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Ford rolling the dice with massive changes to its iconic F-150
Ross Lancaster Transportation Technology & AutomotiveIn the annals of American automobiles, few, if any, vehicles are more iconic or ubiquitous than Ford's F-Series pickup trucks. In 2013, it continued its amazing run of 32 consecutive years as America's top-selling vehicle.
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Bright future for plastics in electronic devices
Don Rosato EngineeringThe road ahead for plastics has the potential to significantly impact future electronic device applications. In commercial applications, polymer development is pushing plastic properties in response to ongoing demand for smaller electronic devices that call for smaller, thinner electrical components in hotter environments at higher electrical frequencies.
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Turning the tide: Outsourcing, quality control and consumers
Alan Kelsky ManufacturingManufacturing companies are always looking for ways to cut costs and increase profits. One method often used is to outsource manufacturing and product assembly to countries with low labor costs. Outsourcing does lower production costs, but in many instances it lowers quality and diminishes the customer base.
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Researchers: Graphene dramatically affects corrosion resistance
Alan Kelsky EngineeringA likely revolution in a corrosion protection is almost ready to launch, according to researchers of graphene at the University of Manchester. Their latest research shows that this thin coating protects substances coated with it from corrosion.
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How 3-D printing improves surgical outcomes
Renee Eaton ManufacturingLast month, an acquaintance underwent what was expected to be a routine ablation procedure — nearly 10 hours later, the surgery finally finished. Despite CT scans, X-rays and EKGs, the surgeons encountered "structural issues" that complicated the operation. If they'd had a 3-D print of his heart, they might have anticipated and planned contingencies based on what they saw.
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1 simple step in water treatment could save billions of dollars
Alan Kelsky EngineeringImagine you are the official in charge of sewers in a particular area. As "sewer commissioner," you are responsible for maintaining, repairing and replacing the miles and miles of sewer pipe under your authority. Sounds like a powerful position to have, right? Not so fast.
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E/E plastic material and process advances to watch
Don Rosato EngineeringConvergence among computer, consumer electronics and telecom industries continue to blur the lines between information, entertainment and communication. Electrical and electronic (E/E) applications polymer development is pushing plastic resin properties. This is in response to ongoing demand for smaller electronic devices where high heat and high-flow grades permit more intricate, miniaturized parts in electronic applications.
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View from Europe: Sainsbury’s marches on
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingIn the cooling industry in the United Kingdom, perhaps more than in any country in Europe, it is the supermarkets that are in the forefront of technology change. For instance, most U.K. supermarkets are not particularly fazed by the increased emphasis on low-GWP refrigerants that is being prompted by the EU’s forthcoming F-Gas regulation, because they are already pretty well advanced on their own natural refrigerant strategies. Among the U.K.'s Big Six supermarket brands, Sainsbury's has stood out for its sustainability initiatives and achievements.
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Smart factories know how to use big data
Alan Kelsky ManufacturingGo to a meeting of any trade group or association and someone is going to mention "big data." I know of scores of companies that have scores of servers dedicated to storing all this data.
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Legislation and performance requirements define electronic device trends
Don Rosato EngineeringManufacturers in the various electrical/electronic (E/E) sectors can choose from an enormous and versatile range of plastics to meet every requirement. Depending on the electronic component or device, designers choose plastics for their rigidity or flexibility, toughness/durability, resistance to low or high voltage and their electrical insulation or conductive qualities. Ease of fabrication into complex shapes can also be a requirement for E/E applications.
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