Design to Disassemble

Electronic waste is a growing problem in many parts of the world. One region that has taken steps to rein in waste is the European Union, which has set tough new standards with the intent of creating a so-called circular economy where old products become the building blocks for new ones. To see how this proposal would affect mechanical engineers, Núria Boix Rodríguez and Claudio Favi looked at mechatronic products, which combine mechanical and electronic components. Boix Rodríguez, now a postdoctoral researcher at KU Leuven in Belgium, discusses the role mechanical engineers could play in designing machines that can extend their service lives through repairability.