Good morning, MFGs.

HP is partnering with Firestorm Labs to make manufacturing mobile, putting entire factories inside shipping containers. These self-contained units are designed to 3D print unmanned aerial systems on-demand, directly in remote, frontline locations.

By moving production to the point of need, this "factory in a box" concept could change how defense and disaster relief organizations operate. But will this model for decentralized, on-demand production become a new standard for other critical industries as well?

In today’s MFG recap:

• HP’s plan for frontline factories

• Intel considers a major chip pivot

• DuPont’s greener, recyclable Kevlar

• Foxconn’s India move stalls Apple’s plans

Factory in a Box

MFG NOW: Firestorm Labs is bringing the factory to the frontline through a new partnership with HP. The collaboration puts high-end 3D printing capabilities into mobile containers to produce unmanned aerial systems (UAS) on-demand in remote locations.

Unpacked:

• At the core is the xCell system, a complete manufacturing facility housed inside two expandable 20-foot shipping containers.

• The system is built for off-grid operation, running on generators or battery backups to support military, disaster relief, and humanitarian missions where they happen.

• This approach enables Firestorm Labs to decentralize production, overcome supply chain delays, and produce up to 50 units per month from a single field-deployable cell.

Bottom line: This partnership moves additive manufacturing from a centralized factory setting directly to the point of need. It signals a future where producing critical equipment on-demand can dramatically shorten supply chains for defense and aid organizations.

Intel's Shake-Up

MFG NOW: Intel's new CEO is reportedly considering a major strategic pivot for its chip manufacturing business, potentially abandoning the current 18A process for external clients to focus on the next-generation 14A node.

Unpacked:

• The move is a direct attempt to better compete with industry leader TSMC and woo high-profile customers like Apple or Nvidia.

• This potential shift comes from new chief executive Lip-Bu Tan, who became CEO in March and is tasked with reviving the chipmaker's fortunes.

• Taking this path would be a high-stakes gamble, as shelving external sales of the 18A process would likely cost Intel hundreds of millions of dollars.

Bottom line: This potential pivot signals Intel is willing to accept significant short-term costs for a better shot at long-term leadership in advanced chipmaking. Success with its 14A process could fundamentally alter the competitive landscape, offering a powerful US-based alternative to the world’s top foundries.

Kevlar Gets Greener

MFG NOW: DuPont has launched Kevlar EXO, a next-generation aramid fiber for body armor. The new material is lighter and more durable while being manufactured more sustainably and designed for recycling.

Unpacked:

• Body armour using Kevlar EXO can be made with 30-40% less material because of the fiber's improved strength and durability.

• The new fiber is produced without harmful resins or fluorine-based chemistries, avoiding health concerns tied to persistent substances like PFAS.

• The material is designed for a second life, as manufacturing remnants and end-of-life products are recovered and recycled into new industrial materials.

Bottom line: DuPont is setting a new benchmark for protective equipment, showing that high-performance materials can be both safer and more sustainable. This shift towards designing for disassembly could influence future manufacturing standards and policies across the entire industry.

Apple's India Push Hits a Snag

MFG NOW: Foxconn has recalled hundreds of its Chinese engineers and technicians from its iPhone factories in India. The move creates a potential roadblock for Apple's ambitious plans to scale up production in the country.

Unpacked:

• The departure of over 300 workers is expected to slow the critical transfer of manufacturing skills and advanced technology to the local Indian workforce.

• This development complicates Apple's strategy to grow its Indian manufacturing base, which currently produces around 40 million units annually, or about 15% of its global output.

• While sources indicate product quality will not be impacted, the loss of experienced oversight is likely to reduce assembly line efficiency and potentially increase production costs.

Bottom line: This situation highlights the complex geopolitical and human capital challenges inherent in diversifying global supply chains. It serves as a real-world test of how quickly emerging manufacturing hubs can achieve self-sufficiency without continuous on-the-ground expertise.

The Shortlist

The European Union is funding an €8.5 million project in Türkiye to prepare women for leadership roles in the industry’s green and digital transformation through hands-on training in automation and smart manufacturing technologies.

U.S. factory orders increased 8.2% in May, with a rebound in non-defense capital goods orders signaling renewed business investment in the equipment and machinery that drive factory automation.

Creighton University reported its Mid-America Business Conditions Index saw continued slow growth and job losses, with supply managers expecting input prices to climb 7.5% in 2025 due to tariffs and inflation.