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New plastics and composites impact design, engineering across the world…
Bill Becken EngineeringThe productive versatility of modern manufacturing is evolving quickly — whether it comes to new processes or innovative plastics and composite materials. Of course, modern plastics and plastic-reinforced composites go back several decades in manufacturing. But, at least compared to legacy materials such as titanium, iron, steel and aluminum, these materials are still coming of age. Design and manufacturing engineers are only just now getting to know their latest iterations’ utility and the scope of their potential and promise.
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September nonfarm payrolls grow by 134,000; jobless rate drops to 3.7 percent
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementNonfarm payroll jobs increased by 134,000 in September vs. 201,100 in August, as the unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent from August’s 3.9 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. In September, the number of unemployed workers declined to 6 million compared with 6.2 million in August. September’s BLS data does show growth in wage income, though with room for improvement, according to economist Elise Gould of the Economic Policy Institute.
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How new US tariffs will affect big business and consumers
Dr. Samantha Bietsch Civil & GovernmentWe have heard a lot recently about the new U.S. tariffs on imported goods and services and how they will affect American business. While some in business favor the new tariffs, others do not. Some of these opinions are based on facts; others are not. Although improving the domestic economy sounds like a great idea, increasing tariffs on U.S. imports does not come without retaliation from other nations. Just as Americans buy foreign products, other nations buy American-made products and crops.
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We have good EU F-Gas regulations, now we need good regulating
Andrew Gaved Civil & GovernmentAt RAC’s recent Cooling Industry Awards, I ended my speech on a bit of a call to arms. The gist of it is that we as an industry deserve the respect of having our F-Gas regulations properly enforced. I am sure you don’t need me to remind you, as I seem to have been writing about it for months, that the EU’s F-Gas regulatory regime has proved quite a tough prospect for the industry, with its combination of HFC phasedown and bans intended to drive the market towards lower-GWP options at quite a pace.
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What to know about distributing your products in North America
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesNorth America, and the United States in particular, is one of the largest markets for selling just about everything, particularly home furnishing products. And while the rewards can be great, the cost of entry is also great. The problem is directly related to the size of both the U.S. and Canada, as well as the diversity within each country in terms of regions and their buying needs. If you are a manufacturer considering entering the marketplace, there are a few considerations to know. Additionally, this article is going to focus on the modes of distribution in the design trade community.
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Replacing NAFTA: A better 3-country pact ahead?
Seth Sandronsky Civil & GovernmentCanada and the U.S. have renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which took effect Jan. 1, 1994. President Trump, who called NAFTA "the worst trade deal ever," praised its successor, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). "Promise made, promise kept," the president said on Twitter, of his campaign pledge to renegotiate NAFTA to improve trade fairness for American businesses, consumers and workers. That stance resonated with voters, especially in Rust Belt states where blue-collar employment has plummeted.
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Beyond prototyping: Scaling up to additive manufacturing for production
Charlie Wood ManufacturingMost are well-acquainted with additive manufacturing (AM) — as a rapid prototyping tool, at least. And while many companies believe and perpetuate the myth that AM is only a prototyping tool, innovators in a range of markets (e.g., aerospace, healthcare, consumer goods and more) are already using AM for production-grade manufacturing when design, performance and cost factors align. This article will help organizations considering switching to additive manufacturing for a part or product.
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Walmart warns about new trade policy with China
Seth Sandronsky RetailWhen Walmart warns President Trump about his trade policy, does he listen? This is no academic question, as the president exercised his legal authority to hike U.S. tariffs of 10 percent on $200 billion of Chinese imports, climbing to 25 percent in January 2019. On Sept. 6, Sarah F. Thorn, senior director for global government affairs with Walmart — the U.S.' biggest private-sector employer — wrote to the United States Trade Representative in a letter, "The immediate impact will be to raise prices on consumers and tax American business and manufacturers."
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Plastics, bioplastics augment and replace metal parts in farming machinery
Bill Becken EngineeringQuietly and without much fanfare, plastics and bioplastics are finding their way into the production of agricultural equipment, such as tractors, combines, plows and balers. Over the past decade, major manufacturers such as John Deere and International Harvester have transitioned both cosmetic and functional components from sheet metal to plastics and bioplastics, with very good results. Manufacturers have discovered a nifty truth, especially regarding bioplastics: They more than cut the mustard.
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Fair trade? China-US tariff tensions rise
Seth Sandronsky Civil & GovernmentTake the world's two biggest economies. Then, increase trade tariffs, or taxes, as a policy to solve disputes. President Trump said on Sept. 17 that tariffs on $267 billion of China’s imports to the U.S., its top buyer, will begin on Sept. 24 (10 percent) and rise in 2019 (25 percent) if Chinese concessions to Washington are not met. In response, officials in China have announced retaliatory tariffs of $60 billion on U.S. imports. Wilbur Ross, the commerce secretary, downplayed the economic impacts of the U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to American businesses and consumers.
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