Beyond Omniseal® Blog

Manufacturing has grown tremendously over the last few decades, with worker output per hour increasing 2.5 times since 1987 and productivity estimated at about 1.7 times higher, says the National Association of Manufacturers. The global economy is said to be experiencing reinvestment in manufacturing and trade, with a resurgence in the U.S., China, and other countries. China remains at the top; however, the U.S. can take this spot if they focus on transformative manufacturing technologies within their products and processes. 

Progress, innovation, growth, industrialization—just a few of the benefits that have kept companies focused on the race to space. The global market for space exploration was $383.5 billion U.S. worldwide in 2017 according to The Space Foundation, with a 100 percent increase in the total number of spacecraft deployed.  By 2040, it is expected to grow to $1.1 trillion U.S. says Morgan Stanley, with many looking towards moon exploration because of its strategic location, critical minerals and water supply.  Space has become one of the most lucrative industries globally per Research and Markets “Global Space Industry Market and Technology Forecast to 2026." 

With the aging population—and individuals aged 60+ expected to increase from 962 million in 2017 to over two billion globally in 2050—and increasing demand for quality health care, the manufacture and use of many medical products and devices are on the rise. These trends are fueling demand for more advanced, smaller, lighter-weight medical equipment that require advanced parts that are reliable, proven and can withstand rigors of use to enhance quality of life. 

Autonomous driving, fuel efficiency and electric driving – three mega trends that are converging on the automotive industry and are likely to forever change it. The global market for Autonomous Vehicles, for one, is expected to grow from USD 3.6 billion in 2015 to an over 26.2% CAGR to 2027. While electric vehicles may have been only one percent of new car sales in 2017 (2.8 million compared to 1.5 billion oil-fueled cars on the road), they are expected to reach 36 million by 2025 and comprise 30% of vehicles by 2040, says IHS Markit. 

In the manufacturing and industrial field, having a reliable energy source to generate power and perform functions can make or break a business. This is why compressor air systems are a critical part and imperative for both small and large-scale businesses. Just how important are they, and what can happen if they are not working effectively? An estimated 30 to 50 percent of energy used in a compressed air system is wasted during operation. 

Another year has passed with many global memorable moments that were seen, heard and felt around the world - from the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea where Norway ended up cheering the loudest with the most medal wins at 39; to the Royal Wedding that 29 million Americans watched; to discovery of a 20 km-wide lake on Mars’ south polar ice cap by our friendly rover friend, Curiosity. 

The holiday season is here, which brings memorable moments, good cheer and the perfect time to share Omniseal Solutions’ sealing and polymer tales of what our teams have been up to this year. Our first tale takes you to the coolest of distant planets that may someday be home.  Our second takes you to magical places that never shut down while our third tale takes you through medical breakthroughs that improve lives.  Our fourth tale takes you on a safe and comfortable road trip no matter the weather conditions.  Our last tale ends with a look at a greener and brighter future.  

As we head into the end of 2018, we can’t help but recognize the many accomplishments revolving around space exploration that have kept us fascinated and pondering the question of “what next?”  From NASA celebrating a legacy that spans 60 years in which they have kept true to their mission “to reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn will benefit all humankind” to SpaceX’s combination of “cool Tesla car and cool Falcon Heavy rocket" that was sent into orbit to the Curiosity rover discovering organic molecules on Mars' surface, this year has indeed been one of distinction, discovery and breakthrough.  There are many dedicated people who have believed in pushing our limits and going beyond the stars to learn more about distant planets and deep space.  As astrophysist Neil deGrasse Tyson aptly said, “Ever since there have been people, there have been explorers, looking in places where others hadn't been before. Not everyone does it, but we are part of a species where some members of the species do—to the benefit of us all.” 

Since the invention of the first automobile “powered by a gas engine” in 1886 by Karl Benz, traveling by car has become a central part of our lives. According to a Harvard Health Watch study, an average person will spend about 38,000 hours driving a car in their lifetime. When we get into our vehicle, we automatically adjust the seat position, head restraint and steering wheel ... all done to make our ride as comfortable and safe as possible. It’s no wonder that automobile manufacturers are taking note to improve driver comfort and safety as important selling points since consumers are spending more time not only driving but also sitting and waiting in traffic. 

It’s officially autumn/fall and for many that means crisper weather, colorful foliage and a period of transition from summer to winter. This changing of the seasons is not only the perfect time to look ahead to 2019, which is right around the corner, but also to look back on several key events in 2018 that have us moving in the right direction for our space, life sciences and industrial markets.