Material Wars — Who’s Going to Win the Automotive Metals Race?
David Paratore, President and Chief Executive Officer, NanoSteel
July 9, 2015
There’s a lot of press out there about new materials replacing sheet steel in the automotive industry. Aluminum and composites are being touted as the next best things for taking weight out of cars. With the federal fuel economy deadline of 54.5 mpg by 2025 looming, the battle is on.
Lightweighting, apart from its contribution to fuel economy, provides other advantages to automakers: an opportunity to increase efficiency by decreasing the size and weight of engines and suspensions, to raise the payload, and to add in more safety features and infotainment options. Evolving from beer cans to the aluminum body of an F150 truck, or from the composite skin of a Stealth jet to the BMW i8 street hybrid, other lightweight materials are clearly making their way into mainstream automotive.
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Where Will the New Horizons Probe Go After Pluto?
By Victoria Jaggard
July 15, 2015
Space exploration is often an exercise in delayed gratification. When the New Horizons spacecraft started its voyage to Pluto in 2006, Twitter had just made its public debut. Now, almost a decade later, social media is awash with gorgeous close-ups of the Pluto system, which is turning out to be more textured and complex than anyone imagined.
The closest part of the spacecraft’s visit was brief, just a swoop past Pluto’s sunlit face that lasted mere hours.
For the rest of the story visit Smithsonian.com.
5 Tips for Effectively Implementing New Manufacturing Technology
John Mills
July 14, 2015
After months of inconsistent demand, North American manufacturers may soon get help from federal regulators.
In Canada, a new program called “Factory of the Future” aims to dole out some $380 million in aid to local manufacturers. The country’s National Research Council (NRC) Labs will lead up the effort while also providing expertise and related resources. In the U.S., Congress passed a bill allowing for aid to be given to workers affected by trade deals that open borders and increase competition in the manufacturing sector.
For the rest of the story visit Industry Week.