Automation & Controls

The American manufacturing industry is charging ahead. Despite losing five million jobs over the past decade due to automation and offshoring, the American manufacturing industry is now producing up to 12% of the country's gross domestic product. That's the same percentage of product produced in 1960, but with three times the growth in productivity experienced in 1978.

Scott Lister has been appointed regional sales manager covering Texas and Louisiana for Dorner Manufacturing Corp., Hartland, Wis.

On Robot launched a flexible and energy-efficient gripper for cobots tasked with handling objects of various sizes. Easy to install on the arm of a cobot and simple to program, the RG6 is a bigger and stronger version of the company's popular RG2, with reportedly higher payload than other two-finger collaborative grippers available on the market.

UI LABS and ManpowerGroup have released a workforce analysis that identifies 165 data-centric jobs that will define the future of manufacturing in the United States. Descriptions for jobs such as collaborative robotics specialist, manufacturing cybersecurity strategist and enterprise digital ethicist give a window into the advanced skills and knowledge needed to put new technology into practice and remain globally competitive.

END USER: Lowercase, (212) 510-7621, www.lowercasenyc.com. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Axis Inc., (908) 429-0090, www.axisnewjersey.com; Robotiq, (888) 762-6847, www.robotiq.com; Universal Robots USA Inc., (844) 462-6268, www.universal-robots.com. CHALLENGE: Cost-effectively integrate automation into the production of eyewear frames. SOLUTION: A collaborative robot tooled with an easy-to-use, flexible gripper.

An item in the Look Ahead department of the August 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine features large-volume, high-accuracy robots.

Marposs has announced the availability of its P1dWB, an entry-level grinding wheel balancing and process monitoring system. This new system is intended to replace Marposs' electronic systems E78 and E82.

Marposs offers the Genior Modular from Artis Systems, a fully automatic process monitoring and control solution for machine tools. Genior Modular can monitor up to 10 simultaneous machining processes, including tool wear, tool breakage and missing tools; providing tool and machine protection; and for adaptive control of machining processes. The system increases productivity and reduces operating costs by safeguarding the machining processes, shortening cycle times and optimizing tool life, as well as significantly reducing the need for operator intervention.

NUM has released a new software facility for its latest-generation Flexium+ CNC platform that places an advanced tool management system at the disposal of manufacturers operating multiple CNC machine tools. It is especially suitable for complex high-end milling applications, as well as HSM applications in the mold and die market.

TNC contouring controls from HEIDENHAIN are popular with users thanks to their workshop-oriented operational design and conversational programming. And now, HEIDENHAIN's compact TNC 620 control combines its advantages of HEIDENHAIN contouring controls with the latest in touchscreen technology.

Motion Industries Inc., Birmingham, Ala., a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Co., Atlanta, has agreed to acquire Numatic Engineering Inc., Sun Valley, Calif.

Lincolnshire, Ill.-based GF Machining Solutions LLC's System 3R, which supplies modular workholding/tooling systems, automation and software, is celebrating its 50-year anniversary.