The event brought together manufacturers, integrators, and technology leaders to explore advancements in automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing. During the show, Bossard demonstrated how connected assembly solutions can help manufacturers improve efficiency, enhance quality, and increase visibility across production operations.

Addressing evolving assembly demands

As OEMs continue to navigate challenges such as paper-based work instructions, extended training cycles, high-mix production environments, and quality variability, Bossard’s exhibit focused on how digital, guided assembly approaches can support more consistent and adaptable operations.

“If you can’t control the process, you can’t control the outcome,” said Steve Prostinak, New Business Development Manager for Bossard Americas. “At Automate, we showed how guided assembly and connected tools can help standardize work, reduce errors, and provide greater transparency into what’s happening on the line.”

Hands-on technology experience

Visitors to Booth #34008 experienced live demonstrations of Bossard’s Smart Factory Assembly system, including IoT-enabled tools with integrated digital torque control designed to support traceable assembly processes. The setup illustrated how connected workstations can integrate with robotics, smart cameras, and automated production environments.

The booth also featured interactive stations highlighting:

• Smart Factory Assembly – Digital, step-by-step work instructions aimed at improving accuracy, consistency, and onboarding efficiency
• Smart Factory Logistics – A connected, AI-supported inventory management approach designed to help ensure component availability
• Build Your Own SWAG – A hands-on activity offering a practical look at guided assembly concepts in action

Throughout the event, Bossard specialists engaged with attendees on topics including kitting and assembly solutions, engineering support, and IoT-enabled tool integration, with a focus on traceability, quality control, and continuous improvement. Bossard’s participation at Automate 2026 reflected its continued focus on supporting manufacturers as they adapt to increasing complexity in assembly and supply chain operations.

Missed us at Automate?

Manufacturers who were unable to attend Automate 2026 can still explore Bossard’s Smart Factory approach by visiting www.bossard.com or connecting with a regional expert to learn how connected assembly and logistics solutions are being applied to improve efficiency, visibility, and quality across production environments.

About Bossard

Bossard is a leading provider of industrial fastening and assembly solutions, offering over one million products to OEM customers worldwide. With nearly 200 years of engineering expertise, Bossard supports customers in optimizing production processes and improving operational efficiency. The company employs more than 3,300 people across 33 countries. Visit www.bossard.com.

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GM is no stranger to defense. It has been involved since World War I, when it pivoted its manufacturing facilities to produce vehicles, engines, aircraft, and ammunition for the war efforts.

The arrangement comes in the wake of President Trump invoking the voluntary agreement provision under the Defense Production Act, which allows the federal government to work with companies “to help provide for the national defense.” The Department of Defense backed the deal.

Together, the two companies will combine expertise, Lockheed’s defense production capacity, and GM Defense’s advanced industrial capabilities and higher production rates in commercial manufacturing and engineering, though plans have yet to be fully disclosed. Over the coming weeks, the companies are expected to identify initial projects to pursue to meet the growing demand for increased production capacity in the defense supply chain. The goal is to accelerate production capacity while maintaining quality and performance standards that meet the needs of the sector.

“America’s security depends not only on developing advanced technologies, but on our ability to produce them quickly, reliably and at scale,” Lockheed COO Frank St. John said in a statement.

Voluntary agreements like these are a way for the Department of Defense to work with the industry to address specific pain points by bringing industry expertise together to solve them in an open and competitive way. More voluntary agreements are expected as the demand for weapons continues to grow.

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The merger will increase scale, scope, and chlorine flexibility that will drive value “across markets and cycles,” according to a joint press release, combining Olin’s manufacturing and feedstock capabilities with Huntsman’s downstream products to better scale with its customers across the value chain.

The new operation will leverage lower-cost producer economics for improved profitability and opportunities that would not have been possible on their own. Together, the companies have identified over $400 million in savings and increased efficiencies through the merger, which includes $300 million in potential savings in the first two years and another $100 million of raw material integration benefits down the road.

Once the merger is closed, OlinHuntsman will reshuffle its leadership team with Olin’s Ken Lane serving as CEO and Peter Huntsman serving as the non-executive Chairman of the company’s board of directors. Huntsman CFO Phil Lister will serve in the same role for the combined company and Olin CFO Todd Slater will serve as Chief Integration Officer.

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The plant is currently under construction and is expected to be fully operational by 2028. The facility is part of a previous plan to invest $55 billion in its U.S. manufacturing footprint, R&D capacity, and technology across its drug and device segments through 2029. The plan was to build four new manufacturing plants as well as expand existing sites to increase capacity to make medicines and medical devices in the U.S.

The Jacksonville investment will further support the construction of a distribution facility as well as the installation of manufacturing and packaging technologies that will strengthen the company’s supply chain.

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The two entities will also work together to devise a new strategy to expand Corning’s fiber-optic technician training program with Catawba Valley Community College, which is proximate to its Hickory, North Carolina campus, to prepare students for careers in fiber optics manufacturing and other related technical fields through training and classes.

In January, Corning signed a multiyear $6 billion agreement with Meta Platforms to expand its manufacturing capabilities across its North Carolina facilities. Ground broke on an expansion at its Hickory site in April. According to a press release, Corning’s optical cable factory in Hickory will benefit from “significant capacity expansion,” where Meta will serve as the anchor customer, leveraging its optical fiber, cable, and connectivity products to support Meta’s data centre build-out.

Corning’s North Carolina campus also benefitted from a $500 million agreement with Nvidia that seeks to expand domestic manufacturing of the advanced optical connectivity products needed to power new AI-powered infrastructure, according to a press release.

This agreement will see Corning expand its optical connectivity manufacturing capacity by 10 times while expanding its U.S. fiber production capacity by more than 50 percent to meet demand. The plan is to build three new advanced manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Texas, creating more than 3,000 jobs.

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