“The proof of our success was that the airplanes we built operated under tight secrecy for eight to ten years before the government even acknowledged their existence.”
– Ben R. Rich, Skunk Works
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1. Mazak Builds Their 40,000th Machine
Mazak just hit a major milestone, launching its 40,000th machine at the iSmart Factory in Florence, Kentucky. Along with the celebration, Mazak announced plans for a new Phoenix Technical Center to support industries like aerospace and semiconductors. From spindle rebuilds to Smooth CNC tech, Mazak keeps proving it’s in this race for the long haul.
2. Robots Do Heavy Lifting; Humans Keep It Real
Hyundai’s new $7.6 billion Georgia EV plant invested in 750 robots and robot dogs (plus hundreds of automated guided vehicles) – but people still do the critical jobs machines can’t, like finishing metal, checking fits, and spotting flaws. The 2-to-1 human-to-robot ratio is far leaner than the U.S. auto average, and the factory will employ 8,500 people by 2031. Hyundai says it’s about maximizing human potential, not replacing it.
3. United Is Serious About Going Supersonic
…With the help of Astro Mechanica, of course. United Airlines Ventures quietly invested in the startup and its forthcoming Duality propulsion system, which can shift from turbofan to turbojet to ramjet. Think runway liftoff to speeds faster than Mach 3 without using multistage rockets. This engine tech is being developed for defense first, then commercial. But hey, defense field testing proves a technology viable for trickling down to the consumer grade.
4. Arizona’s Silicon Gold Rush
TSMC’s Arizona fabs are on fast-forward thanks to U.S. demand from AI-hungry giants like Nvidia, Apple, and AMD. Originally slated for 2025, high-volume production began in late 2024, with a second fab moved up nearly a year. The roadmap now pulls advanced 2-nm and even 1.6-nm nodes into the United States by 2028, four quarters earlier than planned.
5. Two Floors — No Framing Needed
Contec Australia 3D printed a two-story home in Perth in only 18 hours – which they achieved by skipping the lumber frame entirely! Using a CyBe robot and a concrete mix stronger than brick, the shell went up fast, though finishing still took five months. The result: a cyclone-rated house that resists fires and termites, and has three bedrooms, two baths, and a garage – plenty of space to show off its mix of clean lines and ribbed walls. Best part? It costs about 22% less than traditional constructions.
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