CONTENTS
Welcome
First off, happy new year to our readers! As we all return to our offices, factory floors, workshops and design studios, now is a good opportunity to look ahead at what to expect across the engineering landscape for the year ahead. 2024 was all about AI, electrification and sustainability, and 2025 is likely to follow in much the same vein. Sadly, the climate crisis remains
as hot a topic as ever for the year ahead. Innovations in material design are continuing to produce lighter and more efficient parts (page 27), as well as improve the energy efficiency of vital components (page 30). 2025 is likely to bring a greater focus on circular economy processes for new and existing materials (page 32) and see even more ambitious projects to reduce the impacts of climate change on the planet (page 42). Electric vehicles (EVs) will
remain a key part of this endeavour, with novel design approaches to EVs (page 6) becoming more even more vital to increase adoption of the technology. Advances in new battery technologies and designs (page 10) will be important here, as will new manufacturing processes to speed up the production of EV components (page 12). Industry events (from page 44),
such as the upcoming Southern Manufacturing and Electronics show in February, and JEC World in March, will continue to provide crucial technological insights, and knowledge-sharing from across the engineering sector. One thing is key as the new year dawns: We all have an important part to play in the transition towards net zero.
Hayley Everett Editor
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Skye’s the limit Blending form and function to design a sophisticated multi-terrain EV
AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN
Better batteries Discussing the latest innovations in LFP battery design
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Breaking the mould How a new rapid moulding technology is speeding up production
Aluminium alternatives Oliver Partridge explains why machine shops are 3D printing their jigs and fixtures
www.engineerlive.com
JANUARY 2025 16
18 21
Laser-focused Expelling excess heat from LPBF 3D printing processes
INSTRUMENTATION • ELECTRONICS
Under pressure How barometric pressure sensors are ensuring accurate and reliable measurement
Ultrafast signals Introducing a new series of ultrafast arbitrary waveform generators
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