Robotics is a rapidly growing field, and manufacturing is benefiting greatly. While there is plenty of effort being put into self-propelling vacuum cleaners and machines whose sole function is to turn themselves off and on, many of the advancements in robotics can be or currently are implemented in the manufacturing industry. Robotic machinery in factories… Read more »

Renaissance literally translates from French as “re-birth”. When something is reborn there’s the implication of a positive change. It may be a change from bad to good, or from good to better. A renaissance heralds a new and favorable chapter of something. Even if you slept through history class you are probably aware of the… Read more »

Robots have become a permanent fixture in manufacturing. They’re perfect for performing repetitive tasks quickly and accurately, and they don’t need water breaks. Robotic engineers are looking to put robots into jobs outside factories as well. You’ve maybe heard the buzz about robotic nursing home attendants and the like, but now there’s a company looking… Read more »

If you have ever tried to fold one of those little paper cranes, you know how intricate and delicate the art of Origami is. The process of Origami is often meditative, focusing on precision folds to make the mundane remarkable. What if Origami was automated? What if the paper folded itself? What if that self-folding… Read more »

The Internet is responsible for the unprecedented level of global connectivity we have today. The ease and frequency of communication among people and the speed with which they communicate is truly remarkable. Imagine if all of your manufacturing machinery could be as connected as the Internet. That’s what the Industrial Internet of Things is all… Read more »

Back to School is here, and it will soon be followed by Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. You know what that means: special packaging. And that means coupons, toys, BOGOs, and gift with purchase, all of which mess up your systems for packaging. Seasonal packaging can be fun. It lets you swap out those suspiciously muscular… Read more »

Is your factory making an effort to go paperless? There was a time when it was thought that computers would lead to fully paperless workplaces, but that obviously hasn’t happened. Why might you want to go paperless? Environmental factors are one reason that companies try to reduce paper use at work. Some 40% of the… Read more »

One of the problems with getting the younger generation of workers to embrace factory work is that it has the reputation of being hard, dirty work. We need a way to change the reputation of manufacturing and make it more appealing to younger workers. A reality show or a weekly TV drama series set in… Read more »

Rotation can be the key to keeping things fresh. You rotate players in sports, you rotate records in a playlist, and you rotate produce in a grocery store. Rotation is also how Sercos International, the company behind the Sercos automation bus, stays fresh and innovative in robotics. Rotation in robotics — at least the kind… Read more »

There has been a lot of hype surrounding 3D printing. It’s definitely an exciting technology. There are plenty of amazing things that can be created using 3D printers, and it’s increasingly available across the nation and around the world. Even though it is a growing technology with huge potential, though, 3D printing probably won’t be… Read more »