The designer who is considering using a laminate for a particular application should always bear in mind the fact that the material has a laminar structure and therefore has different strengths in different directions relative to the layers. It is therefore essential to ensure that the correct section of material is chosen, so that the laminations lie in the best direction to deal with the stresses involved. Even where components are not required to withstand any load in use, machining to produce the component itself causes stress. Lack of consideration for the structure of the laminate can lead to fracture during production, handling or transit.