Month: April 2020

Australian businesses can access free advisory and facilitation services to improve their business capabilities, extend networks and take advantage of opportunities in the defence sector. What do you get? Up to 10 days of support over 12 months from an expert business adviser or defence facilitator. The service is tailored to your business needs and may include: guidance and mentoring connecting you with relevant Defence capability areas or other businesses a detailed analysis of your business to identify, recommend and prioritise business improvement and skills development opportunities (the recommended actions may be eligible for a Capability Improvement Grant) analysis of defence-specific training needs help to access domestic and global supply chains and export opportunities guidance to understand the defence sector’s supply requirements help to present your innovative ideas to Defence Who is this for? Small to medium sized Australian businesses that have, or are developing, products or services that can be applied to Defence. How it works The Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) has a network of experienced business advisers and facilitators located around Australia. We will assess your application and determine whether to allocate you a facilitator or business adviser. If you’re allocated a facilitator, they…

Above all, this is an unprecedented health crisis, and our thoughts are first and foremost with those people who have been directly affected by the virus, their families and friends. Our thoughts also go out to the doctors, the nurses, and all workers in the healthcare sector, as they strive to combat the outbreak. And our thoughts go out to all the key workers in so many areas as we face the weeks and months ahead. Alongside the immediate threat posed by COVID-19, there are also the inevitable consequences for our economy, and for our industry. Several AMTIL members who I or my staff have spoken to have already reported significant disruption to their normal business operations. As this crisis continues, the impact will surely deepen. AMTIL welcomes the measures put in place by Government, both at Federal and State level, to support businesses during these times, and hope to see further assistance over the coming weeks. There have also been a number of major industry…

Basic Trailers is a shining example of a young, vibrant and innovative SA manufacturer meeting growing demand for locally designed and built products. Its trailers – designed, manufactured and distributed in Adelaide – have proven exceptionally popular with people across the state, in part as a backlash by customers against cheaper but inferior imported trailers that recently flooded the market. Since opening its doors in 2018, Basic Trailers has expanded rapidly, to the extent that it has now had to move into larger premises in Pooraka to fulfil demand for its innovative trailers, all of which are built from Australian steel. Furthermore, in addition to its existing workforce of six full-time employees, the company plans to hire at least four more workers at its new workshop facility. Sam Francis, General Manager…

The Federal Government has announced plans to pass legislation to introduce the JobKeeper payment, intended to provide wage subsidies to businesses significantly affected by COVID-19. Businesses can register their interest at: ato.gov.au/Job-keeper-payment The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) has received more than 1,000 responses via its COVID-19 Manufacturer Response Register. Established only last week, the Register allows manufacturers to register their interest in helping Australia meet the national challenge of fighting COVID-19. Find out more about the COVID-19 Manufacturer Response Register at: amgc.org.au/covid-19-manufacturer-response The Federal Government has announced a range of measures to assist businesses affected by the crisis, including assistance for small businesses regarding cash flow, and measures to support investment. Information on the measures can be found at: australia.gov.au/#information_for_businesses_and_employees The Federal Government has released an official “Coronavirus Australia” app, which can be download from in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Further news, updates and advice from government agencies across Australia can also be…

Queensland State Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the Brisbane-based race car company had been working around the clock for the past two weeks to develop the prototype. “This is what Queensland manufacturing is all about,” said Dick. “Hard work, ingenuity and solving problems. It’s so impressive that, within just a few weeks, this company has transitioned their capability, intellect and resources to a product that could ultimately save lives. “It’s also fantastic to hear that Triple Eight has focused on using readily available, local materials. Triple Eight suspended its usual operation following the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix, and the positive, forward-looking approach of this company has been heartening to see.” Roland Dane, Team Principle of Triple Eight Race Engineering said the prototype was the result of a dedicated engineering team and input from medical professionals, local intensive care unit experts, as well as the Queensland Department of State Development. “We were able to utilise in-house 3D printing services provided by our team partner HP…

The Federal Government and South Australian Government have reached agreement with Detmold Group to produce 145 million masks – 100 million for the National Medical Stockpile and 45 million for South Australia. Over the coming months the company will employ up to an extra 160 staff and will invest more than $1m in local supplies that will support other Australian businesses. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said Detmold is the latest in a line of Aussie companies rising up to the challenge of COVID-19. “This is a fantastic example of how our strong manufacturing base in Australia puts us in a position to be able to make more of the medical supplies we need during the outbreak of this virus,” said Andrews. “We have a sufficient supply of masks at the moment but this work will ensure we sustain that supply over the months ahead. “This new production line won’t be up and running overnight, that’s why we’re attacking this challenge from…

In 1936, Pittsburgh’s Great Flood crippled Western Pennsylvania leaving thousands without electricity. In an effort to help restore the city’s electricity, Donald Ross started the Allegheny Electric Company. In its drive to bring safety to the manufacturing industry, it noted that the wiring method in existing overhead cranes was very dangerous. After decades of innovation, the company invented the Track Busway. As the company grew and further broadened its product lines beyond trolley conductor systems, it changed its name to Universal Electric Corporation (UEC). This marked the creation of two separate divisions when UEC introduced STARLINE Plug-In Raceway. First introduced in 1987, STARLINE Track Busway is now the industry-leading electrical power distribution system for mission-critical data centre facilities in markets such as industrial, retail and higher education markets. The company has built a globally recognised brand that relies on measurement equipment from Mitutoyo to guarantee product quality. The UK division of UEC moved into a new 5,500sqm factory in Reading in 2018 to support the European customer base. Being both UL- and ETL-listed, and…

The expansion – which was slightly unexpected in the midst of the escalating COVID-19 pandemic and emerging recession – was almost entirely attributed to a huge surge in demand for manufactured food, groceries and personal care items, as shoppers stocked up on processed food, toilet paper, cleaning products and other household essentials. The local manufacturing businesses that make these goods are in sectors (mainly ‘food & beverages’ and ‘chemicals’) that account for a large proportion of Australian manufacturing and make relatively large contributions to the headline Australian PMI index. “Australian manufacturers are being impacted in very different ways by the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox. “Some are stepping up to meet surges in purchasing from consumers, businesses and the health sector. Others are finding that disrupted supply chains into export markets and from suppliers of inputs are reducing sales and stifling production. Others are seeing sales dry up…