Month: January 2023

Australian advanced manufacturer ANCA is pleased to announce it has received the first round of funding under its Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) grant from the Australian Government. ANCA will establish a precision manufacturing cell at its Bayswater headquarters, using the grant delivered through the Modern Manufacturing Initiative. The company supplies advanced tool-making machines and technology to aerospace, medical, automotive, and electronic industries, exporting to more than 45 countries. Assistant Minister for Manufacturing Tim Ayres said he was pleased to announce the grant, delivering this advanced manufacturing capability at a time when building sovereign capability has never been more important. “Over the last decade, Australian exports have slipped down the global value chain as our exports have become less complex,” Assistant Minister Ayres said. “This grant will enable ANCA to build a new designated precision manufacturing cell and continue enhancing Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capabilities. It will also create an estimated 157 highly skilled jobs during the project and about 330 jobs after five years.” This grant is under the MMI,…

Designed and created by Brisbane aerospace company Aeromech, the “drone” – known as SARGO (Search and Rescue Go) - is an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) that is set to revolutionise the way search and rescue operations are performed in life-threatening conditions. Aeromech Director and the Australian inventor of SARGO, Joe Bryant, says there’s nothing else like it on the world stage. “The difference with SARGO is that it is a USV designed specifically to be dropped from search and rescue fixed-wing aircraft to land safely on top of the ocean’s surface using a parachute. It can then be operated remotely to transport a payload of life-saving cargo to a stricken vessel or to people stranded in the water,” said Bryant, an aerospace engineer. “The overall design and capabilities of SARGO are different to anything else on the market currently deployed by Marine SAR and Coast Guard aircraft,” said Bryant. Existing products delivered by a fixed-winged aircraft must be dropped directly to a target and cannot be navigated remotely, which makes their delivery method limited and inaccurate. “That’s why SARGO…

On any given day in Christchurch, New Zealand, you’ll find old car radiators, tangled electrical wires, taps, and other trinkets, slowly bubbling away inside a furnace at temperatures around 1500 degrees Celsius. Once these items are reduced to a molten form, they are converted into forty types of specialised bronze and brass alloys, which can then be transformed by on-site machining processes into precision components such as valves, engine parts, gears, and even bushes and other critical components within wind turbines. Such is a day in the life of AW Fraser. Since the 1930’s, AW Fraser has been offering an end-to-end solution for high-grade metal components. Since then, the company has become a global leader in supplying bronze and brass components to over 35 countries globally. Metal comes to AW Fraser and is sent to the scrap bay, where it is sorted, graded, and turned into a form the foundry can use, referred to as a charge. Each charge is issued per alloy of what AW Fraser is trying to make. Products are cast into horizontal castings, vertical castings,…

This huge event is being held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 9-12 May 2023. Run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2023 will occupy more than 10,000 square metres of exhibition space at the MCEC, with more than 270 organisations taking stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. Don’t miss out!  Register online now at australianmanufacturingweek.com.au There will be seven Zones on the show floor of Australian Manufacturing Week, each showcasing its own areas of expertise.  These include: Austech Machine Tools, sponsored by ISCAR; Additive Manufacturing Zone; Australian Manufacturers Zone, sponsored by Sutton Tools; Manufacturing Solutions Zone, sponsored by Adobe; Robotics & Automation Zone; Weld and Air Solutions Zone, sponsored by AtlasCopco; Plastic Technology Zone. MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS ZONE The Manufacturing Solutions Zone offers optimised solutions to the most common challenges experienced by manufacturers. From materials handling and warehousing to integrated manufacturing and safety solutions. The manufacturing industry would not be able to function effectively without a diverse array of ancillary technologies and support services. The Manufacturing Solutions incorporates everything from equipment for…

A simple and versatile nanoparticle ink could help next-generation perovskite solar cells to be printed at scale and become the dominant force in commercial photovoltaics. Made from tin oxide, the ink is created with just one key step at a relatively low temperature using microwave technology, and without any need for further purification. It’s then used in solar cells to help selectively transport electrons, which is crucial to generating electricity. Prototype devices built with this method have recorded power-conversion efficiencies of 18%, which is among the best efficiencies for a planar-structured perovskite solar cell processed at low temperatures. The ink is suitable for making different types of perovskite solar cells, including with glass, and for printing onto plastic, which can be done cheaply at high volumes. This technique, called roll-to-roll coating, is similar to the way newspapers are printed. Within the ink product, the average size of each particle can be controlled to remain between just five and 10 nanometres. To put that in context, a sheet of paper is 100,000 nanometres thick, and your fingernails grow one nanometre every…

In the early years, it was only a few adopters who were willing to consider all electrics. The time it took a customer to move from a hydraulic machine to an all-electric was very long. That time has now passed and sales of all electrics continue to grow at an ever-accelerating rate. Shorter cycle times. In contrast to its hydraulic counterpart, an all-electric injection moulding machine can perform several tasks simultaneously in parallel operation. Highly dynamic Sumitomo-designed drive motors ensure fast, ultra-precise movements. Sumitomo’s switching times are in the low millisecond range due to the advanced drive technology such as frequency converters, control modules and drive motors. If there is cycle time to be saved in an injection moulding process, an all-electric injection moulding machine will find it. Time = money! Maximum performance of the direct drives improves product quality. Highly dynamic movements not only help to shorten the cycle time but…

Cobots can be used to automate millions of tasks – from detailed work right through to palletising. “Each cobot model is better suited to certain tasks and it’s our job to work alongside our customers to determine what will work best for them,” explains Masayuki Mase, Country Manager for Universal Robots Oceania. “For instance, a UR3e is a tabletop model that will suit a business looking to automate non-load-bearing tasks, while a larger cobot arm such as the UR10e can be used to automate heavier jobs,” he says. Versatility all the way For a small business, the fact that cobots have many uses remains one of their biggest assets. They can be reprogrammed to fill gaps that emerge in virtually any area of the business, from palletising to the production line, in very little time. And one core component is responsible for cobots’ versatility: their end effectors. “End effectors, also known as the end of arm tooling (EOAT), are a vital component of all cobots,” Masa explains. “They are attached…

CRC grants provide funding for industry-led research centres that can transform Australian know-how into practical outcomes for Australian businesses. The grants can support industry-led collaborative research centres of up to ten years duration. “The Government’s CRC program supports research and development initiatives that result in significant benefits to industry and the community,” Minister Husic said. “This funding can provide an often-missing step between research and commercialisation.” The latest evaluation of the CRC program, released today, shows it is working to strengthen the bond between industry and research organisations. “This evaluation found CRCs will contribute about $32.5bn towards economic productivity by 2025 through commercialisation of new technologies, products, and services that solve real problems for industry,” Minister Husic said. “The evaluation also concluded CRCs will continue to help address Australia’s economic, environmental and social challenges by enhancing capability of the research workforce.” Grant applications are open to all industry sectors and research disciplines, with applicants at least matching the funding sought through cash or in‑kind contributions from partners. Since the CRC…

To visit Boss Tooling in Melbourne’s manufacturing heartland of Dandenong South is to witness a team with an outstanding passion for the industry, high integrity in performance for the customer and an unbelievable work ethic that will ensure success for this growing business. Boss Tooling was established in 2013 by Partners and Directors Simone Kramer and Brian Cogley. Located in a small building within a business complex, their original purchase was a second-hand Okuma machine at auction and this was ultimately upgraded to 4-axis. From one machine Brian and Simone purchased another second-hand machine privately in a brand that Brian had been familiar with during his training and with the business continuing to expand, an additional new 4-axis Okuma Machining Centre was also commissioned early on. Prior to the pandemic, the company experienced a quiet period which was of concern to the young couple so a rather nervous and inexperienced salesman Brian, set out on a sales mission to drum up business and expose the company’s capabilities to the industry. His technical knowledge soon shone through and after a face-to-face call of some two hours discussion with…

Registrations are now open for Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2023), held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 9-12 May 2023. Run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2023 will occupy more than 10,000 square metres of exhibition space at the MCEC, with more than 270 organisations taking stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. Don’t miss out! REGISTER NOW: There will be seven Zones on the show floor of Australian Manufacturing Week, each with its own distinct specialisations. These include: Austech Machine Tools, sponsored by ISCAR; Additive Manufacturing Zone; Australian Manufacturers Pavilion, sponsored by Sutton Tools; Manufacturing Solutions Zone, sponsored by Adobe; Robotics & Automation Zone; Weld and Air Solutions Zone, sponsored by AtlasCopco; and the Plastic Technology Zone. AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURERS PAVILION The Australian Manufacturers Pavilion showcases the capabilities of Australia’s precision engineering and advanced manufacturing industry. The Australian Manufacturers Pavilion is sponsored by Sutton Tools and is one of seven focussed Zones on the floor of AMW2023. The Australian Manufacturers Pavilion is where…

AMT: Tell me about the history of PIMA.  How broad was the plastics industry in Australia when PIMA was established? Grahame Aston: PIMA began around 1992 after the chemical industry took over the PIA and created PACIA with a greater focus on chemicals rather than plastics. At that time, there were about 700 moulding companies of various sizes in NSW. PIMA began with approximately 70 members at that time and was known back then as the Plastic Injection Moulders Association with an obvious focus on Injection moulders. As time passed and we lost many members through retirements and acquisitions, we had also seen our members base expand from just injection moulders to now cover all facets of the plastics industry, convertors, materials, ancillary equipment, consultants, in fact, anyone that has any business within the plastics industry, which is why we are now known as the Plastics Industry Manufacturers of Australia.  Currently,…

‘Reduce, Reuse & Recycle’ is in action at the Nissan Casting Australia Plant (NCAP) in Melbourne’s southeast.  Nissan LEAF electric vehicle (EV) end-of-life batteries, charged by solar energy will part power the EV component’s manufacturing area. This is estimated to cut NCAP’s annual C02 emissions by 259 tons, saving the company 128 megawatts of energy and around $30,000 each year. Winner of the 2022 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Award - Leader in Global Supply Chain Partnerships award for its outstanding achievement in manufacturing, NCAP can soon add its Battery Project, called Nissan Node to its successful accomplishments. This exciting future for end-of-life EV batteries, Nissan Node will include a new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) installation made of nine repurposed Gen 1 Nissan LEAF batteries charged via a solar array as well as EV chargers for cars at NCAP. Founded in 1982, Nissan Casting Australia (NCAP) is located in Dandenong South and has been manufacturing in Victoria for 40 years. As one of Australia’s only OEMs, (Original Equipment Manufacturer), it has established itself as a market leader in die-cast…

Established in 1954 in Langenthal, Switzerland, Güdel has been family owned for three generations. Today worldwide, the company has around 1,000 employees with more than 20 locations. Güdel is a manufacturer of high-precision machine components, modules and a provider of sophisticated automation solutions. Its spectrum of products ranges from linear guideways, racks, pinions, and gearboxes right through to linear tracks and gantry robots. Güdel also assembles its products into solutions with a high degree of control intelligence that can be found in the automotive, tire, metal, rail, intra-logistics, pharmaceutical, renewable energy, wood, and aerospace industries. Characterised by its quality and modularity, Güdel products have been a part of CNC Design’s portfolio in Australia and New Zealand for more than ten years. Their linear tracks known as TrackMotion, are well known and applied as the linear track or seventh axis for industrial robots. They support all the major industrial robot manufacturers, including Fanuc, Kuka, and ABB. If you want to buy a track, you can…