It’s just business: manufacturing moves from Apple, Panasonic, Lubrizol and more

The business of manufacturing never stops. Industrial companies merge, invest and strategically expand to keep competitive, even under adverse business conditions. Read on for more details on five such recent business actions made by industrial and manufacturing companies, including new domestic Apple computer production, contract manufacturing for rare medicine and new technology for thermoplastic manufacturing.

Expansion: Apple, Inc. announced February 24 that it would expand its Houston, Texas manufacturing operation to include some future production of its Mac Mini-brand desktop computer. In a statement, Apple said it would also increase its AI server manufacturing and training operations on the site. Apple CEO Tim Cook noted the site has already started shipping AI servers ahead of schedule.

Partnership: Panasonic announced February 24 that it would cease manufacturing televisions, contracting them out instead to Shenzhen Skyworth Display Technology Co. The partnership follows a long-term move by Panasonic to slowly exit the TV display manufacturing business to focus on other types of consumer electronics and devices.

Acquisition: Trane Technologies, an Irish climate control company, announced February 18 that it had acquired Stellar Energy Americas, a manufacturer of data center cooling equipment. In a statement, Trane Tech President Holly Paeper noted the rapid growth of the data center ecosystem.

Expansion: Lubrizol Corp. announced February 26 that it had installed new LED reactor technology at its Louisville, Kentucky plastic resins plant, reportedly enabling longer production runs and improved chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) thermoplastic stability and sustainability. According to a company statement, LED chlorination reduces waste and improves the stability of the CPVC and provides a proof of concept for the company to install it in more of its CPVC operations.

Partnership: Quotient Sciences, a contract manufacturer for pharmaceuticals, announced February 26 that it had agreed to extend its partnership with Ipsen, a global biopharmaceutical company. As part of the deal, Quotient sciences will continue manufacturing Sohonos, a branded treatment for Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. In a company statement, Quotient said Ipsen would also invest in new equipment for Quotient, including a new pneumatic closed transfer system and flexible dispensing isolator for Quotient’s Boothwyn, Pennsylvania pharmaceutical plant.