2019 December

ASSEMBLY Capital Spending Report: Capital Spending to Increase

ASSEMBLY Capital Spending Report 2019: Manufacturers Continue to Invest in Technology

Despite some headwinds, manufacturers will continue to invest in assembly technology

December 9, 2019

In September, Toyota announced that it will invest $391 million in its truck assembly plant in San Antonio. Hyundai announced that it is investing nearly $300 million in its factory in Montgomery, AL. Brake manufacturer Bendix Spicer began construction on a $65 million expansion of its assembly plant Bowling Green, KY. And, automotive supplier Hirotec Group said it will invest $48 million to build a new assembly plant in Fayetteville, TN.

Optimizing Assembly with Pallet-Handling Conveyors

Modular pallet conveyors offer flexibility and increased assembly line productivity

Kate Nadeau

December 5, 2019

Manufacturing companies contributed $2.17 trillion to the U.S. economy according to the most recent annual data. Manufacturers, of which 98.6 percent qualify as small businesses, have become more agile, more productive and leaner in recent years.

What’s New From the ASSEMBLY Show

Cobots, IIOT and other new technologies impress engineers at our annual trade show

John Sprovieri

December 6, 2019

More than 5,000 manufacturing professionals saw the latest robots, fastening tools and automation at the seventh annual ASSEMBLY Show, which was held Oct. 22-24 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

Eliminating the Seven Deadly Wastes

Manufacturers should evaluate processes to reduce hidden causes of waste

Brian Neuwirth

December 4, 2019

Waste, in lean terms, is any activity that does not add value to the product while costing a manufacturer money and resources. From active losses to missed opportunities, these wastes are so common in manufacturing operations that they are often overlooked.

What’s New With Robot End-Effectors

Equipment suppliers, and integrators, increasingly offer smart end-effectors for cobots, multi-part handling and IIOT applications

Jim Camillo

December 3, 2019

Noted horror writer Clive Barker once claimed that nothing ever truly begins or ends; rather, current things are just continuations of past things, and future things are continuations of present ones. Although interesting, this notion doesn't work well in the world of manufacturing.

Yamauchi Follows Smart Path to Optimal Production

Jim Camillo

December 13, 2019

Hasselt is a well-known city in Belgium, but not for its chocolate, waffles or beer. Instead, the city is most famous for being home to the largest Japanese garden in Europe and a 17th-century-home museum dedicated to the art of clothing.

U.S. manufacturing: The greener choice

Offshoring has negatively affected the environment

Harry Moser

December 5, 2019

U.S. consumers are increasingly concerned about how their buying habits affect the environment. In fact, a recent Nielsen study found that 48 percent of U.S. consumers would change their buying habits to reduce environmental impacts.

Collaboration Ensures Quality Crankshaft Housings at BMW

Jim Camillo

December 16, 2019

In less than 15 years, cobots have come a long way. Not only have they gained acceptance in every major industry in manufacturing, but robot suppliers have significantly increased their cobot offerings.

CAD Platform Quickens Development of Blood-Collection Device

Jim Camillo

December 12, 2019

Product designers at Switzerland-based Loop Medical know that many people fear being pricked with a needle. That's why they’re hard at work testing a prototype needle-free, blood-collection device that allows for diagnostic tests at a hospital, lab, doctor's office, workplace or home.

Airbus harnesses automation to boost fuselage production

Austin Weber

December 10, 2019

Automated assembly lines have been the backbone of the automotive industry for decades. Robots are widely used to rivet and weld car bodies. But, in the aerospace sector, automation is more elusive when it comes to building fuselages and wings for commercial aircraft.

Fastening systems help Rhenus reboot an axle assembly line

Jim Camillo

December 11, 2019

As the speed of innovation in the automotive industry quickens, assemblers at Rhenus SML in Genk, Belgium, do all they can to keep pace. Rhenus workers painfully learned the importance of this five years ago when Ford Motor Co. shut down its Genk plant, which sat adjacent to Rhenus's facility.

Directed system or pull system—the schedule tango

Jon Quigley

December 9, 2019

In an earlier article, we dissected the project scope and explored the work breakdown structure (WBS). The WBS is the disaggregation of the scope into the work products that are required to meet the defined scope. Now, we are going explore setting about doing the work, from a schedule, or perhaps we will not even build a schedule.

System feeds parts for ear protection devices

John Sprovieri

December 6, 2019

Hearing loss is the third-most common chronic physical condition among adults after hypertension and arthritis.

Robots assemble hydraulic valves

Linear motor system positions pucks in a modular assembly platform

John Sprovieri

December 4, 2019

Hydraulic valves direct the flow of a liquid medium, usually oil, through a hydraulic system. These valves are used in a variety of applications, including heavy trucks, farm equipment, and mining and construction machinery.