2020 November

Mercedes’ Factory of the Future

Mercedes’ new assembly plant sets standards for flexibility, efficiency, sustainability and digital production.

November 4, 2020

The Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Sindelfingen, Germany, has seen a lot of change during more than a century of operation.

What’s New With Rotary Indexers

Servo indexing and flexibility drive numerous assembly applications.

Austin Weber

November 6, 2020

One of the simplest devices for partially automating an assembly process is a rotary indexing table. This device consists of a circular steel plate and a drive for turning it.

Smart Transport System Enables Flexible Assembly

A linear-motor transport system is the heart of a new, flexible automated assembly system.

Peter Reinstadler

November 9, 2020

Industry 4.0 concepts necessitate highly flexible and modular production equipment. A good example is the new CresaLine small-parts assembly system from Swiss machine builder and integrator Credimex AG.

New Technologies for 3D Vision

A wide range of 3D vision systems optimizes robot accuracy when performing random bin picking, error-proofing assemblies or dispensing adhesives.

Jim Camillo

November 5, 2020

A gentle nudge is often a more effective way to bring out the best in a worker than a firm push. Two common scenarios where this approach applies are just-hired workers and veteran ones that need to learn a new task.

Wind Power Inspires Engineers at James Madison University

Austin Weber

November 18, 2020

"The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind" is a popular lyric from one of Bob Dylan's most famous songs. It's also the central theme behind the Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC), an annual event sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Machine Builder Adapts Production Lines to Combat COVID-19

Jim Camillo

November 17, 2020

For several months now, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges to medical-device manufacturers and machine builders worldwide.

Plastic Bushings and Bearings Enable Smooth Riding and Surfing

Jim Camillo

November 16, 2020

Planes, trains and automobiles are not the only transportation-related products that present assembly challenges to manufacturers.

3D-Printed Eyewear "Fitz" Healthcare Workers Just Fine

Jim Camillo

November 13, 2020

Fun is the stereotypical appeal of technology to youngsters. But, Heidi Hertel knows that function can sometimes be just as important. Hertel is founder and president of Fitz Frames (FF), which 3D-prints custom eyewear for kids.

BAE Systems Taps Industry 4.0 Technology for New Aircraft

Austin Weber

November 11, 2020

When preproduction of the next-generation Tempest fighter jet ramps up next year, assemblers at BAE Systems will be using cutting-edge technology.

Piston Pushes Bridging Parts Into Motion

John Sprovieri

November 10, 2020

Manufacturers of automated machinery often receive requests to feed and orient ordinary plastics caps, but even an ordinary cap can have features that can cause part "behaviors" that present challenges during the feeding process.

Five Things: Truck Manufacturing

John Sprovieri

November 9, 2020

Daimler Truck has created a new subsidiary, Daimler Truck Fuel Cell, to mass-produce fuel cells for heavy trucks, energy storage and other applications.

RIP: Seiuemon Inaba, Founder of FANUC

John Sprovieri

November 6, 2020

Seiuemon Inaba, Ph.D., the founder of FANUC Corp., who turned a fledgling startup into a global manufacturer of robots and machine controls, died Oct. 2. He was 95.