From the CEO: Manufacturing in a time of crisis

Above all, this is an unprecedented health crisis, and our thoughts are first and foremost with those people who have been directly affected by the virus, their families and friends. Our thoughts also go out to the doctors, the nurses, and all workers in the healthcare sector, as they strive to combat the outbreak. And our thoughts go out to all the key workers in so many areas as we face the weeks and months ahead.

Alongside the immediate threat posed by COVID-19, there are also the inevitable consequences for our economy, and for our industry. Several AMTIL members who I or my staff have spoken to have already reported significant disruption to their normal business operations. As this crisis continues, the impact will surely deepen. AMTIL welcomes the measures put in place by Government, both at Federal and State level, to support businesses during these times, and hope to see further assistance over the coming weeks.

There have also been a number of major industry events cancelled or rescheduled, including Maxitrans, the Workplace Health and Safety Show, and the Advanced Manufacturing Expo, the latter of which AMTIL was planning to participate in. AMTIL has also had to postpone a number of its own events, with further schedule changes highly likely. We decided to reschedule these events with great regret, but we did so knowing it was the right thing to do, both for the health and welfare of those who were planning to attend, and for the wider community.

At times like these, everyone has a part to play in keeping each other safe. For most of us, that simply means maintaining vigilant personal hygiene, social distancing, self-isolation and avoiding public gatherings. Others are playing a much larger role, and I must admit to feeling a degree of pride to be associated with the manufacturing industry as it rises to the challenge posed by the outbreak.

You may have seen news stories about Med-Con Pty Ltd, based in Shepparton, Victoria, which is ramping up production of  medical protective equipment such as surgical face masks, sanitizer, goggles and gowns our doctors and nurses so badly need. Alongside Med-Con, manufacturers such as Ego Pharmaceuticals and Manildra Group are working round the clock to increase supplies of hand sanitiser.

As I write this, I’ve just seen news that Holden Special Vehicles has offered to help health authorities in Australia manufacture makeshift emergency medical equipment to treat coronavirus patients. And gin distilleries across the country are repurposing their production lines to help with the production of hand sanitiser. AMTIL’s own Additive Manufacturing Hub is currently exploring ways that its members can help by providing 3D-printed parts at short notice for fast turnaround.

Stories like these, of manufacturers helping to shoulder the burden we face, can provide much-needed respite from the anxieties we’re all feeling at a time like this. So aside from those companies tackling the pandemic, I thought it might be worthwhile to draw attention to some of the other inspiring stories from around the industry, which might otherwise get overlooked amid all this doom and gloom.

Flicking through the pages of our latest edition of AMT Magazine, for example, I see that ANCA is now working on developing a new hybrid platform combining both additive and subtractive manufacturing. ANCA has long been a prime example of a great Australian company at the cutting edge of advanced manufacturing, and I don’t doubt this new project will deliver remarkable outcomes.

In the field of additive manufacturing there are all sorts of exciting developments going on. One long-time AMTIL member, Amaero, has just expanded operations with the opening of a new facility in Adelaide. Another, RUAG International, has hit a major milestone with its completion of the first component repairs on the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornets, a first for the company here in Australia. Meanwhile Titomic, based in Notting Hill, Victoria (and yes, another AMTIL member), has been busily signing a series of contracts with leading global defence & aerospace suppliers – Thales, Composite Technology and Ascent Aerospace – for its groundbreaking industrial-scale additive manufacturing.

Back in the realm of more traditional manufacturing, Brisbane-headquartered Austin Engineering has just entered into a partnership with South Africa’s ETT to its mining products throughout Africa. And one of my favourite stories: up in Preston, in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Harrop Engineering is celebrating 65 years in business. Harrop is a great example of an Australian manufacturing company that has lasted by moving with the times, diversifying into new markets, and constantly adapting and upgrading its capabilities, and I am confident they’ll continue to do so for a long time yet. Here’s to another 65 years!

All these examples and more just go to show the vitality and ingenuity that Australian manufacturing has to offer. We’re seeing our industry doing its bit to get us through this current crisis, and once it’s passed, our industry has all the attributes to help make Australia bounce back and become stronger than ever.