2022 April

Assembly eMagazine

The 2022 April Assembly features our cover story: Beyond the Welding Line: Robots and Automotive Assembly, plus much more. Check it out today!

Beyond the Welding Line: Robots and Automotive Assembly

Humans and machines are collaborating on trim lines.

Austin Weber

April 12, 2022

For decades, automakers have primarily used robots for welding and painting. Final assembly lines were considered too complex and too unsafe for automation. However, that is changing.

Spot Welding Metal-Plastic Composites

A new resistance spot welding process can join metal-plastic composites

Pawel Kustron Ph.D.

April 7, 2022

Metal-plastic composites (MPCs) have many advantages for producing lightweight structures. They are lighter than steel, yet very strong. They can be shaped using standard cold-forming processes. And, they are less expensive than aluminum alloys.

Collaborative Robots Help Fiat Ramp Up EV Production

Austin Weber

April 19, 2022

The iconic Fiat 500 is a legendary automobile. In Italy, the cinquecento is considered to be the "people’s car." Since 1957, more than 6 million units have been mass-produced. The subcompact vehicle is even part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Best Practices for Conveyor Maintenance

Timely and proper maintenance is essential for all key conveyor components.

Jim Camillo

April 4, 2022

Despite its advanced capabilities, automation equipment used on assembly lines remains susceptible to failure. This presents manufacturers with the ongoing challenge of preventing unplanned equipment downtime, which is always disruptive and costly.

US Competitiveness Unlocks Reshoring Opportunities

Harry Moser

April 19, 2022

Resilient supply chains are fundamental to our national security and economic prosperity. The pandemic-induced collapse of global supply chains has launched a national movement to strengthen domestic manufacturing.

Cobots Help Metal Fabricator Boost Productivity

Jim Camillo

April 20, 2022

Like all manufacturers, fabricators know that they must change when the marketplace requires it. Some of them even welcome the chance to do different things, or at least do them differently.

Electrical Equipment Manufacturer Benefit From ESD-Safe Work Benches

Electrical Equipment Manufacturer Benefits From ESD-Safe Work Benches

Jim Camillo

April 20, 2022

Manufacturing high-quality products on a consistent basis is never easy. This is especially true for complex products used in consumer, business and industrial electronics.

Testing Equipment Ensures Car-to-Phone UWB Connectivity

Jim Camillo

April 20, 2022

Ultra-wideband (UWB) is quickly gaining a foothold in manufacturing for several reasons. The radio-based communication technology offers fast (up to 27 megabits per second) and secure data transmission, centimeter-accurate location measurements within 70 meters and low power requirements.

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Threatens Manufacturing Recovery

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has disrupted automotive assembly lines in throughout Europe.

John Sprovieri

April 19, 2022

Finally, we have good news on COVID. Two-thirds of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. As of March 16, the seven-day average for new cases was the lowest since July 13, 2021, and the seven-day average for fatalities was the lowest since Nov. 30, 2021. Some 93 percent of the country is not at high risk for COVID.

On Demand Learn how manufacturers are bridging the gap between the shop floor and ERP systems to gain real-time visibility, streamline operations, and kick-start digital transformation—without waiting years.

Sponsored by:

On Demand In this presentation, Dr. Herman Tang shares practical insights from his industry experience and research on buffer management in manufacturing operations.

Assembly eMagazine

2022 April

Cover Story

Beyond the Welding Line: Robots and Automotive Assembly

Features

Spot Welding Metal-Plastic Composites

Collaborative Robots Help Fiat Ramp Up EV Production

Best Practices for Conveyor Maintenance

Columns

US Competitiveness Unlocks Reshoring Opportunities

Cobots Help Metal Fabricator Boost Productivity

Electrical Equipment Manufacturer Benefits From ESD-Safe Work Benches

Testing Equipment Ensures Car-to-Phone UWB Connectivity

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Threatens Manufacturing Recovery

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