News 

The ASSEMBLY Show has always been the event where manufacturing engineers and managers go to learn about the latest assembly technology. This year's show, being held October 25-27 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, is no exception. New Fastener Plays Key Role in Ford F-150, Chevy Corvette The same small component plays a key role in the design and manufacture of both vehicles: the friction-drilling screw. That's because the bodies of both vehicles are largely made from aluminum, which helped reduce their weight significantly. For example, the 2015 F-150 is 700 pounds lighter than its predecessor. Faced with the need to join aluminum to aluminum and aluminum to steel, GM and Ford have been forced to find alternatives to the tried-and-true spot welding technology they had been using for decades to join all-steel assemblies. Friction-drilling screws are one such alternative. These revolutionary new fasteners create very strong joints, but they can't be installed with just any screwdriver. Sophisticated new screwdriving equipment is needed -- and it will be on display at Weber Screwdriving Systems. Weber isn't the only supplier of screwdriving technology at the show, either. More than 15 suppliers will be showing off the latest pneumatic, electric and cordless screwdrivers and nutrunners.