Hot-plate welding is one of the simplest and most versatile methods for joining two plastic parts. The technology can weld small parts or large ones, flat parts or contoured ones.

ASSEMBLY magazine is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, we are publishing a series of articles examining the past, present and future of various assembly technologies.

Whenever my family gets together for dinner, the men at the table invariably talk about sports, and the women inevitably complain about our sports-mad culture and the outrageous salaries paid to professional athletes.

That someone could get paid millions of dollars to throw, catch or hit a ball is debatable. What I find ironic, however, is that no one ever complains about the salaries paid to corporate CEOs. Yet, according to a recent study conducted by the Associated Press, the compensation granted to America’s top CEOs has vaulted to the level of pro athletes and movie stars. Half the CEOs of companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 make more than $8.3 million a year, and some make much, much more.

Engineers can use web handling technology to feed thin, flexible materials in high-speed automated assembly systems.

Although cordless tools and DC electric tools have become increasingly popular on assembly lines today, there’s still a place for pneumatic screwdrivers and nutrunners.

ASSEMBLY magazine is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, we are publishing a series of articles examining the past, present and future of various assembly technologies.

When we asked riveting suppliers to tell us their most challenging applications, we received dozens of reports on everything from surgical instruments to wood-burning stoves.

Even after 50 years of manufacturing excellence, the Bobcat Co. still finds there’s always room for im-provement.