EVANSVILLE, IN—Systems integrator Evana Automation recently delivered a lean, 21-step assembly and test system to American Axle & Manufacturing Inc.

BOSTON—Researchers from Harvard and MIT have created a printed inchworm robot that can fold and assemble itself.

A recent wordworking project has given me a greater appreciation of assembly line challenges. Has a home project ever informed your work in the assembly plant?

Well known for its engineering expertise, The EDAG Group develops vehicles and production systems for auto manufacturers all over the world. In conjunction with FFT EDAG, its sister company, The EDAG Group also creates complete production facilities for body in white modeling and vehicle assembly.

Kids have loved robots and toys for generations. The Rodon Group has decided that now is the perfect time for a robot named Baxter to help pack toys in the company’s highly automated manufacturing facility.

NORDLINGEN, Germany—Six-axis robots and a rotary indexing table are the heart of a high-speed automated assembly system that produces 200,000 automotive sensors daily.

It has become fashionable lately for some U.S. companies to tout how they’ve reshored production from overseas. Baldor Electric Co. isn’t one of them—it never left. The company has been manufacturing electric motors, drives, bearings and other motion control products in the United States for decades.

Component interoperability for PC-based vision systems has come a long way in a short time. The main reason for this quick evolution is interface standards, which the AIA, a machine vision trade group, began introducing in 2000.

Robotic screwdriving offers numerous advantages to manufacturers, such as flexibility and repeatability. However, it’s easy to underestimate the requirements of automation. Sometimes, engineers specify the wrong type of robot or overlook parts feeding issues.

Several issues need to be addressed before there will be more widespread use of robotic screwdriving. Cost, robot design, training, culture and other factors must be considered by manufacturing engineers.

The manufacturing industry is at a turning point, requiring the ability to visualize the possibilities and challenges to come so preparations can be made now.

AUTOMATION 2013
23 TO 26 SEPTEMBER
8TH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE
NSE COMPLEX, GOREGOAN, MUMBAI
HALL NO 1

North America's largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event heads to the Las Vegas Convention Center November 12-14, 2012.

In 2013, SOUTH-TEC moves to the TD Convention Center, one of the nation's largest convention and meeting facilities, featuring 280,000 square feet of exhibit space and 60,000 square feet of meeting and conference space.

Experience the people, technology and innovation that are redefining the future of manufacturing. WESTEC, a showcase for the latest innovations from the leaders in manufacturing.

CMTS will be held SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 3, 2013 at: International Centre 6900 Airport Road Mississauga, ON

AeroDef Manufacturing is the leading exposition and technical conference for the aerospace and defense manufacturing industry.

Manufacturing solutions have evolved from simple, off-the-shelf machines to highly specialized technologies of the future. Machinery that was once mundane and common are now literal works of art — original, creative, and designed to work with a sophistication that’s efficient and compelling.