Smashmallow's Bad Machine; Robot Goat Rocket Launcher; Hello Bello Bankruptcy | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 143

Also on the podcast, Michelin winds down tire production, UAW wins big, welding company pays settlement in coins, clean energy to create thousands of jobs and an AI-enabled tool solves screwdriving automation.

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The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN).

This week's episode is sponsored by Oracle Netsuite. One of the long-lasting impacts of COVID-19 and the global pandemic it created, has been the priority now being placed on long-term, enterprise-wide planning. Join David Mantey and Jeff Reinke as they discuss Oracle Netsuite’s latest white paper, The Ultimate Guide to Scenario Planning, to hear about new strategies and steps you can use to de-risk your organization. Watch here.

Every week, we cover the five biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week: 

UAW Says Strike 'Won Things No One Thought Possible' - @2:18

It has been a good week for the United Auto Workers.

Michelin to Wind Down Okla. Tire Production, Cut 1,400 Jobs - @17:30

Last week, Michelin announced that it is winding down tire making operations in Ardmore, Oklahoma, eliminating 1,400 jobs.

Baby Products Startup Founded by Actors Files for Bankruptcy - @28:14

Unconditional Love, which does business as Hello Bello, is a diaper and baby products company founded by actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard. The company recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing higher shipping costs, increased purchase prices and delayed shipment of raw materials.

Marines Test Robot Goat with Rocket Launcher - @37:18

Marines with the Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group, along with the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command and the Office of Naval Research, recently tested a quadruped robotic platform referred to as the “robotic goat.”

Sonoma Brands Wins $21 Million from Machine Builder that Sunk the Smashmallow - @50:53

Smashmallow was a startup backed by food investment firm Sonoma Brands. As the company looked to scale, it turned to Tanis Food Tec, a Dutch machine builder.

In Case You Missed It

Welding Company Scolded for Trying to Pay Settlement in Coins - @1:05:56

They weighed three tons.

Several Hundred-Thousand Clean Energy Jobs Estimated - @1:10:59

There have been 210 major energy projects announced since the Inflation Reduction Act took effect.

Insider Q&A: AI-Enabled Tool Tackles Elusive Screwdriving Automation - @1:16:00

The AI experts at Micropsi Industries recently partnered with Deprag, an international industrial tool supplier, to create an automated screwdriving solution.

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