Month: May 2021

Founded in 1979, Toolcraft is a leading manufacturing and technology development company based in Holden Hill. The 100% Australian-owned company has supplied precision components and assemblies to the defence, aviation, space, hypersonics, electronics, medical and renewable energy industries for more than 40 years. As a top tier aerospace company, Toolcraft partners with world-leading businesses to design, engineer and manufacture advanced products, systems, and technologies. Toolcraft is an approved supplier for DST Group and many defence Prime contractors, including BAE Systems, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Thales and Rheinmetall. With a quality management system accredited to AS9100D + ISO9001 and capabilities extending from bespoke one-off parts to mass production of full-component assemblies, Toolcraft is equipped for any challenge. The company recently established Toolcraft Defence Technologies Pty Ltd to build internal R&D capability for advanced mechanical systems, focusing on energy, hypersonics and laser integration technologies. In 2020, Toolcraft decided to invest in a new five-axis CMM, not only to enhance its metrology capability, but to increase its capacity…

An important change from ballscrew to linear motion is going from indirect to direct drive, with no need for gearboxes or belts to create movement. Going from rotary direct motion also means big potential increases in speed and acceleration. Although ballscrews still have their advantages, there are trade-offs when selecting any type of actuation based on the application, there are some clear areas of superiority when comparing linear versus rotary motion, and manufacturers offer drop-in replacements as a response to this. One of the standout advantages is dynamism, with much better acceleration and velocity possibilities. With ANCA Motion’s LinX M-Series, a velocity of 10m per second can be achieved, along with a maximum acceleration over 30G. Continuous force range is between 90N and 160N. Another advantage of tubular over flatbed actuation is longer machine life due to there being no contact between moving parts; electromagnetic forces generate the motion, rather than contact between a nut and screw. Going from flatbed to tubular actuation also means greatly improved thermal stability, and therefore less expansion,…

Efficiency programs are commonplace in manufacturing and sustainment programs, particularly in the defence forces and supporting industries. The aim is to produce savings which could be redirected into other priority areas, such as purchasing new equipment or supporting ongoing operations. Understandably, it is extremely worthwhile to seek ways to make infinitesimal gains, even outside those obvious areas where ‘low hanging fruit’ paybacks have already been made, in order to streamline maintenance procedures. One of the relatively under-explored areas where investment in automation can provide tangible value for money through potential reductions in costs is in paint processing and the rework of parts and capital equipment. When considering automation, there are some obvious savings in labour and material usage, but digging deeper, there are a myriad opportunities for a significant return on investment that may not be apparent to those who haven’t worked with robotic paint application equipment before. These improvements include transfer efficiency gains, removal of operators from potentially hazardous environments, a reduction…

Michele Levine, Chief Executive Officer of Roy Morgan, said Australian-made goods enjoyed an outpouring of support in 2020 as international travel was restricted. “Australian-made products have experienced a surge in support during 2020 with a large majority of 93% of Australians more likely to buy a product that is ‘made in Australia’, up 6% points from 2019,” said Levine. “Less than 1% of Australians say they are less likely to buy a product that is ‘made in Australia’ unchanged on a year ago. “The closure of international borders and restrictions on travel around the world appears to have helped increase support for Australian-made goods. Although the preference for Australian-made goods is very high across all age groups, it is Baby Boomers (96%) and Generation X (94%) who are even more likely to prefer Australian-made products than other generations.” Australian Made Chief Executive Ben Lazzaro said Roy Morgan’s latest research comes as…

Based in Frenchs Forest, NSW, Black Lab’s focus is on design, manufacturing diversity, flexibility and super-competitive delivery times. Having a skilled, capable team enables the operation to work closely with its customers from concept through development to manufacture and deliver within a critical lead time. “We are continually trying to find ways to solve traditional problems and challenge the old ways of doing things,” explains Daen Simmat, CEO of Black Lab Design Simmat is a highly experienced industrial designer who is passionate about designing for manufacture and creating effective, fit-for-purpose solutions in a timely manner. He is driven and ambitious to showcase the capabilities of the Black Lab team and the manufacturing industry in Australia. “When establishing the business, a key challenge was determining how to grow high-value sales of large volumes of diverse high-quality products in a short period, without incurring significant additional capital investment costs,” he explains. “Our strategy is to pursue high-value business across market segments that include major retailers, industrial applications…

“Jobsite productivity has been a huge challenge due to COVID-19,” says George Maglaras, Sales & Technical Director, Stanley Black&Decker. “This is the result of several factors, including the level of skilled trades able to work on-site at any time, and the shift of resources due to social distancing restrictions.” The road to recovery will require continual government and private investment to drive the various sectors of the market, supported by the availability of finance. Economic activity generated by increased public-sector investment in infrastructure will not only offset the downturn in private sector investment, but also create the necessary momentum to entice private sector businesses to focus on important areas of commercial building like health and education. “In a COVID-normal environment, we anticipate higher ‘work done’ volumes than 2020 and see an effort to play catch-up to reign in the delays in construction timelines from 2020,” says Maglaras. “Hopefully we will see the…

The new facility called Neo-Bionica, a joint venture between the Bionics Institute and the University of Melbourne, is a highly specialised laboratory, purpose-built with the latest cleanroom technology, cutting edge robotic equipment, enhanced 3D printing and precision engineering tools needed to develop prototypes and manufacture medical devices for clinical trials. Bionics Institute CEO Robert Klupacs said that providing researchers and engineers with the capability to build clinical trial grade medical devices in Australia will increase the speed from initial concept to clinical application. “Our Institute is renowned worldwide for developing life changing medical devices such as the cochlear implant, Minder epileptic seizure monitoring device and a unique nerve stimulation technique for the treatment of ulcerative colitis,” Klupacs said. “And yet, we currently depend on companies overseas to build prototypes of the latest medical devices for use in clinical trials. “The opening of Neo-Bionica in July will completely change how we translate Australian innovation, enabling home grown inventions to be manufactured rapidly…

1MILLIKELVIN’s technology can identify and measure minute changes in temperature in solid objects that are a direct result of the structural loads (compression and tension) applied to it. For example, it can image complex aircraft structures undergoing fatigue testing, and generate highly accurate and detailed full field stress maps. The system achieves this via small infrared cameras and sophisticated real-time image and data processing to capture high-resolution close-up images of the object and identify critical stress hot spots. Referred to as MiTE (Microbolometer Thermoelastic Evaluation), the device has been developed under the stewardship of 1MILLIKELVIN and the Department of Defence – the same department responsible for inventing the revolutionary black-box flight recorder. With such lineage, MiTE has the potential to reinvent the way engineers and scientists measure the integrity of structures, with significant implications for safety and productivity. “As a former salesman for a multinational infrared imaging specialist, I had been aware for some time of this transformative technology under development at Defence…

While your options to revisit pre-existing contracts with a view to ‘COVID normal’ may be limited, learnings from the last year can and should be put to use when negotiating future dealings. Ensuring that contracts are negotiated and drafted to account for the impacts of a global event like a pandemic should be standard practice. Whatever form the contract takes – “standard form”, longstanding in use on successive transactions, bespoke subcontract or supply agreement – it should be vetted to allow for all potential COVID-19 impacts. Indeed, at the time of writing (February 2021), Victorian businesses have just emerged from a snap five-day lockdown. The need to address these types of risks remains ever-present. Courts and tribunals generally will not interfere with otherwise clear contractual terms, even if the agreement places one party in a far more commercially or legally onerous position than the other. At its most fundamental, this means the objective remains: Preserving the…

Founded by Bob Kierlin back in 1967, the US-based company that started as a small business selling fasteners has exploded into a 20,000 worldwide workforce with 10 manufacturing facilities, as well as thousands of branches offering more than 750,000 available manufacturing items. Despite an unfathomable product range, with unsurpassed availability, it is the 10 manufacturing sites with more than 500 staff that sets Fastenal apart from its competitors. With more than 200 staff, the largest manufacturing site is located at the company’s headquarters in Winona, Minnesota, which is also home to two Vollmer circular saw blade sharpening machines. The story behind Fastenal’s decision to buy two Vollmer machines starts back in the 1980s when the company first started manufacturing and modifying fasteners for its customer base. With tens of thousands of fasteners being modified each month in all shapes and…

Manufactured in Mulwala, New South Wales, the Jones rocket motor was co-designed with Southern Launch, an innovative Australian SME that provides launch services, bespoke rocket subsystems and operates the Koonibba Test Range, Australia’s first licenced launch site for overland suborbital rocket testing. Dion Habner, Managing Director of Australia Munitions, said the rocket motor firing was a core risk mitigation step in a joint program with Southern Launch to expand Australia’s sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability. “This represents a critical milestone in the return to routine rocket motor manufacturing at the Mulwala Munitions facility,” said Habner. “In the late 1990s advanced warhead and rocket motor facilities were established at Mulwala and since then advanced warheads, military rocket motors and ignition systems have been safely manufactured on site. “Every day, high explosives and propellants are produced for systems used by Australian and allied forces, including the explosive effectors for GBU-12 aerial laser-guided bombs. Testing activities are a routine part of operations in Australia’s…

Based in Dudley Park, in Adelaide’s north-west suburbs, PRP Manufacturing plans to hold a celebration event around June to mark the company’s 30th year in business. Loyal customers who have been buying its products since the company first started will be VIP guests at the event, and PRP’s founder, owner and Director Steve Sernecki is keen to catch up with several long-term clients. He mentions Ken and Christine Bridges, who own B&R Enclosures, a designer and manufacturer of electrical enclosures headquartered in Queensland, with distribution centres worldwide. “When I first started the business, I asked Christine if B&R would support my new venture,” recalls Steve. “She said yes, and B&R Enclosures has stayed loyal to us for 30 years. We have been supplying them with thousands of gaskets for their electrical enclosures over that time.” Another company that has been a customer since the very start is Philmac Pty Ltd. The…

Held on 29 April in Edinburgh, the AIC opening saw nearly 100 industry representatives, sponsors, dignitaries, and media come together to join this historic industry moment in a new ‘Centre of Excellence’. Underscoring the significance of the event for South Australia and Australian manufacturing, Senator Rex Patrick was the guest of honour, who symbolically cut the ribbon to declare the industry leading facility open for business. Patrick was joined by Jon Gee MP, State Member for Taylor; AIC Managing Director Luke Truskinger, and Stuart Charity, CEO of the AAAA. “We are proud to launch this facility in Adelaide, a location that boasts a great number of innovative aftermarket companies,” said Charity. “This facility, in addition to the Melbourne AIC centre, is the culmination of eight years of passion and hard work, and opens up new product development opportunities for businesses, while playing a role in supporting the health of this great industry. “Bringing these centres to…