Month: January 2021

Over the next 12 months, co-funded through the new IMCRC activate program, metal forming experts from Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) will set up an Industry 4.0-enabled manufacturing cell equipped with smart vision technologies to trace, evaluate, and continuously monitor the profile shape and forming load of corrugated steel strips used in FormFlow’s bending process. Dr Matt Dingle, Managing Director at FormFlow, said the project represents a vital next step in FormFlow’s technology development and commercialisation journey. “FormFlow’s bending technology is unique,” Dingle said. “It is a secondary forming operation that relies on the theory of ‘folded developables’ to limit material deformation in incoming roll formed strip to simple bending while forming a complex shape, such as a 90-degree angle. “To achieve this, the profile shape of the incoming corrugated strip must conform to the surface contours of our bending technology. Unfortunately, this is often not the case as different steel manufacturers use different profile shapes and material…

As part of the manufacturing process, 3D printing can help reduce costs enough that major carmakers and other industry participants have started exploring the technology. Electric vehicles (EVs) – one of the more tech-forward fields in the transportation industry – are pushing the technology in a completely new direction. While most efforts to integrate 3D printing with manufacturing focus on using the technology to substitute certain components and parts during the process, the EV sector takes 3D printing a step further. Most recently, the industry stirred excitement following one company’s announcement that it planned to commence selling 3D-printed vehicles. A success on that scale could transform 3D printing from a luxury to a major necessity across the automotive industry. From components to complete cars The automotive industry is no stranger to 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing due to the layered manner in which components are constructed). Late in 2018, BMW announced that it had printed more than one million components, with the…

Established in 1930, Victor Footwear is a fifth-generation family owned and operated Australian footwear manufacturer responsible for the truly ‘Aussie Born and Bred’ Mongrel Boots brand of safety and non-safety work boots. Whether you prefer a lace up, an elastic side or a ZipSider (which the company was first to create back in 2006) - with over 45 styles of safety and non-safety work boots to choose from, you’re sure to find a pair of Mongrel Boots that fit! Every pair of Mongrel Boots remains proudly designed and manufactured at the company’s purpose-built factory in Sydney, Australia. Here Victor blends an old school attitude for workmanship with the latest technology and innovation, in order to deliver each customer with the most perfectly engineered boot for the job at hand. Utilising advanced technology Compressed air is an essential utility required in many stages of the manufacturing process at Victor. This includes powering a lot of the production machinery used to produce the footwear uppers and soles such as the lasting machines - which draws, stretches and bends the upper of the boots. Another key piece of production machinery that depends on a reliable supply of compressed air to operate, are…

Based in Noble Park, Victoria, HSP 4×4 Accessories is an Australian-owned business specialising in the design, prototyping, manufacture and sale of high-quality, cutting-edge accessories for 4×4 and ute lovers across the country and around the world. HSP’s mission is simple: to create and distribute beautifully engineered products that create an effortless collaboration between the vehicle and the user. Innovation is at the core of the business, and inspires HSP Accessories to constantly strive to achieve advancements in all facets of the industry. According to co-founder Massih Aimaq, HSP’s commitment to setting new benchmarks is one of the reasons behind the company’s prompt rise to become a front-runner in an industry that he believes had been innovatively stagnant for far too long. “The traditional tub cover industry has become complacent,” Massih explains. “As part of the automotive industry it was frustrating to see the lack of creativity coming out…

Food & beverage is an important part of manufacturing, itself an important sector in rebuilding the Australian economy post-pandemic. Food is the biggest part of the local manufacturing industry. Out of the top 100 Australian manufacturers by revenue, 35 are in food & beverage, and it makes up over a quarter of all manufacturing jobs and value-added output. The sector is a net exporter, selling to more than 200 markets and enjoying an enviable “clean and green” reputation globally for excellence. It is vital and resilient, continuing to grow even through recent conditions for manufacturers described as “reminiscent of... the Global Financial Crisis (GFC)”. Food manufacturing is also viewed by some of our leading businesspeople as a key area for accelerating the country’s economic recovery. To do the best at the important job ahead, the food & beverage sector – like every other – will need to find better ways of working. This includes investing in its people and processes, and adopting…

Thanks to adapted tools and a new, high-pressure-capable minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) system, botek and Bielomatik have succeeded in using deep hole drilling tools with small diameters in a reliable process even under unfavourable conditions. Deep hole drilling is considered to be a reliable and cost-effective process that is significantly better than other drilling methods in terms of machining quality. These advantages can be exploited in many applications where often only a small bore centerline deviation is permitted. In addition, surfaces with very low roughness values may be required, for example if they have to be cleaned afterwards without leaving any residues. Here, deep hole drilling is often the only method that enables such results without subsequent machining of the hole. Optimal conditions for their implementation are a special deep hole drilling machine, deep hole drilling oil with HP additives, coolant pressure of up to 160 or…

Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula on 12 January signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hanwha, a major South Korean global company, to formalise a long-term partnership that will support the establishment of Hanwha’s defence manufacturing operations in Victoria. Pakula was at Laverton North to see Hanwha’s LAND 400 Phase 3 vehicle, after the Commonwealth selected Hanwha as one of two final tenderers, along with Rheinmetall in Queensland. “Victoria is the home of Australian manufacturing and we are pleased to be working with Hanwha to maximise opportunities for more high-value jobs to be created in Geelong,” said Pakula. “The range of companies working in defence industries is staggering, and we’re backing them to grow further.” A PWC report commissioned by Hanwha estimated that the LAND 400 Phase 3 manufacturing effort would generate $5.7bn in total economic impacts in Victoria. Hanwha is also looking to build 30 self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured resupply vehicles in Geelong, and carry out maintenance and repairs during their…

Excitement was at an all-time peak at Renner Auto this October, when the first of four Renner Auto Speedsters rolled out for inspection and testing. These updated classic vehicles are being built using the latest in advanced manufacturing at the company’s workshop in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Proudly standing beside these four Speedsters – open with chassis, engine and internal components on display – Ferraro says that the first two Speedsters will be ready before Christmas, with the other two completed early next year. Nearby, team member and fellow engineer Kevin Reich performs general assembly work on another of the Speedsters. The vehicles are all replicas of the classic 1956 Porsche 356A Speedster, but with modern high-tech mechanical and electronic systems. Ferraro points to the PWR radiator and turbo charger intercoolers in each of the four cars and advises: “PWR is a tremendous partner in our Speedster recreations and one of the…

Light amplification of stimulated emission of radiation – or laser for short –  technology does not sit still. Since the first demonstration of a ruby laser in 1960, humankind has sought to harness this versatile light source to create and develop new applications never before achieved. Lasers have become well established in industrial processes such as welding, the cladding of fatigued or worn parts, or for cutting metal used in manufacturing sectors such as automotive, aerospace and medical instruments. Then there is the vital task of product traceability, where lasers can ablate surfaces such as glass wine bottles with a permanent Julian code or identification mark. They can even engrave a unique identification code on every medical instrument used in hospitals – readable by both humans and machines. More recently a new process has taken manufacturing by storm: that of 3D metal printing. For more than 25 years Raymax Applications has found the latest “best in class” lasers and laser technology for companies and research facilities across…

Entitled Why Victoria needs high-quality VET and Technologies Teacher Education, the report from the Campaign for VET and Technologies Education (CVTE) lays bare an array of current issues for schools, students and students’ future careers. It argues for the reintroduction of vocational education & training (VET) and Technologies initial teacher education (ITE) programs following the closure of the sole program in Victoria producing secondary qualified VET and Technologies teachers for Victorian schools. According to the report, secondary schools are now unable to offer the high quality of education needed due to long-standing skill shortages of secondary qualified VET and Technologies teachers. Moreover, now that the only course producing secondary qualified VET and Technologies teachers for Victorian schools closed in 2020, the full impact is yet to be realised. This confluence of events will see many schools become unable to offer Technologies programs and many applied learning programs and pathways are in jeopardy. This holds serious implications for Victorian schools and their capacity to fulfill ‘high-quality’ teaching and…

Based in Wheeling, Illinois, much has changed since Mike Haupers, the son of an instrument maker specialising in dental instrument making, founded SPM in 1979 with just two machines and two employees. Mike’s daughters grew up with the business, and today Cassandra Haupers is SPM’s Vice-President of Operations, while Jennifer Haupers Adair is the company’s Quality Assurance/Continuous Improvements Manager. “My dad started manufacturing dental components, then people started hearing the name and recognising the quality and competitive pricing, and SPM became a job shop,” Cassandra explains. “Manufacturing has been in our family for three generations. My sister Jennifer and I started working at SPM in high school. When I was in college, I worked two days a week in the office and ran the machines for an entire summer. My dad taught me how to tackle challenging parts, and I understand…

Williams will be working closely with Dimac’s Managing Director Paul Fowler to ensure they continue to provide customers with innovative and productive solutions combined with professional levels of service, support and back up. “Matthew’s intimate knowledge of the CNC machining industry and the needs of our customers will be of huge benefit to the business,” said Fowler. “Despite 2020’s challenging environment we believe there is a renewed confidence and optimism for Australia’s manufacturing sector – reflected in the Morrison government’s commitment to a $1.5bn Modern Manufacturing Strategy over the next four years. We anticipate good demand for our range of solutions.” “Quite simply we see our role as ensuring CNC milling and turning operators have access to a range of products that will optimise the efficiency and productivity of their CNC machine,” Mr Fowler added. William has an extensive record of industry experience, including managing sales for a leading CNC woodworking machinery provider for the past five years. He has also held sales and application roles in the CNC…

Bremont is a true British manufacturing success story. Founded by brothers Nick and Giles English in 2002, the company specialises in the manufacture of certified chronometers for the aviation sector. These watches are assembled, as well as shock- and quality-tested, at the manufacturer’s dedicated headquarters in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, in the UK. Production of the main components, such as stainless steel backs and casings, takes place just a few minutes’ drive away. High demand and the launch of six new watch designs meant that Bremont’s production capacity had to be increased. To achieve this, the company purchased an NTX 1000, a state-of-the-art five-axis machining centre from DMG MORI, which came equipped with tool packages from Sandvik Coromant. The project was six months in the making, explains Mathew Bates, a machine tool investment specialist from Sandvik Coromant’s UK Machine Tool Solutions team. “From the beginning, the objective was to deliver a ‘right first time’ solution,” explains Bates. “We wanted Bremont to be able to use…