Items Tagged with 'flexible automation'

XIAOLAN, China—Comau has designed and deployed a flexible body-in-white (BIW) manufacturing line for JMC Ford’s assembly plant here, which produces high-end pickup trucks. 

In 1923, Albrecht Schnizler designed a hand-cranked drill dubbed the Metallbohrdreher, or “metal drill driver.” That drill became the inspiration for the brand Metabo.

WAVERLY, IA—United Equipment Accessories (UEA), a manufacturer of slip rings, rotary unions and other motion control components, will deploy Microfactories from Bright Machines Inc. at its assembly plant here.

In many industries, automation is an afterthought—considered only after a process is stable, “everything works,” and an organization assesses the “risks and paybacks.” Ideally, however, automation should be considered from day one.

Fixtures are essential to most assembly and machining processes. Their design is vital, as they have a direct effect on productivity, cost and quality. It is estimated that 40 percent of rejected parts stem from inappropriate fixturing.

In response to markets that constantly demand new and more products, many manufacturers are turning from hard automation and off-shoring to flexible automation.