2021 December

Capital Spending Survey: Assemblers Gear Up for Recovery

Capital Spending Survey 2021: Assemblers Gear Up for Recovery

With the pandemic subsiding and consumer spending on the rise, manufacturers are investing in their assembly operations.

December 7, 2021

In February 2020, U.S. manufacturers employed nearly 12.8 million people. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. In an instant, the country lost 1 million manufacturing jobs as governments and businesses scrambled to figure out how best to stop the spread of the disease.

Danfoss Automates Valve Assembly With Cobots

A trio of dual-arm SCARAs boost productivity and free workers from strenuous assembly tasks.

Malene Grouleff

December 3, 2021

Valves are a key component of heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. For example, in systems that use water as a medium for heating and cooling, balancing valves regulate the flow of hot or cold water to the various terminals in the system. In air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, expansion valves control the flow of refrigerant between the compressor, condenser and evaporator.

Gigafactories Help Battery Manufacturers Meet Growing EV Demand

Fast, flexible automation can maximize throughput.

John Miles

December 23, 2021

Over the next decade, tens of millions of batteries will be necessary to keep up with skyrocketing demand for electric vehicles. A new breed of supersized battery factories must deploy state-of-the-art automation while harnessing advanced supply chain strategies.

Controlling Heat Build Up in EVs

New tools and technology help battery-powered vehicles control heat.

John Challen

December 20, 2021

Battery thermal management is a huge challenge in electric vehicles. In addition to increasing the risk of fire, high temperatures can have a direct influence on range. By efficiently controlling EV temperature levels, battery range can be maximized.

AV/EV Tire Trends

AVs and EVs spur tiremakers to develop new products.

Nathan Eddy

December 21, 2021

The automotive industry is evolving toward new types of tire technology to meet the unique challenges of electric and autonomous vehicles. Long-time suppliers such as Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli, which have made rubber products since the dawn of the horseless carriage era, are scrambling to adapt to 21st century demands.

What’s New From the ASSEMBLY Show

In-person trade show provides thousands of engineers with key insights into smart manufacturing, evolving technologies and state-of-the-art tools for assembly.

Jim Camillo

December 6, 2021

More than 3,000 manufacturing professionals saw the latest robots, fastening tools and automation at the ninth annual ASSEMBLY Show, which was held Oct. 26-28 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

Robots Automate Disassembly of Chemical Weapons

In just 18 months, automation engineers overhauled how America destroys its most dangerous chemical weapons.

James DeSmet

December 1, 2021

In 1951, at the height of the Cold War, the U.S. Army Chemical Corps and Ordnance Corps initiated a program to develop a new rocket that could deliver chemical weapons over a large area. The result was the M55 rocket, which was equipped with a unitary warhead filled with sarin or VX—highly toxic nerve agents. The rocket was rushed into production, and tens of thousands were produced from 1959 to 1965.

Automation Helps Lotus Zoom Ahead

Austin Weber

December 14, 2021

Lotus Cars Ltd. has been famous for cutting-edge technology for more than 60 years. For decades, the British company founded by legendary engineer Colin Chapman was synonymous with Formula 1 motor racing.

Traditional Auto Supplier Shifts Gears

Austin Weber

December 3, 2021

The Schaeffler Group is a family-owned German auto parts manufacturer that supplies automakers around the world. Like many companies, it is shifting its product portfolio to electric vehicles.

Solid-State Battery Is Big Breakthrough

Austin Weber

December 1, 2021

A team of engineers at the University of California San Diego have created a new type of battery that weaves two promising subfields into a single product.

Sensata Takes Smarter Approach to Sensor Production

Jim Camillo

December 17, 2021

Every process change made by a manufacturer brings with it one or more unique challenges. Consider, for example, the challenges involved when switching from manual or pneumatic presses to servo models for low-force-pressing applications.

Laser-Based Tracker and Projector Improve Yacht Hull Assembly

Jim Camillo

December 17, 2021

On the water, yachts and superyachts are wonderful to look at and be aboard. But, in the factory, these vessels present a major assembly challenge: Accurately positioning, aligning and joining the large, composite components of the hull.

A New Era of 3D Metal Printing Begins at Blackland Razors

Jim Camillo

December 17, 2021

An increased concern for personal appearance is leading to an increased need for razors in a big way. In fact, researchers are projecting the global razor market to surpass $22 billion by 2030.

Assembly Operations Contribute to Reshoring Surge

Harry Moser

December 19, 2021

The pandemic has spurred a national push to strengthen the domestic supply chain, driving reshoring numbers higher.

The Automotive Industry and the Chip Shortage

Jon Quigley

December 16, 2021

We take for granted that our supply chains will deliver the products we desire, or at least we once did. We don't care about their complexity. How could there be complexity? They have always delivered reliably.

Five Things: Sustainable Manufacturing

John Sprovieri

December 14, 2021

In October, the Volvo Group unveiled the world's first vehicle, a load carrier used in mining and quarrying, that is made from steel produced without fossil fuels.

This presentation addresses the vital importance of reshoring U.S. manufacturing capability to ensure economic and military security. You’ll learn how U.S. manufacturing got where it is today, how outsourcing threatens U.S. security, and what U.S. manufacturers can do to fix the problem.

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