February 14, 2019
State Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula has opened nominations for the awards, which will highlight the importance and strength of the local industry and the bright future of manufacturing in Victoria. The theme of this year’s awards is ‘Industrial Evolution’, recognising individuals and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation. This year the company award categories include small, medium and large business Manufacturer of the Year awards, as well as Leader in Industry 4.0 and Leader in Workforce Skills Development. There are also two new categories: ‘Leader in Innovative Product Development and Commercialisation’; and ‘Leader in Global Supply Chain Partnerships’. A business will also be inducted to the prestigious Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame. Individuals will be recognised with awards including the Honour Roll, Young Manufacturer of the Year, and Woman Manufacturer of the Year. Victoria’s manufacturing industry contributes over $30bn to the Victorian economy, employing more than 279,000 people. “Victoria’s manufacturing sector is going from strength to strength, and we’re proud to be backing the industry and celebrating…
February 14, 2019
Manufacturing processes have evolved from craft-made single-item methods to mass production lines and output of increasingly greater numbers of identical parts: a high-volume/low product mix (HVLM) scenario. Most recently, digital technology in programming, machine tool controls and workpiece handling systems are facilitating a manufacturing environment known as Industry 4.0 that enables cost-efficient manufacture of highly diverse parts in small batches: high-mix/low-volume (HMLV) production.In the era of Industry 4.0 it is fashionable to highlight the newest production techniques and digitalisation technologies. However, maximum productivity and cost-efficiency still are based on a foundation of operational excellence. In the present economic environment, manufacturers generally consider speed to be a key indicator of operational excellence. A drawing comes into a facility and eventually a completed workpiece leaves the plant; manufacturers want the time between the two events to be as short…
February 14, 2019
In all industrial machinery, components add value to the system, and the lifecycle of the system creates an entire value. Digital technologies typically play an important role in analysing data from components and sending this back to the cloud, to what we call a ‘digital twin’. This data can be used to optimise maintenance schedules or improve the performance of the system by changing the way that it is used. Sensors are one of the main methods of data collection, and are commonly placed on parts such as bearings, shafts, axles, bending beams and other moving parts. But they can’t always measure component parts, because of limited space or a lack of availability. To solve this accessibility problem, and revolutionise the way we think about sensors, Schaeffler has developed new technology that allows the industrial or automotive component to be the sensor. Schaeffler’s Sensotect coating system is a directly coated sensor layer that can sit over the…
February 14, 2019
The Exclusive License Agreement with CSIRO grants Titomic exclusive global rights to two patents for the production of pipe, as well as continuous pipe manufactured using titanium and titanium alloys. This will open significant revenue opportunities for Titomic across a number of major industries, in particular the oil & gas, defence, marine and mining sectors. Under the agreement, Titomic will also receive more than eight years of exclusive innovative additive manufacturing techniques, background IP, and know-how for the production of pipe and pipe components including, but not limited to, valves and fitting components. This technology results from the 2010 Victorian Government-initiated Victorian Direct Manufacturing Centre (VDMC) program, which received contributions of approximately $10M, from industry and research providers to help revitalise the manufacturing sector and deliver economic and environmental benefits to Victoria. Pipe can now be 3D-printed using Titomic Kinetic Fusion (TKF) systems, without the size and profile constraints of traditional pipe manufacturing techniques. TKF-produced metal pipe has superior wear and corrosion resistant properties in comparison to traditional wrought metal pipe. By utilising…
February 13, 2019
KAESER Compressors Australia Pty Ltd: Visitors to the Collision Repair Expo 2019 that join Kaeser Compressors on stand AC24, will be able to discover the latest in compressed air technology as well learn how they can produce high quality air and operate an energy efficient compressed air system. Kaeser will also be running a seminar on how to achieve high quality compressed air as part of the exhibition’s Free Seminar Series. With electricity costs remaining high, finding ways to reduce utility bills has never been so important. Compressed air is often considered the fourth utility and as the energy source for most equipment in a collision repair body shop, it is a critical utility for this industry sector. It is also vital because compressed air mixes with the product in paint spraying operations. The impact of compressed air on workflow, product quality and energy bills however can often be overlooked. This can mean costly rework as a result of poor air quality affecting paint jobs and workflow interruptions due to inadequate air supply. Both will cause real dollar losses in terms of rework costs and inflated energy bills. Unlike other utilities the end user is in complete control of their…
February 12, 2019
With Austech 2019 already set to be the biggest in the event’s history, visitors to the exhibition will face a challenge just getting round to seeing everything on display. Fortunately, help is available to ensure you get the most from your time at the show. Featuring all of the key machine tool dealers, all under the one roof, Austech 2019 will showcase a vast array of the very latest in state-of-the-art manufacturing technology. With more than 5,800 square metres of exhibition space already booked, visitors to the show will have their work cut out for them just getting round to see everything they need to in the time available. But help is at hand. For this year’s event, Austech’s organisers have partnered up with Map Your Show, specialists in event management software, to create a set of online tools that lets you plan your visit in advance. The tools are accessible right now, so you can start mapping out your movements at Austech right now. To get started, just visit the Austech page on the AMTIL website (www.amtil.com.au/austech). By clicking on the button marked ‘Exhibitor Directory’, users can explore details about all of the companies and organisations exhibiting at…
February 7, 2019
Bestech Australia Pty Ltd: CNC-based machining tools has been widely adopted in the manufacturing business. Especially in the era of Industry 4.0, the new development of manufacturing technology should consider intelligent collaboration, process monitoring and management in real-time. As CNC operators require a set of skills and qualifications, educators and trainers are looking for engaging solutions to build these skills among their students for workforce ready. Bestech Australia offers training solutions from MTAB which comprises combination of hardware, software, digital learning platform and development program that allow the teachers to deliver high quality education with scalability. The FLEX series machines (FLEXTURN and FLEXMILL) offer high quality learning with affordability and also easy-to-operate and compact. Due to these capabilities, they have been used for the purpose of teaching and training in Research and small-to-medium volume manufacturing business. These machines also enable IoT integration to monitor, manage and visualize data using cloud-based platform. A wide range of sensors are mounted to the machine for data collection. The data are used to build applications and analyze performance and condition of the machine. The MTAB FLEXMILL series is a compact industrial 3-axis vertical CNC machining center used for precision part machining and advance training…
February 7, 2019
Austech is Australia’s premier advanced manufacturing and machine tool exhibition, showcasing the very latest in state-of-the-art manufacturing technology. The opening of registrations marks a significant milestone in the build-up to this year’s exhibition, which is set to be the biggest in the event’s history. Preparations for Austech 2019 have been marked by unprecedented levels of early interest. Floor space for the exhibition has been booked significantly faster than it was for Austech 2017, which went on to become one of the most successful shows to date. For this year’s event more than 5,600 square metres of space have already been sold. To accommodate such strong demand, AMTIL took the decision late last year to expand its booking with the MCEC, making this year’s Austech the largest in terms of floor space to date. However, despite the addition of further bays within the exhibition hall, demand has remained very strong, with most of the exhibition area now fully booked. Notably, early floor space sales have been dominated by a comparatively small number of…
February 7, 2019
Competing in an increasingly competitive international marketplace, Nupress focuses on working smarter not harder. Its innovative manufacturing approach positions it well for the manufacture of unique, complex parts, while also being able to excel in high-quantity batch manufacturing. This commitment to innovation and quality led to Nupress’ Managing Director Murray Claire and its CEO Craig McWilliam embarking on an analysis of suitable co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) technologies to complement and enhance their other leading edge technologies. Among other parameters, the key criteria established by Claire and McWilliam were threefold : The system should enhance the company’s process control capabilities and had to include continuous analogue scanning. The selected unit should be suitable for use in both a production and a quality assurance role. To get the best out of any system that Nupress chose, extensive ongoing local support would be critical. After evaluating three potential suppliers, Nupress decided on a Hexagon Global Classic SR 09.12.08 CMM with PC-DMIS software and analogue scanning. The Global Classic is…
February 7, 2019
Australia has a proven history of aerospace manufacturing and continues to provide world-class products to both the local and the global aerospace sector, based on an understanding of unique considerations such as the need for particular expertise, and dedicated resources. According to the Aerospace Manufacturing Services Report published by the Australian Trade Commission, the aerospace industry has to deal in specialty alloys and materials for their products, and also has multiple regulations and certifications to consider during the overall manufacturing process and in meeting the all-important deadline. In order to accomplish this, certain matters must be taken into consideration. Time and quality management are crucial and can be the key differentiators. It is then critical that the right enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is in place. This will help to ensure a…
February 7, 2019
Frank Singer, Head of Department Vehicle System Installation at Airbus Helicopters in Germany explains: “It happens again and again that a crew member of a helicopter stands outside on the runners during the flight due to operational reasons under certain circumstances, such as during operation of the rescue winch. The relatively small footprint on the runners could be optimised by using a step.” Firstly, the nearly 3m-long model is subdivided into individual printable parts. Afterwards, individual plug-in connections are constructed, in a design reminiscent of a jigsaw puzzle. “In the past, we have had to divide larger prototypes into separate parts because of the print bed size,” says Frank Singer. “These were often glued together. However, this was always associated with further processing steps, which we can now save – if the application allows it. The quickly printed parts require no further processing steps or curing…
February 7, 2019
In the study, 90% of respondents indicated that they would be more likely to purchase food products that were made in Australia, 76% more likely for clothes, 73% for wine, 62% for sporting goods, 62% for electrical goods and 52% for motor vehicles. Ben Lazzaro, Chief Executive of the Australian Made Campaign said: “Roy Morgan’s research highlights the importance that Australian’s place on ‘buying local’. There is an increasing demand for authentic Aussie products produced in our clean, green environment and manufactured to our high standards. Awareness around country of origin labelling has increased in recent years, with more Australians wanting to know where their products come from. The Australian Made logo is the most important tool for consumers in identifying authentic Aussie products.” Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan, explained that the data shows that Aussie-made products are favoured by consumers: “90% of Australians are more likely to buy a product that is ‘made in Australia’, up from a very…
