Automated Assembly Systems

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BRISTOL, CT—Systems integrator The Arthur G. Russell Co. Inc. has acquired Bodine Automation Technology, a division of Missouri-based DTE. The Bodine assets acquired include its intellectual property, engineering/service operations, and parts inventory.

There are two opposite ways to equip factories to respond quickly to downstream customer orders: One way is for sequential production, and the other is for concurrent production. Both draw heavily from best practices in lean manufacturing.

All cylinder locks may look alike on the outside, but on the inside, each is unique. Internal cylinder components include core pins, springs and sealing plugs—all of which require precise insertion.

CAMBRIDGE, ON—ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. will acquire M+W Process Automation GmbH and ProFocus LLC, two providers of engineering-based automation services.

EVANSVILLE, IN—Systems integrator Evana Automation Specialists has shipped a 24-station assembly and test system to a Tier 1 automotive supplier of driveline and drivetrain systems.

EVANSVILLE, IN—Systems integrator Evana Automation is building the fifth and sixth of seven custom assembly and test systems for a Tier 1 automotive supplier. The systems will produce steering assemblies.

Assembly machines are dumb. They can only do what they’re told, over and over again. Without a sense of sight or touch, they can’t know if parts or pallets are where they’re supposed to be.

In the world of assembly, ABB is known primarily for its leading-edge industrial robots. But, there’s much more to this multinational corporation, which operates 300 manufacturing plants in 100 countries, has nearly 150,000 employees, and reported global revenue of $42 billion in 2013.

Automotive assembly most often conjures up images of welding robots and electric nutrunners. But, another technology is just as important for assembling a wide range of automotive components—presses.

Many experts tout fuel cells as one of the cleanest forms of green energy, because the devices reduce CO2 emissions and provide greater energy efficiency than combustion engines.