Editorial

 The revolutionary 4-seater (the first Pipistrel aircraft that is not classified as ultra-light and belongs to the general aviation) is an all composite design, featuring a retractable undercarriage, 200 kts cruising speed (the never exceed speed is 220 kts), 1000 NM range and a spacious and comfortable cabin. The real revolution is a modular powerplant design, offering the buyer three different versions – conventional, hybrid and fully electric. It is the first aircraft in the world offering a choice like this. 

 The company that brought three-dimensional scanning, optical measurement system and computer processing of measurement data to Croatia is celebrating its 10. anniversary. The company operates in an ecosystem of three companies forming the 3D grupa cluster, which aims to improve the quality of manufacturing in the whole region.   

 For some time, lean manufacturing has been the focus of discussions about the efficiency of manufacturing companies. Operating without waste, meaning without unnecessary and useless work, and with as low consumption of material and resources as possible, is by all means a goal understandable to anyone who wishes to be better and more successful than the competitors. However, the realisation of lean manufacturing goals also needs to be measured and evaluated. The effects of improvements according to the lean manufacturing methods can only be verified and evaluated after they are deployed. It turns out some »improvements« really do not improve anything. Analysing the existing state and verifying the measures in a digital environment even before they are employed can contribute significantly to the realisation of lean manufacturing goals. Planning new or improving the existing manufacturing or logistic systems establishes a balance between the requirements and limitations, which must be fulfilled by the existing system and improvements. 

 The automotive industry and its suppliers are the largest consumers and the driving force for the development of assembly, material handling, robotics and machine vision technologies, taking more than 50 % of the market share. Automation is the key to their success. The AUTOMATICA 2012 fair will take place at the new Munich fairgrounds between 22 and 25 May 2012, presenting the latest trends in the automotive industry, including light structures, new automation solutions, e-mobility and solutions for flexible manufacturing. 

 The selection of materials in the lighting industry depends on several factors, but above all on the thermal exposure of the product during the operation. Using materials transparent to infrared light or having a higher thermal conductivity reduces the product temperature, enabling the use of materials with a lower thermal resistance. The article presents two case studies: the application of PES Ultrason E2010 grade in infra-red transparent black colour for a fog light, and the application of a thermally conductive thermoplastic for a LED-lamp cooler. 

 In-Mold-Labeling – three-dimensionally molded films and two plastic components for a part measuring 380 x 250 x 50 mm. A project involving the radio/CD control panel for Ford C-Max placed high demands on the mouldmakers and film manufacturers. The result can now be seen in automobile showrooms. What can be done, if a project comes up that is slightly too large for one's own machine park? When Foliotec GmbH received an inquiry in April 2008 for the control fascia panel for the new Ford C-Max, it soon became clear that a part sized at 380 x 250 x 50 mm was well beyond the dimensions of any other part the company had previously refined with a film coating.   

 Metrology is a science that is omnipresent in our everyday lives. But when we ask ourselves where exactly we can find it, we may quickly discover that this is a question not so easily answered. Our first thought may be about the procedures for measuring quantities such as the mass, length, volume, temperature and others. But metrology is much more than just measuring the basic quantities. As John Quincy Adams declared as early as in 1821, measurements are our companion in the everyday life, they are crucial for the industry, indispensible for trade exchange, and a scientific foundation for the physicist, philosopher, archaeologist or architect. The knowledge about measurements is one of the first elements of education, also learned by those who never learn to read or write. This article gives a broad presentation of significance of metrology in the human development. 

 Open innovation is an important step forward from own development departments and joint projects with partners and universities, as it also incorporates customers, suppliers, a wider circle of companies and even web communities. In order to be successful, companies must innovate and respond flexibly to the demands of the current dynamic markets. Innovation that may change the world can be found anywhere - in the heads of the employees and customers, in faculty and university projects, or in research institutes. The companies need the latest results of basic and applied research, so they are establishing new research partnerships. They are increasingly making use of open innovation, opening their own laboratories and sharing the knowledge with the outside world. 

 The ICT branch is becoming increasingly integrated with the industry, as modern technologies make sure that manufacturing companies, service companies and other companies are doing business faster and more efficiently. This year's CeBIT, the largest computer fair on the old continent, reveals that this cooperation will be upgraded in the future. The largest technology leaps in the previous years are found in mobile technologies. A couple of years ago, these technologies covered mainly speech communication between individuals, but the image of today's mobile segment is completely different.   

 Vast global markets are constantly transforming the business systems. Proactive activities for improved productivity think up new markets, adopt new business models and processes, and segment the users into new groups. The survival and the progress are interrelated. Although most innovations are not successful, a long-term risk due to not innovating exceeds the risk of innovation. The data from the European Patent Office's annual show report the number of patent applications has increased by 10 % during the last five years. 

 The 22nd international sheet metal working technology exhibition EuroBLECH 2012 will take place from 23 – 27 October in Hannover, Germany. The event is renowned as the leading trade exhibition for this industry sector. The current booking status and the exhibitors' forecasts reflect an important stabilisation of the sheet metal working industry. Seven months ahead of the opening of the exhibition, a total of 1235 exhibitors from 38 countries have already booked their stand space, covering a net exhibition space of 83.000 square meters.