Manufacturing Matters

Hyperspectral imaging has been around for decades, but new capabilities are taking the technology to whole new levels. In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, TECH B2B Marketing’s Jimmy Carroll and John Lewis sat down with Alex Fong, CTO at Hinalea Imaging, to talk about where the technology is heading. Hinalea uses a Fabry-Pérot interferometry approach that provides extreme versatility — very quickly collecting entire high-resolution ranges from the visible through near infrared, shortwave infrared (SWIR), even up into ultraviolet. Fong details the wide range of applications this enables — from monitoring critical processes in real time to detecting hazards quickly — as well as what is making SWIR technologies so popular.

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When you think of low-cost automation, what comes to mind? What about cobots for under $7,000? While Igus is perhaps best known for motion plastics manufacturing, the company’s RBTX platform aims to help end users find the most cost-effective automation solutions within 30 minutes. During an in-person podcast held at the Igus’ robotics lab, Jan Hennecke, Robotics Product Manager at Igus joined TECH B2B Marketing’s Jimmy Carroll to discuss the genesis of RBTX and how it aims to save time and money for those looking to adopt automation. They also discuss the industries where low-cost automation may benefit, along with the latest trends and technologies in industrial automation today, including AI, the labor shortage, ease of use, and much more.

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As robotic systems become more versatile and sophisticated, robotic end effectors continue to develop to meet new demands. At PACK EXPO International in Chicago, Manufacturing Matters hit the show floor to find out more about how robotic grippers are becoming more flexible, durable, and intelligent to meet the demands of a wide range of industries. TECH B2B Marketing’s Winn Hardin talked with Gary Gray, National Sales Manager for Schmalz Vacuum Automation, and Will Russelo, Schmalz Applications Engineer for the Packaging Industry.

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Waterjet cutting is a precise and eco-friendly technology reshaping manufacturing. A key attribute is its sheer versatility, cutting literally any material—from fresh vegetables to ceramics to titanium—with high-pressure water. For this episode of Manufacturing Matters, TECH B2B Managing Director Winn Hardin caught up with Brian Sherick, president of Flow International, and Nino LaDuca, CEO of Shape Technologies Group, at IMTS. Shape Technology owns several inventive, globally recognized brands in ultrahigh-pressure waterjet cutting technologies, including Flow International. Sherick and LaDuca touch on the advances driving faster and more economical waterjet cutting, and provide advice for getting the right machine for your application.

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In this women in automation panel discussion recorded at IMTS 2024, TECH B2B Marketing’s Amanda Del Buono is joined by guest co-host and Automation Ladies host Nikki Gonzalez, along with Julia Astrid Riemenschneider, VP of Business Development at Rethink Robotics and United Robotics Group; Cathy Rinne, President of Flex-Line Automation; and Kirby Witte, Chief Commercial Officer of ESTAT Actuation. The group of women in manufacturing discuss the state of the industry’s workforce, highlighting how the industry can reach and attract more women and young people to this fast-paced industry, how women and other minorities in the industry can successfully navigate challenges, and share advice for others navigating today’s manufacturing workforce. 

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Does the concept of robots with no programming, 24/7 support, and instant ROI catch your attention? If so, check out this episode of Manufacturing Matters, where GrayMatter Robotics’ co-founder SK Gupta joins TECH B2B Marketing’s Jimmy Carroll to talk about the latest pain points manufacturers are facing and how robotics companies are lowering the barrier of entry when it comes to adopting automation. They also go in depth on all things AI, and how the technology should not be feared, but embraced.

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Encoders might be small pieces in the automation puzzle, but they have a huge impact on whether that automation works correctly. By providing feedback on position, speed, and rotation, encoders help machines and systems operate accurately and efficiently. Wachendorff Automation has been making encoders for more than four decades, and knows a thing or two about the demands being placed on precision motion control. In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, TECH B2B Marketing’s Winn Hardin and John Lewis met at Automate 2024 in Chicago to talk with Robert Wachendorff, CEO, and Tom Bako, Business Development Manager USA, about the ins and outs of operating in harsh environments, faster throughputs, and smartphone-based encoder configuration.

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Airy3D’s Ron Low, senior vice president of business development and marketing, and Pier-Luc Tardif, director of business development, join Winn Hardin and Jimmy Carroll to discuss advancements in 3D sensing to enhance machine vision applications. They discuss the current landscape of vision systems, pitfalls, and how 3D sensing can enhance vision applications in industry, consumer electronics, automotive, and security and surveillance.

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The increasing automation of industry requires billions of sensors. As sensor technology pushes forward, it also accelerates camera technologies along with machine vision and other imaging systems. Everix is focused not only on advancing the technology of thin-film filters for optical sensors but on producing them through much more economical and scalable methods—thus enabling more growth in the imaging sector. For this episode of Manufacturing Matters, TECH B2B Marketing’s Jimmy Carroll and John Lewis sat down with Everix execs Hooman Banaei, CEO/CTO, and Sinclair Vass, COO, to discuss how their work affects some of the coolest technologies in the industry, including lidar, autonomous vehicles, 3D sensing, robotic vision, and more.

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As digital transformation surges ahead, manufacturers need to understand how their data moves through their operations and across networks. To reduce vulnerabilities, it’s more important than ever to make sure strong cybersecurity protections are in place through the entire stack. For this episode of Manufacturing Matters, TECH B2B Marketing’s Dan McCarthy and Winn Hardin sat down with David Bader, who leads business development for Eurotech in North America, and Travis Cox, chief technology evangelist for Inductive Automation. Bader and Cox explain how they’re working together to elevate the cybersecurity stance for manufacturing operations. They also explain what steps manufacturers need to take to keep their operations safe from increasingly prevalent attacks.

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