Austin Weber

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have been recognized for developing four of the 100 most significant innovations of 2000.

Phillips Service Industries Inc. integrated the products and services of Evana Automation (automated assembly systems), ESI Engineered Systems (assembly and test systems) and Clyde Corp. (automated feeders) under one name--PSI Automation Group.

Because of their ability to achieve fast speeds and high accuracy, linear motors have been used for years in semiconductor processing equipment. Now, the technology has finally found its way into automated assembly equipment.

Attendees to the Assembly West Expo and Conference, to be held Nov. 14 to 15, 2001, at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA, can tour the Boeing factory where the U.S. Air Force's Airlifter cargo jet is assembled.

National Instruments and the Automation and Drives Group of Siemens AG are cooperating to develop solutions for automated manufacturing applications requiring precise measurement and control.

To increase production, speed turnaround and enhance new product development, Multicore Solders, a division of Loctite Corp., will move its manufacturing, technical support and customer service operations to a facility in Industry, CA.

Espec Corp. has posted environmental test requirements for telecommunications equipment on its Web site.

STIK-II Products, a manufacturer of pressure sensitive foam tapes, has purchased Richards, Parents & Murray Inc. (RPM, Mount Vernon, NY).

According to the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association, U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $268 million.

Alan Hedge, Ph.D., is a leading expert on ergonomics and repetitive motion injuries.