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Case histories and technological information from leading industry experts.

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Assembly in Action

Short items explaining how manufacturers are using assembly technology to solve problems or improve processes.

Automation Profiles

Detailed profiles of real-world multistation automated assembly systems.

Fastening Threads

Our nationally known expert discusses issues and trends in assembly with threaded fasteners.

Medical Device Assembly

Short reports on issues affecting medical device manufacturers.

On Campus

Articles about manufacturing research being conducted at the nation's top engineering schools.

Shipulski on Design

Our nationally known expert offers his unique take on how to improve assembly designs.

The Editorial

Commentary on issues and events of interest to manufacturers.

XYZ

Articles about technologies and trends in motion control systems for assembly automation.

Editor’s note: Harry Moser’s column will appear every other month. Has your company reshored production? Are you thinking about it? We’d like to hear from you. We would love to report on your successes or opportunities in future issues. Contact harry. moser@reshorenow.org.

Assembly Innovations

The latest on recent innovations in our industry.

We Fed It

“We Fed It” is a regular series profiling parts feeders for automated assembly. Whether it’s a vibratory bowl, a tray feeder or a flexible robotic system, if you’ve solved a parts-feeding challenge, we’d like to hear about it. Send an e-mail to John Sprovieri, editor of ASSEMBLY, at sprovierij@bnpmedia.com, or call 630-776-0924.

21st Century Assembly

ASSEMBLY magazine is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, we are conducting a series of interviews with manufacturing executives from various industries. “21st Century Assembly” will look back on the technologies and strategies that have made a big impact on manufacturing and—more importantly—look ahead to the future.

Mind Your Ps and Qs

Quarterly column from Jon Quigley, Jon has held engineering and management positions at Volvo Trucks, PACCAR and other companies.

ARTICLES

Florida Polytech Drives Autonomous Vehicle Research

Austin Weber

January 16, 2020

The 1920s was a golden age for the automobile in America. Millions of people jumped behind the wheel for the first time and transformed mobility, not to mention just about every facet of life. History may repeat itself during the 2020s. But, this time around, cars will be driving themselves.

ERP Software Keeps Bearing Manufacturer Rolling

Jim Camillo

January 15, 2020

Bearing manufacturers face a plethora of challenges every day, regardless of where they are located and the industries they serve. One such company is Philadelphia-based Kingsbury Inc., which has been around for 108 years, and is recognized as a technological leader in the development of all types of bearings for rotating machinery.

Detecting Defects in Medical Devices No Problem for Vision System

Jim Camillo

January 14, 2020

In its latest report, BCC Research projects the global drug delivery market to grow to nearly $227.3 billion by 2020, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.9 percent. This is great news for the French company Nemera, which designs and manufactures world-class drug delivery devices for the pharmaceutical industry.

Sensor Optimizes Cutting-Edge Stone Processing System

Jim Camillo

January 13, 2020

Traditionally, multiple pieces of equipment have been required to process a stone slab. Separate machines that cut, drill or finish the slab surface have been used by stone-processing companies worldwide for centuries.

Bonding Metal With Ultrasonic Welding

Zoe Leduc

January 10, 2020

The word "welding"; evokes a particular image - the exposed flame of a torch and red hot molten metal. Metal parts are heated to a liquid state to join them to one another. For small scale and electrical products, this isn't a viable bonding method. Ultrasonic welding allows a bond to form between metals, without requiring the metal to leave the solid state.

System Feeds Synthetic Corks

John Sprovieri

January 9, 2020

An assembler wanted to automatically feed and orient synthetic corks at a feed rate of 200 parts per minute. These corks are difficult to feed due to the sticky film that remains on their surface after the manufacturing process.

Airbus Automates Fuselage Assembly

John Sprovieri

January 8, 2020

Airbus has inaugurated a highly automated fuselage assembly line at its A320 factory in Hamburg, Germany. The new line features a digital data acquisition system, 20 robots, automated guided vehicles, and automated positioning by laser measurement.

Democrats, Republicans Agree on USMCA

John Sprovieri

January 7, 2020

Incredibly, the decade has ended with a moment of bipartisanship. On Dec. 10, after more than a year of deadlock, Democrats and Republicans agreed to revisions in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that should enable the trade pact to win approval from Congress and get signed into law by the president.

Collaboration Ensures Quality Crankshaft Housings at BMW

Jim Camillo

December 16, 2019

In less than 15 years, cobots have come a long way. Not only have they gained acceptance in every major industry in manufacturing, but robot suppliers have significantly increased their cobot offerings.

Yamauchi Follows Smart Path to Optimal Production

Jim Camillo

December 13, 2019

Hasselt is a well-known city in Belgium, but not for its chocolate, waffles or beer. Instead, the city is most famous for being home to the largest Japanese garden in Europe and a 17th-century-home museum dedicated to the art of clothing.