Austin Weber

Coronavirus Crisis Inspires Next Generation of Engineers

July 17, 2020

The COVID-19 crisis has upset life on college campuses around the United States. But, that hasn't stopped next-generation engineers from innovating.

What’s New With Handheld Adhesive Dispensing Equipment

Lighter, smarter tools simplify manual assembly tasks.

Austin Weber

July 17, 2020

Sometimes, it's hard to beat tried and true classics. That's why many people quarantined at home during the Great Lockdown turned to old pastimes such as jigsaw puzzles and paint-by-number sets for entertainment.

High-Speed Rail Demands Light Railcars

Carbon-fiber composite is on track for big growth in the rail sector

Austin Weber

June 9, 2020

Automotive and aerospace manufacturers have been at the forefront of the lightweighting trend for some time now. But, they're not the only ones. The railway industry could also benefit from the use of new, lightweight structural materials.

Robotics in the Age of Industry 4.0

Artificial intelligence and data analytics will make robots more productive

Austin Weber

May 15, 2020

Robots are an important piece of the Industry 4.0 puzzle. Tomorrow's smart factories will depend on new types of machines, such as collaborative and mobile devices that are interconnected. Artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and data analytics will also make industrial robots more reliable than ever.

5G Will Drive Tomorrow’s Connected Assembly Lines

Next-generation wireless technology is transforming production processes

Austin Weber

May 15, 2020

The fifth generation of wireless technology is quickly emerging. It will greatly expand the broadband capabilities of mobile networks and provide advanced wireless service for a wide variety of applications ranging from cell phones to assembly lines.

Engineers Earn an ‘A’ for Innovative Ways to Fight COVID-19

Austin Weber

May 11, 2020

Engineering schools around the United States have recently developed a variety of ingenious ways to address the coronavirus pandemic.

Nissan Retools for an Electrified Future

Austin Weber

April 8, 2020

Automakers are scrambling to build a new generation of vehicles that are intelligent, connected and electrified. That’s forcing engineers to rethink how traditional assembly lines and production processes function.

Small Robots Play a Big Role in Automation

Compact tabletop machines are becoming more popular with manufacturers

Austin Weber

April 2, 2020

In basketball, the most flexible player is often the smallest person on the team. Small robots play a similar role in manufacturing.

Community College Trains Workforce for Local Manufacturers

Austin Weber

March 13, 2020

THE CITY OF ROCKFORD, IL, is located 90 miles northwest of Chicago. It has a long, proud history of making machine tools and metal parts, such as nuts and bolts.

Electronic Work Instructions Come of Age

New software tools help engineers enforce production processes

Austin Weber

March 6, 2020

Nobody's perfect. Even the best trained, most experienced assemblers can make mistakes on the line, especially in high-mix production environments. Fortunately, a variety of software products are available to help prevent assembly errors.