This article pertains to a new manufacturing process discovered by a group of Engineers from "Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology in
The blast of energy found to be so useful in destruction now shows great potential for altering many manufacturing processes. a process already used in manufacturing for forming soft metals was modifeied by the group. "Verena Kräusel and her colleagues performed their trick by beefing up an existing electromagnetic-forming machine." The goal was to produce a machine with enough distortion power to punch a hole through solid steel. They accomplished that goal and were able to put a 30 mm hole in 1mm thick steel.
The process could be compared to a punch currently used in industry today. Although punching out holes in metal is very fast, "the tearing action at the edges of the holes leaves ragged, sharp tailings, known as burrs. This means that parts stamped out this way have to be cleaned up, usually by hand, which increases production costs."
The impact that an improvement like this could have on our society would come mainly in the form of speeding up and eventually lessening the cost of metal forming production. Less man hours would be needed to de-burr metal pieces and that entire step whether by machine or by hand could be eliminated from many processes in manufacturing.
Just like any improvement or advancement in industry, it has the potential to eliminate the need for some jobs. Some jobs would likely be created in other areas, likely on the development side of things for the new process and the evolution of the machines themselves.
Main Article:
http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15268879
EMP info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse
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