Manufacturing companies are creating new logistics sites to be the central hub for spare parts—which will be a key component to the international flow of goods. This will create a fast and comprehensive supply of parts for customers. As one example, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Daimler Truck, has set up a central logistics hub for the global supply of spare parts in Halberstadt, Saxony-Anhalt. About 2,600 Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ suppliers will provide the logistics hub with their parts in the future. The new logistics hub will deliver up to 300,000 different items—from the smallest screw to a finished truck cab—to almost 3,000 vehicle dealers in more than 170 countries around the world. Construction is planned for this year and commissioning is scheduled for three years later. The Global Parts Center is planned to be CO2-netural operation. Here is how this can help in manufacturing: Flexible, efficient, and sustainable spare parts logistics will keep fleets on the road. Eliminate additional transport routes and cut the time until parts are available. Keep trucks and the economy and society running. Looking to the future, we are going to see the rise of new logistics sites such as this to reduce supply chain bottlenecks and keep manufacturing humming along. Many sites will also be sustainable and carbon-neutral in the…

Battery companies are at the forefront of innovation, as commercial vehicle electrification technology surges. Thus, we are seeing the rise of electrification and battery manufacturing plants all across the country. As one example, Proterra has announced the company has produced its Proterra Powered EV (electric vehicle) battery at its new plant in South Carolina. Where this gets really innovative as the company has achieved end-to-end production for electric medium-duty and heavy-duty electric vehicles and equipment. Here is how this can help in manufacturing: Create new jobs with roles in engineering, production, quality, and design. Bring state-of-the-art production closer to home. Lead to more zero-emission transportation opportunities. Looking to the future, we are going to see the rise in electrification in all areas of transportation—and we will need to fuel the plants to make this all happen. We will certainly keep an eye on lithium and other future battery…