Where Innovation Meets Imagination
Caterpillar has sold its 50,000th bulldozer produced in Brazil.
Accompanied by his two sons, Danilo and Diego, Carlos Travensollo recently visited the world’s biggest Caterpillar facility in Piracicaba, Brazil, for a special occasion.
He bought the 50,000th bulldozer produced in Brazil, a D6K2, and received the commemorative key from the hands of Fred Istas, vice president of Caterpillar’s earth-moving division. [Read more…] about Caterpillar sells 50,000th bulldozer produced in Brazil
Parker Hannifin, a provider of motion control technologies, has won a robotic welding and “innovative manufacturing” contract with Safran.
Parker Aerospace, a division of Parker Hannifin, has been chosen by Safran Oil Systems to work on the new CFM International Leap aircraft engine.
The Leap engine is 50-50 joint venture between GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines, of France. [Read more…] about Parker wins robotic welding and ‘innovative manufacturing’ contract with Safran on aircraft production
Audi Hungaria’s Győr factory has begun the series production of electric motors. The electric motors are produced using modular assembly.
The current production capacity is for approximately 400 electric axle motors each day and can be gradually increased.
At present, about 100 people are employed in this new area, to be increased to more than 130 by the end of the year. Production is with one‑shift operation, but will soon change to three shifts.
[Read more…] about Audi starts series production of electric motors in Hungary
Components and systems supplier Magna us to acquire Olsa in order to expand its automotive lighting business.
The company says that automakers will soon have a familiar name to source lighting products “on a global scale” – Magna International.
Magna’s acquisition of Olsa will enable it to grow the company’s lighting capabilities and allow it to design, engineer and manufacture headlamps, tail lamps and other lighting products in every key region of the world. [Read more…] about Magna to acquire Olsa for $280 million to expand automotive lighting business
D&W Fine Pack, a leader in foodservice packaging, is investing in excess of $8 million to further modernize its straw, cutlery and kitting operations, located in Fountain Inn, South Carolina.
The improvements are part of an ongoing commitment to producing “the most innovative, cost-effective product offerings to support stock and custom applications in the marketplace”, says the company.
D&W claims to be the country’s largest straw manufacturer, and is modifying its 650,000-square-foot plant to meet growing demand for utensils and straws within the foodservice industry. [Read more…] about D&W Fine Pack invests $8 million into expanding facility and adding more automation technology
The BMW Group has introduced computer tomography into prototype development, production and analysis – a first in the automotive industry.
The full range of vehicles, from Mini to Rolls-Royce, can now be quality-controlled from the early stages of development.
Scans are performed by four robots which move around the outside of the prototype to produce several thousand cross-sectional images. These are then used for detailed examinations of innovations, new materials and bonding technologies.
[Read more…] about BMW introduces robotic X-ray measurement for prototype vehicle analysis
Manufacturers are concerned that skilled labor shortage could stymie innovation, finds LEK Consulting survey
Most US manufacturers agree that increased growth and investment opportunities are on the horizon, despite some of the uncertainties related to global trade.
But they say a major issue looms: Where are the skilled workers for the digital factories of the future?
In a recent survey of 200 decision-makers across seven manufacturing industries, global management consulting firm LEK Consulting found that four out of five US manufacturers are preparing for an increase in automation technology, with only 18 percent of companies saying they have minimal plans for automation. [Read more…] about Skills shortage could slow down the manufacturing sector, says report
ABB Control Technologies, the market leader in Distributed Control Systems (DCS) for over 15 years, and Actemium, the Vinci Energies brand dedicated to industry and worldwide major player in industrial processes, signed a global agreement in June to significantly expand their existing relationship.
The purpose of this agreement is to enable customers to access best in class control and automation solutions combining the strengths from both companies: global reach, deep domain expertise, extensive product offering, market leading engineering capabilities and most importantly, a strong portfolio of industrial digital solutions.
The collaboration agreement is focused on industries with a high growth rate, usually characterised by short product cycles and quick launch times.
[Read more…] about ABB Control Technologies and Actemium sign global cooperation agreement
Mitsubishi Electric Automation will present its single source manufacturing solutions at the International Manufacturing Technology Show, being held September 10-15, 2018 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Visitors to booth 134102 will see some of Mitsubishi Electric’s most advanced, integrated factory automation products in action, including industrial internet of things systems, the M8 CNC series control platform, FR series robots, 5-axis machining and a fully automated manufacturing (FAM) cell.
The company’s theme for this year’s show is “Running the Smartest Machines in the World”, which conveys that through a range of integrated products. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi to present its ‘single-source manufacturing’ solutions at IMTS
Whether you call them IIoT platforms or smart manufacturing platforms, large industrial companies are finding themselves competing with each other but also new companies from different markets, specifically the computer tech world
Every factory is different. It’s in a different location, makes different things, and uses different methods and systems.
However, every factory shares some aspects of its operation with every other factory.
At the base level, it obviously requires a building. That building needs to have power and other utilities supplied to it. The machinery – whether it includes robotics and automation equipment or not – these days, are more than likely connected to computing devices and the internet. [Read more…] about Smart manufacturing platforms: Industrial giants face diverse competition
