Product News

In August 2023, Elizabeth was inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame for Service to Industry. She spoke with Sonya Murphy for AMT. AMT: What were your initial thoughts when you received the Honour Roll at the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards this year in Melbourne? Elizabeth Lewis-Gray: I was expecting to have been nominated for a regional manufacturing award, or the women in manufacturing award. As the night went on, those awards came up and I wasn’t nominated for them. Then I thought maybe it was the medium manufacturer’s award, but soon realised I hadn’t been nominated for that either. I looked at the program and came to the realisation that I was up for the top gong for the night. It was an exciting, and very special night shared with my husband, daughters,…

Best described as a customer-centric business, Western Australian manufacturing company, Vekta Automation has grown to become one of the most trusted automated machine suppliers for the timber frame and truss industry – both locally and beyond our borders. In 2007, Mechatronics Engineer (and Vekta Automation Managing Director), Ed Serrano spotted an opportunity in the Razer – a linear saw developed for the timber construction industry. After securing the rights to purchase the Razer and its IP, Serrano set up Vekta Automation from an unpowered shed on his Beckenham property. He worked to improve the functionality and performance of the Razer and to reduce the costs associated with its operation. “We were taking on a failed product with a terrible reputation. Every time one of these machines was built, it was done so at a loss. This was a major challenge for us – to spin that around and change the reputation of our core product. But we did it and it has been a hugely challenging and satisfying process,” Serrano said. In addition to the constant innovation of products,…

AXT has built a portfolio of products to suit the demands of industrial and academic customers looking to take their additive manufacturing beyond the limits of domestic systems. Catering to polymer, metal and ceramic 3D printing, we have systems that offer levels of precision superior to filament printers as well as imaging and analysis tools to verify the quality and accuracy of what you have produced. Using DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology, Miicraft 3D printers exceed the limitations of filament printers, producing parts with higher resolution (39µm) with excellent uniformity and surface finish. Boston Microfabrication (BMF) go a step further enabling you to fabricate components with resolutions down to 2µm using PµSL (Photo Micro Stereolithography) technology. Their systems combine ultra-high resolution, accuracy and precision. For the ultimate in polymer 3D printers, the UpNano NanoOne 3D printers allow you to print parts with resolutions down to 170nm. Their 2PP (2 Photon Polymerisation) technology dispels the myth that 2PP printers sacrifice speed for resolution. For those looking to print with metals, Aconity 3D offers modular tailorable laser powder bed fusion systems with printable…

For the steel construction industry, automation and process efficiency are crucial to meet high-quality standards with rapid and certain responses. FICEP, a global leader in automatic steel processing, addresses these needs by offering the combined system featuring the Valiant drilling unit and the Katana band saw. The VALIANT drilling centre VALIANT represents the latest evolution in Ficep's drill line range. VALIANT can position the beam and perform all programmed processes without the need for repositioning. The new extended sub-axis spindle positioning enables simultaneous drilling on all three surfaces even when the holes are not aligned. It can be equipped with three automatic 14-position tool changers, one for each spindle, which provide superior performance and a significant reduction in cycle times. VALIANT automatic systems can be supplied 'stand-alone' or combined with the KATANA band saw system. KATANA has a closed-loop feedback, making it one of the fastest in the market. KATANA can perform high-quality cuts up to 60° mitred cuts in both directions. KATANA is integrated with an automatic unloading device with a magnet that allows the processed short pieces…

Koenig brings you a range of quality and affordable fibre-cutting machines, for metal sheet and tube cutting, press brakes, as well as metal fibre marking, combination metal/non-metal and standard non-metal CO2 laser cutting machines. Our LF60M is our 3-axis tube cutting machine, with optional 5-axis upgrade, making tube cutting faster, simpler and more affordable than ever before. Streamline your production, and get fast and accurate results with a Gweike tube-cutting fibre laser. Don’t waste time drilling and cutting by hand, no more wasted stock! Come and see it cutting in action at our stand today! Ask about the LF60MA with automatic loading and LF60MS with its three-chuck system. The LF3015GA Pro fibre-cutting machine is the king of the show. With a fully enclosed 3.0x1.5m cutting bed and rear exchange table, you can easily unload/reload stock while the machine continues to cut, saving on overall production time. With a built-in airconditioned electrical cabinet this compact unit will slot into your factory in any Australian climate. Talk to Koenig about their different power options and models from 0-30kW and the high-quality BOCI…

One of the most transformative aspects of Techni Waterjet's journey has been its electric servo pump technology innovation. Techni Waterjet’s groundbreaking developments have ushered in a new era of waterjet cutting, with a focus on sustainability and efficiency. By introducing electric servo pumps, Techni Waterjet has not only reduced energy consumption but has also made waterjet cutting more eco-friendly, aligning with the global movement toward 'green' technology. This year marks a significant milestone for us as we proudly celebrate 35 years of manufacturing excellence. To commemorate this achievement, we are excited to offer a special promotion – a turn-key system at our best price ever, exemplifying our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction." Extraordinary OEM installation, service, and support worldwide While Techni Waterjet's technological innovations have garnered international acclaim, it's their exceptional OEM installation, service, and support that sets them apart in the global waterjet market. An unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction extends far beyond the manufacturing stage. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges and demands of the Global Waterjet market, Techni…

Anthony Albanese has made a major speech in Brisbane where he outlined the creation of a Future Made in Australia Act. The Prime Minister has said on Thursday at the Queensland Media Club, that Australia needs to stay in the global race for jobs. This is legislation that centres on using subsidies to boost domestic manufacturing and guarantee more local jobs. This package covers new and existing projects in Growth Industries like clean energy, batteries, and critical minerals. But this is not a new idea. Massive taxpayer subsidies are on offer to private companies in countries like the US with their Inflation Reduction Act, and also with the EU, Japan, and Korea, even Canada. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in his speech that Australia needed to sharpen its elbows and offer these incentives or risk losing entire industries overseas. This will be a key part of the PM's pitch for a second term in government with an election now around 12 months away. The effort would be consolidating existing efforts under one banner, which included the Hydrogen Headstart, the…

Despite all of the time, money, and effort invested into ERP systems many manufacturers are still using Excel and other manual methods to manage production. It’s not that the software is bad, the software does exactly what it was designed to do – use a finite capacity scheduling algorithm to schedule production. It is understandable that if you are giving your ERP system inaccurate information, it will produce bad outcomes. So the natural tendency is to focus on improving the detail and accuracy of the information. Chaos Theory, often described as the ‘butterfly effect’ tells us that in complex systems, small changes can lead to vastly different outcomes. To say it another way, there are many variables and everything cannot be precisely known. To summarise the traditional approach, we Plan by running a capacity loading algorithm (Scheduling Program), which generates priories for the shop floor typically in the form of a Work To List. These are then sent out to production to Execute.  Often production looks at these priorities generated by the computer program and comments, “They look a lot different…

Novarc Technologies Inc. is a full-stack robotics company, specialising in the design and manufacturing of cobots and AI-based machine vision solutions for autonomous welding. Novarc will be bringing its Spool Welding Robot (SWR) - the world’s first of its kind in pipe welding applications, to Australian Manufacturing Week. Visitors will be able to see first-hand how Novarc’s SWR increases productivity, delivering superior weld quality and improving welder ergonomics. Novarc’s SWR helps fabricators needing to transition from manual welding to an automated solution, to significantly lower the cost of welding, while achieving superior weld quality.  Being a ‘cobot’, Novarc’s SWR works alongside the human operator, allowing lower-skilled welders to work collaboratively with welding robots in the fabrication shop. The result is welding with greater precision, accuracy and speed, and a never-before-achieved balance of quality and productivity. From a safety perspective, Novarc’s AI-driven welding control technology also delivers the lowest airborne, energy consumption, and metal waste during the fabrication process. Novarc’s full stack customised automation solution significantly reduces the welding…

Registrations are still open for Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2024), held at the ICC in Darling Harbour in Sydney. AMW2024 will occupy more than 6,764 square metres of exhibition space at the ICC, with over 270 organisations taking stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. On Wednesday 17th April, AMW2024 will be officially opened by NSW Government Executive Director Maroun El-Khoury, and Brendan Kerin from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council doing a Welcome to Country presentation on the Future Solutions Speaker Session stage. AMW2024 will provide a platform to explore new technologies, meet industry leaders, and witness cutting-edge innovations in manufacturing, all available right now. After registering to visit AMW2024, you can log in and tap through to My Show Planner. The My Show Planner online tool has everything you need to make the most of your three days at AMW2024 in Sydney. My Show Planner is the AMW2024 visitors-side view of Map Your Show. You can connect with Exhibitors online, set up appointments and plan your time so you don’t…

Sutton Tools, the Australian family business renowned for its high-quality precision cutting tools, will be back at Australia’s premier advanced manufacturing and machine tool exhibition this year showcasing their range of high-performance tooling for a wide range of specialised industrial applications, focusing on both the Australian made content and the best we have to offer from our international agencies. Sutton Tools team of local and international experts will be on hand to walk visitors through their range of high-performance tools, their diverse offerings to the CNC machining industry, and their customer service and technical support. The exhibit will feature a range of Sutton Tools offerings, plus agency products from Walter Tools, SupplyPro, Cimco, and the Hoffmann Group, just four of the many agencies Sutton Tools now represents. Sutton Tools A selection of Australian-made solid carbide milling cutters and solid carbide drills up to 30x diameter with internal coolant in addition to Australian-made tapping solutions in all size and style variations. Sutton Tools can provide local and secure supply chain solutions for all your tooling needs. Walter Tools With around…

Fishbowl is an inventory management solution that provides features and functionality for small to enterprise-sized warehousing and manufacturing businesses. Fishbowl performs inventory management tasks such as: Barcoding, Serial number and batch tracking, Advanced bill of materials and work orders and has Seamless accounting integrations with Xero, Intuit QuickBooks Online, and Reckon Accounts. “Managing inventory involves numerous tasks and components that all need to work in harmony on a continuing basis to produce the desired results,” said Fishbowl APAC Managing Director, Simon Jupe. “Most businesses start small and with very manual processes, but to take your business to the next level, you really need to have the right tools and the right automation to help you scale appropriately,” he said. “Our software solution provides our clients with granular visibility into their operations, efficiency to streamline and grow, and flexibility to customize today and in the future, all at a fraction of the cost of other ERP systems on the market,” Jupe said. There’s a lot more than just functionality to consider when deciding to take on an inventory management…

Kaeser Australia’s new CSG.1 rotary screw compressors have air flow rates ranging from 4 to 15m³/min and pressures up to 11bar. Customers are offered the choice of air- or water-cooling and can select an optional integrated refrigeration dryer or an i.HOC (Heat of Compression) dryer. The CSG.1 can be specified as a fixed speed, fixed flow rated machine or, for applications with fluctuating compressed air demand, variable speed controlled ‘SFC’ versions are available with IE5 Ultra-Premium Efficiency synchronous reluctance motors. The risk of potential product contamination by oil from the rotary screw compressor is evaluated and minimised using an HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) analysis. Process validation is made easier for the customer, as KAESER’s diligence is confirmed by the TÜV Rheinland in the form of a residual oil class 0 certificate by ISO 8573-1. The CSG.1 has also been certified according to ISO 22000:2018, which covers the manufacture of food and beverage equipment. To further formalise the supply chain’s integrity, customers can also option the CSG.1 with Pharmaceutical, Food or Engineering Industry…