Assemblers in the United States will spend $2.83 billion on new assembly equipment and tools in 2008, according to ASSEMBLY magazine’s 12th annual capital equipment spending report. This equals the forecast spending for 2007, which was up 3.6 percent from 2006 and is the highest total spending projected in the history of our survey. What’s more, 31 percent of respondents say they plan to spend more on assembly technology in 2008 than they did in 2007.
As in 2007, Assembly Technology Expo, National Manufacturing Week, the Electronics Assembly Show and PlasTec Midwest will be your one-stop source for everything you need in manufacturing! Making their debut, Medical Design & Manufacturing Midwest and the Green Manufacturing Expo will round out this manufacturing extravaganza. You’ll find it all at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, from Sept. 23-25.
All About Manufacturing
ATExpo is-as 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 Electronics Assembly Show is your one-stop source for checking out the latest in component insertion and placement equipment, board soldering machines and everything else you’ll need to manufacture and package printed circuit boards.Once again, National Manufacturing Week will be your comprehensive source for CAD, CAM and CAE software, computer hardware and peripherals, contract manufacturing services, linear motion devices, material handling systems, plant engineering products, motors and drives, and all the rest of the manufacturing support equipment and services.
Making its debut this year, Medical Design & Manufacturing Midwest will feature leading assembly automation suppliers to the nation’s $104 billion medical device industry. U.S. medical device manufacturers currently produce 50 percent of the medical products consumed worldwide. Heavy R&D investment, constant innovation, and regulatory and liability issues keep medical manufacturing a dominant U.S. enterprise.
Also new this year, the Green Manufacturing Expo-the Midwest event for sustainable manufacturing-will cover economically sound and nonpolluting manufacturing processes that conserve energy and natural resources. Products and services featured will include solar energy, photovoltaic and wind power systems; recyclable and reusable packaging; energy management software; and consulting for energy management, recycling and waste treatment.
PlasTec Midwest brings you an overview of primary processing machinery, molds and mold components, and contract services for producing the plastic parts used by aerospace, automotive, medical product, electronics and appliance manufacturers.
The Wire Harness Pavilion, now in its sixth year, will feature new products and services for assembling electronic cables, cord sets, wiring harnesses and other products used throughout the automotive, appliance, medical, aerospace and electronics industries. Other special feature product pavilions include medical device assembly and automation, sensors and vision, and quality test and inspection.
In all, more than 1,300 exhibitors will be waiting for you to challenge them with your assembly and quality issues, whether they relate to general manufacturing programs, electronics assembly, medical device assembly, plastic parts, green manufacturing or any combination of projects.
Conference Highlights
Stay at the forefront and remain competitive in the fast paced world of manufacturing. For 2008, a comprehensive conference program brings you the knowledge you need to make your manufacturing operations work better from design to end-of-line packaging. Industry leaders will share practical insights and techniques that are critical in gaining a competitive advantage. Create your own curriculum from a broad range of management and technical presentations. Here’s a small sampling of sessions and workshops; you can check out the complete conference program atwww.atexpo.com.- Lean Product Design
- Lean Production-Less is More
- DFM in a Lead-Free World
- Lead-Free Implementation
- Manufacturing Innovation: The Key to Survival
- Avoid Product Outsourcing Pitfalls
- Global Manufacturing: Myth, Reality and Strategic Options
- Driving Quality With Effective SPC
- Global Quality Management
- Lean Six Sigma Application
Registration Information
The good news is that one badge gets you into all six shows, and if you preregister on-line or bring show material with you on-site, admission to the shows is FREE! Otherwise, you will be charged an expo-only fee ($55) to register on-site. Online registration is available throughout show days. Preregister by Aug. 29 and you’ll receive your badge by mail before the shows. For more information, current exhibitor lists and to register for FREE show admission, visit any of the show web sites:www.atexpo.com,manufacturingweek.com,mdmmidwest.com,greenmfgexpo.com,electronicsassemblyshow.com, orplastecmidwest.com.Check Out the EASi Line
Visitors to the Electronics Assembly Show will be able to watch a live assembly line manufacture a working blackjack game, package it in a see-through case, and take one home as a souvenir of the show. Making its 13th appearance at ATExpo, the Electronics Assembly Suppliers Initiative (EASi) Line is the centerpiece of the Electronics Assembly Show. Coordinated by Electronics Manufacturing Solutions Inc. (Mooresville, IN), the EASi Line for 2008 will demonstrate double-sided surface mount technology and microcontroller programming.The conveyorized manufacturing line will feature state-of-the-art equipment for material handling and transport, stencil printing, component pick and place, selective soldering, 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.
