Light-weight materials with the strength of steel! In a perfect world, reach would never exceed grasp and pigs would fly, but, realistically, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky.

Philosopher I am not, but as the quest for efficiency reaches new heights, aluminum and composite materials are called upon to meet the demand. No longer considered exotic, titanium, too, is becoming more popular. Magnesium, once touted as the “metal of the future,” is rarely mentioned because of its propensity to return to its source, seawater, due to corrosion.

How can we afford to change manufacturing proto...