New Manufacturing Process for Next Generation MacBooks?

One of the rumors making its way around the web concerns a new Apple product called ‘Brick.’ Speculation ranges from a new version of Apple TV to a new laptop or tablet device.

One of the more recent uses of the code name ‘Brick’ is for a new manufacturing process that takes a slab (or brick) of aluminum and mills it in one piece to become the chassis for a new MacBook.

This type of manufacturing could produce a MacBook with no seams and no screws. Business Week is currently reporting it as a possible way to both create a new, clean design and save Apple money in the long run.

Milling blocks of aluminum is not an uncommon manufacturing process. Depending on the product being produced, standard milling techniques, or the use of water jets and laser cutters, can be used to remove the unwanted material and form the finished product.

Normally this type of manufacturing is used on limited runs or prototyping, but it could very well be used in mass production. A single process that eliminates many of the usual steps in building a laptop’s chassis would be an advantage for Apple. It would also reduce the types of materials needed to just one, which could result in significant cost savings.

Could this be the new product that was mentioned in last quarter’s financial results? If you remember, there was to be a new product with large associated R&D or production costs, which would reduce profits for the upcoming quarter but in the long term, would provide significant benefits to Apple.