Latest news with #BringItHome
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Ros Tapestry back in Wexford after four year stint in Kilkenny
The exhibition is now open at the Waterfront (opposite the Dunbrody visitor centre), in New Ross, having been returned from Kilkenny Castle where it was on loan and was brought to a wider audience over the past four years. The Bring it Home campaign was started by the Board of the Ros Tapestry to raise funds for the development of its new location, which is now open to visitors. The Festival will include free tours of Medieval New Ross and entrance to guided tours of the Ros Tapestry. The stitchers' workshop will also be open for viewing for those who wish to see the stitchers at work and learn about the making of the tapestry. The exhibition will be officially opened in the evening by New Ross native, Prof. Briona Nic Dhiarmada, writer and producer of From That Small Island series. The Ros Tapestry was the brain-child of Rev. Paul Mooney of St Mary's church, in 1998. It was inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry which portrays the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The panels were created from cartoons painted by local artist Ann Bernstorff, which were painstakingly traced onto Jacobean linen. The stitchers then choose the stitches and colours that reflect the cartoon drawings bringing the tale of our Norman past to life. The stitching of the panels has been done over the past 27 years by 180 volunteer stitchers, and commenting on their work, the Chairperson of New Ross Needlecraft, Mary Lou O'Kennedy said 'their dedication and love of the craft is evident in each and every one of the panels.' Guided tours will take place on the day of the Bring it Home festival, free of charge, and hourly from 11am to 2pm which will included a visit to the various sites throughout the town that are referred to in the Ros Tapestry, led by history guru, Myles Courtney. There will also be a special viewing from 11am to 12pm for those who wish to see the tapestry stitchers at work in their workshop at 14 The Quay. "This exhibition has been made possible by the private donations and sponsorship received for the Bring It Home campaign fund-raising events and the Bring It Home GoFundMe page. Additionally, we received loan funding from Clann Credo Community Loan Finance, without whom it would not have been possible,' Ms O'Kennedy said. 'This festival celebrates all those who have created the Ros Tapestry, telling the tale of medieval New Ross and the South-East of Ireland. It has been created by the voluntary work of the stitchers and the board members who have served as guardians and managers of the Ros Tapestry, its stitching and exhibition, and the planning for its permanent home which will be in the new Norman Centre in New Ross, which is under development,' she added. This festival is funded through Fáilte Ireland in partnership with Wexford County Council under the Festival Grant Scheme 2025. Booking at info@ or 087 3720274, is essential for both tours during the Bring it Home festival.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How GM + Nvidia are changing the face of the automotive industry
General Motors is making significant strides in revolutionizing its manufacturing processes through a new partnership with chipmaker Nvidia. Announced in March, the collaboration aims to harness the power of artificial intelligence to enhance automation, cut costs and improve efficiency across GM's factories. At the heart of this partnership is Nvidia's advanced computing technology, which GM is leveraging to build custom AI systems for its manufacturing operations. The automaker is using Nvidia Omniverse with Cosmos to create digital twins of its assembly lines, allowing for virtual testing and simulation of production processes before physical implementation. This is JP Hampstead, co-host with Craig Fuller of the Bring It Home podcast. Welcome to the 25th edition of our newsletter, where we go deep into one of the largest-scale tech-industrial partnerships in the automotive industry. 'Using digital twins, we simulate a running production line before it's constructed, optimizing our planning process and allowing us to scale faster while saving time and money,' explained JP Clausen, GM's executive VP of global manufacturing and sustainability. 'It also helps our team members identify and solve problems more effectively.'These digital simulations enable GM to test and refine new production processes without disrupting existing vehicle manufacturing, a critical advantage as the company balances production of both traditional combustion engines and electric vehicles. The partnership extends to training robotics platforms for operations such as material handling, transport and precision welding. Through a combination of AI and machine learning, GM has developed systems that can identify potential issues in manufacturing, such as leaks in battery packs, allowing for quick repairs and supporting quality control. The automotive industry, led by companies like GM, remains the largest user of industrial robots in America. According to Brookings Institute data, nearly half of the 233,305 industrial robots in the United States are employed in auto manufacturing. Michigan, home to GM's headquarters, accounts for nearly 28,000 robots — approximately 12% of the nation's total. Detroit, in particular, stands out as the robot capital of America, with more than three times the number of industrial robots compared to other metropolitan areas. By 2015, the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area had 15,115 industrial robots in place, or 8.5 per 1,000 workers, a significant increase from 5,753 robots in high concentration of automation has contributed to a dramatic shift in GM's workforce composition over decades. In 1979, GM employed 468,000 American hourly workers, representing 76% of its U.S. workforce. By 2021, that number had dropped to just 45,000 American hourly workers, or 46% of the company's domestic workforce. GM's innovation hub, the Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, employs approximately 24,000 people with an average annual salary of $120,000. This facility has become central to developing the company's AI-driven manufacturing technologies. Using both robotics and proprietary AI tools, GM has implemented systems to inspect welds and paint coats, identifying irregularities and anomalies that might affect vehicle quality. This technology not only improves product quality but also enhances workplace safety by automating potentially hazardous tasks. 'We're using AI and advanced software to help our team minimize ergonomic stressors, enable workplace safety and enhance quality in our manufacturing plants,' notes Clausen. 'Investing in our current and future workforce with better technology helps ensure that our teams have the skills and tools needed as we continue to evolve our manufacturing footprint to meet customer demand.' GM's automation advancements come at a critical time as the company navigates challenges in electric vehicle production. In October 2023, GM announced delays in the production of electric trucks, including the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, pushing the start date at its Orion Assembly plant from 2024 to late 2025. The company cited the need to 'align its capital investments with electric vehicle demand and implement vehicle engineering improvements to boost profitability' as reasons for the delay. GM's partnership with Nvidia aims to address these challenges by improving engineering efficiency and manufacturing processes. Engineers collaborate in real time on digital twins of manufacturing robotics using Nvidia's Omniverse. (Photo: Nvidia) Despite production delays, GM maintains ambitious plans, projecting to have more than 1 million units of EV capacity in North America by the end of 2025 and to convert 50% of its North American assembly capacity to EV production by automation raises concerns about job displacement, GM emphasizes that AI is being implemented to enhance, not replace, its workforce. The company describes its approach as 'people-centric,' using AI to help employees avoid ergonomic stressors and improve workplace safety. 'It's not about automating everything or building more vehicles faster — our winning formula is driven by a combination of flexible manufacturing, advanced technology, and a talented workforce,' states Clausen. Nevertheless, GM's transformation from 'automaker to platform innovator' suggests a continuing shift toward higher-skilled, technology-focused employment. In its presentation to investors titled 'From Automaker to Platform Innovator,' GM projected that software and new business ventures would grow from $2 billion to $80 billion by 2030, indicating a future in which salaried professionals may increasingly outnumber traditional manufacturing workers. The Nvidia partnership positions GM to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven automotive landscape. Jensen Huang, Nvidia's founder and CEO, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: 'The era of physical AI is here, and together with GM, we're transforming transportation, from vehicles to the factories where they're made.' GM plans to build next-generation vehicles on Nvidia DRIVE AGX, based on the Nvidia Blackwell architecture, delivering up to 1,000 trillion operations per second of high-performance compute. This technology will not only power manufacturing but also enhance future advanced driver-assistance systems and in-cabin safety features. As automotive manufacturing continues to advance, GM's strategic investments in AI and robotics may provide a competitive edge. The company has maintained its position as the U.S. sales leader for three consecutive years through 2024, offering what it describes as 'the broadest portfolio of electric vehicles in the industry,' with plans to expand to a dozen EV models by the end of 2025. 'The era of physical AI is here.' – Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO (Image: Fortune Business Insights) GlobalFoundries Announces $16B U.S. Investment to Reshore Essential Chip Manufacturing and Accelerate AI Growth GlobalFoundries (NASDAQ: GFS) (GF), working with the Trump administration and with support from leading technology companies aiming to onshore critical components of their supply chain, has announced plans to invest $16 billion to expand its semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging capabilities across its facilities in New York and Vermont. GF's investment is a strategic response to the explosive growth in artificial intelligence, which is accelerating demand for next-generation semiconductors designed for power efficiency and high-bandwidth performance across data centers, communications infrastructure and AI-enabled devices. Kraft Heinz confirms $3B investment in US manufacturing Kraft Heinz will spend $3 billion on its U.S. manufacturing facilities, the company confirmed to Food Dive. It's the largest investment in its plants in decades. Pedro Navio, president of Kraft Heinz's North America operations, told Reuters earlier this month that planned investments could add 3,500 employees to the Lunchables producer's workforce. Rolls-Royce to invest $24 million in US manufacturing Rolls-Royce has announced a $24 million U.S. investment that will more than double production of backup power generation systems for data centers and create more than 100 new jobs in the U.S. The investment includes a new 250,000ft2 Logistics Operations Centre adjacent to the existing manufacturing facility in Mankato, Minnesota. It will enable Rolls-Royce to increase production capacity for its mtu Series 4000 generator sets, which are in high demand from the rapidly growing data center industry. The post How GM + Nvidia are changing the face of the automotive industry appeared first on FreightWaves. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bonus depreciation for manufacturing plants now!
President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful' budget bill could dramatically accelerate investments in domestic manufacturing by allowing companies to fully depreciate their production facilities in the first year, but the bill is under threat in Congress from Republicans concerned about its impact on the federal debt. One of the keys of the bill is its revolutionary way of applying bonus depreciation to the construction of entire buildings involved in production and manufacturing, not just upgrades or new equipment – it's tailored to boost reshoring and industrial production. This is JP Hampstead, co-host with Craig Fuller of the Bring It Home podcast. Welcome to the 24th edition of our newsletter, which is all about the current federal budget reconciliation bill and how it could affect reindustrialization. Whoever coined the term 'budget reconciliation,' in crafting the 1974 Budget Reform Act, deserves an award for articulating a paradox that accurately depicts the current process in Congress. The paradox of budget reconciliation is that budgets are contentious, fluid and divisive moving targets, whereas 'reconciliation' means coming together on a mutually agreeable, consensus outcome. The two terms collide when fiscal reality, which has chased the tail of all members' worthy goals and projects, catches up and forces them to limit their tension between fiscal discipline and political priorities has never been more apparent than in the current congressional debates over Trump's budget reconciliation bill – what he has called 'one big, beautiful bill.' As lawmakers wrestle with competing priorities, the fundamental challenge remains: how to balance ambitious policy goals with the sobering reality of America's fiscal situation. Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz) The GOP's debt concerns The fiscal impact of Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' has become a significant political concern among Republican lawmakers who have made little progress toward offsetting the $3 trillion projected cost of the legislation. Some GOP senators fear the bill's failure to rein in federal spending in a substantial way over the next decade is fueling jitters in the bond market, where soft demand for U.S. debt has caused yields to climb in recent Thomas Massie, R-Ky., one of only two Republicans to vote against the bill in the House, called it a 'debt bomb ticking,' warning it 'dramatically increases deficits in the near term' while promising fiscal reforms 'five years from now.' Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., echoed these concerns, citing rising interest rates: 'I think we're having trouble selling our long bonds already.' The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield rose to 5.15% after the House passed the massive package, its highest level since October 2023. Christopher Waller, a member of the Federal Reserve board of governors, said 'markets are looking for a little more fiscal discipline' and called yearly deficits of more than $2 trillion 'not sustainable.' Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has been particularly vocal, warning colleagues that Trump and Republican lawmakers will 'wholly own' future federal deficits if they enact the legislation without making significant changes to offset costs. 'The anticipated deficits per year now will be $2 trillion a year for the next two years,' Paul noted, adding that 'these will be GOP spending bills, GOP deficits, and there is no change in the direction of the country.' Defense, research and 100% depreciation Despite these concerns, the reconciliation bill contains several provisions aimed at stimulating economic growth, particularly in the manufacturing and defense sectors. The bill would provide a $150 billion boost to defense spending, of which $24.7 billion is designated for construction of the 'Golden Dome' missile defense shield proposed by the president in January. On the tax front, the bill would reintroduce tax rules allowing companies to fully deduct domestic research costs in the year they occurred, reversing a rule introduced in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that requires companies to spread the deduction of R&D costs over five years. The National Association of Manufacturers has praised the bill, with President and CEO Jay Timmons stating it 'brings us closer to the vision of a 15% effective tax rate for manufacturers.' The bill also includes a qualified production property deduction that allows taxpayers to claim a 100% depreciation allowance for property used in manufacturing, production or refining. This provision effectively enables immediate expensing of new buildings or plants, which tax experts view as Ways and Means' interpretation of Trump's promise to reduce corporate tax rates for companies that manufacture domestically. Additionally, the bill addresses three major provisions from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: It would increase the bonus depreciation rate to 100% for qualifying property placed in service between January 2025 and January 2030; temporarily suspend the requirement to capitalize domestic research and experimentation expenses for tax years 2025-2029; and reinstate the more favorable limitation on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for business interest deductions during the same considerations Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has acknowledged that members of the Senate GOP conference will push for more deficit reduction in the bill. However, many of the proposals to cut spending already face opposition from other Republican senators, creating a significant challenge for passage. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., have warned against Medicaid reforms that would reduce benefits or threaten the finances of rural hospitals. Similarly, Murkowski, Moran and Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Curtis, R-Utah, have expressed concerns about the sudden repeal of renewable energy tax breaks and incentives, arguing they would destabilize the clean energy industry and potentially lead to job losses. With a 53-seat majority, Senate Republicans can only afford to lose three votes and still pass the bill. This narrow margin gives any group of four senators significant leverage to demand changes, creating a delicate balancing act for leadership. The paradox of budget reconciliation continues to play out in Congress, with lawmakers struggling to reconcile ambitious policy goals with fiscal constraints. The much-sought golden age of prosperity through prudent fiscal management remains elusive, as political pressures continually push against meaningful deficit reduction. As Don Wolfensberger, a 28-year congressional staff veteran, observed, 'Deficits will continue to climb, government spending will continue to grow, and false savings will continue to be fabricated. The paradox of budgeting is that its shifting parameters will never be reconciled with utopian grand fixes.' The stark reality is that entitlement benefits, where the real money is, remain politically untouchable. 'Chairman Smith and the Ways and Means Committee are delivering what manufacturers in America have called for and what our industry needs to compete and win. The 2017 tax reforms were rocket fuel for manufacturers – driving job growth, higher wages and investment in communities. This bill brings us closer to the vision of a 15% effective tax rate for manufacturers that President Trump and I discussed in 2016.' – National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons, in a May 12 press release Kraft Heinz confirms $3B investment in US manufacturing Kraft Heinz will spend $3 billion on its U.S. manufacturing facilities, the company confirmed to Food Dive. It's the largest investment in its plants in decades. Pedro Navio, president of Kraft Heinz's North America operations, told Reuters recently that planned investments could add 3,500 employees to the Lunchables producer's workforce. Part of Kraft Heinz's investment includes a $400 million distribution center in DeKalb, Illinois, that is set to create 60 jobs, a transaction first announced in 2023. Energy company Carrier to invest additional $1 billion in US manufacturing Carrier Global, a provider of intelligent climate and energy solutions, has revealed plans to invest an additional $1 billion over five years in U.S. manufacturing, innovation and workforce expansion. Carrier says the investment is 'incremental to its ongoing commitments to American operations' and is expected to create 4,000 highly skilled jobs in R&D, manufacturing and field service. US industrial production stalled in April U.S. industrial output stalled in April after contracting a month earlier, the Federal Reserve said Thursday, with a decline in manufacturing counteracted by growth in electricity and gas production. The data covers the period of time when Trump imposed his sweeping 'Liberation Day' tariffs, which have lifted levies substantially above their historical average for most countries. U.S. industrial production was 'little changed' last month after contracting 0.3% in March, the Fed said in a statement. The post Bonus depreciation for manufacturing plants now! appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
Ya Libnan
15-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Libnan
Time to Bring iPhone Manufacturing Back to America, Op-Ed
Photo: Steve Jobs the champion of the iPhone concept By : Ya Libnan – Op-Ed series : 'Bring It Home: Rebuilding America's Manufacturing Power' Key Points : Apple — the symbolic heart of American innovation that builds abroad. President Donald Trump is once again raising the right question: Why isn't Apple — one of the richest and most powerful companies in the world — making its iPhones in the United States? Apple has long claimed that moving iPhone manufacturing to the U.S. is impractical or too costly. But that argument doesn't hold water. What's really at stake is profit margins — not practicality. And if America is serious about rebuilding its economic backbone, it's time to stop making excuses and start making things again. Some quoted Apple as saying that it takes around 20 hours to assemble an iPhone — but that number includes automated processes. The real manual labor? It takes less than one hour of human hands to put together an iPhone. Even at American wages, that labor would only add $20 to $40 to the cost of each device. That's a small price to pay for rebuilding an industry, restoring pride in American craftsmanship, and giving jobs to American workers. For decades, the U.S. sent its manufacturing overseas, chasing cheap labor and bigger profits. In the process, we lost factories, skills, and the dignity of building things with our own hands. Whole towns were hollowed out. Generations grew up without ever seeing what a thriving local factory looks like. Apple is a symbol of American innovation. But what good is innovation if it's always built somewhere else? It's time to match great ideas with great American manufacturing — and to bring back the jobs, training, and supply chains that made the U.S. an industrial powerhouse. This isn't just about Apple — it's about the country's long-term economic strength. A nation that can't make its own goods will always be at the mercy of those who can. The more we outsource, the more we lose our leverage, our independence, and our ability to shape our future. America should not just be a consumer of high-tech products — it should be the maker of them. If we don't control the production, we don't control the future. Apple benefits enormously from being an American company. It enjoys strong legal protections, tax advantages, and a massive U.S. customer base. Yet it gives very little back in terms of jobs or industrial investment at home. That's not just a missed opportunity — it's a moral failure. If Apple sells iPhones to American consumers, it should build them with American workers. The company can afford it. The country needs it. And the message it would send — that America can make world-class products again — is priceless. President Trump is right to push for American-made iPhones. This is about more than one company — it's about rebuilding a national culture of production, pride, and independence. Let Apple lead by example. Let America remember how to build. It's time to turn 'Designed in California' into 'Designed and Made in the USA.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Design flaws undercut law to bring chip manufacturing back to US, expert says
On the most recent Bring It Home Podcast, host JP Hampstead spoke with Julius Krein, founder and editor-in-chief of American Affairs, about U.S. industrial policy post-CHIPS Act. The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 aims to bring microchip manufacturing back to the U.S. after several decades of companies offshoring the technology. According to a report by the Council on Foreign Relations – a nonpartisan think tank headquartered in New York – the U.S. produced 40% of the world's semiconductor supply in 1990. Today, the U.S. produces only 12% as Taiwan has ramped up to over 60% of the world's supply of semiconductors. Krein dove into the historical context, challenges and prospects of America's industrial strategy. He described U.S. industrial policy as targeted interventions aimed at boosting specific sectors to improve economic competitiveness and national security. He also critiqued traditional views that often portray such policies as economic externality management, arguing instead that U.S. industrial policy should strategically lower the cost of capital for essential projects to boost growth. Krein said the CHIPS Act has had its limitations, pointing out its short-term focus and lack of a mechanism for ongoing policy adjustments. He said that mechanism would be vital for the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. semiconductor industry. 'I think the CHIPS Act was necessary,' Krein said. 'But in sort of design and execution, I think it had two problems: one in terms of policy design, one in terms of more framing and rhetoric.' 'I think it's a critical sector, but I'd like to think or at least hope that we could do both a lot better on policy design as well as kind of building a larger framework and ecosystem for all of these projects,' he continued. Other headlines discussed in this episode included: Recent announcements of large investments by tech conglomerates in the U.S., including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s commitment to extending its semiconductor manufacturing operations with a $100 billion investment. Apple's intention to expand its U.S. manufacturing footprint with a $500 billion investment, focusing on enhancing its supply network. The Stargate project, a joint venture by OpenAI, Softbank and Oracle aimed at developing AI infrastructure with a $500 billion pledge, reflecting broader trends toward investing in AI as a catalyst for new business models. Bring It Home dives into emerging industry trends and the push for reindustrialization in North America. The podcast is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The post Design flaws undercut law to bring chip manufacturing back to US, expert says appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
