Electrical Current: The Unseen Hazard of Welding
July 1, 2026When we think about manual welding, we often picture gleaming arcs, flying sparks, and plumes of smoke. Vivid scenes like these shape our idea of welding, which is often perceived as harsh and dangerous. But this picture falls short of reality, because visible risks, such as arc radiation, hot metal spatter, or welding fume, can actually be managed effectively due to modern protective equipment and clear safety standards. Ideally, professional welders are equipped with helmets, gloves, and protective clothing that reliably protect them from ext...
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Industry Partnership Grant Will Fuel Career Pipelines
July 1, 2026The Manufacturers' Association is proud to announce it has been selected as a recipient of a Pennsylvania Industry Partnership grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) as part of a statewide $2.8 million investment announced by the Shapiro Administration on April 13, 2026. The Manufacturers' Association has been awarded $350,000 to advance the South Central Manufacturing Industry Partnership, serving manufacturers and workers across Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and Y...
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Accelerate Design, Commissioning of Robotic Work Cells
July 1, 2026Realtime Robotics, a provider of automated collision-free motion planning, control, and optimization for industrial robots, offers new features and enhancements for its Resolver solution.
Resolver is a cloud-based solution that accelerates an organization's design, programming, and commissioning of robotic work cells while decreasing its time-to-market. The enhancements include streamlining the end-user experience and expanding the number and type of robot models that Resolver supports.
"There is a great deal of pressure on manuf...
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New Business Segment for Embodied AI and Humanoid Robotics
July 1, 2026PIA Automation has announced the launch of a new business segment, Embodied AI & Humanoid Robotics, combining the company's expertise in artificial intelligence, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. The move expands PIA's automation solutions to include humanoid robots that can physically interact with their environment and adapt to changing production tasks.
"As modern factories face growing product variety and unpredictable production demands, flexible and intelligent automation has become essential," noted a spokesp...
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SMW Autoblok Expands Lineup of MOTIACT Mechatronic Grippers
July 1, 2026SMW Autoblok recently introduced new long-stroke models to the MOTIACT lineup of mechatronic grippers. The MX-L 335 compact long-stroke and MX-L 520 long-stroke grippers are designed for end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) automation with higher workpiece weights and are suitable for use in machine tending, material handling, assembly, and other applications.
The MX-L 335 long-stroke gripper has a stroke of 55 mm (2.2") per jaw and offers a high gripping force of 2.5 to 27 kN, the second largest gripping force in the MOTIACT lineup. The MX-L 520 ...
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3D Robot Vision Solution
July 1, 2026Pickit 3D has announced the Pickit 4.0 release, a solution for flexible, high-performance industrial automation with 3D robot vision. This major update features improvements in all of its key components, including software, hardware, and services.
The Pickit 4.0 release introduces a simpler, more cost-effective licensing model with four defined options tailored to different automation needs. Each comes with a streamlined user experience and bespoke functionalities. This approach makes the solution easier to use and advantageous, as customers...
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