Month: July 2021

The Australian Manufacturing Outlook survey revealed confidence that the Australian economy is growing, with more companies signaling they intend to bring manufacturing operations back to Australia. Nearly one quarter (22%) of respondents have already reshored operations, with nearly half of companies’ overall manufacturing capacity (48%) targeted to return to Australia by 2023. Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia are poised to lead the nation’s charge on reshoring over the next three years according to respondents, with a focus on creating local jobs and growing priority sectors such as lithium batteries, defence and space, and capitalising on their respective geographic advantages. The rise to reshore has been driven by the need to future-proof critical supply chains in the face of market change and disruption, to minimise risk and protect jobs in key industries. This is coupled with the Federal Government’s support through the Modern Manufacturing Strategy and strong consumer preference (89%) towards our nation producing more products,…

The newly announced Hub, established with funding from the Victorian Government and supported by industry partners SmartSat CRC, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and FrontierSI, is set to connect local business and research capabilities with global opportunities in space technology. Considered one of the world’s leading academic researchers in aerospace technologies, Falzon brings a wealth of capability and experience in the advanced manufacturing sector; in aerospace He said it was an exciting time to take up the role, with the world on the cusp of a new space revolution. “The emergence of new technologies and highly efficient launch vehicles means that access to space is no longer the preserve of governments with large budgets,” he said. “This democratisation of space is opening up tremendous opportunities in the development and exploitation of upstream and downstream technologies.” Falzon said Victoria was well placed to become a global research and innovation centre in these space-related technologies: “We have a strong research and industrial aerospace manufacturing sector, world-leading expertise in additive manufacturing, data science and visualisation, atmospheric studies, and navigation, among others, underpinned by several…

Funding between $20m and $200m is available for large-scale projects, cover up to 33% of eligible project expenditure. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said the Collaboration Stream will see the Government strategically invest in projects that help manufacturers to scale up and create jobs, with investment targeted at supporting projects within the National Manufacturing Priorities. “Australians know that strong, successful manufacturing businesses make for a stronger country,” Minister Porter said. “We want to co-invest in transformative, industry-led proposals that will spur private sector investment, encouraging our manufacturers to draw on each other’s strengths and harness our world class research. “The Collaboration Stream is the largest component of our Modern Manufacturing Strategy, and focuses on long-term transformation in the National Manufacturing Priority areas to support job creation and investment in Australian manufacturing.” The $1.5bn Modern Manufacturing Strategy supports Australian manufacturers to scale up, build resilience, become more competitive and create jobs. The Strategy will harness Australian manufacturing capability…

Austal’s new VOLTA series is distinct from existing, electric-powered vessels in the marketplace by going beyond the replacement of diesel engines with an electric (battery) power plant, to offer a completely integrated design, construction and support solution – including on-shore charging infrastructure and in-service support programs for operators. VOLTA series vessels combine all new, lightweight, low-resistance hull forms, specifically designed, tested and optimised for electric-power propulsion, with state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries. Austal provides operators with a fully customised design and ‘turnkey’ solution, taking into account passenger numbers, vessel schedules and charging infrastructure. Austal Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said the new VOLTA series represent the future of commercial maritime transport, offering operators a cost-effective electric-powered vessel capable of zero emissions, lower operating costs, a quieter and more comfortable ride, and outstanding reliability. “For any high speed vessel and even more so for electric-powered ferries, optimising vessel weight and performance is essential - driving not just operating costs, but the size and upfront purchase…

All six manufacturing sectors in the Australian PMI expanded in June, with five expanding at a faster pace than in May (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with higher results indicating a faster rate of expansion). Businesses that directly supply the construction sector reported strong results, saying they are investing to increase capacity, increasing employment and diversifying suppliers to keep up with demand. Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said: “The 2020-21 financial year closed on a high note for Australia’s manufacturing sector. Ai Group’s June Australian PMI pointed to record growth across the sector fuelled by the fastest recorded pace of expansion in each of the food & beverages; machinery & equipment; building materials; and chemicals sectors.” All seven activity indices in the Australian PMI expanded in June. Exports returned to strength, reversing May’s contraction (up 11.3 points to 60.2), while new orders accelerated into very strong expansion (up 5.7 points to 70.6), suggesting confidence for ongoing demand and a…

Custom manufacturing — the process of designing, engineering, and producing goods based on a customer’s unique specifications — poses unique challenges for manufacturers. With high-volume manufacturing, the goal of the machine shop is to make thousands — or millions — of products at a low cost per unit. Design and manufacturing practices allow companies to deliver goods at prices acceptable to consumers, with a small profit margin-per-unit that multiplies across the whole manufacturing run. However, it’s a different story with built-to-order (BTO) one-off parts or shorter production runs. The operator must adapt the cutting data and choice of tool to guarantee quality and productivity and ensure that the aforementioned price points are met. These parameters should be implemented quickly, to produce a product type the operator may never have worked with before. Furthermore, the process may entail machining tough workpiece materials…

South Australia-based Tindo Solar – Australia’s only manufacturer of solar panels – was one of the companies awarded a grant. It will receive $1m towards its $5.3m state-of-the-art-solar panel production facility. The company will produce panels specifically designed for Australian conditions and estimates up to 60 jobs will be created by the project. “Tindo Solar was successful in securing a grant from the MMF Round 2,” said Shayne Jaenisch, Chief Executive Officer of Tindo. “The grant will be instrumental in completing our new manufacturing facility at Mawson Lakes, and installing a new world-class production line that will be used to make the latest generation solar modules.” Jaenisch said Tindo Solar had less than 1.0% of the Australian solar panel market, and it competed with high-volume, low-priced solar panels from China: “We have a growing and successful business because we produce high-quality solar panels that are suited to the Australian climate, and which produce reliable power at the claimed rating for 25 years. Even though we can’t compete on price with Chinese…

Rare earth elements are a collection of 17 soft heavy metals that are indispensable to a growing array of advanced technologies ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles (EVs) to military weapon systems. Despite their name, rare earths are relatively widespread in the Earth’s crust. Their “rarity” is due to their low concentrations, which makes them difficult to extract. China contains approximately 35% of the rare earth deposits in the world, but over 95% of the world’s production. In 1992, China’s then-leader Deng Xiaoping remarked: “The Middle East has oil, China has rare earth” Because China prioritises not just extraction, but separating and processing into usable elements, its monopoly is forecast to last for a few more years. Exercising this…

The first episode is a conversation between Terry Wohlers, founder and president, and Noah Mostow, director of market intelligence and publications, both of Wohlers Associates. They touch on the origin of the Wohlers Report and views on what the future might look like. The report was first published 26 years ago and serves as the undisputed industry-leading report on AM and 3D printing worldwide. The Wohlers Audio Series will include a wide range of subjects, such as the development and adoption of materials for AM. For three decades, photopolymers have been the dominant material. Over the past five years, polymer powders for powder bed fusion have caught up with photopolymers. The values in the vertical axis represent millions of dollars in revenue from these materials. Wohlers Associates expects polymer powders to overtake photopolymers as the dominant AM material over the next couple of years as series production applications increase. Wohlers is part of a unique group…