Assembly articles from July 2008

Assembly archives from July 2008

Help wanted.(Editorial)
July 1, 2008... The U.S. Labor Department reported last week that new applications for jobless benefits rose to 384,000, up 25,000 from the previous week. Previously, the Department reported that unemployment in May rose to 5.5 percent from 5 percent in...

Force tester measures quality of assemblies.(QUALITY in ASSEMBLY)
July 1, 2008... Asyringe is deceptively simple. It has only one moving part, after all. You pull the plunger out; you push it back in. How complicated could it be? In fact, there's more to a syringe than you might think. The plunger must move smoothly wit...

High-speed dispensers keep pace with assembly.(STATION to STATION)
July 1, 2008... If machine builders had their druthers, they would avoid integrating dispensing operations into high-speed automated assembly systems. Compared with other assembly processes, such as crimping, pressing or even resistance welding, dispensing is...

North American robot sales mixed.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... ANN ARBOR, MI -- The first quarter of 2008 was a mixed one for robotics companies, with unit sales down 17 percent, but revenue up 5 percent, according to a report by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA). The industry also experienced...

Toyota increasing capacity in China.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... TOKYO -- Toyota's Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co. subsidiary plans to increase capacity at its Plant No. 2 in Tianjin, China, from 100,000 to 150,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2009. The increase will boost Toyota's total Chinese production...

Robotics industry loses visionary.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... FORT MYERS, FL -- Paro Robots CEO Walter K. Weisel died on May 19. A pioneer in the field of robotics, Weisel enjoyed a distinguished career that spanned three decades and saw the implementation of robotics technologies in countless new...

DENSO electronics plant opens in Tennessee.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... MARYVILLE, TN -- Automotive supplier DENSO Corp. (Kariya, Japan) has opened a fourth plant in Tennessee, to manufacture remote keyless entry systems, air conditioning control units, tire pressure monitoring systems and body control modules for...

Rexroth opens new Tech Center.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... ROCHESTER HILLS, MI -- Bosch Rexroth has opened a new "Tech Center East" in Rockester Hills, MI, to work on cutting-edge technologies for use in the automotive industry. "We believe the American automotive industry is ready to take a major...

Deere boosting harvester production capacity.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... MOLINE, IL -- Deere & Co. is investing approximately $35 million to increase the number of combine harvesters it produces at its facility in East Moline, IL, by some 30 percent. Among other upgrades, the company plans to install additional...

Bishop-Wisecarver opens China office.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... PITTSBURG, CA -- Linear motion equipment manufacturer Bishop-Wisecarver Corp. has opened an office in Shanghai to better serve the company's growing customer base in the region. "The China market is key to our global strategy," says Ray...

Atlas Copco opens new China plant.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Industrial equipment manufacturer Atlas Copco has opened a new plant in Wuxi, China, to produce diamond bits and other types of mining equipment. The plant replaces an existing factory in the region. "China is one of...

Locomotive plant coming to Quebec.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... MONTREAL -- Locomotive builder Railpower Technologies Corp. (Brossard, Quebec) is building a new plant in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, with the help of $20 million in support from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, which represents some...

TRW develops low-cost airbag controllers.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... LIVONIA, MI -- Automotive supplier TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. has developed a new scalable airbag control unit (ACU) intended for use in the fast growing, low-cost vehicle market. In its standard form, the ACU can accommodate up to four...

Spirit AeroSystems to build a350 fuselage sections.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... TOULOUSE, France -- Airbus has tapped Spirit AeroSystems (Wichita, KS) to build fuselage components for its new A350 XWB aircraft. The A350, which is still in development, is intended to go head-to-head with the largely composite Boeing 787...

Russian air taxi Co. orders 20 Citation jets.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... WICHITA, KS -- Cessna Aircraft Co. has inked a deal to sell 20 Citation Mustang jets to Russian air taxi operator Dexter. According to Dexter CEO Eugene Andrachnikov, the Citation jets will work in concert with the company's existing fleet...

Johnson Controls opening seat plant in Georgia.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... PLYMOUTH, MI -- Johnson Controls is opening a facility in West Point, GA, to manufacture seats and other interior components for a new $12 billion Kia Motors assembly plant set to open in the area in 2009. The new 130,000-square-foot...

FlexLink acquires packaging Co.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... ALLENTOWN, PA -- Conveyors and material-handling equipment manufacturer FlexLink Systems Inc. has acquired packaging equipment manufacture Techne SpA, based in Bologna, Italy. Techne employs 20 people and specializes in equipment used in...

Prius sales top 1 million mark.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... TOKYO -- Sales of Toyota Motor Corp.'s environmentally friendly Prius automobile--the world's first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle--have passed the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,028,000 units sold as of the end of April....

EMS industry grew 17 percent in 2007.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... FRAMINGHAM, MA -- The worldwide electronic manufacturing services (EMS) industry grew at an annual rate of 17 percent in 2007, generating $268.1 billion in revenue, according to a recent report by the market-research firm IDC. Although...

HP, Foxconn expand PC business in Russia.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- HP and Foxconn have joined forces to construct a new $50 million assembly facility to manufacture personal computers for customers in Russia and Eastern Europe. At full capacity, the plant will be able to produce...

Volvo, Eicher form Indian joint venture.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... GOTEBORG, Sweden -- Volvo Group and India's Eicher Motors (New Delhi, India) are forming a new joint-venture effort called VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd. to manufacture trucks and buses for the India market. "This agreement provides a very...

Boeing using moving line to assemble P-8A.(Assembly Lines)
July 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Boeing Co. has begun using a moving line in Renton, WA, to perform final assembly of its P-8A Poseidon airplane, a derivative of the company's 737 commercial jetliner. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "This is another important step...

Robot cuts welding times in half.(Assembly in Action)
July 1, 2008... The Kverneland Group (Kverne-land, Norway) makes a wide range of farm equipment, including ploughs, cultivators, harrows, seeders, fertilizers and rotary tillers. At its factory in Kerteminde, Denmark, the company manufactures its Taarup...

UV-curable adhesive critical to successful new container.(Assembly in Action)
July 1, 2008... Risdon International Inc. (Watertown, RCT) manufactures containers and bottles for the cosmetics industry. Customers include Chanel, Avon, Mary Kay and Proctor & Gamble. Recently, the company set about finding a UV-curable material for use...

Automated system welds grills.(Assembly in Action)
July 1, 2008... Robert H. Peterson Co. (City of Industry, CA) produces gas grills for sale in North America and abroad. Founded in 1937, the company has revolutionized the way it manufactures its products through the use of automation. Every aspect of the...

Humidification units solve static problems.(Assembly in Action)
July 1, 2008... Founded in 1977, Itron Inc. (Liberty Lake, WA) manufacturers metering devices for electric, gas and water utilities. At its plant in Waseca, MN, the company assembles radio frequency devices and automated meter reading equipment used by...

Surviving the roller coaster: volatile conditions force assemblers to brace for a rough ride.(Special Report: State of the Profession 2008)
July 1, 2008... Today's economy is like a wild roller coaster ride. Recent events in the domestic auto industry and the housing market, not to mention skyrocketing prices for oil and raw materials, have eroded the confidence of many individuals. But, despite...

The human side of MedAssembly: two Shingo Prize winners talk about how a strong workforce can pave the way to profitability.(Medical Device Assembly)
July 1, 2008... Medical devices are among the most sophisticated and highly regulated products manufactured today. Not only must they be extremely precise in terms of their performance, they must be completely and utterly reliable. Medical devices are also...

Do your fasteners need a preapplied thread-locker? Thread-lockers keep fasteners from loosening due to vibration. Here are insights into how, why and when to use fasteners with preapplied thread-lockers.(Adhesive Bonding)
July 1, 2008... Around 1968, the automotive I industry began using fasteners with preapplied anaerobic adhesive for thread-locking. The first such application was to lock and seal a screw in a carburetor. Today, thread-lockers are used in every industry. ...

Manufacturing innovation: embracing new ideas on the plant floor helped fuel GM's success.(Company overview)
July 1, 2008... General Motors experienced phenomenal growth during its formative years. Through a series of various strategic acquisitions and shrewd business moves, the company quickly became the largest automaker in the world. For most of the 20th century,...

Trendsetting plants: GM's assembly philosophy has evolved over the last 40 years.
July 1, 2008... During the last 4 decades, General Motors Corp. (GM, Detroit) has opened more than 20 new assembly plants around the world. The company embarked on an ambitious building spree in the 1980s as part of an unprecedented $40 billion capital...

Pulse tools get smart: new technology lets assemblers capitalize on the ergonomic benefits of pulse tools without sacrificing requirements for accuracy and error-proofing.(Power Tools)
July 1, 2008... Pulse tools have always been known for their ergonomic benefits and high run-down speeds. However, if fastening accuracy was a top priority, particularly on softer joints, conventional wisdom dictated that assemblers were better off with a DC...

Plastics: design for X: these tips will help engineers design plastic parts for optimal performance whether they're welded, bonded or fastened.(Plastics Assembly)
July 1, 2008... One of the great benefits of making parts out of plastic is that they can be assembled in many different ways. Plastics can be joined by ultrasonic welding, vibration welding, spin welding, hot-plate welding, laser welding, induction bonding,...

Valve offers super light weight.(Products)
July 1, 2008... Weighing just 135 grams, the CV629 cartridge valve can be used for the handheld dispensing of lubricants, silicones and adhesives in applications where an operator needs to make frequent dispensing deposits. The valve can also be integrated...

Snap-in PCB terminals stay in place.(Products)
July 1, 2008... PCB snap-in terminals have a split barrel design that requires a low insertion force and provides enough spring retention to allow them stay put during assembly and soldering. The terminals feature same-direction crimp ears for ease of use, and...

Thread inspection machine works quickly.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The NCTP-200 four-channel computer-controlled thread inspector machine uses a menu-driven, digital keypad to allow operators to quickly calibrate, program and save settings. The system can be ready for inspection in less than 2 minutes. Within...

Print codes automatically.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The IMprints track-and-trace system includes both hardware and software to help prevent or minimize product recalls and counterfeiting, and help meet government tracking regulations. The system's CodeMaster software generates a unique...

Switch out gripper jaws.(Products)
July 1, 2008... New jaw kits for the GRZ 20-16 gripper line make it easy to interchange and configure jaw sizes for a wide variety of applications, including injection molding. Each kit consists of a jaw and a hex screw pin. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

AGV knows the way.(Products)
July 1, 2008... This new automated guided vehicle (AGV) runs between a company's warehouse and shipping department, a distance of 750 feet. In operation, the AGV is loaded in the warehouse and then sent on its way with the push of a button. The system follows...

Laser sensor works at a distance.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The BOD 63M time-of-flight laser sensor features a 200-millimeter dead zone, a second discrete output and an enhanced resolution of less than 1 millimeter. With a sensing range of 6 meters, the system can be used for long-range applications,...

UV leak lamp features ergonomic handle.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The BIB-150P handheld ultraviolet inspection lamp is well suited to detecting leaks in air conditioners and refrigeration units. It shows the precise location of every leak with a bright fluorescent glow. An ergonomically designed handle...

Foot switch is easy to operate.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The Clipper foot switch features a robust cast-iron housing, and can be configured for either momentary or maintained actuation. The switch is also available in a wide treadle model, which presents a large 7-inch target for the operator's foot....

Preconfigured workbenches simplify selection.(Products)
July 1, 2008... A new series of workbenches is preconfigured in 19 different versions to simplify selection. Each configuration offers a choice of pedestals, with various different drawer and storage cabinet combinations to suit a wide variety of uses. The...

Stainless steel racks store clean room gowns.(Products)
July 1, 2008... Clean room gown racks are available in free-standing or wall-mounted configurations. Constructed from heavy-gauge 304 stainless steel, the freestanding models are 24 inches wide and available in single, dual and cantilever styles. Standard...

Spiral forming tool.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The Spiralform cartridge is ideal for delicate and light-duty applications. The system displaces material using an 11-sided spiral pattern similar to those created by the old Spirograph drawing toy. As the forming tool contacts the surface,...

SCARAs feature fast cycle times.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The TH-A series of SCARA robots includes three models--the TH650A, the TH850A and the TH1050A--which offer 20 percent to 30 percent faster cycle times compared to previous models. Standard cycle times are 0.31 second with a 2-kilogram payload...

Handles fold for streamlined applications.(Products)
July 1, 2008... Steel and stainless steel handles are available in 100-, 120- and 180-millimeter lengths. The folding handles are well suited to applications where minimal protrusion is required. In both protruding and folded positions, a spring-loaded pin...

Automatic wire twister is versatile.(Products)
July 1, 2008... WT series automatic wire twisters work with both pre-cut and stripped wires. The systems handle small, slippery wires and bundles, and can twist together several large wires. A holding and clamping device can be made to individual...

Machine washes parts.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The Orbit 800 rotary table parts washer has a stainless steel wire mesh basket that is 5 inches deep and 31.5 inches in diameter. Spray bars surround the rotary table on three sides. A thermostat-controlled immersion heater keeps the cleaning...

System performs high-pressure testing.(Products)
July 1, 2008... Pressure testing system generates pressures as high as 100,000 psi, and can be used for impulse testing, leak testing, burst testing and autofrettage. Systems can be configured with custom, quick-change fixtures for high-volume production or...

Meter detects leaks.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The FlowStream OFM mass flow meter can be used to test products for gas leaks during or after assembly. The device quickly and accurately detects leaks of clean, dry, nonaggressive gases, including argon, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen,...

Pressure sensor for engine testing.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The type 6045A pressure sensor is used for measuring the performance of engines. Its piezoelectric crystal sensing element has a sensitivity of -45 picocoulombs per bar, which reduces data-compromising effects and eases signal conditioning....

Robot is fast, compact.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The Cobra s800 inverted IP65 SCARA robot provides high-speed performance for use in a wide range of assembly, material-handling, packaging, machine-tending and screwdriving applications. The system's inverted configuration saves floor space in...

Impact wrench reaches tough spots.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The BTL063 18-volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-inch angle impact wrench provides the necessary impact power for a variety of fastening and loosening tasks. The system's motor and impact mechanism produce 530 in.-lbs. of torque and up to 3,000...

Cordless rivet tools.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The BN-200 cordless nut rivet setter and BR-200M cordless electric riveter offer off-line and outdoor functionality anywhere compressed air is not available. Both systems are powered by a 12-volt rechargeable Ni-Cd battery, and are equipped...

Twist wires to add strength.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The Wire Twist 500 twists together multiple single wires for higher stability, easier wire routing and improved protection against electromagnetic interference. The machine consists of an electrical drive unit and a compact holding unit, and is...

System automatically places rings.(Products)
July 1, 2008... Then VIN-R ring application system automatically feeds brazing rings, solder rings, coils, washers, snap rings, and internal or external spiral rings onto tubing and other part types, thereby eliminating the arduous and labor-intensive task of...

Cut and seal ultrasonically.(Products)
July 1, 2008... Ultrasonic cut and seal machine overcomes the limitations typically experienced by ultrasonic systems by controlling anvil wear and providing improved consistency through the use of a new cutting module. The module, now offered as a standard...

Slide is smooth, precise.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The RZA tabletop linear thruster slide is well suited to high-speed applications requiring precise movement and accuracy. A recirculating ball-bearing guidance system, and hardened and machined guideways provide friction-free, silent motion....

SCARA line employs innovative Drive.(Products)
July 1, 2008... G-series SCARA robots feature the Power-Drive servo system, which reduces residual vibration and allows for faster acceleration and deceleration. Increased payloads and clean room configurations allow the robots to fill a wide range of...

Robot offers vision, speed.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The LR Mate 200iC/5H, equipped with iRVision, can identify randomly located items and is well suited to many of the small-part assembly applications typically handled by SCARA-type robots. Slim and lightweight, the robot can be mounted in a...

Presses cycle safely, automatically.(Products)
July 1, 2008... Hydraulic presses equipped with Presence Sensing Device Initiation (PSDI) provide increased productivity and safety. When the press operator breaks a photoelectric barrier to remove a finished part, sensors detect the beam interruption and send...

Dispenser features two stages.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The Spectrum S-822 dispensing system allows parallel processing on two shuttle stages for continuous dispensing, significantly reducing the amount of time lost to non-dispensing activities such as preheating, and substrate loading and...

Laser moves in 3 axes.(Products)
July 1, 2008... The MD-V9900 series high-speed, high-quality YV04 laser marker is capable of motion in the X, Y and Z axes, facilitating a 42-millimeter variable focal length, a distortion-free 300-by-300-millimeter marking area, and the ability to clearly...

Save the heart of the idea.(Leading Lean)
July 1, 2008... Many ideas get thrown away because they "won't work here." While the details might not apply, it's a serious mistake to throw out the heart of the idea along with the details. This happens often in lean applications. The focus becomes "does...