My wife and I are mad birders. Our passion has taken us to remote corners of the globe in search of rare and beautiful birds. But, birding trips often come with strict limits on the size and weight of luggage, so we’ve learned to pack judiciously. Do we really need X? Can we do without Y?
Planning our most recent expedition made me think of the automotive industry. ASSEMBLY has been running many articles on lightweighting lately. OEMs are implementing new fastening, welding and bonding technologies to cope with a host of new, lightweight materials. In some cases, OEMs are completely rethinking the design of the body, frame, power train and even the electrical system. If the width of a flange on a metal part can be reduced to save a few ounces, that’s a victory.