January 25, 2024

VEEM props

US-based Sharrow Marine, a subsidiary of Sharrow Engineering LLC, a leading manufacturer of revolutionary propellers for boats and ships, has announced an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Australia-based VEEM Ltd, a designer and manufacturer of disruptive, high-technology marine propulsion and stabilisation systems. Under the partnership, VEEM™ has secured the exclusive global rights to manufacture and commercialise the innovative Sharrow Propeller for inboard propellers up to five metres in diameter. The companies will work together to produce a groundbreaking, state-of-the-art series of SHARROW by VEEM propellers that are dramatically quieter and more fuel-efficient than any inboard propeller currently on the market. The partnership unites the two leaders of innovation and excellence in marine propulsion and manufacturing, marking a significant moment for the industry. Combining Sharrow’s revolutionary propeller technology with VEEM's proven history of manufacturing excellence and innovation across marine propulsion, the SHARROW by VEEM propellers will initially be produced for superyacht and commercial vessels in the 10 – 30m range. The SHARROW by VEEM propellers will deliver significant fuel savings and a…
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January 25, 2024

Spotlight on VAILO

Advanced lighting technology company VAILO has been named by the AFR as one of Australia and New Zealand’s most innovative Manufacturing & Consumer Goods companies. The award was in recognition of VAILO’s development of the innovative Zenith Gen-V LED sports light, now one of the best-in-class LED sports lights internationally, and was designed and manufactured in Australia. With more than 230,000 source lumens, the 1,500-watt Zenith Gen-V LED luminaire has been designed for sports stadia and fields but is also suitable for applications such as airports, seaports and mining operations. VAILO was ranked sixth in the AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies (Manufacturing & Consumer Goods), having been selected from more than 700 nominated companies across Australia and New Zealand. Now in its twelfth year, the 2023 AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies List assesses the innovation prowess of Australian and New Zealand organisations. It is judged and compiled by behaviour change consultancy Inventium. The award comes after a year in which VAILO continued to expand its presence into the eastern states from its South Australian base. VAILO CEO and Founder Aaron…
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January 23, 2024

Heart of a Dolphin

Mario Turcarelli started working with cars at a very young age. From carrying a dream of becoming a motor mechanic, his father Isidoro pushed him to complete his Diploma in Mechanical Engineering at Caulfield Institute of Technology, (now Monash University) as a ticket beyond that motor mechanic he’d always wanted to be. He is eternally grateful for that pressure. Turcarelli started his dream job at Holden in November of 1979 down at Fisherman’s Bend, just outside of Melbourne. “Back then, we had to run all the power, torque and durability tests for engines, then tear them down and make sure they performed,” explained Turcarelli, from his office at Dolphin Products, now many years later. But we’ll come back to Dolphin in a moment. Turcarelli’s mechanical engineering career took off like a rocket. “Holden had just moved from the red XT4 to the blue XT5 engines which had more power and better economy,” he said, “and I ran a whole series of tests comparing them and showing…
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January 21, 2024

Rethinking plastics with nature in mind

It's no secret plastic and oceans don't mix. You've probably heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a 1.6m square kilometre area full of discarded plastic between North America and Japan, hemmed in by the major Pacific currents. As of 2018, it contained 45,000-130,000 tons of toothbrushes, water bottles, pens, plastic bags, and more, some of it up to 50 years old. Then there are all the microplastics damaging marine ecosystems, broken pieces of fishing nets, microwave containers, and car tyre rubber measuring 5mm or less. There were barely any in the oceans between 1950 and 1980, and today there are over half a million tons. But now, a radical idea from Western Australia is posing a unique question; what if the ocean can actually save us from plastic? Not so fantastic There's a race to solve the problems of plastic production. Back in June, AMT reported on a company called Samsara Eco that uses a special enzyme that…
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January 18, 2024

AI will accelerate work

Just recently, the Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic revealed an interim response from the Australian government on the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence. The public, especially the Australian public, have real concerns about AI. And it’s appropriate that they should. AI is a powerful technology entering our lives quickly. By 2030, it may increase the Australian economy by 40%, adding $600bn to our annual gross domestic product. A recent International Monetary Fund report estimates AI might also impact 40% of jobs worldwide, and 60% of jobs in developed nations like Australia. In half of those jobs, the impacts will be positive, lifting productivity and reducing drudgery. But in the other half, the impacts may be negative, taking away work, even eliminating some jobs completely. Just as lift attendants and secretaries in typing pools had to move on and find new vocations, so might truck drivers and law clerks. Perhaps not surprisingly then, in…
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January 17, 2024

Robotic energy recovery boosts sustainable manufacturing

With the Australian manufacturing industry facing mounting pressure from the government to prioritise sustainability and environmental awareness, here’s a cutting-edge technical solution designed to align with these imperatives. Yaskawa’s pioneering solution revolves around the efficient utilisation of robot braking energy. This feature comes standard and does not require additional hardware. Notably, larger MOTOMAN robots, boasting payloads of 35kg or more, in conjunction with the latest YRC1000 robot controller, possess the capability to convert kinetic energy generated during downward and sideways motions directly into the in-house power supply system. This transformative process significantly reduces the energy demands of the robots and is referred to as energy recovery. MOTOMAN robots achieve even greater efficiency gains through their sleek and compact design, characterised by minimal moved masses. Furthermore, they swiftly apply brakes during motion pauses, effectively deactivating active position control when not in use. This intelligent operational concept, including automatic robot shutdowns during planned breaks, contributes substantially to energy conservation. In the context of their diverse tasks, such…
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January 12, 2024

Making views

Located on the NSW Central Coast, PCW Commercial Windows is a longstanding and respected market leader in manufacturing and installing commercial, industrial and upmarket residential windows and doors. Their exceptional portfolio of work spans the Central Coast, Sydney and Hunter Regions of NSW and includes many schools, civic buildings, institutions and architectural homes. "Our extensive industry experience and product knowledge means we can offer advice and design ideas for projects of virtually any size,” says owner and Managing Director Leigh Spinks. “We’ve forged strong relationships with many builders, big and small and are very proud to be 100% Australian owned and operated and manufacturing all our products to Australian Standards.” Keeping abreast of changes within the construction industry is a high priority for Spinks and his team. “It's constantly changing; in particular, windows and glazing are undergoing great changes at the moment, energy provisions are tightening, and the performance of windows just needs to be better than in the past. More and more of our projects are double-glazed, and we are seeing increased demand for energy-efficient products, particularly in…
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December 22, 2023

Driving around in circles

Jamie Whincup has been a part of Triple Eight Race Engineering as a driver since he joined the team in 2006. “My father bought me a go-kart when I was seven years old, so racing was originally a hobby,” Whincup tells me. “Fast forward, and the whole thing just got out of control and has become my profession for 20 years. I was very happy to join what I regarded as the best team in the country in 2006. And they've gone from strength to strength. And we've won many races, but it must be stated that we are an engineering company that showcases our talents on the racetrack.” Now Managing Director, Whincup is straight-forward with his descriptions of what Triple Eight does. “Motorsport has always been about getting a team of people together, to build a race car, take it to the track and race our mates, try to go around in circles quicker than them and get to the…
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December 15, 2023

Tidy your room

Cleaning up your workshop is the ultimate “rainy-day” job; however, with the La Niña about to end, some may be hurrying to fit an eleventh-hour workshop upgrade in before the El Niño hot, sunny weather is upon us, hopefully with increases in productive work. Investing in an improved workshop benching and storage solution may be a critical step to be taken towards an increase in productivity and ongoing prosperity, but, ‘how to approach this’ should be a question one asks. For most, prosperity does not simply fall into one’s lap, but is the process of sound investment, patient planning and attention to detail. When you take this approach, you will eventually reach a point where you need to address some key questions in your production zones: How do I cut-down on innocent time wasting in production; How do I customise an environment to suit the tasks we are performing How do I prevent mistakes in part picking and ID How do I protect my components from dust and UV light. At BAC Systems, an Australian manufacturer of an industrial workshop furniture range…
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December 10, 2023

Ozroll reducing carbon footprint

In today's increasingly eco-conscious world, businesses are taking significant steps to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a sustainable future. Ozroll, a leading provider of high-quality external shading solutions, has embraced this ethos by revolutionising its Elipso aluminium louvres and plantation shutters with a switch to LocAl® Green lower carbon aluminium supplied by Capral. "By switching to LocAl Green lower carbon aluminium, Ozroll is not only prioritising environmental stewardship, but they are also setting a new benchmark for sustainable manufacturing practices," said Peter Bulka, Capral’s Industrial Manager for Southeast Queensland. This strategic move aligns with Ozroll's commitment to minimising carbon emissions and fostering a greener planet. "Energy efficiency and sustainability are a big part of what we do,” added Jack McDonald, General Manager of Ozroll Queensland. “The products we offer to the market, including our louvres and plantation shutters, can deliver real efficiency benefits within the built environment.” McDonald explained that sustainability is an essential philosophy within the company. With growing demand from clients to deliver more sustainable solutions,…
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December 4, 2023

Orbimax cobot welders

In today's dynamic manufacturing landscape, Australian companies are seeking innovative ways to address capacity constraints without significantly increasing their workforce. Challenges such as workforce shortages, rising labour costs, and skill gaps are common pain points. A subtle yet transformative solution is emerging - a technological advancement that complements human capabilities rather than supplanting them. Orbimax Cobot Welders; a robot taught by movement and a simple smartphone app that can be realised and implemented immediately into your existing workforce, bringing instant investment gains. The Australian manufacturing sector faces an array of hurdles. Workforce scarcity, escalating labour expenses, and skill deficiencies continue to challenge operations. Moreover, maintaining precision, consistency, and productivity places a considerable burden on existing teams. These obstacles can impede the ability to scale production in response to market fluctuations. A quietly revolutionary solution is quietly gaining traction. It operates in tandem with human workers, alleviating their burden. This technology marks a pivotal shift, automating repetitive and physically taxing tasks, enabling human workers to focus on tasks necessitating creativity, problem-solving, and higher-order decision-making. This augmentation in human capacity leads…
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November 27, 2023

Hysata electrolyser

Australian electrolyser company Hysata has officially opened its new 8,000sqm global headquarters and electrolyser manufacturing facility in Port Kembla. This marks a significant milestone in Hysata’s journey, paving the way for commercialisation of its pioneering high efficiency electrolyser. Hysata’s electrolysers are poised to transform the economics of green hydrogen production and accelerate decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, chemical manufacture and heavy transport. The Australian Government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), has given a vote of confidence in Hysata’s technology by announcing a $20.9m grant from its Advancing Renewables Program. This funding will support commercial demonstration of a 5MW electrolyser unit to be trialled adjacent to the Stanwell Power Station near Rockhampton, Queensland. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Queensland Government-owned power company Stanwell Corporation will support the demonstration project with $3m, and provide the site and facilities for the field deployment of the electrolyser, which is being developed at Hysata’s new manufacturing facility. The project will create 44 new local jobs at Hysata. Hysata CEO Paul Barrett…
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November 26, 2023

Machine Tool Zone at AMW2024

Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2024) is being held at the Sydney International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour from 17-19 April 2024. Run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2024 will occupy more than 6,560 square metres of exhibition space at the ICC, with more than 215 organisations taking stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. AUSTECH MACHINE TOOLS ZONE AUSTECH has been the cornerstone of AMTIL’s success for over 21 years. This iconic Machine Tools Zone now forms an integral part of AMW 2024. AUSTECH is specifically targeted at the metalworking, machine tool, and ancillary market in Australia. AUSTECH covers advanced manufacturing products and processes including: CNC Machinery, Lathes, Mills Contract Manufacturing/Precision Machining Cutting Tools, Tooling & Tool Holding Forming & Fabricating Machines Plasma, Laser, Waterjet & Ultrasonic Machines Ancillary equipment suppliers Finlease is sponsoring the AUSTECH Machine Tools Zone at AMW2024 in Sydney. Finlease sources finance for some of the country’s most innovative manufacturers. When you deal with a Finlease broker, you’re dealing with a…
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