Understand key issues in connector and workplace design to improve worker and product performance.
February 15, 2019
Various types of connectors are used in home appliances and air-conditioning systems to create reliable contacts between different parts of electric circuits. In recent years, the number and types of connectors have multiplied as advanced sensors, controls, and communication/networking capabilities are incorporated into more intelligent appliances.
Flexibility should be of utmost importance when selecting an assembly joining system.
February 8, 2019
HVAC products and services offered to the consumer come with little to no room for revamping. As the cost of energy continues to rise, manufacturers have come under pressure to meet production goals, such as reducing energy usage, maintaining occupant comfort, and sustaining high levels of energy savings throughout the year.
One of the largest manufacturers of residential and commercial water heaters in the country, Bradford White Corp. takes safety seriously. The private, American-owned company does not sell its products directly to consumers.
Manufacturers today are trapped in a perennial race to get products assembled and out the door in less time and at lower cost while maintaining high quality. They must also adjust to constant change in the materials they use.
Today, robots are capable of handling much larger and heavier payloads than in the past. Those applications require robust grippers that are up to the task.
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.
Fastening tools are the workhorses of any assembly operation. Consider a high-volume automotive plant. If a vehicle contains 1,000 threaded fasteners and an assembly line is turning out 250,000 vehicles annually, that’s more than 250 million run-downs each year.
What are the most challenging issues that pertain to white goods from the perspective of fastener assembly?
November 8, 2018
In the past, white goods were offered by the manufacturer and the customers, generally, had no design input. However, as the demand for customization increased and the competitive market expanded, manufacturing was under pressure to produce a smarter, more reliable and more attractive product.
When the HVAC industry converges on Atlanta for AHR Expo 2019, attendees can expect to see manufacturers showcase products aiming to be both smarter and more efficient—automation and connectivity will continue to drive home and commercial innovation, and components throughout the trade floor will aim to keep pace with federal regulations.