Non-woven-materials cutting is a fundamental task for Tier 1 & 2 suppliers making automotive soft-trim products. Automating that process can be the key to increasing throughput, lowering costs, and solving the current difficulties in finding employees.
Removing coatings from parts is a basic aircraft MRO activity. One coating-removal process has clear benefits over the other methods available. Modern commercial aircraft engines are genuine wonders of engineering. They are both incredibly reliable and durable,...
Packaging automation is being implemented more and more so manufacturers can stay competitive in the ever-evolving business landscape. Automated packaging systems have revolutionized the way products are packaged, increasing efficiency and accuracy in every stage of...
Robots can greatly improve productivity and lower operating costs, but there’s always room for improvement. Aftermarket services providers have a deep toolbox of services that can further reduce your operating costs. Robotic automation is helping the makers of...
The need to control costs and deal with labor shortages is driving the food industry toward increased automation. There are five facts about automation that can help you decide if and how you should automate your operations. Industrial automation … incorporating...
Technology advancements shown at Automate 2023 included a demo of robotic pick-and-place technology able to adapt instantly to process variability, ultra high pressure waterjet processes capable of replacing several processes with one, and a laser-cutting system able...
Boat builders lagged in adding automation compared to other industries. But today, looking to overcome labor shortages and eliminate potentially dangerous processes, they are eagerly exploring automation of routing and other operations.
Boat builders lagged in adding automation compared to other industries. But today, looking to overcome labor shortages and eliminate potentially dangerous processes, they are eagerly exploring automation of routing and other operations.
The lowest-cost tool is never the best tool and seldom the right tool. When purchasing fixtures for robotic automation processes, buyers should avoid the mistake of putting price first and focus on these three things instead. Anyone who spends much time building or...
A Tier 1 automotive supplier asked Shape Process Automation to respond to an RFQ, they didn’t get what they asked for. Instead, they got a breakthrough proposal that saved the supplier 50% of the total program cost over the five-year project cycle.
Waterjet cutting is widely used in food production and processing. Small- to medium-size bakeries have shied away from using this technology due to its price, but as they learn the many benefits, more of them are turning to waterjet cutting. It seems like science...
The use of aluminum in vehicle components is growing, but part manufacturers remain uncertain about the best production processes. Automation integrators are eager to share the successful solutions and discoveries they’ve developed. Automotive manufacturers were using...
Wave 1 of lightweighting focused on material reduction. Wave 2 involved using lighter, traditional materials. Wave 3 focuses on composites and other more exotic materials, but what processes are available to work with these new materials? Carmakers have been...
The pandemic hit fulfillment centers with a double whammy: volume surged while their teams were slammed by COVID. That drove center managers to look more seriously at whether it’s time to consider their first robot. The flight to online shopping was well underway...
The attached presentation was prepared and delivered by Christon Manzella for the 2019 GDIS Symposium. GDIS (Great Designs in Steel) is an annual event hosted by the AISI (https://www.steel.org/). In this presentation, Christon shares his knowledge and experience on...
For manufacturers who are interested in making production more efficient and using automation to improve KPIs, integrating automation and robotics is an increasingly popular option. Choosing the perfect robot integrator is important at the start, but what happens...
Why Automate? Robots have long been a standard topic of conversation in manufacturing circles but recently they are turning up in the news, magazines and everywhere online. The topics range from capabilities, the future of robotics, everyday utility and the ever...
Having one tool that cuts everything from tissue paper to metal to ceramic used to be a shop floor dream. The evolution of waterjet technology has not only made such versatile cutting possible, it’s becoming more common and even preferred to use waterjets on...