Month: May 2016

AMT: Firstly, what is the DTC and what does it do?          Chris Burns: The DTC was set up in 1996 by a number of small companies who wanted to be in the defence space. The contracts were big and there was a lot of work, but as individual companies, it was difficult because of the tender process. They realised by coming together, they could present as a stronger unit and win more contracts. And it was very successful. There were 24 companies in the initial DTC. Since then, it’s just grown. It’s now an incorporated industry association with over 200 member companies. People think of the defence industry as people who build ships or maintain warplanes or make bullets. But it’s much broader than that. An air warfare destroyer (AWD) is just a hunk of steel until it has a trained crew on board, a maintenance base, logistic support and a command-and-control structure around it. To get those things coming together, people have to understand defence. In…

For more than 40 years, Prysm has manufactured containers such as garden pots and ice cream containers for companies across Australia. For businesses like Prysm, providing a high-quality product while keeping costs down can be a challenge. With many of the items produced at Prysm headed for some of Australia’s largest retailers, consistency and accuracy are paramount. “Many of our products require an adhesive label,” said Matthew Murphy, Production Manager at Prysm. “Previously, skilled operators would stand in one spot for hours at a time and apply labels to products every six or seven seconds. We decided to automate this repetitive task in order to reduce costs and to free up our staff for more varied and engaging activities.” During the search for an automation solution, Prysm was introduced to Universal’s technology by Sensorplex, a Universal distributor for Australia. “We helped Prysm select the UR5…

The Australian PMI expanded for a tenth straight month in April – the longest unbroken period of growth since September 2006. As in March, five of the eight manufacturing sub-sectors expanded (that is, above 50 points in three-month moving averages). The large food, beverages & tobacco sub-sector continued to lead the way, adding 3.1 points to reach a record high of 74.1. Wood & paper products also strengthened (up 0.8 points to 65.8), as did non-metallic mineral products (up 7.0 points to 57.5). However, the March recovery in the machinery & equipment sub-sector was short-lived, with this key sub-sector moving back into contraction in April (down 3.1 points to 47.8). Of the seven activity sub-indexes, all expanded except employment (down 4.2 points to 49.0). Production (down 3.2 points to 56.8), sales (down 2.7 points 56.8) and stocks (up 2.0…

With the internet, customers can create a dream car in moments. Model, colour, equipment, engine… you can customise almost every detail. However, this has an immense impact on production and logistics. All components must be ready for the production line for the car to be ready as soon as possible. The real challenge is making sure exactly the right components are available at exactly the right time. Thanks to the RFID solutions by SICK, this is possible. Mass-scale production is a thing of the past; nowadays, products are made-to-order. As such, there is always a risk that a particular piece of equipment will not be available at the point in production when it is required. Now, using the right combination of automatic identification technology solutions, companies can know exactly where a component is at all times. As a result, production downtime is minimised. The higher the degree of customisation,…

Now in its third edition in Australia, Inside 3D Printing is the largest professional global conference series dedicated to exploring business applications in the 3D ecosystem. This is the series’ first year in Sydney, following events in 2014 and 2015 in Melbourne. The diverse conference programme features experts from Australia and abroad and explores 3D printing innovation across a multitude of fields, including: manufacturing, healthcare & medicine, education, cloud software, product design, economics, and more. Session topics for Inside 3D Printing Sydney include: Keynote: 3D Printing – International Trends and Markets 3D Printing in Humanitarian Logistics Cloud 3D Printer in a Shared Environment The Death of Manufacturing Keynote: 3D Printing: Defining the Fundamental Shift in Manufacturing Solutions Gamification of CAD: Engaging Consumers Into the Design of 3D Printable Products Economics of 3D Printing and Operation Optimisation in a Commoditised Industry Future of 3D Printing in Australia and Beyond Keynote: Community Based Personalised Healthcare Additive Manufacturing & DMLS Technology Fit Tips for Running a Successful 3D Printing…

Founded in 1954 as George Lovitt Manufacturing, LTA initially established itself as a manufacturer of cutting tools for the automotive industry. Over the ensuing six decades it has evolved continuously, being quick to anticipate the eventual decline of Australian car-making and branching into fields as diverse as communications, defence and food & beverage. However, it has been in the field of aerospace that the company has really specialised – and made its name – over the last 20 years. Today, aerospace components account for around 95% of LTA’s business. In the commercial aviation sector, the company is a key supplier to Boeing, working on the 787 ‘Dreamliner’ – LTA’s biggest program – as well as the 747 and 737 airliners. In the defence space, the company supplies parts for…

Recognising excellence in Victorian manufacturing, the black-tie event will be held on 9 June at the Crown Palladium Ballroom in Melbourne’s South Bank. The event will be hosted by the Victorian State Minister for Industry, the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP. The evening includes superb entertainment, a three-course meal of fine Victorian food and beverages, as well as the opportunity to network with industry peers. The Hall of Fame Awards were established in 2001 to recognise individuals and companies who embrace new technologies and manufacturing techniques, are export-focused and excel in business innovation. The nominations are judged across a range of criteria that demonstrate best practice manufacturing, including innovation, adoption of advanced manufacturing technology, business and environmental sustainability, and skills development. Details for the Gala Dinner are as follows: Date:                     Thursday, 9 June 2016 Time:                     7.00 pm – Pre-dinner drinks 7.30 pm – Doors open Venue:                                 Palladium at Crown Melbourne Crown Entertainment Complex 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank Parking:                Available at the Multi-Level Park. nter via Clarke Street, Haig Street…