So far April has been quite a big month in the engineering world. As we have increased our need to have fuel-efficient and greener engineered products, engineering firms are now looking at the best ways of developing new products that are less harmful to our environment. Engineering can take a number of guises, whether it is automotive, structural or electrical. All of these disciplines of engineering are vitally important to the world in which we live. Below, we will take a look at some aspects of engineering that have been trending this month.
Generators
Generators come in all shapes and sizes and can be used for a multitude of tasks. Portable generators are very useful as they can be transported anywhere and used in any location. Portable generators are particularly useful when it comes to remote locations where power is limited. An example of use would be if you were renovating or building a new property and you require some form of power when you initially start the building project, particularly if you are in a rural area.
Having access to a generator like this is extremely useful. When considering a generator you must consider which is the best power generator for your needs. For example, if you’re in a remote area, a portable generator maybe the best option, but if you are trying to power a number of devices you may need to consider either a large capacity generator or maybe having more than one on site at any one time. If you just need a small, light generator for a smaller or lower power purpose, then this would be the ideal generator for you.
Steel
Steel has played a massive role in engineering for a number of decades. From stainless steel rope,to sheet metal fabrication services, steel really is the go-to material when you think about heavy engineering. The price of steel goes up and down from month to month, so the price of the goods that are produced by steel are often affected by this. Although steel is still widely used today in heavy construction, the engineering industry is now looking to all the materials that come from different sources to have a lesser impact on the environment.
Steel, if used properly, can be used and reused which means it can be recycled from other products. Steel is known for its strength and its durability, which is why it is used for many different products. Some of the large producers of steel have seen a downturn in recent months, but this is related to the economy rather than the actual product itself.
Plastics
Plastics, when used in the right environment, can be extremely useful within the engineering field. Plastic is easy to produce and it can be moulded in many different shapes and sizes. Plastic, like metal, has many advantages but plastic isn’t generally as strong as metal. However, plastic does not have any corrosion issues. Take windows for example. If you have plastic windows, they will not rot or corrode in any way due to the base material being plastic. If on the other hand you have wood or metal, these two materials are both prone to rotting and rusting respectively.
The use of plastics has increased over the years and their use in food products has also increased. This in itself has caused a problem however as plastics that have been discarded or thrown away can often find their way into the environment as they have not been disposed of properly. Recently there have been some high-profile celebrities talking about the effects of plastics in the ocean. Plastics that are left at the seaside and then washed into the sea can cause a problem to the world’s oceans. This affects ocean life which in turn can also affect the eco-balance on our planet. When disposed of properly however, plastic can be recycled and used to form other products. Just like metal, plastic can be fully recyclable which in turn cuts down waste and pollution. Plastics cannot be used for everything that metals can, but the use it does have shows that this type of material will be used in generations to come.
Vehicles and Transport
This area of engineering is busy every month. Manufacturers of vehicles often release them on a month-to-month basis. Recently the drive for more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles has become a priority for all the leading manufacturers around the world. The governments around the world are looking towards autonomous vehicles and vehicles that offer zero emissions. Advances in this area are coming thick and fast as we are now seeing more and more hybrid vehicles on our roads and there has been a huge influx in electrically powered vehicles and their charging points.
At the same time, as fuel sources have been looked at, vehicle safety is also on the increase. Driverless vehicles are no longer a concept for the future, as they are now being developed to become a part of the main transport system. Companies such as Tesla have produced a fully electric car that is not only environmentally friendly, but also has some of the attributes of some of the best-known supercars. Many car enthusiasts have thought that getting rid of fossil fuel cars will be the end of our motoring love affair.
As you can see from the subjects above, there have been a lot of different aspects of engineering that have been trending in the month of April. The different disciplines of engineering are all going to be very busy over the coming year. As legislation changes, the need for more environmentally friendly products increases, so will the type of engineering that our engineers produce.