Editorial

Samo Petrič 

 Instruments for microinvasive surgery are becoming increasingly complex and the reprocessing of such instruments presents quite a challenge. Intuitive surgical leads the way with its DaVinci system.
DaVinci is a high-tech robotised microinvasive surgery system, using a 3D-endoscope and three robotic arms (EndoWrists™). The arms hold different surgical instruments and can be replaced during the surgery. About 3000 such systems are operating around the world, 2000 in the USA and 400 in Europe. The instruments are designed to be used ten times and their complexity poses a big challenge for the reprocessing process. Reprocessing means preparing the surgical instruments for reuse after the surgery, and the process includes cleaning, thermal disinfection and sterilisation.

 Lajovic Tuba embalaža, d. o. o. belongs to a group of Slovenian companies with the longest tradition. Milivoj Emil Lajovic, one of Slovenian metalworking and packaging industry pioneers, founded a metal product factory in 1925, which started to manufacture tubes, bakelite seals and raw material for rolled products – ingots and round blanks. Before World War 2, Lajovic's company developed in parallel a packaging program and products for the metalworking industry, a tradition that survived to this very day despite the many technological innovations. 

 A couple of months ago the news were full with stories about a London skyscraper which happens to create local hot spots on nearby objects on a sunny summer day around noon. The hot spots cause overheating of car components, melt bike seats, make tiles fall off building facades and rugs to ignite, while some pranksters even use concentrated solar radiation to fry their eggs.
We are talking about a 37-storey skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street in central London, which is going to measure no less than 136 metres once it is erected. The skyscraper was designed by world-famous Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly, known for his bold architectural solutions. It was its shape that earned the skyscraper popular names Walkie-Talkie and The Pink. The construction costs will exceed 240 million euros, and the planned conclusion of works was shifted from 2011 to 2014.   

 Responding to customer needs for faster and more efficient automated pressroom stamping lines, DE-STA-CO introduces the Accelerate Collection line of lightweight tooling.
Accelerate is the world’s lightest standard line of end effectors. "Our customers told us that they need to increase their production speeds in order to stay competitive," explains Rob Pitera, DE-STA-CO global product director for end effectors. "But you can’t just speed up a line that is equipped with traditional components, because the tools will bounce and put undue stress on the automation, leading to greater wear and tear and machine downtime. 

 The composite industry is rapidly evolving. Only a decade ago, composites were an exotic topic, but today there are many different technologies and materials available, and composite products are finding ways into our everyday life. Their main advantages are low weight and excellent stiffness.
Composites are generally a quite broad field. Our company deals with the manufacturing of ultra-light products using carbon fibre fabric. Other composites include glass fabric, innegra, diolen, kevlar and similar aramides.   

 PROMOTECH (Schalchen, Austria) specializes in multi-functional housing components for sensors in automobiles. One example is a combined rain, light and moisture sensor for motor cars.
Every modern car is equipped with an abundance of electronic systems to enhance both safety and comfort. One such sensor is the rain/light/moisture sensor. The housing incorporates seven infrared rain detectors and two lenses to measure the ambient light level. Its housing consists of three different types of polycarbonate. Material number one is crystal-clear PC for the two lenses which measure the ambient light (to activate vehicle lighting) and the headlamp light of oncoming traffic (to control automatic dimming). 

 Twelve years ago, a Laserline diode laser was used for the first time in automotive body-in-white (BIW) series production. This initial application was the brazing of the tailgate of the Audi A3.
The most common application of diode lasers in the automotive industry is still brazing. Within the current manufacturing process of the Audi A3, diode lasers are still used to braze the tailgate and the roof. Today, diode lasers are used not only in brazing but also in welding and cutting BIW applications. Damjan Klobčar 

 "We are aware of our responsibility for safe operation of our power plant and follow the principle of social sustainability of our activities." These lines address the visitors of Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK) website, informing them about the power plan's two crucial attributes: safety and safety. Safety always comes first and there are a lot of processes related to safety executed daily in the power plant, from observing criteria to rules, laws, procedures ...
Safety assurance is also sacred to Igor Fifnja, head of quality assurance department in NEK and an employee of 21 years. More than five billion kWh of electric power come out of NEK every year, approximately 40 percent of total electric power production in Slovenia and an important share in the power supply of Slovenia and Croatia. Petra Bauman 

 EuroMold 2013, the World Fair for Moldmaking and Tooling, Design and Application Development, in the year of its 20th anniversary gathered extremely positive responses from trade experts, both visitors and exhibitors.
A varied selection of exhibits and services, interesting forums, special exhibitions and conferences at EuroMold drew a positive response from the domestic and international public. With 58,673 visitors from 83 countries, the number of people visiting the trade fair this year exceeded the already high value of the previous year. The number of exhibitors at 1,056 was also exceeded compared to the previous year.