Guo Dongming. (COURTESY PHOTO)

By GUO Dongming

Extreme manufacturing refers to the forefront of the manufacturing field, where persistent challenges exist that contemporary science and technology struggle to overcome. Since Zhong Jue, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, first introduced the concept of extreme manufacturing in 2003, its implications have continued to evolve alongside sci-tech advancements.

Launched in 2019, the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (IJEM) became the first journal to specifically address extreme manufacturing science and technology in the world. Serving as a hub for experts worldwide, IJEM concentrates on manufacturing with extreme characteristics, fosters communication across disciplines, and promotes multidisciplinary integration and innovation in the frontiers of extreme manufacturing.

Publishing cutting-edge research

IJEM keeps pace with international trends in sci-tech development, maintains close ties with leading research teams and facilitates the widespread dissemination of their breakthroughs.

For example, in addressing the significant challenge of conducting rapid non-destructive testing at extremely high temperatures in aerospace, metallurgy and various other fields, academician Jiang Zhuangde's team from Xi'an Jiaotong University first achieved temperature measurements up to 1,200 ℃ using a flexible thin film sensor in 2022, breaking the limits of existing flexible temperature sensors.

To ensure the rapid dissemination of this significant breakthrough, IJEM assisted the authors in refining their manuscript before submission and offered a fast track for peer review.

Driving revolution in manufacturing paradigms

Extreme manufacturing in today's world indicates utilizing advanced manufacturing technologies and high-end equipment to enable the fabrication of extreme-scale, high-precision, and high-performance structures, devices or systems, as well as scientific lab equipment that can simulate extreme physical environments or conditions.

It involves multidisciplinary fields, including machinery, materials, optics, physics, chemistry, mechanics and mathematics, integrating the fundamentals and applications of a pioneering and exploratory nature. Recognizing the crucial role that leading journals play in advancing disciplines and driving technological innovation, IJEM organizes conferences and special issues.

For example, acknowledging the importance of high-performance manufacturing in meeting the significant high-performance demands for high-end equipment and components, IJEM has organized international academic webinars on this critical emerging manufacturing concept, supported by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST).

IJEM has also organized a special issue with publications from esteemed institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University and Dalian University of Technology. From foundational theories to manufacturing techniques and performance assessments, this collection investigates significant advancements and future directions for extreme manufacturing.

Furthermore, the journal advocated for promoting high-performance manufacturing through policy recommendations submitted to the CAST.

Serving manufacturing academia

Extreme manufacturing remains abreast of trends and pioneers new frontiers. Cooperating with leading institutions, IJEM established the Extreme Manufacturing Institution of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, aiming to consolidate academic resources, bridge industry-academia gaps, and advance extreme manufacturing.

Additionally, a series of IJEM conferences have been arranged, and collaboration with other prestigious international conferences such as the International Manufacturing Conference in China has been maintained. These forums are dedicated to exploring cutting-edge manufacturing topics, where global scientists convene to discuss advancements.

Furthermore, the academic platform provides a channel for recommending experts to contribute to the manufacturing roadmaps addressing manufacturing frontiers and significant demands.

Today, the advancement of both our society and standard of living requires us to delve into this new world. Serving as the editor-in-chief of IJEM is both a great honor and a significant responsibility.

Guided by fellow researchers worldwide, IJEM endeavors to improve the journal's service quality and scholarly impact, contributing to the advancement of manufacturing and broader scientific and technological progress.

The author is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing.

Journal Review

Innovation in manufacturing technology has brought new tools, products and discoveries, thus promoting the progress of civilization and the development of society. Human beings have never stopped pursuing further exploration, and various extreme environments have put forward new requirements for manufacturing technology.

Oriented to the forefront of manufacturing fields, including extreme conditions, environments and materials, IJEM has broken the boundaries of disciplines, providing a new communication platform for researchers worldwide who are committed to pioneering extreme manufacturing technology and integrating science, technology and engineering. By publishing the most pioneering and exploratory research, IJEM gathers wisdom of global scientists, promotes the progress of disciplines, and drives manufacturing innovation for the future.

Since its inception, its influence has steadily grown, with its impact factor increasing year by year. IJEM has now established itself as an important journal in the realm of manufacturing technology.

    ——Shen Zhesi, researcher at the National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Sciences.