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Manufacturing

US manufacturing sector shrinks for 25th time in 26 months

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Economic activity in the American manufacturing sector contracted in December for the ninth consecutive month and the 25th time in the last 26 months, according to a survey of the nation’s supply executives.

The findings have been published in the latest Institute for Supply Management’s Report On Business, the key component of which is the purchase managers’ index, or PMI. The report was issued by Timothy R. Fiore, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

The Manufacturing PMI registered 49.3 percent in December, 0.9 percentage point higher compared to the 48.4 percent recorded in November. The overall economy continued in expansion for the 56th month after one month of contraction in April 2020. [Read more…] about US manufacturing sector shrinks for 25th time in 26 months

How manufacturing leaders can thrive when entering new markets

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By Shinichiro Nakamura, president of one to ONE Holdings

Global expansion accounts for more than half of all corporate growth in the past decade. So, it’s no surprise that manufacturers continue to penetrate new markets.

This wider globalization trend is largely driven by the rise of emerging markets, sustainability efforts, and localizing production based on resources.

However, entering new markets is easier said than done, particularly when facing hurdles such as regulations, tariffs, talent shortages, different cultures, and limited technology. [Read more…] about How manufacturing leaders can thrive when entering new markets

Learning from Apple: Designed in the West, manufactured in the East

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Apple wasn’t always the 3.75 trillion-dollar company it is today. The company was close to bankruptcy in 1997, before Steve Jobs returned to launch newly designed and eye-catching products – like the first multi-coloured iMac range, the iPod and then the iPhone – and put the company on the journey to become the modern corporate phenomenon that it is today.

In today’s globalised economy, Apple could now be said to be the quintessential example of a company that designs its products in the United States while manufacturing them in China and across Asia.

Apple is not, of course, unique in this approach. Many other companies have been doing this for a long time. Such companies used to be called “multinationals” before the internet made the term almost redundant.

[Read more…] about Learning from Apple: Designed in the West, manufactured in the East

Artificial Intelligence Propels Metal Manufacturing Forward

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The earlier decade marked the introduction of Industry 4.0 with digitalization.

Now, that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making waves in all industries, its impact can be felt in metal manufacturing, particularly metal parts machining and precision fabrication.

With AI algorithms, machines, and tools have gotten smarter, quicker, and more efficient. Automation technology has advanced, and access to information has become easier than ever.

[Read more…] about Artificial Intelligence Propels Metal Manufacturing Forward

BMW awarded CE certification for its iFactory autonomous car facility

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The BMW Group has been awarded the highly-prized CE certification for its automated driving “in-plant” – at Dingolfing, in Germany.

BMW is systematically advancing the digitalisation and automation of its production processes within the BMW iFactory framework.

Since 2022, the company has been testing “Automated Driving In-Plant” (AFW) for new vehicles at its largest European plant in Dingolfing. [Read more…] about BMW awarded CE certification for its iFactory autonomous car facility

Global semiconductor manufacturing industry sees ‘strong growth’

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The global semiconductor manufacturing industry in the third quarter of 2024 showed “strong” momentum with all key industry indicators performing positive quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) increases for the first time in two years.

The findings are reported in SEMI’s Q3 2024 publication of the Semiconductor Manufacturing Monitor (SMM) Report, prepared in partnership with TechInsights.

The growth is fueled by seasonal factors and strong demand from investments in AI data centers, however, the consumer, automotive, and industrial segments are experiencing a slower pace of recovery. The growth trend is expected to continue into the fourth quarter of 2024. [Read more…] about Global semiconductor manufacturing industry sees ‘strong growth’

C-Hawk Technology launches robotic plastic welding platform for semiconductor equipment manufacturing

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C-Hawk Technology, a maker of manufacturing of components, assemblies and processes for the semiconductor and healthcare industries, has unveiled its new patent-pending “Roberto” platform.

The company describes the platform as “an integrated robotics system that automates plastic welding and sets new benchmarks for quality, precision, scalability and safety in manufacturing for plastic welded assemblies and subassemblies”.

Early performance data shows that Roberto outperforms manual welding with a 25 percent increase in production speed and product consistency, a 30 percent improvement in output efficiency and a 50 percent decrease in error rates. [Read more…] about C-Hawk Technology launches robotic plastic welding platform for semiconductor equipment manufacturing

Nikon sells its 1,000th 3D printer to Bosch

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Nikon SLM Solutions says that the 1000th system it has produced, an NXG XII 600, has now been acquired – by Bosch. (SLM stands for “selective laser melting”, a technique for 3D printing or additive manufacturing.)

German industrial giant Bosch will utilize the milestone NXG XII 600 to “elevate the production” of critical parts for powertrain technology, hydrogen, and electric drive applications at its 3D-Printing Manufacturing and Processing Center in Nuremberg, Germany.

This center specializes in additive manufacturing (AM) for both prototyping and serial production, harnessing the power of Nikon SLM’s technology to meet growing production demands. [Read more…] about Nikon sells its 1,000th 3D printer to Bosch

Worldwide silicon wafer shipments increase 6 percent in Q3 2024, SEMI Reports

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Worldwide silicon wafer shipments increased 5.9 percent quarter-over-quarter to 3,214 million square inches (MSI) in the third quarter of 2024 and registered 6.8 percent growth from the 3,010 million square inches recorded during the same quarter last year, the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) reported in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.

Lee Chungwei, chairman of SEMI SMG and vice president and chief auditor at GlobalWafers, says: “The third quarter wafer shipment results continued the upward trend which started in the second quarter of this year.

“Inventory levels have declined throughout the supply chain but generally remain high. Demand for advanced wafers used for AI continues to be strong.

[Read more…] about Worldwide silicon wafer shipments increase 6 percent in Q3 2024, SEMI Reports

Caracol unveils large-format robotic 3D printer

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Caracol, a developer of large-format metal additive manufacturing systems, is introducing Vipra AM, which it describes as “a revolutionary technology that transforms how large-scale metal parts are produced”.

The company says its new robotic platform will be unveiled at Formnext (booth C101, Hall 12.1), and “stands out as a powerful tool designed to meet these and more of their evolving needs”.

Vipra AM is a robotic large scale direct energy deposition platform that leverages wire arc additive manufacturing processes, seamlessly developed into a hardware, software, and automation proprietary turnkey system. [Read more…] about Caracol unveils large-format robotic 3D printer