COVID-19 has accelerated deglobalization in manufacturing, but that shift was already underway before the pandemic. Between 1990 and 2016, global trade had been growing at average annual rate of 4.9 percent, according to the World Trade Organization.

When the latest-generation C-Class series of automobiles was being developed in 2014, Mercedes-Benz designers placed a great emphasis on weight reduction to reduce fuel consumption.

Automation engineers have developed ingenious ways to mechanically singulate and orient parts in a feeder bowl.

Although many programming and controlling technologies for industrial robots have evolved over the last several years, one component has remained fairly constant - the robot teach pendant.

Manufacturers of automated machinery often receive requests to feed and orient ordinary plastics caps, but even an ordinary cap can have features that can cause part "behaviors" that present challenges during the feeding process.