The Schneider Electric/Square D Lexington plant has been assembling residential load centers and safety switches since Dwight D. Eisenhower was president of the United States. But, a wide variety of production tools used today, such as vision systems, did not exist when the plant opened 50 years ago.

The Schneider Electric/Square D Lexington plant is committed to protecting the environment. It has initiated numerous green programs over the last few years.

The typical load center is a plain metal box that most people never think about unless their television or computer suddenly stops working. Hundreds of them are assembled every day at Schneider Electric/Square D Lexington, the recipient of the 2007 Assembly Plant of the Year award presented by ASSEMBLY magazine.

To celebrate ASSEMBLY magazine's golden anniversary, here's a year-by-year look at how things have changed, evolved and stayed the same over the last 50 years. The timeline focuses on engineering achievements, business trends and manufacturing milestones.

What will cars look like in 50 years, when ASSEMBLY celebrates its centennial? If today's designers are correct, we're all in for a wild ride ahead.

This month marks ASSEMBLY magazine’s 50th anniversary. To celebrate that event, here are some predictions for the future. Share your own comments . . . and don’t forget to check back here in 50 years.

During the last 50 years, ASSEMBLY magazine has witnessed numerous events, trends and issues that have dramatically changed the face of American manufacturing. To celebrate ASSEMBLY's golden anniversary, we have identified 10 mega trends that, for better or worse, have shaped today's manufacturing landscape and will continue to shape the future.

Chrysler LLC scored a coup today when it snatched Jim Press from the top position at Toyota Motor North America Inc. It's the latest in a recent string of announcements aimed at beefing up Detroit's No. 3 automaker. Will Chrysler once again become a formidable player or is it's new investment bank owner, Cerberus Capital Management, just trying to sweeten the pot for an eventual spinoff?

ASSEMBLY has been keeping engineers up to speed on the latest conveyor technology since it debuted. Fifty years ago, most conveyors consisted of belts, chains and rollers. Modular conveyors, skillet conveyors, self-propelled conveyors, automated guided vehicles and other material handling technology commonly found on plant floors today did not exist.