Local Motors: Driving Innovation with Micro-Manufacturing
NewCo Shift: Local Motors was founded in 2007 by John “Jay” Rogers, an Ivy league-educated ex-Marine who wanted to marry his lifelong interest in vehicles with new economic models. The result: Local Motors, a company that, after eight years in business, now produces a series of vehicles built locally in a handful of facilities, but designed by a global community of enthusiasts.
Local Motors’ business model is built around its microfactories. The four now in existence — and the dozens more that the company plans to open over the next 10 years — each focus on a few vehicle types. Each looks to source components locally to the greatest extent possible. And each features a modular factory floor that can be configured and reconfigured as needed to accommodate the demand for individual vehicles. Cont'd...
Application of Instant Messengers in Robotics. What Perspectives and Opportunities They Open
Why not to use the open protocols and API of messengers to control robots, whether this be a drone or a wheeled platform, via mobile phones?
Fujitsu to sell 'smart' factory systems in China
Nikkei Asian Review: Japan's Fujitsu will partner with Chinese group Shanghai Yidian to sell factory management systems in China, where the government is promoting such technology as a way to cope with a shrinking labor force and improve manufacturing quality.
These systems fall into the realm of "internet of things" -- networks of machines, such as factory robots or appliances, that can collect and share data.
The municipal-government-run Shanghai Yidian group comprises nearly 150 companies making electronic components, lighting and other products. Some of the group's factories have already adopted Fujitsu software that allows managers to monitor equipment in real time. These systems track energy usage as well as any problems the machines encounter. Cont'd...
Special Tradeshow Coverage for PACK Expo International
PACK Expo will be held from November 6th - 9th in Chicago, Illinois. This ManufacturingTomorrow.com Special Tradeshow report aims to bring you news, articles and products from this years event.
OMRON to Introduce 15,583 Models in 7 Categories to World, Second Wave of FA Devices Built on Common Design Platform
OMRON Corp., based in Kyoto City, will introduce to the world on October 3, 2016, a total of 15,583 models, in 7 categories, as the second wave of factory automation (FA) control devices built on a common design platform for unified product specifications.
Based on a wide range of products, OMRON has been continuing to work for the innovation of making control panels which house and control FA devices on the production front line. OMRON unified the design and size of FA devices, and introduced products in April 2016 which are built with the company's proprietary wiring technology "Push-In Plus Terminal Block" for device and control panel makers in need of "downsizing and space-saving" of FA devices and control panels, "expedited delivery," and "response to globalization." Full Press Release:
IMTS 2016 - Takeaways
Many of the OEMs were showing how their smart products and processes were driving new business models like servitization (manufacturing firms developing the capabilities to provide services and solutions that supplement their traditional product offerings) and new "power-by-the-hour" offerings.
Adidas Shows Off First Shoe Made In Its German Smart Factory
Designed to provide the ultimate fit, the adidas Futurecraft M.F.G. shoe represents the first high performance footwear to come out of the adidas SPEEDFACTORY in Germany, heralding a new era in footwear crafting while providing greater precision, unique design opportunities and high performance. Welcome to the future.
Adidas, meanwhile, plans to open its second Speedfactory next year in the Atlanta area.
Is a Robot After Your Job?
Robots may be after your job, but you could be their boss.
How to Attract Millennials to Advanced Manufacturing Jobs
Tony Oran for Quality Digest: In an age where popular technology careers are only seen as attractive if they are based in Silicon Valley or offered by the latest and greatest startup companies, the manufacturing industry must make changes to attract bright and talented Millennials. The numbers clearly illustrate this need.
Baby Boomers currently make up a large part of the manufacturing workforce. With many workers expected to retire in the coming decade, there will be nearly 3.5 million jobs to fill, according to Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute. Millennials have now overtaken Baby Boomers as the most populous generation, making them one of the largest pools of talent for employers. Quantity, however, does not always translate to quality.
Employers are struggling to find qualified workers to fill available openings, and it’s a trend companies are seeing regardless of sector. Cont'd...
Manufacturing Our Future
More and more manufacturers will adopt new technologies that will bring speed, agility, and quality to the creation and production of U.S. products.
Machine Vision Solutions for CIJ Print Inspection
Continuous Inkjet, or CIJ, is a printing method commonly used in high-speed packaging lines to apply alphanumeric character strings like dates and batch numbers to products for the purpose of allowing humans and machines to identify products and verify product integrity.
Bosch, SAP team up for Industry 4.0
Peter Gutierrez for IoT Hub: Bosch and SAP will combine their expertise on cloud technologies and software solutions to make inroads into the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 markets.
Customers will be able to use SAP’s HANA database platform within Bosch’s IoT Cloud, which the companies hope will enable large-scale data processing for IoT applications in real-time.
Bosch’s IoT microservices will also be made available in SAP’s HANA cloud platform, providing multiple device and component connectivity. Cont'd...
A Personal History of Fieldbuses: From Seriplex to EtherCAT
EtherCAT is similar, in some ways, to the old bit-buses like Seriplex. Each device has its time slot to talk, very deterministic, easy and cheap.
Big Picture Processes Impact Efficient Lineside Delivery
The self-driving vehicle (SDV) using an autonomous guidance system breaks free of magnetic strips and pre-programmed routes.
Selecting Pneumatic Linear Slides for Automated Assembly Equipment
Rather than sizing up to a slide model with very large diameter guideshafts, you may be able to use a smaller model with the addition of the optional center support.
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Automation & IIoT - Featured Product
OnLogic Tacton TC401 Rugged Panel PC
The Tacton TC401 panel PC is an easy to install touchscreen computer purpose-built for reliability in tough environments. Choose the display size, type, and brightness, and match it with the compute, I/O, and functionality your unique project requires.
