Demand for automated assembly equipment is rising in the US as more companies look to reshore their production and cut human resource costs. The resurgence of insourcing reflects the risk of relying on distant suppliers, the need to protect intellectual property and better sustainability practices, according to Rick Blake, from machine manufacturer Edgewater Automation. The firm has diversified its offering since its establishment 22 years ago, as smaller manufacturers’ reliance on a single buyer became a common problem. Taylor-Winfield Technologies engineering manager Nick Maillis said the cost and speed of using a robot to fix welding guns, for example, for spot welding tasks outweighed finding a robot to perform the same function.
