John Sprovieri

US Businesses Are Optimistic and Primed to Spend

July 7, 2021

Good news! According to a new survey of global businesses conducted by American Express and the Centre for Business and Economic Research (CEBR), U.S. companies are the most bullish and optimistic when it comes to business-to-business (B2B) spending than companies in five other industrialized countries.

New Materials, New Fasteners

As automakers replace steel with lightweight materials, new fasteners will replace conventional screws.

John Sprovieri

June 11, 2021

Steel has been, is now, and will continue to be the predominant material for vehicle structures and body parts, such as doors, hoods, liftgates and fenders. But, other materials, such as aluminum, magnesium, plastics and composites, are becoming increasingly important.

Five Things: Adhesives and Dispensing

John Sprovieri

June 4, 2021

Bio-Based Hot-Melt Adhesive for Consumer Electronics Assembly, Vision System Inspects Width, Location of Primer on Automotive Glass...

Bowl Feeds Wave Washers Without Tangling

John Sprovieri

June 2, 2021

Wave washers, also known as wave springs or coiled wave springs, are used to absorb stress due to axial compressive loads, acting as a cushion. The waves of the wave washer provide three-, four- or six-point contact that results in greater load bearing capacity and a medium range of deflection.

Pandemic Spurs Review of Manufacturing Supply Chains

John Sprovieri

June 2, 2021

If there's a silver lining to the COVID pandemic, it might be that it encourages U.S. manufacturers to consider reshoring. Last year's shortages of personal protective equipment, ventilators, pharmaceutical ingredients and other medical products opened a lot of eyes in board rooms and in Washington.

Do’s and Don’ts for Hoist and Crane Operation

John Sprovieri

May 28, 2021

Hoists and cranes boost productivity, improve ergonomics and reduce damage to parts and assemblies. That’s not to say, however, that assemblers can take a cavalier attitude toward these devices. Here are some do’s and don’ts for using hoists and cranes.

New Friction Welding Process Requires Less Force

John Sprovieri

May 19, 2021

To join two aluminum parts, you could, in theory, place one atop the other and wait 100 years. The two will eventually form a solid-state bond. Metals naturally want to join with each other.

Machine Automates Assembly of Insulin Pens

Syntegon’s assembly system employs a variety of automation components from Festo.

John Sprovieri

May 6, 2021

Diabetes is on the rise worldwide. Some 10 million people are diagnosed with the disease every year. That unfortunate statistic has led to increased demand for insulin pens. These medical devices are used by diabetics to inject insulin.

Feeding System Handles Delicate Parts for Swiss Watches

John Sprovieri

May 6, 2021

A simple mechanical watch contains roughly 130 components. More complex watches contain hundreds of parts. A top-of-the-line model can have well over 1,000 parts.

Automakers Grapple With Semiconductor Shortage

A global shortage of semiconductors continues to adversely affect U.S. automakers.

John Sprovieri

May 4, 2021

On March 26, Stellantis announced that it would temporarily close five North American assembly plants starting April 5. The affected plants are in Illinois, Michigan, Mexico and Canada. At press time, the plants were expected to be closed through mid-April.