Ismeca, a producer of tape-and- reel machines, is going to concentrate its production in Switzerland and Melaka, Malaysia.

Lincoln Electric Co.'s equipment will be featured in the current season of TLC's Junkyard Wars.

Without rechargeable batteries, cordless tools would be useless. As battery technology evolves, power tool manufacturers are continually searching for ways to make screwdrivers and other fastening tools more powerful, more lightweight and more durable.

The North American machine vision market grew 26 percent in 2000, according to a study released by the Automated Imaging Association (AIA).

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has selected the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to conduct a series of automotive air conditioning system performance tests.

Orbitform Inc.--a supplier of forming, fastening and assembly equipment--has acquired Arbor Automation and its palletized conveyor system, Wipcon.

Seiko Instruments USA has sold its Factory Automation Div. to Seiko Epson Corp. and its affiliate, Epson America Inc. (Long Beach, CA).

Dorner Manufacturing Corp. has posted 3D models of its low-profile conveyors on its Web site.

Palomar Technologies, a manufacturer of automated wire and die bonding systems for broadband communications, won the 2001 Advanced Packaging Award for its laser diode attach automated assembly cell.

A parallel hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain for medium-size cars achieved an average fuel economy of 79 mpg.