Manufacturing

According to IDTechEx analyst Lily-Rose Schuett, advances in coatings, graphene and critical material recovery are reshaping the global materials landscape, with growing demand for sustainable, high-performance solutions across sectors ranging from aerospace and EV batteries to energy and data centres.

In her analysis, “The Top of the Material Chain – Advanced Coatings to Critical Minerals”, Schuett highlights how advanced coatings are increasingly being adopted to improve durability, efficiency and safety. Citing IDTechEx research, she notes that the coatings market is currently valued at around US$202bn, with Germany, China and the US leading exports. Demand is being fuelled by industries seeking lightweight materials capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, particularly in aerospace and energy applications.

Schuett explains that advanced coatings are also being developed with sustainability in mind, as environmental regulations and consumer expectations push manufacturers towards PFAS-free and heavy metal-free alternatives. Applications highlighted in the research include improving fire safety in EV batteries, aerospace systems and data centres, while also reducing maintenance requirements in sectors such as wind energy, oil and gas, and construction.

The report further identifies manufacturing efficiency, coating performance and sustainability as the three main priorities shaping coating development. Desired properties include long shelf life, low viscosity, short curing times and lightweight composition, although balancing performance with sustainability remains application dependent.

Schuett also explores developments in graphene and other advanced materials. Graphene, a 2D nanocarbon material, is valued for its exceptional strength, thermal conductivity, electrical properties and gas impermeability. It is increasingly being used in thermal management systems, conductive inks, sensors, membranes, concrete and asphalt applications.

However, she notes that maintaining graphene quality remains a challenge, as pristine graphene sheets must be carefully transferred from their growth substrate to the final application without damage. Future developments may include genuine monolayer and bilayer graphene additives, as well as more sustainable production methods using green or waste-derived feedstocks such as methane, coke and end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.

According to Schuett, competition from materials such as carbon black and carbon nanotubes remains strong, yet the graphene sector continues to expand. IDTechEx forecasts the graphene market will surpass US$1bn by 2032, with continued growth expected over the following decade.

The analysis also examines the growing importance of critical material recovery as geopolitical tensions and supply chain risks increase pressure on global access to strategic materials. Critical materials, which include metals, elements and composites essential to key industries, are becoming increasingly important as countries seek greater supply security.

Schuett outlines several extraction and recovery methods covered in IDTechEx research, including hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, electro-leaching, solvent extraction, ion exchange, biosorption and electro-winning. Established secondary sources for material recovery include platinum group metals from automotive emission control systems, while emerging opportunities are centred on lithium-ion batteries and rare-earth magnets from EVs.

The report also evaluates extraction technologies based on factors such as scalability, energy consumption, waste-source versatility and circularity, reflecting the increasing emphasis on sustainability within the critical materials sector.

ASMO, the joint venture formed by Aramco and DHL, has begun construction of its first dedicated logistics hub at King Salman Energy Park (SPARK), marking a major step in expanding logistics infrastructure for Saudi Arabia’s energy and industrial sectors.

The large-scale project, spanning 1.4 million sq m, is being developed in partnership with global investment firm Arcapita Group Holdings following the signing of a long-term strategic agreement earlier this year.

The facility will include a temperature-controlled Grade A warehouse, chemical storage units, administrative offices, staff facilities and a large industrial storage yard. The development is also being designed with advanced automation and smart warehousing systems aimed at improving operational efficiency and supporting future expansion.

Developers said the project will incorporate high technical and safety standards, alongside sustainability-focused features including photovoltaic readiness, EV charging infrastructure and advanced fire protection systems. The site is also targeting LEED Gold certification.

The hub is expected to support the increasingly complex logistics demands of Saudi Arabia’s growing industrial and energy sectors, while strengthening domestic supply chain capabilities as the Kingdom continues to invest heavily in industrial diversification under Vision 2030.

Salem A. Al Huraish, chairman of ASMO, said the project forms part of a broader national logistics strategy.

“This facility represents an important step in building ASMO’s long-term logistics network in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

“As the first of three planned strategic sites across the Kingdom, it will strengthen in-Kingdom supply chain capabilities and support reliable, efficient logistics operations for the energy and industrial sectors.”

He added that the development aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to position itself as a regional logistics and trade hub.

Once completed, the facility will support Saudi Aramco, its affiliates and a wider customer base operating across the industrial and energy sectors.

Sulaiman M. Al Rubaian, Aramco senior vice president of procurement and supply chain management, said high-quality logistics assets are becoming increasingly important for operational resilience.

“This facility marks an important step forward in advancing more integrated and resilient supply chain operations,” he said.

The project is also intended to respond to wider changes in global trade and supply chain structures, with companies increasingly prioritising regionalised and diversified logistics networks to improve reliability and continuity.

Sh. Isa bin Hussam Al Khalifa, managing director and head of MENA real estate at Arcapita, said demand for institutional-grade logistics assets is continuing to grow across Saudi Arabia.

“As the Kingdom continues to prioritise industrial development, supply chain resilience and self-sufficiency, demand for scalable, high-quality logistics infrastructure is increasing,” he said.

Mishal Al Zughaibi, president and CEO of SPARK, said the project further strengthens the park’s role as a regional energy and logistics centre.

Located close to key transport and operating corridors, SPARK offers direct access to logistics infrastructure, including one of the region’s largest privately owned dry ports.

Brady has launched the BradyPrinter i4311. (Image source: Brady Corporation)

Print everything you need, where you need it! With the first transportable printer to deliver 101.60 mm wide labelling without cords or limits

Automated identification and data capture specialist Brady Corporation launches a new type of hybrid label printer that offers industrial label printing performance in a cordless, portable design.

Larger labels

Brady´s new BradyPrinter i4311 is designed to bridge the gap between stationary benchtop label printer power and mobile flexibility. A well-known limitation for most mobile label printers is the maximum width of the label. Brady´s i4311 marks the new maximum label width at 101.60 mm for connected label printing systems that retain true portability.

The larger print width brings a lot more applications into the mobile label printing range, including perforated work-in-progress tags, common size rating plates and larger cable tags, wraps, sleeves, asset labels, component labels and GHS-compliant chemical labels.

No need to look for power outlets with the i4311. The printer is powered by a battery that can handle 5000 large labels on a single charge. Swapping batteries has been made easy and they can be charged in 3.5 hours.

Easy to integrate

The new BradyPrinter i4311 can print labels from phones, tablets and laptops, and even from central company systems using Brady´s software development kit or ZPL support. In addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, the i4311 also features ethernet and USB-C connections.

The printer´s on-board 7´´ (17.78 cm) touch screen offers both on-device support as well as the capability to print labels directly from the printer. Users can store on average different 85 000 label templates in the printer that can be completed with an on-board ´fill in´ option, fully responsive to your touch.

Industry feedback

Brady also revealed i4311 printer features that were developed with close involvement from the company´s long-standing customers. As a result, the printer´s footprint was limited to 23 x 23 x 33 cm and 5.9 kg and the device´s easy-to-grip handle was optimised.

A battery-saver was also added for when the printer is not in use and battery-swapping was made even easier.

Portable benchtop

Right in the middle of Brady´s mobile label printer and industrial benchtop label printer line ups now sits the BradyPrinter i4311: a portable printer with the company´s benchtop industrial printing capabilities.

Compatible with more than 1300 Brady label parts, the i4311 can print on a majority of Brady´s reliable, laboratory-tested label materials. Just like other Brady printers the i4311 includes LabelSense technology to automatically set label material burn, size and pre-print settings as soon as a label roll is loaded.

The company´s newest label printer also works with a host of free Brady Express Labels mobile apps. These enable users to select text in an image file for example, and import it for printing on a label. Or to read barcodes with a phone and send them to the printer. With a commanding voice, labels can even be printed completely hands-free, using BradyVoice, a smartphone microphone and the BradyPrinter i4311.

Watch the printer in action & learn more >>

BRADY in the Middle East

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A new whitepaper by Alvarez & Marsal has outlined a strategic roadmap aimed at accelerating industrial localisation across the GCC, arguing that Gulf economies could reduce traditional industrial development timelines from decades to just years through coordinated policy action and technology transfer.

The report, titled Industrial Manufacturing Localization: A Strategic Imperative – Middle East, comes at a time of shifting geopolitical dynamics, changing trade flows and growing global competition for industrial investment. According to the study, the region now has a narrowing opportunity to strengthen domestic industrial capabilities and secure long-term competitiveness.

Drawing on case studies from aerospace and automotive sectors in countries including Italy, Turkey, Brazil, China and Mexico, the whitepaper noted that industrial ecosystems historically took between 25 and 50 years to mature. However, the report argued that GCC countries are uniquely positioned to accelerate this process through decisive government intervention, structured public-private collaboration and targeted knowledge transfer initiatives.

The study stressed that successful localisation extends beyond factory construction and assembly operations. Instead, long-term economic value depends on developing domestic engineering expertise, innovation capabilities and ownership of product design and manufacturing processes.

Angelo Carella said industrial localisation required more than financial investment alone. He noted that experiences in Turkey and China demonstrated how strong enforcement of technology transfer obligations, supplier development programmes and research and development targets could accelerate industrial growth.

The report also highlighted the need for countries to move beyond assembly-led manufacturing towards innovation-led ecosystems capable of supporting globally competitive industries.

Andrea Di Lello said the Middle East had reached a critical stage in its industrial transformation journey. He added that governments across the GCC had already made substantial commitments to localisation, but sustained investment in technology transfer, research and development and policy execution would determine long-term success.

Central to the report is A&M’s four-step industrial localisation model. The framework begins with establishing regulatory foundations and assembly operations before advancing towards technology transfer through joint ventures, licensing agreements and supplier development.

The third stage focuses on ecosystem maturity, including investment in engineering education, vocational training, research centres and certification capabilities. The final stage involves integrating local industries into global markets through international standards alignment, partnerships and consolidation.

The report highlighted progress already being made in Saudi Arabia, particularly in aerospace, shipbuilding and automotive manufacturing. According to the study, the Kingdom is now entering a more advanced localisation phase centred on innovation, supply chain development and industrial research capabilities.

In Oman, the paper pointed to a different strategy aligned with Oman Vision 2040, with greater emphasis on advanced engineering and design capabilities supported by universities and public-sector collaboration.

The whitepaper concluded that countries able to embed innovation ecosystems and retain design ownership would be best positioned to build sustainable and globally competitive industrial sectors.