How to You Segregate Microscopic Particles? Very Carefully …

A company in the UK has introduced a new tool for separating out very tiny, micron-sized particles quickly and efficiently. It’s called the Air Sizer 200 and it is  being manufactured for the first time by Endecotts, the London-based maker of test sieves and sieve shakers for laboraties and industry. What makes the Air Sizer … Read more

Shape-Shifting Architecture Responds to Heat, Humidity

Students from the Institute for Advanced Architecture, in Barcelona, Spain, are developing a new type of building that can grow larger or smaller based on external stimuli such as heat, humidity and light. The project, called Translated Geometries, uses a composite material known as Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs) that can deform and return to its … Read more

Canadian Safety Inspectors “Blitzing” Workplaces Starting This Week

The Ontario government announced that for the next six weeks inspectors from its Ministry of Labor will be conducting surprise visits of factories, warehouses and other industrial businesses to check for safety violations. The safety blitz is designed to improve safety in workplaces across the province., according to Kevin Flynn, Ontario’s labor minister. “Blitzes such … Read more

Houston Forklift Plant Now at Full Capacity

The recently-expanded Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America plant in Houston, Texas, is now at full capacity, building new forklifts under the Mitsubishi, Cat and Jungheinrich brand names, company officials announced recently. The facility recently underwent a complete overhaul that expanded its capacity by 40%. Since the expansion was completed last November, production has ramped back up … Read more

Packaging Association Honors Six Industry Leaders

Baseball has Cooperstown. Football has Canton. Hockey has Toronto. But where in the world is the Hall of Fame for the packaging industry? It might be in Reston, Virginia, home of the headquarters for the packaging trade association PMMI, which recently announced its six newest inductees into the Packaging Hall of Fame: Mel Bahr, MGS Machine James … Read more

In-Motion Electronic Conveyor Scales Save Time, Money

Thanks to the growing popularity of online retailing and direct-to-customer shipments, practically everybody is always looking for a faster, cheaper and more efficient way to ship parcels. And with online retailers such as Amazon announcing plans to provide delivery within 30 minutes of customers ordering products from their website, the race to increase delivery efficiency … Read more

Violence Erupts during Hong Kong Port Workers’ Strike

Two striking drivers were reportedly detained by police in Hong Kong and many more were arrested after a group of striking truck rivers stormed the local police station to demand the release of their colleagues last month. Picketing drivers at Ningbo’s Beilun Container Port reportedly smashed the windshields of trucks trying cross the picket line to … Read more

New Software Keeps Robots from Harming Human Workers

In his groundbreaking science fiction series, author Isaac Asimov outlined his now-famous Three Laws of Robotics: 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict … Read more

ISM Report: Manufacturing Sector Continues to Show Improvement

For the 15th consecutive month, the manufacturing sector showed expansion and the overall US economy grew for the 63rd consecutive month, providing further evidence that the country’s economic recovery is continuing, according to a report issued this month by Institute for Supply Management. According to the ISM’s monthly “Report on Business”, the August PMI registered 59 … Read more