Austin Weber

In addition to state-of-the-art assembly equipment, people also contribute to the success of the Schneider Electric/Square D Lexington plant. More than 50 percent of the workforce has been employed at the facility for 20 years or more.

The men and women who work at the Schneider Electric/Square D Lexington plant donate time and money to a wide variety of local charities.

The Schneider Electric/Square D Lexington plant has been assembling residential load centers and safety switches since Dwight D. Eisenhower was president of the United States. But, a wide variety of production tools used today, such as vision systems, did not exist when the plant opened 50 years ago.

The Schneider Electric/Square D Lexington plant is committed to protecting the environment. It has initiated numerous green programs over the last few years.

The typical load center is a plain metal box that most people never think about unless their television or computer suddenly stops working. Hundreds of them are assembled every day at Schneider Electric/Square D Lexington, the recipient of the 2007 Assembly Plant of the Year award presented by ASSEMBLY magazine.

To celebrate ASSEMBLY magazine's golden anniversary, here's a year-by-year look at how things have changed, evolved and stayed the same over the last 50 years. The timeline focuses on engineering achievements, business trends and manufacturing milestones.

What will cars look like in 50 years, when ASSEMBLY celebrates its centennial? If today's designers are correct, we're all in for a wild ride ahead.

This month marks ASSEMBLY magazine’s 50th anniversary. To celebrate that event, here are some predictions for the future. Share your own comments . . . and don’t forget to check back here in 50 years.

During the last 50 years, ASSEMBLY magazine has witnessed numerous events, trends and issues that have dramatically changed the face of American manufacturing. To celebrate ASSEMBLY's golden anniversary, we have identified 10 mega trends that, for better or worse, have shaped today's manufacturing landscape and will continue to shape the future.