Assembly Magazine

Assembly Breaking News Manufacturing Software ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland and Labrador — CoLab has introduced an artificial intelligence capability designed to generate and refine engineering documents such as Design Failure Mode and Effects Analyses, while also outlining plans to launch generative CAD capabilities in the first half of 2027.

Assembly Breaking News ASSEMBLY TrendsRobotics Assembly Photo courtesy of Feather Robotics Inc. EAST PALO ALTO, CA—Tech startup Feather Robotics Inc. has introduced a humanoid robot for less than $30,000. The Feather robot is a two-armed mobile humanoid built as an open platform for physical AI. Each arm can move in seven degrees of freedom. The robot has a vertical reach of 600 millimeters and a horizontal reach of 1 meter.

Assembly Breaking News TechnologiesManufacturing SoftwareRobotics Assembly BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Amazon Web Services (AWS) has introduced an open-source Physical AI Toolchain designed to help manufacturers develop, train, simulate and deploy intelligent robots and autonomous machines in industrial environments.

Electronics AssemblyAdhesives & Dispensing Assembly Photo courtesy Atlantic Ambience ULSAN, South Korea—Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have developed an optically clear adhesive using isosorbide, a component derived from corn starch. Transparent adhesives are used to bond display cover glass, touch sensors and panels.

Assembly Breaking News Electronics AssemblyAdhesives & Dispensing Assembly ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Wacker Chemical Corp. has introduced silicone materials designed to address thermal management, thermal runaway protection and assembly challenges in increasingly integrated battery packs. ELASTOSIL CM 146 US A/B is a sprayable silicone coating that remains flexible after curing but forms a hard ceramic shield at temperatures above 600 C.

Assembly Breaking News Robotics AssemblyPlastics & Metal Welding Assembly Photo courtesy HD Hyundai Robotics DULUTH, GA—HD Hyundai Robotics, a provider of robotic and smart factory technology, will present four automation systems at this year’s Fabtech show, which will be held Oct. 21-23 in Las Vegas. The exhibition marks a milestone in HD Hyundai Robotics’ growth strategy in the North American market.

Assembly Breaking News Automated Assembly SystemsRobotics AssemblyWorkstations Assembly BRIDGMAN, Mich. — Convergix Automation Solutions is expanding its Michigan operations with a new 60,000-square-foot facility in Holland. The facility, located at 1362 Lincoln Ave., will provide additional capacity as the automation systems integrator responds to growing customer demand. Convergix plans to bring the operation online over the coming months and add employees as activity at the location increases.

The project is expected to create 4,000 jobs and begin initial vehicle production in 2027, and suppliers have shown strong interest in establishing operations nearby. One example is SODECIA AAPICO, a joint venture between a Portuguese company and a Thai company that recently announced plans to build ladder frames for Scout vehicles in South Carolina. “We were contacted by a Portuguese company not operating in the Southeast,” Caggiano says.

Assembly News NowManufacturing Management LEHI, Utah — Nearly half of maintenance leaders report more than 10 hours of unplanned downtime in a typical month, according to new research from maintenance software provider Limble. The company's State of Maintenance Report, based on a survey of nearly 700 U.S. maintenance and operations professionals, found that 47% of maintenance leaders experience more than 10 hours of unplanned downtime per month. Nearly one in four report more than 20 hours.

Assembly Breaking News Electronics Assembly AUSTIN, Texas — Electronics manufacturers can automate more of the process of turning incoming PCB design files into production-ready quotes through a new integration between Boardera Software and Cetec ERP. Boardera uses artificial intelligence to analyze PCB design packages and automate tasks including bill-of-materials scrubbing, component sourcing, labor and material costing and manufacturability review.