While the State of Texas is, for the moment, less impacted than many other states with significant urban populations, continuing to maintain the relatively low coronavirus infection rates will be vital as its citizens return to more normal activities, and as businesses re-open. Access to PPE (personal protective equipment), such as face masks, plays an […]
Lee Spring employees spring to action in COVID-19 fight
As COVID-19 impacts countries around the world, frontline workers have been crucial during this fight. Lee Spring is playing an active role globally in the manufacturing of critical components and supporting quick lead times essential to the COVID-19 pandemic response. Lee Spring employees have sprung into action to prioritize critical products needed for medical devices.…
Corona pandemic slows down robotics and automation more than expected
Robotics and automation from Germany cannot escape from the economic consequences of the corona crisis: The outlook for 2020 given before the outbreak of the pandemic is likely to weaken considerably — VDMA R+A is currently expecting a drop in sales of at least 20%. Originally, a decline of -10% had been predicted. In contrast,…
NORD expands with new products and strategic investments
Company planning and development stays the course in 2020. NORD´s new condition monitoring solution records drive and status data periodically or continuously to optimize the operational safety and efficiency of machines and plants. In the 2019 financial year, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS achieved solid, targeted growth reflecting in a sales increase of $837 million. Investments in locations…
Hack the Crisis: Southco on operations strategy during a pandemic
To better understand how global manufacturers are adjusting to the Coronavirus pandemic, we’ve been reaching out to industry thought leaders for their perspective. We recently corresponded via email with Stefan Koveal, Director, Engineering, Diversified Technologies, Southco, Inc. to learn more about how their company is handling the outbreak. Here is his response, edited for length…
How can employers help keep employees safe, especially in the hotel business?
Something is wrong, very wrong. Don’t panic. Hit the panic button. In 2018, to prevent violent assaults and sexual harassment of hotel workers, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) created the 5-Star Promise aimed at strengthening safety and security for hotel employees and guests. Also, in and since 2018, ordinances have been enacted in […]
Minimizing risk: AEM’s manufacturers share best practices for COVID-19 management
Over the past several weeks, AEM has developed a list of best practices based on what many of our member companies are doing to keep operations open while minimizing the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. For those looking to either reopen or scale back their operations in the coming months, here are some of the actions…
Dorner’s responsiveness helps deliver 2200 Series conveyor for manufacturing of N95 respirators
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues causing major disruptions throughout the packaging industry on levels never seen before, Dorner is meeting these challenges head-on by leveraging its expertise and expediting its conveyor systems to critical applications. Husco is one of those applications. Waukesha, Wisconsin-based Husco, a privately-held company specializing in high performance hydraulic and electro-mechanical components,…
How has COVID-19 impacted 2020 sensor activity?
It’s June and for sensor people that has meant Sensors Expo in San Jose for many years. This year with the coronavirus dictating the terms, Sensors Expo has been postponed until Nov. 16-18 but it still will be held in San Jose, CA. Traditional pre-conference symposia, including Implementing Energy Harvesting and Higher Energy Efficiency Sensor […]
ANCA manufacturing components for ventilators to support the medical industry
Coming to the aid of a medical system crushed world-wide by the COVID-19 pandemic, ANCA has joined an important consortium to rapidly manufacture invasive ventilators within Australia. This initiative directly addresses the critical supply of mechanical ventilation equipment to support COVID-19 patients requiring ventilation to survive. Banding together with other Australian manufacturing businesses, the consortium…
IFR says that in post COVID-19 economy, robots will create jobs
Companies around the world are increasing their use of industrial robots: Within five years, the global operational stock rose by about 65% to 2.4 million units (2013-2018). For the same period of time, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a positive impact on the job market: Employment in the automotive industry — the largest…
Can a sensor detect COVID-19 in wastewater?
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) that extracts data from urine and feces transported through sewers has the potential for communities to rapidly screen, quarantine and prevent the spread of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. As a result, many researchers are investigating its effectiveness for COVID-19 testing and to obtain information on health, disease and pathogens as well […]
Hacking the crisis: Researchers invent a safer way of sharing ventilators
A potential shortage of respiratory ventilators gave birth to the idea of letting two or more patients share one ventilators. This involves splitting air tubes into multiple branches so two or more patients can be connected to the same machine. You can even find a YouTube video describing this practice. In late March, at least…
Can a biosensor detect the COVID-19 virus in the environment?
Building on research for sensors to detect bacteria and viruses in the air, a team from Empa, ETH Zurich and Zurich University Hospital developed a biosensor to detect the new coronavirus (COVID-19). The sensor could be used measure the virus concentration in the air in real time in crowded locations such as train stations or […]
Accelerating the availability of solutions for COVID-19
Royal DSM, a global purpose-led, science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, announces the launch of UNITE4COVID, a digital, open, collaborative marketplace designed to provide solutions for healthcare professionals, as well as a forum and collaboration hub for inventors, manufacturers and certification labs in the fight against corona. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, […]
Bunting-Elk Grove Village stays strong despite COVID-19 disruptions
Despite the many economic interruptions that COVID-19 has caused, Bunting-Elk Grove Village’s online retail website, BuyMagnets.com, has been able to stay strong and maintain business as usual. The diverse supply chain has allowed the company to keep its numerous varieties of magnets and magnetic equipment in stock. These magnets provide essential services, as they are…
How can you ensure proper air quality levels in buildings?
In the building management industry, landlords and building managers are charged with the safety and comfort of the tenants within their apartment complexes or office space. Safety includes ensuring that proper air quality levels are maintained. One of the ways to do this is by preventing a silent offender of public safety issues, carbon dioxide […]
Regal Beloit’s COVID-19 response: safety first
Regal Beloit has released a statement on its pandemic protocol. The following has been edited for length and highlights. Regal associates are working tirelessly to maintain healthy and safe workplaces all around the world, while providing essential products and solutions that keep our society functioning. We are grateful to all of our nearly 20,000 associates […]
Hack the Crisis: What’s the outlook for industrial trade shows in the COVID-19 era?
The era of social distancing has not been a good one for trade shows and conferences, including those that we attend across the design engineering, fluid power, R&D and related spaces. The big news earlier this Spring was Hannover Fair moving from its traditional April dates to mid-July. One of the largest industrial trade shows…
Additive manufacturing used for local PPE solution in Belgium
Bruce Jenkins | Ora Research “Over the last month or so, the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic has captured our collective consciousness across the globe and forced us to rethink every aspect of our professional and personal lives,” says Kaustubh Nande, Global Marketing Director at Hexagon’s| MSC Software. “Hexagon too has taken some concrete steps to […]
Hack the Crisis: S.S. White harnesses design, production expertise to make masks
S.S. White Technologies has shown its creative and fighting spirits by setting up a quick production line to make face masks and distribute them free of cost. The company makes components for aircraft systems. Its parts are used in 95% of all the airplanes in the world. Its subsidiary, SHUKLA Medical, manufactures orthopedic instruments. Its…
America Makes announces top designs of Fit to Face—Mask Design Challenge
America Makes, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), announced the top designs of the Fit to Face—Mask Design Challenge, a rapid response challenge to support the ongoing shortage of safe and effective personal protective equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 frontline workers. “Through our ongoing collaborations with VA, FDA, and NIH, America Makes facilitated […]
What is additive manufacturing doing to help fight COVID-19? 9 Examples
The additive manufacturing industry has been a game-changer in the effort to battle this pandemic. Where supplies of personal protection equipment were scarce, the AM industry got to business and supplied hundreds of thousands of PPE for health care workers. Where ventilators were in short supply or not functioning, AM stepped in with innovative solutions. […]
Fully integrated servo controller IC from Trinamic aids ventilator design
Trinamic Motion Control has debuted the TMC4671-LA, the world’s first fully integrated servo controller IC with field-oriented control for BLDC/PMSM, 2-phase stepper motors, dc motors, and voice coils. Using input from market leaders in e-mobility, robotics, lab automation, and pump and blower design, Trinamic has fully optimized the TMC4671-LA by incorporating all required motor control […]
How to use SLS to 3D print face shields
There has been a large-scale response by the 3D printing community to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a giant effort to close the gap between supply and demand for PPE for front-line NHS workers. In recent weeks, some really clever and innovative designs have been released for people to produce but all have been designed and […]