Month: January 2021

The team, led by the Linköping University in Sweden, travelled to ANSTO’s Lucas Heights Campus prior to commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic to study how the orientation of the part impacts the additive manufacturing (AM) process. Using ANSTO’s Kowari strain scanner, a scientific, non-destructive technique known as neutron diffraction was used to measure and characterise residual stresses within nickel-based superalloy samples that were produced by selective laser melting (SLM) AM method. Superalloys are an important group of high-temperature metals and are often used in the hottest sections of jet and rocket engines, where temperatures can reach 1,200 to 1400 degrees Celsius. The technique, which allows you to “see inside” a material without damaging it, is used at ANSTO to study materials commonly used in industry. It can reveal information about the structural integrity of pipes, rail and bridge sections, along with many other metal components. The research concluded that the particular direction in…

Next time you’re driving down the road, take a look around you: crash barriers, light poles, road signs, the re-bar in the concrete bridge, even the very car you’re driving. All of these elements rely on welding. Welding played an enormous role in the second industrial revolution. Without welding, we wouldn’t have the modern motor car, high-speed trains, or jet planes. We wouldn’t be able to generate power. We wouldn’t have advanced manufacturing facilities. Our world today simply wouldn’t look the same. Welders build the very world in which we live. However, it’s not just the pervasive nature of the welding process that makes it so essential – welding is also vital to the strength of Australia’s economy. Essential to employment Australia’s welding and fabrication industry is responsible for the employment of more than 78,900 people, 91% of whom are employed on a full-time basis. While not an absolute, part-time and casual roles are more…

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have had to face once-in-a-lifetime challenges, perhaps both personally and economically. At the same time, geopolitical tensions have created uncertainty for some manufacturers with exposure to international markets. However, once-in-a-lifetime challenges also present significant opportunities for those who are willing to learn and adapt. With that in mind, new innovations in manufacturing technology are a key development for manufacturers seeking sustainable growth in this changing climate. For many years manufacturing played a significant role in Australia’s economic success and was one of the country’s biggest employment providers. In the 1980s, for instance, it accounted for roughly 16% of the country’s workforce—more than any other industry. So although Australia currently ranks last among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries for manufacturing self-sufficiency, there is a history of success. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted economies around the world, but Australian manufacturing can adapt, capitalising on international supply…

The agreement will establish capabilities in metal additive manufacturing technology at the Sydney Manufacturing Hub, a space for training specialists and academics working in additive manufacturing, and the incubation of small to medium manufacturing enterprises. Located at the University of Sydney’s Darlington campus, the Sydney Manufacturing Hub will enable advanced alloy design and applications to support a range of sectors including aerospace, defence, medicine and agriculture. Following a memorandum of understanding signed in 2018 and GE Additive’s agreement with the New South Wales government to develop additive manufacturing capabilities in Western Sydney, the parties will work together on developing the broader advanced manufacturing agenda within NSW and Australia. Advanced manufacturing accounts for half of Australia’s manufacturing output and is one of the fastest growing export sectors. The output of Australian manufacturing is estimated to reach $131bn by 2026, with advanced manufacturing potentially growing the domestic sector by approximately $30bn over the next five years. Sam Maresh, country leader, GE Australia, said: “This is a breakthrough for Australia’s advanced manufacturing industry. Via the Sydney Manufacturing Hub,…

AVALON 2021 has been placed on the Schedule of Approved Business Events for the new Australian Government Business Events Grants Program. Organisations planning to exhibit may be eligible to apply for a grant from the Government to cover up to 50% of the costs of participation at AVALON 2021. The AVALON Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition is one of the Indo-Asia-Pacific’s most prestigious events and the most comprehensive aviation, aerospace and defence exposition in the Southern Hemisphere. Set to take place from 23-28 November at Avalon Airport in Geelong, Victoria, AVALON 2021 will be a cornerstone event in a year marking the Centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The eligible costs, towards which exhibitors may be able to apply for a grant, include: Space hire. Design and manufacture. Travel or accommodation. The full list of eligible expenditure is detailed in the grant opportunity documentation issued by the Australian Government. The Business Events Grants program will open at midday…

The Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) introduced the online Register in March, so local manufacturers and suppliers of crucial products such as personal protective equipment (PPE) could support the national response to the pandemic. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said having stepped up to support domestic production – manufacturers can now take on new markets and sell their products overseas. “By opening the Register to international buyers, Australian companies will be able to utilise the skills and supplies they have developed and keep people in jobs, while helping in the fight against COVID-19 overseas,” Andrews said. “The Register has been very helpful in matching manufacturers and suppliers of COVID-19 related products to areas of demand. “It has enabled businesses, hospitals, GPs and community groups to find suppliers of PPE, including masks and gowns, and hand sanitiser. The Register has fostered impressive collaboration between companies and accelerated the development of such products as ventilators and relief beds.” AMGC Managing Director Jens Goennemann…

Looking to 2021, the report, Business experiences in 2020 and outlook for 2021, finds that most businesses are set to retain at least some of the operational and workplace changes adopted in response to the pandemic. They are, however, acutely aware of weak demand for their goods and services. Further, despite the introduction of tax incentives for capital expenditure, most businesses have no plans to invest in the near term and non-mining business investment in 2020-21 is currently anticipated to be between 5% and 10% lower than in 2019-20. In releasing the report, Innes Willox, Chief Executive of Ai Group said: “The economic recovery to date has been led by decisive policy measures on the part of the federal, state and territory governments and the Reserve Bank. While businesses are picking themselves up and bringing people back to work, many still worry that what we are seeing may be merely a bounce rather than the onset of self-sustaining…