At the beginning of 2020, Hervé de Malliard, CEO of systems integrator MGA Technologies in Civrieux d’Azergues, France, observed the first signs of the COVID-19 crisis.

Steel has been, is now, and will continue to be the predominant material for vehicle structures and body parts, such as doors, hoods, liftgates and fenders. But, other materials, such as aluminum, magnesium, plastics and composites, are becoming increasingly important.

Validation causes more headaches for medical device manufacturers than almost any other stage of the production process. For companies certified to ISO 13485, validation is always a costly and time-consuming undertaking, regardless of whether a new process is being set up or an existing process is being transferred.

Adhesive bonding and ultrasonic welding are widely used for assembling thermoplastic medical devices. Which to choose depends on a number of considerations.

Plastic clips and fasteners are becoming increasingly popular in the automotive industry. They are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and quick and easy to install.

Many automotive engineers have nightmares about noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) issues. Ironically, one of those pests, vibration, is widely used to assemble many types of plastic auto parts.

Though simple in design, the oil pan is a vital part of a vehicle engine's lubrication system. It is typically made of steel and contains a rubber gasket that prevents the oil from leaking.

Rosti Group is a global injection-molding company and contract manufacturer to some of the world’s leading manufacturers in the packaging, consumer appliances, business machines, home automation, medical and automotive sectors. Once Rosti’s engineers receive the customer’s 3D product data and specifications, the clock starts ticking. What do Rosti engineers look for in a plastic part design? What are some common ways that Rosti engineers optimize parts? What are some common mistakes that engineers make when designing plastic parts? How does the intended method of assembly influence part design? Get answers to these questions and more in this exclusive interview.