College is a great time to experiment. That’s exactly what the Medical Devices Center (MDC) at the University of Minnesota encourages students to do. The 4,000-square-foot facility promotes interdisciplinary medical device development, including needs assessment, creative brainstorming, prototyping and testing.
Vibration welding uses heat generated by friction at the interface of two thermoplastic parts to produce melting in the interfacial area. The molten materials flow together under pressure and bond, forming a weld upon cooling.
As part of its approach to lean manufacturing, the 2011 Assembly Plant of the Year actively engages in benchmarking exercises with several local manufacturers.
The 2011 Assembly Plant of the Year was designed from the ground up to be an environmentally friendly facility. Even the carpets, paint and windows are “green” at the Philips Respironics plant in New Kensington, PA.
What do metal water tanks, pickup trucks and RV chassis have in common? They’re all assembled in state-of-the-art facilities that were finalists for the 2011 Assembly Plant of the Year award.