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💴 This Week in Manufacturing

No winter storms could stop the march of manufacturing progress in January. This month’s industry report is a positive turnaround after months of disappointing results. Let’s talk good news!

The January monthly industry review and report showcases a sector at the start of a gradual rebound, with the PMI climbing to 50.9 percent, up from 49.2 percent in December—a clear signal of expansion. Additionally, companies such as GE Vernova and Corning, Inc. are making major investments in clean energy and specialized glass manufacturing. Sustainability is back, everyone.

This week’s headlines round out the clean energy revolution and general manufacturing innovation. From advances in solar energy, data centers, and robots, the future is nigh.

Next, this week’s podcasts cover the critical materials needed for all those ambitious clean energy projects (a16z), along with the goal of bringing manufacturing projects back to the US (The Manufacturing Executive).

Finally, our Social Video and Fun Fact each explore different aspects of the latest clean energy innovations sweeping the nation.

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⚙ Manufacturing Headlines

• NEXT Energy Technologies innovating solar windows [Solar Power World]

• Eaton invests in new SC transformer manufacturing site [Financial Times]

• January manufacturing industry data review [CompanyWeek]

• AI-powered humanoid robotics company Apptronik raises $350M [Silicon Angle]

• Metals Crucial to Clean Energy Are Getting Caught Up in the Trade War [Wired]

• Construction 3D Printing Sector Experiencing Growing Pains [3D Print.com]

MONTHLY REVIEW

♨️ US Manufacturing Insights - January

In January 2025, the U.S. manufacturing sector showed signs of stabilization after a prolonged slump.

According to the latest ISM® report, the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI®) climbed to 50.9 percent, up from 49.2 percent in December. This is a clear signal of expansion after eight consecutive months of decline. It’s notable that both ISM and S&P Global PMIs aligned in January, each signaling a mild expansion in factory activity.

Although challenges like input cost inflation persist, the overall environment is increasingly supportive of further expansion. Manufacturers are cautiously upbeat, preparing to ramp up capacity and invest in future production even as they monitor the pace of rising prices.

Upshot: Industry respondents from diverse sectors—from chemical products citing raw material price increases to transportation equipment firms managing supply chain challenges—shared a common sentiment: conditions are finally shifting in favor of growth.

FROM THE FEED

📱What are these 10,000 mirrors in the desert?

🤨Did You Know?

The cost of clean power technologies is expected to fall further by

2-11%

in 2025.

^{Source: BloombergNEF}

🎧 Podcasts Worth A Listen

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