Since amusement and theme park rides must be designed and built for safety first, the industry is always looking for new ways to assure that the rides are built and maintained properly. Bolted joints often require a torque wrench for precise tightening and optimum clamp load, yet tests show that a given torque can produce tensions or clamp forces varying by as much as 5-1 depending on bolt plating, lubrication, thread condition, and nut and washer material. A Direct Tension Indicator, however, responds only to bolt tension...

Even with the general economy facing potentially bleak near-term growth, e-commerce continues to grow at a significant rate. One study cited a 25% per year increase in direct-to-consumer for the past three years. For Internet orders, that number goes up to 37%, with growth in excess of 20% projected over the next three years. Companies that haven’t exploited DTC as a distribution channel are scrambling to catch up, and front runners are pushing to expand and optimize their DTC fulfillment capabilities...

Sony's new MP3 players are designed for a demanding consumer market. In Malaysia, the manufacturer sought a code reading and traceability solution for the PCBs for its MP3 players as protection against costly recalls and product mix-ups, as well as to facilitate damage control in the event of a problem. Sony in Malaysia is now using the In-Sight 5110 for code reading...

Super Suit Turns Common Man into Iron Man: Robotic suit prototype, the Exoskeleton...

Eye on Safety: Getting the Word Out: Quick Reference to OSHA Directive

IEN Exclusive: Engineering NASCAR, An Insider’s Perspective