It was 1961. John F. Kennedy was just sworn into office, gas cost 27 cents per gallon, and the Unimate 1900 series became the first mass-produced robotic arm for factory automation.

Industrial robots have come a long way since George Devol and Joseph Engelberger first surfaced the idea in 1956. Today, over 1.8 million operational industrial robots exist worldwide, and experts anticipate this number to reach 3 million by 2020.

So, why are more and more businesses integrating automated machines into manufacturing processes? Below we make the case, with four reasons to consider using industrial robots in your warehouse operation.

Automation is everywhere we look. The once futuristic idea only seen in movies like iRobot and WALL-E is now a part of our everyday lives. We have self-driving cars from Tesla and automated vacuums we call Roombas. In fact, 8.2 million people have conversations with a black cylinder named Alexa.

Automation isn’t coming; it’s here. It’s in our homes, it’s in our streets, and it’s even become an integral part of warehouse operations across the world.

In manufacturing, there is no one-size-fits-all method for accurate forecasting.

Facing uncertainty and unique production specifications, managers must take several factors into account before forecasting any sourcing or manufacturing needs.

Below, we provide three ways manufacturers can ensure more effective forecasting to reduce costs and optimize production.

This past week more than 50,000 attendees and 1,700 exhibitors met in Chicago for the 35th annual FABTECH Exposition. The “one-stop-shop” event brings together suppliers and the latest industry developments related to metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing needs.

Cost-effective, high-volume and efficient production all sound great, but there are a few things you may need to think about before you jump right in. Below, we’ve listed three important factors to consider before starting your roll form project.

A record-setting 20,000 solar energy professionals and 600 leading manufacturers gathered for four days in Las Vegas for this year’s annual Solar Power International (SPI). This year’s tradeshow included everything from educational solar 101 sessions, to more in-depth discussions about the Sunvia trade case.

A lot happened at this year’s SPI, so we’ve outlined key takeaways below.

When it comes to manufacturing, time is money.

Controlling labor costs can be difficult, especially when you’re pressed for time and working with a tight budget.

Labor costs can account for 50 to 70 percent of a company’s entire warehouse budget, which is why it’s no surprise that there is immense pressure to adopt new cost-controlling processes.

The global steel market is currently producing more than 2,300 million metric tons (MT), yet, global demand is only at 1,500 MT. Furthermore, an additional 352 MT capacity is planned for this year. That’s a lot of excess, and it’s affecting U.S. companies, workers and the global steel market. So what’s going on?

With fewer internal resources and smaller engineering staffs, many manufacturing companies are now seeking outsourced partners to help them enhance engineering activities so they can concentrate their internal bandwidth on core competencies.