June 15, 2022

OKUMA expands service and support for QLD customers

Okuma Australia has been expanding its service and technical support for its current and ever-growing list of Queensland customers in line with the Okuma business Monozukuri philosophy – ‘the art of making things better’. With modern new Queensland premises in Hamilton and a growing team of four engineers and technical support personnel, each with a passion for Australian manufacturing, Okuma Australia is well placed and committed to advance its strong market position in Queensland. Northern Regional Manager for NSW & Queensland, Sydney based Steve Norbis, has more than 30 years in the industry. Steve leads a team of eleven in New South Wales and Queensland and his passion for the industry filters down through the entire team. “We currently have a broad range of advanced technology machine orders in hand and a growing level of enquiries in the pipeline,” said Steve Norbis. “The new team appointments and expanding branch structure will ensure that Okuma’s solid presence in the Queensland market is maintained and supported thus enabling our Queensland team to maintain the level of service our customers currently enjoy and have…
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June 15, 2022

VALO expands in South Australia, bringing manufacturing back onshore

VALO, which is targeting domestic and international markets in premium stadium lighting, will use Kent Town to ramp up production, bringing its manufacturing back onshore and centralising operations in its new, carbon-neutral facility. Founder and CEO Aaron Hickmann said VALO had grown its local staff from four to 15 over the past 12 months and was rapidly growing. The company has invested heavily in research and development, plant and equipment – including surface mount technology and an assembly line, VALO is ready to manufacture its most advanced lighting systems in Adelaide. “Having production move back onshore will allow us to increase employment in South Australia and provide economic benefits for the state in an emerging advanced manufacturing industry,” Hickmann said. “VALO is future focused and we’re constantly researching and developing smart lighting products which will improve sustainability, reduce carbon footprints and provide significant benefits to wide-ranging communities,” he added. “We’re accelerating the use of disruptive technologies, not just in premium sport stadium lighting, but also in street lighting, and producing cutting-edge,…
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May 25, 2022

Shot peen surface finishing and blasting technology

In the midst of a pandemic in 2020, the pursuit of continuous improvement and growth didn’t stop for the Aerostructures team at RUAG Australia, with decisive action taken to upgrade manufacturing machinery at its hydraulic centre of excellence in Bayswater, Victoria. RUAG Australia are dedicated to maintaining the quality of all equipment and machinery to continue providing high quality service to customers. The fully integrated automated shot-peen system is one of the largest of its kind used in Australia for Defence and Aerospace applications. The system uses blast media whereby small steel beads impact the target surface to create a compressive stress layer on the surface, leading to improved durability and structural integrity, so the substrate is better able to withstand failure. The typical components to be manufactured using the shot peen machine include air frame components, hydraulic landing gear actuators, undercarriage components and structural components for military aircraft. The RUAG Australia engineering team approached international experts in surface finishing and blasting technology, Rösler International (Rösler) to upgrade their shot peen machine. Rösler worked closely with…
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May 23, 2022

The Kraftech3000 is the precision profile cutting machine

Plasma beamlines, profile cutting machines, robotic welding systems, Eagle Lasers: at Kraftech they do it all. Their automation technology experts have the experience and expertise to tackle even the most challenging automation applications. They can tailor their equipment specifically to customer’s requests yet keeping it standardised for versatility. Kraftech want to create the most effective solutions so that their customers can maximise their productivity. Kraftech offers full support and training for all systems to make sure that customers are not only up and running fast but utilising the equipment to its potential. All Kraftech’s equipment is backed by in-house servicing and supply of cutting consumables and spare parts. The X-calibre robotic plasma coping robot provides you with a single machine that can process all your structural steel profiles. It can process up to 1200 I-beams, 200×200 angle, 380PFC, 400 SHS, with a piercing capacity up to 60mm. The robot cutting path is generated by a specialised offline programming and nesting software that accepts 3D models in DSTV-NC or Step formats to minimise…
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May 23, 2022

CIVAN – a new high power laser for better welding

Compared to traditional thermal welding processes, laser-based techniques require less heat input due to the beams’ high energy. All welding methods involve melt-pool formation and subsequent rapid solidification, which can alter the properties of the welded metal. The high energy of laser welding, however, not only melts the material but also evaporates it, creating a vapour capillary in the material called a ‘keyhole’. This gives laser welding the advantage of a very high aspect ratio, defined as a high ratio of penetration depth to weld seam width. Compared to thermal welding methods, which generally provide wider and shallower weld seams, laser welding’s high aspect ratio translates into potentially lower part distortion. To meet the demands of modern manufacturing CIVAN has developed a High Power Single Mode Laser with dynamic beam. This innovative product enables different beam shapes, beam steering, and fast movement of the focal point, all electro-optically controlled with no mechanical movement. For example, CIVAN’s unique beam shaping allows uniform penetration in aluminium welding with…
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May 15, 2022

Harnessing the value of data: calculating KPIs

The message is clear: to be successful in a turbulent market, manufacturers must digitalise. However, collecting data alone isn’t enough. To gain true value from digitalisation, manufacturers must analyse the data collected. They can do this by calculating KPIs, which are measurable metrics that help businesses focus on what’s important. KPIs can track and analyse equipment performance to identify inefficiencies and improve future process runs.   Overall equipment effectiveness Arguably the most fundamental KPI to calculate, and therefore the best place to begin, is overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), which measures an asset’s level of productivity. Some KPIs can be a single measurement, but OEE is actually a combination of multiple measurements. It’s essentially three KPIs in one: availability (A), performance (P) and quality (Q). A × P × Q =…
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May 14, 2022

Have you considered the benefits of bar peeling?

Operations include the removal of surface layers of oxides, rolled contaminants and cracks caused by hot forging or rolling. This is mostly done in carbon steel, alloy steel for heat treating, tool steel, stainless steel and heat-resistant alloys. The advantages of peeling in comparison with turning are higher productivity, less consumption of inserts, excellent roughness quality and high dimensional accuracy. Bar peeling inserts are generally mounted in two ways, either using a screw through the centre hole of the indexable insert or via a top clamp mechanism. Using a screw through the insert distributes the forces in axial and radial directions at the same time, leaving more room for chip evacuation. Clamping from the top significantly reduces the time to flip the insert and is more user-friendly. This is because it only takes a few turns of the clamping screw to loosen it, allowing for faster indexing of the cutting edge. Dormer Pramet provides a range of cutting tools specifically for bar peeling applications. Its inserts, within the Pramet brand,…
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May 10, 2022

ISCAR – To hold effectively

Toolholders were designed for mounting cutting tools reliably. They also facilitate the torque transmission from a machine spindle to a rotating tool. It has been a long time since we have heard of any significant changes in toolholding, which may suggest we are behind in innovation. Indeed, well-established tool clamping principles, the need for wide interchangeability and unification, and normalised designs of machine tool adaptations have resulted in well-defined standards, which specify detailed toolholder parameters. However, this doesn’t mean that new innovations and development is over. Time puts new demands on machining, which has transformed to new requirements for machine tools, and, consequently, to cutting tools and toolholders – both elements of a chain that enables recognition of machine tool capabilities possible when a machining part of a surface. The toolholder relates to the most “conservative” link of the chain and has undergone fewer revolutionary changes for the noted reasons. Nevertheless, the spirit of the time and modern trends in metal cutting has…
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May 9, 2022

OMAX unveils OptiMAX, its most advanced waterjet ever

The OptiMAX is OMAX’s most advanced waterjet ever. The culmination of three decades of OMAX engineering expertise and real-world operator experience, it is designed for manufacturers in need of a versatile, easy-to-use cutting system. It offers OMAX’s intuitive software for optimised cutting capability and power, along with improved automation to maximise uptime. Companies can complete a greater range of work, more efficiently, and deliver finished products faster. New and improved features include: IntelliMAX premium software, designed for incredible ease of use and operation quickly following installation. Incorporating decades of proprietary waterjet cutting models, no other system can consistently produce parts as rapidly or capably. IntelliVISOR console with key metrics to optimise operations and complete system monitoring to avoid unplanned downtime. EnduroMAX pump that automatically sets the correct pressure and minimises fluctuations to improve component life, while offering the most efficient waterjet pump technology in the market. IntelliTRAX drive system with advanced motion control for further increased system robustness and reliability. Requires virtually no maintenance compared to more conventional ball screw…
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May 9, 2022

Vollmer launches new VGrind 360S

Designed to set a new standard for the complete machining of rotationally symmetric solid carbide tools, the new VGrind 360S offers an impressive solution for manufacturing cutting tools for aerospace, medical, automotive and general subcontract manufacturing sectors. This new five-axis CNC grinding machine can be used productively to machine carbide tools with a diameter up to 25.4mm. Depending on the machine kinematics and the equipping of the grinding wheel packages, it can even be used for tools up to 150mm diameter. The VGrind 360S incorporates wear-free linear induction motors on the X, Y and Z-axes to lower maintenance costs for the machine while demonstrating higher surface quality for the tool and improved precision. The tried-and-tested vertical double-spindle concept from Vollmer now features an oriented spindle-stop for the first time. Also known as spindle indexing, this always stops the spindle at a specific position; the result is a reduction of axial run-out errors and concentricity issues, while offsetting wear in the HSK holding system. Another new…
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May 5, 2022

Refrigerant compressed air dryer with sustainable, efficient, smart operation

However it is not just their remarkably low CO2 footprint that gives the new refrigerant dryers the edge; they also offer economic advantages. The smart control perfectly adjusts to the actual demand and reduces power consumption at a constant pressure dew point. Other components also ensure efficient operation. Economical in every detail, BOGE’s new DS-2 refrigerant compressed air dryers feature a smart control that automatically switches off the cooling compressor at partial load as soon as the required dew point has been reached. The cooling temperature is stored in the heat exchanger. This cold reserve cools the incoming compressed air until the dew point rises again. The cooling compressor only starts up again to maintain the required temperature level, and thus only begins consuming energy at this point. This principle allows energy savings of up to 79% compared to a dryer in continuous operation. The new frequency-controlled fan ensures a stable condensation pressure and reduces energy consumption by up…
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May 5, 2022

Effective material removal using lasers

Laser systems offer two general processes for material removal. One widely used process occurs during manufacturing for the production of new products that require micromachining. The other refers to a removal of surface congestion or contamination in a large industrial environment. For either process, the team at Raymax are able to provide expert advice, installation and on-going support. Precision material removal in the production of medical products can be carried out with an excimer laser produced by the OPTEC/LASEA Group, a Belgium-based company that works with some of the largest medical manufacturers in Europe. OPTEC excimer lasers are used to manufacture components for electrophysiology (EP) because they can strip or ablate wire as thin as a human hair. Nitinol wire, an amalgam of nickel and titanium that is highly elastic with excellent shape memory, is initially manufactured with a transparent plastic coating. A suitable laser is used in the micro-machining process to cut away the insulative coverage without damaging the nitinol wire. In procedures for…
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April 29, 2022

Transforming SA into a powerhouse in plant protein manufacturing

The Federal Government has announced support for a project led by Australian Plant Proteins (APP) under the Collaboration Stream of the $1.3bn Modern Manufacturing Initiative to transform local production of pulse protein ingredients and help meet the growing global demand. APP owns Australia’s only commercial-scale pulse protein extraction facility. This project will quadruple production in South Australia, to produce 25,000 tonnes of pulse protein yearly. Partnering together with one of Australia’s largest family-owned food producers, Thomas Foods International and the Australian Milling Group, more than $378m will be invested in the construction of three plant protein manufacturing facilities supplying domestic and international markets. South Australia produces over a quarter of all Australian pulses and this project gives Australia the opportunity to value-add by up to eight times the value of the product. That value will be captured here in Australia for Australians benefit. Locally based plant…
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