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Manufacturing Engineering: October 2018

The October 2018 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
EDM equipment

EDMs Take a Big Step Up To Unattended Eroding

September 27, 2018
For the most part, EDMing is an unattended, or at least lightly-attended process. Unlike CNC lathes and machining centers, where a broken cutter during the night can make for a truly bad morning, sinking a mold cavity or cutting a trim die requires little in the way of babysitting—why wouldn’t you let the machine run on its own after everyone’s gone home for the day?
By ME Staff Report
Laser cutting

Thick Plate, Tube and More: Laser Cutting Advice from the Pros

September 28, 2018
From cutting various thicknesses of sheet metal and metal plate or different widths of tubing to navigating intricate materials or process issues, some of the laser industry’s leading suppliers have weighed in with tips and insights into their novel solutions.
Geoff Giordano
By Geoff Giordano Contributing Editor, SME Media
Aluminum bus bar lap welding

From Multispot Welding to Limiting Soot: Tips for Optimal Laser Joins

September 28, 2018
In our May webinar titled “Lasers in Manufacturing: State of the Art in 2018,” we noted the emergence of some novel technologies to produce the “holy grail” of laser welding: spatter-free joins with no porosity and, when required, highly aesthetic outcomes.
Geoff Giordano
By Geoff Giordano Contributing Editor, SME Media
A Flow International Corp. waterjet

Waterjet Makers Move to Increase Uptime of Machines

October 1, 2018
Waterjet technology—cutting materials with a jet of water—is expanding. Use of waterjets is moving to smaller shops, where there may only be one or two such machines. As a result, makers of waterjet machines are looking to boost uptime and simplify how they operate.
Bill Koenig
By Bill Koenig Senior Editor, SME Media

Shop Solutions

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

Up Front

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

Software Update

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

Workforce Development

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

SME Speaks

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

Viewpoints

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

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