AMETEK Germany opened a new state-of-the-art Customer Solutions Center in Weiterstadt, Germany, where visitors can find the latest news concerning the company’s many brands, and experience product demonstrations of technologies ranging from the field of elemental analysis, drive technology, optics metrology, and surface measurement. Serving numerous industries including aerospace and defense, automotive, food, pharma and…
Automation propels trends in motors and drives
As automation continues to expand in existing as well as newer applications, the enabling automation technology is evolving to keep pace with these changes. Motors and drives are no exception. In particular, motors have gotten smaller to accommodate space and size restrictions in new, unique applications. There have also been changes to how motors are…
Encoder, sensor, and feedback trends
Recently, a number of encoder, sensor, and feedback industry experts answered several questions about trends they are seeing with these components and the industry more generally. Here’s what they had to say. MEET THE EXPERTS Bill Paczkowski | Senior product manager for PACEdge • Emerson Robert Cachro | Program manager – growth and innovation •…
U.S. Tsubaki rolls out modern, customer-focused website
U.S. Tsubaki, a leading manufacturer of power transmission and motion control products, is proud to announce the re-launch of its new and improved corporate website, www.ustsubaki.com. The revamped website features a sleek, modern look with easy-to-operate navigation across all devices and advanced search functionality to help visitors more quickly access the best-in-class resources available, including…
How design support and e-learning are addressing labor shortage
We recently asked several industry experts about trends they’re seeing in engineering training, software tools, and support. Here’s what those experts had to say. Meet the experts Nathan Andaya | Director Techline SBU • LINAK U.S. Boaz Eidelberg | CTO • SAAR Inc. James Gallant | Director of operations • ISL Products International Ltd. Chris…
ARRIS increases additive molding production capacity to more than a million parts
ARRIS — manufacturer enabling high-performance composites at scale with new design latitudes for mass-market consumer products, transportation, and industrial applications — recently signed a contract manufacturing partner (CM) to further increase production part capacity. Additive Molding, a first-of-its-kind manufacturing, materials, and software technology developed by ARRIS, has been scaled from tens of thousands of parts in 2021…
The latest trends in EVs, eBikes, and AGVs
We recently asked several industry experts about the trends they’re seeing in the design and use of electric vehicles (EVs), scooters, eBikes, and autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs). Here’s what those experts had to say. MEET THE EXPERTS Ian Blasch | Senior director— business development • Jabil James Gallant | Director of operations • ISL Products…
The automation best addressing supply-chain and labor issues
In its wake, the COVID pandemic left lingering supply-chain issues that are still affecting manufacturing and other automated industries. Now some slowdowns at least have cleared. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor The last few years’ supply-chain issues have featured container ships waiting weeks for cargo unloading; empty shelves at stores; year-long waits for appliances;…
ABB to expand robotics factory in U.S.
ABB has announced that construction is starting on the expansion of its existing North American robotics headquarters and manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Mich. The project is expected to be completed in November 2023 and represents an investment of $20 million. The expansion will create 72 highly skilled new jobs in the area and is…
15 industry experts on relentless semiconductor woes — and fixes
Semiconductor products were more affected than any other by COVID-induced supply-chain issues felt around the world. International political tensions have only prolonged and exacerbated the problem. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor Every modern gadget, vehicle, smart device, and appliance is peppered over with semiconductors galore — offering that singular function of processing power that…
General Die Casters merges with Dart Casting, Inc.
General Die Casters, Inc (Twinsburg, OH) is joining forces with Dart Casting, Inc. (Alsip, IL) under common ownership. Both organizations will continue under their current names and will operate 41 casting machines between 400 – 1200 tons and 28 CNC machining centers, creating one of the leading middle-market die-cast companies in the Midwest. The merger…
Siemens creates new vertical market dedicated to Intralogistics in the U.S.
Siemens recently announced the formation of the new Intralogistics vertical that brings best-in-class material handling thought leadership, hardware automation, software, and service solutions to customers in the United States. Siemens is leveraging its broad technology to address the market needs for digital transformation, cybersecurity, safety, and sustainability. This new group will operate both as a…
ABB to expand robotics factory in US
• Investment of $20 million will increase production at its existing Auburn Hills facility and strengthen ABB’s US leadership • Newly expanded, highly automated facility will create new jobs in the state of Michigan • Expansion featuring the latest in automated and advanced manufacturing processes to open November 2023 ABB has strengthened its commitment to…
Emerson selected to automate golden triangle polymers facility
Emerson will provide automation technologies, software, and analytics from its Plantweb digital ecosystem for the Golden Triangle Polymers Project, a world-scale integrated polymers facility on the Texas Gulf Coast. The total installed cost of the project is expected to be $8.5 billion and is a joint venture between Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP and an…
Silicon Sensing appoints new Chief Engineer
Dr. Mark Marshall has been appointed as chief engineer of Silicon Sensing Systems Ltd. Dr. Marshall joined Silicon Sensing in 2017 as the lead engineer on numerous inertial programs. Immediately prior to commencing as Chief Engineer, he was the company’s consultant engineer and electronics discipline manager. In this role, he was responsible for the electronics…
A new way of thinking
One of the most valuable pieces of “real estate” in any magazine is the page facing the inside back cover. Over the years, I’ve known many publications — both trade and consumer — with must-read departments or columns in that sacred space. Many times, they’re on the lighthearted or even humorous side. I’ve even subscribed…
Time saved on energy consumed
By Mark Jones On the second pull, there was a cloud of white smoke and the engine sputtered to life. My 20-year-old snowblower was ready to tackle the fresh snow. The 2-cycle fumes hitting my face come with twinges of guilty. I don’t need to use the snowblower. My trusty snow shovel offers a fumeless,…
Endress+Hauser opens new regional logistics hub in Indiana
Endress+Hauser has announced the opening of a new 48,000 ft2 Indianapolis, Indiana-based regional logistics hub, marking a further milestone in the company’s project aimed to boost the fulfillment of customer orders and satisfaction on a local and global scale. “This new regional logistics hub will allow us to move products through a global network regardless…
Rockwell Automation at ProMat 2023 in March
Rockwell Automation has announced its plans to exhibit at ProMat 2023, taking place March 20-23 in Chicago. ProMat 2023 brings together thousands of the world’s leading manufacturing and supply chain solution providers under one roof to demonstrate the future of supply chain and the tools needed to enhance operations and drive business forward. Those who…
Top industrial connectivity and digital-transformation trends: Part 2 of 2
In the first part of this Design World Trends series, we heard from industry experts about discrete automation’s edge devices; efforts to promote standards for increased system compatibilities and interoperabilities; and the rise of fog computing as well as industrial uses for wireless technologies such as 5G. In this follow-up piece, we detail the holistic…
Top industrial connectivity and digital-transformation trends: Part 1 of 2
Discrete automation’s edge devices include actuators, sensors, and connectivity components such as gateways and motor-mounted controllers. Many of these components feature computational capabilities to minimize data bandwidth and latency issues associated with legacy versions of centralized control. Their installation at the furthest reaches of automated equipment means their processing power is situated to filter and…
AMETEK Abaco Systems and Rockford Xellerix announce sales partnership at IDEX 2023
AMETEK Abaco Systems and Rockford Xellerix have announced a strategic sales partnership at IDEX 2023. The partnership combines Rockford Xellerix’s extensive Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) customer base reach with Abaco’s 30 years of international commercial open architecture computing and rugged embedded electronics innovation. The sales partnership focuses on commercial, as well as air, land, and…
Hannover Fair preview: Festo’s PhotoBionicCell and its automated cultivation of biomass
Algae are small climate savers. Even in their natural state they are extremely efficient photosynthesizers and absorb ten times more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than land plants. In bioreactors equipped with appropriate sensors, control technology and automation, the efficiency of algae can be increased to a hundred times that of land plants. This shows that they…
Hannover Fair preview: Lenze’s Nupano bridges IT and OT worlds
Mechanical and plant engineering is an important industry, many well-paid jobs depend on it in Europe. To be competitive in the long term, it needs knowledge of production processes, physics and digital tools for new business models. European machines sell all over the world. However, margins are low and often one-off. Mechanical engineering needs new,…
Emerson Software helps intermountain power agency deliver carbon-free power
Emerson has been selected to automate operations at Intermountain Power Agency’s IPP Renewed power plant, a regional energy hub that uses renewable energy resources. Emerson’s power industry expertise and hydrogen production experience as an automation supplier to the adjacent Mitsubishi Power Advanced Clean Energy Storage hub will help the Intermountain Power Agency increase safety, decrease…