🤖 Advanced Manufacturing #16

This week in Advanced Manufacturing, Changan inaugurated its Rayong EV hub in Thailand, set to double capacity to 200,000 units by 2027 across five advanced workshops, highlighting rising skilled labor demand in sustainable and high-volume manufacturing. Rheinmetall announced a $536M defence facility in Telford, creating 400 jobs and revitalizing UK defence manufacturing capabilities. Nikon SLM Solutions and Bosch’s $6.8M additive manufacturing investments underscore expanding workforce needs in advanced technologies.

Upskilling efforts are gaining momentum as NSW launched its Future Fleet Program to boost rail manufacturing and jobs, with a target of at least 50% locally manufactured components. Kerala introduced advanced drone pilot training to prepare youth for aerospace and defense careers. Victoria’s Skills Solutions Program offers grants for industry and educational institutions to co-develop training aligned with advanced manufacturing and technology sector needs. On the policy front, Trumpf secured $2.5M from Connecticut’s Strategic Supply Chain Initiative to expand smart manufacturing and workforce development, strengthening US-Germany advanced manufacturing collaboration.

Thanks for reading!

Not a subscriber yet?

Advanced Manufacturing Labor Market Trends

⚡Changan Opens EV Manufacturing Hub in Thailand with 200,000-Unit Capacity by 2027. Changan’s Rayong plant features five advanced workshops for welding, painting, assembly, engine, and battery production focused on high-quality EV manufacturing. The facility’s capacity will increase from 100,000 to 200,000 units by 2027, supplying global markets and supporting Changan’s localization strategy. This expansion highlights the growing demand for skilled labor in sustainable, high-volume advanced manufacturing across emerging regions.

🏭 Rheinmetall to Open $536M Defence Manufacturing Facility in Telford, Creating 400 Jobs. Rheinmetall will invest $536 million in an advanced large-calibre barrel production facility in Telford, reviving a key UK defence manufacturing capability lost in 2016. Set to begin production by 2027, the facility will create 400 direct and supply chain jobs. It will use British steel and advanced manufacturing technologies to support UK and allied defence programs, reinforcing workforce demand in the defence manufacturing sector.

🚀 Nikon SLM Solutions Drives Defense Manufacturing with Advanced 3D Printing Technology. Nikon SLM Solutions' deployment of the NXG 600E 3D printer with ATI and BPMI is accelerating the need for a highly skilled workforce in additive manufacturing, reflecting broader labor market trends in advanced manufacturing. Industrial players such as Bosch investing $6.8M  in a new additive manufacturing facility, and Veeco, advancing semiconductor production efficiency, illustrates broader industry trends toward advanced technologies and shifting workforce demands.

The US Chemical Manufacturing Sector Employed Nearly 250K People in 2024

🏭 Despite automation trends, hands-on operational roles continue to dominate the workforce, particularly in states like Texas, Louisiana, and Ohio, where chemical production is heavily concentrated.

🛠️ Chemical equipment operators and tenders made up the largest segment, accounting for nearly half of total employment at 116,700 workers.

📉 Lab technicians and quality control roles accounted for a much smaller share, underscoring the sector’s emphasis on high-volume production over in-house research or product development.

Upskilling/Reskilling Initiatives

🔧 NSW Launches Future Fleet Program to Boost Rail Manufacturing and Jobs. Transport for NSW has begun consultations for its Future Fleet Program, which aims to replace 450 Tangara train carriages with at least 50% locally manufactured content, with procurement set to begin by 2027. The program is designed to strengthen Australia’s rail manufacturing capabilities, generate long-term skilled jobs and apprenticeships, and support a sustainable pipeline of talent for the advanced manufacturing workforce.

🏭 Kerala Launches Advanced Drone Pilot Training to Empower Youth. ASAP Kerala, in collaboration with Anna University’s DGCA-approved Centre for Aerospace Research, has inaugurated an advanced drone pilot training program at Rajadhani Engineering College, Nagaroor. Aimed at bridging education and employment gaps, this initiative prepares the youth for careers in sectors such as agriculture and national defense, with plans underway to establish a Centre of Excellence in Thrissur to further expand drone training and skill development opportunities.

🤝 New Victorian Skills Round Targets Industry-Led Training Innovation. The Victorian Government has opened Round 2 of its Skills Solutions Partnerships Program, offering up to $500,000 in matched grants for training pilots in emerging sectors such as advanced manufacturing, defence, and digital technologies. This initiative supports designing and delivering new short courses and on-the-job training to meet evolving workforce needs in priority and emerging sectors through collaboration between businesses and TAFEs or dual sector universities.

Policy Initiatives

🏭 Trumpf Secures $2.5M to Boost Smart Manufacturing in Connecticut. Trumpf Inc. has been awarded $2.5 million through Connecticut’s Strategic Supply Chain Initiative to expand its smart manufacturing facility in Farmington, Connecticut. The funding supports the installation of a press-brake production line, enhancing localized high-precision manufacturing and supply chain resilience. It supports workforce development through training and apprenticeship programs, aligning with Connecticut’s broader industrial strategy, reinforcing advanced manufacturing collaboration between the United States and Germany.

Like getting this newsletter? Request a demo for unlimited access to over one million charts

Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
Have some feedback or suggestions? Let us know at hello@holoniq.com