The robots are coming

With the new generation of robots, many productions are now returning from countries where they had relocated to take advantage of the low cost of labor.

The companies of countries such as Germany where new technologies (robots and the like) are already being used in an ever more massive,  are bring back in Europe the productions a time delocalized in Asia.

The Europe as a whole is experiencing this new revolution. The companies no longer need cheap workers but robots and specialized technicians.

And about Italy...

Here, the main obstacle to the adoption of such equipment is definitely the stunting of our companies. New technologies require massive capital investments. But this is not the only obstacle, the increased automation through the use of robots in manufacturing processes is a great revolution in the organization of companies.

And it needs for greater cooperation between all the resources of the factory, among the various internal and external functions and the same machinery.

But it is a challenge that Italy despite the delays than the Germany can not possibly losing. 

It must quickly recover lost ground by bring back or creating  new productions, at the same time create new jobs for all those highly skilled young people who will be able to remain in Italy, instead of emigrating to other countries. What great loss for the whole country ... if the best young boys (and girls) must go away.

Some consideration about my work and work of millions of other researchers like me

The following considerations though refer to my personal life it can easily be extended to any researcher. An architect who is studying the best way to build a palace, an engineer who trying to improve the efficiency of an engine, an electronic expert who studying a new lighting system ....

During the years I gained knowledge on how to formulate blends and compounds based on thermoplastic polymers. My business took me to meet many such polymers PE, PP, ABS, PC, PS, PA6, PA66, PBAT, PBS, PHA, PLA ... and many additives eg antioxidants, light stabilizers, slip, release agents, mineral fillers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, wood fibers ....

I have always regretted myself feeling inadequate my knowledge on various materials as a result of the fact that over time I kept changing polymer, additive, reference ..... and never having the opportunity to specialize myself on a particular topic. In the past I thought to this point as my big problem, until I did not become aware of the fact, that I do not need to know "everything" on a particular subject but it is enough to have the mental resources to go to fill the holes when this becomes necessary.

Therefore, if at a certain time of life, I need to make some products based on PP, I am able to know what are the parameters I must to know and where to look. The melting point, the crystallization point, the resistance to the impact, the flexural modulus ... etc.

Sure I constantly repeating to myself that I have never achieved the specialization in a particular topic and I am never be able to have complete knowledge in any area. But this is precisely the fundamental error, even spending years and years to studying and working on a particular polymer, or on a particular class of additives, nobody will never be able to have access to all the knowledge on that particular subject. This also because even as I write these few lines thousands of people continue to study and to expand our own knowledge in the field in which I would like to know everything.

Now seems to be unavoidable the use of big computers that are able to read and analyze thousands of article, books, magazines in near real time and thanks to the development of artificial intelligence are also able to propose solutions or make accurate predictions.

But even these monsters of knowledge have their weak point: the need to constantly acquire new knowledge made available by thousands of researchers around the world continue to produce articles, books etc.

I often wondered to myself what will be my future work (and what will be the work of thousands of others researches like). If between 15-20 years we will be supplanted by super computers. If companies will need simply to subscribe for access to a super computer (like Watson) and do without all those thousands of researchers, developers, who by their silent work continue to make improvements (often small) to all materials, medicines, objects that surround us and with whom we come into contact every day.

I'd like to know your opinion on this topic, as always I leave you the link to my EMAIL .

The homemade soap

A few days ago a friend of mine, knowing my passion for things done in the house, asked me how to make soap. So before I give her the recipe I wanted to experience it firsthand. The proven satisfaction to make soap made with your own hands has no value compared to the commitment necessary. So I decided to share with you, as well as with my friend the procedure I used to make soap.
(If you decide to try  this enterprise you also, please be careful with caustic soda, use the right protections in order to avoid unpleasant and dangerous accidents.)
At this point you just need to click the link and start your adventure. 

 Now it's your turn        2°versione

A thought for a friend

During a battle, two brave knights seeing that the result of the battle was going badly for their part, decided to protect their backs to each other. They stood back to back, doing so they won their personal battle: they saved their life.
This is the secret of those friends, that when they face the hardships of life, they choose to ally themselves with each other to solve the current difficulties......

Sicily

The inhabitants of the Emirati Arabi Uniti have managed in less than 25 years, to trasform one of the most inospitable places in the world (a piece of the desert) in one of the most desirable locations in the world (Abu Dhabi). A place that rich peoples, corporations, etc. are willing to pay thousands of dollars. They are willing to pay more than 8000 dollars per square meter for appartaments of no particular value. The arabians were very abled to do this.

We Italians, have some of the places that for the last 2500 years were been among the most desired. People from many nations (Arabian, French, Spanish, Norwegian, ecc.) made wars, invasions, etc. to live there, es SICILY....and now?

Although Sicily is full of landscape assets, evidence of glorious past, a very desirable climate, vine, food, ecc. There are not many people willing to go to live there. There are not a lot corporations ready to make big investments there....

I believe that this simple consideration, should make us, as Italians, to reflect.