Manufacturing & Industrial Technology

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – November 05, 2026 -- 6K Inc. has received a conditional commitment for a loan of up to $250 million from the U.S. Department of War, through its Office of Strategic Capital, to build a domestic cathode materials production facility in Jackson, Tennessee.

Loan targets U.S. dependence on foreign-produced cathode materials

The financing is aimed at metal oxide cathode materials, a critical component of high energy density lithium-ion batteries used in defense, drones, mobility, energy storage and robotics. The company says the U.S. remains heavily dependent on foreign-produced cathode materials. That dependence exposes domestic manufacturers to trade restrictions, geopolitical disruption and foreign control of strategic materials.

Jacksonville – November 05, 2026 -- Sy-Klone, the Florida-based clean air technology manufacturer founded in 1986, has been awarded more than 100 patents globally as it marks its 40th anniversary.

The portfolio covers VORTEX engine precleaners, RESPA air quality systems, RESPA Advisor real-time monitoring and RadialSHIELD air filters. The company sells them for operator safety, engine efficiency and enclosure protection.

Hsinchu – November 05, 2026 -- Macronix International Co., Ltd. (TSE: 2337) has become the first Taiwanese semiconductor company to receive an IEEE Milestone, awarded for its sNOVA industrial production optimization platform, which the company developed between its 1989 founding and 1997.

IEEE presents plaque to Macronix chairman at November 2 ceremony

Jill Gostin, 2026 IEEE president-elect, handed the recognition plaque to Dr. Miin Wu, Macronix chairman and CEO. Dr. Cheng-Wen Wu, minister of Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), attended the ceremony.

IEEE launched its Milestones program in 1983. An honored achievement must be at least 25 years old and have at least regional impact. More than 300 Milestones have been approved worldwide to date.

Wasquehal, France – November 05, 2026 -- Exotec, a warehouse robotics provider, has appointed Clémence Munier, formerly Vice President of New Business Acquisition at Ocado Group, to the newly created post of Global Vice President, Grocery.

Munier will shape grocery strategy across three regions

The role covers grocery markets in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Exotec describes it as an investment in vertical-specific expertise as demand for grocery automation grows.

Munier brings more than 10 years of experience in grocery retail and grocery e-commerce automation. At Ocado she built and led the global team that won new partners for the Ocado Smart Platform, growing its portfolio to 15 retailers worldwide. Earlier, she led a team of vendor managers at Amazon UK, where she owned the commercial strategy and P&L for the grocery category.

Beverly, Mass. – November 05, 2026 -- Axcelis Technologies (Nasdaq: ACLS) reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $237.8 million and guided fourth-quarter revenue to approximately $275 million, about 16% above the quarter just reported.

Axcelis posts non-GAAP EPS of $1.26 on a 41.2% gross margin

GAAP gross margin was 41.0% and non-GAAP gross margin was 41.2%. GAAP operating margin reached 11.5%, against 16.6% on a non-GAAP basis. Diluted earnings per share came in at $1.21 on a GAAP basis and $1.26 non-GAAP.

Interim CFO David Ryzhik said results exceeded company expectations on stronger shipments and record revenue from Customer Solutions and Installed base (CS&I). He said foreign exchange headwinds weighed on gross margin.

LEHIGH VALLEY – November 05, 2026 -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) raised fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings per share 12 percent to $13.45, beating its guidance midpoint, while cutting capital expenditures by $1.8 billion to $3.3 billion.

Adjusted operating income rose 11 percent to $3.2 billion, and adjusted operating margin improved 70 basis points to 24.4 percent. Sales climbed eight percent, or $954 million, to $13.0 billion on four percent higher volumes, two percent higher energy cost pass-through and two percent favorable currency.

Project exit charges swing GAAP results back to a $23 million operating profit

On a GAAP basis, the company posted operating income of $23 million and EPS of $2.39. A year earlier it recorded an operating loss of $877 million and a loss of $1.74 per share. Both periods carry significant charges tied mainly to previously announced project exits.

SÃO PAULO – November 05, 2026 -- IMC Rare Earths (NYSE American: IMC) will begin diamond drilling at 29 Block D plateau locations in mid-November at its Itarantim project in Brazil. The program is meant to test mineralization below the 30-meter limit of its mechanical auger rigs and to extend roughly 5-10 meters into bedrock, subject to geology. In parallel, engineering consultancy WSP is running an in-situ recovery (ISR) field trial, with injection testing targeted for Q1 2027.

Diamond drilling targets thickest weathered layer on Block D plateau

The 29 holes are widely spaced and sited where the weathered rock and soil layer is interpreted to be thickest. Access work and drill pad construction are underway, and further drilling is planned.

Wayne, Pa. – November 05, 2026 -- Ecovyst Inc. (NYSE: ECVT) reported third-quarter 2026 sales from continuing operations of $308.6 million, up 51% from $204.9 million a year earlier, and raised its full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $208 million-$212 million from $195 million-$207 million.

Calabrian acquisition and sulfur pass-through drive the revenue increase

Sales rose $103.7 million year over year. Higher volumes and pricing contributed, as did the Calabrian sulfur dioxide business acquired on June 30, 2026. Average selling prices climbed mainly because of roughly $67 million in pass-through of higher sulfur costs and favorable contractual pricing for regenerated sulfuric acid. Regenerated sulfuric acid volumes grew on strong demand and less customer downtime.

Mainz – November 05, 2026 -- Prices for copper and nickel could nearly double by 2035 as demand from the energy transition, power grids and AI data centers outpaces supply, according to an analysis by credit insurer Coface. The study projects structural shortages across copper, nickel and aluminium.

Nickel faces a 6.5-million-tonne deficit by 2035

Nickel shows the widest projected gap. Battery production and electric mobility could push the market into a deficit of about 6.5 million tonnes by 2035, equal to roughly 35% of forecast demand.

Copper could post a supply deficit of 1.5 million to 6.5 million tonnes by 2035, depending on demand. In a high-demand scenario, the gap could reach up to 17% of global demand, Coface industry analyst Simon Lacoume said, adding that the rapid build-out of data centers adds pressure.

Gothenburg – November 05, 2026 -- SKF estimates that chillers fitted with its magnetic bearings and commissioned in 2030 could avoid 3.4 million tonnes of CO2e over their lifetime, as the company takes its energy-efficiency and circularity portfolio to COP31.

The estimate compares the chillers with traditional oil-lubricated bearing systems. It rests on lower electricity consumption and higher availability. SKF built it from two International Energy Agency scenarios, "Stated Policies" and "Lift-Off", combined with its own business projection.

SKF targets data-centre cooling with contactless magnetic bearings

Magnetic bearings operate without physical contact, which reduces friction and mechanical wear. SKF says this enables more energy-efficient and reliable cooling systems. Frederic Ponson, Director, Magnetic Mechatronics, said cooling efficiency can curb the energy footprint of data centres as AI-driven demand grows.