More than 5,500 manufacturing professionals saw the latest robots, fastening tools and automation at the sixth annual ASSEMBLY Show, which was held Oct. 23-25 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

For nearly 30 years, Flocon Inc. has been manufacturing fluid applicators and dispensing systems in Illinois for applications in a wide variety of industries.

The past year brought blockbuster headlines for U.S. manufacturing. Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn unveiled plans to build a $10 billion assembly plant in Wisconsin that would make liquid-crystal display panels and employ as many as 13,000 people.

Fitzpatrick Manufacturing, a CNC machine shop and custom manufacturer founded in 1952, supplies parts to more than a dozen sectors, including aerospace, automotive, medical equipment and oil and gas.

In many automotive parts, a small defect can cause big problems. This explains why Tier 1 suppliers increasingly use machine vision to inspect parts used for steering, air bags, seat belts, brakes, electronic controls and exhaust.

Assembling an acoustic guitar of world-class caliber requires more technology than you might realize. Hand craftsmanship is still the hallmark of Taylor Guitars, which has been in business nearly 45 years.

Ordinarily, parts are presented to a robot for pick up at fixed locations, the escapement of a feeder bowl, for example, or the pockets of a thermoformed tray. To save space and eliminate the cost of trays and feeders, manufacturers would like a robot to pick randomly oriented parts out of a bin, box or tote.

Businesses increasingly recognize the growth opportunities offered by digitalization and interconnectedness. These technologies are enabling new business models, efficient use of resources, and cost-effective production of highly customizable products. These developments are collectively referred to as "Industry 4.0."

The No. 1 application for robots, be they Cartesian, SCARA, delta or six-axis models, is also the easiest: pick up a part from one location and place it in another.

Digitization is an integral aspect of modern vehicle technology. With each successive generation, the implementation of electronic technology continues to rise.