Apple launched most advanced iMac yet. It’s just 5mm thin at its edge with up to 40 per cent less volume than the previous generation. To do all that required unprecedented feats of engineering — and imagination. Apple invented new technologies, pioneered new manufacturing techniques and devised all-new ways to do more in less space.
The enclosure is so thin, it’s not possible to weld the pieces using traditional methods. Apple used friction-stir welding, which is commonly used on airplane wings, rocket booster tanks and other parts that simply can’t fail. This process uses a combination of intense friction-generated heat and pressure to intermix the molecules of the two aluminium surfaces — creating a seamless, precise and super-strong join. You may not see it, but this iMac wouldn’t be possible without it.
Apple iMac
