Pack Expo East drew more than 7,300 attendees and 2,700 exhibitor personnel to highlight the latest advancements in automation, smart manufacturing, sustainable materials, and AI-driven solutions. The regional event provided new machinery, breakthrough materials, advanced automation, and smart manufacturing technologies transforming the industry in 2026.
Bosch Rexroth continues to expand the ctrlX platform with new capabilities and automation enhancements. The control platform ctrlX COREplus is now available with AI functions on all performance levels. In the area of motion and drives, Bosch Rexroth is presenting compact, energy-efficient, and cabinet-free drives from the ctrlX DRIVE portfolio, which cover virtually all performance ranges. These are complemented by the Motion, CNC, and Robotics software ctrlX MOTION, which is ideal solution for automating production machines and systems. PTE recently had a great conversation with Garrett Wagg, product manager, controls at Bosch Rexroth on new developments in mobile robotics.
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When Australian steelmaker InfraBuild needed two new circuit breakers to provide backup for its main electric arc furnace, ABB had the solution—its VD4-AF vacuum circuit breaker with an innovative servomotor actuation system that delivers more than five times the operations of a standard breaker, supporting greater reliability and safety as well as lower operational costs.
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Humanoids and cobots are rapidly serving the needs of the warehouse, logistics, material handling and packaging sectors allowing skilled workers to turn their attention to more pressing matters on the shop floor. According to MasterControl (matercontrol.com) digital transformation is revolutionizing life sciences manufacturing, driving key trends in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
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Drones are tasked with providing state-of-the-art autonomous capabilities, unique movements, automated inspection, urban delivery solutions and advanced military operations. They upgrade agricultural farming technology, provide safety and logistic solutions and report key disaster and engineering mapping. PT components such as motors, controllers, and sensors are an integral part of their core structure.
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The following article is a collection of products and technologies featured at IFPE and CONExpo/CONAGG 2023.
The spectrum of machinery and equipment used in industrial automation includes everything from electric motors to robotics and each has its own unique attributes and sealing requirements. David Kaley, Trelleborg global segment manager for industrial automation, shares his expertise on speed reducers covering what they are, how they work and key considerations for correct sealing in this article.
It’s an exciting time in the electric motor industry. In the past two years more truly innovative new technology development has occurred than in the previous two decades. We can thank the e-mobility movement for that. It’s not just cars, trucks, bikes and buses, but just about everything else that moves on wheels as well as on water and in the sky.
How does a ball screw work differently than a lead screw. Under what circumstances would a ball screw be better for your application than a lead screw. What issues should be considered when selecting a ball screw assembly.
Napoleon Engineering Services’ “Brief Guide to Bearing Source Qualification” is the result of nearly 30 years of real-world experience guiding OEMs through the qualification process and is based on NES’ background in the aerospace and industrial sectors and its own desire to empower customers with the technical information needed to make informed supplier decisions.
Push beyond traditional 60Hz limits with advanced VFD strategies like field weakening and motor supercharging. Expand speed range, improve system stability, reduce cooling requirements, and even downsize motors. Discover how to unlock more performance and efficiency from your gearmotor design.
Spiroid Gearing delivers precision gearing for advanced mechanical systems, engineered to handle extreme torque and complex motion requirements. With unique right-angle gear solutions, our technology enhances efficiency, reliability, and design flexibility - empowering engineers to push boundaries in aerospace, defense, robotics, and industrial applications where performance and durability are non-negotiable.
The drive system choice is dependent on key motion features of your application. Lead screws offer self-locking capabilities, while ball screws require brakes to prevent back-driving. The choice between them hinges on efficiency, cost, precision, and speed, with the screw drives themselves paired with a linear guide for optimal performance.
With the goal of building a full lineup of actuators for every joint required in robot construction, Bonsystems has been developing robotic actuators and introducing the BCSA V4 Series. The BCSA Micro Series is a Cycloidal Micro Actuator designed specifically for robotic hands.
May 13, 2026
North American companies ordered 9,055 robots valued at $543 million in the first quarter of 2026, according to new data released by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). Compared to the first quarter of 2025, this represents a 0.1 percent decrease in units ordered and a 6.4 percent decline in revenue. While unit orders were essentially flat, order revenue declined year over year, driven largely by a cyclical decline in Automotive OEM orders, which fell 35.1% in units and 48.2% in revenue compared to the same quarter last year. Given the size and timing of automotive programs, that decline had an outsized impact on the total market.
Since constant-fill fluid couplings typically operate in demanding applications like belt conveyors, crushers and shredders, ensuring an optimum coupling fluid temperature is vital for reliability and productivity. However, the temperature of the operating medium often remains hidden, meaning the actual load on the coupling during operation goes unnoticed. As Voith Product Manager Thomas Ohr explains, this is exactly where OnSens.SmarTemp comes into play: “With this smart and retrofittable temperature measurement system, we enable operators to track the condition of their fluid couplings in real time – for new and existing coupling installations alike.”
Sep 22, 2026 - Sep 24, 2026
TPS (Houston) is a vital industry event, offering a forum for the exchange of ideas between rotating equipment engineers and technicians worldwide. Now surpassing 54 years, TPS is known for its impact on turbomachinery, pump, oil & gas, petrochemical, power, aerospace, chemical and water industries through two pathways: an exhibition and a technical program.
Jun 14, 2026 - Jun 18, 2026
Jul 15, 2026 - Jul 16, 2026
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Power Transmission Engineering is THE magazine of mechanical components. PTE is written for engineers and maintenance pros who specify, purchase and use gears, gear drives, bearings, motors, couplings, clutches, lubrication, seals and all other types of mechanical power transmission and motion control components.
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