In a world increasingly concerned with making the most of its natural resources, maximising efficiency is fast rising to the top of the list of goals of every product designer. The aim is not just to manufacture a product in the most efficient way possible in order to maximise profitability, but also to ensure the product itself works efficiently.

Image Credit

The aerospace industry is a great example of a business sector that is constantly pushing back the technological boundaries, chiefly in a bid to reduce weight. The lighter a plane or rocket can be, the less fuel it requires and the less it costs to use. Estimates from Virgin Atlantic say that reducing a single pound of weight from all the aircraft in their fleet would result in the company saving more than 500,000 gallons of fuel each year.

Weight Savings

Potential weight savings mean that the aerospace industry is increasingly looking towards 3D printing technology. The latest Airbus A350 XWB has more than 1,000 parts that are 3D-printed. Airbus plans to continue investing heavily in 3D printing and hopes that, by 2018, the average weight of its aircraft will be reduced by more than a ton as a result.

The increased efficiency brought about by the introduction of 3D printing mirrors a drive for efficiency in other manufacturing sectors. Electronics design, for example, is an area where efficiency is of paramount importance. Superior components, such as toroidal transformers, offer a number of benefits, including reduced size and weight and lower levels of electromagnetic interference. Advances in manufacturing mean that the cost of such components is falling to the point that they are becoming more widely used.

Custom Components

As a leading supplier of toroidal transformers, bobbin wound components and associated assemblies to the aerospace, medical, railways, satellite and general electronics industries, Siga can supply a wide range of standard and custom components for a broad range of applications, and in doing so, enhance the overall efficiency of many products.

The rise of the Internet of Things has also provided manufacturers with another way to increase profits by reducing waste and improving efficiency. As more and more systems and devices are able to connect with one another, production systems are becoming smarter and more integrated, ultimately benefiting manufacturers and consumers alike.