Assemblers in the United States will spend $2.6 billion on new assembly equipment and tools in 2005, according to ASSEMBLY magazine's ninth annual capital equipment spending survey. Almost a third of respondents to the survey say they plan to spend more on assembly technology in 2005 than they did in 2004. The average assembler's budget is $739,175 and 15 percent of plants expect to spend more than $500,000 for equipment and tools in 2005.
Substantial amounts of that money will be spent to increase capacity, reduce overall assembly cost and cut cycle times. With more than 600 exhibitors, plus the added attraction of the co-located Robots & Vision Show, ATExpo is the place for engineers to find the products and services they need. Sponsored by ASSEMBLY magazine, ATExpo will be held on Sept. 27-29 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.
Regardless of your specific needs, ATExpo is always your one-stop source for state-of-the-art automated assembly equipment, adhesive and solder dispensing machines, robots, conveyors and parts feeders, electronic product assembly equipment, machine vision systems, power and hand tools, presses, workstations, test and inspection equipment and everything else you need for product assembly. Similarly, the ATExpo conference is your one-stop source for expanding and updating your technical expertise. A wide selection of presentations by leading industry experts-and by your peers from manufacturing-can help you make your assembly operations more productive, profitable and competitive.
ASSEMBLY magazine will also present the second annual Assembly Plant of the Year award during ATExpo. At 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, immediately prior to the 9 a.m. opening keynote, all attendees and exhibitors are invited as ASSEMBLY magazine presents the Assembly Plant of the Year award to-??-be there and find out!
Outstanding Free Keynotes
On Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m., ATExpo and the International Robots & Vision Show will jointly present the free opening keynote "Robonaut and Future Assembly of the International Space Station." Michael Lutomski, risk and mission assurance manager for the NASA International Space Station Program, will explain how mission managers in the near future will be able to send out Robonaut, an automated dexterous manipulator, to complete many of the routine maintenance and assembly tasks on the International Space Station (ISS).
In this exciting multimedia presentation, Lutomski will describe what has driven the design of the Robonaut, and how it will be used for assembling and maintaining the ISS, as well as for supporting NASA's exploration vision. Following his keynote presentation, Lutomski will be available for questions at the NASA exhibit on the show floor.
The first free keynote on Wednesday, Sept. 28 is at 9 a.m., and Scott C. Strode, vice president of production for Boeing Commercial Airplanes' 787 Program, will present "Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Creating the Future of Flight." Strode will describe how the Boeing 787 will provide a new flying experience for passengers and significant improvements for airlines. From its innovative cabin environment to the use of new materials and systems, the 787 Dreamliner features a host of new technologies being developed and implemented by a global team of aerospace experts.
Strode is responsible for leading the definition and execution of the production plan for the 787 program, including development and operation of the 747 Large Cargo Freighter. Join Strode as he shares Boeing's exciting new technologies.
The second free keynote on Wednesday, Sept. 28 is at 1 p.m., and Bruce Hettle, director of vehicle operations manufacturing engineering at Ford Motor Co., will present "Flexible Manufacturing Comes to Life." Ford is transforming aging factories into lean, flexible and sustainable facilities for the 21st Century. Mass production is being replaced by flexible manufacturing systems that respond quickly and efficiently to changing customer needs. In this forward-looking keynote, Hettle will share how the company that invented the moving assembly line is again at the forefront of what can only be described as the next manufacturing revolution.
Free Educational Sessions
Broaden your knowledge of critical industry issues and enhance your understanding of advanced assembly technologies by attending these provocative and enlightening free sessions.
Outsourcing is certainly one of many cost-saving alternatives, but it is also one that forever alters the basic "value fabric" of an organization, and often delivers far less than expected results. At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, George Elliott, president of Elliott-Luepker & Associates, will address this timely issue in his presentation "Outsourcing Should Be Your Absolute Last Resort." Elliott says that except for the largest organizations, in the toughest of internationally competitive markets, the decision to outsource is also a decision to walk away from the very strength of the organization.
RFID is not new to manufacturing, but its visibility is increasing as mandates for supply chain applications of RFID force manufacturers to implement the technology within their own operations. At 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, D'Anne Hotchkiss, editor of RFID News & Solutions, will moderate a panel discussion on "RFID Applications and Benefits in Manufacturing." The further back in the supply chain RFID is implemented, the greater the savings. When RFID is adopted at the point of manufacture, companies that bear the implementation costs also reap the benefits. This panel of industry experts will explain how RFID can reduce operating expenses within your manufacturing environment and how your company can use it to deliver value to your customers.
Lean implementation often proves to be harder than expected. Lean manufacturing is only 10 percent tools-the other 90 percent is people. At 11 a.m. on Wednesday Sept. 28, Pascal Dennis, president of Lean Productivity Systems, will chair a panel discussion on "The Human Side of Lean." This panel of lean professionals will share their experiences on how lean manufacturing has changed the way they do business. You will hear compelling discussions on their successes and failures and on what their lean journey has taught them. Experiences will vary from small to large companies and from six months to many years of lean practice.
Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and other legislation is having a major impact on the electronics industry. At 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28, David Bender, RoHS program manager for Tyco Electronics (Willow Grove, PA), will give an an overview of the legislative requirements and the implications for both product and process design in his presentation "RoHs Lead Free Regulations: Are you Prepared?" The technical issues raised range from finding acceptable substitutes for the banned materials to the product and manufacturing implications of lead-free solder processing. Logistical challenges such as part numbering strategy, documentation of compliance, and transition planning are no less challenging. Bender will also provide an update of industry progress toward achieving RoHS compliance.
Conference Highlights
Conference sessions and workshops developed by ASSEMBLY magazine, Adhesive and Sealant Council, ASI magazine, EWI and Wiring Harness Manufacturers Association empower you with the knowledge needed for achieving and sustaining manufacturing excellence. Industry leaders will share their practical insights and techniques that are critical in gaining a competitive advantage. Create your own curriculum from a broad range of management and technical workshops or take advantage of our new Quick Training sessions. With many session choices available, it's easy to learn a new skill or adjust an old one and still have time to visit the show floor.
Here's a small sampling of sessions and workshops; you can check out the complete conference program at www.atexpo.com.
- Lean Production-Less is More
- Experiencing Six Sigma-A Precision Assembly Case Study
- Fundamentals of Adhesive Technology
- Small-Scale Laser Welding
- Mobility in Manufacturing-Chrysler Corp. Case Study
- Sound and Vibration Control in Automotive and Appliance Design
- Error Proofing Your Manufacturing Process
- Lean Sigma-Integrating Both Systems Into One Program
- Lean Manufacturing vs. Ergonomics
- Adhesive Bonding of Difficult Materials
- Six Sigma Summit-Case Studies in Success
- Saving Energy on the Assembly Line
- Nanotechnology is Now!
- Bringing Work Back From China
- Parts Tracking and Production Management
- Making Lean Work in the Real World
- You're Going Offshore: Now What?
"Assembly Technology Expo is the only conference and exhibition in North America helping manufacturing professionals keep pace with global competition through solutions that make the entire assembly process faster, better and less costly," says Kel Marsden-Kish, industry vice president at Reed Exhibitions. "Practical insights and hands-on demonstrations of the latest products and technologies make ATExpo essential for professional success and business survival."
Registration Information
Admission to the show is FREE if you register before Sept. 23. After Sept. 23 and on-site, the fee is $50. For more information about ATExpo 2005, and to register for FREE show admission, visit www.atexpo.com or call ATExpo customer service at 888-267-3796 (outside the United States 203-840-5686). Register by Sept. 16 and you'll receive your badge by mail at least 2 weeks prior to the event. Register early for the ATExpo Conference and save up to $100 with early bird discounts-plus get FREE admission to the show. For complete session information, speaker bios, pricing and to register visit www.atexpo.com or call 800-246-8371.
Check Out the EASi Line
Visitors to ATExpo's Electronics Assembly Pavilion (EAP) will be able to watch a live assembly line manufacture a working digital clock, package it in a see-through case, and take one home as a souvenir of the show. Making its tenth appearance at ATExpo, the Electronics Assembly Suppliers Initiative (EASi) Line is the centerpiece of the EAP. Coordinated by Electronics Manufacturing Solutions Inc. (Mooresville, IN), the EASi Line for 2005 will demonstrate a lead-free assembly process, double-sided surface mount technology and a programmed microcontroller.
The conveyorized manufacturing line will feature state-of-the-art equipment for material handling and transport, stencil printing, component pick and place, selective solder, reflow soldering, X-ray inspection, automated optical inspection, laser marking, robotic point-to-point soldering, rework, depaneling, packaging and microcontroller programming. This live "real-world" demonstration makes the EASi Line a perennial favorite of ATExpo attendees.
Blockbuster Added Attraction
The International Robots & Vision Show, held just once every two years, is the forum for engineers to seek out new products from suppliers of industrial robotics and machine vision technology. Sponsored by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) and the Automated Imaging Association (AIA), the International Robots & Vision Show 2005 will be held side-by-side with ATExpo, Sept. 27-29, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.
The two shows bring together some 850 suppliers of automation technology including robotics, machine vision, and assembly equipment designed to help manufacturing companies improve product quality, reduce costs, and become stronger global competitors. More than 15,000 manufacturing and engineering professionals are expected to attend the co-located shows. "The initial reaction from past exhibitors and attendees has been outstanding," says Donald A. Vincent, executive vice president of RIA. "Based on the enthusiasm we're hearing, we think this will become the ‘must attend' venue for global manufacturing leaders in 2005."
One of the hallmarks of the International Robots & Vision Show is the outstanding technical conference that accompanies it. Jam-packed tutorials and sessions are the norm, as current and potential users seek practical, real-world solutions from industry experts. The free opening keynote for the co-located shows, on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m., will be jointly presented with ATExpo. Michael Lutomski, risk and mission assurance manager for the NASA International Space Station Program, will present "Robonaut and Future Assembly of the International Space Station."
In addition, the Robots & Vision conference will feature presentations on getting started with robotics, getting started with machine vision, lighting and optics, the business case for robotics, integration strategies and emerging robotic applications. While crossover attendance between the shows will be free of charge, separate conference fees will be required, with discounts available for people attending both conferences.
For more information on the show, as well as other robotics and machine vision activities, visit www.roboticsonline.com, www.machinevisiononline.org, or call 734-994-6088.
