In late 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, manufacturing industries also faced a semiconductor shortage, a shortage likely to persist in 2021. The semiconductor shortage has posed severe disruption in the global supply chain for many industries, including automotive, aerospace, medical, and nuclear. To minimize the problem’s scale, efforts at small-scale…
Excluding water, tea and coffee, perhaps unsurprisingly, are the most consumed beverages in the world. However, would you have assumed that beer ranks third? A nice cold beer apparently remains one of life’s treasures for many people. Regardless of which beverage you prefer, though, it was almost certainly produced in…
Every year, the welding industry spends millions of dollars in compensation for welders exposed to harmful substances. Carcinogenic substances in welding fumes, such as hexavalent chromium, represent a primary health concern in the welding industry. To protect welders from being exposed to these toxins, industries must follow various safety procedures…
All welding processes produce emissions, including heavy metal fumes and chemicals, as the metal becomes molten. Exposure to this fume for an extended period increases the risk of serious health-related issues to welders. In a more enclosed space, this risk is even greater. As a preventive measure, proper welding ventilation…
In the U.S., the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the source of many rules and guidelines intended to protect workers from job-related hazards across virtually all industries. Some of the rules apply to dangerous jobs like hot work—such as welding and cutting—required for activities as diverse as bio-pharmacy,…
Among recent technological advances, the Internet of Things (IoT) is gaining wide popularity across industries. The integration of smart devices that create smart factories has changed the way conventional industrial processes are performed. Welding technologies are also evolving to adapt to IoT. With smart welding systems, industries are looking forward…
The Terminator, a popular movie series starring strongman actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, presents a future where machines have taken over the world. In the first movie, the machines are focused on destroying humanity. In the sequel, however, the machines display just how powerful a human ally they can be. The transformation…
There is a saying that “life imitates sports.” Non-sport fans may find this amusing; however, fans will likely find wisdom in those words. It is not uncommon for a good defense to be fooled by a trick play in football. And regardless of how many fastballs a pitcher throws, he…
The robot—Unimation 001—was developed by George Devol and Joseph Engelberger in 1962 to perform welding tasks deemed hazardous for manual operators. However, robotic welding did not gain momentum until the 1980s. At that time, manufacturers influenced by General Motors began to realize the potential of automation. The path was followed…
One of the basic, yet critical operations that permeate most industries is thermal manipulation. The ability to generate, convert, and distribute heat as a gas or through a fluid is essential for activities ranging from food processing to power generation. Heat exchangers are the most common type of pressure vessel…