Advanced Manufacturing Now

Auto dealer Ryan LaFontaine, chairman of the North American International Auto Show, reveals what AutoMobili-D is all about. He spoke with Brett Brune, editor in chief of Smart Manufacturing magazine.

One of the highly anticipated new vehicle introductions at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit was that of the 2019 Ram 1500. Not only is this half-ton pickup significantly improved over its predecessor in terms of capabilities and technologies, but it will be built in a factory that previously had been dedicated to assembling sedans. Rob Wichman, vehicle line executive for...

Half a dozen years ago American Makes was launched as the first institute of Manufacturing USA, the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, a national network for manufacturing innovation focused on coordinating public and private investment in emerging advanced manufacturing technologies. The charge for America Makes: Accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing technology in the US i...

Samantha Farr, founder of and instructor for Women Who Weld, met with Manufacturing Engineering Editor Emeritus Jim Sawyer at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to discuss how welding is one of the areas most afflicted by the skills gap and how her program can meet that need while bringing more diversity and equality to manufacturing.

While Dassault Systemes is best known in the manufacturing industry for its CATIA software, the company's interests are in fact much broader. Indeed, they span not just the globe but reach into outer space as well. Steve Madge, Dassault vice president for Industry & Global Affairs in High Tech, Future Transportation & Smart Cities, spoke with Manufacturing Engineering Editor Emeritus Jim Sawyer ab...

Diana Mannino, president of HBPO North America talks to Senior Editor Bill Koenig at the North American in Detroit. She discusses the company's product line, including front end modules for vehicles. HBPO also is expanding its production in North America, including two new plants in Mexico scheduled to open this year.

Dennis Berry, president of the Americas region of Chassis Brakes International, talks to Senior Editor Bill Koenig at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Berry discusses how the company is adding production in North America in Mexico. He also talks about how brake systems are evolving to be electric and getting rid of hydraulic systems.

Robert Evans, president of Freudenberg North America, talks to Senior Editor Bill Koenig at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Evans describes Freudenberg's automotive-related businesses, including sealing technologies, vibration control systems and filtration. The executive also talks about general industry trends, including electrification of vehicles.

Dennis Hoeg, North American COO for Nexteer Automotive, talks to Senior Editor Bill Koenig at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Hoeg discusses the company's Digital Trace Manufacturing system, which was introduced at the auto show.

Jeff Zuraski, executive director of research and development for Nexteer Automotive, talks to Senior Editor Bill Koenig at the North American International Auto Show. He discusses technology for autonomous driving vehicles. Nexteer used the auto show to introduce steering technologies for autonomous driving.

Jody Hall, vice president-automotive market for the Steel Market Development Institute, talks to Senior Editor Bill Koenig at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. She discusses how high strength steel is being used to make vehicles lighter. High strength steel was used by General Motors Co. and FCA US LLC to make new versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500 pickups lighte...

Jonathan Smoke, chief economist of Cox Automotive, talks to Senior Editor Bill Koenig about what's happening in the auto industry going into 2018. Smoke describes an industry that is still running strong but faces more "headwinds" than in the past few years. The interview took place at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

CEO David Johnson of Achates Power talks to Senior Editor Bill Koenig at the North American International Auto Show. The executive discusses the company's opposed-piston engine that was on display at the show in January. Johnson describes how the engine can achieve fuel efficiency.  The engine has been in development for about two years.

Paul Aiello of robot maker FANUC talks to Senior Editor Bill Koenig at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Aiello talks about the company's efforts to interest students in manufacturing careers. FANUC had a collaborative robot at the auto show as part of those efforts. The auto industry is a major customer for FANUC.

Kevin Tynan, senior automotive analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, talks to Senior Editor Bill Koenig about auto industry trends during an interview at the North American International Auto show in Detroit. Tynan talks about why trucks are king. He also notes how the Detroit auto show has been affected by CES in Las Vegas, which is also held in January. Automakers now use CES to highlight future...

Smart manufacturing is getting a lot of coverage in the media, and with good reason. In this podcast, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief, talks with Frank Arteaga, Head of Product Marketing, Market Region NAFTA, for Bystronic about the definitions of smart manufacturing; how it can help OEMs and fabricators alike with profitability; how analyzing data can help with visualizing the fabricating process; an...

Natalie Lowell, member and industry relations manager at SME, details all that the nonprofit is doing to help address the skills gap in the U.S. She details a formal level of membership at the high school level with value streams of SME resources to augment the success of the student, as well as educators' resources. Access to the SME Connect community is one of the resources available to encourag...

Robotic solutions are gaining in prominence and importance. In this podcast, Senior Editor Jim Lorincz talks with Simon Whitton, regional division manager, Kuka Robotics Corp., about how Kuka Ready-to-Use preconfigured robotic product solutions can integrated into existing shop operations, ensuring that sustainable and high-performance levels of manufacturing efficiency can be achieved.

The manufacturing of solid-carbide and PCD rotary tooling has improved markedly, and high-tech grinders have played an important role in this evolution. Circular and band saws have followed a similar evolution. In this this podcast,  Editor in Chief Alan Rooks talks with Shannon Fox, North American sales manager for Vollmer of America Corp., a builder of tool grinding machines, and Dr. Roland Loro...

Applications for robotic welding systems continue to grow, and those systems are becoming more sophisticated and agile. In this podcast, Editor In Chief Alan Rooks talks with Erwin DiMalanta, director-welding and cutting business line for ABB Robotics (Auburn Hills, MI) about emerging trends in robotic welding, lightweighting in the automotive and aerospace sectors and other issues. He also explor...

A more diverse workforce that includes more women can help manufacturers fill the growing skills gap. In this podcast, Sandra Bouckley, president of SME, talks with Senior Editor Jim Lorincz about the need for increased diversity in the workforce and how it can increase productivity and creativity while producing new solutions to manufacturing issues. She also examines why women make up just 29% o...

Markforged has played a role in advancing the art and science of additive manufacturing. They have helped companies make great strides in getting the best results out of their 3D printing operations. Now, the company is helping manufacturers that are not involved in 3D printing to identify the opportunities where 3D printing could be used to make stronger products, manufacture them at less cost, a...

Manufacturing operations are looking for the fastest, most reliable equipment to deliver components machined quickly and with the highest accuracy possible. At SOUTH-TEC, we discussed the advantages of the Swiss-style machine tool equipment offered by Tsugami/Rem Sales (Windsor, CT). Bob Budnovitch, engineering manager, training/turnkey, and Frank Maiocco of Tsugami/Rem Sales, spoke with Senior Ed...

At the SOUTH-TEC show in Greenville, SC, we're joined by Greg Cooke, applications engineer for Promess Inc., in Brighton, MI, who talks about how manufacturers are looking for flexible assembly solutions in a variety of manufacturing industries. Promess, a manufacturer of turnkey monitoring and motion systems used in a wide variety of Assembly and Test applications around the world, began expandin...

In an interview in Shanghai, Eric Green, VP, user experience & marketing for the DELMIA product brand at Dassault Systèmes, weighs in on what "super fab labs" in Beijing and Moscow might well produce. He also describes how Dassault's 3D Experience Lab works. He identifies the three most important smart manufacturing trends to watch in China, in his opinion. He says Huawei has one of Dassault's mos...