Articles by John Sprovieri

The UH-72 Lakota is a twin-engine helicopter with a single, four-bladed main rotor. Built by Airbus Helicopters Inc., a division of Airbus Group Inc., the UH-72 performs logistics and support missions within the U.S. for homeland security, disaster response missions and medical evacuations.

Magna International Inc. is one of the world’s largest auto parts companies, supplying OEMs in 28 countries and four continents.

In most assemblies that are joined with threaded fasteners, the cost of the fasteners is not as important as the cost of installing them. 

Alfa Romeo introduced the Tonale, a compact crossover SUV, in February 2022. It’s Alfa’s first hybrid vehicle, and it’s the first new model introduced by the brand in six years.

Based in New Britain, CT, Polamer Precision manufactures complex engine and airframe components for military and commercial aircraft engines. 

Based in Plymouth, MI, Adient plc is the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive seating, accounting for one-third of the global market and providing components for 25 million vehicles.

Any assembly that turns, rotates or pivots—gearboxes, bearings, levers, reclining mechanisms—is typically tested to ensure that it works as intended. 

Anyone who has ever painted a bedroom or a car knows that the most difficult and time-consuming part of the process is actually the prep work: repairing damage, sanding, cleaning and masking. Now, imagine if you had to paint a passenger jet.

Assemblers in many industries are discovering the benefits of adhesive bonding. Adhesives can join dissimilar materials, such as rubber and metal. Adhesives can create hermetic seals. 

With feedback from load cells, encoders and other sensors, today’s microprocessor-controlled plastic welders offer extraordinary command over every aspect of the joining process.