Assembly back issues from January 2007:
Jobs? Yes, but do they pay?(Editorial)
Jan 01, 2007; ... President Harry Truman is alleged to have said that the only economists he would talk with had to have only one arm because, "Then those rascals can't give me this, well, on the one hand it could be this way, but on the other hand it might be another way, baloney." Whether true, or ...
Rugged cordless tools feature innovative charger.(Assembly Innovations)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Although cordless tools are becoming increasingly popular on assembly lines today, many manufacturing engineers continue to view them with suspicion. Cordless tools, say the doubting Thomases, are fine for the do-it-yourselfer, but they don't have enough power for my application. The ...
Device feeds, installs rivet nuts automatically.(Assembly Innovations)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Dixon Automatic Tool Inc. (Rockford, IL) has introduced a machine that automatically feeds and installs threaded rivet nuts and studs. Most fasteners that provide permanent load-bearing threads in thin materials require both sides of the workpiece to be accessible during ...
Tiny sensor checks LEDs.(Assembly Innovations)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Let's say you have circuit board assembly that contains red and green LEDs. Automated optical inspection can tell you if the LEDs are present and oriented correctly. In-circuit testing can tell you if the LEDs have been soldered correctly; there are no bridges or opens to prevent current ...
Custom screws assemble high-security applications.(Assembly Innovations)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Tamper-proof fasteners are intended to keep the average joe from, well, tampering with an assembly. For most applications, that's good enough. However, for someone who is determined to get at an assembly, finding a driver bit to match a standard tamper-proof head isn't that ...
New process assembles flip chips faster, better.(Assembly Innovations)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Henkel Corp.'s electronics group (Irvine, CA) has developed a new process for assembling flip chips that promises to reduce warpage, eliminate voids and cut cycle times by 50 percent. Called accelerated cooling, the process is used in conjunction with two of the company's ...
Device monitors curing of epoxies.(Assembly Innovations)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Epoxies are strong, durable, and highly resistant to heat and chemicals. As a result, epoxies are used in a wide variety of demanding applications, such as automotive and aerospace assemblies. Problem is, epoxies can also take a long time to fully cure. Cure times measured in ...
Capaciflectors guide robots to bolt heads.(Assembly Innovations)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Vision systems are excellent for guiding robots--but only as long as there's a direct line of sight between the camera and the part. However, for some applications, such as tightening bolts, a vision system is of little help, because the end-effector and tool are so close to the fastener ...
U.S. robot sales down dramatically in 2006.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... ANN ARBOR, MI -- New orders received by North American robotics companies were down 36 percent through the first 9 months of 2006, thanks in large part to weakness in the automotive sector. On the bright side, nonautomotive orders were down just 3 percent, according to the latest ...
BNP Media launches market research division.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... TROY, MI -- ASSEMBLY magazine's parent company, BNP Media, has created a new market research company called Clear Seas Research, to provide consumer and business-to-business market data to manufacturers in a wide range of industries. "Today, BNP Media takes the next step in ...
Global Aeronautica opens 787 facility.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... CHARLESTON, SC -- Global Aeronautica LLC has officially opened a new 334,000-squarefoot facility where it will assemble fuselages for the cutting-edge 787 Dreamliner built by Boeing Co. (Chicago). "Today is a significant moment for all those involved in making this dream a ...
ATExpo accepting paper, workshop submissions.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... ROSEMONT, IL -- Canon Communications, organizer of the Assembly Technology Expo (ATExpo) trade show, is currently accepting paper and presentation submissions for the ATExpo conference program, as well as for conference programs at the co-located Electronics Assembly Show, National ...
Another EADS program in trouble?(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... PARI -- Already struggling to smooth out production problems with its A380 super-jumbo commercial jet, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) now says it is also experiencing problems with its A400M military transport aircraft. Summing up the results of a formal ...
China now second in world R & D investment.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... PARIS -- In 2006, for the first time, China spent more on industrial and technological research and development than Japan, in the process making it the world's second biggest investor in R & D, after the United States. According to a study by the Europe-based Organization for ...
Denso expanding Hungarian diesel rail plant.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... TOKYO -- DENSO Corp. subsidiary DENSO Manufacturing Hungary Ltd. (Szekesfehervar, Hungary) will spend approximately $50 million to expand diesel common-rail production capacity with the addition of a new facility adjacent to the company's existing plant. The expansion will create 200 new ...
EPRI, Argonne lab to evaluate hybrid vehicles.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... PALO ALTO, CA -- The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Argonne National Laboratory (Chicago) have agreed to collaborate on a 3-year research program to assess the commercial feasibility of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the United States. The U.S. Department of ...
RIA accepting Engelberger nominations.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... ANN ARBOR, MI -- The Robotic Industries Association (RIA) is now accepting nominations for the 2007 Engelberger Robotics Awards, to be presented in Rosemont, IL, during the 38th International Symposium on Robotics, part of the International Robots & Vision Show, June 12-14. ...
Delachaux group acquiring Wampfler.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... GENNEVILLIERS, France -- Heavy equipment, controls and fiber optics manufacturer Delachaux Group SA has acquired energy and data-transmission equipment manufacturer Wampfler AG (Weil am Rhein, Germany). Although Wampfler will eventually be folded into Delachaux Group's own Conductix energy ...
AWS publishes titanium welding standard.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... MIAMI -- The American Welding Society (AWS) has published a new standard on titanium welding, titled "Guide for the Fusion Welding of Titanium and Titanium Alloys." The society's G2 Committee on Joining Metals and Alloys compiled this first edition of the standard. AWS ...
Boeing wins contract for 11 helicopters.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... CHICAGO -- Boeing Co. has won a $151.9 million contract from the U.S. Army to build 11 new AH-64D Apache Longbow multirole combat helicopters. Boeing will begin assembly in 2008 at its manufacturing facility in Mesa, AZ, where Apache helicopters have been built since the program's ...
India Supply Chain Council hosting inaugural summit.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... NEW DELHI, India -- The India Supply Chain Council (ISCC) will be holding its first annual summit March 1, 2007, in New Delhi. The conference, which ISCC hopes will become an annual event, will feature a variety of presentations and panels addressing the strategies and tactics necessary ...
ITW acquires Ark-Les Corp.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... GLENVIEW, IL -- Illinois Tool Works Inc. has acquired Ark-Les Corp. (Stoughton, MA), a manufacturer of electronic and electromechanical controls. Founded in 1937, Ark-Les Corp ....
Caterpillar moves Asia-Pacific headquarters.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... BEIJING, China -- Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, IL) is moving the headquarters of its Asia-Pacific division from Tokyo to Beijing, a reflection of the growing importance of the China market to the company. "Caterpillar is growing in China, and moving our Asia-Pacific operations ...
Cessna earns FAA production certificate.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... WICHITA, KS -- Cessna Aircraft Co. has delivered its first saleable Citation Mustang business jet following receipt of a production certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. Production certification--a prerequisite for any aircraft manufacturer bringing a new product ...
Nordson Corp. acquiring Dage Holdings Ltd.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... WESTLAKE, OH -- Nordson Corp. is acquiring UK-based Dage Holdings Ltd. (Aylesbury, England), a manufacturer of test and inspection equipment used in the semiconductor and printed circuit board industries. Dage employs approximately 200 and had revenues in 2006 of approximately $59 million ....
Bel Fuse building 15-acre China PCB complex.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... JERSEY CITY, NJ -- Electronics manufacturer Bel Fuse Inc. is opening a new 15-acre production facility in Zhongshan, China, to produce transformers, connectors and printed circuit board assemblies. The 395,000-square-foot factory will accommodate as many as 5,000 employees and ...
TRW opening new plant in China.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... LANGFANG, China -- The engineered fasteners and components division of TRW Automotive (Livonia, MI) has opened a new plant in Langfang to manufacture interior components such as air registers and center bezels. Located 40 miles outside Beijing, the new facility joins a pair of TRW braking ...
Electronics firms get a 'C' from the environment.(Assembly Lines)
Jan 01, 2007 ... ALAMEDA, CA -- When asked, "What grade would you give your company for keeping up with new product-focused substance and recycling legislation and regulations worldwide?" more electronics-company managers gave their companies grades of "D" and "F" than of "A." The median grade was a "C." ...
Correction.(Correction notice)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The article "Wire-soldering Workstation Triples Electronics Production," in the December issue, incorrectly described the workstation as being a ...
Lear plant honored.(Assembly Plant of the Year)
Jan 01, 2007 ... During a recent ceremony at Lear Corp.'s Montgomery, AL, seat plant, officials received an engraved crystal award and a commemorative banner honoring ASSEMBLY magazine's 2006 Assembly Plant of the Year. The event was attended by all employees, in addition to local politicians and several ...
High-speed automation systems can be flexible.(STATION to STATION)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Most automated assembly systems are designed to make one specific product. When production of that assembly ends, the systems are scrapped or reconfigured at great expense. But, it doesn't have to be that way. Several machine builders have taken advantage of advances in motors and ...
Air-free dispenser ensures medical needle quality.(Assembly in Action)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Specialized Health Products Inc. (SHPI, Bountiful, UT) manufactures medical safety needles that minimize the threat of needle sticks to healthcare workers. The company both licenses its proprietary technology to other manufactures and produces safety needles for sale under its own and ...
Flexible workcell installs pump covers.(Assembly in Action)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Grundfos Group (Bjerringbro, Denmark) manufactures approximately 10 million pumps annually at factories in Europe, Asia, South America and the United States. Its product line also includes electric motors and high-tech pump-control systems. Since its founding in 1945, the company has ...
Improved data gathering boosts profits.(Assembly in Action)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Group Dekko (Kendallville, IN) employs approximately 1,500 workers in three divisions spread over 22 locations. The company is involved in wire harness manufacture, insert and injection molding, assembly, roll forming, powder coating, turret punching and metal stamping. In 2004, ...
Robot attaches brackets to front ends.(Assembly in Action)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Automotive supplier Dynamit Nobel Kunststoff GmbH (Weissenburg, Germany) assembles a range of different products at its plant in Pappenheim, Germany. Among these is the front end for the Ford Focus, a structural component that is manufactured using hybrid injection-molding techniques to ...
Supplier eases production bottlenecks.(Assembly in Action)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Hi-Heat Industries Inc. (Lewistown, MT) manufactures flexible heating elements that are used in a wide variety of applications, including everything from the restaurant industry to composites manufacture and the military sector. Frequently Hi-Heat Industries is asked to manufacture entire ...
Industrial conveyors sort books.(Assembly in Action)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The city of Hamburg, Germany, has 17 libraries that handle approximately 2 million books, CDs and DVDs annually. Recently, the libraries implemented a fully automated check-in and checkout system to help their staffs maintain a more accurate record of their holdings and provide greater ...
Robots inject a dose of productivity: more manufacturers are using robots to cut costs and improve quality.(Medical Device Assembly)(Cover story)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Traditionally, robots have been heavily used in a wide variety of automotive applications. But, as the performance and reliability of today's machines continue going up, and costs continue coming down, medical device manufacturers are increasingly investing in assembly robots to improve ...
Best of both worlds: silicone reactive hot-melt adhesive is ideal for bonding low-surface-energy materials and dissimilar substrates.(Adhesive Bonding)
Jan 01, 2007; ... A new adhesive and sealant has been introduced that combines the best characteristics of two established chemistries--silicones and hot-melts. The new material, silicone reactive hot-melt, promises to improve performance, reduce assembly time, and decrease costs when bonding and sealing ...
Design for medical electronics assembly: new technologies demand well organized design-for-assembly procedures.(Electronics Assembly)
Jan 01, 2007; ... The assembly of medical devices continues to increase in complexity due to newer, more advanced electronics technologies. The current trend toward portable wireless and handheld devices, in particular, is playing an important role in this area. Compact medical devices like these generally ...
Does going paperless work? Electronic work instructions streamline production flow.(Workstations)(Company overview)
Jan 01, 2007; ... More manufacturers are adopting paperless work instructions, which are often displayed on flat-panel display monitors strategically placed on the plant floor. In fact, the last three recipients of the Assembly Plant of the Year award all use electronic instructions. Lear Corp. (Montgomery, ...
From through-hole to surface-mount and beyond: much has changed since Jack Kirby and his colleagues at Texas instruments invented the integrated circuit in 1958.(Assembly Past, Present & Future)
Jan 01, 2007; ... To get an idea of how far electronics assembly has come in 50 years, consider an article that appeared in the November 1958 issue of ASSEMBLY. The article discussed product assembly at the Victor Adding Machine Co. in Chicago. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you're ...
Press is fast, accurate.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The Toggle-Aire 5-ton press features a toggle design that employs a mechanical advantage to yield higher ram forces using less air than a straight cylinder press. The system provides a large working area for loading and unloading tooling and parts, and operates at ...
Inserts serve in tough applications.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Heavy-duty Atlas MaxTite blind threaded inserts feature a thicker head and heavier walls than standard types to serve in demanding high-load applications. The fasteners provide permanent metal threads in blind attachment applications, where only one side of a workpiece is accessible ...
Workstations accommodate conveyors.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Modular workstations are available with an integrated conveyor system for high-efficiency workflow management through the entire production stream. The workstations can accommodate a variety of different conveyor types, and are available in five standard widths and three ...
Clamp is fully enclosed.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The 8031 pneumatic clamp is fully enclosed for use in harsh environments. The cylinder of the 8031 is sensor-ready to detect the open or closed position of the clamp, which can be hard-piped, eliminating the ...
DC sensors simplify wiring.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Two-wire DC sensors provide cost savings in complex machines by reducing the number of cable and connection points compared to conventional three-wire systems. The metal-bodied sensors feature high-frequency outputs ....
Light cure quickly, efficiently.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The Loctite Zeta 7720 visible light wand system provides safe, efficient and immediate curing for a wide variety of assembly applications, including medical devices. It features a 100-watt visible arc bulb that delivers up to twice the life of typical ultraviolet bulbs. The ...
Feeder handles small components.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The DDf Ultra die feeder can be used for handling small flip chips. It is capable of feeding die down to 0.5 square millimeter. A single wafer, vertically loaded into the feeder, is positioned automatically and then located ...
Stop gate simplifies sensor use.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The VE2/MP stop gate combines the functionality of a VE2 stopgate with a pneumatic solenoid valve, an embedded microprocessor, three proximity sensors and an array of LED indicators to provide extensive operations control and feedback in a self-contained package. It ...
Impulse tools easy on operators.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... PT series pneumatic impulse tools minimize noise, vibration and operator fatigue while consistently delivering the desired torque. They are available in 11 different shutoff models and seven different nonshutoff models. The shutoff tools deliver 5 to 450 ...
Parallel grippers handle slippery products.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... DPG-plus sealed two-finger parallel grippers can be used to handle components under extreme environmental conditions, such as applications where parts are in contact with water, grease, oil or coolant. The grippers ...
Controller works in several modes.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The SMC-4000 multiaxis Ethernet motion controller provides several modes of operation, including point-to-point positioning and multi-axis interpolation. Plug-and-play cables provide quick and easy amplifier connection. Programs and data can be ...
Bulk melt system.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The Therm-O-Flow 200 bulk-melt system features heated, ram-mounted supply pumps and a nonstick, heated platen. It transfers hot- and warm-melt adhesives up to 400 F from drums to a variety of manual ...
Pump is fast and tough.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The compact ejector X-Pump features high suction capacity and a powerful blow-off function to permit short cycle times. Intelligent condition monitoring automatically detects faults and deviations ...
Surface mount terminals.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Surface mount terminals feature capillary action enhanced solder joints that reduce solder joint fractures resulting from shock, vibration and thermal cycling. The devices include a surface mount post tab that can be automatically placed on the board in any configuration with ...
Conveyors eliminate control panels.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Quickdraw [Q.sup.2] (Q-squared) conveyors save time and money by eliminating control panels, software and metering stops. The systems offer communication-based transfer of pallets and product between workcells. They provide flexibility in a small footprint and generate less debris than ...
Modular fixtures get production up and running.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Alufix modular measuring fixtures provide faster turnaround times for assemblers and manufacturers of die-cast parts. In contrast to dedicated fixtures, modular fixtures can be ready for use within a week ...
Flow monitors help machines keep cool.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... CoolPoint vortex-shedding flow meters provide consistent flows of cooling water, water-glycol coolant and low-viscosity fluids in automated machinery. The devices are available in pipe sizes ranging from 0.25 inch to 4 inches, providing transmitter flow rates ranging from 0.4 gallon ...
Controller works in 3 modes.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The SL101 digital, air-controlled dispenser controller offers three modes of operation--manual, timed and cycle--as well as 10 memory positions to give the user optimum control and flexibility over the dispensing process. The system is available in both 110-and 220-volt versions, and is ...
Solder iron is set for Pb-free.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The compact, PS-800E high-power production soldering system is well suited to lead-free repetitive manual soldering and precision touchup. The system provides enhanced thermal performance with the help of an innovative power coil assembly, advanced tip ...
Two-part dispensing valves offers precision.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The PD44 two-part micro-dispensing valve features balanced inlet and outlet spool assemblies that don't displace material while shifting from the reload to the dispense position. This allows pressure feeding of components up to 1,200 psi during reloading, while isolating materials from the ...
Welding cell works in big and little shops.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The Mini-Z "personal weld cell" is a standalone system that can be used in short-run shops or integrated into large-scale production manufacturing operations. The system's small footprint provides ease of mobility and accessibility for tooling changeovers. ...
Reduce leak-detection costs.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The HLD5000 refrigerant leak detector reduces cost of ownership by extending sensor life, improving the lifetime of all mechanical and electronic parts, and minimizing the number of consumables used. The ...
Motors deliver long life.(Products)
Jan 01, 2007 ... EC-10 motors deliver the performance of a brushless motor in a compact package. The motors are electronically commutated, enabling extremely long motor life, since there are no mechanical brushes to wear out. The motors are available ...