Many automotive engineers have nightmares about noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) issues. Ironically, one of those pests, vibration, is widely used to assemble many types of plastic auto parts.

Though simple in design, the oil pan is a vital part of a vehicle engine's lubrication system. It is typically made of steel and contains a rubber gasket that prevents the oil from leaking.

Rosti Group is a global injection-molding company and contract manufacturer to some of the world’s leading manufacturers in the packaging, consumer appliances, business machines, home automation, medical and automotive sectors. Once Rosti’s engineers receive the customer’s 3D product data and specifications, the clock starts ticking. What do Rosti engineers look for in a plastic part design? What are some common ways that Rosti engineers optimize parts? What are some common mistakes that engineers make when designing plastic parts? How does the intended method of assembly influence part design? Get answers to these questions and more in this exclusive interview.

Staking is ideal for assembling plastic parts. It's quick and inexpensive. It can join dissimilar materials. It eliminates the cost of fasteners and adhesives, and it allows engineers to loosen the tolerances for molded parts.

Vibratory bowl feeders are not the only way to feed parts. One alternative is the centrifugal feeder. This type of feeder is comprised of a rotating center disc mounted on an angle and a horizontally mounted rotating bowl.

Face masks are in short supply, but a new "factory in a box" designed by systems integrator Mikron could solve the problem.

Aesthetics matter in many venues of life, with retail being one of the most common. For example, an effective point-of-sale (POS) display can greatly enhance a product's appearance and its customer appeal.

Not every technological advancement in automotive assembly gets adequate recognition. Consider, for example, how much has been written about the use of aluminum in the redesigned 2019 Dodge RAM 1500 and 2500 trucks, vs. that of ultrasonic welding.

SPIROL has introduced a new series of molded-in inserts for plastic assemblies. The rugged design of the Series 63 through-hole inserts and Series 65 blind-end inserts