InfoPower

In 1983, the first surgical robot, Arthrobot, was used to accurately align a patient’s leg during an orthopedic surgery. In 1985, the PUMA 560 robot assisted in a brain biopsy providing precise tissue sampling. The da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system by Intuitive Surgical debuted in 1998, and received FDA approval in 2000 for laparoscopic surgery. In 2014, the da Vinci Xi was the new system’s advanced version enhancing flexibility, imaging, and instrument control. And in 2023, da Vinci added transoral procedures to its list, all which minimize recovery times through less invasive surgeries. The da Vinci 5 added tactile feedback for the surgeon to “feel” the tools move along soft tissue during surgery, which Intuitive calls Force Feedback technology. It received FDA 510(k) clearance in March of 2024.

Americans have a reputation for having a down-to-business and self-reliant work ethic that started during its first Colony in Virginia (1607), to its thirteenth Colony (Georgia, 1732). Forty-four years later, Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and self-reliance was on a roll. Once the war was over, America began to export its goods, and its first tariff was enacted by the First Continental Congress in 1789 “ . . . to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imports and Excises . . . to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations," which was signed into law by George Washington. Tariffs have been used throughout U.S. history—the U.S. government was funded by tariffs until 1913. After that, it was a combination of taxes and tariffs.

Will Manufacturing Become This Century’s Roaring ’20s? The foundation for the reemergence of American manufacturing is happening quickly after nearly five decades of ramping up outsourcing—at least the corporate manufacturing pledges of $8 trillion and counting during the writing of this article trend in a positive direction. While new manufacturing is still a work in progress, let’s review the unwinding of what was the manufacturing sector in America.

By automation or manually by hand, Interpower® crimps bridges for country-specific plugs, and IEC 60320 connectors onto miles of flexible cable it manufactures each year. For cord sets, the optimal crimp is one that provides the most electrical contact between the conductors of stranded wire and its bridge or connector—the B crimp provides optimal electrical contact for flexible cable.

At 7 a.m., Jess, an Interpower Level 2 molder, prepares the ENGEL injection molding machine to mold Continental European (CEE) Cord sets. The CEE plugs will be molded onto 1 mm² international cable, and Jess checks to make sure the 100-lb. CEE mold and proper steel inserts are in place. An additional team member verifies that the correct mold inserts are in place.