This Week in Quality – November 10, 2025

Avio announced a €400 million ($464 million) investment to build a U.S. solid rocket motor plant serving Raytheon and Lockheed Martin by early 2028, while Keurig Dr Pepper projected $200 million in supply chain savings over three years following its JDE Peet’s acquisition. Wolfspeed and Hopewind integrated a 2.3kV power module to boost wind converter efficiency by 38%, and Alpen expanded production capacity by 10x using Corning’s ultra-thin glass for advanced window systems.

Avio Allocates 320 Million Euros to U.S. Rocket Motor Plant by 2028

Avio will direct €320 million ($372 million) from a €400 million ($464 million) capital increase to develop a U.S. solid rocket motor manufacturing facility that provides Raytheon and Lockheed Martin with preferred access to production capacity. The plant addresses domestic supply chain requirements for defense contractors and expands Avio’s presence in the North American aerospace market beyond its current Italian operations.

The facility is scheduled to become operational by early 2028 and will produce solid propellant motors for missile systems and space launch vehicles. Raytheon and Lockheed Martin secured their positions as anchor customers through agreements that guarantee priority allocation of manufacturing capacity for strategic defense programs requiring domestically sourced propulsion systems.

Wolfspeed’s 2.3kV Silicon Carbide Module Boosts Wind Converter Power Density 38%

Wolfspeed’s 2.3kV LM Pack Module will be integrated into Hopewind’s 950Vac wind power converter to deliver efficiency, reliability and power density improvements reaching 38% compared to conventional silicon-based power electronics. The silicon carbide technology enables higher switching frequencies and reduced thermal losses in utility-scale wind turbine applications.

The LM Pack Module becomes commercially available in early 2026 and targets next-generation wind power installations requiring compact converter designs with extended operational lifespans. The partnership combines Wolfspeed’s wide-bandgap semiconductor manufacturing with Hopewind’s power conversion systems to address global wind energy infrastructure expansion requiring higher voltage operations and improved grid integration capabilities.

Corteva Launches Goltrevo and Varpelgo Targeting $70 Billion Crop Loss

Corteva introduced two crop protection solutions addressing 20-40% global crop losses estimated at $70 billion annually: Goltrevo, a microbial bioinsecticide based on Beauveria bassiana 203 fungus, and Varpelgo Active, a synthetic insecticide derived from natural compound structures. Goltrevo targets sap-feeding insects including corn leafhoppers that cause up to 70% yield losses from corn stunt disease, along with whiteflies, aphids and root-feeding worms across corn, soybean, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables.

Goltrevo represents Corteva’s first bioinsecticide product and is expected to enter commercial sales in Latin America by 2027 pending regulatory approvals, offering extended shelf life and reduced resistance development compared to conventional insecticides. Varpelgo Active provides control of chewing insects including diamondback moths, armyworms and borers, with anticipated commercial launches in Asia Pacific and Latin America markets in the early 2030s following field trials and regulatory reviews.

Alpen Integrates Corning Enlighten Glass After Achieving 10x Production Capacity Increase

Alpen High Performance Products will integrate Corning’s Enlighten Glass as ultra-thin center panes in triple and quadruple-paned insulated glass units that insulate three-to-five times better than standard dual-pane configurations while reducing weight and maintaining structural strength. Alpen’s two high-speed automated glass production lines expanded manufacturing capacity by a factor of 10x and supply insulated glass units to major North American window and facade companies.

The collaboration commercializes advanced window systems for the U.S. market by combining Corning’s material science expertise in ultra-thin glass substrates with Alpen’s fenestration engineering for high-performance building envelopes. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory provided independent validation of thin glass performance benefits, with the partnership targeting Passive House and Net Zero building applications requiring enhanced thermal efficiency without added weight or profile thickness.

Keurig Dr Pepper Projects $200 Million Supply Chain Savings from JDE Peet’s

Keurig Dr Pepper expects approximately $200 million in supply chain cost reductions for its coffee operations over three years following the JDE Peet’s acquisition, representing half of a total $400 million in anticipated savings with the remainder from SG&A and IT cuts. The combined entity will benefit from enhanced green coffee sourcing capabilities, blend optimization, manufacturing footprint consolidation and logistics network improvements.

The acquisition is expected to close in early 2026 with the separated coffee business becoming operationally independent later that year under oversight from Chief Transformation and Supply Chain Officer Roger Johnson through a dedicated transformation management office. The enlarged coffee business will leverage greater supply chain scale to navigate tariffs and commodity price volatility affecting imports from major coffee-producing regions including Brazil and Vietnam.