeing and Lockheed Martin, it will fly its Vulcan rocket for each of its missions. SpaceX received 10 missions worth $1.23 billion and will fly ALGOMA STEEL ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE CONSTRUCTION ON TRACK The $703 million Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) construction project at Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario has met a major construction milestone, meaning the projects is on track to be operational in late 2024. The steelmaker announced that it installed the last of the four crane girders that connect the EAF with main building. Construction commenced at both ends of the building and met in the middle, joined by the crane girders. The girders are constructed from Algoma plate steel and were fabricated off-site by Warren Fabricating and Machining and SIS Manufacturing. They measure 100 feet long, 16 feet deep, and 120 tons. The roof trusses have also been installed its Falcon 9 rocket for seven missions and its Falcon Heavy for the remaining three missions. The missions are expected to launch over the next two to three years. While SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets are operational and cer- tified, ULA’s Vulcan has yet to launch to orbit to receive certification. As Phase 2 ends, the agency will look to advance Phase 3, where an estimated 90 launches are planned. to complete the building structure just in time for the winter months. The new furnaces will replace the existing blast furnace and basic oxygen steelmak- ing operations at the 120-year-old plant and will reduce the company’s carbon emissions by upwards of 70 percent, posi- tioning Algoma among the leading pro- ducers of green steel in North America. INDUSTRY NEWS 8TNR BUILDING NEW FACILITY IN ONTARIO Global door manufacturer TNR Industrial Doors has announced plans to build a new 112,000 square foot manufacturing facility in an industrial park near Highway 11 in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, a short distance away from Barrie, where it previously rented a building for 20 years. The provincial government offered TNR a $5 million loan to support the effort. Construction on the facility is slated for January 2025 completion, at which point it will double the company’s capacity to manufacture the rubber high-per- formance doors for which it is globally regarded. The new facility will be equipped with new equipment and automa- tion that will improve efficiency and output. UAW, STELLANTIS REACH DEAL A deal has been reached between striking United Auto Workers (UAW) members and Stellantis and includes $18.9 billion in investments for operations in the United States by April 2028, including a new midsize pickup truck for produc- tion for an idled plant in Belvidere, Illinois, an investment worth $1.5 billion. The agreement received enough votes in favour to be ratified by the 43,000 union members. The deal follows almost a month and a half of targeted labour actions by the union, which included strike action against Stellantis, General Motors, and Ford Motor Company. UAW President Shawn Fain called it the “most lucrative contract our union has won in decades.” Fain was particularly pleased with the decision to reopen the plant in Belvidere where work came to a halt in February 2022. There are also plans to invest $3.2 billion in a new joint-venture battery plant in Belvidere which is slated to open in 2028. Other wins for the union include $1.5 billion investments in a Dodge-Jeep plant in Detroit and a Jeep operation in Ohio, $1.4 billion for a Ram plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and another $600 million for the Warren truck plant. The agreement also includes a car-lease program for employ- ees that rivals the offer given to management, pay increas- es, bonuses, profit sharing payments, and other enhanced benefits. Employees will receive a 25 percent raise that includes an 11 percent increase upon ratification, with three percent increases over the next three years and a five percent increase in 2027. The strike action by both UAW workers and Unifor employees cost Stellantis approximately $3.2 billion in revenue. Despite incurring these costs, Stellantis has maintained its 2023 guidance, while its competitors have pulled theirs in the wake of the costs of these actions. Jon Rehg / shutterstock.com INDUSTRY NEWS 9Next >