Technology Developments
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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Workforce Trends 2012: Creating Qualified Jobseekers
October 9, 2012 8:52 am | by Fluke | Articles | CommentsThe outlook for technical jobs has turned positive. According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook 2012-2013, growth in HVAC and electrical jobs will grow at two to three times the average growth forecasted and industrial plant technician jobs will grow at the average rate of 11 percent.
IMTS 2012 Brings Tools & Technology to Chicago
October 8, 2012 3:47 pm | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | Articles | CommentsRanked among the largest trade shows in the world, total registration for the six-day 2012 event was 100,200. “The energy level was at an all-time high,” says Peter Eelman, IMTS Vice President – Exhibitions and Communications. “The most exciting take-away from IMTS 2012 is what it says about the prospects for manufacturing over the next year."
Renew Growth, Eliminate Volatility With Dynamic Operations
October 8, 2012 12:57 pm | by Gary Godfrey and Russ Rasmus, Accenture | Articles | CommentsBy adapting their operations to flex with markets, smart manufacturers with global footprints are learning to profit from permanent volatility, while insulating themselves against downside risk and simultaneously moving with speed and agility to capitalize on opportunities as they arise.
A New World Record
October 8, 2012 12:12 pm | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | Blogs | CommentsWe wore pedometers and tried to make the walking into a game, but after three days and 35,000 steps (over 17 miles!), it was a little less fun to see those digits tick as I trekked across Chicago’s McCormick Place for September’s IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show) 2012. I don’t care if they don’t go with my dress clothes: next time, I’m wearing my hot pink Nike running shoes. Luckily, the IMTS show was worth it.
Brazil Wants Safer, More Fuel-Efficient Cars
October 5, 2012 2:01 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsBrazil says it will grant tax breaks to companies that produce safer and more fuel-efficient cars. Trade and Industry Minister Fernando Pimentel announced the tax incentive program that runs from 2013 to 2017 during a news conference on Thursday.
SpaceX Encore: 2nd Private Space Station Shipment
October 5, 2012 1:54 pm | by Marcia Dunn, AP Aerospace Writer | News | CommentsA private company is headed back to the International Space Station. On Sunday night, SpaceX will attempt to launch another Dragon capsule full of food, clothes and science experiments for the astronauts at the space station. The company hopes to repeat the success of its test flight in May.
How To Lose Your Job To A Robot
October 5, 2012 8:49 am | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | Blogs | CommentsA recently posted video entitled Are Droids Taking Our Jobs? explores the job market and how the recession is affecting workers, as well as robot welfare. As our society progresses, robotics and algorithms are becoming more advanced. This has been apparent for quite some time. So, are droids really taking our jobs?
Augmented Reality… Too Much Technology?
October 3, 2012 8:17 am | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | Blogs | CommentsIs this next bit of technology worth exploiting in engineering? There are certainly applications to visualize a specific part within its associated surroundings or to simulate placing a part, making sure everything fits. There are certainly applications, but how practical, useful, or needed it is will remain to be seen.
Isolate, Convert, Extend, & Connect
October 1, 2012 8:09 am | by Brian Foster, Product Manager, Serial & USB Product Lines, B&B Electronics | Articles | CommentsUSB was a great leap forward. Its convenience, flexibility, and interoperability have simplified everything from cabling to device installation. Engineers can now connect up to 127 devices using a single port and add new peripherals without opening a computer to insert an expansion card. Devices are hot swappable; cables are interchangeable; and USB will even supply power to a downstream device.
New Jaguar F-Type Looks To Glory Days, Tweaks Them
September 28, 2012 1:55 pm | by Lori Hinnant, Associated Press | News | CommentsIts predecessor is widely agreed to be among the most stunning sports cars ever - and Jaguar showed it was trying to go one better than the glory days of the 1960s with the new F-Type. The Indian auto company Tata bought Jaguar Land Rover for $2.3B in 2008, betting big that it could revive two venerable British brands that had lost a bit of luster over the decades.
A Third Of U.S. Public Fears Police Use Of Drones
September 28, 2012 10:03 am | by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | News | CommentsMore than a third of Americans worry their privacy will suffer if drones like those used to spy on U.S. enemies overseas become the latest police tool for tracking suspected criminals at home, according to an Associated Press-National Constitution Center poll.
Will 3D Printing Save The ‘TechBelt’?
September 28, 2012 8:12 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | Articles | CommentsThe “TechBelt” region has been hit hard by the recession, with numerous plant closures and the loss of manufacturing jobs. The I-80/I-79 corridor has nearly 32,000 manufacturers, and countless employees who have those “high-tech” skills that modern manufacturers need to thrive, but oftentimes, there simply isn’t enough work to go around.
California Governor Signs Driverless Cars Bill
September 26, 2012 10:26 am | by Terence Chea, Associated Press | News | CommentsGov. Jerry Brown rode to Google headquarters in a self-driving Toyota Prius before signing legislation Tuesday that will pave the way for driverless cars in California. The bill by Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla will establish safety and performance regulations to test and operate autonomous vehicles on state roads and highways.
Engineering Spotlight: The Wheelift In Action
September 26, 2012 8:12 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | Articles | CommentsManufacturers of airliners and fighter jets alike regularly need to lift loads between 35 and 75 tons, and with an incredible degree of precision. The capability to be partially or fully automated is also a major plus when it comes to the small tolerances in assembly that can make the difference between a plane that flies and once that doesn’t.
CA Governor To Sign Bill To OK Driverless Cars
September 25, 2012 2:06 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsGov. Jerry Brown plans to sign legislation Tuesday at the headquarters of Google Inc. that will pave the way for driverless cars in California. The bill by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Los Angeles, would establish safety and performance regulations to test and operate autonomous vehicles on state roads and highways.
Tesla Unveils Faster Electric Car Charging Station
September 25, 2012 10:15 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsTesla Motors Inc. unveiled a solar-powered charging station on Monday that it said will make refueling electric vehicles on long trips about as fast as stopping for gas and a bathroom break in a conventional car. CEO Elon Musk said at a news conference at the company's design studio that the company's roadside Supercharger has been installed at six highway rest stops in California.
Toyota Plans Expanded Range Of Hybrids
September 24, 2012 10:09 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsToyota Motor Corp. is boosting its green vehicle lineup, with plans for 21 new hybrids in the next three years, a new electric car later this year and a fuel cell vehicle by 2015 in response to growing demand for fuel efficient and environmentally friendly driving.
If The Climbing Shoe Doesn’t Fit, Design A New Foot
September 24, 2012 8:20 am | by Nick O’Donohoe, Morris Technologies | Articles | CommentsSpecialized prostheses for competitive athletes who run, ski, and cycle can be more complex. Warden points out that the DMLS process is also perfect for producing medical products with even more critical geometries. A growing list of materials — including biocompatible plastics and metals — is enabling Morris engineers to consider laser sintering for a number of cutting-edge medical applications.
Construct Your Own Innovation Pipeline
September 21, 2012 8:17 am | by Mike Schmidt. Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | Blogs | CommentsWhether it comes from a senior executive, a mid-level manager or new-hire, TIP allows ideas to be shared with a broad audience of potential collaborators through an online platform. Ideas move through a rate-and-review process, and the best and most promising ideas are developed further and considered for funding.
RIM Licenses Microsoft Patent
September 19, 2012 1:25 pm | News | CommentsUnder the deal announced Tuesday, Microsoft Corp. will license patents to a filing system called exFAT. Microsoft says it improves upon older storage systems in dealing with larger files — such as those used for photos and video. Devices that use flash memory — namely, smartphones and tablet computers — will be able to handle files that are five times as large as the limit on older systems.
Investing In Labor Pays Off With Productivity
September 19, 2012 8:16 am | by Mike Schmidt. Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | Articles | CommentsKeeping labor costs down has long been a preferred method for manufacturers around the globe to achieve sustained success and profitability. However, lately it seems manufacturers have found investing in efforts to raise workforce productivity to be a reasonable and desirable alternative.
Ford Hopes New Fusion Will Be Camry Killer
September 18, 2012 10:13 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsFord hopes the redesigned 2013 Fusion will finally be its Camry killer. The Fusion has become Ford's best-selling car since it went on sale in 2005, and it's one of the top sellers in the country. Ford hopes the sexier styling, improved fuel economy, and features like automatic parallel parking on the new Fusion will help it trounce the Toyota Camry.
Boeing Offers Clues On 787-10
September 14, 2012 2:04 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsBoeing Co. is getting closer to figuring out what the next version of its new 787 would look like, although it still hasn't decided for sure whether to build it. The aircraft manufacturer has been delivering the base model of the new 787 for a year now.
Q&A: Critical Innovation Trends And Technology
September 14, 2012 8:36 am | Articles | CommentsMilind Lakkad is the Global Head of Manufacturing at Tata Consultancy Services, a $10.17B global IT services organization. He recently spoke about the impact of emerging technologies and the four big innovation trends – mobile, social, big data, and cloud computing on the manufacturing world and how companies can address the new and varied technological needs within the industry.
A Manufacturing Opportunity
September 12, 2012 5:30 pm | Articles | CommentsIn the past decade, America has lost 6 million manufacturing jobs; yet today, 600,000 jobs can’t be filled in America because manufacturers can’t find people with the right skills. When Americans are asked how they would create a thousand new jobs in their communities with a new business facility, manufacturing is their first choice.
