Georg Ludwig Rexroth built a water-powered hammer mill in Elsavatal in the Spessart valley in 1795. There is a pond there which is still called the “Höllhammer” pond after the ironworks. Archaeologists from the area say that there was a hammerworks there already when Rexroth arrived — probably before 1702. There was water to power… Read more »
We’ve written before about the challenges in packaging, but the challenges aren’t all on the production side. Where do consumer package designs come from? First, from marketing. Manufacturers put extensive thought, research, and effort into determining what shapes, colors, and materials will do the job of getting packages off the shelf and into the shopper’s… Read more »
Machine operators may need to reach out, to lift things, or to move things from one space to another. Do you think it matters how tall they are? If you’re not sure, try setting a heavy object on a shelf or counter that’s at a comfortable working height for you. Life the object up to… Read more »
We know, love, and in fact specialize in legacy electronic components (specifically, Indramat motion control). We’ve spoken out against unneeded upgrades. We applauded the New Belgium brewery for judiciously upgrading and keeping legacy components in service when that made sense. We speak out for the opposite of planned obsolescence and for a conservation mindset. There’s… Read more »
We specialize in legacy Indramat components, but we keep up with the new Bosch Rexroth IndraDrive innovations as well. This particular machine, the first of its kind back in 2010, is a testament to the beauty of servos: precision and power. We can’t see where the cups end up after they’re shot out of the… Read more »
We had just written about the skills gap when a new book on the subject turned up in the mailbox. Obviously, this subject is on people’s minds. In this case, the Summit Media Group brought in experts to come up with a solution for the problem. Keith S. Campbell is the editor for the Manufacturing… Read more »
A couple of years ago we wrote about the then-controversial idea of the Skills Gap. The Skills Gap refers to the idea that a lack of qualified technical and engineering workers in the U.S. interferes with attempts to restore manufacturing jobs to their former importance in the American economy. Here’s what people who believe in… Read more »
The region around the Great Lakes, including parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Illinois, and Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, and parts of Wisconsin used to be the Manufacturing Belt, the Steel Belt, the Factory Belt. Unlike the Great Plains agricultural regions, these states rejoiced in industry, the power and prosperity of making things. Fast forward a… Read more »
We proudly specialize in support for legacy Indramat products, but we’re also excited about Rexroth’s newer motion control projects. One that falls into the “extreme” category is Pieter Schelte, a new Allseas vessel. This behemoth may be put into service by the end of this year. The vessel is basically a giant catamaran designed to… Read more »
If you went to the same kind of school we went to, you learned about one Industrial Revolution. It took place in the 18th century, involved steam engines and servomotors, and resulted in higher standards of living for some and some pretty grim workweeks for others. It was a time of great excitement and ideas… Read more »
