Apple today posted a new job listing for Manufacturing Design Engineer
with a focus in Advanced Plastic Tooling and Process. According to the job
description, Apple is looking to expand and improve its current plastics
division.
Identify,
develop and launch new tooling and process capabilities in support of new Apple
product developments. Areas of focus will be "non-traditional" Apple
plastic processing such as thermoforming, foam molding, blow molding, etc., and
their application to new Apple products. The successful candidate will have
demonstrated history of bringing new process and tooling technologies through a
full development cycle and launch into high volume production.
Though Apple has
focused heavily on aluminum for the iPad, the iPhone, and the MacBook line for
the past few years, the Cupertino-based company has continued used plastics for
the Apple TV, the Airport Extreme, keyboards, and other accessories.
Recent rumors
have suggested that Apple is working on a low cost iPhone that will be constructed primarily of plastic. The iPhone is said to be a
hybrid of the iPhone 5 and the iPod Touch, with a plastic enclosure.
A new hire
specializing in plastics is unlikely to be involved in the design of the low
cost iPhone, given that it is rumored to be released later this year, but the
open position does support reports that Apple is focusing on novel uses of
plastics for upcoming products. [MacRumors]
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