The demands placed on materials for electric mobility, energy storage and intelligent technologies continue to increase. To accelerate the development and application of advanced material solutions, Covestro and Chinese vehicle manufacturer BYD have entered into a long-term strategic partnership. The collaboration covers new energy vehicles, power batteries, energy storage systems and next...
Nestlé is strengthening its coffee business in Southeast Asia with one of its largest recent manufacturing investments in the region. The company will invest CHF 563 million in a new Nescafé production facility in Thailand, expanding capacity for soluble coffee, coffee mixes and ready-to-drink beverages. Equipped with advanced automation, AI-enabled systems and a modern distribution center, the...
Weidmüller is expanding its presence in Asia and has laid the cornerstone for a new corporate headquarters in Suzhou, China. With the largest overseas investment in the company’s history to date, the manufacturer will consolidate R&D, production, logistics, and engineering at a single location. The project is intended to strengthen local value creation and further enhance Weidmüller’s...
Industrial biotechnology is emerging as a key area of innovation for the food and ingredients industry. However, before new fermentation processes can be implemented on a commercial scale, they must successfully make the transition from the laboratory to the pilot scale. Gea is therefore investing €4 million in the expansion of its Application and Technology Center in Sarstedt in Germany. There...
The International Federation of Robotics has elected a new leadership team. Jane Heffner will assume the position of president of the International Federation of Robotics as scheduled, succeeding Takayuki Ito. Together with the newly elected vice president, Adrien Brouillard, she intends to advance the federation’s work during a period characterized by artificial intelligence, automation, and a...
After Interpack is before Interpack: Following the successful 2026 event, the world’s leading trade fair for processing and packaging is responding to the needs of the international industry and adapting its trade show concept. A new date in early summer and a more compact schedule are intended to enable exhibitors and visitors to make even more efficient use of their time at the show and...
Sanofi has named Paulo Fontoura as its new Executive Vice President and Global Head of Research & Development Pharma. Effective September 1, 2026, the experienced physician-scientist will oversee the company’s global R&D activities and join the Executive Committee. With more than 25 years of experience in pharmaceutical innovation, clinical development and translational science, Fontoura is...
The planned merger of Olin and Huntsman is expected to create the new chemical company “OlinHuntsman.” The two U.S. chemical companies have entered into a binding agreement for a merger of equals. The goal is to create an integrated North American chemical company with expected revenue of approximately 12.5 billion dollars. The companies anticipate synergies and integration benefits of more than...
Vega opened a new production facility in Jiaxing, China, at the end of May 2026. The plant complements production at the headquarters in Schiltach and is designed to meet the demands of the Chinese market. With approximately 21,000 square meters of production, warehouse, and office space, as well as room for about 180 employees, the company is strengthening its international production strategy...
Preparations for K 2028 have begun. With the inaugural meeting of the Exhibitor Advisory Board, the world’s leading trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry set the stage for the next event in Düsseldorf. At the same time, the board elected Dr. Axel von Wiedersperg of the Brückner Group as its new chairman. The first meeting focused on evaluating K 2025 and the strategic development of K...
