FAB Shop Direct

Hirebotics designed the Cobot Painter, the first no-code, explosion-proof collaborative robot solution for painting applications, built on Fanuc's CRX-10iA/L Paint hardware and Hirebotics' Beacon platform. The portable system works inside existing manual spray environments, eliminating the need for dedicated paint cells and allowing deployment within days rather than months.

Engineered Material Handling (EMH) recently broke ground on a 24,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing expansion at its headquarters in Valley City, Ohio. The new facility will increase manufacturing capacity and speed. David Comiono, vice president and co-owner, said the addition will allow the company to build multiple crane systems simultaneously. "Right now, we have the capacity to build two or three cranes up to 60-ft., 90-ft. or 120-ft. long at one time.

A new AI-powered robotic platform delivers adaptive path planning for more intelligent human-robot collaborations

Traditional industrial robots are highly effective in structured and repetitive environments, but they often require fixed fixtures, predefined CAD models, manually programmed trajectories and consistent part positioning. These requirements limit their flexibility in high-mix, low-volume production, rework, repair and other applications where every workpiece may be slightly different. Scan&Go 2.0, developed by Maple Advanced Robotics Inc.

For decades, TIG welding has been the default choice whenever appearance, precision and weld quality were imperative. But advances in robotic MIG welding - including sophisticated waveform control, servo-driven weld torches, adaptive process software and increasingly precise robotic motion - are redefining those expectations.

YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE The stories behind many small start-up fabricators in the United States are often fairly similar. They often start from humble beginnings in a pole barn or small shop with 230V single-phase residential-type power. No matter where they got their start, these small companies cannot always invest in higher performance welding machines that offer pulse GMAW capabilities right out of the gate.

For most manufacturing facilities, resistance welding is one of the safest and most productive metal joining processes available. Millions of welds are made every day with little thought given to the hazards that accompany the process. Operators load parts, maintenance personnel troubleshoot equipment, engineers improve cycle times and production continues uninterrupted. It is easy to assume that because equipment has operated for years without an accident, it must be safe.

YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE Every supervisor on any shop floor can always benefit from reminders that the absence of accidents does not prove the absence of hazards. The best safeguarding systems become part of the manufacturing process, not obstacles workers feel compelled to bypass. With that in mind, the team at T.J. SNOW developed a practical safeguarding checklist for evaluating resistance welding operations.

While cobots have made their mark on the welding industry over the past decade or so, the implementation of even this simple automation can be daunting for many fabricators. The traditional challenges with robotic welding, including programming experience, costs and floor space requirements, can make it seem out of reach. But for fabrication shops struggling to find qualified welders and stay competitive, there is no choice in the matter. Automation is a necessity.

Every new technology follows a predictable path of adoption: It begins with the innovators, migrates to early adopters, gets picked up by an early majority and then, ultimately, becomes an everyday commodity. In European manufacturing hubs like Germany, laser welding technology crossed that threshold decades ago.