Volvo's skilled workers were spending more time on non-value-added tasks—moving material, hooking it up to a crane, and setting it in a fixture—instead of doing what they do best: complex welds. The automated process has improved ergonomics and requires less manual intervention.
This roundup highlights the latest robotics innovations aimed at improving throughput, simplifying deployment and helping manufacturers address ongoing labor and process challenges.
Now, the cobot can weld one component while the operator replaces the completed part, minimizing downtime and maximizing output. By using one robot across multiple stations, PeyMar made the most of its limited floor space. It also reduced costs for labor, capital investment and maintenance.
Impulse heat staking simplifies installation of brass inserts by generating heat only when needed and keeping the cycle consistent from part to part. Real-time depth verification adds straightforward confirmation of final insert depth and insert presence.
By choosing compatible specialty resins and copolymers rather than commodity plastics for laser-transparent and laser-absorbent layers, manufacturers can add value in terms of aesthetics, specific performance attributes, durability and regulatory compliance.
Researchers at Pennsylvania State University used large language models to evaluate parameters that can contribute to laser welding defects and quality issues.
This automated toolless manufacturing technology uses coordinated robotic motion to build 3D parts in orbit.
December 17, 2025
WICHITA, KS—Researchers at the National Institute of Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University have developed a dual-robot automated fiber placement (AFP) system to fabricate thermoplastic composite structures directly in space without tooling.