David Sharp

Associated Press

Today in Manufacturing Podcast

Today in Manufacturing Podcast

Today in Manufacturing has a new podcast brought to you by the editors of Industrial Media. In each episode, we discuss the five biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward.

A United States Postal Service employee works outside a post office in Wheeling, Ill., Dec. 3, 2021. Four environmental groups that want the U.S. Postal Service to buy more electric delivery vehicles are suing to halt further purchases. The lawsuit, filed Thursday, April 28, 2022, in federal court in California, asks a judge to order the Postal Service to conduct a more thorough environmental review before moving forward with the next-generation vehicle program.

Groups That Want to Electrify USPS Fleet File Lawsuit

They are suing to halt purchases of thousands of gas-powered trucks.

Justin Paetow, center, a tin shop worker at Bath Iron Works, takes part in a demonstration against COVID-19 vaccine mandate outside the shipyard on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in Bath, Maine.

Vaccine Mandates Create Conflict with Defiant Workers

The mandate for federal contractors goes into effect in December.

A worker guides toilet paper on a conveyor belt at the Tissue Plus factory, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, in Bangor, Maine. The new company has been unexpectedly busy because of the shortage of toilet paper brought on by hoarders concerned about the coronavirus.

Humble Toilet Paper a Hot Commodity

The company launched toilet paper production a couple of weeks ago. It has been stressful.

This May 8, 2019, file photo shows a lobster atop others in Arundel, Maine. Maine's congressional delegation announced Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, that China is making U.S. lobster eligible for a tariff reduction. Starting the following week, Chinese businesses could apply for a tariff exemption that would let them buy U.S. lobster at a lower price, officials said.

US Lobstermen May See Tariff Relief

Lobster fishermen lost a key export market during trade hostilities.

In this Sept. 6, 2019 file photo, the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG-82) moors at Fort Trumbull State Park in New London, Conn. The Navy is proposing construction cutbacks and accelerated ship retirements that would delay, or sink, the Navy’s goal of a larger fleet — and potentially hurt shipyards, according to an initial proposal. The proposal would shrink the size of the fleet from today’s level of 293 ships to 287 ships, a far cry from the official goal of 355 ships established in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.

Navy Considers Shipbuilding Cuts

The cuts could sink the Navy’s goal of a larger fleet and potentially hurt shipyards.

This Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004 file photo shows a selection of holiday season catalogs in Portland, Maine. Catalogs, those glossy paper-and-ink offerings of outdoor apparel, kitchenware and fruit baskets, are not yet headed for the recycling bin of history.

Are Paper Catalogs on the Rebound?

They are not yet headed for the recycling bin of history.

In this Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 photo provided by the University of Maine, a 25-foot, 5,000-pound patrol boat, center, that was produced using a large polymer 3D printer, behind left, rests on a trailer on the school's campus, in Orono, Maine. The boat was printed at the school's Composites Center on the world's largest polymer 3D printer.

World's Largest 3D Printed Boat

The 25-foot, 5,000-pound boat was produced using the world's largest 3D printer.

A new Trump administration order would allow e-bikes on every federal trail where a regular bike can go.

E-Bikes Humming Through National Parks

It's part of a new Trump administration order — hotly opposed by many outdoors groups.

In this June 8, 2019 photo, Gordon and Janice Goodwin show their electric-assist bicycles outside their home in Bar Harbor, Maine. The bikes are banned on carriage roads and bicycle paths in nearby Acadia National Park.

E-Bikes Encounter Rocky Road

In classifying them as motorized vehicles, agencies keep thousands of miles of trail off-limits to e-bikes.

Plastic Bottles

Poland Spring Using Recycled Plastic for All Bottles

The move comes as the bottled water industry faces continued criticism over its use of plastic

In this Monday, Dec. 17, 2018 photo, Nicole Sanborn stitches the upper section of a pair of athletic shoes designed for the military at a New Balance factory in Norridgewock, Maine. The first shipments of athletic shoes made for the U.S. Department of Defense are being shipped out. The new contract fulfills a federal law requiring the military to outfit new recruits with American-made apparel.

Military Shoes Now Made-in-USA

Last spring, a $17.3 million contract was awarded to New Balance.