Manufacturing

Touchprobe RFID takes to the air RFID tags have typically been read over the air using RF energy from an interrogator, obtaining a 96-bit number that makes up its electronic product code. The latest RFID tags can contain 64 kbits or more of data and can be read by simply touching them with an appropriate probe. Read full story

Airbus aircraft assembly begins in China In an illustration of the increasing impact China is exerting in today’s global economy, Airbus officially opened its first final assembly line outside of Europe there on Sept. 28. The final assembly line in Tianjin is a joint venture between Airbus and a Chinese consortium comprising the Tianjin Free Trade Zone and China Aviation Industry Corp. Read full story

Teaming up for quality Engineers have made huge strides in recent years regarding end-product quality, and it is not just a matter of improvements on the plant floor. Eliminating or reducing problems has become a team effort that includes representatives from all parts of a company, often with input from suppliers and customers. Read full story

U.K. lagging in use of robots The U.K. has one of the lowest ratios of robots per employees in the world, according to Kuka Automation + Robotics. At 40 robots per 10,000 employees, it trails by a large degree countries such as Japan (320 per 10,000) and Germany (250 per 10,000). Read full story