Month: November 2023
Human Machine Collaboration Optimizes Productivity
If you’ve ever asked Siri for the weather, ordered vitamins through Alexa or turned on the lights at home via your smartphone, you’ve collaborated with a smart machine to complete a task in the most efficient manner. Similarly, human machine collaboration is making possible a new era in the manufacturing industry where there are more […]
Six Surprising Applications for Automation in Medical Manufacturing
When it comes to robots used in the medical and healthcare industry, surgical-assistance robots tend to get all the glory; however, automation and robotics are also being applied behind the scenes with great success in the manufacturing, assembly, inspection and packaging of medical devices. As with many industries these days, manufacturers of medical devices now […]
Decoding Air Compressor CFM Calculations
An air compressor serves as the heart of most industrial facilities as it converts electricity into pressurized air that powers the pneumatic tools and equipment used for production. For this reason, it’s essential to understand the key specifications when selecting or operating an air compressor and one of the most misunderstood performance indicators is the […]
The Versatility of Extruded Aluminum Framing Systems
When the objective is to meet production goals, manufacturers seek solutions that are cost effective, efficient and flexible, so it’s not surprising that extruded aluminum framing systems, which provide all these benefits and then some, are more often being considered over traditional steel alternatives in a multitude of industrial, automation and manufacturing applications. What are […]
Managing Supply Chain Woes with Digitalization and Automation
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues have plagued the manufacturing and warehousing industries and, as we close out the year 2023, things are not expected to improve any time soon due to ongoing geopolitical issues, continuing shortages of raw materials, rising transportation and energy costs and more frequent weather events and natural disasters. However, […]
Industry 4.0 Promotes Optimized Manufacturing Operations
Industry 4.0, Connected Factory and Smart Manufacturing are all terms that get thrown around a lot in the manufacturing industry lately, but how can manufacturers begin to employ today’s smarter and more connected technologies and, more importantly, why should they? Industry 4.0, also known as the 4th Industrial Revolution, is changing the way companies manufacture product, operate […]
The Role of Automated Computer Vision Systems
Computer vision systems have been used throughout the manufacturing industry for some time, but with the addition of modern sensors and emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, today’s automated vision systems are finding their way into more applications and helping to optimize operations throughout industrial facilities. This blog will introduce the latest in automated vision technologies, […]
Choosing the Right Actuator Type for Your Application
Sometimes the choice between the three main actuator types – electric, pneumatic and hydraulic – is a no brainer. For example, if you need heavy-duty motion, a hydraulic actuator would be the obvious choice, a potentially explosive environment necessitates the use of a pneumatic actuator and a sterile operation would demand an electric actuator. But […]