Design & Engineering

News • April 25, 2017 • Michael C. Anderson

ABB and IBM partner to bring AI to the factory floor

ABB and IBM have announced a strategic collaboration that brings together ABB's industry-leading digital offering, ABB Ability, with IBM Watson Internet of Things cognitive capabilities to unlock new value for customers in industry, utilities and transport & infrastructure.

Videos • April 13, 2017

Divergent 3D partners with SLM Solutions

Divergent 3D, which developed the Divergent Manufacturing Platform™, in March announced a strategic development partnership with SLM Solutions Group, a 3D metal printing equipment manufacturer.

Articles • March 22, 2017 • Holly B. Martin

Chicago-based innovation center to stoke manufacturing

On March 2, mHUB, a physical-product innovation center and microfactory, celebrated its official grand opening in Chicago. The center is designed to galvanize the area's manufacturing ecosystem by generating innovative ideas, attracting world-class talent and fostering collaboration.

News • February 20, 2017 • Michael C. Anderson

As available jobs increase, manufacturers get that old school spirit

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that hiring in December 2016 was at a four-month high, while the number of manufacturing hires tied that of November for its best monthly performance since 2010. Separately, the BLS said that manufacturing companies created 5,000 new jobs in January for a second straight month of growth. That's good news for those who remember the dark days of the Great Recession—but for employers who have more work to be done than workers to do it, it's a headache. One solution has been to reach that next generation early—while they're finishing high shool.

News • January 23, 2017 • Evan Jones Thorne

Mfg. & design tech courses now available online

Chicago-based Digital Manufacturing and Design Institute has opened enrollment for the first three of a planned 10 online "101"-style courses on manufacturing and design technology. Developed in partnership with the University at Buffalo and coordinated by The Center for Industrial Effectiveness for the Coursera online learning platform, Digital Manufacturing and Design Technology launches on Jan. 30.

News • November 9, 2016 • Dennis Spaeth

Manufacturers to President-Elect: We are the solution

Following the election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) released a letter from more than 1,100 manufacturing and business leaders pledging to help bring the country together after a divisive election. NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons also pledged manufacturers' efforts to find ways to work with the president-elect and the 115th Congress on the pressing issues facing the country.

News • October 6, 2016

US Census Bureau Counts Down to Manufacturing Day 2016 on October 7

Manufacturing Day - Oct. 7: This week, the U.S. Census Bureau joins a group of public and private organizations in celebrating the importance of the manufacturing sector of the nation's economy. This marks the fifth annual organized observance of Manufacturing Day. The Census Bureau releases manufacturing statistics that inform businesses and policymakers. Collectively, the data paint a picture of the state of this important economic sector.

News • August 26, 2016

Why manufacturing will make or break the future of energy

At GreenBiz, Mark Johnson, director of the Department of Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office, describes the importance of manufacturing innovation to the burgeoning U.S. clean-energy industry.

News • August 10, 2016

Hybrid fusion/FSW tech provides flexible joining solution

Researchers are developing a prototype welding system that will demonstrate the field deployment capabilities of flexible hybrid friction stir welding technology.

Videos • July 21, 2016

Non-profit engineering research group adds electron beam system to toolbox

EWI, a non-profit organization dedicated to innovating and implementing advanced manufacturing technologies for industry, soon will add an Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM) system to its R&D toolbox. Chicago-based Sciaky Inc. announced the sale of its EBAM system in a news release issued July 20.

News • April 26, 2016

The Mirage of a Return to Manufacturing Greatness

In America's factories, jobs are inevitably disappearing. But despite the political rhetoric, the problem is not mainly globalization. Manufacturing jobs are on the decline in factories around the world.

News • April 19, 2016

David A. Dornfeld, manufacturing expert, dies of a heart attack

David A. Dornfeld, mechanical engineering professor, founding faculty director of the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation and a leader at the College of Engineering, died of a heart attack on March 27. He was 66. Dornfeld was a renowned manufacturing expert, widely admired as a teacher and well-regarded as a thoughtful leader.