Imagine a future of a fully automated supply chain where items are manufactured, assembled, shipped, and delivered entirely by automated machines. This notion used to seem far-fetched, but is now a very real and current reality. While the fear of a robotic revolution remains the theme in some movies, these advanced technologies are making life,…
With over 50 years of success, Gefran strives to push beyond technology boundaries to thrive not only in the area of product advancement but also in customer satisfaction, human development, and sustainability. From the beginning, Gefran has differentiated itself from the competition by understanding and producing exactly what customers are looking for to solve their…
A team of engineering students from Oklahoma State emailed Automation Direct last year with a disturbing problem: Fish were dying! These engineering students had been contacted, in turn, by students in the nearby Culinary Arts program who run an aquaponics farm. Aquaponics combines aquaculture (raising fish and other marine life in tanks) with hydroponics (growing…
Companies and industries around the globe use R. Stahl’s superior explosion protection equipment and systems to protect against deadly explosions in hazardous locations that can occur if flammable gases, vapors, mists, or dusts combine with oxygen and an ignition source. R. Stahl is the global leader in explosion protection, and its innovative designs have made…
FATH GmbH was started as a family operation in 1989 by Werner Fath and sons Mirko Jan and Wido. Now, still managed by Mirko Jan and Wido, FATH has evolved into an international group with worldwide production and 350 employees. FATH is the global innovation driver of intelligent system solutions in the production environment and…
By Michael Probst, BSEE ’22 The Georgia Institute of Technology Engineering Department requires two semesters of design experience, with a course known as “senior design”. Students divide themselves into teams of 4-6 students, often comprised of members from within a single department, or students can form interdisciplinary teams. The projects themselves come from three sources:…
Have you ever seen a 3D printer move back and forth seemingly like magic to bring to life whatever it has been programmed to create? If so, chances are high that you scarcely thought about the linear bearings and rails that ensure the printer’s smooth, precise movements. Linear bearings and rails are used in industrial…
In 1910, Johannes Schmalz opened a razor blade factory in Glatten, Germany. Soon afterward, customers around the world clamored to shave with the company’s “Glattis” blades. Fast forward more than 100 years and, today, Schmalz is the global market leader in vacuum automation and customized ergonomic handling solutions as measured by revenue and breadth of…
In 1988, the four Sanson cousins, Flavio, Rodolfo, Mauro, and Stefano, decided to use the entrepreneurial spirit that runs in the family and start creating products for the electro-technical business. And Quadritalia was born, with the mission to provide high quality products, serve customers well, and continue to innovate in the industry. More than 30…
Mother Nature has provided a lot of extreme weather recently. One of her most powerful and fearsome forces is lightning. Do you know which of the following statements about lightning are true and which are false? Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year. Lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice. When…