Ontario boosts funding, extends deadline for CME SMART program
The CME SMART program funds projects that will help small and medium-sized Ontario manufacturers increase their productivity and competitiveness. It provides up to 50 percent of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $50,000, and focuses on Lean design and manufacturing, quality improvement, energy efficiency, IT and environmental impact reduction.
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PT/MC manufacturers' sales experience boost in September
Canadian and U.S. manufacturers posted an increase in motion control and power transmission sales in September 2009 according to data released by the Power Transmission Distributors Association.
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Robot orders down 30% through September
North American robotics companies saw orders for new robots decline 30 percent in units and 43 percent in dollars in the first nine months of 2009, according to new figures from Robotic Industries Association.
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Rockwell Automation introduces new mechatronic solutions portfolio
For builders of sophisticated machines that require excellent flexibility and throughput, Rockwell Automation has introduced a new mechatronic solutions portfolio consisting of software tools, motion control products and support.
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Features: Machine vision

Vision-guided robots position nutrunners on wheels
Radix Controls in Oldcastle, Ont., has successfully automated torquing the lug nuts that hold the wheel to the hub by using a vision system to determine the position of the wheel. With this information, the robot can easily move the nut runner into the exact position and tighten the nuts.
For the full story, click here.

Turbo stress: Turbine inspection system combines vision and robotics to reduce defects
By Sarah Sookman
Turbines housed in aircraft engines are subjected to some of the roughest conditions imaginable. One particular North American manufacturer inspected its blades by hand and human eye. Clearly, the manufacturer required an approach that would allow systematic inspections of the blades, save time, and yield consistent and repeatable results.
For the full story, click here.

New Products: Machine vision

Small GigE vision camera

Progressive-scan colour cameras

VisionPro 6.0 expands image acquisition options

Interactive: Join MA on Twitter

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October 2009 Digital Edition Travelling the road ahead: Our fourth annual Canada Manufacturing Study reveals how companies have been affected by the economic downturn It takes two: Press brakes run in tandem without sacrificing precision or quality Turbo stress: Turbine inspection system combines vision and robotics to reduce defects Machine safety: Jeff Ashcroft talks about ways to new and old press equipment is CSA compliant A selection of the latest safety technology, HMIs and operator interfaces, hydraulics and pneumatics products, machine vision equipment, sensors, as well as the latest in test and measurement technology.

November/December Manufacturing AUTOMATION Line-up

• Cover story: Machine Safety Roundtable
  Six machine safety experts discuss everything from standards and implementation issues to the legal ramifications of non-compliance. The coverage will provide insight to machine builders, integrators and OEMs looking to stay safe while increasing automation and decreasing costs.

• Feature: Process control
  Statistical process control has been used for many years to monitor and improve manufacturing processes. David Manilla and Randy Martin from Ottawa's Sciemetric Instruments describe the role of process signatures in quality manufacturing and the characteristics of a successful process signature implementation.

• Feature: Communications & networking
  Ethernet has been the standard for business enterprise systems for many years, and the industry adoption of Ethernet/IP for control and information has acted as an enabler of network convergence between manufacturing and enterprise networks. Mike Hannah from Rockwell Automation examines how getting real-time information at the right time and at the right levels helps manufactures take advantage of this convergence.

• The Advanced Manufacturing section
  Lean manufacturing: Dr. Timothy Hill gives his latest advice on how to proceed with Lean manufacturing initiatives.

• Column: Machine safety
  Leuze Electronic's Mark Smokowicz talks about the muting function (the temporary suspension of the protective field of a vertically mounted AOPD for access guarding into a danger zone) currently in numerous safety-related automation applications.

Plus: News, appointment announcements, trends and our regular columnists, as well as a selection of the latest software offerings, communications & networking products, motors & drives, material handling products, nanotechnology devices, process control offerings, and robot technologies.

Calendar of Events:

Nov. 19: Energy Management Summit (Winnipeg) - Holiday Inn, Winnipeg.

Nov. 19: National Instruments Technical Symposium - Marriott Courtyard & Residence Inn, Montreal.

Nov. 19: Electrical Safety - An Implementation Plan - International Centre Conference Centre, Mississauga, Ont.

Nov. 23 - 26: MainTrain Toronto - Novotel Toronto Centre, Toronto.

Nov. 23: 2009 AME Manufacturing Excellence Award Canadian Region: Cogent - Burlington, Ont.

Nov. 24: Siemens Answers for Industry - Hilton Metrotown, Burnaby, B.C. (Vancouver).

Nov. 26: Understanding CSA Z462-08 Workplace Electrical Safety Standard - London, Ont.

Nov. 27: Understanding CSA Z462-08 Workplace Electrical Safety Standard - Ottawa, Ont.

Check out the Calendar of Events on the Manufacturing AUTOMATION website for more upcoming industry seminars, conferences, shows and training sessions.

Got an event you want us to include on the website? Please send an e-mail to editor André Voshart: avoshart@clbmedia.ca.