Leuven, Belgium—Canadian based 7D Kinematic Metrology Inc., has acquired Nikon Metrology’s iGPS dynamic tracking business. The closing of the transaction is expected to take place on March 31. iGPS is a modular large scale, high-accuracy dynamic tracking solution that transforms l

With the latest PLM tools, manufacturers can gain an edge in implementing digital manufacturing’s cutting-edge collaborative design and visualization solutions. Digital manufacturing solutions with product lifecycle management (PLM) tools hold great potential for manufacturers to even

Providers are delivering varied sensors to match the needs and the budgets of industry users. As prices drop and capability grows, the question is what is the next best application? Structured light systems measure surfaces by projecting a pattern of fringes, then using cameras and sophisti

Automated manufacturing operations are finely tuned ecosystems in which all components must function in complete harmony. Grippers used to pick and place, orient and hold components or end products at various points along the production chain are key to this process. Grippers come in many size

Not only are fiber lasers for cutting applications dominating the market, their quality is improving. Increased laser power, speed, and capability are enabling new applications. Implementing a comprehensive laser cutting system is not a task for the faint of heart. In addition to the financ

Laser marking goes under sea, under surfaces and ultrafast. The well-established field of laser marking continues to break new ground with expanding business opportunities in automotive, oil and gas, medical and other industries. Ultrafast lasers—those in the picosecond and femtosecon

Finland-based global welding automation manufacturer Pemamek Oy named Michael Bell director of sales for its North American subsidiary Pemamek LLC. Pemamek provides welding automation technology and integrated manufacturing solutions to a wide range of industries including shipbuilding, hea

Versatile platforms handle processing with maximum efficiency Horizontal machining centers (HMCs) are versatile four-axis and, increasingly, five-axis machine platforms that maximize processing of multi-sided large parts by minimizing part handling. They’re used in industries as diver

Single software solution integrates Siemens’ Camstar and Mentor’s Valor manufacturing execution capabilities Integration with the Siemens smart manufacturing for electronics portfolio expands the digital thread from design through manufacturing Real-time data acquisition of mechat

With a shortage of young workers willing and able to do today’s factory jobs, manufacturers are taking steps to retain the older workforce already punching in. Among those steps is providing wearable robotics—also called “exoskeletons”—that help the body with over

Manufacturing automation is trickling down from the massive automotive assembly lines toward the “mom and pop” machine shop. As you take your first look at automation, consider the benefits of and barriers to this technology. Traditional automation requires a large upfront inv

A single operator can sometimes tend multiple robots, each of which are tending multiple machines—it all adds up! If “automation” is the constant drone you hear from practically everyone in metalworking these days, job shop owners might be the only people yelling “No

But robots may never completely run production. Cheaper robots with more functions, along with more flexible work cells and installations that facilitate robotics, are accelerating the growth of automated manufacturing facilities in the non-automotive sector. Ideas on whether robotics and au

Fast, smart controls make short work of tall tasks. Connected manufacturing and digitization technologies are spurring many of the major innovations in CNC machine controls that help machine shops cut metal and create parts as quickly and efficiently as possible. In most cases, software lea

The auto industry is adding more sophisticated robots, looking to 3D printing, and integrating other advanced technologies. The U.S. auto industry has been automated for decades. Production of cars and trucks is associated with large, hulking robots fenced off from human employees. Inside t

Today’s virtual technology enables faster and better product development. Planes, trains and automobiles are defined in CAD, subjected to virtual tests to see how they might fail, re-designed, virtually manufactured and virtually shown to customers to confirm market acceptance. Yet, it s

As a provider of automation equipment and software, our company is immersed in this ongoing, revolutionary, data-driven ride, and we’re anticipating a new trend: our customers are not just automating their traditional subtractive methods, they are also looking to automate their hybrid ma

Energy producers look to Industry 4.0 for new ideas on automation, use of sensors, big data and remote monitoring, creating opportunities for tech startups. After petroleum prices collapsed in the mid-2010s, shale oil and gas producers responded to the down-swing by borrowing techniques and

With larger turbine components, compared to automotive and aerospace, plus assembly challenges, new machining technologies are gaining popularity. The conventional milling and broaching techniques in turbine blade machining, with the high tooling costs and abrasive flow issues, are fast fading

Data, control requirements drive need for modular, scalable control architecture. Drilling advancements have spurred the evolution of oil and gas operations from simplistic single-well pad fields to more complex multi-well pads. Today, many producers are using fracking and lateral drilling