Category Archives: Engineering
UCR engineering grad school climbs in national rankings – University of California, Riverside
UCRs Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering graduate school has climbed seven positions in the university rankings compiled by U.S. News & World Report.
The schools rank, released Tuesday, June 18, is 83rd in the nation; the graduate school was No. 76 this past year.
Three of the schools programs also improved in the rankings: Chemical Engineering (53rd up by two); Electrical Engineering (65th up by one); and Environmental Engineering (57th up by two).
Christopher S. Lynch, the schools dean, attributed the rise to the schools ability to meet societal and student needs.
At the masters level, we are preparing our students for both the engineering and computer science workforce and for beginning their doctoral studies, Lynch said. These new rankings affirm our continuing success in preparing our students to achieve their career goals.
The rise in rankings reflects how BCOE has been continuously expanding its graduate offerings, Lynch added. This growth has been supported by the college expanding its faculty size and investing in support infrastructure and personnel.
Doctoral students receive full financial support, including tuition, fees, medical benefits, and salary through a combination of fellowships and research assistant and teaching assistant positions.
Bourns faculty produces research that offers solutions for climate change, environmental cleanup, advancing artificial intelligence, and computer hardware and software, among other areas of innovation.
The college expects 650 masters students and 540 Ph.D. students in fall 2024.
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UCR engineering grad school climbs in national rankings - University of California, Riverside
UConn College of Engineering Graduate Programs Ranked Nationally – UConn Today – University of Connecticut
The 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings for graduate engineering programs have been released, and UConns College of Engineering (CoE) has seen significant rating increases in some areas, including civil engineering, environmental health, materials, and mechanical engineering. Overall, the program remained steady, ranked 63rdnationally.
Rankings are based on peer and recruiter assessments, faculty resources and credentials, articles published in industry journals, research activity, and research expenditures. Overall, the college was tied in the rankings with Brown, RIT, Stony Brook, and University of Arizona.
George Bollas is director of the Pratt & Whitney Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering, the P&W Endowed Chair Professor in Advanced Systems Engineering with the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, and was recently appointed associate dean of research with the College of Engineering at UConn. This acknowledgment, he says, is a testament to the significant strides UConn has made in both research and education.
In the highly competitive field of engineering, rankings like these are not just numbers. They are a reflection of our commitment to excellence and innovation, as well as a result of our strong ties and partnership with world-leading industry partners, Bollas says. Our ascent in these rankings highlights the dedication of our faculty, the hard work of our students, and the ongoing support from our alumni and industry partners. We have invested heavily in cutting-edge research, state-of-the-art facilities, and fostering an environment that encourages groundbreaking discoveries. These efforts are designed to ensure that our graduates are not only well-prepared to meet the challenges of todays engineering landscape but also are poised to be leaders in shaping the future.
Among improved ratings, CoEs civil engineering program metrics increased dramatically over the previous years standings. Marisa Chrysochoou, department head for civil and environmental engineering, adds that the improvement is a direct result of the Colleges strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening its program.
From enhancing our curriculum to investing in state-of-the-art facilities and fostering industry partnerships, every effort has been focused on elevating the quality and impact of our engineering education, says Chrysochoou. This achievement motivates us to continue striving for excellence and to push the boundaries of innovation and knowledge.
Rankings continue to be an important measurement of a programs success and competitiveness, stresses Aida Ghiaei, Graduate Outreach & Diversity director, and an important asset in attracting top faculty and new students.
By achieving this ranking, we demonstrate that our efforts are yielding tangible results, positioning us as a competitive and respected institution in the engineering field, Ghiaei says. Being ranked alongside prestigious schools like Brown and the University of Arizona highlights our competitive edge and validates our strategic efforts to improve our program. This achievement not only boosts morale within our community but also ensures continued investment and growth, solidifying our position as a leader in engineering education and research.
More information about the colleges graduate programs can be found online.
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Voices of Women in Engineering – Design News
International Women in Engineering Day will celebrate its 11th year on June 23. This day of recognition was launched bythe UKs Womens Engineering Society (WES). The organization has worked for over a hundred years to encourage equality for women in engineering. Today the WES mission is to support women in engineering to fulfill their potential and support the engineering industry to be inclusive.
As for US employment of women engineers, progress has been slow. According to the Society of Women Engineers, the number of men and women working in life science occupations, such as biological sciences, has reached parity. Yet the percentage of women employed in engineering has increased slowly in the last three decades. In the 1990s women represented nine percent of those working in architecture and engineering. By 2023, the percentage of women professionals in those fields had grown to 16.7 percent, a stubbornly low percentage.
We reached out to women engineers in the US to get their view of the world of women in engineering.
Fern Yoon image courtesy of Texas Instruments.
Our industry has come a long way in how we support women in STEM, but theres definitely more progress to be made. So many women have supported and shaped my career and I hope to do the same by being the type of leader I needed when I started out on this path. Women belong in engineering, and it is important to recognize the impact they make in the field every day.
It's no secret that there are still notable barriers for women entering or staying in engineering. Despite progress toward greater diversity and inclusion over the past decade, women still make up less than 13% of the engineers in the US, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A critical step in fostering a more representative engineering community is through early education and encouragement. Organizations should aim to nurture the next generation of women engineers by promoting STEM education among young girls. This can be achieved through engaging activities and internship programs in corporate engineering settings. Additionally, organizations can enhance recruitment and retention of women in these roles by developing targeted strategies to attract more female candidates and focus on retention through ongoing professional development and supportive networks.
Along with attracting and retaining talent in the field, it is essential to prioritize womens wellness throughout their career journey. Flexible workplace policies and unwavering support can make a significant difference in retaining women in the tech industry and ensuring their success, especially as they ascend to leadership positions. Remember there is still so much more that needs to be done to highlight and uplift women in engineering. Companies seeking diversity must actively demonstrate and pursue it. When they do, the benefits are substantial.
Luz Geist image courtesy of Cubic Defense
As a female engineer established in my career, I have learned to embrace the good with the bad life lessons along the way, they made me who I am today. Fundamentally, to continue growing and learning, it requires challenging yourself and getting out of your comfort zone not for the certainty of outcome, but for the certainty that you will come out wiser. The value comes when one learns to harness those experiences to support other women striving to meet their ambitions. In todays fast-paced world it is essential to elevate other women around us, be a good role model and mentor. I always encourage learning from someone elses experiences, ask questions, push boundaries and take chances. Realize, YOU can inspire change, create a positive, diverse and supportive work environment.
Women in STEM careers have certainly grown since I became a systems engineer. However, women are still underrepresented in STEM occupations. Regardless of how inclusive and supportive a workplace is, the reality is there will always be more work to be done around fostering environments that enable women to succeed in STEM careers.
Furthermore, I would encourage organizations to take the opportunity to listen to female voices coming up through the ranks, create new initiatives that foster the growth of STEM positions. While I am thankful to work with a team and organization that supports these efforts, its important for business leaders to actively listen, incorporate and embrace new values from the top down.
By promoting and encouraging these values, women and organizations in STEM fields like engineering can authentically celebrate initiatives like International Women in Engineering Day.
As we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day, let's take a moment to honor the remarkable achievements of women engineers around the world. This day is not just about recognition; it's a call to action for gender equality in engineering. It's essential for everyone, regardless of gender, to create inclusive workspaces. Remote work is one way to allow for more flexible hours and benefit women tasked with balancing their family life and their job responsibilities. However, the responsibility to challenge the status quo doesn't solely lie with organizations: as women, we must also push beyond perceived limitations.
The key to accomplishing change is collaboration, and it should not be a solitary endeavor. Together, we can make a significant impact and pave the way for future generations of women engineers. Let's celebrate this day by reaffirming our commitment to equality, empowerment, and excellence for all in engineering.
Chrissay Brinkmann image courtesy of Leaseweb USA.
As a woman in STEM, I've faced the challenge of feeling the need to demonstrate my value and expertise alongside my male counterparts, something I think other women in my field can relate to. Thankfully, I believe that women have made immense progress in the past 15 years, with more and more women joining the tech industry without having to face the same difficulties that many other women, including myself, experienced at the start of their careers.
Everyone approaches situations uniquely and from my experience, gender parity in STEM provides diverse perspectives, enhances efficiency and facilitates creative solutions. A word of advice to girls and women interested in engineering: there are a multitude of programs to help you find your niche so do your research and remember, a career in STEM puts you at the forefront of technology.
Occupations like engineering and tech are no longer considered jobs specifically for men. I am very glad to see that women's interests in STEM are now being fostered instead of being deterred by what was considered a societal norm for women. While there is still a long way to go, strides have been made in ensuring that women have a place in the engineering field. Now we must continue to pave the way for the new generation of female engineers. Young girls need to see more examples of female engineers, they need to see their accomplishments be celebrated, and they need to know that this line of work can be so much fun.
Chen Webber-Kentor image courtesy of Zerto.
Now in its 11th year, International Women in Engineering Day serves as a reminder of the hard work and contributions that women engineers make every day but also to call attention to the gender gap in the engineering industry. Globally, women hold less than 30% of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs, but in my role as group product manager at Zerto, I have the pleasure of working with a diverse and talented team of engineers. As we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day, I reaffirm my belief that gender parity in STEM provides diverse perspectives and unique problem-solving approaches that lead to more innovative and balanced solutions.
My passion for engineering lies in its challenging nature and the creative possibilities it offers, and I actively encourage more girls and women to pursue this exciting field. Achieving gender equality in STEM requires a proactive approach: setting clear objectives, crafting opportunities, and imparting the significance of diversity and inclusion to all employees. Additionally, fostering an inclusive culture, where women have equal opportunities for career advancement, is key for an organizations success.
Young girls can be inspired to pursue careers in engineering by introducing them to STEM opportunities early on, fostering their interests through mentorship programs or clubs, and showcasing diverse role models in the field. For existing female engineers, employers can foster an environment where women feel comfortable leading by prioritizing respect and inclusivity. They can do this by implementing equal pay initiatives and being transparent with promotion processes to ensure fairness and opportunity for all employees. Additionally, they can implement a culture of zero tolerance for discrimination and open communication. These things will help create a supportive atmosphere where women can thrive in leadership roles without fear.
Deepika Gajaria image courtesy of Securin.
The STEM field has historically faced challenges in embracing new perspectives and voices. However, you possess the qualities necessary to thrive in this field if you have a passion for problem-solving, a curious mindset, a desire to make an impact, and a willingness to learn and network.
Within my own journey, the experiences and qualities I collected throughout my career have provided me with valuable insights that the technology industry and my organization values. Because of this, I am passionate about enabling more women and individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue their dreams in STEM.
Those willing to learn, build connections, ask questions, and tackle problems independently have significant opportunities to contribute meaningfully, no matter their background.
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Auburn Engineering graduate programs ranked No. 31 among public institutions by U.S. News and World Report – Auburn Engineering
Auburn Universitys Samuel Ginn College of Engineering was again recognized as a leader in higher education, ranking among the nations top public institutions in U.S. News and World Reports 2024 Best Graduate Schools.
U.S. News and World Report, which ranks graduate programs nationally each spring, designated Auburn Engineering No. 31 among public institutions when its annual list was released Tuesday, June 18. Auburn Engineerings graduate programs continued its upward trajectory in the annual rankings among public institutions, climbing 10 spots in the past five years.
Continued recognition by our peers in the academic community is a testament to the premier graduate engineering experience we offer at Auburn University, said Maria Auad, associate dean for graduate studies and faculty development. Each year, we invest significant resources and energy into hiring renowned faculty, developing exceptional student-support programs, building unrivaled facilities for cutting-edge research and providing new opportunities for experiential learning.
U.S. News and World Report ranks colleges based on peer assessment, recruiter assessment, faculty resources, doctoral degrees awarded, student-faculty ratios, research expenditures, acceptance rates and mean GRE quantitative scores.
Auburn Engineerings graduate programs were ranked No. 5 overall in the Southeastern Conference and, again, No. 1 in the state.
Select Auburn Engineering specialty fields of study also ranked among the nations best public programs. Biological/agricultural engineering (biosystems engineering) ranked No. 16,industrial and systems engineeringat No. 23,aerospace engineeringat No. 26,chemical engineeringat No. 29,civil and environmental engineeringat No. 34, computer science and software engineeringat No. 37, electrical and computer engineeringat No. 38, mechanical engineeringat No. 42andmaterials engineeringat No. 54.
Auburn Engineering is no stranger to high marks from U.S. News and World Report. The collegesundergraduate program ranked No. 30 among public institutions last fall, whileonline graduate programs were ranked No. 19 among all institutions in February.
Our consistent high ranking is a reflection of our hard-working faculty and everyone associated with graduate programs here at the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering as we continue to focus on producing work-ready job candidates and innovative research, said Mario Eden, dean of engineering. When students come to Auburn, they receive hands-on experiences both inside and outside the classroom, backed by expert faculty and unparalleled student support programs. Our alumni have long known this, but we are appreciative that our engineering peers recognize this too.
Prospective graduate students can learn more about Auburn Engineering, apply and schedule a visithere.
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Black Women HBCU Graduates Win Top Prize For Their Research In Material And Process Engineering Bringing … – AfroTech
Three Black women graduates have been awarded a top prize.
According to a press release provided to AFROTECH, Central State University (Ohio) graduates Myesha Burnette, Shawntae Thompson, and Baijing Zinnerman, have received accolades for their research in material and process engineering. They grabbed top honors during the Midwest Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) Student Competition hosted at the University of Dayton Research Institute in Dayton, OH.
SAMPE is a nonprofit organization and technical society that targets various areas of materials and processes (M&P), its website mentions. Among its initiatives includes aiding student chapters, providing information and forums, and offering scholarships and awards.
SAMPE provides growth and educational opportunities via conferences, exhibitions, technical forums, and publications. As the only technical society encompassing all fields of endeavor in materials and processes, SAMPE provides a unique and valuable forum for scientists, engineers, and academicians, information on its website reads.
Burnette, Thompson, and Zinnerman were recognized for their 12-page, peer-reviewed research paper with Dr. Alessandro Rengan, an associate professor of manufacturing engineering, leading the authorship. Their research centered on a critical element of polymer composite adhesion to metal, aiming to create a bond that is lightweight yet resilient. The Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students observed a strong bond between the polymer composite and metal after experimenting with lightweight aluminum.
Their findings can be applied to innovating the materials found in electric vehicles to enhance efficiency and performance.
This research comes at a crucial time, considering the burgeoning global electric vehicle industry, the press release read.
Thompson and Burnett were each awarded a $100 check and a free annual membership to SAMPE for their findings in April 2024, according to information provided to AFROTECH. Their work took two years to complete under the guidance of Rengan.
Zinnerman assisted Thompson and Burnett for their final two months of the study and was not awarded a monetary prize.
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SDSU Engineering Team Places Third and Wins Best Prototype Award at NASA Contest – mykxlg.com
{KXLG Brookings, SD} A South Dakota State University (SDSU) engineering team has made a mark at a NASA contest, finishing third overall and winning an award for building the best prototype. The team was one of 14 selected from 75 higher education entries to compete in the finals of the Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition held June 10-12 in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
This is the second consecutive year an SDSU team has qualified for the finals. The teams achievement is noteworthy as this is only the third time in the contests 23-year history that third place has been recognized.
Liam Murray, a mechanical engineering graduate student adviser for the team, said, The points were so close between Maryland and us that it came down to a judges vote. They knew we did well and invented a new suspension system, so they wanted to ensure we were properly recognized.
The SDSU team competed in the large-scale lunar crater prospector category, tasked with designing and building a rover capable of exploring rugged and permanently shadowed lunar south pole craters in search of water, ice, and other volatiles. The rover prototype, a little smaller than a go-cart, uses lidar and high-tech cameras to measure lunar craters' ground composition to locate ground ice.
The teams success is even more impressive, considering they finished ahead of teams from prestigious institutions such as MIT and Stanford. Murray expressed excitement about the prospects for the five mechanical engineering majors who made up SDSUs RASC-AL team. Three of them graduated in May and are returning to SDSU for a masters degree in mechanical engineering with an emphasis on aerospace engineering.
The team faced a significant challenge when their prototype, shipped in three packages, did not arrive as scheduled. Despite this setback, the team reconstructed the prototype in time for the judging session. The judges highly appreciated their dedication and engineering skills.
The most innovative feature of the rover prospector the team built is a double wishbone bogie suspension system. The students design is unique enough that they have submitted an invention disclosure, the first step in the patent process.
The 2024 RASC-AL contest featured many of the same judges as in 2023 and the same program coordinator. In 2023, SDSU won the lunar surface transport category by building a highly customized forklift. At the 2024 contest, program coordinator Pat Troutman admired SDSUs projects.
The RASC-AL team consisted of Delaney Baumberger, team lead; Alex Schaar; Dylan Stephens; Aiden Carstensen; and Braxton McGrath, with Murray as the graduate adviser.
Dylan Stephens, left, and Delaney Baumberger assemble their rover prototype during the early hours of June 11 in a convention center room in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The SDSU students needed to pull the late-night shift when the packages didn't arrive on their scheduled time.
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SDSU Engineering Team Places Third and Wins Best Prototype Award at NASA Contest - mykxlg.com
MIT graduate engineering and business programs ranked highly by U.S. News for 2024-25 – MIT News
U.S. News and Word Reporthas again placed MITs graduate program in engineering at the top of its annual rankings, released today. The Institute has held the No. 1 spot since 1990, when the magazine first ranked such programs.
The MIT Sloan School of Management also placed highly, in rankings announced April 9. It occupies the No. 5 spot for the best graduate business programs.
Among individual engineering disciplines, MIT placed first in six areas: aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering, chemical engineering, computer engineering (tied with Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley), electrical/electronic/communications engineering, materials engineering, and mechanical engineering. It placed second in biomedical engineering/bioengineering (tied with Duke University, Georgia Tech, and Stanford) and nuclear engineering.
In the rankings of individual MBA specialties, MIT placed first in four areas: business analytics, information systems, production/operations, and project management (tied with Carnegie Mellon University). It placed second in supply chain/logistics.
U.S. News bases its rankings of graduate schools of engineering and business on two types of data: reputational surveys of deans and other academic officials, and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a schools faculty, research, and students. The magazines less-frequent rankings of graduate programs in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities are based solely on reputational surveys. Among the 12 peer-review disciplines ranked this year, MIT placed first in computer science.
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MIT graduate engineering and business programs ranked highly by U.S. News for 2024-25 - MIT News
Malware peddlers love this one social engineering trick! – Help Net Security
Attackers are increasingly using a clever social engineering technique to get users to install malware, Proofpoint researchers are warning.
The message warns of a problem but also offers a way to fix it (Source: Proofpoint)
Getting users to install malware on their computers was always a matter of finding the right lure and bypassing security protections. As the latter get better (and broader) and users awareness of attackers usual tricks increases, threat actors must adapt their tactics.
One method that is getting increasingly popular is the fake error message, whether displayed by a website or when opening an HTML document delivered as an email attachment.
If the desire or need to see the webpage/document is great, many users will go through the outlined steps to install the root certificate, resolve the issue, install the extension, or update the DNS cache manually.
Although the attack chain requires significant user interaction to be successful, the social engineering is clever enough to present someone with what looks like a real problem and solution simultaneously, which may prompt a user to take action without considering the risk, the researchers noted.
A typical attack chain (Source: Proofpoint)
Various attackers including an initial access broker and at least one actor using leveraging fake updates have been using this particular trick since March 2024.
The visual lures and instructions change, but the goal is the same: get the user to run PowerShell and install malware (DarkGate, NetSupport, various information stealers).
In all cases, both via the fake updates or the HTML attachments, the malicious PowerShell/CMD script is copied to the clipboard via browser-side JavaScript, commonly used on legitimate sites, too, the researchers explained.
The legitimate use, and the many ways to store the malicious code, and the fact that the victim manually runs the malicious code without any direct association with a file, makes detection for these types of threats difficult.
If browsing protections and email filters fail to block these sites and emails, users are the last line of defense. Organizations should train users to identify the activity and report suspicious activity to their security teams, Proofpoint advises.
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Malware peddlers love this one social engineering trick! - Help Net Security
Talking sealants with Sunstar Engineering: Securing success – just-auto.com
The automotive industry uses a variety of sealants and adhesives within the car manufacturing process. These perform roles that vary from securing pieces together to ensuring seams stay put. One huge benefit of utilising sealants is cost and emissions reduction when compared to alternatives in some applications such as welding, which is a relatively costly and emissions-heavy process.
Sunstar Engineering works with automotive manufacturers worldwide. Its operations include a factory specialising in innovative lightweighting sealants and adhesives for the automotive market including special adhesives for electronic components. It says these components are helping automotive manufacturers create lighter, more durable, and efficient vehicles.
We spoke to Nicholas Huff, manager, new technology group, Sunstar Engineering Americas, R&D and Stephen Howe, senior director, technical operations, R&D, Sunstar Engineering Americas, to learn more about the benefits of adhesives as well as to discuss how they work with clients to achieve goals.
Just Auto (JA): Could you provide some background on the company?
Stephen Howe (SH): Engineering is a division of the general Sunstar company. Sunstar is a diversified company. We have business in oral care, health and beauty, chemicals, and motorcycle parts in construction.
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The chemical part and motorcycle and construction is in Sunstar engineering. Were about 35 to 40% of the of the business. Nick and I are in Sunstar Engineering Americas; most of our business is in automotive is supplying sealants and adhesives for OEMs. We also provide some materials to Tier 1 suppliers to the OEMs.
Nicholas Huff (NH): We are a very global company. We have our R&D facilities, sales, and manufacturing here in the US. We have similar set-ups in Europe and we have our Sunstar Engineering European group centred in Germany. We also have a very large group in Japan; our Sensor Engineering Japan group and manufacturing, sales, engineering over there, too. We also have a group in Thailand, and we have some offices in Singapore.
What benefits do adhesives bring to the automotive industry?
NH: Youll perhaps be surprised to learn that most automobiles now are really glued together, rather than just welded. That trend is increasing and it is being driven by changes in design to vehicles.
Lightweighting is a very critical area right now to improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Increasing the fuel efficiency of vehicles is a big focus and of course, the lighter vehicle, the less energy is required to move it.
Lightweighting is a very critical area right now to improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
Automotive manufacturers are employing many strategies to reduce the weight of their vehicles. It includes making use of alternative substrates. Instead of largely fully steel vehicle structures, there is now significant use of aluminium. But aluminium and steel dont weld together very well, you have to incorporate adhesives and thats where our business is certainly growing.
Adhesives also play a role in dampening noise and vibration in a car. As far as road noise is concerned, we can reduce vibration and associated noise with things like mastic adhesives especially useful with structural pieces that have damping capability. Theres also a comfort aspect there as well, where adhesives can play an important role.
SH: If you go back to the original vehicle manufacturer, adhesives and sealants have always played a significant role it has been increasing. You have a lot of joints in the cars when youre manufacturing cars. If you look on the inside of your car door, theres an inner and outer section, for example. If you look closer at your vehicle body, youll see the same thing. There are a lot of seams, and those seams provide an area where moisture and salt can get in and cause corrosion.
A really big part of the role of the sealants we have, alongside adhesives, is to prevent corrosion. They also play a big role in being able to use dissimilar materials because you cant really weld them all together. They also aid in distributing stresses. A problem with welds is they focus the stresses right on those weld points. With time you get a phenomenon called fatiguing. By distributing those stresses, you can prevent that fatiguing process.
It also decreases the cost to the car manufacturer as well, and aids in making assembling much more efficient.
How do adhesives and sealants assist in reducing carbon emissions and low energy manufacturing?
NH: In the automotive manufacturing process, depending on the design of the factory, up to 90% of the energy consumption in the factory comes from the weld and paint shop processes.
The process goes from the stamping area where metal is cut and then stamped into shapes. The shapes are welded and glued together. Then it goes through an anti-corrosion bath where a coating is applied onto the vehicle structure. That coating has to be cured, and to cure it, it goes through a series of ovens; those ovens consume a lot of energy. Then after that, it goes to the paint shop where sealants and other coatings are applied in addition to the paint. Then the body must go through yet another series of ovens and so there is a tremendous amount of energy thats used in those ovens, which cost the OEMs quite a lot to use.
These ovens consume a lot of energy and depending on the energy sources, much of it is coming from fossil fuels, so a lot of carbon dioxide is emitted to the atmosphere from that whole process.
To meet all these regulations that have come into place over the past few years to reduce carbon consumption, as well as to reduce energy costs, and reduce the cost of manufacturing, OEMs are looking for ways to turn down those ovens. Or even eliminate those ovens if they can. Its very important research that were doing right now. Were looking at taking our adhesives, our sealants, and our coatings and being able to cure them at much lower temperatures, or potentially finding ways to cure them without a thermal input at all.
SH: Our OEMs all have targets. Many of them are similar, but theres differences in the timing of when they want to achieve a lot of these goals. Some of it depends on where they are, of course. Energy is more expensive or more sustainably generated in some areas of the world than in others.
How do you work with OEMS to achieve their goals?
NH: Theres a lot of back and forth that we do between our research groups and the OEM research groups at their design centres. We feel out what their targets are, what their goals are, and then we as the material experts provide them with solutions and options.
Therell be a degree of tailoring of how we put together our material for their applications. This is a process that can take months or even years depending on the project, but thats how we like to approach those situations. Its a partnership, its a joint development.
SH: The way we like to work with customers, typically they will have specifications, a list of requirements. There are strength requirements, adhesion requirements, there are some application requirements, long-term durability requirements. However, we dont really know everything from a requirement list.
One of the things that we do is go into the customers assembly line and understand the requirements that arent written on the specification. In terms of the manufacturing process, if youre bonding through oily, dirty metal, that is something that has to be considered, and you have to understand exactly what materials the OEM is using and be able to test and design for that.
Theres a whole series of baths that the car will go through detergents, rinses etc. In some cases, theyll take a car, and theyll rotate it through a big bath. Now you can imagine if you have an uncured adhesive, this adhesive has to be fluid enough, with low viscosity, to easily apply at a very high rate, hundreds of millimetres a second application rates. At the same time, youre effectively sending this thing through a carwash and expect the adhesives to stay in place!
So, understanding the rheological [flow behaviour] performance, and what properties it takes to really withstand the manufacturing process is one of the bigger challenges.
The other thing is the curing. There is a temperature cure, and they want to lower the temperature. But one of the difficult things sometimes to design for is that there are some large variations in the ovens and in the temperatures. So, they will give you a target temperature, but they also want it to able to withstand different heats for longer times, and on top of that they want it to be shelf-stable for six months. There are a lot of unwritten, non-spec items that we have to consider and be able to work through with the OEM.
What do you predict to see growing in the automotive space and when?
NH: I think electrification comes with very specific engineering challenges. How do you make battery packs foolproof and completely safe? Theres a lot of opportunity there because in the manufacturing of the battery packs, there is a lot of adhesive encoding type material.
There are two real big areas emerging: one is for the actual thermal management of the battery packs, to make sure that they stay cool and theres not a runaway reaction. The other big area is for recyclability, sustainability. We have to think about the end-of-life of these battery packs and how they have to be disassembled. Theres not an easy way to do that right now with the latest generation of battery packs.
I think electrification comes with very specific engineering challenges.
The lifespans are ten years or so, which means battery packs that were made ten years ago were not being assembled the way they are now. Recycling and disassembly can be a dangerous process. We were talking to some research professors at the University of Michigan at their EV technical centre, and they were explaining to us what a dangerous process it is to recycle these large battery packs.
So a big push is for adhesives that can de-bond on demand. You apply some sort of energy, heat or maybe something else that will effectively de-bond the battery. Then you can have a much easier way to disassemble and recycle the various components inside the battery packs. Theres opportunity there.
The biggest thing that were focused on right now is low-energy carrying materials. That is a very big high priority for us, as well as providing more adhesive solutions in general.
SH: We are looking at carbon neutrality for the entire chain of the materials were presenting. There really arent any consistent or agreed upon ways to fully measure carbon neutrality and the carbon targets. So, as we go forward, were trying to keep abreast of that.
In terms of our research, and the research of our customers, you will see a lot more use of modelling and simulation. This is an area were very interested in. We have a role in terms of standardising how adhesives are tested and how the data from those tests is incorporated into simulations and modelling.
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Talking sealants with Sunstar Engineering: Securing success - just-auto.com
This Camper Van Is an Engineering Masterpiece With a Genius, One-of-a-Kind Design – autoevolution
All the camper vans I present to you here on autoevolution have something inside them that makes them stand out, be it the aesthetics or some cleverly integrated feature. But I seldom stumble upon a rig like the one I'm discussing today, packed with many genius amenities.
Meet Lex and his self-converted tiny home on wheels, based on a Ram ProMaster 1500 with a 136" wheelbase. It's challenging to make the interior livable when dealing with much larger rigs, so imagine what it's like to work with a living space this compact. Nevertheless, Lex came up with an extremely impressive setup. By the way, this rig is designed to accommodate two people, as Lex travels together with his wife.
There's not much to talk about regarding the vehicle's exterior. It's finished in white with black trim, and the only element that might give away its "camper DNA" is a bunk window at the rear, meaning it can definitely be used to stealth camp. Moreover, if you climb on top of the van, you'll find 800 W solar panels.
So far, it's a standard camper van build. But the real magical part of this rig is its interior. The first things that will catch your eye are the walls, which are finished with a sponge-pattern paint - Lex chose it since you can't see any scratches you make on it, which inevitably happen. Various wood accents and a vinyl-tiled floor complete the look.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Element Life
At first glance, it might seem like this is a simple DIY interior. But bear with me to see all the clever features Lex installed. Let me start from the front the driver's cabin doubles as a seating area, as its two seats can be swiveled, and there's a Lagun table behind the passenger seat.
Dead ahead of the entrance, you'll discover a storage area. Specifically, Lex fitted an overhead shelf and small counter integrating three drawers, a flip-up table, and a cabinet hiding this camper's toilet. It's a simple toilet made from a bucket with a plastic bag and a regular toilet seat above.
Lex created a footrest behind the driver's seat. It houses an Espar diesel heater he had from a previous van build.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Element Life
Next, we have the bedroom, which is comprised of two bunk beds. Lex chose this setup so that he and his wife could get out of bed during the night without bothering each other.
But here's the genius part about the bedroom the top bunk is mounted to the wall and can be flipped up to create more space if Lex wants to haul more cargo. In addition, the bunk can also be flipped down - together with the lower bunk, they make a couch, with the top bunk serving as a backrest. It's a clever and space-saving solution.
On the opposite side, Lex devised a kitchen. It features a deep sink, a spacious countertop that can be extended via a flip-up table, a large fridge/freezer box, a single-burner induction stove, and a multi-functional Cuisinart Griddler. For storage, Lex utilizes a wall-mounted storage bag, a long overhead shelf, and multiple drawers.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Element Life
Lex vacuum-seals all the food in bags and then uses the Griddler to cook it by setting it to the same temperature as boiling water. Amazingly, with this setup, Lex can carry food for two people for two months. Moreover, he also does sous-vide in a thermal container heated by an immersion heater.
There's never enough storage space in a camper van. And in a small van, it's even more important to use every inch available. So, Lex installed toe-kicks and three drawers under the lower bunk bed, as well as a compartment that houses the rig's batteries.
This mobile home's electrical system is very capable. Its highlights are a 1,500 W inverter, an MPPT charge controller connected to the 800 W solar panels on the roof, a DC-DC charger allowing the batteries to charge via the vehicle's alternator, and 540 Ah batteries. What's more, Lex saved a lot of money by setting the batteries up himself instead of purchasing pre-packaged ones, such as those from Victron or BattleBorn.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Element Life
Lex made his camper van four-season-ready by using three layers of insulation. Specifically, he added two layers of Thinsulate separated by Low-E reflective insulation. For the floor, he used half-inch plywood set on top of a commercial bed rug, which was laser-cut to cover the grooves of the van's original floor perfectly.
All in all, I'm in awe of what Lex has managed to create all by himself. He surely must have an engineering background, as well as a lot of talent.
Despite its size, his tiny home on wheels is filled with useful features. It might not look as good as other fancier builds, but considering its creator's fine craftmanship, this rig will probably outlive them.
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This Camper Van Is an Engineering Masterpiece With a Genius, One-of-a-Kind Design - autoevolution