Automated Assembly Systems

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REGENSBURG, Germany--BMW's state-of-the-art facility here was cited for its flexibility and digital production prowess.

On Oct. 1, longshoremen went on strike for the first time in nearly 50 years. The main sticking point was, of course, money. Also high on the list of issues is the use of automation in the ports and its impact on jobs.

When US Digital introduced the E4T, a new, miniaturized optical encoder, the assemblers who processed components during production faced difficulties. To improve the operators’ working conditions and free up their time for higher-level tasks, the company developed a new system to automate a process that had always been done by hand.

With the election in the rearview mirror, assemblers are poised to invest in their operations again.

Rapid economic recovery, the tight labor market, and high inflation have shifted power to workers who are organized.

Engineers at the University of Virginia have developed a system that integrates AI agents that work together to optimize production processes.

Robots assemble large solar devices at a rate of one every six minutes.

Cobots are ideal for routine, monotonous jobs like machine tending, but people are often better at assembling small, precise parts.

A cordless nutrunner and a robotic screwdriving system are among several new fastening technologies worth your attention.

A new R&D initiative hopes to improve the dexterity of machines and enhance human-robot interaction.