NMT Blog is Alive!
Finally, we have gotten something started. Though the site is basic, I think we have gotten enough attention to start discussions. So what’s the fuss about? What’s NMT? Well, for starters it is called NANO MOLDING TECHNOLOGY, simply a bond between metal and plastic. Bond you say? Yes Bond. NMT Bond. Nano Bond. Not James Bond! Not double sided sticky tape, not super glue, not some middle adhesive substrate. It’s direct plastic injection onto aluminium (for now - more studies are being done on other metals) into the nano pores of the metal bringing about the togetherness of 2 different materials previously thought impossible. The video in the main page says it all. The strength test results are good. (See more on tech specs)
But just think of the applications. From both product point of view, and manufacturing processing point of view. As a manufacturer, the immediate applications thought out by several clients was to apply NMT to mobile phone cases, digital camera cases, audio casing etc… You get the picture. It’s all about the casing. (for now!) Basically having the cosmetics and aesthetics from the aluminium finishings with the plastic clippings at the back for easy assembly. Better still, less CNC time on the aluminium. You could achieve the same results with one simple plastic injection. Resulting in less materials, less time, easy assembly = cost savings. And in today’s global economic crisis that speaks alot.
But how about products? Well, for one the immediate thoughts are cosmetic aluminium finishings can be better achieved now that before. Imagine no screws, rivets. I was in Tokyo recently and walked into the Apple store there and saw the Mac-Air. Nice design, slim, but I saw the aluminium notebook having screws on the back housing to attach the notebook altogether. Ahhhh - If only they knew of NMT. The Mac-Air could be even slimmer, easier to assemble and use less material.
Recently I have been getting queries on automobiles, medical devices, home appliances, consumer electronics and am working with them hoping to bring about a change. A change in which we think about design and about manufacturing process. Right now, designers and manufacturers are only touching on the surface of NMT. Because they are only thinking of what NMT can replace current products, or compliment current products. And here lies the missing keys. What NEW thing can NMT bring? What is it that NMT can bring to the world we otherwise could not enjoy?
Well, just a thought, one discussion I had with a designer, they thought of NMT’s waterproofing ability. Maybe something new can come out from this.
Till later!
