John Sprovieri

In a pneumatic motion control system, directional control valves have a simple job: open and close.

Lead-free solders can cause severe corrosion in wave-soldering equipment.

GM is the No. 1 assembler in the United States and the world.

In April, President Bush nominated Albert A. Frink Jr. for the new post of assistant secretary of commerce for manufacturing and services-a.k.a., the manufacturing czar.

When simple, constant marks are all that's needed, rubber stamps or pad printing are straightforward, inexpensive options.

The right thread design and driver settings can make a big difference in how well screws assemble plastic parts.

The more expensive your tooling is, the more you'll want crash protection.

Engineers should match the controller with the number and types of motors in the system.

Robots need strong end-effectors to handle large, heavy objects.

Automated equipment can install O-rings three to four times faster than people.