14 DAY TRIAL // After spending 14 years building carbon fiber bicycles at Kestral Bicycles, Kevin Kenney, an expert in the material, has been hired by Apple as Senior Composites Engineer. Cupertino is expected to start producing carbon-fiber shells for its portable devices, including the iPad and the MacBook Air.
It has been revealed that Kenney has been working indirectly with Apple for years.
Specifically, the man’s name can be found in the inventors list for a carbon fiber patent filed by Apple in 2009 and published in 2010.
It is believed that Cupertino has been secretly collaborating with Kenney to develop high-class cases for its products.
Apple upholds in the patent application that plastic enclosures tend to be relatively inexpensive and simple to manufacture. However, these may get easily damaged under relatively low stress.
Other electronic devices have metal housings, yet metal may be heavier and/or more expensive to manufacture than an equivalently-sized plastic casing, albeit more durable.
What was proposed was a “housing for an electronic device or other object formed from a fiber-in-matrix material.”
While Kenney’s hiring is now confirmed, but Apple is yet to make an official acknowledgement.
As noted by 9to5mac, which dug up some of the man’s skills, Kevin Kenney is not just a materials engineer with a background in aerospace.
He also has his way with management and supply chain logistics, according to the blog.
His skills include:
- 20 years experience in design and manufacturing high performance consumer products using composite and other advanced materials. - Established reliable and competent global supply chain for design and manufacturing of high performance consumer products. - Developed custom manufacturing processes for volume production of advanced composite products.
Specialties
- Global logistics, purchasing, planning,and supply chain management - ERP implementation - Full P&L responsibility - Created benchmark consumer products.
While the next iPhone may not have Kenney’s touch, the next version of the iPad or Apple’s upcoming MacBook laptops may well revolutionize the way electronics are encased.