Manufacturing logistics and procurement – May 2026
China makes AI-powered robots core of national strategy
China plans to place robotics at the heart of its modern industrial system, with the aim to pivot its AI research towards physical applications with robots as main drivers for economic growth. China’s manufacturing industry already has around two million industrial robots. This is according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
Personalised medicine drives pharmaceutical contract packaging growth
According to Strategic Packaging Insights, the rise in biologics and personalised medicine is a driver for market growth in contract packaging. The development creates demand for specialised packaging solutions that accommodate complex drug formulations, reduced batch sizes and stringent storage and handling requirements.
The TIME Top-10 influential manufacturing and logistics companies of 2026
TIME editors have published a list of 10 companies they see as being the most influential in the manufacturing and logistics (USA) sector of 2026. The list not only features DHL, but also Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) who are building a $4 billion aluminium smelting facility - the first new primary aluminium production plant in the USA in more than 45 years.
Mergers and acquisitions in logistics analysed
Logisyn Advisors and TI Insights have published their monthly report (1.52 MB) for April on mergers and acquisitions in the logistics industry. North America accounted for the largest number of acquisitions, with 53% of all acquisitions recorded.
A packaging logistics framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in food
Researchers at the University of Western Macedonia have developed a sustainable packaging logistics framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in food supply chains. The framework is applicable across secondary and tertiary packaging configurations for bulk products. Environmental gains arise from enhanced transport efficiency: increased payload capacity per pallet and the decreased consumption of corrugated cardboard for packaging. The study (1.45 MB) is published in Applied Sciences.
Causes and impact of packaging damage in e-commerce deliveries
Researchers at the Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts & Science examined the causes and impacts of packaging damage in online deliveries and evaluated customer responses toward such incidents. The study (715 kB) is published in the International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology.
Logistical packaging evaluation in automotive supply chains
The selection of packaging containers is a critical component of the global automotive industry’s logistics strategy, influencing operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. A Waseda University study (1.33 MB) proposes a multicriteria decision-making approach to evaluate packaging container alternatives. The study is published in the ASEAN Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports.
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