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Manufacturing Engineering: December 2018

The December 2018 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
Outlook: Solid U.S. Economic Momentum Poised to Cool in 2019

Outlook: Solid U.S. Economic Momentum Poised to Cool in 2019

November 21, 2018
U.S. economic growth is expected to continue in 2019, while outlooks for the aerospace and defense, automotive, energy and medical industries vary.
By Oxford Economics Press Release
Manufacturing in 2050: The World Turned Upside Down?

Manufacturing in 2050: The World Turned Upside Down?

November 26, 2018
Powerful trends will push manufacturing close to complete automation by 2050, while the people still working in the industry will be empowered to rapidly innovate like never before.
Ed Sinkora
By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media
Cyber Secure Manufacturing Is Smart Manufacturing

Cyber Secure Manufacturing Is Smart Manufacturing

November 26, 2018
It’s probably not a bad idea for smaller and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs) to adopt an “us against them” attitude as they become aware of the prevalence of cyber-attacks in the digital age of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0.
Jim Lorincz
By Jim Lorincz Contributing Editor, SME Media
Thermo XL5

Testing the Metal

November 27, 2018
Materials science has opened new possibilities for designers of cars, planes and other products. Metal alloys are now as precisely engineered as they are machined. The result is longer lasting, stronger parts. But with a wider selection of materials comes risk—how can you be sure that one piece of gray metal stock is different than another? Careful warehousing procedures and paperwork only go so far.
Bruce Morey
By Bruce Morey Senior Technical Editor, SME Media

Shop Solutions

  • NEWS DESK

    Methods Machine Tools Introduces Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex

    PRESS RELEASE: Method Machine Tools Inc. November 18, 2025
    Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of leading-edge precision machine tools and automation solutions, has brought the Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex to the U.S. machine tool market.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Good Twin, Better Twin—Digital Twin

    Steve Plumb November 18, 2025
    While necessity is said to be the mother of invention, the lineage of its virtual twin is decidedly more paternal. Michael Grieves, PhD, aka the father of the digital twin, introduced the concept at an SME conference in 2002. But he started developing the idea nearly 30 years earlier as a means to help a telephone company stop people from digging up phone lines. This practical challenge led him to think about virtual representations of physical objects.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Rootstock Software Acquires Praxis Solutions, Appoints Vice President of Product

    PRESS RELEASE: Rootstock Software November 17, 2025
    Rootstock Software, a recognized leader in cloud ERP for product-based companies, today announced its acquisition of Praxis Solutions, LLC, a Salesforce consulting and implementation firm with a long-standing partnership with Rootstock. Rootstock is backed by Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private investment firm.

Up Front

  • NEWS DESK

    Methods Machine Tools Introduces Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex

    PRESS RELEASE: Method Machine Tools Inc. November 18, 2025
    Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of leading-edge precision machine tools and automation solutions, has brought the Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex to the U.S. machine tool market.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Good Twin, Better Twin—Digital Twin

    Steve Plumb November 18, 2025
    While necessity is said to be the mother of invention, the lineage of its virtual twin is decidedly more paternal. Michael Grieves, PhD, aka the father of the digital twin, introduced the concept at an SME conference in 2002. But he started developing the idea nearly 30 years earlier as a means to help a telephone company stop people from digging up phone lines. This practical challenge led him to think about virtual representations of physical objects.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Rootstock Software Acquires Praxis Solutions, Appoints Vice President of Product

    PRESS RELEASE: Rootstock Software November 17, 2025
    Rootstock Software, a recognized leader in cloud ERP for product-based companies, today announced its acquisition of Praxis Solutions, LLC, a Salesforce consulting and implementation firm with a long-standing partnership with Rootstock. Rootstock is backed by Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private investment firm.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • NEWS DESK

    Methods Machine Tools Introduces Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex

    PRESS RELEASE: Method Machine Tools Inc. November 18, 2025
    Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of leading-edge precision machine tools and automation solutions, has brought the Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex to the U.S. machine tool market.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Good Twin, Better Twin—Digital Twin

    Steve Plumb November 18, 2025
    While necessity is said to be the mother of invention, the lineage of its virtual twin is decidedly more paternal. Michael Grieves, PhD, aka the father of the digital twin, introduced the concept at an SME conference in 2002. But he started developing the idea nearly 30 years earlier as a means to help a telephone company stop people from digging up phone lines. This practical challenge led him to think about virtual representations of physical objects.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Rootstock Software Acquires Praxis Solutions, Appoints Vice President of Product

    PRESS RELEASE: Rootstock Software November 17, 2025
    Rootstock Software, a recognized leader in cloud ERP for product-based companies, today announced its acquisition of Praxis Solutions, LLC, a Salesforce consulting and implementation firm with a long-standing partnership with Rootstock. Rootstock is backed by Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private investment firm.

Viewpoints

  • NEWS DESK

    Methods Machine Tools Introduces Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex

    PRESS RELEASE: Method Machine Tools Inc. November 18, 2025
    Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of leading-edge precision machine tools and automation solutions, has brought the Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex to the U.S. machine tool market.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Good Twin, Better Twin—Digital Twin

    Steve Plumb November 18, 2025
    While necessity is said to be the mother of invention, the lineage of its virtual twin is decidedly more paternal. Michael Grieves, PhD, aka the father of the digital twin, introduced the concept at an SME conference in 2002. But he started developing the idea nearly 30 years earlier as a means to help a telephone company stop people from digging up phone lines. This practical challenge led him to think about virtual representations of physical objects.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Rootstock Software Acquires Praxis Solutions, Appoints Vice President of Product

    PRESS RELEASE: Rootstock Software November 17, 2025
    Rootstock Software, a recognized leader in cloud ERP for product-based companies, today announced its acquisition of Praxis Solutions, LLC, a Salesforce consulting and implementation firm with a long-standing partnership with Rootstock. Rootstock is backed by Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private investment firm.

SME Speaks

  • NEWS DESK

    Methods Machine Tools Introduces Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex

    PRESS RELEASE: Method Machine Tools Inc. November 18, 2025
    Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of leading-edge precision machine tools and automation solutions, has brought the Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex to the U.S. machine tool market.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Good Twin, Better Twin—Digital Twin

    Steve Plumb November 18, 2025
    While necessity is said to be the mother of invention, the lineage of its virtual twin is decidedly more paternal. Michael Grieves, PhD, aka the father of the digital twin, introduced the concept at an SME conference in 2002. But he started developing the idea nearly 30 years earlier as a means to help a telephone company stop people from digging up phone lines. This practical challenge led him to think about virtual representations of physical objects.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Rootstock Software Acquires Praxis Solutions, Appoints Vice President of Product

    PRESS RELEASE: Rootstock Software November 17, 2025
    Rootstock Software, a recognized leader in cloud ERP for product-based companies, today announced its acquisition of Praxis Solutions, LLC, a Salesforce consulting and implementation firm with a long-standing partnership with Rootstock. Rootstock is backed by Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private investment firm.

Workforce Pipeline

  • NEWS DESK

    Methods Machine Tools Introduces Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex

    PRESS RELEASE: Method Machine Tools Inc. November 18, 2025
    Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of leading-edge precision machine tools and automation solutions, has brought the Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex to the U.S. machine tool market.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Good Twin, Better Twin—Digital Twin

    Steve Plumb November 18, 2025
    While necessity is said to be the mother of invention, the lineage of its virtual twin is decidedly more paternal. Michael Grieves, PhD, aka the father of the digital twin, introduced the concept at an SME conference in 2002. But he started developing the idea nearly 30 years earlier as a means to help a telephone company stop people from digging up phone lines. This practical challenge led him to think about virtual representations of physical objects.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Rootstock Software Acquires Praxis Solutions, Appoints Vice President of Product

    PRESS RELEASE: Rootstock Software November 17, 2025
    Rootstock Software, a recognized leader in cloud ERP for product-based companies, today announced its acquisition of Praxis Solutions, LLC, a Salesforce consulting and implementation firm with a long-standing partnership with Rootstock. Rootstock is backed by Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private investment firm.

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