Industry News

For most people, Industry 4.0 mainly refers to the Internet of Things (IoT) — the fact that every piece of equipment is interconnected, and how they have the ability to ‘talk’ to each other. True as that may be, the other principles that characterise Industry 4.0 are just as definitive – if not more so. The increased connectivity that modern technology brings enables information transparency, which allows the collection and sharing of vast amounts of data. Industry 4.0 is also characterised by decentralised decisions, where cyber-physical systems act as autonomous agents within its dedicated scope, performing tasks without the need for human intervention, and where humans are still required, Industry 4.0 has shifted their role — from operator of machines to problem-solver — through the use of technical assistance systems. What constitutes technical assistance anyway? Designed to aid operators in their role as decision-makers, assistance systems typically offer…

Australia’s manufacturing industry is one of the nation’s most energy-intensive. It accounts for close to one quarter of Australia’s total energy consumption and around 40% of natural gas consumption. Historically, manufacturers have benefitted from low energy costs but in recent years, costs have increased. According to the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) first quarterly report of 2019, prices are at a record high. While this has impacted manufacturers’ bottom lines, energy still has the potential to offer a competitive advantage. Australia’s shifting energy market is creating new opportunities for manufacturers to generate savings in the energy category, from taking on portions of Australia’s growing pipeline of renewables, to investing in future-ready energy strategies that leverage market-ready tech to deliver savings. If manufacturers are able to engage with how they use energy, they can move beyond being simply price takers. Plan for the long term The energy market is changing. Coal-fired generation is leaving the market and being replaced by renewable energy. This is pushing new retailers to deliver more…

The Scala Award is given every two years and recognises the outstanding contribution of one individual to the field of composite materials. The decision to select Professor Scott was selected by the ICCM Executive Council to receive the Award in August 2017. Professor Scott is Chairman of Advanced Composite Structures Australia, the spin-out company from the highly acclaimed CRC for Advanced Composite Structures, of which Professor Scott was CEO for more 13 years. He was also elected firstly as President and then as World Fellow of the ICCM, and represented Australia on the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS), where he served as President for a two-year period and is now an Honorary Fellow. Associated with the honour is the privilege of delivering the opening plenary lecture at the next conference in the series. On this occasion, it was the 22nd International Conference on Composite Materials (ICCM22), which was held in Melbourne from 11-16 August. Professor Scott spoke on ‘Advanced Composites Research and Innovation – an Australian Perspective’. The presentation of the…

At one point APT was the preferred supplier for automotive components manufacturer Robert Bosch; its business with Bosch accounted for 86% of the company’s turnover. However, like many automotive suppliers faced with the imminent closure of the local car industry, APT needed to diversify into other areas. In APT’s case, the market it targeted was the defence industry. To say the company has been successful in this transition is something of an understatement. Today APT’s key customers are a veritable who’s who of leaders in the defence industry, to whom APT supply a diverse range of specialised components. These include parts for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and components for the Steyer rifle, radar systems, remote weapon stations, submarines and munitions. APT also supplies a variety of products to customers in the electronics and security industries. However, APT’s Founder and Managing Director Richard Weinzierl is quick to point out that it is the assistance of the…

The two new partners are Rigby Cooke Lawyers – who will be AMTIL’s exclusive Corporate Partner in the Legal category; and Interlease, in the Business Finance category. They join AMTIL’s existing line-up of Corporate Partners: AGL – Energy; and William Buck – Accounting/Financial Advice. Rigby Cooke Lawyers is a full-service Victorian commercial law firm with strong industry links and a significant depth of experience in acting for manufacturers. Its highly qualified lawyers partner with their clients to understand their needs and add value to their businesses. Rigby Cooke is at the forefront of legislative and technological changes that impact the manufacturing industry and offers the full suite of legal services to small and large manufacturing businesses, inlcuding commercial agreements, acquisitions, intellectual property advice, employment and OHS, customs and trade advice, litigation and insolvency and tax advice. Interlease is one of Australia’s leading business finance broking firms. Established in 1973, it provides professional client services and well structured competitive financial products for Australian businesses. The team at Interlease are an experienced group of finance professionals involved…

Minetek’s patented secondary mine ventilation system, based on a High Output Axial Fan system uses a patented mine air control (MAC) system to maximise return from its performance on demand (POD) units, which automatically sense how much air is needed in any one heading at any time. Each solution is engineered and manufactured in Australia specific for the end user. Whilst these secondary underground fans strategically optimise air flow, they eliminate much of the power traditionally wasted in such applications while performing across a very large operating range and meeting broad regulatory compliance parameters. Compared to the common standard twin-stage axial fan ventilation systems found on the market, the Minetek High Output Axial Fan system is modular and provides: Vastly reduced energy costs. Adequate air at the face. High levels of control. Sensor tracking to automatically adjust to real-time demand. High volume compliance. Blast dust removal rapidly. Reduced noise output. According to Remy Bourcier, Engineering Manager at Minetek, the company’s High Output Axial Fan has been designed and…

Part of its Nagoya Works, Mitsubishi’s Kani factory, which produces motor starters and contactors, was facing a number of significant challenges, not least the sheer number of product variations and possible configurations in its product range – some 14,000 in fact. Customer demand for greater choice had diluted the volumes of each particular product, despite overall product quantities increasing substantially. Manual production at Kani had given way to totally automated assembly lines, which were ideal for mass production with few product variations where high yields could be realised at high speed. However, many individual components were required in stock and ready for the manufacturing process – without which the lines would not be able to run for any appreciable length of time. For various reasons, substantial numbers of assembly lines had been optimised to produce a limited range of products, and these would stand still when components ran out. In such a scenario it became difficult and uneconomical to produce small…

All seven activity indexes in the Australian PMI indicated expansion in August (readings below 50 points indicate contraction in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the decrease), with production (up 4.9 points to 53.2) and sales (up 11.6 points to 54.3) rising back into positive territory. Both new orders (up 0.3 points to 53.3) and exports (up 1.1 point to 55.7) expanded at a faster pace than in July. “Stronger production, sales, and employment combined in a small though encouraging lift in the Australian PMI for August,” said Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox. “While it is only expanding at a modest pace, the further growth in manufacturing in August is heartening and, together with a rise in new orders, will help allay fears of a further slowdown in business conditions.” The input prices index was largely unchanged in August (down 0.1 point to 66.2), while the selling prices index rebounded 3.5 points to climb back into expansion at 52.7). The average wages…

AMT: Tell us about the Industry Capability Network and what its role is. Grant Anderson: ICN Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation that has been around since 1984 and our mission is to maximise opportunities for local industry. We play a key role in liaising with government agencies and bidders ensuring that local suppliers have an opportunity to register interest in upcoming government projects. Another huge part of our role is to administer the Local Jobs First policy on behalf of the Victorian Government and that includes assessing projects for potential local content. Local Jobs First is about creating local jobs and opportunities for Victorian businesses and workers, whilst achieving value for money. We also have two main product offerings - ICN Gateway and ICN Analytics. AMT: And for an ordinary manufacturing business seeking to win work on a project through the ICN, what sort of pathway would that take? GA: Local businesses, including principal contractors and local suppliers of goods and services can use the ICN Gateway to register their business capability, access project opportunities and search…

Managed by husband and wife team Anthony and Lisa Coleman, ACIM specialises in designing and manufacturing inflatable packers, hydraulic fracturing systems, tools and data loggers for the geotechnical, mining, and oil & gas markets. Established in 1990, it has grown from humble beginnings servicing the Australian market, to a company that now sells into international markets such as Chile, South Korea, Italy, Russia, America and Indonesia. ACIM in-house designed products are recognised by customers for being innovative and of the highest quality. In 2013 when ACIM decided to bring manufacturing in-house, it gave John Hart the opportunity to offer a solution to suit its requirements. As a result, ACIM invested in a Mazak Quick Turn Smart 350M multi-function lathe with milling capability. The machine combines productivity, high accuracy and high reliability handling parts up to 420mm in diameter and 1,250mm in length. Anthony explains: “Programming was the main reason we selected a Quick Turn Smart. It has proven to be very easy to learn, and being a small…

A St George Bank survey of more than 1,000 consumers revealed that ‘Australian made’ is not as important to 18-to-24-year-olds (23%) when purchasing a product, compared with 69% of 55-to-74-year-olds, even though the younger generation are invested in purchasing from sustainable businesses. The youth age group are also not willing to pay more for Australian products (45%), and 36% don’t believe they are better quality than overseas counterparts. Matthew Kelly, Head of Manufacturing and Wholesale at St George, said even though the manufacturing sector in Australia has seen almost two years of sustained growth, the challenge businesses face is competing with low-cost imports, particularly when it comes to the younger generation. “The sector is far from fading,” said Kelly. “Automation, artificial intelligence and pure inventiveness are enabling new business models and processes that are transforming an industry which already contributes $100bn to Australia’s GDP. “However, it’s clear from the research that the industry needs to do more to create a compelling value proposition for the next generation, aligned to what…

Designed specifically to face the tough conditions of the mining environment, the Bortana EV is a robust and rugged vehicle equipped with advanced electric technology. Unveiled at a launch event following the Austmine Conference in Brisbane in May, the Bortana EV is built using the chassis from an Agrale Marruá. The Marruá is a resilient four-wheel-drive utility vehicle from Brazilian manufacturer Agrale, traditionally used in the Brazilian army and mining industry. Safescape selected the Marruá chassis for the new Bortana EV due to its corrosion-resistant body and ability to withstand the harshest of conditions. The Bortana EV is the result of a collaboration between Safescape and 3ME Technology with support from METS Ignited, the Industry Growth Centre for the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector. METS Ignited provided $500,000 toward the project under its Collaborative Project Funds in 2018. 3ME is a Newcastle-based company dedicated to developing heavy-duty e-mobility solutions. The electric technology for the Bortana EV features a battery with advanced opportunistic on-board charging capability. According to Safescape Managing Director Steve Durkin, the Bortana…

We’re in the early stages of what is widely regarded as the Fourth Industrial Revolution – or Industry 4.0. As the name suggests, this is a period of momentous (as well as complex) change, but also of extraordinary opportunity, especially in the field of manufacturing. The tectonic shifts brought about by the preceding revolution – the digital revolution – has led us to a new world of industrial possibility. If you’ve ever read one of the thousands of articles, explainers or opinion pieces on the subject, you’ll know that this fourth era encompasses sensor technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced automation, robotics, human-to-machine communication, the Internet of Things and more. What you probably haven’t heard so much about, though, is the similarly radical transformation that could – and I think must – accompany these much-talked-about changes: a shift in business models. What about the Subscription Economy? What do I mean by business models in the context of Industry 4.0?…