-
Keeping the US manufacturing industry on a positive track
Alan Kelsky ManufacturingAs we approach the midterm elections, politicians from both parties are calling each other job killers and suggesting that outsourcing of jobs in manufacturing has permanently damaged the manufacturing sector. If they listened long enough to the news and experts in manufacturing, they might understand that manufacturing is alive and well in the United States and can stay that way.
-
FDA examining regulations for 3‑D printed medical devices
Renee Eaton EngineeringThe official purpose of a recent FDA-sponsored workshop was "to provide a forum for FDA, medical device manufacturers, additive manufacturing companies and academia to discuss technical challenges and solutions of 3-D printing." The FDA wants "input to help it determine technical assessments that should be considered for additively manufactured devices to provide a transparent evaluation process for future submissions."
-
Suppliers, manufacturers prepare for low‑GWP future in Europe
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingThe big Chillventa show in Nuremberg, Germany, earlier this month is a meeting place for the European cooling industry. Alongside the wealth of innovation that is on display, there is always good debate. Shows such as these are a rare chance to get the senior management from suppliers in one building.
-
Report: Market for corrosion inhibitors expanding rapidly
Alan Kelsky EngineeringThe use of corrosion inhibitors is expanding rapidly across the world as more plants, refineries and drilling sites come online. In a report published earlier this month, Grandview Research disclosed that the global anti-corrosion market expects significant growth, especially in Asian countries, to $7.55 billion by 2020.
-
Highlights of bioplastic material and process building blocks
Don Rosato EngineeringThe chemical industry relies heavily on traditional sources of carbon — oil, natural gas, coal and biomass. These four substances are the starting point for around 40 basic chemicals and more than 40,000 chemical products. With its low cost and low toxicity, carbon dioxide is an attractive carbon feedstock for the synthesis of polymers, especially polycarbonates and polyurethanes that are primarily based on the condensation of highly toxic phosgene and aromatic or aliphatic diols.
-
Bioplastics trends and drivers for greener plastics
Don Rosato EngineeringBy way of an introduction definition, the term bioplastics is not limited to biodegradable or compostable plastics made from natural materials such as corn or starch. Bioplastics is also applied to petroleum-based plastics that are degradable; natural-based plastics that are not necessarily biodegradable; and plastics that contain both petroleum-based and plant-based materials that may biodegrade or not. Bioplastics are distinguished as bio-based and/or biodegradable.
-
A tale of 2 continents: US leading the way in cooling regulations
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingThose of us in the European cooling sector have been looking somewhat jealously at the way U.S. authorities wield the big stick when someone transgresses on cooling matters — particularly regarding the recent settlement between the EPA and Costco.
-
3-D printing and the future of additive manufacturing
Alan Kelsky ManufacturingIn the United States, 3-D printing is ranked sixth among the top 10 fastest-growing industries in the United States. In fact, Goldman Sachs names 3-D technology as "disruptive" in its 2013 annual report on technology. The term "disruptive" is used in a benign manner to describe the technology as growing at a rate of 20 percent per year.
-
US manufacturing desperately needs infrastructure upgrades
Alan Kelsky ManufacturingAmerica's public infrastructure is in poor condition. News stories rightfully tout how repairing roads and bridges is an opportunity to fix our aging infrastructure. However, what most people don't realize is that American manufacturing has seen no major capital investments in private infrastructure since the onset of the Great Recession.
-
Innovations in corrosion prevention presented at EuroCorr 2014
Stephanie McKenzie EngineeringThe European Federation of Corrosion just wrapped up its annual conference, EuroCorr 2014, held from Sept. 8-12 in Pisa, Italy. Some important new innovations in corrosion prevention were presented that will have implications for corrosion engineers all over the world.
All Manufacturing Articles