STEP RIGHT UP, FOLKS. See the largest collection of tools, technologies and techniques assembled under one roof. The 21st annual ASSEMBLY Technology Expo, Sept. 25 to 28, will provide the products and ideas you need to assemble your products smarter and faster in the 21st century.

More than 14,000 manufacturing professionals from many different industries around the United States will be attending the 4-day event seeking suppliers and solutions to help them reduce costs, speed time to market and improve competitiveness.

ATExpo, sponsored by ASSEMBLY magazine and supported by many industry associations, is the largest trade show in the world dedicated solely to the function of discrete product assembly. More than 700 exhibitors will occupy 225,000 square feet of space in the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center (formerly the Rosemont Convention Center), which is conveniently located near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

What's New

If you haven't been to ATExpo recently, this is the year to attend. In addition to hundreds of new products on display and 150 new exhibitors, there are many other must-see features, including:
  • A wire harness assembly line organized by the Wiring Harness Manufacturers Association (WHMA, Arlington Heights, IL).
  • The Surface Mount Technology Association's (SMTA, Edina, MN) Technical Conference co-located with ATExpo for the first time ever.
  • An expanded Robotics Pavilion and technical sessions sponsored by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA, Ann Arbor, MI).
  • New plant tours, including Ford's Taurus assembly line.
  • An expanded Electronics As- sembly Pavilion, featuring the fifth incarnation of the Electronic Assem-bly Suppliers Initiative (EASi) Line, which will be assembling electronic thermometers.
  • The Adhesives 2000 Conference, sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME, Dearborn, MI) co-located with ATExpo.
  • Educational sessions that address the role of e-commerce and how it's affecting the assembly profession.

    Exhibit Hall

    The aisles of ATExpo will be filled with exhibitors displaying the latest assembly machines and systems, including flexible and fixed automation, power and hand tools, workstations, dispensing systems, test and measurement equipment, wire processors, welding supplies, printed circuit board assembly equipment, material handling equipment, software and equipment components, such as motors, motion controllers and actuators.

    In addition to equipment suppliers, there will be a wide variety of exhibitors showcasing assembly consumables, such as adhesives, fasteners, solder, cleaning agents and safety equipment. There also will be dedicated technology pavilions that allow time-strapped attendees to focus on key areas of interest, such as electronics assembly and robotics.

    The EASi Line returns to ATExpo for its fifth year. This working assembly line will manufacture an electronic thermometer with surface mount components on both sides. The fully conveyorized manufacturing line, organized by Electronics Manufacturing Solutions, features 31 different modules that incorporate typical equipment in the areas of stencil printing, pick and place, reflow, adhesive dispensing, adhesive cure, wave solder, test and inspection, point to point or selective soldering, and robotic pack-aging processes.

    EASi Line equipment suppliers at press time are Amistar Corp., AVi Inc., Automation Unlimited Inc., BTU International, Cox Automation Systems, Dynapace Corp., EKRA America Inc., ERSA Inc., Europlacer, Fuji America Corp., Hexacon Electric Co., Mydata Automation Inc., Purex North America, Quad, Specnor Tecnic Corp. and Technical Devices Co. Materials suppliers at press time are Diversified Systems Inc., JNJ Industries Inc., Keystone Electronics Corp., Multicore/Loctite, Syscon-Microscreen and Unity Microelectronics Inc.

    A wire harness assembly line will showcase the capabilities of state-of-the-art equipment and manufacturing techniques. It will manufacture a cell with a build sequence that includes cut, strip, terminate, house, tube, harness, label, test and package. The live assembly line is organized by the WHMA and Park Manufacturing Corp. Participants at press time are AMP Inc., HellermannTyton, Komax Corp. and Schleuniger Inc.

    A special Robotics Pavilion will feature the latest technology from leading vendors. Products on display will in-clude Cartesian, cylindrical, gantry and SCARA robots, robot end effectors and grippers, controllers, sensors, flexible feeders and conveyors, vision systems and linear motion control devices.

    The Electronics Assembly Pavilion (EAP) has been expanded to include more than 200 leading suppliers. This year, the EAP will open at 9 a.m. each day--1 hour earlier than the rest of the ATExpo exhibits.

    Since time management is a critical factor at an event the size of ATExpo, attendees can make preshow appointments with exhibitors online at (www.atexpo.com). The unique Ap-pointment Scheduler feature allows you to ask questions, plan a specific time to meet and get a dialogue started before you set foot in the exhibit hall. It's a great way to make sure that you see the people you need to see.

    Another value-added feature that can enhance your visit to ATExpo is Club Assembly. The special lounge reserved for top buyers will provide a comfortable, quiet workspace away from the hustle and bustle of the exhibit floor. Members will be able to access a full range of business services, such as faxing and Internet dial-up.

    Educational Opportunities

    A concurrent ATExpo conference program includes technical sessions on mechanical assembly and electronics assembly, in addition to assembly design, planning and operations. More than 40 sessions will allow attendees to hone their technical skills and sharpen their knowledge base. Many speakers hail from assembly-focused organizations, such as the Associa- tion for Manufacturing Excellence (AME, Wheeling, IL), Edison Weld-ing Institute (EWI, Columbus, OH), RIA and the WHMA.

    The 2000 State of the Profession survey (ASSEMBLY, July 2000, p. 12) pinpointed time as the most critical issue facing the industry today. Getting products to market fast is the key. Many educational sessions at ATExpo address this concern, such as "Short Cycle Time Product Development," "Gaining a Competitive Advantage Through Strategic Outsourcing" and "Making More Profits From Your Assembly Systems."

    The RIA will be sponsoring two educational sessions at ATExpo on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

    "Implementing the New Robot Safety Standard: Consideration in the Assembly Operation," by Jeff Fryman, RIA's manager of standards development, will explain ANSI/RIA R15.06-1999. "This revision to the 1992 standard has a wealth of information and guidelines on the safeguarding of personnel in robotic work cells," says Fryman. Users only have 10 months left to make existing robotic systems compliant by June 2001.

    "Flexible Parts Feeding for Automated Handling and Assembly" will feature executives from Adept Technology Inc., HexaVision Technologies Inc., Robotic Production Methods Inc. and Valeo Wernding Corp. They will discuss implementation issues, including challenges and benefits, and examine flexible automation applications at leading manufacturers.

    Experts from the EWI will provide four sessions on joining techniques on Sept. 26. "Selection of Adhesives" will discuss the common families of adhesives and their relative advan- tages and disadvantages, in addition to curing processes, safety and stor- age considerations. "Plastic Welding Techniques" will provide a practical overview of ultrasonic, heated tool, vibration, hot gas, heat staking, spin, radio frequency and implant resistance welding.

    "The Effect of Joint Geometry on Metal-to-Metal Joint Strength" will explain the relative joint strength of several common joint types and the factors that contribute to fatigue and creep failures. "Magnet Wire Joining" will review alternative joining methods, such as micro-TIG, micro-plasma, laser, resistance and ultra- sonic welding.

    ATExpo will provide several edu-cational sessions that address how e-commerce is changing the assembly arena. Sessions include "The Emergence of the Online Marketplace for Assembly Professionals," "Development of e-Business Strategies and How It Affects the Assembly Process" and "How to Find Buyers and Source Sellers with a Click."

    The AME has organized two sessions at ATExpo. "Lean Concepts: A Common Sense Approach to Manu-facturing" will explain how to shorten lead times by 50 to 90 percent, reduce product travel distance by 90 percent, eliminate rework and reduce setup by more than 50 percent. "A Problem Solving Technique with Employee Involvement" will provide a team-involving technique that can be used to productive advantage at all levels and functions of an organization.

    The WHMA is sponsoring sessions on "Trends in Wire Processing," "The Thermal Behavior of Wire Harnesses," "Ultrasonic Termination of Flexible Flat Cables" and "The HarnessHub Web Community."

    ATExpo also includes many sessions aimed at vehicle manufacturers, such as "New Applications for Flat Laminated Cable in the Automotive Industry," "Flexible Feeders in Automotive Component Manufacturing," "Successful Implementation of Machine Vision" and "Flexible Robotic-Based Laser Sensing for Process Monitoring."

    SMTA Technical Conference

    The SMTA is co-locating its Technical Conference with ATExpo for the first time, Sept. 25 to 28. SMTA International will focus on leading-edge technologies for electronics assembly and packaging, such as ball grid array (BGA), chip scale pack-aging, direct chip attach, flip chip, high density interconnect, known good die, microelectromechanical systems, multichip module and surface mount technology.

    The conference will feature more than 100 tutorials, workshops, sym-posiums and technical sessions on a wide variety of topics. Many of the speakers work for leading manufacturers, such as Boeing, Cisco, Delphi, Hewlett-Packard, Honeywell, IBM, Intel, ITT, Lucent, Motorola, Nokia, Nortel, Raytheon, Siemens, Solectron and Visteon.

    Session topics include "Lead-Free Soldering," "Optimizing the Contract Manufacturing Partnership," "BGA Design and Assembly," "High-Mix, Low-Volume Manufacturing," "Re-flow Soldering and Troubleshooting," "PCB Design Principles," "Failures and Their Prevention in Electronic Assemblies" and "Vision Placement Methodologies."

    George Duncan of Delco Electronics will deliver a keynote speech entitled "A Brief Glimpse of the Future of Vehicle Electronics." Duncan claims that 10 to 15 years from now vehicles will have substantially more electronic content than today. However, he says new components, substrates and assembly processes must be developed to bring the "smart car" vision to reality, such as a 42-volt x-by-wire electrical architecture.

    For more details, call 612-920-7682 or click www.smta.org.

    Adhesives 2000 Conference

    The SME is co-locating its Adhesives 2000 Conference with ATExpo, Sept. 26 to 28. Presentations will focus on the latest developments in adhesives technology and showcase various bonding applications.

    Sessions will cover different types of adhesives, such as hot-melt, cyanoacrylate, epoxy, pressure-sensitive, silane-modified polymer and polyure-thane. Dispensing equipment options and curing methods for different applications also will be discussed.

    In addition, SME is sponsoring a 1-day course on the "Fundamentals of Adhesive Bonding." It will cover the essentials of designing for adhesives, working with adhesives and selecting the most appropriate adhesive for a specific application. Topics include substrate types, surface preparation, joint design, adhesive types, application techniques, bonding processes and quality control.

    For more information, call 800-733-4763 or click www.sme.org.

    Field Trips

    ATExpo attendees will have an opportunity to visit six diverse manufacturing plants. The assembly lines churn out leading brands of vehicles, consumer products and electronic equipment. Space is limited and advanced registration is required for the tours. At press time, these tours are confirmed:
    • Caterpillar Inc. (Thursday, Sept. 28): a 3.7-million-square-foot facility in Aurora, IL, that assembles excavators, wheel loaders, soil compac- tors, skidders and other big, yellow workhorses.
    • Chicago Lighthouse Industries (Monday, Sept. 25): a unique facility on Chicago's West Side where a team of visually impaired employees assemble wall clocks, nylon printer ribbons and fluorescent light fixtures.
    • Ford Motor Co. (Monday, Sept, 25): the 2.7-million-square-foot Torrence Ave. assembly line on Chicago's South Side produces the popular Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. Last year, the 76-year-old facility assembled 291,188 vehicles. In 1998, it received the J.D. Power Silver Award for plant quality.
    • The Morey Corp. (Monday, Sept. 25): a Woodridge, IL, company that produces electronic assemblies and industrial controls for harsh environments. This tour will include a visit to Quality Screw & Nut Co. (Ben-senville, IL) to see how fasteners are produced.
    • Tellabs Inc. (Monday, Sept. 25): a 250,000-square-foot facility in Bolingbrook, IL, that assembles digi- tal cross-connect systems, which are used to facilitate incoming and out-going telephone lines. The plant uses demand flow manufacturing tech-niques to assemble both PCBs and final products.


    Networking Opportunities

    One of the advantages of attending trade shows such as ATExpo is the unparalled opportunity to hobnob with your peers, exchange ideas, share solutions and trade business cards. A show badge will provide ATExpo attendees with free access to a special reception on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 26. In addition, ATExpo participants are eligible to attend a fun-filled OktoberFest on Wednesday, Sept. 27.

    Online Registration

    The new ATExpo Web site (www.atexpo.com) contains up-to-date information on the show and conference, including a map of the exhibit hall and online registration forms. A special travel section features exclusive discounts on air travel, hotel reservations and car rentals.

    If you have any questions, e-mail can be sent to inquiry@assembly.reedexpo.com. Or, if you prefer to register using more traditional methods, call 888-267-3796 or fax 203-840-9689.

    Keynote Address to Focus on R&D, Training

    Leo Reddy, president of the National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM, Washington) will deliver the ATExpo keynote address on Tuesday, Sept. 26. NACFAM is a nonprofit education and research organization established in 1989.

    Its mission is to increase the productivity of all tiers of U.S.-based manufacturing by building a network of manufacturers, universities and national laboratories to enhance the development and deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies. The organization also works to establish national workforce skill standards for manufacturers.

    During his keynote speech at ATExpo, Reddy will discuss the ?Keys to Sustaining Productivity Growth in the 21st Century.? He will outline policy recommendations and assess the future of U.S. manufacturing.

    According to Reddy, the two leading factors driving productivity growth are new technology and workforce training. ?Of the two, training is the most important,? says Reddy. ?Because of the pace of technology, companies are having difficulty developing the skills of their workers.? Reddy and his group are urging Congress to boost funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program.

    Reddy also believes there is a dire need for more investment in basic and applied research. In fact, NACFAM is calling for a $10.3 billion increase in federal R&D spending in engineering and the physical sciences during the next 3 years. ?At least one-third of that should go into manufacturing process technologies,? claims Reddy. ?Without more basic research, we?re going to have difficulty providing the seed corn for future technologies.?

    EASi Line 2000

    The Electronics Assembly Suppliers Initiative (EASi) Line will be returning to ATExpo for its fifth year. This working assembly line, featuring 31 different modules, will manufacture an electronic thermometer with surface mount components on both sides.

    Keynote Address to Focus on R&D, Training

    Leo Reddy, president of the National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM, Washington) will deliver the ATExpo keynote address on Tuesday, Sept. 26. NACFAM is a nonprofit education and research organization established in 1989.

    Its mission is to increase the productivity of all tiers of U.S.-based manufacturing by building a network of manufacturers, universities and national laboratories to enhance the development and deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies. The organization also works to establish national workforce skill standards for manufacturers.

    During his keynote speech at ATExpo, Reddy will discuss the "Keys to Sustaining Productivity Growth in the 21st Century." He will outline policy recommendations and assess the future of U.S. manufacturing.

    According to Reddy, the two leading factors driving productivity growth are new technology and workforce training. "Of the two, training is the most important," says Reddy. "Because of the pace of technology, companies are having difficulty developing the skills of their workers." Reddy and his group are urging Congress to boost funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program.

    Reddy also believes there is a dire need for more investment in basic and applied research. In fact, NACFAM is calling for a $10.3 billion increase in federal R&D spending in engineering and the physical sciences during the next 3 years. "At least one-third of that should go into manufacturing process technologies," claims Reddy. "Without more basic research, we're going to have difficulty providing the seed corn for future technologies."

    MESSAGE FROM SHOW MANAGEMENT

    An Extraordinary Educational Experience

    Dear Assembly Professional:

    On behalf of the many planners, trainers and exhibitors involved, I am delighted to invite you to attend ASSEMBLY Technology Expo 2000, the premier "all assembly" showcase for obtaining the latest technical information and state-of-the-art solutions you need to thrive in today's challenging, changing marketplace.

    The ATExpo Conference is the world's only educational program with a focus on automated and mechanical assembly. The conference features tracks on some of today's hottest topics and key issues associated with discrete product assembly: lean manufacturing, ergonomics, robotics and flexible automation, joining methods, outsourcing, fastening tactics, machine vision, automated assembly, e-commerce, parts feeding and wire processing.

    Of course, the exhibit floor has always been one of ATExpo's main attractions. This year's lineup of more than 700 world-class exhibitors promises to be more exciting than ever.

    Veteran ATExpo attendees will find many new and exciting attractions at this year's event, including a wire harness assembly line, expanded pavilions for robotics and electronics assembly, and two co-located educational events--the SMTA Technical Conference and SME's Adhesives 2000 Conference.

    I'm personally looking forward to hearing Leo Reddy, president of the National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing, deliver this year's keynote address, "Smart Prosperity: Keys to Sustaining Productivity Growth," on Tuesday, Sept. 26. He will examine current manufacturing trends and outline a national strategy for enhancing productivity growth in the future.

    Our annual networking party on Tuesday, Sept. 26, will provide an invaluable opportunity to talk shop and meet your colleagues, old and new. All attendees are invited to join us for complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages. In addition, we will hold a lively OktoberFest on the floor of the Electronics Assembly Pavilion on Wednesday, Sept. 27.

    It all adds up to an extraordinary educational experience you won't want to miss. Register now, and you'll save $35. So, don't wait. Make your plans to attend THE assembly industry event today.

    I look forward to seeing you in Chicago!

    Sincerely,

    Kel Marsden-Kish
    Industry Vice President
    Reed Exhibition Co.

    P.S. Some people may question the value of attending trade shows in the New Economy. But, events such as ATExpo provide opportunities that the Internet can't come close to matching. Hands-on demonstrations and face-to-face discussions remain the most effective way to communicate. Exhibitions offer the only way to touch products, see key people and hear presentations in real time. Indeed, you'll see more assembly suppliers and products at ATExpo in 3 days than you could find in 3 months of cyber surfing.