Editor’s note: This post was originally published on December 6, 2017 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Technology is at the forefront of the engineering industry, as businesses race to be leaders in innovation and offer the latest, cutting-edge products.

With the power to transform the industry, technology introduces innovative ideas, makes jobs safer and more efficient, and unlocks key insights with data.

Because of this, design engineers continually strive to foresee upcoming trends and capitalize on current leading trends.

Below, take a look at five top technology trends design engineers should keep top of mind.

It was 1961. John F. Kennedy was just sworn into office, gas cost 27 cents per gallon, and the Unimate 1900 series became the first mass-produced robotic arm for factory automation.

Industrial robots have come a long way since George Devol and Joseph Engelberger first surfaced the idea in 1956. Today, over 1.8 million operational industrial robots exist worldwide, and experts anticipate this number to reach 3 million by 2020.

So, why are more and more businesses integrating automated machines into manufacturing processes? Below we make the case, with four reasons to consider using industrial robots in your warehouse operation.

Have you ever been inside a facility and noticed long metal beams across the ceilings and walls?

Those are called Z-sections.

Z-sections are common structural components used for support. These steel struts are typically roll formed because they are used in construction, transportation and manufacturing industries where accurate dimensions are required.

Solar is booming.

The cost to install solar energy systems dropped more than 70% in the last eight years. Falling prices and increases in consumer demand put pressure on engineers, as well as manufacturers, to take solar to the next level. In 2017, we saw more residential installations, utility photovoltaics (PV) and innovative panel designs. But, that was last year. Here’s what’s in store for 2018.

This post was originally published on December 7, 2016.

High volume production, in-line processing and lighter, quality outputs make roll forming an ideal solution for many metal fabrication projects. In fact, roll forming is all around us. The grocery store shelf your gallon of milk came off of, the tracks that open and close your garage door, and the channels that slide your car seat forward and back are all, more than likely, products of roll forming.

This post was originally published on April 15, 2015.

Should you press brake or roll form? It’s a big decision with multiple factors to consider. Ultimately, the decision comes down to what fabrication method will yield the desired quality for the lowest overall cost. 

Whether you’re ready or not, the agriculture industry is changing. From genetically engineered foods to new harvesting technology, agriculture professionals are finding fresh, innovative ways to work more efficiently. So, what’s next for the industry? Below are three of the top trends impacting agriculture in 2018.

What you don’t know could be costing you half a million dollars each year. 

Chamberlain had been making the straight and curved arms in its garage door design the same way for years. But section modulus studies and finite element analysis revealed opportunities to cut material content—by 55%.

Automation is everywhere we look. The once futuristic idea only seen in movies like iRobot and WALL-E is now a part of our everyday lives. We have self-driving cars from Tesla and automated vacuums we call Roombas. In fact, 8.2 million people have conversations with a black cylinder named Alexa.

Automation isn’t coming; it’s here. It’s in our homes, it’s in our streets, and it’s even become an integral part of warehouse operations across the world.

In manufacturing, there is no one-size-fits-all method for accurate forecasting.

Facing uncertainty and unique production specifications, managers must take several factors into account before forecasting any sourcing or manufacturing needs.

Below, we provide three ways manufacturers can ensure more effective forecasting to reduce costs and optimize production.