manufacturing trends

Large concrete installations call for closer CO2 monitoring

July 15, 2021

Through a series of complex chemical reactions (i.e., “carbonation”), CO2 can reduce concrete’s pH and increase its porosity – ultimately impairing the overall strength and durability of concrete. The phenomenon is hastened in humid climates and in large cities or industrial areas where fossil fuels are likely to be burned at higher rates.

Innovations in wearable tech boost essential worker safety

Haytham Elhawary

April 30, 2021

Industrial employers trying to keep frontline workers safe and healthy on the job during the pandemic are getting a boost from innovations in connected technology like wearables. These Wifi-enabled devices are collecting new data points and enabling actionable insights that help streamline and target workplace safety measures.

Cover story

The factory of the future is now

Smart technology, the Internet of Things and robotics are changing manufacturing operations

Benita Mehta

November 6, 2020

Everyone has heard of the term “smart factory” by now, but what is it exactly, and how is it being implemented right now?

Shield against debris

LED lighting, design modularity heighten operator protection

Matt Brenner

October 28, 2020

In this article, we look at one of the most basic and most critical components in machine safeguarding: the safety shield.

Artificial intelligence will be a huge competitive asset

What you need to know about the “Smart” factory

Megan R. Nichols

August 1, 2019

Industry 4.0 has arrived, which means machine shop owners and managers of large manufacturing concerns are all looking at their options for bringing about their own transformation. But what functionality does smart factory equipment really offer? And what types of equipment are worth the price of adoption?

The next recession is coming — by 2021

November 7, 2018

Two-thirds of business economists in the U.S. expect a recession to begin by the end of 2020, with trade policy presenting the greatest risk to the expansion, according to a new survey reported by Bloomberg. So you can keep the panic button under lock and key.

So why is the economy booming?

November 7, 2018

No doubt the U.S. economy is in a boom, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The Conference Board reports the highest levels of job satisfaction in more than a decade. The ratio between the unemployment level and the number of job vacancies is at its lowest level in a half-century

2017 trends: tepid sales & a tech tipping point

September 1, 2017

U.S. industrial production and heavy manufacturing sales remain anemic, according to a recent Baird survey of more than 500 distributors in various channels.

More robots coming to U.S. factories in coming decade – but factory payrolls will still rise

December 13, 2016

Manufacturers will significantly accelerate their use of robots in U.S. factories over the next decade as they become cheaper and perform more tasks, constraining payroll growth, according to a study out Tuesday.