2026 January

Automated Assembly

Pella Opens a Window on Automation

AGVs, AI and robots help a century-old company thrive in a competitive industry.

Austin Weber

December 29, 2025

Pella is investing in automation to boost productivity and improve the quality of its windows and doors.

Test and Inspection

New Tech Checks EV Batteries for Leaks

New technology enables an integrator to transition from leak-testing air bag inflators to inspecting EV batteries.

January 2, 2026

Spectro Physics designed a system to test eight batteries at a time.

assembling the stainless-steel walls of a dishwasher

Assembly Presses

Appliance Maker Clinches Stainless Steel Sheets

Electromechanical press monitors force and displacement for quality control.

December 19, 2025

The sheet metal clinching process joins the thin stainless-steel sheets quickly and reliably. In contrast to riveting or welding, the surface and the material structure remain intact and sealed.

distributing heat-conductive particles throughout the material

Adhesive Bonding and Dispensing

System Dispenses Thermal Paste Without Bubbles

System ensures even distribution of conductive particles.

Melanie Spiethaler

December 17, 2025

BorgWarner was struggling with inconsistent dispensing of thermal paste. To solve the problem, the automotive supplier turned to ViscoTec, which specializes in equipment for dispensing two-part materials and filled materials.

Manufacturing Software

Software Helps Lockheed Improve Cost Estimation

Software has reduced the time needed to perform cost estimates for airframe components by 75 percent.

John Sprovieri

December 23, 2025

Estimates that took weeks are now done in two days with an accuracy of about 5 percent.

KMP 1500P AMRs bring parts and supplies to a welding cell

Robotics

Robots Automate Assembly at Machinery Factory

Autonomous mobile robots eliminate the need for forklifts on the shop floor.

Teresa Fischer

December 30, 2025

Krone’s state-of-the-art, smart factory in Ibbenbüren produces complex welded assemblies for the company’s tractors and trailers.

Automotive Industry Prepares for Connected and Circular Economy

John Sprovieri

January 6, 2026

To increase collaboration up and down the supply chain, a coalition of European automotive manufacturers created Catena-X, the first end-to-end, collaborative and open data ecosystem for the automotive industry.

Penn State Harnesses AI Technology to Improve Laser Welding Quality

Austin Weber

January 2, 2026

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University used large language models to evaluate parameters that can contribute to laser welding defects and quality issues.

Automotive Assembly

Gigacasting: The Next Big Idea in Automotive Manufacturing?

Large-scale aluminum die-casting offers numerous pros and cons.

Austin Weber

December 26, 2025

Automakers are investing in new technology that enables them to produce large castings. The goal is to consolidate parts, reduce complexity and eliminate weight.

See it at the Show

Custom Workstations Improve Ergonomics

John Sprovieri

December 30, 2025

Modular, adjustable, mobile workstations that adapt to employees’ natural movements support continuous improvement while maintaining safety and efficiency.

Stelron’s CWB conveyor walking beam chassis

New & Noteworthy

Chassis Combines Walking Beam and Belt Transfer Systems

John Sprovieri

December 29, 2025

Read about the CWB chassis from Stelron Components Inc. and other new motion control products in this month’s “New and Noteworthy.”

Assembly Lines

Embodied AI Ushers in a New Robotics Era

Austin Weber

January 7, 2026

NEW YORK—The integration of artificial intelligence into robotics is poised for significant expansion in the near future, according to a new report by ABI Research.

Assembly Lines

GM Joint Venture Debuts New Auto Manufacturing System

Austin Weber

January 8, 2026

LIUZHOU, China—SAIC-GM-Wuling has ramped up a new automotive production process that replaces the traditional assembly line with a fully flexible, AI-driven model.

Assembly Lines

Wearable Device Can Control Machines While in Motion

Austin Weber

January 9, 2026

SAN DIEGO—Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a next-generation wearable device that enables people to control robots and other machines using everyday gestures.

Assembly Lines

JLR Deploys Drones to Improve Safety and Efficiency

Austin Weber

January 12, 2026

GAYDON, England—Engineers at JLR are using drones to inspect production machinery and equipment.

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

Cover Story

Pella Opens a Window on Automation

Features

New Tech Checks EV Batteries for Leaks

Appliance Maker Clinches Stainless Steel Sheets

System Dispenses Thermal Paste Without Bubbles

Software Helps Lockheed Improve Cost Estimation

Robots Automate Assembly at Machinery Factory

Columns

Automotive Industry Prepares for Connected and Circular Economy

Penn State Harnesses AI Technology to Improve Laser Welding Quality

Departments

Gigacasting: The Next Big Idea in Automotive Manufacturing?

Custom Workstations Improve Ergonomics

Chassis Combines Walking Beam and Belt Transfer Systems

Embodied AI Ushers in a New Robotics Era

GM Joint Venture Debuts New Auto Manufacturing System

Wearable Device Can Control Machines While in Motion

JLR Deploys Drones to Improve Safety and Efficiency

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