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The Manufacturing Outlook: Specials Magazine
Data is becoming all the more relevant in all parts of the daily business. In SKF data plays a major role also in manufacturing, allowing all parts of the manufacturing process to be linked, from engineering to the customer. Here Patrik Dahlman, SKF Director Manufacturing & Process Development shares how SKF is modernising its process for a smart manufacturing. The SKF super-precision app enables users to access relevant data simply by scanning a QR code. Unique data for the specific bearing and its configurations are all there, including when and where a bearing was manufactured. It’s a neat example of the impact data is having on modern manufacturing, where the data needed to simplify the customers’, business is easily available. The super-precision app – and other applications like it - are enabling SKF to share and gather data on a scale like never before. Solutions like these are vital tools in the construction of what we call the digital thread. Digital thread for SKF in manufacturing is to be considered in two ways. The vertical integration which brings data from the infrastructure through controls systems and all the way to ERP systems, where the main purpose is to get the data and use it to control and improve manufacturing operations. This vertical integration is then connected to the horizontal integration which creates a connection of the entire value chain from engineering, through suppliers, manufacturing and distribution to the customer. It enables data to be matched all the way from the engineering process through to manufacturing, the customer and then all the way back again. The data is elevating our understanding of SKF customer’s applications, which in turn enables us to greatly improve our design and processes to create optimised solutions. Connecting data at the customer application delivers insights into variations of factors like rotation or heat, creating understanding that enables us to deliver application specific products
Manufacturing Packaging
INNVESTIO Group
Top Digital Printing and Finishing Solutions in Europe 2026
Dimitrios Spyropoulos, Group Commercial Director
Printing and packaging growth is often measured by the next machine a manufacturer brings in. Yet the stronger question comes before any purchase. Will the investment make the business more competitive, more flexible and more resilient, or will it simply add capacity without improving the way the operation performs? INNVESTIO Group builds its role around connecting ambition to a production route that makes commercial sense for manufacturers under pressure to make that distinction clearly. It looks first at the realities that decide whether an investment will truly work. The application, run lengths, target markets, compliance needs, quality expectations, sustainability goals and cost structure all become part of one decision..
Industrial Supplier & Distributor
Procontur Gmbh
Industrial Enclosures System Supplier Company Of The Year In Europe 2026
Jens Pohlmann, Owner & Managing Director
For decades, industrial manufacturers have relied on specialized suppliers for individual parts of a product. One company builds the enclosure, another manages electronics, another handles testing, and yet another takes care of logistics. While this approach may work, it often creates a complicated network of suppliers, quality checks, and communication points. Procontur Gmbh believes there is a better way. This approach has now earned ProContur recognition as the Industrial Enclosures System Supplier Company of the Year in Europe 2026. The German company has built its business around becoming more than an industrial enclosure manufacturer. Today, it operates as a system supplier, combining sheet metal processing, plastic manufacturing, electronics integration, assembly, testing, and supply chain management to deliver complete solutions for customers across medical technology, electrical engineering, machinery and plant engineering and energy technology. The company’s philosophy is straightforward: instead of asking customers to coordinate multiple partners, ProContur takes responsibility for the complete process..
CNC Machining
The shot peening industry, with its critical role in enhancing the durability and performance of metal components, has long been a cornerstone of modern engineering. However, despite its importance, the field has often been criticized for lagging in transparency and technological innovation. Providers have historically clung to outdated practices and maintained a frustratingly opaque approach, leaving customers with antiquated technology and curt communication—a combination that erodes trust and hinders progress. But what if the status quo could be shattered? This is where Innovative Peening Systems (IPS) steps in, transforming the shot peening process with cutting-edge automation into a 21st-century marvel. Specializing in building creative, innovative solutions for complex shot peening problems, the company has introduced fully automated CNC-controlled shot peening systems that bring unparalleled precision, consistency, and efficiency. More importantly, IPS champions a collaborative ethos, working hand-in-hand with clients to demystify processes and craft tailored solutions that address distinct needs. Through innovations like robotic integration, advanced nozzle motion control, and configurable machine designs, the company enables manufacturers to achieve exceptional results while eliminating waste, improving lead times, and reducing costs. “We’re taking an ancient technology and turning it into something fundamentally different. Automation transforms not just how shot peening is done, but what it can achieve,” says Jack Parrott, CEO of IPS. Tools for Unmatched Material Performanc Whether it’s aerospace, automotive, or any sector requiring precision-engineered parts, the company provides solutions that are both innovative and built to last. From large systems capable of peening 75,000 pound land-based turbines for power generation to medical springs that weigh less than an ounce, IPS has equipment designed to meet the distinct challenges of each application. •CNC Indexing Turntable: Engineered for repetitive, highvolume tasks, the CNC indexing turntable abrasive blasting machine features a nozzle motion control system for swift and precise processing. Components rotate in front of a series of nozzles, which can be mounted with a variety of axis motions for optimal performance.
Composite Materials
Creating Great Customer Experience for U.S. Clients as an Overseas-Based OEM
Fabio Monteverdi, Service Sales and Customer Care Manager, ACMI
Contract Manufacturing
The E-Commerce Leader Who Listens Before Building
Katie Chaput, Senior Director, Digital Experience, Four Hands
Contract Manufacturing
3D Printing is Evolving from a Niche Process to High-Volume Manufacturing Technology
Alex Sant’ Anna, Vice President & General Manager Americas, Crosslinkers, Evonik
Contract Manufacturing
Pioneering Scale: Engineering the Future of Biomanufacturing and Cellular Agriculture
Bryce Sullivan, Director of Engineering, The UPSIDE Group Inc. dba UPSIDE Foods
Contract Manufacturing
Leading Manufacturing and Supply Operations in a Changing World
Kara Renai King, Vice President of Manufacturing Supply Operations, Platform Leader Americas & China, Zoetis
IN MY OPINION
Contract Manufacturing
Building the Impossible Through Innovation
Cristiano Ghidella, Director of Manufacturing, Manifattura Automobili Torino
LAST WORD
3D Printing
Our B Corp Journey At Brompton Bicycle
Matthew Plata, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Brompton Bicycle
IN FOCUS
Exploring European Advances in Sustainable Floor Treatment Systems
European floor treatment technology is advancing through automation, sustainable materials, digital monitoring, and application-specific solutions.
Machining Excellence in Europe: Elevating Industrial Transmission Standards
Advanced machining technologies improve efficiency, quality, competitiveness, and sustainability in European transmission manufacturing.
EDITORIAL
Manufacturing Excellence through Integration and Innovation
European manufacturing is undergoing change as businesses face rising costs, supply chain disruptions and changing customer expectations. Staying competitive calls for technical expertise, trusted partnerships and practical solutions that improve efficiency whilst maintaining product quality and production flexibility.
Leading this progress is ProContur GmbH, recognised as the Industrial Enclosures System Supplier Company of the Year in Europe 2026. Under Jens Pohlmann, Owner and Managing Director, the German company has moved beyond enclosure manufacturing to provide complete industrial systems. By combining sheet metal and plastics processing, electronics, assembly, testing and supply chain management within one facility, ProContur helps customers manage fewer suppliers and lower overall ownership costs. Its design-to-cost approach addresses manufacturing needs during the early stages of product development, allowing for efficient production and dependable delivery.
INNVESTIO BV, named Top Digital Printing and Finishing Solutions in Europe 2026, assists printing and packaging manufacturers in choosing technologies that match their business needs. Operating as INNVESTIO Group, the company follows its Industrial Architecture approach to review applications, production volumes, compliance requirements and investment risks before recommending suitable solutions. With technology integration, staff training and technical assistance, INNVESTIO helps businesses introduce digital printing whilst maintaining flexibility in production and consistency in daily operations.
Industry contributors also offer their views on manufacturing leadership. Kara Renai King, Vice President of Manufacturing Supply Operations, Platform Leader Americas & China at Zoetis, highlights the role of reliable supply networks, well-informed decisions and teamwork in maintaining efficiency during uncertain market conditions. Alex Sant’ Anna, Vice President & General Manager Americas, Crosslinkers at Evonik, discusses how advanced polymers and component redesign are helping additive manufacturing progress towards series production.
Together, these companies and industry experts illustrate how integrated manufacturing services, sensible technology investments and developments in materials can strengthen production performance. As market demands continue to shift, European manufacturers need to simplify operations, maintain dependable supplier relationships and invest in technologies that contribute to sustained business growth.
