At the end of 2020, the Renault assembly plant in Flins, France, embarked on a new path to focus on the circular economy. The automaker set a goal of buying less, extracting value from existing products, and creating a new industrial model centered on sustainability.

Missiles are the premier weapon of modern warfare. According to consulting firm Polaris Market Research, global sales of rockets and missiles are expected to increase from $58.3 billion in 2021 to $73.8 billion in 2026, growing at a cumulative annual rate of 4.8 percent.

Delta Systems uses more than 20 Epson robots for pick and place, assembly, dispensing and soldering operations.

Transportation—moving parts or assemblies from place to place in a factory—is one of the seven wastes specified in the principles of lean manufacturing. Transportation does not add value.

Machine tending is, by far, the most popular application for collaborative robots. It’s a perfect fit for a cobot’s unique ability to work alongside or together with people without safety fencing.

Water heaters are one of the least glamorous types of home appliances. The vertical metal tanks typically sit out of sight in dark corners of basements or behind closet doors. Most homeowners never think about the devices—until there’s no hot water. 

By some estimates, 90 percent of wire harness assembly tasks are done manually. As a result, harness assemblers are at risk of occupational health problems due to repetitiveness and awkward postures. 

Manufacturers in Germany, like those in the United States, are coping with three major issues: a highly dynamic market, increasing competition due to globalization, and a shortage of skilled workers. 

Whether you’re chopping vegetables for soup, pruning a tree in the back yard, or filleting a freshly caught fish during a camping trip, a sharp blade is vital for efficiency, quality and safety.

Inside a former auto parts factory in Buffalo, NY, Jon M. Williams is making plans to create a renewable energy trailblazer.