Manufacturing & Prototyping

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Molecular Machine Could Lead to More Efficient Manufacturing

A chemistry team at the University of Manchester has developed a highly complex machine that mimics how molecules are made in nature. The machine is just a few nanometers long and can only be seen using special instruments. Professor David Leigh explains, "The development of this machine which uses molecules to make molecules in a synthetic process is similar to the robotic assembly line in car plants. Such machines could ultimately lead to the process of making molecules becoming much more efficient and cost effective. This will benefit all sorts of manufacturing areas as many manmade products begin at a molecular level. For example, we're currently modifying our machine to make drugs such as penicillin."