USA

A US Federal Judge has granted final approval for Volkswagen’s compensation package, worth $US 14.7 billion, following the German company’s admission in September 2015 that its vehicles had cheated laboratory emissions tests.

Tesla has announced that from this week onwards, all vehicles produced in its factory will have the hardware the necessary for fully autonomous driving. According to Tesla, eight surround cameras will provide 360 degree visibility around the car at a range of up to 250 metres. Cars will also see the addition of twelve updated … Continue reading Tesla announces fully autonomous vehicles →

Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla Motors, will make an announcement on Monday, with various industry experts predicting it will have to do with improvements in the cars’ driver assistance abilities.

Anthony Pratt, the executive chairman of packaging companies Visy Industries and Pratt Industries, has encouraged other businesses to invest in expansion rather than boosting dividends to shareholders.

Engineers from the University of Colorado – Boulder have developed a bio-manufacturing process that uses a biological organism cultivated in brewery wastewater to create the carbon-based materials needed to make energy storage cells.

The CEO of the US’s largest privately-held coal company has called car maker Tesla a fraud. Reuters reports that Robert Murray told an interviewer yesterday (US time) that Tesla was the recipient of green subsidies of the kind supported by US Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. “Here again, it’s subsidies, and Hillary Clinton said they … Continue reading Tesla founder, coal boss exchange “fraud” comments →

The head of the Australian Council of Trade Unions has said he will push for procurement provisions for government projects, inspired by the “Buy American” US policies following the Global Financial Crisis.

Sigma Labs, Inc., a provider of quality assurance software under the PrintRite3D brand, today announced that it has received a contract from Honeywell Aerospace under the previously-announced “America Makes” additive manufacturing research project with GE Aviation.

A Tesla driver’s car has hit the back of a tourist bus in northern Germany, with the car in Autopilot mode at the time, according to the driver.

Major industrial companies have been making serious acquisitions lately, seeking to strengthen their capabilities with metal additive manufacturing. Brent Balinski spoke to Mark Cola, co-founder and CEO of Sigma Labs, about what it all means.

Despite last-minute efforts by the Obama administration, the US Congress’ ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement is in serious danger.

Luxury car maker and Formula One team owner McLaren has denied reports that it has been in talks with Apple over the latter acquiring or taking a strategic stake in the auto firm.

Ford Motor Co. will move the assembly of all of its small cars made in US to Mexico though its CEO insists there will be no job losses.

Following several developments this year focussed on 3D printing for industrial users, 3D Systems has announced additions to its management team and said it had “no interest” in courting the consumer market.

Not only is Apple suffering from a major lack of hardware innovation but it’s also being outdone in software and online, where apps reign supreme. It quite possibly signals the company’s eventual demise.

GE has announced its intention to buy SLM Solutions of Germany and Arcam of Sweden, both makers of industrial metal additive manufacturing machines, in what it is calling the next step on its way to becoming a digital industrial business.

Concern over the employment consequences of globalisation is again driving political debate. Look no further than the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union and the rise of protectionism in American and Australian politics to see the disenfranchisement of low-skill workers with the effects of international trade.

According to a report in today’s Australian newspaper, former Orica executives, Andrew Larke and Patrick Largier, are being courted by the administrators of Arrium to become directors of its $1.5 billion subsidiary Moly-Cop. Moly-Cop makes steel grinding balls used in mining and is touted as one of the most lucrative part of Arrium’s ailing operations. … Continue reading Arrium administrators find Orica execs as the solution for Moly-Cop →

GE Power has announced that it has completed the acquisition of the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) business of Doosan Engineering & Construction for $USD250 million. Originally announced in May, the Doosan Engineering & Construction HRSG acquisition will help GE Power meet the growing demand for its combined-cycle power plant solutions, which utilize HRSG technology, … Continue reading GE buys out Doosan’s Steam Generator Business →

Semiconductor maker Intel has announced a licencing deal with rival ARM Holdings, which will use Intel’s manufacturing resources to produce 10-nanometre mobile phone parts.