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Jedsy AG, a Swiss startup, has developed a lightweight, autonomous drone designed specifically to speed delivery of laboratory samples and medical supplies to where they are needed.

The use of recycled polymers in manufacturing, particularly for lower-value items like trash bags, has become common but presents challenges in achieving a truly self-sustaining circular economy. Addressing the degradation mechanisms during the processing and use of plastic parts is crucial for developing high-performance materials.

Experts recognize reusability models in packaging as a solution to minimize waste. McKinsey & Company’s use-case scenarios indicate that there are still challenges to resolve before realizing and scaling up the benefits.

PLA flax pot plays a role in bioengineered plant system designed to act as a natural air-purification system in users’ homes. Injection molder M4Factory partnered with French startup Neoplants on the project.

Most companies would like to improve their sustainability but they do not know where to start and do not have a method of assessing their current status. Without knowing where you are starting from it is impossible to plot a route to where you want to get to. 

B.I.G. Yarns has successfully completed initial industrial production runs of virgin polyester BCF yarns, strategically expanding its support for high-end automotive interiors. This addition complements the existing line of polyamide PA6 superior yarns and aims to meet the increasing demand for sustainable materials in the automotive industry.

Stratasys partners with the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) to introduce a High-Standard FDM Process Certification. The global 3D printing market in terms of revenue was estimated at USD 15 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 34.5 billion by 2028 with a CAGR of 18.1%. This makes it an appealing market for young professionals, although certifications may be necessary.

3D printing has emerged as a game-changer in the medical field, particularly in the development of prosthetics and orthotics. While the technology allows for highly customizable solutions, challenges persist, especially concerning the limited availability of these prosthetics. However, a recent breakthrough in 3D printing research by Loughborough University could potentially revolutionize the creation of prosthetic sockets.

The first two articles in this series dwelt with the history of product design and the creative process that culminated in hypothetical new injection molded product sketches. The next challenge is to reduce the concept sketches to detailed piece-part drawings or CAD data bases. However, before starting that time consuming process it is highly desirable to determine whether or not the parts of the new product are moldable and what the molds and molded parts will cost.

The robustness of materials under cyclic loading is a critical factor often overshadowed by their tensile strength. Plastics, by nature, exhibit lower fatigue strength than their measured tensile strength, emphasizing the need for meticulous fatigue testing in material selection processes.

Circularise, a blockchain platform championing supply chain transparency, has joined forces with the Japan Circular Economy Partnership (J-CEP), AMITA Corporation, and Marubeni Corporation in a groundbreaking trial. This collaboration is raising the bar in the battle against plastic pollution by introducing digital product passports (DPPs) to meticulously track plastic bottle caps’ lifecycle, from collection to their rebirth as high-quality recycled products.

Stratasys and Siemens Healthineers partnered to develop a technology that translates information from scanned patient images (CT) into 3D-printed phantom models with specific material characteristics that emulate the radiopacity of human anatomy.