Month: August 2020

NCG CAM Automated Toolpath Generator: Easy to Use and Learn – Powerful Machining Strategies - Cost Effective License Pricing - Perpetual Software License – No annual license fees. NCG CAM is a high-end automated toolpath generator for complex part CNC machining. The toolpaths are calculated on a 3D CAD model produced in a 3D CAD software. NCG CAM does not have any 3D modelling capabilities as this is best done in one of the many 3D solids and surface modelling systems available. NCG CAM reads all the standard file formats such as STL, IGES, STEP, RAW, CLD and VDA-FS but also directly interfaces with systems like PARASOLIDS, Pro-Engineer, CREO and CATIA. NCG CAM offers an extensive library of roughing and finishing strategies for producing excellent surface finishes at optimum machining times. NCG CAM is designed for shop floor machining workflow where the machinist has full control of the machining process. This type of workflow provides for large improvements in efficiency and overall part quality. NCG CAM is particularly suited to Mould, Tool and Die applications where accuracy and surface finish is important to minimise subsequent polishing operations. A unique machining feature is adaptive area clearance which eliminates full width…

Under the Stage 4 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions that came into place last week, physical workplaces are closed for on-site work unless they fall into one of a number of permitted industry categories. All Victorians are required to work from home except where that is not practicable. Some businesses can remain open under restricted rules and ensuring they have a COVID Safe Plan in place. Sole operators can continue if they don’t have contact with the public or with anyone outside their primary household. A full outline of the business directive of workplace closures from the Victorian Government is available here. We understand this may be devastating for many of our clients and their employees who run businesses that are impacted by these changes. The shutdown has initially been announced to last six weeks…

AMT: How long has Howard Wright been in business? Greg Jones: The company has been in business for almost 60 years, and we have just over 55 staff members. It’s a nice place to work in terms of a manufacturing facility. As we make hospital products, it has to be clean and it’s well heated so it’s comfortable to work in. More recently we have increased production to meet the increased number of COVID-19 orders from the UK and Australia. Most of our market is export, so 50% Australia, 30% New Zealand, 10% the UK, with Japan and Belgium making up the balance. We continue to see our growth coming from overseas markets. When competing overseas, it’s highly competitive, with a lot of beds coming from Asia as well as Europe. We compete well as our products focus on end user needs, quality and service support. AMT: What are the keys to your…

WarpSPEE3D is the world’s first large-format metal 3D printer to use patented cold spray technology that enables significantly faster and more cost-effective metal part production than traditional manufacturing. Developed by Australian manufacturer SPEE3D, the printer is capable of printing large metal parts up to 40kg at a record-breaking speed of 100 grams per minute. The printer arrived in Darwin in early June. Little over a week after being installed at Robertson Barracks, soldiers from the 1st Combat Service Support Battalion (1 CSSB) trucked the printer out to the  bush for a three-day trial at the Mount Bundey field training area, 120km south-east of Darwin. The WarpSPEE3D was manoeuvred to various locations and different terrains. It was unloaded ready to print within 30 minutes, producing a variety of parts. SPEE3D printers make metal parts the fastest way possible, leveraging metal cold spray technology to produce industrial-quality metal parts in minutes, rather…

Support from the Federal Government for Australian exporters has included the following initiatives: Additional funding for the Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) program. The EMDG is an Australian program providing limited reimbursement for approved exporters for their export development activities. Air cargo funding assistance through the International Freight Assistance Mechanism to assist exporters of seafood and other primary produce with the return flights bringing personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical equipment. This has provided funding for limited replacements for air cargo space lost with the cessation of international passenger aviation. The establishment of the new Export Capital Facility, administered by Export Finance Australia. The provision of grants to Export Hubs assisting small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Again, this is intended to provide financial assistance to SME…

The launch of Bidim Green takes plastic bottles from Australian recycling bins and converts this plastic waste into a high-tech geotextile to be used in building Australia’s infrastructure; roads, rail, landfills and mines. This initiative reduces waste to landfill and provides the civil engineering community with a sustainable and green option to be deployed in infrastructure projects, from large national road programmes and mining applications to local DIY and small projects. Bidim Green is manufactured at the Geofabrics’ manufacturing site in Albury, NSW and supports regional and local jobs in the community. It’s the only geotextile manufactured in Australia with recycled Australian plastics. The recycled content includes not only the polymer raw material but also the consumables central to the product, including the product wrap and the core, both of which are also manufactured from Australian recycled plastics. For Dennis Grech, CEO and Managing Director of Geofabrics, going green means customers who share the company’s commitment to softening the environmental footprint of their projects have a product that is recycled, sustainable and innovated right here in Australia. “Bidim…

From 11.59pm on Wednesday 5 August, employers who require their staff to attend a work site must issue a worker permit to their employees – this is the employer’s responsibility. Penalties of up to $19,826 (for individuals) and $99,132 (for businesses) will apply to employers who issue worker permits to employees who do not meet the requirements of the worker permit scheme or who otherwise breach the scheme requirements. There will also be on-the-spot fines of up to $1,652 (for individuals) and up to $9,913 (for businesses) for anyone who breaches the scheme requirements. This includes employers, and employees who do not carry their worker permit when travelling to and from work. Employees must carry the worker permit and should carry photo identification when travelling to and from the workplace. A worker permit can be shown electronically to authorities such as a photo, or scanned copy, on a mobile device. Further details, as well as templates for permits, can found at: www.justice.vic.gov.au/permitted-worker-scheme The Permitted Worker Scheme…

BMS Group signs up as AMTIL’s latest Corporate Partner AMTIL has announced the appointment of BMS Group as the latest addition to its Corporate Partner program. BMS is an agile, lateral thinking insurance broker that specialises in crafting bespoke solutions to protect the growth and reputation of its customers’ businesses. The BMS team has spent decades nurturing clients through the ups and downs of business. We’re all used to receiving those insurance renewals at the same time year on year, but we rarely consider whether those policies are properly protecting the unique commercial risks facing our businesses. Circumstances can change quickly: your business structure; revenue and staffing; securing or divesting assets, or even a pandemic like COVID-19. Moreover, changes in your business often require alterations to your policies to ensure you are correctly covered. Most importantly, you don’t have to wait for your insurance renewal to review your policies. Renewals may be annual, but reviewing and potentially updating your policies should be an ongoing process. BMS knows manufacturing and its staff take the time to understand your business circumstances, before structuring a bespoke insurance solution tailored to each unique risk profile. That means that BMS becomes a…

AMTIL MEMBERS NOW RECEIVE A 5% DISCOUNT RMIT University launches new online CNC short courses Workers across Australia will have the opportunity to learn how to operate programmable CNC machines and lathes. The two online short courses cater for beginners and advanced operators. The Centre for Digital Enterprise (C4DE), a partnership between RMIT University, Wodonga TAFE, Sunraysia Institute, have collaborated with Okuma Australia to offer workers throughout Australia the opportunity to learn how to operate and program the latest Computer Numerical Control machines used in advanced manufacturing. By offering the courses fully online, it not only means that learners from anywhere in Australia can benefit from this new program, but it highlights RMIT’s readiness to innovate and quickly pivot to digital models of learning. Both courses are in line with the current trends toward industry-tailored, short, bite sized segments of learning to upskill and reskill workforces rather than undertaking full qualifications. These courses are aimed at addressing the potential impacts that new smart skills and Industry 4.0 are having on the Australian workforce. Centre for Digital Enterprise Senior Manager, Stephen Joyce said that digital skills in advanced manufacturing will be vital in driving job creation in the…

Six of the seven activity indices in the Australian PMI indicated expansion in July, with only the exports index contracting, down 5.8 points to 41.4 (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with higher results indicating a faster rate of expansion). Expansion in new orders slowed (down 3.0 points to 52.7), with all other activity indices expanding at a faster rate than in June. Four of the six manufacturing sectors in the Australian PMI contracted in July (according to trend data), with only the large food & beverage (up 1.9 points to 59.4) and machinery & equipment (up 3.2 points to 54.3) sectors indicating expanding conditions. “With the encouraging lift in July, Australian manufacturing has expanded for two consecutive months for the first time since October 2019,” said Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox. “Despite the improvement, weak spots persist. July’s expansion was driven by the two largest manufacturing sectors: the…