17 October 2019 Advanced ergonomic aids: never again strength to tighten

For manufacturing companies training is a fundamental aspect for the growth and development of skills in design and production. And to interface with an interlocutor who is also competent in training – and therefore is capable of making his know-how available – represents a great competitive advantage, as well as being distinctive.

More and more in production lines the components to be assembled contemplate numerous variants which imply, in turn, the use of different types of screws; the manual workstations managed by operators therefore require extreme production flexibility as well as fundamental precautions to reduce fatigue not only physical but also mental due to the continuous monitoring of the operations to be performed.

From 5 to 6 June 2019, Fiam will be exhibiting at the AEE Automotive Engineering Expo in Nuremberg: the only interactive show in the world focusing on the whole Automotive sector manufacturing process, especially on the car body process chain, from design through to assembly and final painting.

Machine manufacturers must refer to the European standards linked to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC for anything related to prevention of musculoskeletal disorders caused by frequent repetitive movements.

We often hear about Industry 4.0. But what is this term referred to?

The Industry 4.0 plan aims to promote a new stage of the digitalization of industries that should lead to a growth in productivity and to a cost reduction. With the term Industry 4.0 therefore, we refer to a series of changes in production.

POKA-YOKE is a Japanese term. But which is its real meaning? It is used to indicate a design choice or apparatus that imposes restrictions on how an operation can be carried out to force the user to do so correctly. This composite word literally means “avoid (yokeru) careless mistakes (poka)”.

“Developing the industrial assembly station for Industry 4.0 environment” is the title of the seminar that was held by Fiam at its premises in Vicenza on 5 December. The director of Industria Italiana magazine, Filippo Astone, has moderated the work. The seminar has been a training occasion for production companies wishing to improve their assembly processes to achieve enhanced productivity and competitiveness by using strategies that involve the adequate design of flexible production systems, the study of machine tending logics and the provision of tightening stations with a view towards the use of new robot technologies.

Friday 16 November was the date for the ninth edition of PMI Day, held in Vicenza. The national event, organised by the Piccola Industria Committee [Small Business] of Confindustria Vicenza, focused this year on the fight against counterfeiting. Fiam began taking part in this initiative a few years ago, to help promote the business culture in its local area.

We often take it for granted that all products available in the European market meet the requirements of EU safety directives, but this is not always the case and hazardous situations are frequently encountered, even in the industrial arena, putting operator safety at risk.

For instance, when we talk about electric tightening systems, it is worth remembering that any such systems put on the European market are required to meet the following directives:

EMC directive: 2014/30/EU relating to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC);
Machinery Directive: 2006/42/EC relating to product safety.