Chicago manufacturing

Manufacturing History Comes Alive in Pullman

Pullman perfected rail car production processes and pioneered the use of new materials.

November 2, 2021

America's newest national park recently opened on the South Side of Chicago. The Pullman National Monument celebrates the unique history of a company that mass-produced freight and passenger rail cars at the site from 1881 to 1981.

Electric Vehicle Manufacturers Explore 3D Printing

Fast Radius Sees Printed Parts as Key to Successful EV Manufacturing

Austin Weber

September 29, 2021

Additive manufacturing is a popular alternative to traditional plastic injection molding, metal casting and metal stamping, because it enables engineers to consolidate parts and produce components in complex shapes.

Assembling Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Austin Weber

September 22, 2021

Today, gas stations are a ubiquitous part of the urban landscape. They are found at numerous intersections and off-ramps. But, once upon a time, service stations were few and far between. As a result, one of the biggest fears of early motorists was running out of gas while on a long-distance road trip.

US Bike Manufacturers Ramp Up Assembly Lines

Business is booming for bicycles, but domestic production lags behind.

Austin Weber

July 6, 2021

The bicycle industry has emerged as one of the few beneficiaries of the coronavirus pandemic, as people search for ways to stay active, entertain children and commute to work. By some estimates, bicycle sales nationwide surged by 50 percent last year.

Engineers Take the Spotlight in Chicago and Milwaukee

Austin Weber

February 7, 2020

Museum exhibits highlight some of the many products that were once made in Chicago and Milwaukee factories

Automation Gives Medical Device Manufacturer a Shot in the Arm

Collaborative robots help improve productivity and reduce costs.

Austin Weber

January 3, 2018

Needles are one of the most basic and least glamorous types of medical devices. But, every day, doctors and nurses rely on "sharps" to administer medicine, draw blood, conduct biopsies and perform many other vital medical procedures.

Lean Manufacturing Helps LED Lighting Company Compete

Continuous improvement helps Jarvis Lighting compete against low-cost rivals.

Austin Weber

August 3, 2017

Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting is one of the hottest segments in the electrical equipment industry today. And, as more consumers seek energy-efficient alternatives to traditional incandescent and fluorescent products, global shipments of LED fixtures, luminaires and modules are expected to grow more than 12 percent annually over the next five years.