Articles Tagged with ''flexible assembly''

Small gas engines are the lifeblood of the outdoor power equipment industry. They run all sorts of commercial and consumer devices, ranging from lawnmowers and generators to power washers and portable welders.

BIRMINGHAM, UK—A way of teaching robots to pick up unfamiliar objects without dropping or breaking them has been developed by researchers at the University of Birmingham. The research paves the way for robots to be used in more flexible ways and in more complex environments.

MILPITAS, CA—Flextronics has installed a flexible automated assembly line at its factory here that can be quickly changed to adapt to new products or production processes.

 As orthopedic and medical device technology evolves, so do the manufacturing processes of industry leaders like Acumed. 

NASHVILLE, TN—The Doerfer Cos. will integrate Universal Robotics’ software for artificial intelligence and 3D vision to create flexible parts feeders for automated assembly.

 A robot equipped with an adaptive gripper can provide an alternative to maintaining multiple jigs for automated welding. 

Telecom-industry leaders Nokia Corp. and Alcatel-Lucent know the importance of quality work and long-term relationships. So it is no surprise that both have been regular customers of well-known electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider Kyrel Oy for more than a decade.

There’s an old joke that the factory of the future will be so automated that it will have just two employees: a guard dog and someone to feed it. Fortunately or not, such a scenario remains the purview of science fiction. Indeed, despite advances in robotics and automation, people remain the most flexible assembly technology.

Think all big trucks look the same? Don’t tell that to an engineer at Kenworth Truck Co. The legendary firm is synonymous with hard-working, well-built vehicles.

La-Z-Boy is one of the best-known brands in the residential furniture industry. The company is synonymous for its comfortable reclining chairs. But, La-Z-Boy is also well-known for lean manufacturing and its made-in-the-USA production philosophy.