In this release of WTWH’s Processing and Packaging series, we took a close look at the growing beverage industry. Composed of everything from bottled water and carbonated soft drinks to cold-pressed juices and premium spirits, the beverage industry represents a diverse slice of manufacturing that encompasses a wide variety of products and packaging formats. This report will…

IO-Link is an internationally standardized, crossvendor IO technology that enables bidirectional communication to the sensor/actuator level. The fieldbus-independent, open standard can be integrated into any system landscape using standard unshielded cables and point-to-point connectivity. Bidirectional communication enables comprehensive diagnostics and interference-free data transfer. Pepperl+Fuchs’ IO-Link portfolio covers a wide range of sensor technologies, including photoelectric…

Expanding our network Last month, we announced that we’re joining forces with some very well-respected engineering publications produced by CFE Media. Our new titles include some you’ve likely heard of: Control Engineering, Plant Engineering, Consulting-Specifying Engineer, and Industrial Cybersecurity Pulse. Produced by an award-winning editorial team, these brands help round out our engineering coverage and…

Design World, the leading design engineering magazine in the United States for OEM design engineers, along with Machines Italia, jointly conducted a readership survey investigating several critical topics of interest to manufacturers today. These include smart machines, smart devices, innovations, and sustainability. In all, there were 185 respondents who answered most or all of the…

Motion system designs run millions of automated food-manufacturing designs worldwide — including those in employed in grain milling, pasta making, and baking; fish and poultry processing; beer, wine, and spirit production; slaughtering and meatpacking; fruit, vegetable, and baby-food packaging, canning, jarring, and freezing; candy making; dairy and cheese making; and oils and fat extraction and…

For this first release in the WTWH Packaging and Processing series, we asked food manufacturers to reflect on their experiences with flexible and shelf-ready packaging, two closely related formats that have found traction in the food industry. In this report, you will hear from food industry professionals about what their greatest challenges are with flexible…

Growing pains I remember feeling chronic discomfort in my shins as my teenage tibias attempted to get me up to average height. It was a nice try, but five-foot-two was all they could muster. Fortunately, most engineering and writing careers don’t have a minimum height requirement. Today’s fast-paced world pressures us to grow quickly and…

Looking at digital transformation If you follow the publication online, you’ve surely seen some of the insightful stories from our new Executive Editor, Stephanie Neil, who’s a well-known and respected journalist in the world of packaging technology. Her recent article on how packaging machinery incorporates safety in different areas is a necessary read for anyone…

Packaging machinery uses cutting-edge automation, and it’s no wonder. Facilities that parcel products need to deliver high throughput, but modern consumers demand smart packaging in the form of no-fuss containers that protect everything from M&Ms to patio furniture. What’s more, there’s a continuous drive to customize packages and let consumer-facing companies wrap products for bulk…

Digital dominates this year’s discussion The response to our 2024 Design World Trends call was the biggest yet. This print issue contains five features summarizing just a small portion of this year’s observations and insights from experts in motion and automation; tune into designworldonline.com/trends over the next two months to read all the Trends features…

When 99% is simply not good enough I’m going to veer off the normal engineering focus of this column for a month to dabble in a scientific field that’s close to my heart: astronomy. We’re a month out from this year’s big heavenly spectacle in the U.S., the total solar eclipse on April 8th. This…

Pneumatics is a fluid power technology similar to hydraulics in that it transmits force through a pressurized medium to create useful work. However, pneumatic technology differs from hydraulics in every critical fashion — compressibility. To be fair, hydraulic oil compresses as well, but only 0.4 percent every thousand psi or so. However, in the simplest…

Programmable logic controllers or PLCs are microprocessor-based components that serve as the programmable smarts for simple or isolated applications. They’re also finding increasing use on integrated machinery and automated installations with extensive IIoT connectivity. In this new Tech Toolbox, the editors of Design World detail how PLCs came to replace relay-based controls as well as…

I love learning about engineering colleagues who are innovating in new ways. Take the current issues with renewable energy. While strides have been made in solar and wind, the variability of these technologies often doesn’t match up with when power is most needed. That’s created much research over the years into ways to store power…

Keeping a focus on engineering leadership Within each January issue of the magazine, we focus on the topic of leadership in engineering. And while that’s usually focused on the leadership qualities of manufacturers as well as individual engineers, I’m proud to announce here that our parent company, WTWH Media, continues to take a leadership role…

Discover how JIECANG is leading the way in the sanitation revolution with cutting-edge linear actuators in upgrading cleaning robot automation.

Reshoring manufacturing — and the Texas-Mexico connection JCB recently announced that it will build a new factory in North America, creating 1,500 new jobs over the next five years. The British company is a global manufacturer of construction equipment and also builds machinery for the agricultural and waste-handling industries. JCB said this new facility will…

In this issue… What Are Low-Profile Screws? Low-profile screws are made with a lower head height than typical screws. These fasteners are designed with a minimal or flush head that sits close to the surface of the material being fastened — providing low visibility but a secure attachment. These components are also referred to as…

UP WITH DEMOCRATIZATION IN ENGINEERING Recently our office received an article by electrical engineer Bernard Ang of Keysight Technologies (previously Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies) about new ways software tools are helping to advance engineering education for design engineers. If you want to get specifics on Keysight’s tools, visit 3dcadworld.com and search Bernard Ang. It’s one…

Engineering … illustrated I write a lot in this space about the need to get more young people from all backgrounds to consider engineering as a career. We rarely end up as a sexy occupation on television. That’s relegated to doctors, lawyers, and heck, even crime scene investigators and morticians. (I don’t think we can…

Sift through a few headlines, and you’ll likely come across news about labor shortages in several sectors. The trades are not immune. “Construction Workforce Shortage Tops Half a Million in 2023,” states the Associated Builders and Contractors. “Labor Shortages Forecast to Persist for Years,” predicts The Society for Human Resource Management. Blame what you will:…

Mobile equipment continues path toward electrification At the recent IFPE and CONEXPO shows in Las Vegas, there was plenty to see for fans of mobile hydraulic technology. Hydraulics has long been the technology of choice for many off -highway vehicles thanks to its excellent power density. In the past decade, it’s been increasingly married to…

Transforming thoughts on going digital Digital phobia is a real phenomenon characterized by a discomfort or avoidance of technology and the digital era in general. More seriously known as technophobia or technofear, these digital-laden anxieties are more common than one might think. Although the exact numbers are unknown, research suggests up to one-third of the…

The value of good advice There’s an old proverb that says, “Good advice is beyond all price.” This might be true, but people generally tend to ignore advice, at least the unsolicited kind. For business owners and entrepreneurs, the reason is simple: they’re too busy working. Overwhelm and multi-tasking means there’s little time for heeding…

In May, I attended my first trade show in nearly three years. After months behind a screen, connecting with others via conference calls and Zoom meetings, it took leaving my home office before I realized how much I missed meeting new people and interacting with others — in person. Kudos to Fastener Fair USA for…