Collaborative robots are changing how manufacturers think about automation, making it safer, more flexible, and more accessible than ever before. Built to work alongside people, today’s cobots can help increase throughput without adding complexity or increasing footprint.

EMUGE-FRANKEN USA, a manufacturer of high-performance taps, thread mills, end mills, drills, gages, other rotary tools, and precision clamping solutions, announced its collaboration with GibbsCAM and Matsuura to host a 5-Axis Machining Live Demo Event on May 21, 2026 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the EMUGE-FRANKEN Technology Center, 1800 Century Drive, West Boylston, MA.

O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS) is inviting job seekers to explore career opportunities at its Fayette, AlL, facility during an onsite hiring event on Thursday, May 21, from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Opening its doors on March 25, 2026, C.R. Onsrud (Troutman, NC), manufacturer of American-made CNC machinery, brought together over 200 attendees, including CNC vendors, experienced users of CNC equipment, and novices.

Hypertherm Associates, a U.S.-based manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, continues its support of the annual SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference. Hypertherm returns to the conference, June 2-5 at the Georgia World Conference Center in Atlanta, GA in booth #163 at the event’s TECHSPO. The company’s plasma experts will be on hand to provide additional training and practice with the Powermax45 SYNC® plasma cutting system for competitors who qualified for the SkillsUSA Championships in the welding category.

The Reshoring Initiative, in collaboration with Regions Recruiting— a strategic talent partner to SMEs and Fortune 1000s across the Southeastern U.S. to drive growth, innovation, transformation and profitability—recently announced the launch of an industrywide survey examining what is factoring into manufacturers’ decisions on whether to reshore factories and supply chains. This research comes at a critical time as the U.S. rebuilds its manufacturing base.

QT9 Software, a technology provider in Quality Management Software and ERP solutions, will feature its QT9 ERP platform at Automate 2026 on June 22, 2026, in Chicago, IL. At Booth 10017, QT9 Software will showcase how QT9 ERP brings regulated manufacturers onto a single, connected system that unifies operations, simplifies compliance, and delivers clear visibility across the business.

The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program, recently announced a new partnership with the Pittsburgh-based Patterns of Meaning Initiative, an innovative program that introduces steel, specialty materials and metal manufacturing to K-12 students through the arts.

ESAB recently announced the 12 recipients of the 2025 $5,000 scholarships, awarded through a collaboration with the American Welding Society (AWS) Foundation. The scholarships, made possible by ESAB’s Future Fabricators program, support students across North America pursuing welding certifications and degrees.

AlcoTec, an ESAB brand and the world’s leading producer of aluminum filler metals, announced that registration is open for 2026 training classes at its School of Aluminum Welding Technology – Theory and Practice in Traverse City, MI. The classes are scheduled for May 12–14 and September 22–24. Standard pricing is $1,500, and group discounts are available for companies registering multiple people.

The American Welding Society (AWS) and SkillsUSA recently announced that Mikala Sposito, a 21-year-old student from Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, MI, has been selected as the official United States competitor in Welding for the 48th WorldSkills Competition, scheduled for September 22–27, 2026, in Shanghai, China.

6K Additive Inc., manufacturer in the domestic production of high-performance metal powders, welcomed Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) to its Burgettstown facility recently. The visit underscored the critical importance of establishing a robust, domestic supply chain for refractory metal powders essential to U.S. national security and clean energy independence, the company reported.

SencCutSend, a U.S.-based on-demand manufacturing company specializing in custom sheet metal and CNC machining, is celebrating a year of progress toward its $1 million commitment to support STEM education nationwide. Since announcing this venture in January 2025, the company has issued nearly $250,000 in parts, engineering assistance and funding to student engineering, robotics and STEM programs.

The ESAB Demo Tour — the company’s first interactive, nationwide mobile welding and cutting experience — has embarked on its 2026 tour of U.S. welding distributor partner locations, metal fabrication facilities, schools and special events.

The American Welding Society (AWS) recently announced its full schedule of 2026 conferences and events that include educational sessions, networking, and opportunities to connect with industry-leading experts. In addition to annual FABTECH conferences, AWS will feature four comprehensive technical events in 2026: Inspection Expo & Conference (IEC 2026), Shipbuilding and Aluminum Conference, Welding Automation Expo & Conference (WAEC), and Welding Summit.

Airgas, an Air Liquide company, is accelerating its commitment to the next generation of skilled trades by expanding the reach of the Airgas High School Welding Education Initiative to 76 schools across 26 states in 2026.

Flow International Corporation and Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) recently announced a renewed five-year partnership, strengthening their shared commitment to performance, precision, and innovation. This agreement enables JGR to integrate Flow’s NX Pro waterjet, LZR fiber laser, and HyperBend press brake into its operations, thereby enhancing each organizations' dedication to high performance.

Working together with 36 partner companies to bring technologies to life, foster dialogue, and showcase concrete application possibilities, The CHIRON Group hosted its annual OPEN HOUSE event at its headquarters in Tuttlingen, Germany.  The CHIRON Group supports the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, medical and precision technology, aerospace and tool manufacturing with its CNC-controlled, vertical milling and milling-turning machining centers as well as turnkey and automation solutions.

email