Issue 13
Viewpoint
data centre · European Union
Nvidia and PreussenElektra assess decommissioned German nuclear sites for AI data centres
Nvidia and PreussenElektra are examining whether the sites of decommissioned German nuclear power plants could host AI data centres, without restarting the reactors. Twelve sources reported the news earlier this week.
Who is affected and how
- energy specialist
- Grid connections at former power plant sites may signal new data centre demand, so it is worth assessing nearby connection capacity.
case · United States
US data-centre boom meets voter and political resistance
Ohio has the most data-centre-related ballot questions, and a growing number of political ads in the United States attack the expansion. OpenAI says data centers may be rebranded as AI compute…
energy specialistLocal opposition can bring permitting delays and project risk.investment · United StatesWalmart expands Symbotic automation deal with $6 billion commitment
Walmart is expanding its warehouse automation agreement with Symbotic with a $6 billion commitment. Symbotic's chief executive says the deal will reshape the supply chain for the long term.
logistics specialistLarge-scale retail automation signals a change in warehouse workflows and inventory movement.supply chain · globalAI data centers' chip and memory demand squeezes carmakers and the PC market
According to a Hungarian report, data centers are buying processors and memory chips in huge volumes, which could threaten the auto industry. Axios reports that AI is making PCs more expensive and…
plant managerSupply risks for electronic components may also appear in car manufacturing.energy · United StatesUS declares grid emergency in 13 states and national emergency to protect bulk power system
The US Department of Energy declared a grid emergency in 13 states, after which a presidential order declared a national emergency to protect the bulk power system. The order also mentions serving AI…
energy specialistThe emergency measures may affect grid operating priorities and load management.plant managerThe power-supply risk at US plants is worth reassessing.Hungary
factoryHungarian industrial giant's rapid growth prompts debate on whether Hungary can become an AI industry powerplant managerThe Hungarian example shows the conditions for expanding AI-related manufacturing capacity.data centreAI data centre could be built near Paks, but power and cooling water remain open questionsenergy specialistWhen planning grid connection and cooling-water demand, it is worth modelling the Paks proposal as a separate scenario.engineerEarly review of cooling and safety concepts can be a professional entry point in this project.surveyFour in five industrial firms face skills shortages; good skilled workers are increasingly valuableskilled workerDemand for good skilled workers is growing, so qualifications give a strong bargaining position.plant managerBecause of the skills shortage, the cost of retention and training must also be planned.SME ownerAI tools can speed up recruitment, but the supply of skilled workers needs a separate solution.investmentFoxconn prepares new tie-up with OpenAI, sees no sign of an AI bubbleplant managerFor electronics manufacturing in Hungary, AI server demand is a possible source of future orders.roboticsChinese robots and open AI models could reshape Hungarian jobs tooplant managerGiven price pressure from Chinese robotics, it is worth reviewing automation investment plans.skilled workerTrained factory tasks may change, so robot-operation and maintenance skills will gain value.investmentEurope is the most expensive place to build a data center; investment may shift to Central and Eastern Europeenergy specialistDomestic interest in data center investment points to future demand for power grid capacity.SME ownerData center projects may open up opportunities for construction and service suppliers.factoryKorean PM: Korean plants in Hungary and Poland account for much of Europe's battery cell outputplant managerThe European weight of Hungary's battery plants also puts the site's resource and regulatory environment in focus.
More key stories of the week
survey · global
Gartner: nearly half of supply chains cut staff mainly because of AI
In a Gartner survey, nearly half of supply chain organisations cut headcount primarily because of AI. Logistics Management reported on the survey.
logistics specialistAs jobs change, it is worth preparing to develop AI skills.plant managerIn workforce planning, the impact of AI should be treated as a separate scenario.data centre · globalSchneider and Nvidia take digital twin to live 1.2 GW site
Schneider has taken its Vera Rubin reference design and lifecycle digital-twin architecture, presented at GTC in March, to a live 1.2 GW site under the Nvidia DSX Blueprint. The Nvidia DSX POD moves…
engineerPower and cooling upgrades for an AI data centre can be rehearsed on digital twins before construction, so it is worth evaluating such a simulation workflow.energy specialistSimulating power demand in the design phase may allow more accurate grid-demand applications.factory · AsiaFoxconn AI factory runs on Nvidia cluster; Nvidia and Foxconn target eight-week AI factory deployment
Foxconn's new AI factory runs on an Nvidia DGX Blackwell cluster, with 2.48 times faster model training and production-line results. Nvidia and Foxconn are targeting an eight-week AI factory…
plant managerFoxconn's production-line results provide a benchmark for assessing the return on AI-based plants.data centre · United StatesAI data center construction shifts to a manufacturing mode: faster build-out, more flexibility
According to TechCrunch, GPU cloud providers and data center developers are under pressure to bring capacity online quickly, and one startup is testing whether data centers can be mass-produced. A…
engineerModular, factory-built data center design brings standardization and fast deployability.automation · globalSiemens and Nvidia partner on industrial AI, including AI-based PCB inspection
Siemens has announced a partnership with Nvidia to advance industrial AI. The collaboration includes an adaptive, AI-supported manufacturing capability that extends to the inspection of printed…
plant managerIntroducing AI-based inspection on an electronics production line can be evaluated as a pilot using Siemens solutions.engineerLinking Siemens software with the Nvidia platform creates a new integration task.automation · globalDigital twins could cut unplanned downtime by up to 30%, report says
A report says Indian manufacturers could cut unplanned downtime by up to 30% using digital twins and industrial AI. Hungarian and international articles say live digital twins underpin the…
engineerDigital twins are tools for reducing downtime and testing changes in advance.plant managerReducing unplanned downtime can be set as a measurable business target.automation · globalHoneywell launches Forge Cognition for physical AI in buildings and industrial plants with Nvidia and Dell
Honeywell has launched Forge Cognition with Nvidia and Dell Technologies. The aim is to bring physical AI to buildings and industrial operations.
plant managerA new offering for plant and building-systems AI has appeared, so it is worth comparing with existing plant control systems.engineerBecause of the Nvidia–Dell hardware stack, integration and data-management requirements should be clarified in advance.data centre · global7x24 Exchange: AI data centres run into limits of power, grid and community trust
At the 7x24 Exchange event, the growth of AI data centres is meeting new realities in power supply, grid reliability and local community trust. The topic emerged earlier this week.
energy specialistGrid reliability and power supply are becoming among the main risks for projects.plant managerData-centre developments are being forced to address community acceptance as well.data centre · globalData center power and cooling: 800 V DC, supercapacitors and liquid cooling
As rack density rises, manufacturers are rethinking data center power supply and thermal management, with 800 V DC distribution and supercapacitor stabilization among the topics. LG Electronics is…
engineer800 V DC and liquid cooling affect design requirements and the choice of standards.energy · globalReactors under construction rise to 79 worldwide as AI demand grows; SMRs expected to spread fast
Worldwide, 79 reactors are under construction on the back of AI demand, and an industry figure says large plants alone cannot meet AI's power needs, so SMRs could spread quickly. A Hungarian analysis…
energy specialistExpanding SMR-based supply can be considered as a longer-term supply scenario.energy · globalWho pays for AI's electricity: connection costs, tariffs and regulation
Analyses say that, alongside the rapid growth in power demand from AI data centres, connection costs, tariffs and regulation will decide whether households also end up paying for the new capacity…
energy specialistHow tariff and connection rules develop directly affects the returns on data-centre projects.SME ownerThe debate over sharing electricity costs may also affect power prices, so it is worth following tariff changes.factory · AsiaSchaeffler opens Taicang lighthouse factory where humanoids will make humanoids
Schaeffler has opened a lighthouse factory in Taicang, China, for making humanoid robots. Under the factory's concept, humanoids will build humanoids.
In brief
automationIntel and SAP show physical AI automating warehouse material handlinglogistics specialistLinking robots to ERP processes could change how warehouse tasks are assigned.engineerDesigning the integration layers between ERP and robot systems is a key task.energyAlliant expects about 1 GW of new data-centre contracts within six monthsenergy specialistData-centre demand means a rapid pace of contract signing at utilities, which also accelerates grid capacity planning.energyUS restarts shut-down reactors and expands operating ones to power data centersenergy specialistUprating existing reactors is a fast source of power for data centers, so it is worth watching the effects on electricity markets.energyUS data-centre gas turbines could erase 15 years of emissions cuts, report saysenergy specialistGas-turbine demand and gas prices may affect electricity costs and procurement cycles.automationRockwell Automation launches FactoryTalk Conductor to orchestrate AI across industrial automationengineerConnecting AI agents with the PLC world creates a new integration and security task.plant managerBefore adopting the product, it is worth assessing the compatibility of existing Rockwell systems.investmentToyota to spend $6.4 billion a year on humanoid robots and factory automationskilled workerHumanoid and automation spending points to a longer-term transformation of factory tasks.automationSiemens CEO: industrial AI can reach smaller manufacturers tooSME ownerIndustrial AI offerings aimed at smaller manufacturers are being prepared, so it is worth preparing for supplier approaches.plant managerThe shift from pilots to plant-wide deployment will increasingly be expected.energyAmazon funds 12 small modular reactors at a former coal plant site in Indianaenergy specialistReusing former fossil sites for nuclear power offers a model for data-centre electricity supply.roboticsGXO expands Agility Robotics Digit humanoid deployments to two more US warehouseslogistics specialistDeploying humanoids in live warehouses affects manual material-handling tasks.investmentAmazon to invest more than €16 billion in Germany in 2027logistics specialistThe fulfilment and logistics investment could affect warehouse capacity in Germany.energyFinnish grid expects power demand to rise by up to 40% within five years, driven by data centersenergy specialistGrid forecasts affect connection queues and capacity expansion across Northern Europe.surveyU.S. manufacturing rebound is lopsided, led by AI and energy-boom industriesplant managerDemand is stronger in manufacturing areas tied to the AI and energy sectors; other areas call for more cautious planning.surveyKPMG survey: six of the world's ten largest carmakers could be Chinese by 2035roboticsAudi plans humanoid robots to automate parts logisticslogistics specialistIntroducing humanoids affects in-plant parts-handling tasks.plant managerThe automotive example can be followed as a pilot for automating internal logistics.surveyNorth American robot orders rise 24.8% in Q3 2026, A3 saysplant managerThe order data point to an upswing in the automation investment cycle.caseVolkswagen, Telekom and Unikie wrap up Emden AutoLog trial as driverless trucks nearlogistics specialistPilots of factory-logistics and road autonomous transport are approaching everyday operation.plant managerControlled trials of autonomous on-site transport could help automate internal logistics.energyData center boom spurs grid modernization; New England utility uses AI tools to set prioritiesenergy specialistAI-based grid planning can help set investment priorities.data centreData centers' water demand comes mainly through electricity generation, analyses sayenergy specialistWhen assessing water footprint, the makeup of the power supply matters, not only the local cooling system.engineerWhen choosing a cooling concept, it is worth counting direct and indirect water demand together.surveySemiconductor equipment market could reach $155.13 billion in 2026 and $244 billion by 2032investmentHolyvolt raises $45 million for AI-based battery materials as PNNL-led group applies AI to scale-upengineerAI-driven materials research and production scale-up aim to shorten battery development cycles.automationPredictive maintenance: Wabtec and Razor Labs target mining fleets, Groundup.ai launches new engineengineerCompetition among predictive maintenance platforms widens the choice available for fleet operations.factoryHD Construction Equipment completes new engine factory for AI data centersplant managerThe industry shift could bring new capacity and new competitors.surveyRockwell: food and beverage manufacturers struggle to scale AI beyond pilotsplant managerTo bring pilots to plant scale, it is worth setting measurable business targets.surveyNext manufacturing AI challenge is scaling, not adoptionplant managerAfter pilots, tackling data, process and organisational obstacles will determine the return on investment.roboticsMeta develops humanoid robot with China's FourierautomationNISCO deploys swarm-intelligence steel model at scaleplant managerBetter rolling-force prediction is a steel-industry example of AI-based process control.engineerBuilding expert knowledge into a model shows the importance of process-engineering data collection.energyAI arrives in the energy sector: forecasting, fault detection and operational decision supportenergy specialistAI tools for fault detection and forecasting can be tried out in day-to-day operations.roboticsYYForce welcomes start of Tesla Optimus humanoid robot productionplant managerThe start of humanoid production is worth tracking for commercial availability, but the news comes from a third party.roboticsTeradyne Robotics and Sereact partner on physical AI for retail and logisticslogistics specialistAI control of collaborative robot arms could help automate order-picking tasks.supply chainSouth-east Asia seen as new base for AI supply chain as Singapore factory output growth slowsenergyGrid batteries: GM-backed Peak Energy takes on Chinese dominance, while AI drives only part of the marketenergy specialistDeploying large storage systems is one way to manage data-centre load.energyNova Scotia grid needs new equipment and upgrades to supply AI data centres, studies findenergy specialistThe grid upgrade need shows how data-centre load forces utilities into new investment.energySolid-state transformers could help power the AI boom, MIT Technology Review reportsengineerSolid-state transformers are a new tool in data center and grid design, and their efficiency gains are worth evaluating.energy specialistReducing transmission losses could help make more efficient use of grid capacity.supply chainMunich event on 10–13 November could shape direction of Europe's semiconductor industryengineerThe event is one reference point for development directions in the European semiconductor industry.supply chainDachser: AI agents are transforming logistics, but risks must be weighed toologistics specialistWhen introducing AI agents, risk and cost analysis should be part of the business case.automationSchneider Electric, HPE and Nvidia team up on industrial AI agents at the edgeengineerDeploying edge AI on the plant floor brings new hardware and network requirements.investmentGenerative Bionics plans AI data center and humanoid robotics factory in ItalyroboticsSchaeffler and Wandelbots form technology partnership on physical AIengineerThe open robot-programming platform helps extend the AI capabilities of production-line robots.roboticsUltra raises $50M to bring AI packing robots to more warehouseslogistics specialistThe range of packing automation is growing, so warehouse packing processes are worth assessing.caseAMNA 2026: automotive giants share lessons on AI, automation and workforceplant managerThe automotive giants' experience offers a benchmark for managing launch time, AI and the workforce.automationGlobalFoundries opens AI-enabled facilities control centre in Singapore with SiemensengineerUnifying semiconductor-fab facilities operations with AI changes maintenance workflows.plant managerPredictive maintenance is a reference case for cutting fab downtime.investmentSpintronics AI weighs ₹2,800 crore GaN chip fab in Madhya Pradeshsupply chainOracle launches AI-powered supply chain applicationslogistics specialistNew ERP-level AI tools have appeared for supply chain planning.surveyLogistics surveys: AI and technology investment continues despite operational readiness gapslogistics specialistMeasure the return on AI investments together with operational readiness.automationNeuron Industries raises $10M seed round for AI-based industrial controlengineerAI-native control offers new opportunities for designers of equipment and production lines.energyDARPA backs project to measure AI energy use at every stage of the workflowenergy specialistMore precise measurement of AI energy use could underpin load and capacity planning.automationP&G expands Siemens AI-based quality inspection across its plants worldwideplant managerThe large consumer-goods maker's rollout is a reference for deploying AI-based quality inspection at plant scale.engineerScaling edge-based inspection across several plants requires standardised data and operating processes.supply chainNvidia backs six supply chain partners to expand AI manufacturing capacitysurveyUtilities survey: IT is mostly modernized, but only one in four utilities operates fully intelligentlyenergy specialistEmbedding AI in plant operations is the next step after IT modernization.