The Journal of Engineering Manufacture provides a focus for developments in engineering manufacture, covering technological and scientific research, developments and management implementation in manufacturing.'My priority as Editor is to ensure that the Journal of Engineering Manufacture remains at the forefront of international efforts to disseminate scientific advances and new knowledge arising from high quality manufacturing engineering research.We welcome papers in any aspect of engineering manufacture from manufacturing and assembly processes, to production machines and manufacturing systems. From time to time we also publish special issues on particular topics, either new emerging technologies or very sharply focused aspects of current manufacturing research.' Professor Paul Maropoulos, Aston University, UKThis journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).