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.
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 your one-stop source for state-of-the-art automated assembly equipment, adhesive and solder dispensing machines, robots, conveyors and parts feeders, PCB assembly equipment, machine vision systems, power 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 will 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., Michael Lutomski, risk and mission assurance manager for the NASA International Space Station Program, will present the opening keynote address. In this free event, Lutomski 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 support NASA's exploration vision.
Two free keynotes will be presented on Wednesday, Sept. 28. At 9 a.m., 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 benefits for airlines. From its innovative cabin environment to the use of new materials and systems, the 787 Dreamliner features a host of new technologies developed by a global team of aerospace experts.
The second free keynote on Wednesday is at 1 p.m. 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."
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." 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 journeys have taught them.
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?"
Conference Highlights
Conference sessions and workshops have been developed by ASSEMBLY magazine, Adhesive and Sealant Council, ASI magazine, EWI and Wiring Harness Manufacturers Association. With many session choices available, it's easy to learn a new skill or improve on an old one.
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
- Small-Scale Laser Welding
- Error Proofing Your Manufacturing Process
- 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?
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, visit www.atexpo.com or call ATExpo customer service at 888-267-3796 (outside the United States 203-840-5686).
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.
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.
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 of robots and vision seek practical, real-world solutions from industry experts.
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, visit www.roboticsonline.com, www.machinevisiononline.org, or call 734-994-6088.
SMTA International Conference
The Surface Mount Technology Association's SMTA International Conference, held concurrently with ATExpo, provides information to help companies stay competitive in today's market. This includes free sessions, the SMTA Academy and certification programs. The program includes 135 technical papers, and 30 tutorials and workshops. A co-located event, The Board Authority Live: Impact of Green Technologies, will be presented by CircuiTree Magazine on Monday, Sept. 26.
The Emerging Technologies Summit, held on Monday, Sept. 26, will feature sessions on roadmaps, turning lead into gold, and advanced power technology. The Contract Manufacturing Symposium, held on Monday, Sept. 26, will feature sessions on mid-tier EMS strategy, and models and markets. The Lead-Free Symposium, held on Thursday, Sept. 29, will feature sessions by the Joint Council on Aging Aircraft and the Joint Group on Pollution Prevention. Back by popular demand, Board Talk will uncover the truths and myths of electronics assembly.
For more information, visit www.smta.org/smtai or call 952-920-7682.
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.
