Radio for manufacturing and engineering professionals. New industrial products, news and technical articles.
Listen to episodes
60 recent
November 6, 20263 min
LISTEN: The Tesla Cybertruck Will Die So the Cybercab Can Live
It looks like the end of the road for Tesla’s polarizing Cybertruck, the automaker’s ill-fated attempt to break into the massive U.S. pickup truck market. Tesla CEO Elon Musk overnight declared on X that his company will be winding down production of the Cybertruck at the Gigafactory Texas around the middle of next year to make room for increased Cybercab production. He didn’t specify if Cybertruck production would move to a different facility and, if so, which one. But he did seemingly confirm in another post that the vehicle is being discontinued. During the third quarter of 2026, Tesla said it produced more than 464,000 vehicles but “Other Models,” which includes the Cybertruck, only accounted for 7,000 of that total, down 40% from the previous quarter. Similarly, Tesla deliveries for “Other Models” fell 48% during the quarter. The Tesla Cybertruck debuted as a prototype in 2019 and almost immediately became the target of internet scorn after its “unbreakable” windows broke during a demonstration. But the EV shrugged off that early embarrassment and, after years of delays, rolled off the production line in 2023. From the start, Musk acknowledged “enormous challenges” with scaling production and reaching cash flow positivity with the Cybertruck. In 2023, he said, “We dug our own grave with the Cybertruck. And special products that come along once in a long while are just incredibly difficult to bring to market to reach volume, to be prosperous. It's fundamental to the nature of the newness.” Now that prediction has seemingly come true. But the Cybertruck’s loss will be the Cybercab’s gain. Tesla earlier this year estimated its annual production capacity for the Cybertruck and the Cybercab to both be around 125,000, meaning Cybercab production could effectively double after the Cybertruck is phased out. Either way, it’s time to cue up the In Memoriam montage for that deeply flawed but fascinating EV. Good night, sweet prince. #Tesla, #Cybertruck, #Cybercab, #ElectricVehicles, #EVManufacturing, #AutomotiveIndustry, #AutomotiveNews, #ManufacturingNews, #GigafactoryTexas, #ManufacturingNow
November 4, 20265 min
LISTEN: Milwaukee Brewers Championship Triggers a Long Night of Hot Production
When Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Megill got the Devil Rays' Richie Palacios to ground out to second baseman Brice Turang on Wednesday night, it not only clinched the first World Series in club history, but it also fired up a lot of long nights of hot-market production for U.S. manufacturers. Since 1988, Will Customized Products has been making promotional items in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When first baseman Jake Bauers recorded the final out, Will Products was in hot production, charged with making 12,456 World Series Champions shirts in a single overnight production window, some 360 shirts per hour. But long before the final out is recorded and the team storms the field, a design process is coordinated well in advance of the final game. Will Products is just one piece of a puzzle that includes facilities across the country — and consistency is critical. Jessi Sorensen, Art & Marketing Director of Will Customized Products, said, "The client provides us with production-ready artwork, along with a physical print sample that serves as our reference for ink colors, logo placement and overall print quality. This ensures that every shirt we produce meets the same standards as those being printed at other facilities nationwide." Before full-scale production begins, Sorensen's team prints a sample shirt to verify color accuracy, artwork placement and overall quality. The team then submits a photograph of that sample to the client for final approval. Sorensen says this quality-control checkpoint is essential before thousands of shirts are made in just a matter of hours. The Brewers organization supplies blank garments, delivered to the facility by UPS or freight truck. Upon arrival, Will's team carefully counts and verifies the inventory to make sure everything is ready for production. Ink colors are precisely matched to Pantone specifications through the company's ink supplier to maintain consistency across the entire production run. With everything in place, once the winning team is determined, the operation can move immediately into production. In high-volume screen printing, production rates can reach 450 shirts per hour per press. Maintaining that pace requires experienced operators, properly calibrated equipment and a highly coordinated production team. "Speed is essential," Sorensen said, "but we never lose sight of the importance of consistent print quality." So, when do they start the presses? About 30 minutes before the game ends, two supervisors and two press operators arrive at the plant to prep the equipment. This includes bringing conveyor dryers and flash-curing units up to the proper operating temperatures so production can begin as soon as the championship outcome is confirmed. For this production run, Will Products used four M&R automatic screen-printing presses, including two 14-station machines and two 16-color machines. Hot off the press, the shirts travel through conveyor dryers, and each shirt receives a holographic authenticity sticker, applied by hand to the left side of the garment. The shirts are then carefully counted, sorted and packed according to specific requirements. Printing began immediately following the game, around 10:30 p.m., and by 8:00 am, all 12,456 shirts had been delivered. To keep merchandise moving as quickly as possible, outbound pickups are scheduled in multiple waves beginning at 4:00 a.m. "It's an intense, time-sensitive operation where every minute counts," Sorensen said. "Our team works through the night to ensure championship merchandise is ready for distribution while excitement surrounding the victory is at its peak." One unique risk of championship merchandise production is that these facilities must be fully prepared for a specific outcome, even though the final result isn't guaranteed. If the Brewers don't bring home a championship, they still cover the costs, all unused championship artwork is destroyed, and the blank garments are repacked and returned. "It's a calculated part of the hot-market business," Sorensen said. "The key is having the people, equipment and processes ready to execute immediately when the outcome is confirmed, while also having a clear plan in place if production doesn't move forward." And don't worry, even though some of the staff had to show up early to bring the machines online, they still got to see the end of the game, just from the office. Soon thereafter, the entire Will Products team showed up for a long night of hot production. #Manufacturing #ScreenPrinting #ApparelManufacturing #HotMarketProduction #MilwaukeeBrewers #WorldSeries #SportsMerchandise #Production #ManufacturingOperations #SupplyChain #QualityControl #PrintingIndustry #MadeInAmerica #ManufacturingNow
November 4, 20261 min
LISTEN: Chocolate Factory Fined Over Missing ‘Running Man’
A candy factory in Australia is facing fines in part due to some little guys missing from its required signage. According to the Region Riverina , Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory, which has been operating for decades out of a more than 90-year-old flour mill, has been fined $19,000 for allegedly safety violations. One issue relates to the facility’s exit signs not featuring the standard “running man.” The jogging gentleman in question is a standard green-and-white safety symbol used throughout Europe to highlight exits. It’s a universal sign that doesn’t rely on language. And the Junee Shire Council is serious about the Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory putting them. As the report points out, the council warned that a fire in an older, mostly timber building could have “horrific” consequences. The running man isn’t the only issue for the factory, which doubles as a tourist attraction where visitors can see how organic licorice and chocolate is made. There are also problems with fire stairs, emergency exits, fire extinguishers and refurbished areas without proper occupation certificates. The council said it’s been going back and forth with the factory for a year. But the factory’s marketing manager, Rhiannon Druce, said she was only informed of the signage violations a month ago. She also said the council was targeting issues like door handles being ¾ of an inch too short. “We are using an old flour mill that was built in 1935. We are doing everything to keep people safe. We have never had a major accident or safety incident in our factory,” she said, while pointing out the irony that Australia’s Parliament House also doesn’t have the running man on its exit signs. #ManufacturingNow, #FoodManufacturing, #ChocolateFactory, #FoodIndustry, #WorkplaceSafety, #FactorySafety, #Australia, #SafetyRegulations, #ManufacturingNews, #IndustrialSafety
November 3, 20262 min
LISTEN: Mercedes-Benz Working on Technology That Uses the Rear Window to Talk to the Car Behind You
Mercedes-Benz has been at the forefront of automotive technology for some 140 years, and the company is always pushing forward, trying to add real value for drivers and passengers alike. The automaker recently offered insight into a few R&D efforts currently under development. In one project, Mercedes is developing display technologies that explore new ways for the vehicle to communicate with its surroundings. For example, a digital warning triangle that displays in the rear window to warn of traffic, heavy braking or an accident ahead. Other alerts could give drivers a heads-up that the vehicle is parking, warn that a pedestrian is crossing the road, or suggest that they may be following too closely or have their “brights,” or high beams, on. The LED display elements can be laminated into the glass composite and, when no content is displayed, remain nearly invisible. As part of rethinking display surfaces, the company is also working on a holographic display concept that puts more information on the windshield. A projector in the instrument panel projects content onto the windshield. A transparent film laminated into the glass uses “holographic optical elements” to selectively reflect the wavelengths of light emitted by the projector. The technology concentrates the light so the image remains visible even in sunlight and is only visible from specific viewing angles. So, the driver can't see what is shown on the passenger side and vice versa. The driver could get information on points of interest, directions, video calls or safety and weather warnings, while the passenger could watch a movie—hopefully with headphones. Mercedes insists the new display isn't permanently visible and only shows content when needed. Finally, Mercedes showed off a new power converter for potential electric vehicles. It uses programmable micro-converters to control the energy flows of individual battery cells. It provides a constant high-voltage output of up to 800 volts, regardless of the cells’ state of charge or aging. This means that batteries and power electronics could be smaller, while also supporting AC and DC conversion and bidirectional charging. The technologies are still under development and won't be available anytime soon. #MercedesBenz, #AutomotiveTechnology, #AutomotiveInnovation, #ElectricVehicles, #EVTechnology, #HolographicDisplay, #SmartGlass, #FutureOfDriving, #AutomotiveEngineering, #ManufacturingNow
October 30, 20261 min
LISTEN: Miller Lite Brews Up ‘Clinch Cans’ to Honor Its Hometown’s World Series
The Milwaukee Brewers secured the first World Series title in the franchise’s 57-year history this week, and a longtime neighborhood business came up with a novel way to celebrate. But it just so happens that the business in question is one of the nation’s most prominent beer brands, as well as among the inspirations for the team’s name. Molson Coors said Thursday that it will offer limited-edition cans of its Miller Lite beer to mark Brewers’ championship. The 4,400 “Clinch Cans” will contain Miller Lite that the company says was being made on Wednesday at 10:13 p.m. Central — the exact time that second baseman Brice Turang threw out Richie Palacios at first to secure the final out of the series. The cans feature the Brewers’ “ball-in-glove” logo on a blue background with gold lettering — instead of the usual white and dark blue — and the number of the cans limited-edition run represents the 44 years between the team’s last pennant and this year’s. Customers who are at least 21 years old can reserve one “Clinch Can” online on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Monday, but they can only receive those reserved cans by picking them up near Molson Coors’ Milwaukee brewery, just down the road from the team’s stadium — the home of Miller Brewing Company since 1855 and the nation’s oldest large-scale brewery. Miller was among Milwaukee’s “Big Four” brewers that made the city synonymous with the brewing industry— and inspired the nickname of the original Brewers team — in the late 19th century. The nickname was also used by a longtime minor league team in the city before the current franchise moved to Wisconsin in 1970. Courtney Benedict, Molson Coors’ vice president of marketing for the Miller Lite family of brands, said in a statement that, “as the official beer of our hometown team — one named after beer, no less — we knew we couldn't just sit back and say 'congrats.’" #MillerLite #MolsonCoors #MilwaukeeBrewers #WorldSeries #Baseball #Beer #Brewing #BeverageManufacturing #LimitedEdition #Packaging #BrandMarketing #Milwaukee #Manufacturing #ManufacturingNow
October 29, 20261 min
LISTEN: Explosion, Fire Expose Illegal North Carolina Distillery
An explosion and fire caused by an illegal liquor distillery in Wilkes County, North Carolina, prompted an investigation that led to the operator’s arrest and the seizure of 161 gallons of moonshine. The probe took place after local and state authorities notified the North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) division of a structure fire in North Wilkesboro linked to an active, untaxed liquor manufacturing operation. When ALE special agents arrived, they discovered a 200-gallon illegal distillery and seized 161 gallons of moonshine and approximately 1,800 gallons of mash. They also arrested 69-year-old Billy Ray Anderson and charged him with six offenses, including manufacturing and possessing a non-taxpaid alcoholic beverage for sale, possessing distillery equipment and ingredients and allowing property to be used for illegal liquor production. Moonshine production has played an important role in North Carolina’s history and culture, according to the state’s Department of Natural & Cultural Resources . The department credits the state with coining the term “moonshine” and notes that its production provided an important source of income for many rural communities, especially during Prohibition. Moonshiners would also use modified cars to outrun law enforcement, helping lay the groundwork for stock car racing. #Moonshine #NorthCarolina #IllegalDistillery #Distilling #AlcoholLawEnforcement #Manufacturing #IndustrialSafety #FireInvestigation #Bootlegging #StockCarRacing #Prohibition #PublicSafety #ManufacturingNow
October 28, 20262 min
LISTEN: Fake McDonnell Aviation Heiress Added to FBI Most Wanted List
A 75-year-old woman was recently added to the FBI's Most Wanted List for defrauding a bank and posing as a fake heiress to the McDonnell Aircraft Family fortune. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mary Carole McDonnell, a former true-crime producer and new "Most Wanted Fraudster" with ties to L.A., Montgomery, Alabama and Dubai. McDonnell Aircraft was a former U.S. aerospace manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1939, the company was known for making military jets, like the F-4 Phantom II. McDonnell merged with the Douglas Aircraft Company to form McDonnell Douglas in 1967, which merged with Boeing in August 1997. Mary Carole McDonnell is wanted in California for a host of alleged crimes. According to the FBI, from around July 2017 through May 2018, McDonnell allegedly defrauded the Banc of California out of about $14.7 million. McDonnell similarly targeted other financial institutions, taking another $15 million. But what is perhaps most audacious is McDonnell's false claims to be an heir to the McDonnell Aircraft Family, which holds an $80 million secret trust. The FBI said she still has access to the account. A federal arrest warrant was issued for McDonnell on December 12, 2018, after she was charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The FBI believes she is currently in Dubai. Mary Carole McDonnell was the CEO of Bellum Entertainment Group, which produced shows like "Corrupt Crimes," which investigated crime stories; "Deep Undercover," a true-crime series about undercover operations; and "Murderous Affairs," which made 52 episodes about love affairs gone wrong and spouses driven to kill. It wasn't just true crime though; the company was also into feel-good animal content like "Wildlife Jams" and other reality TV fodder. From 2004 to around 2017, Bellum’s employees felt confident in the company, with more than 30 shows on the air and an alleged heiress at the helm—but then the paychecks stopped coming. Nearly ten years later, McConnell still owes former employees and partners thousands of dollars. #FBI #MostWanted #MaryCaroleMcDonnell #Fraud #BankFraud #TrueCrime #BellumEntertainment #McDonnellAircraft #AerospaceHistory #McDonnellDouglas #Boeing #BusinessNews #EntertainmentIndustry #CorporateFraud #ManufacturingNow
October 27, 202614 min
LISTEN: Gen Z in Manufacturing: Inside the Swing Shift Problem
Welcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing , a podcast that asks young people about their journeys in manufacturing, how they intend to influence the industry and what they are looking for from an employer. For this episode, I welcome Justin Baerwald, a 34-year-old operations lead for manufacturing and logistics at Inland, a provider of label and packaging solutions for a variety of industries. Baerwald’s experience in the industry includes multiple years of manufacturing leadership, including positions in flexographic printing and beverage production environments. He also served four years on active duty in the Marine Corps and has spent the last 10 years in the Marine Corps Reserve. In this episode, Baerwald discusses: (:59) Workplace changes Gen Z wants that older workers tolerated (3:21) How swing shift schedules are hurting the candidate pool (7:20) The manufacturing industry can capitalize on Gen Z’s mindset and tendencies, if it wants to (10:24) Outdated assumptions about what makes a good manufacturing worker Please make sure to like and share this episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing. To view previous episodes, visit manufacturing.net. If you are a member of Gen Z and would like to discuss your experience in the manufacturing industry, please get in touch with me, Nolan Beilstein, at nolan@ien.com .
October 25, 20263 min
LISTEN: Boom Unveils U.S. 'Superfactory'
What makes Boom Supersonic special is not just that it is working toward supersonic flight or revolutionary power generation, but that it's trying to do so with the same fundamental technology and the same team. Yesterday, the company took another giant leap forward when it unveiled its first complete supersonic turbine core, which it is shipping this week to Boom’s test site at Colorado Air and Space Port in Watkins, Colorado. The company also unveiled its 2GW turbine “Superfactory” in South Denver—the “world’s most advanced turbine factory,” according to the turbine maker. Boom is bringing in more than 75 CNCs and coordinate-measuring machines (CMMs) with the end goal of making up to 50 superpower engines per year, from raw materials to completed turbines in one facility. The Superfactory, which is already operational and making turbine parts, is expected to create up to 500 new jobs. Finally, the company is also developing what it calls the “world’s most advanced all-digital foundry,” capable of casting the turbine blades and vanes. The first single-crystal components are expected to ship in 2027. The hope is to make turbine blades and vanes from custom superalloys through an all-digital process that requires no tooling. Boom says Superpower, its 42-megawatt natural gas turbine, will generate power for AI data centers and begin deliveries in mid-2027. By 2028, the company would like to reach a cumulative annual production rate of 1-gigawatt by building 25 turbines. By 2029, the expectation is 2-GW via 50 turbines.
October 24, 20261 min
LISTEN: BMW's Six-Figure Severance Offer Causes HR Site to Crash
BMW is attempting to cut 8,000 corporate positions – an objective that’s not necessarily unusual as businesses across the globe look to trim the fat. What is, perhaps, unique is that BMW’s exit offer is quite enticing… so much so that interest in the severance package was so reportedly so immense it caused BMW’s online employee portal to “malfunction.” According to German news agency Handelsblatt , BMW reached out to tens of thousands of employees earlier this month, linking them to a portal that featured a proposed severance. Sources say the offers were variable based on length of employment, salary and so forth, but that some offers were north of $700,000. BMW hopes to wrap up these layoffs – which appear to mainly take place in Germany – by the end of next October. Meanwhile, the company has dangled another enticing carrot in front of some employees: If they’re willing to leave by March 31 – seven months sooner than the standard departure date – they are eligible to receive a “turbo bonus.” Carscoops referred to the turbo bonus figure as “undisclosed” but, let’s just say, these offers have been so popular that BMW is now having to prioritize the requests to participate. BMW announced its cost cutting initiative in July with the goal of targeting administrative and development roles – not production ones. The program – which BMW said would be the largest voluntary redundancy effort in company history – would cost hundreds of millions of dollars in the near term but ultimately save BMW $1 billion in costs annually starting in 2028.
Is this your show?
Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.
