Austin Weber

The Big Three dropped a bombshell at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. All three automakers have announced major green initiatives that will spur lithium-ion battery production.

Several weeks ago, I urged Congress to consider funding a domestic battery manufacturing program as part of its multibillion dollar auto industry bailout plan (see “Batteries Not Included”). Several lawmakers are urging their colleagues to include advanced battery manufacturing as part of the $800 billion economic recovery bill that’s expected to be signed into law next month by president-elect Obama.

Orthopedic device manufacturers have developed “gender knees,” which accommodate numerous shape differences between the average male and female knee, such as narrower shape and thinner density.

Knees are one of the most complex types of orthopedic implant to manufacture. Artificial knees must accommodate a range of motion up to 120 degrees, allowing them to naturally bend and rotate.

Medical engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have coated a titanium implant with a new biologically inspired material that enhances tissue healing, improves bone growth around the implant, and strengthens the attachment and integration of the implant to the bone.

For artificial implants to be successful, bone must meld to the metal that artificial hips, knees and shoulders are made of. A team of engineers at Brown University have discovered that bone cells are more apt to adhere to a rough carbon nanotube surface than other surfaces.

The number of hip and knee replacement surgeries performed in the United States has skyrocketed over the last decade. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), there will be a 101 percent increase in hip replacements and a 550 percent increase in knee replacements between now and 2030.

Waterford Wedgwood PLC, which manufacturers two of the world’s most famous brands, has just declared bankruptcy. Even more shocking, the 250-year-old Anglo-Irish manufacturer of fine crystal and pottery has shifted much of its production to Asia to slash manufacturing costs.

To meet unprecedented demand for artificial hips, knees and other types of implantable joints, many orthopedic device manufacturers are attempting to adopt new types of materials, improve productivity and shorten time to market.

They’re considered playthings, but they’ve launched the careers of generations of engineers. The Erector set and its English cousin, Meccano, are the ultimate assembly toys. They allow users to design and build a wide variety of machines, structures and vehicles. Many engineers trace their mechanical roots to the day when they first set eyes on an Erector or Meccano set.