July 29, 2016
Australian Federal Governments past and present, as well as state governments in Victoria and Queensland, have one thing in common in terms of economic policy – they see composite materials as a key enabler for the product innovation required for Australia’s advanced manufacturing sector to be competitive and secure new export markets. While composite materials are generally more expensive that traditional metals, timber and concrete, they offer distinct advantages that can make products competitive locally and globally. Composite materials give designers and engineers freedom to be creative; to think outside the square and design fluid, seamless shapes; integrate fittings; reduced weight; improve comfort and usability, leverage the high strength to weight ratio; heat and sound insulation qualities; anti-corrosion and low conductivity characteristics. Rarely a month goes by without news of the release of a new product featuring carbon fibre. That’s because today’s marketers recognise carbon fibre products are highly desirable, their association with high-performance, elite sports giving their brand an edge in the marketplace. Two Victorian…
July 29, 2016
Owned and operated by Simon Neil, Secure Gates works in the area of large, specialised industrial and high-security gates – including gates used in prisons. It’s a niche business with a repeat client list and new clients attracted by word of mouth. Neil currently employs one staff member. Or two, if you count, as Simon does, the Advanced Robotic Technology (ART) plasma cutter he installed in 2013, and which he sees as absolutely pivotal to the success of his business. “The business hasn’t looked back since I installed the machine,” he says. “It’s absolutely pivotal to the business.” Neil had been looking for some time to install a cutting machine to help with the workload. When he contacted ART, they were quick to analyse the needs of the business and suggest solutions that would work best for him. Neil says he was very impressed with the team at ART and consultation was soon followed by installation…
July 29, 2016
Many manufacturers achieve this by following a narrow-perspective model that begins with tool selection and application and solving problems on a reactive basis. Reversing that approach, however, can reduce costs and increase efficiency. Instead of waiting for problems to arise and then making adjustments, manufacturers should focus first on proactive preplanning aimed at eliminating rejected parts and unplanned downtime. Once a stable, reliable process has been established, applying the concepts of production economics can help manufacturers find a balance between production rate and manufacturing costs. Building on the foundation of secure, economically strong operations, manufacturers can select tools and cutting conditions that will fully optimise the machining process. Production economics Before taking steps to optimise metal cutting, it is essential that processes are secure and reliable, minus defective parts or unplanned downtime. Process security requires a stable production environment. Manufacturers must analyse machine tool maintenance, CAM programming, tool holding systems and coolant application. Work-handling automation…
July 22, 2016
According to a recent survey, nine out of ten organisations across the globe were left exposed to significant business dangers in 2015 due to the impact of unplanned growth. The business leaders surveyed readily admitted that they often fear the consequences of growth. Some 45% said that they worry their business might take on large or complex projects they do not have the skillset and technology to deliver effectively, as a result of growth that hasn’t been planned for properly. A majority of business leaders believe that in order to adequately prepare for growth they need to have an effective and integrated IT infrastructure in place. This holds true in Australia, with 70% of businesses believing a solid technology system is essential. These statistics reflect recent comments from, and discussions Epicor has had with, business leaders across a range of industries. One particular customer, a wholesaler that was a ‘power user’ of one of our legacy enterprise…
July 22, 2016
It’s Not Funny (INF) is a collection of people with Parkinson’s disease celebrating the positive aspects rather than dwelling on the negatives. The INF team thought it would be a great idea to make a dashboard wobbly doll, as a good representation of a positive attitude to living with the condition. “We wanted to create a wobbly doll, Australian-made and with a genuine look to it, somehow linking it back to real people and Parkinson’s,” says John Peplow of INF. “I investigated getting a doll made but soon realised this was a mammoth exercise. I soon realised that getting a 3D scan and a 3D print was not that easy. Not because of the technique, but because I was confronted with a maze of unsuccessful attempts until I found someone who knew what they were talking about.” That someone was Shane Rolton, Managing Director from Wysiwyg 3D, who listened to the idea with interest, in part because his grandfather had Parkinson’s. Rolton saw an opportunity to…
July 22, 2016
The Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda aims to encourage businesses to embrace risk, entrepreneurship and innovation, to develop new products and services, and to back good ideas and learn from mistakes. The plan is to develop industries that will help to wean Australia off its reliance on the mining sector. A number of global companies are working in collaboration with governments and business to create innovative solutions that meet the need to work more efficiently and competitively. One such company is Danish firm Universal Robots, which produces flexible, robotic solutions that automate and streamline repetitive industrial processes while reducing costs and boosting productivity. In an example of organisations working collaboratively with governments committed to innovation, Universal Robots has formed a partnership with the Singapore Government to develop cost-effective robotic applications and solutions for a range of industries. The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and SPRING Singapore (a government agency responsible for helping enterprises grow) offers grants to support SMEs in tech innovation and adoption. The…
July 22, 2016
The real stalwarts of the manufacturing industry have a clear understanding that there is always a fine balancing act between being a well-established brand that is known to many, and being recognised as sitting at the cutting edge of innovation. A privately owned company, Décor Engineering has managed to achieve this delicate balance, elevating it to an enviable position as an industry leader within its own specific niche. Based in the bayside suburb of Seaford, in Melbourne’s south-east, Décor has strong, long-established foundations in the Australian car manufacturing industry. The company began life in 1970, back in the days when there were no fewer than five car manufacturers operating in Australia. Those five car-makers all required hundreds of different parts that needed masking and painting, so Anton Derlet set up Décor to meet that need. Derlet began his business operating out of his garden shed in the early days, before moving to a factory site a year later as it became clear the fledgling company would…
July 22, 2016
Hunt’s appointment was part of a complete shake-up of the ministerial team at the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. Senator Matt Canavan was sworn in as Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, while Craig Laundy MP was appointed as Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. Hunt’s predecessor as Industry Minister, Christopher Pyne, was moved into the role of Minister for Defence Industry, and reappointed Leader of the House. Minister Hunt said it was a “great honour” to be appointed to the role, commenting: “I look forward to continuing the implementation of the Prime Minister’s National Innovation and Science Agenda. I would also like to congratulate my ministerial colleague Christopher Pyne for the leadership and energy he brought to this portfolio – they will certainly be big shoes to fill.’ Industry leaders were welcoming of the reshuffle and of Hunt’s appointment. AMTIL CEO Shane Infanti expressed his support for the ministerial appointments and optimism at the prospect of working…
July 15, 2016
Companies such as Airbus, Audi, BMW, Boeing, Ford, General Electric, Hewlett-Packard and Nike, as well as many small and medium-sized enterprises globally, are using and exploring additive manufacturing (AM) technology for component and part production. Popular press, trade and technical journals are almost daily reporting on new and innovative printers; parts additively manufactured in both metal alloys and polymers; and component designs for AM that challenge the imagination. The main driver has been globalisation, which is changing the nature and economics of manufacturing in high-wage countries such as Australia. On one hand, globalisation has led to new markets, but on the other, to new competitors, in particular from low-wage countries. Handling the challenge of product cost pressures, diversity and dynamics becomes the central focus for manufacturing companies in high-wage countries. Advanced technology and research are seen as critical elements in addressing some of these challenges to deliver cost-competitive approaches to manufacturing for the companies in high-wage countries to…
July 15, 2016
Founded by Mark and Janice Hooper 22 years ago, Jmar specialises in component manufacturing and repairs across a broad range of industries including those associated with conveyor and package handling equipment. A commitment to providing outstanding customer service, staying abreast of local trends, and ongoing diversification has seen the company achieve steady growth and increase its customer base since its inception. An example of that diversification has been the way the company now undertakes a considerable amount of ‘reverse engineering’ – fabricating many components and parts that clients may have previously bought from overseas suppliers. In addition to component manufacturing, the company has been a supplier to the agricultural industry for more than 20 years with a unique product called the Christopher Dairy Bails. This is a retrofit product suitable for herringbone dairies that allows the farmer to feed in the bail at milking time. Nearly all Jmar’s business comes from around the Goulburn Valley area within a 50km radius of Shepparton. Last year Mark spotted an opportunity to invest in a laser cutter to further grow his business…
July 15, 2016
Australia’s premier advanced manufacturing and machine tool exhibition, Austech 2017 will take place at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 9-12 May 2017. As always, Austech will include an exciting range of special features, including specialised areas such as the Additive and Digital Manufacturing Pavilion and Manufacturer’s Pavilion. Preparations for the show are already in full swing, and a number of companies have already signed up as exhibitors. To ensure that the floor space is allocated fairly, AMTIL has always held a ballot among the companies who register early. There is still time to register as an Austech exhibitor and be included the in the ballot. It pays to book early and maximise your pre-show exposure. The Austech ballot is divided into groups: the first ballot includes exhibitors applying for 144sqm or…
July 15, 2016
Industry is demanding that materials be lighter, tougher, thinner, denser and more flexible or rigid, as well as heat- and wear-resistant. At the same time, researchers are pushing the boundaries of what we imagine is possible, seeking to improve and enhance existing materials and at the same time come up with completely new materials that, while years away from day-to-day use, take us down entirely new technological pathways. Based on the research we’re seeing today, the field of applied material science is set to move in new, almost science-fiction-like directions. Looming resource scarcity is demanding innovations and out-of-the-box thinking. On the materials front, composites with desirable attributes such as low weight, high strength and high durability look likely to take a larger market share, and more of these materials will likely be based on renewable resources, as the need for this becomes greater. The most promising jewel in this…
July 15, 2016
Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE) is commonly used for efficiency estimation. OEE is a function of Equipment Availability (A) and Equipment Performance (P), both expressed as percentages, and is calculated as follows: OEE = A x P Availability (A) reflects the impact of production time losses, and can be calculated as the ratio of the actual availability (the production time when equipment is making products) against the target availability (the production time originally scheduled): A = Aactual / Atarget Target availability is calculated as a time interval (usually in minutes) between the start and the finish of the scheduled production time, minus planned breaks for set-up, preventive maintenance, cleaning, lunch breaks and so on. Actual availability is calculated as the target availability, minus unplanned production time losses (such as equipment downtime and breakdowns). When actual time for planned activity (e.g. set-up) exceeds the allocated time, excess becomes a downtime. For example if 15 minutes is allowed for the line set-up and it actually took…
