David Mantey
@djamesmanny.bsky.social
Editorial director, manufacturing, design engineering and cannabis. Today in Manufacturing podcast, Cannabis Equipment News podcast. Most on https://www.ien.com/ and https://www.cannabisequipmentnews.com/
Incredible. Prescient. A must.
April 17, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Incredible. Prescient. A must.
Tesla has been accused of deliberately manipulating the mileage on its vehicles' odometers as a way to skirt warranty repairs. Would be very odd (and risky), if intentional.
Tesla Accused of Fudging Odometers to Avoid Warranty Repairs
The scheme looks like a way to avoid paying for warranty repairs.
www.ien.com
April 16, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Tesla has been accused of deliberately manipulating the mileage on its vehicles' odometers as a way to skirt warranty repairs. Would be very odd (and risky), if intentional.
It looks like Honda is going to drastically ramp up U.S. manufacturing in direct response to Trump's tariffs. The automaker wants 90% of all cars sold in the U.S. to be made in the U.S.
Honda Looks to Drastically Ramp Up U.S. Manufacturing
The automaker wants 90% of all cars sold in the U.S. to be made in the U.S.
www.ien.com
April 15, 2025 at 6:05 PM
It looks like Honda is going to drastically ramp up U.S. manufacturing in direct response to Trump's tariffs. The automaker wants 90% of all cars sold in the U.S. to be made in the U.S.
About 10 years ago, Elon Musk said, "With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon." We asked a couple of AI experts to revisit Musk’s warning and the outcome was ... enlightening.
Did Humans Summon the AI Demon?
AI experts revisit Elon Musk’s warning a decade later.
www.manufacturing.net
April 15, 2025 at 4:18 PM
About 10 years ago, Elon Musk said, "With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon." We asked a couple of AI experts to revisit Musk’s warning and the outcome was ... enlightening.
This week on the Today in Manufacturing podcast, Whirlpool's layoffs in Iowa; Torpedo bat demand skyrockets, TI cuts jobs, floods force Pappy maker to close, GM's 3D-printed Corvette, and layoffs gut safety agency.
Whirlpool's Layoffs; Torpedo Bat Demand Skyrockets; TI Cuts Jobs | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 215
Also on the podcast, floods force Pappy Van Winkle maker to close, GM's 3D-printed futuristic Corvette, reinventing the ladder, not every manufacturing problem needs an AI solution, and layoffs gut sa...
www.ien.com
April 14, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This week on the Today in Manufacturing podcast, Whirlpool's layoffs in Iowa; Torpedo bat demand skyrockets, TI cuts jobs, floods force Pappy maker to close, GM's 3D-printed Corvette, and layoffs gut safety agency.
The next target for the Trump administration appears to be MEPs, programs that have had a huge impact on small and mid-sized manufacturers. According to NIST, which oversees the program, MEPs have contributed to $152B in new sales, $34B in savings and more than 1.7 million jobs.
Trump Administration Moves to Gut Program that Helps Small Manufacturers
The administration looks to end the MEP program's funding despite its strong financial return.
www.ien.com
April 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The next target for the Trump administration appears to be MEPs, programs that have had a huge impact on small and mid-sized manufacturers. According to NIST, which oversees the program, MEPs have contributed to $152B in new sales, $34B in savings and more than 1.7 million jobs.
Does the electric truck industry need a clean Slate? The stealthy EV startup has financial backing from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and is reportedly building a $25,000 electric truck.
Bezos-Backed Startup Building $25K Electric Truck
It's reportedly embracing a modular approach to vehicle upgrades.
www.ien.com
April 10, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Does the electric truck industry need a clean Slate? The stealthy EV startup has financial backing from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and is reportedly building a $25,000 electric truck.
Post Consumer Brands President and CEO Nicolas Catoggio says, "The ready-to-eat cereal category continues to decline." So, the company is closing two cereal factories, one in Nevada and another in Ontario. The plants will close by the end of the year, about 300 people will be out of work.
Post to Close Nevada, Ontario Cereal Plants
The facilities employ roughly 300 workers between them.
www.ien.com
April 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Post Consumer Brands President and CEO Nicolas Catoggio says, "The ready-to-eat cereal category continues to decline." So, the company is closing two cereal factories, one in Nevada and another in Ontario. The plants will close by the end of the year, about 300 people will be out of work.
Swiss robot and connector maker Stäubli is expanding U.S. production of connectors used in data centers. The effort has been in the works for more than a year, so likely not tariff motivated. The investment is part of a conscious effort to be closer to customers.
Stäubli Expands U.S. Manufacturing to Make Data Center Connectors in South Carolina
The investment is part of a conscious effort to be closer to North American customers.
www.ien.com
April 10, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Swiss robot and connector maker Stäubli is expanding U.S. production of connectors used in data centers. The effort has been in the works for more than a year, so likely not tariff motivated. The investment is part of a conscious effort to be closer to customers.
State regulations are causing a cannabis packaging crisis and it wouldn't take much (relatively speaking) for everyone to get on the same page. Could save millions in packaging costs for operators.
State Regulations Are Causing a Cannabis Packaging Crisis
Each state needs to follow their own rules. Sometimes they align and sometimes they don’t.
www.cannabisequipmentnews.com
April 9, 2025 at 4:02 PM
State regulations are causing a cannabis packaging crisis and it wouldn't take much (relatively speaking) for everyone to get on the same page. Could save millions in packaging costs for operators.
Harley-Davidson is on the lookout for a new CEO. Jochen Zeitz, who has led the company since February 2020, is retiring. Times are tough for HD, the company saw a 35% drop in revenue in 2024.
Harley-Davidson Is Looking for a New CEO
The motorcycle maker has struggled of late.
www.ien.com
April 9, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Harley-Davidson is on the lookout for a new CEO. Jochen Zeitz, who has led the company since February 2020, is retiring. Times are tough for HD, the company saw a 35% drop in revenue in 2024.
Scott Jordan founder of the Alternative Finance Network recently joined the Cannabis Equipment News podcast to question whether or not President Trump will follow through on cannabis industry relief. He remains hopeful. "We're one executive order away," he says.
Scott Jordan: Will President Trump Follow Through on Cannabis Industry Relief?
"We're one executive order away."
www.cannabisequipmentnews.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Scott Jordan founder of the Alternative Finance Network recently joined the Cannabis Equipment News podcast to question whether or not President Trump will follow through on cannabis industry relief. He remains hopeful. "We're one executive order away," he says.
If you haven't seen it, GM's futuristic 3D-printed concept car is pretty incredible. And the Corvette might be low-volume enough for additive manufacturing to make real financial sense.
GM Envisions a Future with a 3D-Printed Corvette
And it looks incredible.
www.ien.com
April 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
If you haven't seen it, GM's futuristic 3D-printed concept car is pretty incredible. And the Corvette might be low-volume enough for additive manufacturing to make real financial sense.
How many times will you let a travel coffee cup spill on you before you just sever the relationship?
April 7, 2025 at 8:48 PM
How many times will you let a travel coffee cup spill on you before you just sever the relationship?
The fatal fire aboard the 598-foot-long Stride cargo vessel happened because someone bought the wrong valve. When the part failed, oil started "cascading onto operating machinery."
Fatal Fire Happened Because Someone Bought the Wrong Valve
When the part failed, oil started "cascading onto operating machinery."
www.ien.com
February 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The fatal fire aboard the 598-foot-long Stride cargo vessel happened because someone bought the wrong valve. When the part failed, oil started "cascading onto operating machinery."
Eli Lilly plans to more than double its U.S. manufacturing investment. The company expects to create more than 3,000 jobs across four sites.
Lilly to More than Double U.S. Manufacturing Investment
The company expects to create more than 3,000 jobs across four sites.
www.medicaldesigndevelopment.com
February 26, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Eli Lilly plans to more than double its U.S. manufacturing investment. The company expects to create more than 3,000 jobs across four sites.
What can the cannabis industry expect in the first 100 days of the Trump administration? Anthony Coniglio, president of NewLake Capital Partner, says operators need to brace for continued uncertainty for the foreseeable future.
What the Cannabis Industry Can Expect in the First 100 Days of the Trump Administration
Operators and investors should brace for continued uncertainty for the foreseeable future.
www.cannabisequipmentnews.com
February 26, 2025 at 6:15 PM
What can the cannabis industry expect in the first 100 days of the Trump administration? Anthony Coniglio, president of NewLake Capital Partner, says operators need to brace for continued uncertainty for the foreseeable future.
Is the $3 billion impending debt crisis an opportunity for cannabis banking? Kevin Hart from Green Check says there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Hart says cannabis operators "have options" and shouldn't "wait until the end."
Exploring the $3B Debt Challenge: A New Opportunity for Cannabis Banking?
There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
www.cannabisequipmentnews.com
February 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Is the $3 billion impending debt crisis an opportunity for cannabis banking? Kevin Hart from Green Check says there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Hart says cannabis operators "have options" and shouldn't "wait until the end."
RBW EV Cars is opening a factory in Virginia to make iconic sports cars by hand. The build time for each vehicle averages 500 hours.
RBW Opening U.S. Factory to Make Handmade Sports Cars Based on Iconic British Designs
Build times average 500 hours per car.
www.ien.com
February 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
RBW EV Cars is opening a factory in Virginia to make iconic sports cars by hand. The build time for each vehicle averages 500 hours.
Ian Justus spent more than 10 years producing berries for Driscoll's, but he wanted to come to the cannabis industry to learn more about the grower side of indoor farming. "Cannabis is the only crop that is truly economically viable in the current state of indoor farming," Justus says.
Ian Justus: Good Cultivation Boils Down to One Simple Trait
Ian Justus can see and read plants unlike many others.
www.cannabisequipmentnews.com
February 20, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Ian Justus spent more than 10 years producing berries for Driscoll's, but he wanted to come to the cannabis industry to learn more about the grower side of indoor farming. "Cannabis is the only crop that is truly economically viable in the current state of indoor farming," Justus says.
This boat was 3D printed by a robot. And it floats. Cool.
The First Functional Large-Format 3D Printed Monolithic Boat
The 6-meter-long boat was made with robotic 3D printing technology.
www.ien.com
February 20, 2025 at 6:24 PM
This boat was 3D printed by a robot. And it floats. Cool.
The cannabis industry is fired up over the "No Deductions for Marijuana Businesses Act," saying it is a "direct attack" that poses an existential threat to legitimate cannabis businesses.
No Deductions Bill a ‘Direct Attack on Cannabis Industry’
Industry stakeholders say it poses an existential threat to legitimate cannabis businesses.
www.cannabisequipmentnews.com
February 13, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The cannabis industry is fired up over the "No Deductions for Marijuana Businesses Act," saying it is a "direct attack" that poses an existential threat to legitimate cannabis businesses.
Apptronik just raised $350 million to scale humanoid robot production. Google is among the backers fueling the race to develop and deploy humanoid robots at scale. The Austin, TX-based company has a little more than 170 employees and plans to grow the team by over 50% in the next year or so.
Apptronik Raises $350 Million to Scale Humanoid Robot Production
Google among backers fueling race to develop and deploy humanoid robots at scale.
www.ien.com
February 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Apptronik just raised $350 million to scale humanoid robot production. Google is among the backers fueling the race to develop and deploy humanoid robots at scale. The Austin, TX-based company has a little more than 170 employees and plans to grow the team by over 50% in the next year or so.
Arthur E. de Cordova from Ziel: The sooner microbial remediation and decontamination are added to SOPs, the sooner cannabis businesses will flourish, with higher revenue, higher pass rates, higher margins, and more money in their pocket.
Arthur E. de Cordova: Bring Your Microbial Control Challenges Into Compliance
The sooner microbial remediation and decontamination are added to SOPs, the sooner cannabis businesses will flourish.
www.cannabisequipmentnews.com
February 12, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Arthur E. de Cordova from Ziel: The sooner microbial remediation and decontamination are added to SOPs, the sooner cannabis businesses will flourish, with higher revenue, higher pass rates, higher margins, and more money in their pocket.