Assembly Magazine

assembly dec 2019

2019 December

The 2019 December Assembly features our Capital Spending Report, plus much more. Check it out today!

Cover Story

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ASSEMBLY Capital Spending Report: Capital Spending to Increase

ASSEMBLY Capital Spending Report 2019: Manufacturers Continue to Invest in Technology

Despite some headwinds, manufacturers will continue to invest in assembly technology
Sprovieri200
John Sprovieri
December 9, 2019
In September, Toyota announced that it will invest $391 million in its truck assembly plant in San Antonio. Hyundai announced that it is investing nearly $300 million in its factory in Montgomery, AL. Brake manufacturer Bendix Spicer began construction on a $65 million expansion of its assembly plant Bowling Green, KY. And, automotive supplier Hirotec Group said it will invest $48 million to build a new assembly plant in Fayetteville, TN.
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Features

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Optimizing Assembly with Pallet-Handling Conveyors

Optimizing Assembly with Pallet-Handling Conveyors

Modular pallet conveyors offer flexibility and increased assembly line productivity
Kate Nadeau
December 5, 2019
Manufacturing companies contributed $2.17 trillion to the U.S. economy according to the most recent annual data. Manufacturers, of which 98.6 percent qualify as small businesses, have become more agile, more productive and leaner in recent years.
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What’s New From the ASSEMBLY Show

What’s New From the ASSEMBLY Show

Cobots, IIOT and other new technologies impress engineers at our annual trade show
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John Sprovieri
December 6, 2019
More than 5,000 manufacturing professionals saw the latest robots, fastening tools and automation at the seventh annual ASSEMBLY Show, which was held Oct. 22-24 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.
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Eliminating the Seven Deadly Wastes

Eliminating the Seven Deadly Wastes

Manufacturers should evaluate processes to reduce hidden causes of waste
Brian Neuwirth
December 4, 2019
Waste, in lean terms, is any activity that does not add value to the product while costing a manufacturer money and resources. From active losses to missed opportunities, these wastes are so common in manufacturing operations that they are often overlooked.
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What’s New With Robot End-Effectors

What’s New With Robot End-Effectors

Equipment suppliers, and integrators, increasingly offer smart end-effectors for cobots, multi-part handling and IIOT applications
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Jim Camillo
December 3, 2019
Noted horror writer Clive Barker once claimed that nothing ever truly begins or ends; rather, current things are just continuations of past things, and future things are continuations of present ones. Although interesting, this notion doesn't work well in the world of manufacturing.
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Columns

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moser

U.S. manufacturing: The greener choice

Offshoring has negatively affected the environment
Harry Moser
December 5, 2019
U.S. consumers are increasingly concerned about how their buying habits affect the environment. In fact, a recent Nielsen study found that 48 percent of U.S. consumers would change their buying habits to reduce environmental impacts.
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Directed system or pull system—the schedule tango

Directed system or pull system—the schedule tango

Jon Quigley
December 9, 2019
In an earlier article, we dissected the project scope and explored the work breakdown structure (WBS). The WBS is the disaggregation of the scope into the work products that are required to meet the defined scope. Now, we are going explore setting about doing the work, from a schedule, or perhaps we will not even build a schedule.
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Robots assemble hydraulic valves

Robots assemble hydraulic valves

Linear motor system positions pucks in a modular assembly platform
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John Sprovieri
December 4, 2019
Hydraulic valves direct the flow of a liquid medium, usually oil, through a hydraulic system. These valves are used in a variety of applications, including heavy trucks, farm equipment, and mining and construction machinery.
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