// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
Fabrication
Fabrication is the process of constructing products by combining various raw or semi-finished materials using processes like cutting, bending, welding, and assembly. It often refers to creating metal structures.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Fabrication is a manufacturing process involving the construction of products or structures from various raw materials (e.g., metal plates, beams) through operations such as cutting, bending, welding, machining, and assembly, often resulting in complex subassemblies or finished goods.
BACKGROUND
The semiconductor industry is the aggregate of companies engaged in the design and fabrication of semiconductors and semiconductor devices, such as transistors and integrated circuits. Its roots can be traced to the invention of the transistor by Shockley, Brattain, and Bardeen at Bell Labs in 1948. Bell Labs licensed the technology for $25,000, and soon many companies, including Motorola (1952), Shockley Semiconductor (1955), Sylvania, Centralab, Fairchild Semiconductor and Texas Instruments were making transistors. In 1958 Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce of Fairchild independently invented the Integrated Circuit, a method of producing multiple transistors on a single "chip" of Semiconductor material. This kicked off a number of rapid advances in fabrication technology leading to the exponential growth in semiconductor device production, known as Moore's law that has persisted over the past six or so decades. The industry's annual semiconductor sales revenue has since grown to over $481 billion, as of 2018.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Manufacturing
- Assembly
- Construction
- Metalworking
- Welding
USAGE NOTE
Metal fabrication shops create custom parts and structures for a wide range of industries.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Fabrication.
A global leader in machine tools for sheet metal fabrication (laser cutting, punching, bending) and additive manufacturing, developing advanced automation and smart factory solutions for efficient and precise fabrication.
Provides comprehensive software and hardware solutions for digital manufacturing, including CAD/CAM, PLM, MES, and automation technologies that enable advanced fabrication processes and connect them within Industry 5.0 frameworks.
Specializes in additive manufacturing (3D printing) technologies, machines, and materials, enabling complex and customized part fabrication across various industries.
A pioneering technology leader in industrial automation and robotics, providing solutions for automated fabrication tasks such as welding, cutting, material handling, and assembly, central to flexible and intelligent manufacturing.
Offers leading software platforms like CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, and DELMIA for product design, simulation, and manufacturing execution, enabling virtual validation and optimization of complex fabrication processes.
A global leader in polymer 3D printing solutions, developing a wide range of additive manufacturing technologies and materials for prototyping, tooling, and direct part fabrication.
A major producer of industrial robots, CNC systems, and factory automation solutions widely used in automated fabrication processes such as welding, material removal, and machine tending.
Provides design and manufacturing software, including Fusion 360, AutoCAD, and Inventor, that supports various fabrication methods from traditional subtractive to advanced additive manufacturing, integrating design with production workflows.