Editorial

摘要

Anyone with an interest in the manufacturing sector will know that this business is, potentially, on the cusp of a new phase of development. New manufacturing forces are emerging in developing regions, established hubs appear to be stabilising in certain developed economies like the US, and the rise of both automation and data-driven technologies are ushering in a transition in operations. The Internet of Things (IoT) in particular promises to deliver a leap forward in machine evolution, from decentralised control and modular manufacturing to equipment monitoring. It is true to say, of course, that it is not all plain sailing in the manufacturing business of 2016. Type manufacturing' into any search engine and you'll likely face a mixture of outlooks, many of which describe a 'still recovering' market. But economic, regional and application growth are all understood to be on the horizon-with the cutting and welding sector side of the business at a crossroads of change.