Home > Tech Steel Blog

  1. 10 Innovative Ways Shipping Containers Are Reshaping Urban Landscapes

    Oct
    26
    2025

    As cities around the world grapple with issues of sustainability, affordability, and creativity in urban planning, a surprising solution has emerged from an unexpected source: shipping containers.  These once-unassuming cargo carriers are now at the forefront of urban transformation, offering a palette of possibilities for architects, designers, and urban dwellers. Marketresearch.biz reports that the shipping […]

    Read More
  2. First-of-Its-Kind U.S. Tin Production Facility Announced for Virginia

    Oct
    23
    2025

    Virginia announced a first-of-its-kind American tin production and processing facility, advancing domestic capacity for a material designated as critical by the U.S. government. Nathan Trotter, a long-established supplier and recycler of tin products, will invest approximately $65 million to construct “Tin Ridge,” a 115,000-square-foot facility on a 44-acre site in Henry County. At full capacity, […]

    Read More
  3. DOE Commits $134 Million to Advance U.S. Fusion Research

    Oct
    20
    2025

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $134 million to strengthen America’s position in fusion energy, directing funds to two programs designed to accelerate private-public collaboration and technology maturation. The investment supports the next round of Fusion Innovation Research Engine (FIRE) Collaboratives and new awards under the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE). Together, they […]

    Read More
  4. The Role of Inconel 718 in Modern Aerospace Engines

    Oct
    13
    2025

    Turbine engines are unforgiving. Temperatures push past 1,200 °F (649 °C), with stresses cycling without pause while exhaust gases corrode anything they touch. Most alloys don’t last long before distortion or cracking puts them out of service. Inconel 718 is the exception. This alloy, often grouped with other Inconel metal grades, has been in aerospace […]

    Read More
  5. Top 5 High-Temperature Nickel Superalloys for Turbine Blades (2025)

    Oct
    08
    2025

    High temperature nickel superalloys keep turbine blades and hot-section parts alive when everything else runs out of steam. If you’re an engineer, buyer, or program lead, this quick guide helps you pick a shortlist – fast! Learn what each alloy is best for, why it’s chosen, and what to watch before you buy.  We point […]

    Read More
  6. 3D-Printed Circuit Boards That Melt in Water May Solve the E-Waste Crisis

    Oct
    07
    2025

    The E-Waste Challenge Electronic waste ranks among the fastest-growing environmental threats, and printed circuit boards (PCBs) drive much of the problem. Manufacturers build them from fiberglass and epoxy, materials that resist recycling. As a result, tons of discarded PCBs pile up in landfills or release toxins when incinerated. To counter this, researchers at the University […]

    Read More
  7. Hitachi Energy Puts $1B Into U.S. Grid Manufacturing

    Oct
    02
    2025

    Hitachi Energy is making a big U.S. bet on the power grid. The company plans to invest $1 billion to expand domestic production of critical equipment, headlined by a $457 million factory for large power transformers in South Boston, Virginia. Construction is expected to begin in 2025, with the site aiming to enter service in […]

    Read More
  8. Archer Aims to Fly Trial eVTOL Ops Under New White House Program

    Sep
    29
    2025

    Archer Aviation plans to participate in the White House’s new eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), working with U.S. airlines and interested cities to stage supervised, pre-certification trial operations of its Midnight aircraft. Under the eIPP, the Department of Transportation and the FAA intend to create controlled operating environments that fast-track real-world data on safety, noise, […]

    Read More
  9. BAE Systems Delivers Its 1,000th Infrared Seeker to Lockheed Martin for Ballistic Missile Defense Program

    Sep
    28
    2025

    BAE Systems, a leading manufacturer in advanced defense technologies, has successfully sent its 1,000th infrared seeker to Lockheed Martin, aiming to integrate it into the THAAD interceptor missile. This achievement highlights the importance of seeker technology in providing high-performance guidance capabilities, ensuring effective protection against a range of ballistic missile threats. The THAAD system is […]

    Read More
  10. Avelo Orders 50 Embraer E195-E2s, Opening the U.S. Market for E2

    Sep
    23
    2025

    Avelo has ordered 50 Embraer E195-E2 jets with options for 50 more, marking the first U.S. sale of Embraer’s latest-generation E2 family. The deal is valued at $4.4 billion at list prices, excluding options, with deliveries beginning in 2027 and running into the next decade. The order does more than add capacity. Avelo plans to […]

    Read More
  11. The Future of Autonomous Flights in the US Air Force

    Sep
    19
    2025

    The US Air Force has recently signed a contract with Reliable Robotics to integrate autonomous flight technology into a Cessna 208B Caravan utility aircraft for uncrewed cargo missions, marking a significant step towards making autonomous flight a routine part of military operations.  In addition, this move also highlights a key characteristic of mature advanced technologies: […]

    Read More
  12. California High-Speed Rail Secures $1B/Year Through 2045 Under Cap-and-Invest

    Sep
    16
    2025

    California’s high-speed rail project just received its steadiest lifeline yet: a legislative agreement to reauthorize the state’s Cap-and-Invest program with a dedicated $1 billion per year through 2045. For a project defined by stop-start funding, that long-horizon commitment is the headline. It closes identified gaps for the Merced-to-Bakersfield early operating segment and signals the market […]

    Read More
  13. World’s Largest Solar Plant Rises in Tibet — the Size of Chicago

    Sep
    02
    2025

    High on the Tibetan Plateau, China is building the largest solar farm in the world, a project so vast it covers an area equal to the entire city of Chicago. The facility already produces power on a partial scale and will transform the country’s renewable energy landscape once complete. Spanning 610 square kilometers, the site […]

    Read More
  14. Could Tiny Robots in Your Mouth Be the Future Cure for Tooth Sensitivity?

    Aug
    25
    2025

    Imagine a future where a tiny robot, or “nanobot,” travels into your tooth and seals the microscopic channels that cause pain. This isn’t science fiction—it’s a real breakthrough in dental care by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru. What Causes Tooth Sensitivity? Tooth sensitivity happens when tiny channels in the tooth—called […]

    Read More
  15. Conifer’s Axial-Flux Motors Power Ahead with Rare Earth-Free & China-Free Design

    Aug
    12
    2025

    Conifer, a Silicon Valley startup founded by former engineers from Apple and Lucid, is rewriting the electric motor script. Their secret? axial-flux motors built with ferrite (iron) magnets, not rare-earth magnets traditionally sourced from China. This is a significant move, as it directly challenges the supply chain vulnerabilities currently embedded in the EV and industrial […]

    Read More
  16. US Army Awards a $1.9 Million Contract to Electra for Developing Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Propulsion Systems

    Aug
    04
    2025

    The U.S Army has given Electra.aero, Inc., a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) to further the research and development of hybrid-electric powertrain, power, and propulsion systems (HEPPS). This collaboration aims to explore the potential of hybrid-electric technology to enhance the effectiveness and mission capabilities of both current and future Army aircraft platforms. Under […]

    Read More
  17. ASELSAN’s YILDIRIM 100 Deflects Live Infrared-Guided Missiles with Lasers

    Jul
    29
    2025

    In a major breakthrough for Türkiye’s defense industry, ASELSAN has successfully tested its YILDIRIM 100 Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) System, demonstrating the ability to deflect live infrared-guided missiles equipped with active warheads. This successful live-fire test marks a critical step forward in airborne self-protection technology, showcasing ASELSAN’s leadership in a field dominated by only a […]

    Read More