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💴 This Week in Manufacturing

America’s industrial base saw real momentum this week as federal and private-sector initiatives converged across key manufacturing domains. Semiconductor capacity advanced through new CHIPS R&D commitments and a major UMC–Polar collaboration. The defense sector expanded dramatically with more than 1,000 firms approved for the Golden Dome program, alongside new drone and hypersonics investments. DOE added $134 million to strengthen critical-mineral processing, while national indicators—PMI, steel production, workforce signals, and regional facility announcements—rounded out a pivotal week.

Our headlines this week showcase the continued opportunities present throughout the manufacturing industry from hiring needs, to drone innovations, battery storage, and more!

This week’s first podcast, from Heavy Hitters, dives into the merging of robotics and AI within a 100-year old business. The second podcast, from The Manufacturing Report, highlights how a parental focus supercharged one brand’s growth.

Our Social Video and Fun Fact highlight applications and growth potential within drone manufacturing.

Thanks for joining us!

⚙ Manufacturing Headlines

• The green manufacturing boom is happening. Just not here [Trellis]

• Language gaps might threaten the U.S. manufacturing revival [Engineering]

• First Breach and ideaForge Establish US Drone Manufacturing Partnership [Drone Life]

• ESS–EV battery supply chain bifurcates as U.S. manufacturers pivot toward storage [PV Magazine]

• Tax Reform Made Manufacturing Success Possible [National Association of Manufacturers]

COMMENTARY

♨️ Signals of Strength: Building Capacity in a Cautious Economy

If this week’s headlines feel bigger than usual, that’s because they are.

This week’s newsletter highlights major advances in U.S. manufacturing capacity across semiconductors, defense, and critical minerals. The government expanded its CHIPS R&D efforts, added over 1,000 companies to the Golden Dome defense program, and launched $134 million in funding for critical-mineral processing.

Additional updates include new hypersonics and drone-production investments, softer PMI data, steel-output trends, and regional semiconductor activity.

Upshot: The more American manufacturers contributing to critical defense systems, the more flexible and responsive the industrial base becomes—whether during routine procurement cycles or during demand spikes.

FROM THE FEED

📱$200 drones have changed warfare

🤨Did You Know?

The US drone market has a projected CAGR of

13%

from 2025 to 2030.

^{Source: Grandview Research}

🎧 Podcasts Worth A Listen