LATEST TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Emerging Technologies
Heard in a trade show presentation but now bursting on to the manufacturing scene, emerging technology moves quickly. In this section IW lets you peek into technologies that are closer than you think.
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The Leading Edge: Manufacturing Technologies to Watch
Innovations are being driven by globalization, as devices are growing smaller, smarter and more connected.

When held in your hands, a sheet of buckypaper seems unimpressive, with its thin and flimsy texture more closely resembling a piece of carbon paper than a breakthrough material. But don't be fooled. This seemingly modest sheet of paper -- made from tube-shaped carbon molecules 50,000 times thinner than a human hair -- when stacked, nets a material that's 500 times stronger than steel, yet 10 times lighter.

Buckypaper's strength is only equaled by its unique properties. Unlike conventional composite materials, it conducts electricity similar to copper or silicon, yet disperses heat like steel or brass. As a material, buckypaper holds the promise of changing the way airplanes, automobiles and electronics are made.

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Emerging Technologies Articles & News
Toyota to Roll Out Plug-in Prius in Two Years

Says car will have an affordable price tag

12/14/2009

Nissan LEAF Debuts in Washington

Energy partnership will construct 2,200 charging stations in western Washington

12/11/2009

Italy's Legacy of Machine Manufacturing

Advanced manufacturing technology nothing new for Italian industrial equipment providers

12/11/2009

Chip Giant TSMC to Enter Solar Energy

Will invest in Motech Industries

12/10/2009

Miracle Metal: How Glassy Metals will Define Manufacturing in the 21th Century

The metals have a wide range of applications, from aerospace structures to golf clubs and medical devices.

12/9/2009

Sony to Enter Car Battery Market

Company said they will move quickly in this market

12/3/2009

GM to Launch Volt in California Next Year

Production of the car will be around 10,000 units in 2011, the first full year of manufacturing.

12/3/2009

Johnson Controls-Saft to Supply Battery for Ford's Transit Connect Electric Vehicle

The battery systems will be assembled in Holland, Mich.

12/1/2009

Atom-Smasher Sets Record Energy Levels

CERN's Large Hadron Collider has become the world's highest energy particle accelerator, having accelerated its twin beams of protons to an energy of 1.18 TeV.

11/30/2009

Hitachi to Build Rail Car Plant in Britain

Company will build 1,400 hybrid railway cars that run on lithium-ion batteries and diesel engines

11/24/2009

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