Walmart will hold its Open Call event from October 7-8, the company announced. Since 2014, Open Call has helped thousands of small and medium businesses grow their operations, expand their manufacturing footprint and create jobs in their local communities, Walmart asserted. To build on that foundation, Walmart is expanding Open Call beyond products this year, to include companies developing technologies that enable or enhance manufacturing in the United States. Walmart reported its Open Call teams are looking for top manufacturing innovation in categories, such as yield insights, shelf-life extension, alternative materials and advanced manufacturing, to reduce complexity, cost or environmental impact for U.S. manufacturing. An example of a partnership that is making waves, Walmart noted, is one with San Francisco-based Unspun, a pioneer in 3D weaving technologies that is streamlining the supply chain and helping to recast the textile industry.