Tour of Manufacturing Showcases Innovation and Careers in Central Minnesota

The 14th annual Tour of Manufacturing (Oct. 1–4) will open 24 Central Minnesota companies to the public, highlighting career opportunities and modern technologies. Local stops include Glenn Metalcraft’s new 140,000-square-foot Princeton facility, featuring advanced equipment and employee-focused amenities. The event aims to dispel outdated stereotypes about manufacturing, showing clean, safe, and high-tech workplaces.

Organized by CMMA, the tour also honors Two Rivers Enterprises as 2024 Manufacturer of the Year while promoting education and workforce development.

Insight: S&P 500 Industrials moved up 0.7% over the past week, reflecting positive sentiment in the manufacturing sector.

🧊 Minnesota’s “Coolest Thing” Reaches the Elite Eight

Head-to-head matchups feature SPAM, Cirrus SR G7+, Polaris MRZR, Toro GrandStand, ATZ Trackchair, Duluth Pack, Vistabule, and NorthUp Sauna. Public voting (four votes per person) is open this week; the winner will be announced Oct 7, 2025, spotlighting Minnesota manufacturing.
Read the full story at Yahoo.com ➜

⚖️ US Tariff Probes Target Robotics, Machinery, and Medical Gear - What's Next for Manufacturing?

The US Commerce Department is investigating imports of robotics, industrial machinery, and medical devices, potentially adding new tariffs. This could raise production costs and impact manufacturers’ bottom lines.
Read the full story at Bloomberg.com ➜

🏭 Central States Boosts Manufacturing Job Market with New Plant Opening in Utah

Central States Inc. has opened a new 100,000-sq-ft metal manufacturing facility in Tooele, Utah, its 13th and westernmost site. The plant will create 90+ jobs and produce roof panels, trim, structural purlin, and the proprietary Alpha Framing System.
Read the full story at Manufacturing.net ➜

🤖 Lear Partners with Palantir for Manufacturing Efficiency Boost! Find Out How You Can Revolutionize Your Operations Too!

Lear Corp. has signed a 5-year deal to deploy Palantir’s AI-powered “Warp Speed” system across global operations, enhancing supply chain, quality, and automation. The partnership builds on Lear’s IDEA program, which has already saved $30M in 2025.
Read the full story at SupplyChainDive.com ➜

Insight: Raw materials prices increased significantly, indicating rising input costs and potential margin pressure for manufacturers.

Source: Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)

The Factory Wire delivers the week's most important manufacturing news and insights directly to industry decision-makers. Forward this newsletter to colleagues who need to stay informed about manufacturing trends: TheFactoryWire.com

Follow us on, LinkedIn → @TheFactoryWire

See you next week,

The Factory Wire