Fabrication modelling cuts costs

Modelling the fabrication processes for integrated circuits can slash production development time and costs by up to 40%. But as transistors, already at nano-scales, become ever smaller, researchers are modelling new worlds, writes Science Daily.

Over the past seven years, the microprocessors in everyday electronic equipment have delivered astonishing advances in speed while reducing power consumption per transistor.

That is because the scale of the transistors manufactured in high volumes for these electronic devices decreased considerably. Current research is preparing for the 32nm and 22nm nodes and even beyond.

Rockwell Automation says its new portfolio of 'Smart Grid' manufacturing solutions can help manufacturers save up to 10% of their electrical costs, states Robotics & Automation.

The company says the new sustainable manufacturing portfolio includes a series of plant-wide energy optimisation tools that create an integrated industrial energy management system based on Rockwell Automation industrial automation and information technology.

The products will allow manufacturers to perform real-time load-balancing of their industrial processes, bring renewable energy sources online and execute demand response strategies connected to the Smart Grid.

Universal Instruments introduces shop floor control software that it says maximises line utilisation and provides increased visibility into production, according to EMSNow.

"Comprised of an all-new software technology, Dimensions Line Manager dramatically reduces downtime by up to 75%," says product manager Shawn Robinson.

According to the company, Line Manager enables organisations to proactively manage changeover and part replenishment while production continues on the line. Additionally, it provides dynamic instructions at each machine for feeder destinations during changeover and automatically guarantees the correct locations.