Month: September 2020

Contacted for an apprenticeship by a local machine shop that operated Tornos cam machines, the apprenticeship turned into a full-time job for Gajewski, who eventually worked his way up to the role of Plant & Production Manager, where he remained for nine years. After nine years, Gajewski decided it was time to open his own machine shop. In 1992, Gajewski rented a 186sqm space in Woodstock, Illinois, purchased six Tornos and Bechler cam machines, and established Minic Precision. Founded to meet the growing demand for electronic assemblies requiring high-precision contacts, he named his business Minic, an acronym after his two sons’ names, Michael and Nicholas. By 1995, he had filled up his shopfloor with 28 Tornos and Bechler machines. Some of the early Tornos cam machine purchases included M7s, R10s and R125s, and to this day Minic still operates many of those original machines. Even now, Gajewski is proud to have recently purchased three Tornos Swiss CNC lathes in the last 18 months. Minic’s growth and relocation Minic Precision…

“Particularly in the area of high performance cutting, the number one customer requirement is the achievable material removal rate alongside the best possible component surface,” reports Andreas Wittenauer, Head of Application Technology in the PCD Tool division at MAPAL. “For this reason, the FaceMill-Diamond features an exceptionally high number of permanently brazed cutting edges for its diameter. The cutting edges are designed for a cutting depth of up to 10mm. Furthermore, the robust tool body absorbs the vibrations generated during machining and prevents damage to the component surface.” Additionally, the FaceMill-Diamond can be inserted directly into the machine when newly equipped – without time-consuming adjustment work requiring operator expertise. Based on this, MAPAL further developed the PCD face milling cutter in…

In the last year, Lockheed Martin has signed five contracts with Ronson Gears under its Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program agreement with the Commonwealth. This makes the gear manufacturer, headquartered in Highett, Victoria, the first-ever Australian company to supply precision gear components that will be carried into space. Ronson is providing prototype gears for the Common Solar Array Drive Assembly (CSADA), which will be utilised on several Lockheed Martin satellite platforms. The CSADA performs key functions, including the deployment and rotation of the solar cell arrays that power the spacecraft. This helps ensure they remain optimally positioned towards the Sun. Additionally, Ronson has been awarded a contract for the delivery of anti-backlash output gears. Designed to perform with tight tolerances, these components will be integrated into a subassembly that will be used on several satellite programs. “The agreements with Ronson Gears reinforce Lockheed Martin’s commitment to developing Australia’s space sector,” said Joe North, Lockheed Martin Australia Chief Executive. “Our collaboration with local research and industry partners, like Ronson, demonstrates that Australia has the capabilities here and…

Fast forward to today and Hydramech boasts a fully fitted workshop with an extensive range of new precision machining equipment and a team exceeding 18 people with diverse skills from mobile maintenance to precision machining. The business is innovative and unafraid to move with technology and the constantly changing business environment. Hydramech specialises in mobile mining machinery components including hydraulic cylinder services for underground mining equipment within the Kalgoorlie region. The company is the first choice for cylinder precision machining and fabrication tasks such as cylinder refurbish, repair, rebuild, exchange and sales. Hydramech carries an extensive range of service exchange components to suit Caterpillar, Sandvik, and Epiroc machines, along with complimentary parts for installation and service. Continued business growth and a dedication to timely customer service has driven Hydramech to invest in smarter solutions. A recent investment in several Micron Technologies…

EcoCooling is the result of long-term, interdisciplinary R&D from the same team that developed the technology behind Amazon’s ground-breaking family of front-lit Kindle devices. Now the group of scientists, engineers and experienced businesspeople from various disciplines has developed a dry, clean and environmentally friendly method to lubricate metal workpieces with ionised and cooled air, without using any emulsions. “Workshops have wanted to get rid of fluids and many have tried to find a solution to the problem, but with poor results”, says Leo Hatjasalo, co-founder and CEO of EcoCooling. “Now we have the answer to this demand, since EcoCooling can be used even with the hardest known metals like chrome, titanium and tungsten carbides.” The global market value for metalworking fluids is estimated at approximately US$12bn this year. It is growing steadily, with estimates for the global market value for machine tools expected to grow from US$120bn to US$150bn in five years’…

Prime contractor ASC Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia, has engaged Queensland-based Craig International Ballistics to investigate an Australian solution for ship bridge windows and armour protection. Adelaide-based REDARC Defence Systems has also been engaged to explore an Australian solution to LED lighting. A third Australian company, West Australia-based propeller manufacturer Veem is conducting a study to examine security requirements for local propeller manufacture in Australia. The Minister for Defence, Linda Reynolds, said the feasibility studies demonstrates the Government’s commitment to maximising Australian Industry Content in the construction of Defence’s new anti-submarine warfare frigates. “We are on track to begin the prototyping phase of the Hunter Class Program at the end of this year, which is why it’s vital we continue to form new partnerships with Australian industry as we look ahead to the build phase,” Minister Reynolds said. “These feasibility studies announced today build on a feasibility study already underway into locally manufactured main reduction gearboxes for…

To retain its position as a key supplier to the aerospace industry, XCEL invests heavily in the latest technology and innovation to ensure cost-effective manufacturing of high-quality precision components. As part of this drive to ensure cost-effective manufacturing, the company recently invited tooling manufacturer Guhring to review the machining process on an aerospace valve component. The problem for XCEL was the cost-efficiency of its existing Woodruff type cutters that were being used to machine a cast aluminium component with a 9% silicon content. The previous solid carbide Woodruff cutter consisted of three teeth on a 21.7mm diameter tool, which was both expensive with relatively poor tool life. Only capable of cutting 10 components before tool replacement, the abrasive high-silicone-content aluminium was creating productivity, cost and surface finish issues…

Entitled Ten Ways to Succeed in Australian Manufacturing, the AMGC’s report identifies – as a result of expansive industry consultation – the manufacturing industry’s pain points and opportunities. These points were stress-tested against industry peers, the public and more than 1,000 students to gauge where Australian manufacturers can focus to better align their practices, to increase positive perception, and to grow their overall business impact. COVID-19 then struck, thrusting Australian manufacturing into the national spotlight. Manufacturers responded in record time to produce everything from hand sanitiser to invasive ventilators. However, for some, the impact of the pandemic served to reinforce pain points identified in the report and that businesses need to be worked ‘on’, rather than ‘in’. The response to the pandemic has proven that there is a high level of onshore manufacturing capability and significant public appreciation for the industry. By adopting ten practical steps, manufacturers can become smarter operators:…

With all of its products having direct contact with patients, it’s crucial that Nidek produces fully functional prototypes that precisely replicate the final product. This enables a comprehensive evaluation of the fit, form and function of new devices before investing in expensive clinical trials and moving to final production. As this process often proved costly in terms of lead time and capital, Nidek turned to Stratasys 3D printing in a bid to optimise its prototyping process and, as a result, accelerate its clinical validation. This was demonstrated in a recent project that saw Nidek produce a new automatic Gonioscope, a device designed to observe the space between the iris and cornea. Typically, the R&D team would create the prototypes using traditional manufacturing, requiring expensive injection moulds or using CNC machines to create the individual device components. This led to escalating lead times and, should iterations be required, substantially increased prototyping costs. To overcome these barriers, Nidek invested in a Stratasys Objet500 Connex3 3D printer. “Our prototyping process has become much more streamlined since incorporating Stratasys 3D…

On behalf of the ICN Vctoria Board, Chairman Tim Piper confirmed the appointment on 10 September. He acknowledged the significant contribution by outgoing Executive Director, Grant Anderson, and thanked him for his stewardship of ICN over the past two years. “As Victoria emerges from the substantial impacts of COVID-19, the role of ICN and growing local jobs and content could not be of greater importance,” says Piper. “Grant has been a knowledgeable and excellent leader for ICN, and Dianne will build on this, bringing a fresh perspective for our future challenges.” Smith has exceptional industry and government connections to ICN having served as Chief Executive of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce (part of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) for the past four years, and also as a member of the Victorian State Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Council. Prior to that, she led the state’s peak body for tourism and events, the Victoria Tourism Industry Council. “With the current situation, and in line with our Local Jobs First policy, it is certainly the time to continue our…

The world-first personalised nutrition wearable patch being developed by Melbourne-based start-up Nutromics painlessly measures key dietary biomarkers and sends the information to an app, enabling users to precisely track their bodies’ response to different foods. A collaborative team led by Nutromics, RMIT University, Griffith University, and established medical device manufacturer Romar Engineering, with support from the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC), is now developing the capabilities required to pilot manufacture the device. Diabetes is one of the largest chronic health challenges globally, but with early interventions and lifestyle changes, the condition is often preventable. Nutromics co-CEO Peter Vranes said the smart patch leverages emerging technologies to empower people to take greater control of their health: “Research has shown that what we eat affects us all differently; two people might have the same meal but their post-meal response can vary wildly. People want to make healthy food choices but with so much conflicting nutrition advice, many of us are confused. Being able to…

To improve backend processes, organisations should focus on building digital ecosystems that break down silos that have little interaction, within businesses and between enterprises. By doing so, organisations will increase accessibility and visibility to critical data, enabling swifter corrective action on any issues. Moreover, digital ecosystems allow organisations to make sales via ecommerce, providing more flexibility to customers. There’s no quick fix for building a digital ecosystem; it requires dedication and resources. To develop a digital ecosystem, organisations must break down walls between departments and other enterprises. This can be done by investing in data collection and machine-learning technologies that enable inter-departmental and inter-organisational communication, improving collaboration. With more complete information and real-time analysis, manufacturers can deliver better services and products. Regular maintenance schedules are ever-present in manufacturing, but they can be thrown into disarray when machinery breaks down or requires urgent maintenance or repairs. Not only does this disrupt operations, but it creates unexpected costs for the business: purchasing new machinery, express shipping replacement parts.…

The company that would eventually become Forme Technologies started life in the early 1990s, when Charles Land established CL Plastics in Melbourne’s south-east suburbs. For its first decade in business the company achieved a solid degree of success as a contract manufacturer of plastic components. In the mid-2000s it was acquired by the Anderson family investor group, with Mirko Tappero appointed as General Manager shortly after that. Since then the business has undergone a significant modernisation process, as well as a name change. “The company started out as a nicely run ‘Mom-and-Pop’ sort of organisation, and I think we’ve turned it into a fairly sizable player in the industry,” says Tappero. “We’ve spent a lot of money on automation, mechanisation, streamlining processes and just getting smarter about how we do things. Our biggest investment over the last five or six years has been very modern machinery, coupled with a lot of automation. That’s probably…