Manufacturing Systems

Can a Finishing System adapt to fluctuating labor availability?

Labor shortages have become a pressing issue across many sectors, including manufacturing, where the availability of skilled workers is increasingly precarious. As businesses strive to maintain productivity and efficiency, the adoption of automated solutions has proven to be a viable strategy to cou

Conveyorized Finishing Systems that are Expandable and Scalable

In today's industrial landscape, flexibility and scalability are essential attributes for manufacturing systems. As labor shortages continue to impact various sectors, companies are turning towards automation to maintain efficiency and productivity. Conveyorized finishing systems, like the one offer

The importance of Data in a Conveyorized Finishing System

In conveyorized finishing operations, the volume of data generated across a single production shift is substantial. Paint batches, carrier timestamps, load bar launches, line speeds, and process recipes all produce records that can either be captured and used or quietly lost. For finishing operation

IntelliFinishing Systems Adapt Better When Labor is Short

Labor availability has become one of the most persistent operational challenges across manufacturing. Recruiting skilled workers, particularly in specialized roles like painting and finishing, is difficult in most markets. For facilities running traditional finishing lines, a single absent employee

AI kaizens, agentic systems, and pricing pressure: what manufacturers are actually doing with industrial AI in 2026

From TE Connectivity's AI vision gains to outcome-based pricing debates, industrial AI is moving from pilot to operational reality across the plant floor.

73% of mid-market manufacturers are still testing AI, with zero at full deployment

New Kaufman Rossin survey data reveals most mid-market manufacturers are stuck in AI experimentation, held back by siloed data and legacy ERP systems.

Analog Devices maps the semiconductor case for physical intelligence in industrial automation

ADI's Fiona Treacy lays out how AI-driven physical intelligence and humanoid robotics are reshaping factory systems and semiconductor demand.

Rockwell Automation report: 93% of manufacturers have MES, but only 23% have fully integrated it

A Rockwell Automation survey of 1,560 manufacturers finds MES adoption is nearly universal, but enterprise-wide integration remains the defining gap.

The automation visibility gap: why FactoryOps is becoming the missing layer in manufacturing stacks

Heavily automated plants still lose margin to blind spots. A new operations layer called FactoryOps is closing the gap without replacing existing PLCs or SCADA.

93% of manufacturers have MES, but only 28% have deployed it enterprise-wide

Rockwell Automation's 2026 survey of 1,560 manufacturers finds near-universal MES adoption masking a deep integration gap that caps AI and operational value.

Most mid-market manufacturers are stuck in AI pilot mode, and their data infrastructure is why

No manufacturer has reached full AI operation, per Kaufman Rossin's survey. Legacy ERP and siloed data are the core blockers to scale.

Regal Rexnord targets flexible automation cells with integrated motion portfolio

Regal Rexnord's latest motion systems let one cobot cover up to 10 meters of horizontal range, cutting hardware count in flexible manufacturing cells.

Fanuc, Kawasaki, and Stellantis anchor a wave of industrial AI partnerships reshaping factory floors

Major robotics and auto brands are embedding AI into production systems, with imitation learning and digital twins changing how factories operate.

Factory automation's deployment gap: new products flood the market as 80% of US facilities remain unautomated

A striking automation gap persists in US manufacturing even as vendors roll out edge AI, resilient edge platforms, and smarter vision systems at Automate 2026.

Physical AI and embodied robotics headline manufacturing's mid-2026 intelligence push

From physical AI closing the simulation gap to embodied robotics fighting margin pressure, manufacturing's mid-2026 agenda centers on operational intelligence.

3M Brings Innovation to the Manufacturing Supply Chain Environment

Exciting insights from Carl Doeksen, Global Robotics and Automation Director at 3M, on the changing landscape of robotics and automation. “Automation is the key to staying competitive in the B2B landscape. By fostering a culture of innovation, collaborating closely with customers, and leveraging diverse expertise, businesses can position themselves as leaders in their respective industries.”…

Manufacturers Can Reduce Costs, Enjoy Greater Flexibility with New Ways to Paint

Manufacturing companies can often be slow to adopt new technology. It’s not because they have doubts about the potential; it’s typically because of the disruption of implementation. This especially true when it comes to finishing systems. Manufacturers may feel literally “chained” to the traditional chain systems. Today, we’re joined by John Claman, Sales Rep…

Kasa: Making a Difference in PLC Solutions

Automation systems can be quite complex, but they are typically controlled by a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). A PLC is a digital computer designed for rugged industrial applications and is the “brains” of a manufacturer’s automation system. Typically used in control panels to perform the logic processing, PLCs implement programs written by the user to…

Conveyor Systems, Assemble! with Kevin Howe of IntelliFinishing

Since the early 1900s, the assembly line has been a vital aspect of manufacturing cars and many other products. In 2018, there’s been a massive evolution from the simple one-way conveyor belt system used to manufacture the Model-T, to a more versatile, complex system created on a product by product basis. Joining us is…

IntelliFinishing Leaves Traditional Finishing in the Dust

Have you discovered that most traditional paint finishing systems aren’t meeting the unique needs of your company? IntelliFinishing has flexible solutions that are anything but conventional, and we offer features that the traditional systems can’t compete with. Unchained Technology Unlike the chain-driven components of power & free and monorail finishing systems, our spinning tube, friction-driven…

IntelliFinishing: Flex 1 and Flex 2 Offer Powerful, Flexible Finishing Options

Outdated Finishing Systems For the automatic finishing process in manufacturing, it’s no longer necessary to separate parts so that each must have its own conveyorized system. Recent and rapid technological advancements make it possible to finish parts of wildly differing sizes and processes simultaneously with each part process progression uniquely tailored to that part’s optimal…