Mack Trucks, a part of Volvo Group, plans to have a fully electric Mack LR refuse model equipped with an integrated Mack electric drivetrain operating in North America in 2019, officials said at the WasteExpo trade show in Las Vegas.

Given the general tone of the automation discussion lately, you can understand why the headline for a recent press release from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) was attention-grabbing: "Robots Create Jobs – New Research."

The U.S. economy grew by an annualized 2.3 percent in the first quarter, according to preliminary data. This was slightly better than the consensus estimate of around 2 percent, even as real GDP eased from 2.9 percent growth in the fourth quarter data. In addition, this was the strongest first quarter reading in three years.

R&D spending is a hot topic right now. Not since the 1990s has such a steady and possibly increasing amount of funding been on the horizon for inventive scientists and engineers. It is a great time to be on the profession. It is a global trend.

Vendor consolidation can greatly benefit your manufacturing business in several unexpected ways — and it might be the right time to adapt it for the way your facility handles ordering.

Elected officials and business community leaders joined Lockheed Martin April 30 in the formal opening of a new manufacturing facility in Pinellas Park, Florida, that will create more than 80 new jobs by mid-2019.

The idea of tablet-controlled processes might bring skepticism, but there are a few reasons — consumer-based expectations, relevance and lifecycle management — why it’s already here.

Over the last decade, the ways in which we work have changed drastically. The digital age has transformed production across industries, with manufacturers specifically embracing new technologies such as automation and robotics to increase output and efficiencies. But have we forgotten to apply digital advances to an organization’s basic operations such as communication, engagement and HR?  

Join AGMA and IHS Markit for a two-hour webinar on the AGMA Gear Market Report. May 17 from 2:00-4:00 pm.

One of the biggest announcements to emerge from this year’s RAPID + TCT event was the newest Electron Beam Melting (EBM) metal 3D printing system from Arcam EBM. The Arcam EBM Spectra H is a new system designed to handle high heat and crack-prone materials. 

The digital age has ushered in a paradigm shift in manufacturing. Automation, in conjunction with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIot), has linked every aspect of the production processes. This level of connectivity is revolutionizing how manufacturers do business, but there is a price to pay for the benefits digitization has to offer: security.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) represents both a challenge and an opportunity. In order for business leaders to capitalize on the benefits of the IIoT, eliminating security obstacles and keeping networks secure is more important than ever. 

Dr. B. Christopher Rinderspacher, a theoretical chemist with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, recently published a paper describing the process of using mathematics to design chemical compounds, by reducing complexity and taking advantage of machine learning.

Intel recently rolled out a version of it Saffron AI platform that aims to help enterprises in the manufacturing and aerospace industries improve product quality and optimize supply chains.

The spectrum of materials that can be used in 3D printing applications is widening. While 3D printing has traditionally been dominated by metals and polymers, new research is exploring the potential of a little-used but versatile class of 3D printing building block: ceramics. 

The students at Vermont Tech aren’t preparing to build products through physically demanding factory work as much as they are studying to up their technical skills. Manufacturing undergrads take classes in calculus, 3D printing and a slew of other specialized subjects.

A mobile manufacturing lab designed to train local workers and make students more aware of careers in the industry will make its Champaign County debut this week at a job fair at Triad High School.