Lisa Eitel

At Automate 2025, the Design World staff also chatted with engineers at several booths about connectivity, robotics, and material-handling topics. Innovations reflect the industry’s evolution toward more powerful actuation, modularity for reconfigurability, and integrated safety support. Read about it here … Day 1: New technologies at Automate 2025. In one of our first stops on…

Karolyn Ellingson, Head of Industrial Workforce Development, will demonstrate Festo Didactic’s learning systems at the organization’s Automate 2025 booth. “Festo Didactic offers unmatched hands-on training across a variety of automation fields,” Ellingson said. “Our learning materials and equipment are developed by automation experts to create safe, efficient, and realistic Industry 4.0 working environments, ensuring that…

Automate 2025 is here — back in Detroit from May 12 to 15, 2025. Design World has covered this show for many years … and here are some of the announcements from last week: ECM unveils ultra-compact servomotor with integrated strain-wave gearing ahead of Automate 2025 Renishaw RCS products and rugged encoders featured at Automate…

DigiKey invites attendees of Automate 2025 to visit its booth 6218 in Detroit. Visitors to DigiKey’s booth can learn about the latest automation innovations, including its vast product breadth, innovative new product introductions (NPIs), industry-leading manufacturers and value-added services, as well as view technical demonstrations and participate in prize giveaways. Show attendees can view demonstrations at…

Data drives decisions. The modern warehouse depends on the seamless data flow across various systems — from inventory tracking to AGV route optimization and supply chain visibility. This data is more than a nice to have … it gives design engineers valuable insights across the manufacturing operations — helping identify bottlenecks, prevent system shutdowns, and boost…

In the years leading up to his death in 1993, my father — a kind of eccentric mystic welder — journaled and wrote me philosophical little notes that I immensely treasure. One of his more contemplative letters concerns how much our identities are simply bits we’ve borrowed from elsewhere. So now anytime I interact with…

Recent warehouse-efficiency improvements leveraging sensors benefit manufacturers, distributors, and buyers. Kelsie McMillin • Senior technology specialist, IoT | DigiKey Supply chains have significantly transformed in the last decade with the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital-transformation (DX) initiatives. Beyond tracking a package or product, the ability to monitor specific details has become…

Bishop-Wisecarver, a provider of innovative linear and rotary motion solutions, has acquired Symation, a leader in motion control system integration. This strategic acquisition aligns with Bishop-Wisecarver’s mission to deliver diversity in mechatronic solutions. The integration of Symation’s extensive capabilities into Bishop-Wisecarver’s portfolio introduces Wisecarver Automation — a new level of expertise in mechanical, electrical, controls, […]

The Lee Company has just released the tenth Edition Technical Fluid Control Handbook for Health & Science. This handbook contains detailed technical information about a wide variety of Lee products, including solenoid valves, pumps, manifolds, and other precision fluid control components used in medical and scientific instrumentation and diagnostic applications. It features more than 300 pages of…

Some high-volume production settings need to continuously move product — even when operators cross the conveyor stream. Depending on the path the conveyor needs to take through a production setting, that can be a challenge. In one such setting, the operator was conveying bottles of varying diameters, so also needed smooth products transitions and minimal…

Over the last six decades, automation and robotics have advanced how functional industrial coatings are applied and used. The results have included better precision of coating processes, lower costs, and improved product performance. By George Osterhout | Senior advisor and past president • Orion Industries Ltd. Functional coatings have been used in industrial applications since…

Nanopositioning, ultra-precision motion control and piezo technology leader Physik Instrumente (PI) has completed the construction of an additional manufacturing building at its Eschbach, Germany site. With investments of around $22M and 66,000 square feet of additional space, PI is strengthening its global development and production center and the economic development of the region. The expansion will enable…

Recently, Design World got the chance to interview Rüdiger Knevels, CEO of Rollon Group about the Rollon-Timken business and new brands that have joined the Rollon family. Though the conversation was primarily focused on the U.S. market, it also touched on Rollon’s global approach and capacity as a global brand. Rudi, what is Rollon showing…

Conveyor and automation-systems manufacturer mk North America has appointed Damon Neal as the new Regional Sales Manager for the Southwest I territory. This region encompasses Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Missouri. With more than 20 years of experience in industrial and factory automation, manufacturing process improvement, support, service, and project management, Damon Neal brings…

Design and software firm ECM has tapped executive Dan Lisowsky to head a new unit dedicated to serving leading manufacturers in the development of PCB Stator electric motors. Lisowsky will direct ECM’s Industrial OEM Products Division, which will offer engineering, software design, and client services to large electric motor equipment manufacturers. These services include electric motor development…

Pallet conveyors are hardly a new development, but the increasing speed and precision of these systems have made them the go-to conveyance option for a growing number of industries that are trying to boost throughput to keep up with demand. By Dave Giffels • Senior business development manager | Dorner Corp. Small electronics is one…

Design and software company ECM PCB Stator Tech and global engineering and manufacturing services firm East West Manufacturing have announced a strategic partnership to advance adoption of next-generation products incorporating PCB Stator electric motors. The arrangement enables ECM to leverage East West’s extensive production capabilities while allowing East West to extend the benefits of ECM’s […]

Leadscrews are essential to surgical robotics, patient-monitoring systems, diagnostic imaging devices, and rehabilitation equipment. Leadscrews are those spiral shafts that (upon application of torque) convert rotational motion into linear motion — axially advancing and receding a mating nut to deliver accurate positioning. They’re well suited to medical equipment as they come in a variety of […]

Both professional and vocational engineering training are evolving to address skill gaps and workforce-readiness issues. Advancing communication technologies, the COVID-19 pandemic, and new digital-transformation approaches have forever changed the way technical training in manufacturing and automation is conducted. Now analytics tools can track training progress; adaptive learning can adjust curricula to offer personalized resources; and…

Siemens Digital Industries Software recently released Zel X software — a next generation browser-based engineering app for streamlining manufacturing and shop-floor operations. Zel X consolidates software for manufacturing, operations, collaboration, design and simulation into a comprehensive, yet lightweight browser-based solution that delivers value instantly. “The manufacturing industry is demanding open, flexible toolsets that are not…

In Parts 1 and 2 of this series, we learned how certain design approaches and technologies enable sustainable operations and carbon-emissions reductions. Here, we learn how industry is working to reduce other waste and quantify the effects of their efforts. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor MEET THE EXPERTS Anant Bhat | Director — Industrial…

In Part 1 of this series, we learned how sustainability programs are supported by efficient technologies. Here, we learn how industry is working to reduce carbon emissions. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor Last year saw 50% more increase in global renewable-electricity capacity than years past — reaching approximately 507 gigawatts, according to the International…

Sustainability and manufacturing need not be mutually exclusive. As detailed in this three-part series, industry is putting unprecedented effort into ESG initiatives. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor In recent years, businesses with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives have put increased emphasis on sustainability. Especially in manufacturing and automated operations, metrics abound to allow…

Industrial circular connectors binder designs and produces customized connectivity solutions based on specific customer requirements. The company specializes in creating solutions for use cases with unique demands that go beyond the standard scope of products listed in the binder catalog. For such applications, binder offers customized solutions that are reliable and tailored to meet the…

New digital approaches leveraging cloud simulations and other advanced analytics are helping manufacturers optimize production lines and end products. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor At the forefront of digital transformation (DX) initiatives is digital manufacturing. Leveraging an integrated computer-based approaches for design, simulation, testing, and production, the use of digital manufacturing could double over…