ASSEMBLY

Toyota Deploys Geekplus Robots for Factory Material Handling

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

BEIJING — Toyota Motor Corp. is using 436 Geekplus autonomous mobile robots at multiple plants in Japan to automate in-plant material movement from inbound receiving to picking and processing areas.

PODCAST | AI Vision on the Plant Floor: Where It Works and Where It Doesn’t

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

AI is changing machine vision, but not in the way many manufacturers expect. Matt Moschner, CEO of Cognex, explains where AI vision systems outperform traditional tools, where they don’t and why most real-world applications rely on a hybrid approach.

Lockheed Martin Opens Missile Assembly Facility in Alabama

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

COURTLAND, Ala. — Lockheed Martin has opened an 88,000-square-foot missile assembly facility in Courtland to support production of the Next Generation Interceptor for the Missile Defense Agency.

AI-Powered Robots Learn Real-World Tasks From Human Experts

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Researchers are developing AI-powered robotic systems capable of learning physical tasks directly from human experts, a capability that could eventually influence how robots are trained across industries, including manufacturing.

GE Aerospace Completes Hybrid Electric Engine Ground Test

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

CINCINNATI – GE Aerospace has completed ground testing of a megawatt-class hybrid electric engine system, marking the company’s first validation of a fully integrated hybrid electric propulsion system and moving the technology closer to future flight demonstrations.

AGV system with powered conveyor help increase productivity

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Creform’s AGV system with powered conveyor helps improve productivity with programmable control, spin/turn capability, speeds up to 164 fpm and load capacity up to 1,320 pounds.

VIDEO | The “Roomba Problem” Inside Modern Factories

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:00:00 -0400

What do factory robots and robot vacuums have in common? According to Aron Semle, CTO of HighByte: they both get stuck. In this clip from an upcoming episode of ASSEMBLY Audible, Semle explains how disconnected factory systems create what he calls the “Roomba problem” — and why standardized industrial data is becoming critical for AI and automation on the plant floor.

U.S. Manufacturing Activity Reaches Four-Year High

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — U.S. manufacturing activity expanded in May at its fastest pace in four years, driven by strong demand for AI-related infrastructure, increased factory output and efforts by companies to secure materials ahead of anticipated cost increases.

Wood Pallet Trash Solution, Sustainable Outcome

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A turnkey engineered system helps manufacturers safely and efficiently remove wood pallet waste from the production floor, then convert wood and metal materials into sustainable secondary uses.

Automated Brazing and Soldering Machines

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Fusion turns manual brazing and soldering processes into turnkey automation systems that help reduce labor costs, increase production and improve output.

Maintenance Teams Turn to AI Amid Workforce Pressure

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

ITASCA, Ill. — Maintenance teams in automated manufacturing environments are increasingly turning to AI-driven planning and operational support tools as factories struggle with aging workforces, growing asset complexity and pressure to reduce unplanned downtime.

PODCAST | Could Trade Deal Uncertainty Slow America’s Manufacturing Comeback?

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, is heading toward its first formal review on July 1. Patrick Lozada, Senior Director of Global Policy at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, explains how the USMCA supports manufacturing, regional supply chains, standards alignment and long-term investment certainty.

Manufacturing Industry "AI Leaders" Focus on Production, Quality and Maintenance

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Manufacturers generating the strongest returns from artificial intelligence are concentrating investments on production planning, quality, maintenance and supply chain operations, according to a new report from NTT DATA.

Chinese Automaker Chery May Hire Nissan to Assemble Cars in the UK

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:59:00 -0400

SUNDERLAND, UK—Nissan may soon produce cars for Chinese automotive OEM Chery International at its assembly plant here.

Tariffs, AI and Automation Reshape Global Manufacturing Strategy

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

BOSTON — Artificial intelligence, advanced automation and rising tariff pressure are beginning to reshape where automotive and aerospace manufacturers choose to build products, potentially reducing some of the long-standing cost advantages of lower-wage production regions, according to a new report from Boston Consulting Group.

Best Practices to Prevent Outgassing With Adhesives

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 11:30:00 -0400

Adhesive bonding enables engineers to create strong joints. But industrial adhesives have several drawbacks, such as outgassing, which can cause problems in some applications.

Volvo Redesigns EV Manufacturing

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Volvo Cars has begun production of its new, fully electric EX60 SUV at its assembly plant in Torslanda, Sweden. The plant has been heavily upgraded in recent years in preparation for production of the EX60 and other EVs.

Frontline Workers Report Rising Operational Pressure

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Growing operational pressure, outdated systems and slow decision-making are increasing frustration among frontline workers across manufacturing and other industrial sectors, according to new research from SafetyCulture.

Stern Pinball Keeps Old-School Fun Alive

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0400

In today’s age of artificial intelligence, smartphones, video games and virtual reality, pinball has undergone a resurgence. A handful of companies still make pinball machines in the United States. The largest of them all is Stern Pinball Inc.

Siemens Launches Manufacturing Training Program for Veterans

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:42:05 -0400

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Siemens has launched a workforce development initiative aimed at helping military veterans and transitioning service members move into manufacturing, automation and digital engineering careers as manufacturers continue struggling with skilled labor shortages.

Predictive Maintenance Reshapes Automated Production Operations

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Manufacturers are increasingly treating automation maintenance as a production strategy rather than a reactive repair function as factories become more dependent on robotics, automated systems and continuous uptime.

Aerospace, Medical Manufacturers Seek to Modernize Compliance Infrastructure

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

CHICAGO — Manufacturers in highly regulated industries are increasingly consolidating ERP, quality management and traceability systems into unified digital platforms as companies work to reduce compliance overhead, simplify audits and improve production visibility across complex operations.

Storage Rack Accommodates Long Metal Stock

Thu, 28 May 2026 14:02:00 -0400

Managing long stock materials, such as steel tubes, bar stock and aluminum extrusions, can create significant storage and handling challenges. LEAN’s innovative Long Stock Storage System simplifies inventory management, improve accessibility, and reduce workspace footprint.

Hexagon Spin-Off Reflects Growth of Industrial AI Sector

Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Hexagon AB has spun off its industrial intelligence and AI software business into a standalone company, Octave Intelligence plc, signaling the growing importance of connected operational data, digital infrastructure and AI-driven industrial analytics across manufacturing and critical infrastructure operations.

PODCAST | Why OEM-Supplier Relationships Improved Despite Tariffs and EV Uncertainty

Thu, 28 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Despite tariffs, EV disruption and supply chain pressure, supplier relationships improved across all six major North American OEMs for the first time in 26 years. Dr. Angela Johnson explains what changed — and why communication and trust are becoming critical competitive advantages.

Clean Energy Manufacturing Ramps Up in USA

Wed, 27 May 2026 13:00:00 -0400

WASHINGTON—Solar, wind and other types of clean energy manufacturing has become an important part of the U.S. industrial economy, according to the American Clean Power Association.

Digital Transformation Is Essential, Claims New Study

Wed, 27 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

MILWAUKEE—Manufacturers are no longer debating whether to adopt digital technologies, but how to execute, scale and deliver measurable value from them.

Drones, Humanoids and AI Vehicles Are Driving Robotics Growth

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Robotics technologies are expanding across manufacturing, logistics and autonomous driving applications as advances in artificial intelligence, sensing and automation continue accelerating development, according to research firm IDTechEx.

Schaeffler to Deploy Hundreds of Humanoid Robots

Tue, 26 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400

HERZOGENAURACH, Germany—Schaeffler AG plans to deploy hundreds of humanoid robots in its factories.

Knife Maker Redesigns Assembly Line

Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:00 -0400

Shifting from a traditional process to a streamlined assembly line to a 30 percent increase in throughput and a 53 percent reduction in footprint.