Assembly Automation: Volume 16 Issue 3

Robotics technology and the advent of agile manufacturing systems in the footwear industry

James E. Spencer

Provides an overview of the present state of the footwear manufacturing industry and the consumer footwear market. Describes how many manufacturers have recognized the need for…

Pinching grippers for the secure handling of fabric panels

Paul M. Taylor, D.M. Pollett, M.T. Grieβer

Describes one of the most frequently occurring processes in automated garment manufacture – the picking and placing of fabric panels. This can be carried out using pinch grippers…

Robots bring automation to shoe production

Brian W. Rooks

Demonstrates the advanced state of automation in the footwear industry by reporting on the working operations of two companies, Totectors in Rushden, Northamptonshire, and Eccolet…

Swiss strong at Euro‐Assemblage

Anna Kochan

Reviews the different technologies including fasteners, conveyors, assembly machines and controllers exhibited recently at Euro‐Assemblage, Paris, mainly by French and Swiss…

Leonardo – rapid renaissance

Anna Kochan

Describes a new, low‐cost rapid prototyping system developed in the USA by Utah University and Scroff Development, the company which created the Silverscreen solid modelling CAD…

Actis and the shoe industry

Anna Kochan

Shows how providing robotic solutions for a variety of shoe making processes has enabled Brightwood, the Florida‐based manufacturer of athletics shoes, to compete with off‐shore…

Stitching shoes and much more

Jack Hollingum

Diversifying in order to make sales has proved successful for L. Gent, specialist in automatic sewing machines which initially served the shoe industry. Describes how the company…

Quick‐change automation for shoe manufacture

Jack Hollingum

Describes some of the successful innovations to be seen at Unishoe (Universal Shoe Machine Company Limited), such as a fully automated sole preparation line; a stress reliever…

The principles of intelligent textile and garment manufacturing systems

George Stylios

Despite the globalization and internalization of competition and surplus of apparel production, high labour costs and other economic pressures, apparel products are still being…