“It's hard to fail, but it's worse never to have tried to succeed.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
1. Check and MFG
The manufacturing world is making its next strategic move at MFG 2025, a must-attend gathering of industry grandmasters, on Feb. 19-21 in San Antonio. Leaders and visionaries from the leading edge of technology will share actionable insights into reshoring, workforce development, politics, industry trends, and more. With factory tours and expert panels, it’s the ultimate 4D chessboard for shaping the future of manufacturing.
2. Micron's Coming to Manassas
Local news! (To AMT HQ, anyway.) Micron, a leading U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturer, is receiving $275 million in federal funding to upgrade its Manassas plant in northern Virginia, creating nearly 1,350 jobs. The money is part of Micron’s plan to invest $125 billion by 2030 to help grow the United States’ chip manufacturing share from 0% to 10% over the next decade, bolstering national security and technological leadership. Hopefully, another road in and out of Manassas is next.
3. Start Them While They're Young
The STEM club at Waco Independent School District’s Tennyson Middle School uses engineering skills and 3D printing to create assistive devices like trumpet thumb rests, utensil holders, and bag carriers. Students learn design, prototyping, and testing while helping peers and the community. The club’s future plans include building a device catalog and collaborating with the University of Texas’ assistive technologies network for broader impact.
4. 3D Scanning a Physical Original...
…is an easy way to build a digital twin. Schaeffler 3D scanned 48 factories using NavVis wearable tech, creating full-color digital twins to optimize efficiency, cutting project lead times by 80%. These twins aid in relocation, planning, and sustainability efforts, reducing costs and carbon dioxide by consolidating operations. Future plans include AI-driven twins for real-time simulations, advancing industrial Metaverse innovations.
5. Diamonds (Batteries) Are (Almost) Forever
Two back-to-back weeks with new battery tech! Christmas came early! Scientists have developed the world’s first carbon-14 diamond battery, which can generate low power for up to 5,000 years. Using carbon-14's radioactive decay, the battery offers a sustainable, long-lasting power source for devices like medical implants and spacecraft. With a half-life of 5,700 years, it could revolutionize electronics, eliminating the need for battery replacements in many applications.
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