MILWAUKEE—Many companies are struggling with their smart manufacturing initiatives, according a recent study conducted by Rockwell Automation Inc.

Initiated in 2004, the Assembly Plant of the Year award showcases world-class production facilities in America and the people, products, and processes that make them successful. 

GKN Aerospace Services Ltd. is partnering with Lilium N.V., which is developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet for air taxi applications.

Exhaust from diesel engines is a major source of air pollution. Nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and other pollutants from diesel exhaust are known to impair human health, causing cancer, heart and lung damage, and impaired mental functioning.

Every day in more than 45 countries, photovoltaic modules designed and manufactured by First Solar go to work converting sunlight into clean, reliable electricity. First Solar is the only American company ranked among the world’s top 10 solar manufacturers. The company’s headquarters is in Tempe, AZ, but its roots are in Ohio, where it operates the largest solar manufacturing footprint in the Western Hemisphere. More than half of First Solar’s 2,700 U.S. employees are located in Ohio.

The IPC/WHMA A-620 standard has just been revised.

The Boeing 777 jetliner is the backbone of many international airlines. The reliable workhorse, which has been used on long-haul flights for three decades, is produced in several variants. The aircraft’s 20-foot-wide aluminum fuselages range anywhere from 209 to 242 feet long.

MUNICH— Universal Robots has introduced a new collaborative robot with a 20-kilogram payload capacity.  The UR20 cobot has an entirely new joint design that will allow for faster cycle times as well as the ability to handle heavier loads. Its 1,750-millimeter reach has been designed to work to the full height of the standard Euro-pallet, while its small footprint will allow companies to achieve more within their existing production space.

TORRINGTON, CT—NASA has listed light-curable conformal coating 9771 from Dymax Corp. on its Materials and Processes Technical Information System (MAPTIS).

When a recent survey asked manufacturers to list their biggest challenges, 83 percent said "attracting and retaining a quality workforce." Only supply chain disruptions and rising material costs ranked higher. Indeed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturers had 858,000 unfilled jobs in November 2021. And the problem is only going to get worse.