Learn everything you need to know about Industrial Goods & Services in this section.
Please wait...
Although accurate and repeatable results require different instrumentation and techniques, don't be intimidated. Here are the basics and some finer points of wafer-level-RF measurements.
Although current inspection and measurement technology appears sufficiently capable to continue the progress to smaller nodes, robust modeling and a high degree of shape and interfacial control are needed. As some metrology tools reach the limits of their capabilities, new technologies will be needed.
After 40+ years of polysilicon/oxide gates, the industry is making a challenging transition to high-k/metal gate stacks. What we are seeingis the endof an era.
For the 45 and 32 nm generations, the traditional challenges faced by etch - exacting control of profile, selectivity, CDs, uniformity and defects - become more difficult, compounded by new challenges created by the use of new materials, the limitations of lithography and the introduction of new device structures and integration schemes.
At 45 and 32 nm half-pitch, manufacturability requires new strategies. Computational lithography provides the means to define solutions for design flows.
You'll find a 'Mr. Consistent' and a 'Mr. Bad Jokes' in any town
Compressors may seem benign enough, but there are potential hazards.
Portable hydronic heaters go beyond heating the air and soil and delve into the concrete business
Service is part of the sale at Ferguson Automotive Equipment.
For the past couple years I've been involved with an effort to establish national skill standards for the woodworking industry.
K/BIS 2007 supports industry innovations.
Changes over the past decade-plus continue to have a major impact on manufacturing and marketing in the cabinet sector.
Building strong customer relationships requires analysis
Assembling a hardworking team is integral to your company's success
As someone with entrepreneurial parents, I grew up in a small business environment.
K/BIS 2008 returns to the windy city with more for the industry.
As users of wood-based materials, woodworkers appreciate the value of the softwood, hardwood and manufactured wood products they use.
With security high on priority lists, here are 10 ways information technology and materials handling can help you create a more secure distribution center.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of ISSFA and along with giving my best wishes to the organization and congratulations for 10 years of service to the fabricator, I want to share with you a bit of history on how it came to be.
Composite Panel www.pbmdf.com
Federal Reserve says stimulus needed to support growth throughout economy
Grinding machines represent a heftier investment than other machine tools, hence the popularity of grinder rebuilds and retrofits.
It is great to be able to share new and inventive uses for surfacing materials.
FOR ACCURATE LASER CALIBRATION RESULTS, A MACHINE-TOOL MUST BE LEVEL, FLAT, STRAIGHT AND SQUARE.
Margaret Fisher, market development manager at Saunders Wood Specialties, Park Falls, Wis.
Wheel-balancing systems strive to make easy work of advanced vehicles
SUCCESSFUL EQUIPMENT-ACQUISITION STRATEGIES CAN BE INSTRUMENTAL IN GROWING A BUSINESS.
High viscosity "coatings" act like cold honey; therefore, the lacquer will not "atomize" into small particles and flow out to a level smooth surface before it dries.
That statement represents a starting point of one manufacturer's business plan.
Pathology labs face many challenges due to the disparate nature of case information.
The introduction of Top Drawer Components' new state-of-the-art UV finishing system allows the company to double its capacity.
Experience tile and stone at Coverings 2008 in Orlando
Did you know that the most popular color choice for cars sold in the U.
The term priming is normally used to describe the coating finishing step underneath an opaque pigmented topcoat.
Plus, it doesn't hurt that Thompson keeps coming up with new wrinkles in countertop manufacturing that extend the range of applications for cast polymer surfaces.
It sounds like something from a science fiction novel—swallowing a pill that has tiny cameras in it to diagnose diseases of the esophagus.
Mount Wachusett College and Wood Digest have teamed up to present a series of college-level wood technology courses. This is the 4th installment in a series of 12.
Cabinets store multiple sizes, shapesStaffModular combination cabinets store, secure and move items...
For some companies, the pursuit of quality perfection has become a primary mission that touches every functional aspect of the business: manufacturing processes, product design and development, engineering, and front office processes. In some rare cases, the pursuit of perfection actually reaches beyond their four walls to touch customers and suppliers.
Saint Louis Closet Co.: Selling, manufacturing and installing closet systems in the 'Show Me' state
The quartz category is still very young in terms of market potential and with the major quartz suppliers, you can expect to see significant investment into advertising in 2008.
Smart safety practices involve balancing protection between robots and workers.
Sheet Metal Components, a job shop boasting the gamut fo metal-manufacturing capabilities, has 11 years of growth behind it.
Die-Based approach is a production-worthy method for determining the impact of yield shifts as well as multiple product and die sizes.
Even after 40 years, with changes in technology, formulation and manufacturing processes, much of what's new about solid surface is, in some ways, the same as what's old about it.
Progressively pacing the market, Genius Tools comes to America, putting a stamp on the present while stepping into the future.
The following headlines and statistics have been gathered about how you're supposedly being ripped off by your employees.
MACHINE VISION BRINGS SOLUTIONS THAT CAN MEASURE ELEMENTS HUMANS CANNOT.
Store Fixtures & Retail Environments www.retailenvironments.org
Techs want all-in-one, reliable A/C tools—and service
We all have to contend with customers who don't—or can't—pay us.
Chemical shrink, trilayer resists, immersion lithography and double patterning are all viable options for getting to the 45 nm half-pitch (HP) using ArF illumination. We explore the latest materials developments and compare the status of various techniques for achieving 45 nm HP insertion.
Thinking 'outside the box' gives you more opportunities for success
PART 5
Caldwell Enterprises solves production, space issues with good old-fashion ingenuity
These are tumultuous times for many fabricators in the residential housing market.
Hydrostatic front-wheel Creep-Drive for very low speeds…
As a fabricator of natural and engineered stone, I know there are many adhesives to choose from in order to make your finished product really work, and if you don't use the right adhesives to laminate, seam and set your stone pieces, you may be planting a land mine that can come back to haunt you in the future.
Cement mixers are specialized pieces of equipment, customized to meet the needs of particular applications. To ensure that a mixer delivers maximum performance and life in a particular application, it's important that buyers specify the features that meet their unique requirements.
I work for a company that specializes in identifying and resolving solid surface issues in the field.
Does your company sell or fabricate solid surfaces? If so, here is some advice.
The last article focused on the reasons for the quantity of incidents of after installation issues.
Small New England cabinet shop proves size doesn't restrict responsible manufacturing
Residential Furniture www.afha.us
Tips on how to prevent air compressor hazards and some dos and don'ts of air compressor operation.
Upgraded airflow systems improve comfort and save money in fabricating shops.
New point-to-point protocol also transmits audio and data
Optimism and a smile are key to Frank Gonzalez's Mac Tools route.
V-grooving, aka miter folding, has been around for a number of years, but it wasn't until about 10 years ago that this technology found its way into solid surface shops.
Cabinetry By Design moves finishing in-house, solves the problem of finish breakdown
The need to compete drives developments in manufacturing
An explanation of the lines and drawings done by an engineer.
Smart-machining efforts have industry engineers and scientists dissecting the very fundamentals of the metal-cutting process.
… but are we all headed in the same direction?
THE BASICS BEHIND THE SAFETY INTERLOCK
Contest Recognizes Innovative Design
ANGLE-ROLLS HAVE BENT TUBE AND CHANNEL ON THE SHOP FLOOR FOR YEARS. BEING A MANUAL MACHINE, IT REQUIRES CAREFUL SETUP. BUT GOOD RECORDKEEPING CAN SHORTEN THE LEARNING CURVE FOR NEW OPERATORS.
Engineered Wood Products www.apawood.org
It seems as if those who make a fairly standard product, and make finished goods and a lot of components to stock, are as rare as an on-time airline.
Scheduling jobs can be like a chess match.
I was sitting in my office one day, when I received a phone call from a hotel manager about a swimming pool coping that was falling apart.
If you're looking at the housing industry as a possible source of growth for your business, be forewarned that this sector is currently in a state of flux.
What this does symbolize for me is the need to hold onto a growing movement of "Green.
Answers lead to the best solutions for processing hardware
Before we begin a repair, the damage must be assessed to determine if the damaged piece or part is a good candidate for repair, and if totally refinishing or replacement of the damaged part is the correct option.
Modern plants and distribution centers have a range of options for automatic product sortation, ranging from slow-speed simple pushers to sophisticated high-speed crossbelt sorters.
In this five-part series, Cefla will provide readers with some of the automation choices available to make the transition from manual application of finishing materials to automation, if even on a limited basis.
By now many fabricators have performed their annual company inventory.
PART 1
CAN THEY WORK TOGETHER?
LASER WELDING HAS REPLACED SPOT WELDING ON MANY A PRODUCTION LINE—PARTICULARLY IN GERMANY—BUT WILL U.S. AUTOMAKERS BECOME MORE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS?
Select the best PTO for the application.
Special effects achieved during the finishing process are becoming a much greater portion of the overall market share in recent years.
I recently bought a new home computer (after eight years, the old one was really quite slow).
Architectural Woodworking www.awinet.org
There's a new portable lighting solution available to illuminate your jobsite. Balloon lights are now cropping up on various projects, including building, drilling, paving, road repair and other sites.
Do you have a finishing problem or issue that you can't quite find a solution to? Ask Phil.
Take a page from the Boy Scouts handbook when planning for the next downturn in the economic cycle
Proper cleaning keeps carpets looking great — and lets homeowners take pride in doing it themselves
Thank you for choosing Kitchen Associates for your recent countertop order.
Plan ahead to ensure a smooth business transition.
Advancing the CNC Press Brake Control
The latest 3D technology combines visualization and computation to find and produce oil.
I've been on the road quite a bit lately, wearing out the soles of my shoes and making contact with as many fabricators and industry suppliers as I can in my never-ending quest to keep a hold on what is happening in the surfacing industry.
Don't let economic conditions drag down your business.
Having new eyes can help you get to the next level
Business/Office Furniture www.bifma.com
What do you need to consider before picking your component supplier?
Joe Poulin works as hard selling Mac's tools as he does training its distributors
Well, here it is again, bigger and better than ever — our 2007 Directory and Showcase issue.
A blueprint is a critical form of communication, a tool to convey descriptive information to employees who are involved in all phases of engineering, quality, manufacturing, production and estimating. The descriptive information conveyed to the reader will be in the form of text or drawings, drawn to show specific detail without confusing the reader.
I know as a production manager that breaks can be the worst time of the day because production stops completely.
Longtime northeast Iowa construction company establishes a successful custom cabinet business
ONSITE Woodwork uses soft skills training to strengthen its workforce
Georgia Tech and SCM Group USA team up at broad-based training facility
New emissions regulations are a boon to the environment and won't negatively affect engine peformance or maintenance
It's once again time for shop owners to be working on business plans for the coming year, and having done quite a few of them myself, I thought I would give you some things to think about.
A strong sales strategy leads companies through market and economic lulls, and the ecentual road toward success.
EMVA Conference in France shows a pathway to China
Arrowwood transitioning to totally integrated software scheme
A final 15-day open comment period was slated to get underway following promulgation.
The California Air Regulatory Board (CARB) voted 8-0 on April 26 to put in place the country's tightest formaldehyde emissions limits from composite wood products.
Grabill Cabinet Company dramatically increases productivity in one year with incremental machine and software additions
Lenders in this industry understand the equipment and its use, which in turn generates fast and easy approvals.
Remaining on the cutting edge of automation and technology.
The solution was to arrange 12 cameras along a run of race track with a wire from each crossing the track.
Certification, testing methods remain a concern for board manufacturers
Representatives from Royce//Ayr, Safranek Enterprises and Carbide Processors discuss the differences between these common tooling types
Upgrade In Technology Leads To Upgrade In Consistency For One Fabricator
Walking down the hallway of Roush & Yates Racing Engines in Mooresville, N.
The word "sap" has at least two meanings; one use of the word "sap" means "to weaken or destroy insidiously.
New development minimizes problems common to wide-angle fisheye lenses
Unique ID verification is a massive job for U.S. Department of Defense
The relative ease of use and durability of catalyzed varnish has made it popular with wood finishers for decades. Catalyzed varnish holds up to just about any test for interior wood finishes, it's easy to apply, and achieves the look customers want.
Power-source electronics bring welders closer to the "perfect" weld joint.
CCD has been around longer, but CMOS is closing the gap
I stepped outside today to find the first snow of the season falling and the cold wind that accompanied it was a sure reminder that another year is winding down.
Using a finite element model, an aluminum nitride (AlN) heater was developed that meets the aggressive requirements of semiconductor die bonding and IC testing applications.
Your need to know: Revisiting the latest updates in ANSI and OSHA guidelines for machine safeguarding and other safety requirements for metalworking machines.
Here are just a few highlights, some good, some not so good.
Setting up a versatile flow and environment improves chip design productivity.
About 10 years ago, I wrote an article trying to sort out and simplify the various types of HVLP sprayers.
In the second of this two-part series, we look at line sensor tradeoffs and provide a last reminder that the application comes before the sensor choice
Comparing area CMOS to linear CCD for speed, cost and flexibility
Pneumatic chucks still represent a small portion of the market, but recent sensor offerings improve reliability. The result: The technology may become more widespread in the years to come.
Sustainable and production-proven chamber cleaning solutions allow device manufacturers to deliver increased productivity and reduce environmental impact while "taking out the trash."
Upgraded systems improve comfort and save money.
Guidelines to help you select the right dewatering pump.
Closet Works eliminates mistakes with the help of software integration
Cabinetry www.cabinetmakers.org
Many stone fabrication newbies will be walking through a trade show or attending a seminar and will hear the term CNC.
Accomplishing these goals can be approached with a process oriented plan.
Hand-held ultrasonic instruments provide the wood industry with nondestructive coating thickness testing
Today, dock door manufacturers and installers are designing loading dock doors and seals that specifically meet the needs of cold storage facilities, providing models that open and close faster to prevent temperature loss and to keep forklifts moving through them at a pace that does not disrupt regular operations.
LEAN MANUFACTURING HAS CHANGED THE ROLE OF QUALITY. BUT REGARDLESS OF WORK PRACTICES, PART FLOW AND INSPECTION TECHNOLOGY, THE FUNDAMENTALS REMAIN AS IMPORTANT AS EVER.
With their ever-increasing versatility and agility, compact telehandlers top the list of must-have equipment.
Part two of our series on various measurement processes examines the factors that must be considered when selecting ID/OD comparator gages.
Disparate file formats present significant challenges for plant-wide SPC systems, filtering each format for use on a single statistical-analysis platform. But an automated solution may make things easier.
Derick Turner turned a neglected N.J. territory into a top sales spot for Matco
Benjamin Franklin knew what it took to be competitive and win out over others in his trade.
Focusing on strengths and utilizing resources are key
At 45 and 32 nm half-pitch, manufacturability requires new strategies. Computational lithography provides the means to define solutions for design flows.
It's in your best interest to maximize your rental management software system
Various scenarios generally lead to a retrofit of a machine's control and drive systems. The machine may have outdated networking technology without Ethernet connectivity; the drive system may not be giving the positional accuracy needed for today's jobs; and the list goes on.
Successful shop manager shares his insight into growth strategies that work
In today's speed economy, we are all faced with many choices—sometimes too many.
Custom window and door manufacturer thrives in a down housing market
Jump in the improvement "sandbox" or get left behind in the dirt.
One of the biggest applications is sanding mouldings both prior to finishing and also sanding between finish coats.
Estimating Is Not Guesswork
Germanium is an attractive alternative to silicon, but tends to oxidize rapidly and unevenly. An ultraclean vacuum substrate carrier eliminates this problem, and also reduces cycle time and airborne molecular contamination.
The goal: High-speed sortation with minimal errors. The solution: Keep reading.
Goethe said, "Someday perhaps the inner light will shine forth from us, and then we'll need no other light.
Persistence and reliability pay off for this southern Illinois distributor
Nashville event excites distributors with training, cash and more
Tool Fair highlights include custom toolbox, chopper and more
Indianapolis-based company offers diverse lines of high-end cabinets
Profits can be found in all aspects of production, not just in cost cutting
New Jersey Fabricator Shares How Technology Changed His Shop
Finding A Niche In A Competitive Market
Tile and Stone Expo returns to Chicago after five years in Orlando.
Idling trucks drives up costs and draws legislative attention.
When it comes to moving product overhead, cranes maximize floor space while increasing productivity.
I get a certain satisfaction visiting a company, standing on a shop floor and watching people operate machinery.
Fine-tuning your Web presence may be easier than you think.
Part one of how to create top-notch employees
One shop's experience with waterjet cutting and other technology
NEARLY ALL CRITICAL ISSUES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY CAN, IN SOME FASHION, BE LINKED TO THE SKILLED-LABOR CRISIS.
Our annual benchmark survey of the woodworking industry allows respondents to speak openly and candidly about what keeps them awake on Sunday night.
Proactive programs like total productive maintenance require a culture that recognizes its value. But what exactly makes up that culture?
Inflation expected to increase while economic expansion begins to slow down
Like most other sectors that rely to some degree on residential construction in the United States and Canada, there have been some significant hits.
Component producer serves diverse group of market sectors with mass customization
Entrepreneur and owner of Custom Stone Creations, Maurice Huertas, never imagined that a promise to his wife would become the beginning of one of Florida's leading stone fabrication facilities, fully equipped with some of the newest technology on the market leaving designers knocking down the doors.
A powerful competitive advantage with big business and technological implications
Read more on Dark stain drama ...
Mixed weather, but useful knowledge at Photonics West, AIA Conference
When asked to rank the greatest challenges to their businesses on a day-to-day basis, dealing with the government and its regulations ranked near the bottom — eighth out of 10 choices.
Defining marketing is a tough job—much like shoveling out after a great blizzard. Even when you think you're finished, there's always another area to go over. But don't be afraid, you don't have to have a marketing degree to do a fine job of marketing your company.
If you ask me to give you a number for equipment value.
Mac Master Distributor Norma Girardin chooses not to go it alone
Size generators and extension cords to the tool to get top performance.
Design Cabinetry focuses on giving customers exactly what they want
Cabinetry www.kcma.com
Knowing more about what you're selling is always a sound strategy
Here's how to help customers avoid common mistakes so you can get the most out of your blade and saw rentals
In a nutshell, what used to take many hours to do can now be accomplished in only minutes.
Mount Wachusett College and Wood Digest have teamed up to present a series of college-level wood technology courses. This is the 7th installment in the series of 12.
As a young entrepreneur, I was doing well.
A description of many high performance drills along with tips for different methods of utilization.
Phil Leak touts relationships, honesty, measured growth and top service in company's longevity
Barnes Aerospace hones in on the various needs of commercial aviation.
The new Dodge Ram 1500 offers many innovative options.
Not every industry profits from redundancy.
To solve the problem, first make sure the material temperature is warm.
Remember to include intercultural relations in your business plan
Enhancing LCDs for industrial equipment with variable viewing angle control
Make sure you analyze your accounts objectively and regularly
Another year is gone and a new one is upon us, and I think it is quite fair to be optimistic about 2007.
It is important to check the durability of the finish to make sure your customers don't find problems
Built-in "intelligence" helps dozers think for themselves.
MALDI gives researchers more accurate view of drug traces in tissue
Achieving the proper curing rate with the finishes you use is vital to the appearance and durability of the final finish.
A dual action (DA) sander is a versatile tool that is generally overlooked in most applications and operations.
Sunrise Unlimited, Mays Landing, NJ, is a full service landscape and construction company formed in 1982.
Check out the options to determine which configuration can boost your productivity.
In addition to looking for a well-built pressure washer, you want one that is easy to use, even for quickly trained users, and one that is easy to maintain.
Applications now making use of the unique properties of CNTs include gas sensors and atomic force microscope probe tips.
The economy may not be improving too much anytime soon, and so the brain of the business owner is on overload trying to figure out the next right moves.
A Forecast for 2008 and Beyond
Sixth annual Stiles conference focuses on branding, waste reduction and more
Without a doubt, one of the most precious gifts humankind has been given is the power to communicate.
Getting a complete picture from an optical illusion requires careful study and thoughtful examination, not a quick glance or cursory once-over.
Efficient automation systems translate into true energy savings. A major step in that direction has...
Modern checked in with engineers at a few of the country's leading conveyor suppliers to discuss recent innovations that enhance and differentiate their conveyor and sortation offerings.
Doug Hood, president of Demaich Industries (www.
You have been fabricating forever and have made the transition from no templates and building your tops on-site to corrugated cardboard templates and then on to luan plywood or plastic strips.
Your computer system should work for you ... not against you
Static signage has been transformed into a dynamic high-tech electronic display medium
Composite Panel Association www.pbmdf.com
Manufacturers reveal technology, while California cracks down.
Auto-Wares is about more than parts, seeking to sell tools to match the parts that customers need
SOPs aid in maintaining employee relations, as well as your finishing operation
Tips on how to conduct the most effective employee reviews with your employees.
Tips on how to regulate and promote safety for your employees
History and machine vision meet in Berlin
Cameras and sensors are the foundation of the imaging industry.
EXTENDING THE LEAN VALUE STREAM
Owners testify to '07 truck engine performance.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University, the Center for Breast Care at the Women's Center at Boca Raton Community Hospital (Boca Raton, Fla.
Many contractors, rental companies and dealers are taking advantage of Like Kind Exchange (LKE) transactions to defer taxable gains on qualified sales of used equipment.
To lease or buy is a familiar question when it comes to your rental inventory, but you need to consider the kind of equipment that runs your business.
Compact equipment and attachments prove instrumental on Phoenix's light rail project.
For the 45 and 32 nm generations, the traditional challenges faced by etch - exacting control of profile, selectivity, CDs, uniformity and defects - become more difficult, compounded by new challenges created by the use of new materials, the limitations of lithography and the introduction of new device structures and integration schemes.
Pressure transducers are everywhere, but do you know what?s inside? Choosing the right technology can be critical, especially in extreme applications.
Advanced GMAW robotic welding rechnology drives productivity at Morton Metalcraft.
Although I've been researching natural stone since I came onboard this magazine, I recently had my first opportunity to attend a Marble Institute of America (MIA) training session, and I left wondering why I waited so long.
Beta Tools' recent opening of a ProCare Store in Knoxville welcomes a new player to the professional tool and equipment distribution scene.
Mount Wachusett College and Wood Digest have teamed up to preset a series of college-level wood technology courses. This is the 5th installment in a series of 12.
Utilizing 'guerilla' marketing tactics to add to your bottom line
Bringing your vendors on board will eliminate waste, minimize costs
Latest Canadian SAR satellite delivers higher resolution, more flexibility
A prototyping shop at the Doheny Eye Institute merges mechanical engineering, medical science and hands-on machining creativity.
The effects of fab pollutants on human health and air quality are growing in Taiwan. This study shows how best to prevent air-duct leakage from causing performance losses or the escape of toxic gases.
Getting The Most From Your Machine
As the Fabtech and AWS Welding Show moves to Atlanta this year, it meets a growing, thriving industry.
I recently had the opportunity to venture out of the Midwest and attend ISSFA's Total Fabrication Training class in order to gain a better understanding of the processes of solid surface fabrication.
Face polishing granite is the process of polishing the top of the stone and should be avoided at all cost since the process is very time-consuming.
Shielded metal arc, or stick, welding requires a welder to select electrodes based on several factors, including base metal, joint fitup and welding position.
Since coming on board this magazine in 2004, I have had the great fortune of learning from an icon in the solid surface industry—Joanna Duggan, our founding publisher.