Internet page
Keywords Assembly,Internet
http://www.mmsonline.com/Modern Machine Shop Online
Gives access to the online version of the trade journal Modern Machine Shop, including access to the content of the current issue with features and commentaries on issues within the manufacturing engineering environment, and a separate section for current important news items. There are a number of trade reports available and the site hosts a couple of forums, though it looks as though this is a service that will grow further in the future. Archived articles going back to 1995 are also available, and a novel "ask the expert" section offers the opportunity to contact a number of luminaries directly with a query. Equipment review gives online access via keyword search to press release type information for a large variety of machinery, software and materials. The site has Internet links under the broad headings of education, associations and published material, in addition to a dedicated and up to date general Web links page. There is the usual opportunity for contacting the organisation in addition to promotional details on their advertising.
http://www.sae.org/The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
The Website of the SAE provides a shop window on their extensive activities within the field of vehicle technology and engineering. The society has pages on all its many operations within engineering at all levels, from educational initiatives, professional career services and its major involvement in the standards and research fields. As a resource, the site is most useful for its access to the enormous collection of SAE publications, via the bookshop pages and the paper database, both searchable by subject. There is reference to its full Web index, though like everything on the site, this is accessed via subscription. In general the pages of the site give a well designed and laid out overview of theorganisation,its activities and events though for non subscribers the only free resource is the ability to search for papers and other publications.
http://www.mira.co.uk/The Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA)
MIRA is an independent automotive technology centre, providing research, consultancy and other engineering services to the worldwide motor industry including developing whole vehicles, sub-systems and components for clients among other vehicle related research and development work. The site is an overview type of offering, giving a detailed introduction to the organisation and its work. The pages are well illustrated with photographs of the projects, though there is little resource-like information available. The pages dedicated to MIRA's software projects do however give an insight into the issues involved in developing automotive embedded software. There is an information centre offering access to publications and company information, though this is password protected. The site is still under construction which excuses some of the non working links within the menus.
http://irautomation.com/Ingersoll-Rand Automation
A fairly basic overview of Ingersoll-Rand's automation activities, primarily aimed at the automotive and off-road vehicle manufacturing industry. There are brief summaries of the company's production, fastening and cleaning systems, however their water jet systems are treated to a greater coverage on their European pages. In addition to the specification of the company's pressure intensifier units, there is an informative introduction to the technology, use and application for high pressure water cutting.
http://www.tecoinf.de/Tecoplan Informatik
Creators and developers of digital mock-up (DMU) software packages, Tecoplan is one of the leading companies in virtual prototyping working in both software development and process consulting. The site offers descriptions of the use of the company's products in the automotive and other spheres, reducing costs and time to market. There are illustrated product descriptions and applications information on existing installations in addition to press releases, job offers and a company overview.
http://www.isi.norgren.com/ISI Norgren, Automotive Division
ISI Norgren is a leading supplier of pneumatic components for automated material handling systems, which it supplies principally into the automobile manufacturing sector. The product range includes clamps, grippers, modular tooling and vacuum systems as well as some supporting actuators and valves. ISI Norgren's automation systems are designedparticularly for world automotive metal stamping and metal assembly facilities, machine tool market and appliance industries. The site is primarily a contact point, though offers some company history, photographs of recent applications for well known automotive companies and brief qualitative descriptions of their main product lines.
http://www.prodomax.com/Prodomax Industrial Automation
Prodomax of Canada and the USA has produced complete, turnkey assembly systems for a variety of industries including automotive, electronics, plastics and pharmaceutical, the installations including robotic and manual workstations. Their Web presence is another shortform overview, but carries descriptions and photographs of their assembly, welding and machining systems in addition to the company information and profile.
http://www.artechinc.com/Artech Inc.
Artech is a diversified applied technology company that offers special industry production machinery,materials handling and packaging systems, and general industry unit handling conveyors, accessories, and components. Their capabilities include applications engineering, detail electromechanical and controls design, and machinery manufacturing amongst others. The Website is a point of contact, with photographs of projects indexed via industry sector. Company information and descriptions of their major capabilities introduce the project descriptions.
Paul Abbott
