Articles tagged with Manufacturing
The University of Nottingham will lead two innovative manufacturing centres, one in food production and the other in medical devices, with a focus on sustainable food production and cost-effective medical device manufacturing. The £45 million package of investment aims to drive growth and keep the UK ahead in the global race.
A Kaiser Permanente analysis found significant variation in vitamin D potency among supplements, with some products containing up to 146% more or less than listed values. The study suggests that consumers may not be getting the expected amount of vitamin D from their supplements.
The UK biopharmaceutical sector is set to receive £6.5M in funding for innovative projects, including industrial-scale production of antibodies and stem cell preservation at room temperature. The funding will support the development of new tools and methods for bioprocessing, which is crucial for developing new drugs.
The use of ecolabels in cleaning products is a topic of debate, with supporters arguing they inform consumers about product sustainability, while opponents claim they can be confusing. The American Chemical Society explores the pros and cons of these environmental certification seals in its latest cover story.
A University of Illinois study shows that retailers must balance the shopping process for consumers and pricing behavior of upstream suppliers through strategic manipulation of store layout. The findings suggest that making certain products convenient to consumers may not be the best retail strategy, as it can influence pricing behavio...
A study by Kevin D. Bradford and his team examined 28 thousand pages of court documents to understand how guns move from legal channels into the hands of criminals. They found that one percent of gun dealers are responsible for 45 to 60 percent of guns involved in crimes, highlighting the need for more vigilance over gun distribution.
NREL's Silicon Photovoltaic Wafer Screening System uses thermal stress to identify weak wafers that are prone to breaking during manufacturing. The system can be retrofitted into assembly lines and has already shown potential for reducing production costs and increasing efficiency.
Researchers have developed a new technology that uses laser and electric fields to create mini-centrifuge-like whirlpools to isolate microorganisms based on size. This technology has the potential to revolutionize lab-on-a-chip applications, including medical diagnostics and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The study found that tobacco smuggling in Europe is lower than expected, with availability being the primary driver. Illicit tobacco was more common in countries bordering Ukraine and Russia, as well as those with lower prices for Marlboro packs.
Six Penn State faculty members have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, including Peter Hudson, Soundar Kumara, Andrew Read, Nitin Samarth, Matthew Thomas, and Karl Zimmerer. They were recognized for their research in various fields, including wildlife disease ecology, interdisciplinary indust...
A €26.4 million European public-private partnership, led by the University of Manchester and GlaxoSmithKline, aims to create sustainable pharmaceuticals manufacturing processes using biotechnology. The CHEM21 project will establish a European research hub to develop training packages and provide information on green chemistry.
The Energy Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has selected 66 cutting-edge research projects to receive $130 million in funding. These projects focus on transformational, breakthrough technologies that can produce game-changing breakthroughs in energy technology and have large commercial impacts.
Researchers successfully produce intricate pieces using 3-D printing, which offers benefits over traditional manufacturing methods. The technology also enables easy sharing of designs, allowing for better replication of experiments and collaboration among soil scientists.
The university will utilize new state-of-the-art equipment to develop applications such as smart sensors and biomedical devices. Researchers aim to transform the manufacturing industry through applied research, education, and industrial outreach.
A study by University of Missouri researchers found that American consumers place a high value on apparel produced entirely in the US, with a 42% increase in perceived value compared to similar products made overseas. This trend could be damaging to American apparel manufacturing businesses and the overall economy.
Virginia Tech researchers developed a computer-based system to analyze social media posts for vehicle defects, a first large-scale case study confirming the value of social media in vehicle quality management. The system can sift through millions of unrelated posts to identify useful information on safety and performance issues.
Researchers found that striped patterns formed by particles limit micro-patterned circuit size in electronics, reduce pharmaceutical effectiveness, and affect polymer manufacturing efficiency. The study reveals three distinct patterns of how particles 'stick' to surfaces, including stripe formation and clearing of surfaces.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine applied Toyota's lean manufacturing process to improve stroke treatment times, reducing average door-to-needle time from 58 to 37 minutes. The new protocol eliminated inefficient steps and allowed for simultaneous patient care tasks.
Researchers applied 'lean' manufacturing principles to streamline stroke care at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, reducing treatment time from 60 minutes to 39 minutes. The streamlined process resulted in a 78% increase in patients receiving clot-busting agent tPA within one hour of arrival.
Case Western Reserve University researchers have won a $1.2 million grant to develop technology for mass-producing flexible electronic devices. The team aims to create flexible electronics that can be worn on the skin, foldable devices as thin as plastic wrap, and implantable nerve-stimulating electrodes.
The partnership will focus on measurement and characterization of nanomaterials for enhanced optical, electrical and mechanical properties. The research aims to kickstart advances in energy, healthcare, materials science and national security.
Compounded drugs lack FDA approval and may result in serious adverse events, highlighting the need for cautious prescribing decisions. Physicians should prioritize FDA-approved products over non-standard alternatives.
A 'quality-by-design' mindset could improve dietary supplement safety, as it did in the automotive industry. Manufacturers must verify plant identities and follow good manufacturing practices to ensure product accuracy.
The biobased chemical industry is transitioning towards producing ingredients sold to companies making medicines, detergents, and plastics from basic compounds made from sugar. Six companies have already opened manufacturing plants or will soon, with plans for three more by next year.
A study by Michigan State University scholars suggests that CEOs who have three times as much prospective wealth as current wealth are more willing to take risks. Companies can influence CEO risk-taking behavior by issuing equity pay strategically, rather than relying on predetermined quantities.
A new report from DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and N14 Energy Limited reveals LEDs are more environmentally friendly than CFLs and incandescent lights. The study found that as technology improves, LEDs will continue to gain an edge, with potential for a 50% reduction in environmental impacts within five years.
A study reveals that most electronic waste in Spain is uncontrolled, with only 2.55 kg out of 13.86 kg collected and processed correctly under the Integrated Waste Management System (SIG). The majority of manufacturers are not registered in the system, leading to significant payment evasion.
Nanoresonators, created by Purdue researchers, have the potential to improve cell phone performance by reducing congestion over the airwaves. The devices can filter out noise and allow signals to pass through more precisely, resulting in better call quality and faster downloads.
A new method, called laser shock-induced shaping, enables the tuning of nanowires by altering electrical and optoelectrical properties critical for electronic components and instruments. Graphene was also successfully shaped using this technique.
The iFAB Foundry aims to revolutionize the design and building process for complex defense systems by shortening development time by a factor of five. The project will provide near-instantaneous manufacturability feedback to designers, enabling flexible and programmable distributed production.
A multi-university team is developing techniques for creating two-dimensional materials that can fold themselves into three-dimensional structures when exposed to light. The research aims to advance understanding of photoresponsive materials with applications in electronics, manufacturing, and humanitarian relief.
The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) is a new public-private partnership aiming to revitalize American manufacturing. The consortium, led by Penn State, will receive $30 million in federal funding and create an environment for education and training in advanced additive manufacturing skills.
Professor Mo Ehsani's new pipe consists of a central layer of lightweight plastic honeycomb and layers of resin-saturated carbon fiber fabric. This innovative design is stronger than conventional steel and concrete pipes, allowing for virtually infinite length sections with no joints.
Researchers will develop nanocomposites for medical implants that break down safely, replacing metal implants in bone surgery. The project tackles challenges in nanoparticle production, dispersion, degradation, and scaling up manufacture.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed a new method for making three-dimensional aluminium composite parts using Selective Laser Manufacturing (SLM). This process produces strong, lightweight parts with innovative geometries, reducing weight and material usage.
Iowa State University engineers are building a strong expertise in wind energy through various initiatives, including grants, research projects and partnerships. The goal is to increase wind energy production by at least 10 times over the next 18 years to reach 20% of electrical energy from wind by 2030.
The UK government has invested £6.5 million in 16 research and development projects to stimulate innovation in the manufacturing sector. The projects aim to develop new technologies that can create high value through novel processes, advanced product manufacture, resource efficiency and production techniques.
Researchers at MIT have developed an algorithm allowing robots to quickly learn an individual's preference for a task and adapt accordingly. This enables robots and humans to work side by side, improving productivity and efficiency in manufacturing plants.
The EPSRC has awarded five-year fellowships worth £1 million each to Drs Geoffrey Nash, Harish Bhaskaran, Ajoy Velayudhan, and Peter Foote to address the gap in UK manufacturing research. The fellowships aim to strengthen links between industry and academia, driving growth and innovation.
A Georgia Tech research team has developed a novel technology that allows for the direct digital casting of complex, costly metal parts. The new method, called Large Area Maskless Photopolymerization (LAMP), uses high-resolution optics and precision motion systems to achieve extremely sharp features, reducing prototype development time...
Researchers at the US Army Research Laboratory developed a novel processing technology that enabled commercial production of advanced Soldier head protection. The new helmets offer improved weight reduction and increased durability, with some models already fielded to Special Operations Forces.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology are developing a technique to fabricate custom concrete building components directly from digital designs, enabling rapid and low-cost manufacturing. The method uses computer-aided design software to create manufacturable designs, which are then 3D-printed using a CNC router.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that tilting cars on the assembly line can reduce autoworker strain, improving safety and efficiency. The study compares two methods: a cantilevered chair and a car carriage system, with the latter proving more effective in reducing stress for nine different tasks.
A new study shows that chimpanzee Santino's planning and deception abilities are greater than previously thought. He uses innovative strategies like hiding projectiles and inhibiting dominance displays to fool visitors, suggesting a flexible planning ability similar to humans.
The center section of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has been completed, marking a significant milestone in the telescope's hardware development. The backplane will support the telescope's mirrors, instruments, and thermal control systems during its mission.
The NaPANIL project demonstrated the potential of nanoimprinting lithography to create low-cost optical components with various applications. The project showcased three main demonstrators: an OLED Head-Up Display, a Functional Light Directional Element, and a Planar Diffactive Optical Element.
Scientists have visualized the transformation of powder mixtures into molten glass using X-ray microtomography. The study revealed that contact between grains determines whether a mixture turns into liquid glass, and that sodium carbonate plays a key role in initiating chemical reactions.
Researchers aim to extract glycosaminoglycans from egg shells for biomedical applications, while also using egg shells as fillers in plastics. The project has the potential to reduce waste and costs for food manufacturers, creating new income streams.
The MIT CSAIL project aims to develop a desktop technology that enables personalized robot design, customization, and printing within hours. Researchers hope to create an end-to-end process for building physical machines using simple printing processes.
Researchers at the University of Florida are investigating toxicity associated with aqueous solutions of carbon nanotubes used in manufacturing processes. By controlling the ratio of liquid to particulate, they found that toxicity can be reduced, paving the way for sustainable nano-tech products.
The Penn State Applied Research Laboratory and Sciaky, Inc. have established the Center for Innovative Metal Processing through Direct Digital Deposition as a Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. The center aims to provide an advanced design and simulation tool in a shared network for industry participants to evaluate the technology.
Research shows consumers can save up to $800 by finding out what a dealer pays for a car, visiting two dealerships and liking to bargain. Buyers who don't like to bargain or do research can save $230 by doing just two things.
A new study by MIT economist David Autor shows that the rise in low-wage manufacturing industries overseas has a significant impact on the US economy and its workers. The disappearance of US manufacturing jobs frequently leaves former workers unemployed for years, creating a drag on local economies.
The ONR's Navy Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) program has improved manufacturing efficiency to save millions of dollars annually. By reducing product costs, the program enables warfighters to access more affordable technologies that enhance their capabilities.
At least 13 workers died from exposure to methylene chloride used in paint-stripping products, leading to recommendations for safer methods and product restrictions. MSU researchers urge manufacturers to note safety warnings on products and restrict access.
Dr. Anthony Grbic's innovative antenna design uses a hemispherical shape to achieve instant miniaturization, operating in one frequency band and potentially inexpensive to produce.
Global brands employ versioning to remove or reduce features in existing models, but consumers revolt and sue companies if perceived as unfair. Companies can mitigate negative reactions by reducing similarity between products and communicating with consumers about the practice.
Researchers at EPFL have successfully developed a 3D chip with multiple processors stacked vertically, increasing efficiency and processing power. The chip is connected using thin copper microtubes through tiny openings called Through-Silicon-Vias, reducing data exchange time.
Researchers at NC State University have developed a new technique to create elastic conductors from carbon nanotubes, enabling the production of stretchable electronic devices with improved resilience and conformability. The new method buckles carbon nanotubes on an elastic substrate, creating conductors that can transmit electric sign...
Researchers have created new microtweezers capable of manipulating objects to build tiny structures, print coatings for advanced sensors, and grab live stem cell spheres. The tool enables the precision printing of chemical or protein dots onto microcantilevers, which can detect chemicals in air and water.