Training Education Archives - Material Handling Wholesaler

Business investment surge signals continued opportunity for material handling dealers

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:33:33 +0000

Despite a headline decline in durable goods orders in May, the broader outlook for business investment remains highly positive—good news for material-handling dealers serving manufacturers, distribution centers, and logistics operations. According to a June 25, 2026, Oxford Economics economic data report, durable goods orders fell 4.5% month-over-month, largely due to a sharp drop in transportation equipment orders, one of the most volatile categories. However, a closer look reveals a much stronger underlying trend. Nondefense capital goods orders excluding aircraft—a key indicator of business investment intentions—rebounded 1.6% after declining the previous month. Shipments in the same category, which directly impact GDP calculations, increased for a fourth consecutive month. Economists now estimate that business equipment investment will grow at an annualized rate of nearly 14% during the second quarter. While that represents a modest slowdown from the exceptional pace recorded in the first quarter, it remains well above expectations and highlights continued confidence among businesses investing in productivity and growth. For material handling dealers, the implications are significant. Strong capital spending typically translates into increased demand for forklifts, warehouse equipment, automation technologies, storage systems, and fleet upgrades. Ongoing investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure and technology-driven operations continue to fuel purchases of computers, electronics, and supporting equipment across the supply chain. Business sentiment has also remained resilient despite concerns surrounding geopolitical tensions, energy prices, and interest rates. In addition, new tax incentives allowing full up-front expensing of equipment investments are expected to encourage further capital spending across multiple industries. Although higher borrowing costs could put pressure on investment decisions, economists expect equipment spending to remain one of the strongest contributors to U.S. economic growth through the remainder of the year and into 2027. For material handling dealers, the message is clear: customers are still investing, and the market environment remains favorable for equipment sales, fleet modernization, and warehouse expansion projects

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National Forklift Safety Day 2026 was a continued success

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:06:56 +0000

The Industrial Truck Association (ITA) successfully hosted the 13th Annual National Forklift Safety Day (NFSD) on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The event, held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and streamed live worldwide, drew over 450 participants from across the United States and around the globe, underscoring the industry’s ongoing commitment to forklift safety and operator training. This year’s National Forklift Safety Day featured an outstanding lineup of industry and government leaders who addressed critical issues impacting workplace safety, including building strong safety cultures, integrating safety-enhancing technologies, and advancing strategies to improve human and organizational performance. Speakers included: Brian Feehan, President, Industrial Truck Association Jim Mozer, ITA Chairman of the Board and Senior Vice President, Crown Equipment Corporation David Keeling, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Carl Modesette, Director, Americas Design Center, Logisnext Americas Inc. Bill Sims, President, The Bill Sims Company, Beyond Zero Injuries “National Forklift Safety Day showcased how our industry continues to raise awareness on safety by fostering collaboration and prioritizing operator training,” said Jim Mozer, ITA Chairman of the Board and Senior Vice President of Crown Equipment Corporation. “The tremendous participation we saw — both in person and online — reinforces that safety remains a top priority across our industry. Together, we can continue to make meaningful progress toward safer workplaces.” The continued success of National Forklift Safety Day reflects the dedication of manufacturers, dealers, customers, operators, and regulators working together to promote the safe use of powered industrial trucks. “National Forklift Safety Day has become an important platform for bringing together industry and government leaders to advance workplace safety,” said Brian Feehan, President of ITA. “We are extremely pleased with the overwhelming response to this year’s event and grateful for the broad participation from across the material handling community. As our industry continues to evolve, the need for comprehensive operator training and a strong safety culture has never been greater. ITA remains committed to leading these efforts and ensuring that safety is a year-round priority.” Since its inception, National Forklift Safety Day has served as a critical forum for promoting best practices and increasing awareness of the importance of operator training and the safe operation of powered industrial trucks in workplaces across North America. A recording of the webcast and presentation materials from National Forklift Safety Day 2026 is now available on the Industrial Truck Association’s website at www.indtrk.org. The 14th Annual National Forklift Safety Day will be held on June 8, 2027.

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400 New Planned Industrial Construction Projects Remain Steady in May 2026

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:24:27 +0000

Industrial SalesLeads has announced the May 2026 results for its planned industrial capital project spending report, tracking North American facility expansions, new plant construction, and significant equipment modernization projects across all major industrial sectors. The firm’s industrial market research team confirmed 400 new planned industrial projects during the month of May, representing a 2% decrease from the 408 projects reported in April 2026. The following are selected highlights on new industrial construction news and project opportunities throughout North America. Planned Industrial Construction – By Project Type: Manufacturing Facilities – 150 New Projects Processing Facilities – 76 New Projects Distribution and Industrial Warehouse – 187 New Projects Power/Energy/Oil and Gas – 13 New Projects Laboratory Facilities – 66 New Projects Mine – 0 New Projects Terminal – 0 New Projects Pipeline – 0 New Projects Planned Industrial Construction – By Scope/Activity New Construction – 130 New Projects Expansion – 95 New Projects Renovations/Equipment Upgrades – 183 New Projects Plant Closing – 24 New Projects Planned Industrial Construction – By Location (Top 10 States) Texas – 30 California – 27 New York – 23 Georgia – 22 Indiana – 22 Michigan – 19 Florida – 17 North Carolina – 17 Ohio – 17 Pennsylvania – 16 Largest Planned Industrial Construction Project During the month of May, our research team identified 42 new General Industrial facility construction projects with an estimated value of $100 million or more. The largest project is owned by JetZero, who is planning to invest $5 billion for the construction of an 8 million sf manufacturing facility at Piedmont Triad International Airport in GREENSBORO, NC. They have recently received approval for the project. Top 10 Tracked Industrial Construction Projects INDIANA: Pharmaceutical company is planning to invest $5 billion for the expansion of their two processing facilities in LEBANON, IN. They are currently seeking approval for the project. OHIO: Electrical energy company is planning to invest $2 billion for the construction of a 1,300 MW natural gas-fired power plant in WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, OH. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Construction is expected to start in Fall 2026, with completion slated for 2030. TEXAS: Chemical MFR. is planning to invest $2 billion for the construction of a methanol processing facility in TEXAS CITY, TX. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for 2030. NORTH CAROLINA: Pharmaceutical company is planning to invest $1 billion for the construction of a processing, laboratory, and office campus in DURHAM, NC. They are currently seeking approval for the project. TEXAS: Pharmaceutical company is planning to invest $1 billion for the construction of a 600,000 SF processing facility in HOUSTON, TX. They are currently seeking approval for the project. MISSOURI: Battery MFR. is planning to invest $400 million for the expansion and equipment upgrades on their manufacturing facility in ST. JOSEPH, MO. They are currently seeking approval for the project. UTAH: Mining company is planning to invest $400 million for the construction of a lithium extraction and refining facility in OGDEN, UT. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Construction will occur in two phases. ALABAMA: Power transformer MFR. is planning to invest $300 million for the construction of a 600,000 SF manufacturing and warehouse facility in MUSCLE SHOALS, AL. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for early 2028. NORTH CAROLINA: Aerospace component MFR. is planning to invest $300 million for the construction of two manufacturing facilities totaling 272,000 sf in MONROE, NC. They are currently seeking approval for the project. NEW MEXICO: Oil and gas company is planning to invest $260 million for the construction of a natural gas processing facility in EDDY COUNTY, NM. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for early Fall 2028. About Industrial SalesLeads, Inc. Since 1959, Industrial SalesLeads, based in Jacksonville, FL is a leader in delivering industrial capital project intelligence and prospecting services for sales and marketing teams to ensure a predictable and scalable pipeline. Our Industrial Market Intelligence, IMI identifies timely insights on companies planning significant capital investments such as new construction, expansion, relocation, equipment modernization and plant closings in industrial facilities. The Outsourced Prospecting Services, an extension to your sales team, is designed to drive growth with qualified meetings and appointments for your internal sales team Each month, our team provides hundreds of industrial reports within a variety of industries.

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5.5% Decrease in New Distribution and Supply Chain Projects in May 2026, Holds Steady in 2026

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:10:48 +0000

Industrial SalesLeads has announced the May 2026 results for its planned capital project spending report covering the Distribution and Supply Chain industry. The Firm tracks North American planned industrial capital project activity, including facility expansions, new plant construction, and significant equipment modernization projects. This month’s research confirms 187 new projects in the Distribution and Supply Chain sector, reflecting a decrease of 11 projects, or 5.56%, compared to the 198 projects reported in April 2026. The following are selected highlights on new Distribution Center and Warehouse construction news. Distribution and Supply Chain – By Project Type Distribution/Fulfillment Centers – 20 New Projects Industrial Warehouse – 167 New Projects Distribution and Supply Chain- By Project Scope/Activity New Construction – 69 New Projects Expansion – 23 New Projects Renovations/Equipment Upgrades – 94 New Projects Closing – 6 New Projects Distribution and Supply Chain – By Project Location (Top 5 States) Georgia – 19 Texas – 13 Florida – 10 New York – 9 Connecticut – 7 Largest Planned Project During the month of May, our research team identified 14 new Distribution and Supply Chain facility construction projects with an estimated value of $100 million or more. The largest project is owned by Applied Digital Corp., who is investing $3.6 billion for the construction of two 150-MW data center facilities and an AI training campus in RAPIDES PARISH, LA. Construction will occur in multiple phases, with completion of phase 1 slated for Summer 2027. Top 10 Tracked Distribution and Supply Chain Project Opportunities Texas: Building materials MFR. is planning to invest $1.2 billion for the construction of a manufacturing and warehouse facility at 1750 IP Way Road in ORANGE, TX. They have recently received approval for the project. Texas: Aerospace company is planning to invest $650 million for the construction of a 1.3 million SF manufacturing, research, and warehouse complex in HUTTO, TX. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Alabama: Power transformer MFR. is planning to invest $300 million for the construction of a 600,000 SF manufacturing and warehouse facility in MUSCLE SHOALS, AL. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for early 2028. Florida: Global online retailer is planning to invest $240 million for the construction of a 1 million sf distribution center and office facility at 2300 S. Kings Hwy. in FORT PIERCE, FL. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for Spring 2028. Connecticut: Global online retailer is planning to invest $200 million for the construction of a 1.3 million SF distribution center in KILLINGLY, CT. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Florida: Global online retailer is planning to invest $200 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on their 1 million sf distribution center at 7600 LTC Pkwy. in PORT ST. LUCIE, FL. Renovations are expected to start in Fall 2026, with completion slated for Fall 2028. Texas: Solar panel MFR. is planning to invest $200 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on a 500,000 SF manufacturing and warehouse facility in HOUSTON, TX. Completion is slated for Fall 2026. New York: Food product MFR. is planning to invest $170 million for the expansion of their processing and warehouse facility in AVON, NY. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Construction will occur in phases, with completion of the 1st phase slated for Spring 2028. Georgia: Metal fabrication and manufacturing company is planning to invest $125 million for the construction of a 600,000 SF manufacturing, warehouse, and office facility on Barnes Ferry Rd. in MACON, GA. They have recently received approval for the project. Kentucky: Transportation and logistics company is planning to invest $113 million for the construction of a 346,000 SF warehouse and office facility in HILLVIEW, KY. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for 2028. About Industrial SalesLeads, Inc. Since 1959, Industrial SalesLeads, based in Jacksonville, FL is a leader in delivering industrial capital project intelligence and prospecting services for sales and marketing teams to ensure a predictable and scalable pipeline. Our Industrial Market Intelligence, IMI identifies timely insights on companies planning significant capital investments such as new construction, expansion, relocation, equipment modernization and plant closings in industrial facilities. The Outsourced Prospecting Services, an extension to your sales team, is designed to drive growth with qualified meetings and appointments for your internal sales team. Each month, our team provides hundreds of industrial reports within a variety of industries.

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Stop Blaming the Economy: Five ways Smart Business Owners control in any market

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 05:00:45 +0000

Smart business owners focus on what they CAN control rather than worrying about what they CAN’T control. No amount of pacing and handwringing will change the current economy nor the pace of inflation. While it might be tempting to keep lamenting what’s not working, business owners whose doors will stay open will be putting on blinders and looking for ways to win. Here are five ways you can take control of key areas in your business without spending ANY additional money on staffing, marketing, or advertising. Take control of pricing and stop discounting. Everywhere you turn, prices are going up. The cost of supplies rises almost daily. When small businesses are talking about raising prices, it invokes the type of fear you felt as a child when you thought there were monsters under the bed. If a business hasn’t raised its prices in two or more years, it is past time. More importantly, there should never be an apology with a price increase. No grocery store on the planet puts a little note next to the butter saying, “Sorry about that extra 50 cents, we had no choice.” You noticed it, and you put it in the basket anyway. Now, about that discounting that business owners think “gets people in the door.” Stop doing that. Instead of a discount, what can you offer that has a high perceived value and goes with the purchase? Think cosmetic companies with their crowd-pleasing “gift with purchase” or a caterer offering a free dessert with the purchase of a family meal pack. Low cost, high value. Scrap those discounts and add value. Everyone likes “free.” Expense clarity Tough markets don’t create inefficiencies; they shine a light of interrogation on them. This is the time to put your P & L under a microscope. Where can you make some changes? Here are some areas to consider: employee redundancy, cost of supplies, shop your insurance, shop other services like internet, cell phone, and other regular expenses. Negotiate with your vendors. Ask if they would be willing to offer you better pricing if you sign a year-long contract instead of a month-to-month agreement. This will take a bit of time, but it could add up to big savings. One final note about expenses: many business owners use Amazon to purchase supplies and also veer into other areas when they need personal items. “We need printer paper, and I also need paper towels for the house.” Keep personal and professional purchases separate by using different cards for each. There’s more business in your existing customer base If you have a business with 1,000 customers and you add on a new product or service that costs $50, with only half of your customers taking advantage of this new offer, you’ve added $25,000 in revenue. Who better to make an offer to than the folks who already know, like, and trust you? The point here is that many businesses offer multiple services, but most of their customers use only one or two. How many times do you “make the sale” and stop asking if the customer needs or wants anything else? 34% of customers will spend more money at checkout time IF ASKED. Most business owners and sales professionals don’t ask. Take a good, long look at your current customers or clients. What else can you offer them to be of service, add more value, and, at the same time, make more money for yourself? The same fear that keeps business owners from raising prices also keeps business owners and sales professionals from asking, “Would you like fries with that?” We may not be offering fries, but you get the idea. Upsell and cross-sell. You’ll thank yourself later. Follow-up and conversion are grossly underutilized How many businesses go to the trouble of preparing a quote or a proposal for a prospect and then never follow up? Over 50% never follow up at all. The fortune is in the follow-up. That is an uncomfortable truth. Money is left on the proverbial table more often than it is picked up. Without a system in place for follow-ups, they will likely never happen. Create a system that makes all those proposals turn into closed deals. Studies show that it takes 8-12 contacts to even have a meaningful conversation with a prospect, much less close a sale. You might be surprised to learn how often people say, “I tried to call twice and then gave up.” You never know what is going on behind the scenes with a prospect. There could be someone who really needs you, and you gave up on them. Don’t give up. Know your numbers Business owners often leave the numbers to the bookkeeper and the accountant. Business owners must know their numbers. How can one track growth or address issues without knowing the numbers? While many an accountant says, “Let us worry about your numbers so you can run your business,” that often leaves the business owner in the dark, and problems become unwanted surprises. Consider monthly meetings with the bookkeeper and/or the accountant. The numbers are a clear indicator of how the business is running, and the owner should be up to speed in all aspects of the business. An unexpected benefit of knowing the numbers is the confidence that comes with it. A business owner will feel more in control of the business when there is financial visibility. The bottom line is that focusing on what you can control, rather than worrying about what you can’t, will put your business on a path to success and prosperity. Making small changes every day will lead to big improvements in every business and will diminish the overcast economic conditions. About the Author: Melissa Willis is a coach and consultant who has helped owners and sales professionals over her career. Melissa can shine a light on the areas that need the most work while acknowledging what has been successful. Specializing in profit acceleration and communication styles, Melissa helps businesses

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A goal is a dream with a plan. And other fairy tales

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 05:00:35 +0000

My mother never went to Europe. She talked about it, dreamed about it — even opened a travel agency at age 55. Never got there. She died 15 years later, never achieving the goal. Oh, she achieved plenty of other goals. But not that one. I went to Europe for the first time at age 20. One of the things I wanted to do there was study French. It’s a beautiful language. Romantic, expressive, cultural. Never did. Tried, never did. I’ve been to Europe 30 times, France 20 times. Never learned the language. Oh, I know a few hundred words, but can’t converse or understand conversation. Unmet goals. Got unmet goals? Personal goals start as thoughts and dreams. Business goals may have those attributes, but often they are handed to you by a superior. Sales goals, sales plans, sales numbers, pipelines, funnels, and various benchmarks for you to achieve for THEM. You then make a goal to achieve their goal. And many salespeople do. But many (most) do not. Management will refer to those who did not meet their goal as “weak.” That way, they don’t have to take any blame or responsibility for their “weak” people. Meantime, you have your goals. Whatever they are — visit Europe, speak French, go on a vacation, buy a house, get a new car, take off weight, stop smoking, get married, get divorced, have a child, get your child out of the house – you have your own PERSONAL goals. In the shower this morning, I came up with a thought about WHY goals are met or unmet. Achieved and not achieved. It centers around the old definition about goals that has always bugged me: “A goal is a dream with a plan.” That statement is not only wrong, but it’s also dangerous. It tells you you’ll never achieve your goals unless you make a plan. I don’t get it. I make very few plans, and I achieve tons of goals. There are lots of goals that are not “dreams.” Did you dream of your sales quota? No, you were sent an email or given a sheet of paper. No dream there. My first trip to Europe was never a dream. It was an opportunity that popped up, and I took advantage of it. No dream, no plan — just an airplane ticket, a passport, and some money. Here are the elements that I believe define and comprise the dream, goal, and achievement process: Thinking. Ideas pop into your head. Write them down. Dreaming and daydreaming. Thoughts make (let) your mind wander to desire, possibility, and “what if.” I love to daydream. Don’t confuse daydreams with pipedreams. You will never win the lottery. Observing. Looking closely at the world and your world to see what it is that you really want to be, do, and have. Opportunity. Recognizing it. Seizing it. And taking advantage of it. Risk tolerance determines outcomes. If you perceive the goal is too “risky,” you’ll pass. If you wanna achieve, you gotta risk. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. The words of people unwilling to risk. “I coulda been a contender,” “I coulda had class and been somebody.” Marlon Brando, in his role as Terry Malloy, playing in On the Waterfront – 1954. Desire. Your level of desire will determine the length of time to achievement. Want. Want it bad? Like desire, your level of “want” will determine the length of time to achievement. Need. Need is a stronger circumstance than desire or want. Your need-reality will generate your level of achievement action. Intention. Intentions PRECEDE actions. If you don’t intend to, you won’t achieve, even if you want to. What are your intentions? Dedication. If it’s a business goal, you have to dedicate the time to study and prepare. If it’s a personal goal, you have to dedicate small amounts of time to steadily achieve. Persistence. The sister of dedication, it’s the stick-to-itiveness that pushes you to achievement. Action for the day or the moment. Plans change, actions are in the NOW. Take some. An apple a day. Skill set. Maybe your skills are precluding you from achievement. Maybe you need to study, practice, or enlist the aid of others. Love of what you do, or what it is. Love breeds passion. Passion breeds action. Action breeds achievement. For who? Why? If you have a motive, it may provide additional motivation. Don’t be a martyr. Do it for yourself first. Understanding “for who” and “why” will help you achieve as much as any other aspect of this process. Self-belief in every aspect of the process. You must believe in yourself BEFORE you can believe in achieving your goals. Think you can. Mission. If your goal is different from your mission, it will lack the passion to become a reality. Visibility. Post it where you can see it. Keep your goals top-of-mind — top-of-mind ’s-eye. I have my goals on my bathroom mirror. Do you? Support and encouragement. When others are cheering you on and encouraging you to achieve, it’s a mental miracle. Serendipity. I have defined it before as “God’s way of remaining anonymous.” But it’s more than that. Serendipity is that moment when chance and opportunity collide. And it’s at that moment when you are challenged to grasp it, and make yourself and your loved ones better off. Successful. Fulfilled. You reached for the brass ring, and you caught hold. NOTE WELL: If you get what you want, you’d better be ready. Ready to capitalize, ready to grow, ready to take advantage of, ready to share, and ready to enjoy — but not over-indulge.

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Future-Proofing your business: Strategies for Integrating AI and improving Financial Performance

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 05:00:07 +0000

Don’t worry, this is not going to be an accounting lesson. Operating companies, such as material handling dealers, are made up of numerous financial metrics used to determine profits, cash flow, and let’s not forget your federal and state income tax payments. While these are typical company transactions, it seems your current “audit” needs to take on additional areas if you plan to generate profits and cash flow that produce a value at the high end of the market. It is no secret that AI and related functions are being used by just about every company (or should be), since a positive AI program should decrease the cost of sales, operating expenses, and payroll, while at the same time increasing the sales-per-employee metric. AI, because of the speed at which it can collect and analyze data and its alignment with your industry, is putting the development of an AI program high on the agenda of every C-Level member of the management team. I believe you got a feel for what is required to get your feet wet from the three previous columns I prepared, which outline the steps to start an AI program if your data meets the criteria to produce meaningful output. Supporting this new level of data collection and analysis could cost a lot of money and absorb financial office time, and probably the time of all department heads. Most companies would not have the expertise to execute such a program that produces accurate outcomes management can use to drive the business. Some of these potential areas, I believe, will produce positive results are as follows: BANKING RELATIONS It is no secret that most small businesses dislike their bank. Low yield, slow turnaround, tools tough to work with. If you are drifting along in this boat, you may want to check out a new relationship. The new relationship should supply LIQUIDITY- VISIBILITY- TRUST AND SPEED. As with any transaction these days, time is money… data is required to make timely decisions… loan rates should be reasonable. If the new bank fits in with your payroll and other systems, that is positive as well. FP@A PROGRAMS Financial planning and analysis data is getting more popular lately as AI is put in place, but it also provides knowledge and suggestions that your normal accounting department could not provide without help. In this era where speed and information can be reviewed quickly, getting your month close within 15 days, along with an explanation of what happened, how it compares to the budget, and details on each line item that has to do with the results, is certain to add to the C-Level information request and suggestions for improvement. These programs can also take any monthly report and, based on that report, adjust the forecast and cash flow. I can emphasize enough what you can do with this. I came across a couple of recent emails that you could review to see what could be done. One is YOUR CFO GUY, who develops Excel templates that produce these kinds of results, and when you look at his output options, I don’t imagine a C-Level who wouldn’t want data covering their area of responsibility. His email is Josh@yourcfoguy.com Oracle also has a program titled STORYTELLING WITH NUMBERS. Monthly reports are geared towards supporting schedules. These reports are designed to address the MAIN point on that slide. Again, really neat stuff. Of course, if you have bad data, these programs may not work for you. But if you are entertaining AI programs, that would be the time to get the data into shape to a trustworthy standard. CUSTOMER PLANS It is safe to say that a majority of manufacturing companies are investigating and have invested in AI and related technical advancements. The Grow or Die line does make sense. But it appears that a good percentage of manufacturers take steps before diving into more sophisticated operating systems and eventually robotic involvement. The data I am seeing suggests multiple changes are being made, primarily to test out more efficient results, and then move up to the next ladder that will eventually get them to a robot program of some sort. I still believe Lift Truck Dealers have the need to assist customers with input on these changes. If a dealer could produce a list of like-kind manufacturer customers, I would go to AI and ask what companies have models for these manufacturing types, and then offer to pass on what you get to them, or partner up with them to wind up being asked to cover the maintenance needs of the new system. EMPLOYEE PARTNERSHIP Keeping employees informed about company operations is something every company should do. Part of that education should be geared to a family’s personal requirements. I have received very positive feedback from employees for whom we have assisted with insurance, banking, tax planning, retirement planning, investment choices, and even ways to leverage the company’s relationships to support a transaction. In one case, we had a minimum health insurance cost for employees, which was associated with a “gold” plan. What helped was a broker who would provide input when necessary. Guess what? Turnover was very, very low. And if this type of program were held as a seminar or webinar, spouses were invited. Another topic of interest would, of course, be AI and its impact on the company and job stability. There are discussions on both sides of the street. You will improve your financial results and hopefully make more money. Recruiting will go down… but chances are, existing employees will stay, especially if they have a “PARTNERSHIP” with them, as noted above. TAX PLANNING I seem to be getting more questions about taxes these days, both business and personal issues. And when reviewing the YouTube discussions on the topic, the analysis gets a bit technical, and as a result, additional tax deductions are missed. I know I am going to review my returns and, at the same time, check what

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Position : Global wins two prestigious Awards for Excellence in Supply Chain Marketing

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:57:17 +0000

Position : Global was honored with the TMSA Trailblazer Award and Rising Star awards at the 2026 TMSA Elevate Conference in Denver, Colorado. The TMSA Trailblazer Award showcases the best-in-class for marketing and sales initiatives each year in the transportation and logistics industry. Position : Global won the Trailblazer Award for its launch of Tenet, an operating system for cartage, courier, and expedited carriers. With just two weeks until the opening of a major trade show with a planned unveiling of the company and its brand, Position : Global marshaled design and development experts to launch a website, secure a sponsorship that included corporate headshots, develop a marketing plan and materials for the event, craft and issue a press release, and design, make, and deliver a full trade show booth. “Position : Global’s work for Tenet demonstrated the strategic thinking, innovation, and execution that define a Trailblazer,” said Jennifer Karpus-Romain, Executive Director of TMSA. “In a remarkably short timeframe, the team transformed a complex acquisition story into a compelling market launch with measurable results and immediate industry impact.” Sara Sasek, Position : Global’s Managing Editor, AI Voice and Policy Director, was honored as a Rising Star. Sara was recognized for authoring Position : Global’s formal AI policy and for building LLM-based guardrails that protect client voice and messaging integrity across AI-assisted workflows. Her frameworks have been integrated into the agency’s standard new-client onboarding process, reducing revision cycles and strengthening consistency across accounts. She also expanded the agency’s AEO, GEO, and SEO digital footprint assessment capabilities, helping logistics clients become more visible and credible in an era when AI systems — not just search engines — shape how brands are discovered. “Sara Sasek’s leadership in developing responsible AI frameworks and brand voice guardrails has set a new standard for how transportation and logistics marketers can adopt emerging technology without sacrificing authenticity,” said Jennifer Karpus-Romain, Executive Director of TMSA. “By helping organizations navigate AI with both innovation and integrity, Sara has distinguished herself as a true rising star in the industry, and her influence is already shaping the future of marketing.” Winners were selected by a panel of judges comprising industry professionals, who awarded companies and individuals for their outstanding achievements over the last 18 months. “These awards are especially meaningful because they’re recognition from our peers,” said Scott Case, Founder and Chief Storyteller at Position : Global. “The Trailblazer Award underscores our ability to transform complex logistics stories into compelling brands that drive results. Sara’s Rising Star honor is proof that the future of marketing belongs to people who can balance innovation with authenticity. We’re proud of our entire team and look forward to helping logistics companies tell bigger, bolder stories that move their businesses forward.” This is the second time Position : Global has been recognized by the TMSA, having won the Trailblazer Award in 2024 for its content creation work for RDS Capacity Solutions (RDS)

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Industrial Manufacturing Project Activity climbs 7.6% MoM, reaching 156 New Planned Projects in May 2026

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:23:39 +0000

Industrial SalesLeads has found that planned capital investment activity in the Industrial Manufacturing sector continued its upward momentum in May 2026, with research identifying 156 new planned industrial projects across North America, a 7.6% increase compared to April. Manufacturing and production facilities accounted for the majority of activity with 138 new projects, while distribution and industrial warehouse developments contributed an additional 66 projects. Texas, Indiana, and California led the nation in new project activity, while 20 major projects valued at more than $100 million highlighted continued confidence in long-term industrial growth and investment Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Type Manufacturing/Production Facilities – 138 New Projects Distribution and Industrial Warehouse – 66 New Projects Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Scope/Activity New Construction – 36 New Projects Expansion – 49 New Projects Renovations/Equipment Upgrades – 78 New Projects Plant Closings – 14 New Projects Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Location (Top 10 States) Texas – 16 Indiana – 15 California – 14 Michigan – 8 New York – 8 Ohio – 8 Pennsylvania – 7 Arizona – 6 North Carolina – 6 Wisconsin – 6 Illinois – 5 Industrial Equipment Categories in Demand In the month of May, identified industrial manufacturing project managers are procuring the following equipment: 75% – 79% – Lighting, compressed air systems, material handling/storage, lift trucks, networking/security equipment 70% – 74% – HVAC Equipment, conveyors, cranes and hoists, mechanical construction 60% – 69% – Fire protection, loading dock equipment, control systems & instruments, air emissions control, heat exchangers, packaging equipment, manufacturing equipment 39% – Floor coatings Largest Planned Project During the month of May, our research team identified 20 new Industrial Manufacturing facility construction projects with an estimated value of $100 million or more. The largest project is owned by JetZero, which plans to invest $5 billion to construct an 8 million sf manufacturing facility at Piedmont Triad International Airport in GREENSBORO, NC. They have recently received approval for the project. Top 10 Tracked Industrial Manufacturing Projects INDIANA: A pharmaceutical company is planning to invest $5 billion to expand its two processing facilities in LEBANON, IN. They are currently seeking approval for the project. TEXAS: An automotive manufacturer plans to invest $2 billion to expand its manufacturing facility in SAN ANTONIO, TX. They are currently seeking approval for the project. TEXAS: A building materials manufacturer plans to invest $1.2 billion to construct a manufacturing and warehouse facility at 1750 IP Way Road in ORANGE, TX. They have recently received approval for the project. NORTH CAROLINA: A pharmaceutical company is planning to invest $1 billion in the construction of a processing, laboratory, and office campus in DURHAM, NC. They are currently seeking approval for the project. TEXAS: An electronic equipment manufacturer. is planning to invest $876 million in the construction of a one-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in FORT WORTH, TX. They are currently seeking approval for the project. MISSOURI: A battery manufacturer is planning to invest $400 million in expansion and equipment upgrades at its manufacturing facility in ST. JOSEPH, MO. They are currently seeking approval for the project. ALABAMA: A power transformer manufacturer is planning to invest $300 million in the construction of a 600,000-square-foot manufacturing and warehouse facility in MUSCLE SHOALS, AL. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for early 2028. NORTH CAROLINA: An aerospace component manufacturer is planning to invest $300 million to construct two manufacturing facilities totaling 272,000 square feet in MONROE, NC. They are currently seeking approval for the project. NEW JERSEY: A pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturer is planning to invest $200 million in the renovation and equipment upgrades of a recently acquired 320,000-square-foot processing and office facility in FLANDERS, NJ. They are currently seeking approval for the project. CALIFORNIA: A commercial EV manufacturer is planning to invest $140 million in renovation and equipment upgrades on battery manufacturing facilities in GARDEN GROVE, CA, and CYPRESS, CA. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Want to know the deadline and contact information for these or hundreds of projects going on? Click here. About Industrial SalesLeads, Inc. Since 1959, Industrial SalesLeads, based in Jacksonville, FL is a leader in delivering industrial capital project intelligence and prospecting services for sales and marketing teams to ensure a predictable and scalable pipeline. Our Industrial Market Intelligence (IMI) provides timely insights into companies planning significant capital investments in industrial facilities, such as new construction, expansion, relocation, equipment modernization, and plant closings. The Outsourced Prospecting Services, an extension of your sales team, is designed to drive growth by generating qualified meetings and appointments for your internal sales team. Visit us at salesleadsinc.com.

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European Manufacturers Face August 2026 Packaging Compliance Deadline as EPR Regulations Tighten Globally

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 13:01:45 +0000

Trioworld’s Policy to Practice webinar series highlights the near-term documentation requirements companies need to be preparing for now The August 2026 deadline European manufacturers have until August 2026 to complete a formal compliance assessment and hold documentation of compliance under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Suppliers into those manufacturers are also required to provide supporting information to enable compliance assessments to be completed. About the session This deadline was highlighted as one of the most immediately actionable requirements facing European businesses during Trioworld’s second Policy to Practice webinar, held on 10 June 2026. The session, titled Understanding Packaging EPR Across Markets: Europe and North America, brought together Lena Lundberg, Public Affairs and Regulatory Director at Trioworld; Crystal Bayliss, Interim Executive Director of the U.S. Plastics Pact; and Drew White, Technical Product and Training Specialist at Trioworld. PPWR and the changing European landscape Lena Lundberg outlined how PPWR is reshaping producer responsibility across the EU, including a harmonized definition of producer that will affect how companies participate in national EPR schemes, and the introduction of modulated fees based on recyclability performance and potentially recycled content inclusion. The harmonization of the producer definition is a significant change for companies operating across multiple EU member states. Where previously a company might carry different responsibilities depending on the national system it was operating in, PPWR creates a single shared framework as the baseline. Fee modulation under PPWR links what companies pay into EPR schemes to the recyclability grade of their packaging. In practice, several member states are already ahead of the PPWR framework on this point. Belgium offers a fee discount for plastics containing a minimum of 10% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content for non-contact applications, or 20% PCR for contact-sensitive applications. France is introducing a bonus of between 450 and 550 EUR per ton for the use of recycled plastics in wholesale packaging from 2026, rising to 1,000 EUR per ton after 2027. North America: seven states, no single rulebook The webinar also addressed the North American regulatory landscape, where EPR legislation has now passed in seven US states, with a further three states in study or needs-assessment phases. Crystal Bayliss, Interim Executive Director of the U.S. Plastics Pact, highlighted California’s 2032 targets as the most consequential near-term benchmark for companies operating in the US market. California’s legislation requires 100% recyclable or compostable plastic packaging, a 25% source reduction target for plastic packaging, and a 65% recycling rate for single-use plastic packaging, all by 2032. Transport packaging, including stretch film, is within scope. “You cannot just assume that because it got collected and sorted and sent to the recycler, that it is going to get bought and put into a new product. If there is not a demand pull there, you will not hit your recycling rate requirements.” Crystal Bayliss, Interim Executive Director, U.S. Plastics Pact The PCR demand gap Bayliss raised a structural challenge facing the industry on both sides of the Atlantic. EPR legislation is driving investment in collection and sorting infrastructure, but collected material still has to be purchased and turned back into products. Several plastic film reclaimers closed in 2025 amid insufficient demand for recycled content, raising questions about whether current incentive structures are generating enough pull from manufacturers and brand owners to keep the recycling system economically viable. California’s 65% recycling rate target cannot be met through collection alone. It requires active procurement of PCR material by the companies placing packaging on market. “Companies can no longer look at packaging compliance market by market in isolation. What this session confirmed for us is that the companies who will navigate this most effectively are the ones treating packaging as a system, not a series of separate procurement decisions.” Lynne Elliott, Director of Global Marketing and Communication, Trioworld Trioworld’s response Trioworld’s Loop product range contains a minimum of 30% independently verified PCR, offering customers a direct route to reducing virgin plastic content and contributing to the demand side of the recycling system. The company’s Triocircular closed-loop service collects used stretch film from customers, processes it, and returns it as new product with verified recycled content, creating a closed loop for flexible packaging in the supply chain.

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Equipment Finance Industry Confidence Rises Again in June

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:03:30 +0000

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA)has released its June 2026 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI), revealing confidence in the equipment finance market is 63.7, an increase from the May index of 59.9, and the second consecutive increase since the start of the war in Iran. The index provides a qualitative assessment from key executives in the $1.3 trillion equipment finance industry. June 2026 Survey Results: Business Conditions – When assessing the next four months, 30.4% of responding executives believe business conditions will improve, up from 27.3% in May. Those who believe business conditions will remain the same increased to 65.2% from 63.6% the previous month. The percentage of executives who believe business conditions will worsen decreased to 4.4% from 9.1% in May. Capex Demand – For the next four months, 31.8% of the survey respondents believe demand for leases and loans to fund capital expenditures (capex) will increase (up from 26.1% in May). Additionally, 59.1% expect demand to remain the same (down from 73.9% last month), and 9.1% believe demand will decline (up from none in May). Access to Capital – Over the next four months, 27.3% of respondents expect greater access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions, an increase from 17.4% in May. The majority (72.7%) anticipate the “same” access to capital to fund business, a decrease from 78.3% the previous month. None expect “less” access to capital, down from 4.4% in May. Employment – Regarding employment over the next four months, 50% of executives expect to hire more employees, an increase from 40.9% in May. Also, 50% foresee no change in headcount (unchanged from last month), and none expect to hire fewer employees, down from 9.1% in May. U.S. Economy – Of the respondents, 8.3% evaluate the current U.S. economy as “excellent,” down slightly from 9.1% in May; 87.5% assess it as “fair,” down from 90.9% last month; and 4.2% evaluate it as “poor,” up from none in May. Economic Outlook – Over the next six months, 25% of respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will “get better,” a decrease from 30.4% in May. Another 50% expect the U.S. economy to “stay the same,” up from 47.8% last month; and 25% believe economic conditions will worsen, an increase from 21.7% in May. Business Development Spending – Over the next six months, 45.8% of respondents believe their company will increase spending on business development activities, an increase from 27.3% in May. Those who believe there will be “no change” in business development spending decreased to 54.2% (from 68.2% in May), and none believe there will be a decrease in spending, down from 4.6% last month. June 2026 MCI-EFI Survey Comments from Industry Executive Leadership: Bank, Small Ticket “As we approach the first half of 2026, the year continues to have many twists and turns that require diligent and consistent discipline to perform through. Specifically, new business volume continues to be good in some markets and not in others. Additionally, the volatile SWAP market is a challenge to manage expectations and retain margins while the Fed is likely to increase rates rather than reduce rates in 2026. The material increase in Chapter 11 bankruptcy year over year is also valuable to pay attention to and consider if there are lessons to be learned in your organization that would protect your portfolio in the future. With that said, Wintrust Specialty Finance continues to have a solid year, and I am confident that we will continue to find the opportunities to succeed in the remainder of 2026.” David Normandin, CLFP, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wintrust Specialty Finance Captive, Small Ticket “I feel more positive about the U.S. economy over the next six months. Recent data shows a strong job market, and steady consumer spending, which suggest a solid base for growth. There are still some risks, especially from global events and policy changes, but overall, the outlook seems encouraging, with more reasons to feel confident than worried in the near term.” Jim DeFrank, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Isuzu Finance of America, Inc. Independent, Middle Ticket “I’m currently concerned about inflation and supply chain risks with global economic uncertainty beginning to weigh on U.S. markets.” Jeffry Elliott, CLFP, CEO, Elevex Capital Independent, Small Ticket “When the Iran war is settled, the U.S. economy should pick up considerably.” James D. Jenks, CEO, Global Finance and Leasing Services, LLC

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IFOY AWARD starts application phase 2027

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:53:46 +0000

The IFOY AWARD is entering a new round for 2027 earlier than in previous years: The applicant portal for the International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) AWARD is now open. Intralogistics and robotics providers worldwide can apply for one of the industry’s most prestigious awards with new products, solutions, and projects until September 25, 2026. Those who make it to the finals go through the three-stage IFOY audit with IFOY test, scientific innovation check, and jury examination by renowned trade journalists from 18 nations. The innovations are not directly compared with each other, but evaluated in the context of their market environment. For the first time since the Corona pandemic, the IFOY Audit will return to its traditional schedule and will take place on January 26 and 27, 2027, as part of the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS at Messe Dortmund. The audit thus marks the start of the intralogistics year once again. The IFOY AWARD ceremony is planned for spring 2027. There are a total of eight award categories to choose from, covering the entire spectrum of modern intralogistics – from forklifts and warehouse trucks to robot-controlled storage systems, software, and components to integrated customer projects. Innovations in crane and lifting technology are also awarded. A special focus is on mobile and stationary robotics, which traditionally represents the largest field of applicants. Technological details such as ergonomic solutions, safety innovations, and efficiency aids for storage and material flow are also awarded. In 2027, a separate award for start-ups will once again be presented: The IFOY Start-up of the Year Award is aimed at young companies with forward-looking products, prototypes, or services for intralogistics. Applications for both awards can only be made online via the applicant portal at www.ifoy.org. Application deadline is September 25, 2026 New IFOY website with a large test database Just in time for the start of the application phase, the IFOY AWARD website has a new design under www.ifoy.org. At the heart of the project is a new test database containing all IFOY tests and innovation checks from previous years, searchable by company, year, and category. The IFOY MGZN Blog is also new. In the future, it will bundle news, background information, and opinions about the IFOY AWARD and report on innovations and trends in the intralogistics industry. The IFOY AWARD is under the patronage of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The sponsors are the VDMA Conveyor Technology and Intralogistics as well as Robotics + Automation trade associations. Partners include Messe Dortmund, Cascade as an attachment manufacturer, LTG as a logistics partner, and AEB SE as an event partner. IFOY AWARD 2027: Categories at a glance Industrial truck trucks and industrial trucks that lift, move, or stack loads – from predominantly manual pallet trucks to heavy counterbalance trucks. These include: • Counter balanced Truck All types of counterbalance trucks up to 8 tons. • Heavy Load Forklift and Special Vehicle Forklifts/Vehicles for Special Tasks, Special Vehicle Construction, Drones, Cargo Bikes, Truck/Container Forklifts, Heavy Duty Forklifts over 8 Tons. • Warehouse Truck “highlifter” Warehouse technology equipment from the second shelf level, such as high-bay, narrow-aisle, and reach trucks, drawbar-guided stackers, order pickers, etc. • Warehouse Truck “lowlifter” : Predominantly manual warehouse trucks up to approx. 1st shelf level, such as drawbar-guided pallet trucks, tractors, tugger trains, horizontal order pickers, etc. Mobile Robot Mobile autonomous or automated robots, such as AGVs, AMRs, mobile cobots, robots for the automatic loading and unloading of trucks, shuttles (systems), automated industrial trucks, etc. Stationary Robot Warehouse System Automated storage systems, stationary robot-based solutions for intralogistics applications such as palletizing and depalletizing, cobots, and picking robots. Intralogistics software apps and intralogistics systems or software solutions in the context of possible applications, such as warehouse management systems, forklift control systems, driver assistance systems, fleet management systems, etc. Integrated Customer Solution Automation solution successfully implemented at a specific customer in the warehouse, greenfield, and brownfield projects. Special of the Year components or technical equipment that significantly improve the economic efficiency, sustainability or physical or psychological conditions for the user, such as ergonomic innovations, safety assistance solutions, automation solutions, drive technologies, aids in the warehouse, forklift attachments, etc. Crane and Lifting Technologies Cranes for various applications, such as gantry and overhead cranes, bracket and wall-mounted overhead cranes, slewing cranes, overhead conveyor cranes, light cranes, etc. Lifting technology for various areas of application, such as chain and wire rope hoists, winches, magnetic and vacuum lifters, lifting tables, and working platforms, etc. IFOY Start-up of the Year With the IFOY Start-up of the Year spin-off award, the award organization honors innovative technologies and new developments by founders. Start-ups are independent companies that have not been on the market for more than five years, employ fewer than 30 people, and generate no more than three million euros in annual sales. Applications can be submitted at https://www.ifoy.org/en/register-application-en

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Fed Chair Warsh keeps rates steady as the specter of an increase looms

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 21:48:35 +0000

In his first meeting at the helm, Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh announced today that interest rates would remain steady within the target range of 3.5% to 3.75%, a widely anticipated move. After several members of the committee dissented at the last meeting, favoring language less biased toward the next move being a cut, bond markets began to price in a rate hike at some point this year. The dot plot from this meeting shows that nine members of the committee saw the need for interest rates to increase at least once in the remainder of 2026. The quarterly summary of economic projections shows positive but reserved signals for the economic outlook for the remainder of the year. The outlook for economic output was reduced to 2.2%, down from the last projection released at the March 2026 meeting. The outlook for unemployment improved slightly, but inflation is expected to ramp up with headline PCE and core PCE inflation expected to hit 3.6% and 3.3%, respectively. “While the improved outlook for unemployment is a good sign by itself, declining participation rates and significantly slowing population growth could become a limiting factor for a manufacturing sector in need of nearly a half-million new employees,” said Christopher Chidzik, principal economist of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. “Automation may be the only option available to many manufacturers who are trying to grow their business amid increasing output levels in the sectors most reliant on manufacturing technology.” At IMTS 2026, occurring Sept 14-19, 2026, exhibitors in the Automation Sector are removing historical barriers to adoption, such as cost and complexity. Be sure to register for AMT’s Summer Economic Webinar on Thursday, July 16, and save the date for the annual MTForecast Conference held October 14-16 in Schaumburg, IL, to get a better handle on these dynamic market interactions.

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Industrial Measures Remain Steady Amid Rising Machinery Investment

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 19:27:56 +0000

U.S. industrial production increased slightly in May 2026 compared to April 2025 levels according to the latest report from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Capacity utilization was unchanged at a level 3.2 percentage points below the long run average. For manufacturers, both industrial production and capacity utilization were flat. Manufacturers of defense and space equipment increased output more than 1% compared to the previous month. “While overall levels of industrial production and capacity utilization are flat, sectors that most heavily rely on manufacturing technology are continuing to see increasing levels of output and utilization that could foreshadow additional capital expenditures in the remainder of the year,” said Christopher Chidzik, principal economist of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. “Since the end of 2024, capacity utilization for machinery manufacturers has steadily trended upward. With order activity already elevated and customer preferences turning toward more sophisticated machinery, the manufacturing technology industry needs to closely monitor capacity constraints to avoid a similar expansion in delivery times to that seen during the order frenzy following the recovery from the COVID-19 recession.”

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Humanoid robot production surges tenfold in 2025, but commercial deployments remain limited

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:42:13 +0000

Humanoid robot production witnessed significant growth in 2025. However, growth was highly concentrated in China and masks a significant deployment gap. Our latest report, Humanoid Robots – 2026, reveals autonomous and commercially viable real-world deployments remains limited. A 10x leap in production, yet real-world use increases by just 10% Global humanoid robot production exceeded 20,000 units in 2025, a tenfold increase from fewer than 2,000 units in 2024. However, the vast majority were used for research, data collection, and entertainment. Only around 10% of units produced were deployed in real-world applications. While this represents a substantial increase from dozens of units in 2024, growth was driven more by an expanding customer base and increasingly diversified pilots than by scaled commercial deployments. By the end of 2025, most real-world application projects remained small-scale proof-of-concept (POC) deployments, predominantly driven by government subsidies, strategic investments, and supply chain partnerships. The market still lacks large-scale, long-term deployments based purely on commercial rationale. Although cost reduction and efficiency improvements through automation may have been the original intent of many pilot projects, most had not progressed beyond short-term demonstrations and small-scale controlled operations. Autonomous operation, return on investment realization (requiring sufficient efficiency and task success rates), and multi-task-level generalization capabilities still appear to form the “impossible triangle” that humanoid robots struggle to break through. Chinese vendors lead humanoid robots production China was the engine of both supply and the early adoption of humanoid robots during 2025. In terms of overall unit production, Chinese vendors’ share exceeds 90%, with the remainder largely from US manufacturers. In terms of adoptions, about 75% of humanoid robots were delivered in China. The disparity between domestic production and demand in China during 2025 is primarily due to significant overseas sales achieved by several Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers, with demand driven mainly by academic research and entertainment use. To learn more about our report, download a brochure. The vendor landscape is also highly concentrated in China. The top 5 producers in 2025 were all Chinese manufacturers, collectively accounting for approximately 70% of global humanoid robot production. Unitree and Agibot each produced and shipped over 5,000 units, together surpassing 11,000 units and representing more than 50% of the global market. However, today’s market concentration and leadership are driven by early research demand (including data collection for physical AI training), attempts to gain media attention, and curiosity-driven trials, rather than by proven commercial deployments. The robust material support provided by the Chinese government for humanoid robotics is the primary reason behind the aggressive expansion of Chinese vendors and the domestic market in 2025. We believe the competitive landscape is far from settled, given that both the market and the underlying technology remain in a very nascent, immature phase. It could still experience substantial dynamical change, with more established cross-industry players joining the field, such as leading automotive and consumer electronics vendors. More than 5 years to reach large-scale commercial inflection point Looking ahead, we believe the market is likely to continue growing, with annual volumes reaching thousands of units. The share of units deployed for real-world applications will increase gradually over time. However, in the short run, growth won’t be entirely driven by rational commercial considerations. It is primarily driven by numerous small-scale pilots at present, rather than large-scale commercial projects. Customers will be concentrated among well-capitalized companies and enterprises with capital and supply chain ties to humanoid robot companies, and government involvement will play a key role. We believe that near-term deployments will remain predominantly semi-autonomous, with certain specific tasks still requiring rule-based control or human teleoperation. The latter is expected to achieve the first actual commercial deployment of humanoid robots in hazardous work scenarios and regions with significant regional labor cost disparities. In contrast, highly autonomous, AI-driven humanoid robots will initially be adopted in scenarios with greater tolerance for task speed and error rates. Our field observations indicate deploying humanoid robots at scale for tangible workforce value remains constrained by critical usability gaps (including task reliability and efficiency insufficient to achieve ROI, and limited multi-tasking capabilities). Technical bottlenecks span immature embodied AI, severe physical data scarcity, and inadequate hardware endurance. Meanwhile, the absence of established safety standards and regulatory frameworks constitutes a key barrier to expanding humanoid robots into human-machine interactive settings. Consequently, we expect the market will struggle to achieve a large-scale commercial inflection point across multiple domains within the next five years. A commercial inflection point is forecast post-2032, contingent on breakthroughs in autonomous and reliable task execution, acceptable ROI, and clearer regulatory environments. By 2035, global shipments for real-world applications are projected to exceed 700,000 units, with market revenue reaching approximately $15 billion.

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Partnerships, Perspectives and Possibilities Take Center Stage at PTDA Canadian Conference

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:38:06 +0000

More than 160 power transmission and motion control (PT/MC) industry professionals gathered in Montréal, Québec, June 2–4, for the 2026 PTDA Canadian Conference. The event brought together manufacturers, distributors and associates from across Canada and the United States to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas and explore the trends shaping the future of the industry. A highlight of the conference was the Distributor-Manufacturer Idea Exchange (DM-IDEX). Over two days, participants met face-to-face in for conversations designed to help channel partners reconnect, explore opportunities and build new relationships. Combined with networking receptions, meals, and informal discussions throughout the conference, attendees had ample opportunity to connect with the people who help drive business success across the PT/MC channel. This year’s educational program offered a mix of practical business insights and big-picture perspectives. Sales strategist Fergal O’Carroll shared how artificial intelligence (AI) is helping organizations improve sales effectiveness and create more time for customer-facing activities. His session focused on practical applications for AI, including customer communications, proposal development, objection handling and knowledge sharing. Political commentator Chantal Hébert examined the political and economic forces influencing Canadian businesses today. Her presentation explored Canada’s evolving relationship with the United States, the importance of competitiveness and productivity and how businesses can navigate uncertainty while continuing to invest for the future. Jeremy Leonard, managing director of global industry services at Oxford Economics, provided an economic outlook shaped by global conflict, trade policy and technological investment. While acknowledging ongoing uncertainty, Leonard highlighted Canada’s relative resilience and pointed to opportunities tied to energy production, infrastructure development and growing investment in artificial intelligence and data centers. Attendees also heard from a panel of emerging industry leaders who discussed how communication expectations are evolving within manufacturer-distributor relationships. The conversation explored topics including responsiveness, transparency, technology and the importance of maintaining trust as business practices continue to change. PTDA’s next Canadian Conference will take place June 8-10, 2027, in Québec City, Québec. The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) is the leading global association for the industrial power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distribution channel. Headquartered in Chicago, PTDA represents power transmission/motion control distribution firms that generate more than $20 billion in sales and span over 2,700 locations. PTDA members also include manufacturers that supply the PT/MC industry.

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Automation Fuels Strong Start to 2026 Manufacturing Technology Orders

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:29:29 +0000

New orders of metalworking machinery, measured by the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, totaled $593.6 million in April 2026. This was a 12.5% decline from a surprisingly strong March 2026, but a 33.2% increase from April 2025. Over the first four months of 2026, manufacturing technology orders totaled $2.19 billion, a 28.9% increase over 2025. While the value of machinery is showing strong growth, the number of units sold continues to grow at a slower pace. Average order values increased faster than inflation since the end of the 2020 pandemic recession. The gap between average order value growth and machine tool inflation has widened in the first few months of 2026, indicating that, although some pricing pressures persist across the industry, a significant portion of the order value growth is due to additional automation being added to orders of increasingly sophisticated machinery. Contract machine shops have generally fallen behind the market in recent years, with orders for manufacturing technology growing more slowly. That trend seems to have reversed in recent months as order growth in 2026 largely matches the market’s pace. Aerospace manufacturers increased orders modestly in April 2026; however, for the second time this year, the value of orders increased more slowly than the number of units. This could indicate that aerospace manufacturers are beginning to buy less sophisticated machinery to quickly boost capacity. The current upswing in demand for manufacturing technology began in September 2024, when interest rates began to decline, heightened political uncertainty began to subside, and IMTS 2024 opened in Chicago. Since then, capacity utilization for machinery manufacturers has steadily trended upward. With order activity already elevated and customer preferences turning toward more sophisticated machinery, the manufacturing technology industry needs to closely monitor capacity constraints to avoid a similar expansion in delivery times to that seen during the order frenzy following the recovery from the COVID-19 recession through IMTS 2022.

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The Shift from Analytics to Intelligence Takes Center Stage at Seeq Conneqt North America 2026

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:46:19 +0000

Seeq kicks off Conneqt North America 2026 in Orlando. Centered on the theme of “Analytics to Intelligence,” the event brings together leaders from across the industrial operations community to explore the future of industrial performance and decision-making. Designed to ignite innovation, celebrate customer success, and foster collaboration, Conneqt 2026 features Seeq and customer-led content that examines how industrial AI and other emerging technologies are helping organizations accelerate business outcomes. “Conneqt gathers industrial leaders who recognize that the future belongs to organizations that can capture subject matter expertise, build trust in AI, and turn insights into faster decisions and actions at enterprise scale,” said Dr. Lisa Graham, CEO of Seeq. “More than a conference, Conneqt is a community where innovators come together to exchange ideas, learn from shared experiences, and drive meaningful change that improves business performance, while making the industry more efficient and sustainable.” The event will feature keynotes from Seeq leadership and industry experts: CEO Keynote: Dr. Lisa Graham will deliver a keynote introducing Seeq’s vision of Decision Capital, the accumulated body of institutional knowledge built across data, analytics, context, expertise, decision rationale, and outcomes that organizations build through using Seeq. Decision Capital is grounded in Seeq’s guiding principle that human expertise, amplified by AI, will drive transformative and sustained productivity in manufacturing and energy industries. Guest Keynote: Matthew Littlefield, President of LNS Research, will share his research and industry perspectives during his keynote titled “Market Shaping Decision Architectures: How the World’s Most Productive Companies Use Industrial AI to Outrun Disruption and the Competition.” In this session, Littlefield will explore how COOs and operations leaders can align operating models, talent, data, and AI to build a systemized engine for productivity and growth, while offering a practical blueprint to unlock the next era of industrial growth. Product Keynote: Led by Seeq Chief Product Officer Mark Derbecker and the Seeq Product Team, this session offers a closer look at the Seeq product roadmap for Decision Capital, including demos of Seeq Intelligence—the company’s AI-driven decision intelligence offering—and other innovations designed to help customers turn operational insight into more confident decisions at every level of the enterprise. The broader conference agenda brings these themes to life through customer-led sessions spanning industry and topical breakout tracks. Presenting organizations include International Paper, PBF Energy, Intel, Eli Lilly & Co., Dominion Energy and more, reinforcing the event’s role as a forum for sharing practical applications of industrial AI, analytics, and enterprise innovation. Conneqt 2026 is supported by key Seeq partners, including: Gold Sponsor – Amazon Web Services Gold Sponsor – Radix Innovation Theater Sponsor – BKO AI Innovation Theater Sponsor – Innovapptive Sponsors will showcase their newest technologies at Conneqt in the Innovation Theater.

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Antares Vision Group and Driscoll’s to Present Joint Session on Item-Level Traceability and New Digital Link Pilot

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:47:35 +0000

Antares Vision Group (AVG) and Driscoll’s will deliver a joint presentation at GS1 Connect 2026 in Las Vegas. Titled “Berry Smart Traceability: Item-Level Traceability with 2D Barcodes,” the session will provide supply chain, operations, and technology leaders with a detailed, real-world account of deploying serialization at unprecedented fresh produce scale — as well as the steps necessary to optimize such a far-reaching endeavor. The presentation, which occurs on June 10 from 3-3:30pm, in the Mont-Royal Room on Level 4, also will outline how GS1 Digital Link is emerging as the next foundation for Driscoll’s connected consumer vision. The session will be led by Dana Biancardi, Senior Program Manager at Driscoll’s, and Herb Wong, Chief Customer Officer at Antares Vision Group. Each brings a distinct perspective, with Ms. Biancardi focusing on the effort’s business outcomes and operational reality while Mr. Wong details the project’s technical architecture and implementation. Driscoll’s ships more than one billion pounds of berries annually to more than 400 customer locations across the U.S. and Mexico, sourcing from more than 4,000 independent growers. With over two million consumer survey responses received each year, the company had no shortage of feedback — but no way to connect that feedback to the specific farm, field, or berry variety that produced it. The solution was item-level serialization: giving every individual clamshell a unique identity, grounded in GS1 standards, that links each package back through the full supply chain encompassing its variety, grower, harvest event, and growing conditions.

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Your organization has an idea problem. Here’s what it’s actually costing you

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:12:24 +0000

Every offsite generates a dozen new initiatives. Every all-hands meeting produces a fresh wave of suggestions. Every leadership transition arrives with a new set of priorities. Ideas are everywhere. What’s in short supply is the ability to do anything meaningful with them. When an idea has nowhere to live, it does one of two things. It gets forced into execution prematurely, which is how you end up with half-baked initiatives draining resources before anyone has asked whether they actually serve the strategy. Or it gets discarded, which is how you lose the ideas that would have mattered if anyone had held onto them long enough to know. Neither outcome is good. Both are wildly common. What most organizations are missing isn’t a brainstorming process or an innovation pipeline. It’s a coherent framework for evaluating which ideas are worth acting on, which ones need more time, and which ones should be released entirely — with intention rather than by accident. A Filter Is Not a Cage The instinct when you have too many ideas is to start capturing them — notebooks, digital backlogs, Slack channels, shared drives. And while that’s better than nothing, a list isn’t a framework. Capturing an idea doesn’t tell you what to do with it. It just gives the chaos a filing system. The Steering Guide does something different. It gives your organization a shared set of criteria for evaluating ideas against what actually matters strategically. Not “Is this interesting?” — “interesting” is a very low bar. But: does this serve the customers we’ve committed to serving? Does it align with how we’ve decided to compete? Does it move us toward the outcomes we’ve said are the priority? (Learn more about the Steering Guide Framework here) When your team has internalized those questions, they don’t need a leader to sort their ideas for them. They can do it themselves. And the ideas that rise to the top aren’t just good — they’re relevant. And the ideas that rise to the top aren’t just good — they’re relevant. Not Every Idea Needs to Be Acted On. But Every Idea Needs an Answer. You need a space where ideas can exist without demanding immediate action, observed with curiosity rather than urgency. The organizational equivalent isn’t a backlog but strategic clarity. When people understand the strategy well enough to genuinely evaluate their own ideas against it, two things happen. The noise gets quieter because most ideas self-select out. And the signal gets stronger, because the ideas that do rise to the surface are ones with real strategic grounding. That’s not suppressing creativity, that’s directing it. The best ideas don’t need to be protected from rigor. They thrive because of it. About the Author: Trained as an organizational behavioral scientist and customer-centricity expert, Andrea Belk Olson helps companies operationalize corporate strategy through transforming mindsets and behaviors. She is the author of three business books, including her most recent, What To Ask: How To Learn What Customers Need but Don’t Tell You. She is a 4x ADDY Award winner and a contributing writer to Entrepreneur Magazine, Harvard Business Review, INC Magazine, the World Economic Forum, and more. Andrea is also an applied entrepreneurship instructor at the University of Iowa and a TEDx speaker coach. More information is also available on www.pragmadik.com and www.andreabelkolson.com.

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