Month: January 2024

With the Australian manufacturing industry facing mounting pressure from the government to prioritise sustainability and environmental awareness, here’s a cutting-edge technical solution designed to align with these imperatives. Yaskawa’s pioneering solution revolves around the efficient utilisation of robot braking energy. This feature comes standard and does not require additional hardware. Notably, larger MOTOMAN robots, boasting payloads of 35kg or more, in conjunction with the latest YRC1000 robot controller, possess the capability to convert kinetic energy generated during downward and sideways motions directly into the in-house power supply system. This transformative process significantly reduces the energy demands of the robots and is referred to as energy recovery. MOTOMAN robots achieve even greater efficiency gains through their sleek and compact design, characterised by minimal moved masses. Furthermore, they swiftly apply brakes during motion pauses, effectively deactivating active position control when not in use. This intelligent operational concept, including automatic robot shutdowns during planned breaks, contributes substantially to energy conservation. In the context of their diverse tasks, such…

The Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC) has announced that it is launching a bid for funding in Round 25 of the Australian Government Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Grant Program. Globally there has been a rapid take-up of Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies by companies developing new products to stay ahead in the innovation race. Start-ups and high-growth companies like Boeing, Tesla, Stryker, and Align have all documented significant advantages in utilising AM to enhance product performance, customise the user experience, and improve supply chain efficiency. These advantages address many of the challenges that Australian manufacturers face in getting products into world markets and with the national imperative to get Australia making again, AM will be a critical part of this transformation journey. AMCRC’s bid is industry-led and backed by Australia’s peak manufacturing industry association, the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), 13 leading research organisations, and CSIRO. AMTIL CEO Shane Infanti observed that the Australian industry has been adopting 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies at a record pace but with global players like the US, EU and…

Advanced Navigation has unveiled a new high-tech robotics facility for autonomous systems based at UTS Tech Lab. Located in Botany NSW, the facility will scale up the manufacturing of Advanced Navigation’s world-first AI navigation systems for GPS-denied environments, including its digital fibre-optic gyroscope (DFOG) technology, Boreas. Advanced Navigation is one of only four companies in the world with the capability to manufacture strategic-grade fibre-optic gyroscopes. This technology empowers reliable navigation for marine vessels, space missions, aerospace, defence, autonomous vehicles and flying taxis. The company deploys its unique AI-based physics algorithms to solve complex challenges earth-bound and beyond. Strengthening Australia’s sovereign capabilities Xavier Orr, Advanced Navigation CEO and co-founder, said, “There is a critical need to improve Australia’s economic complexity and sovereign capabilities. A key step is to build our industrial capacity in high-tech, as well as drive knowledge exchange and propel collaborative initiatives between government agencies, academic institutions and industry leaders.” State-of-art robotics manufacturing for autonomous systems There is a seismic shift across the landscape of sovereign manufacturing, driven by advanced technologies like AI, automation and precision engineering. In…

Located on the NSW Central Coast, PCW Commercial Windows is a longstanding and respected market leader in manufacturing and installing commercial, industrial and upmarket residential windows and doors. Their exceptional portfolio of work spans the Central Coast, Sydney and Hunter Regions of NSW and includes many schools, civic buildings, institutions and architectural homes. "Our extensive industry experience and product knowledge means we can offer advice and design ideas for projects of virtually any size,” says owner and Managing Director Leigh Spinks. “We’ve forged strong relationships with many builders, big and small and are very proud to be 100% Australian owned and operated and manufacturing all our products to Australian Standards.” Keeping abreast of changes within the construction industry is a high priority for Spinks and his team. “It's constantly changing; in particular, windows and glazing are undergoing great changes at the moment, energy provisions are tightening, and the performance of windows just needs to be better than in the past. More and more of our projects are double-glazed, and we are seeing increased demand for energy-efficient products, particularly in…

Inventory management is critical for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) because it directly influences both production efficiency and profitability. However, despite this, it's often an area that needs the greatest improvement. Effective inventory management involves complex and interrelated tasks, from forecasting demand and maintaining optimal stock levels, to ensuring swift and accurate delivery, managing storage, and reducing waste or obsolete models. These require detailed analysis, accurate data, and the use of advanced technology or inventory management systems. Without these, manufacturers may struggle with issues like low inventory turns, lack of visibility across departments, overstocking, stockouts, and high holding costs, which can significantly impact their operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and bottom line. Manual processes cost time and money Results from a recent ECI Software Solutions' customer "Warehouse Management Woes" survey shows that 53% of SMBs conduct manual inventory counts approximately once a quarter and 50% of respondents have challenges counting or reconciling inventory. This is because many SMBs do not have inventory recordkeeping policies and processes in place, including regular inventory counts, maintenance, and documentation.…

Registrations are now open for Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2024), held at the Sydney ICC in Darling Harbour. Run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2024 will occupy more than 6,560 square metres of exhibition space at the Sydney ICC at Darling Harbour. More than 220 organisations have already taken stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. Don’t miss out! Register NOW! There are seven Zones on the vast floorspace of Australian Manufacturing Week, which takes up almost of the Sydney ICC. Each Zone focuses on particular aspects of manufacturing in Australia. These include: Austech Machine Tools, sponsored by finlease; Additive Manufacturing Zone; Australian Manufacturers Zone; Manufacturing Solutions Zone, sponsored by The Execution Factor; Robotics & Automation Zone, sponsored by IFS; Weld and Air Solutions Zone; and the Plastic Technology Zone. ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION The Robotics & Automation Zone, proudly sponsored by IFS, will feature the latest state-of-the-art equipment and processes for the optimisation of manufacturing operations. Robots are practical technologies, with artificially intelligent…