Industry News

Western Australian Kerr Engineering was a small firm with two to three people, formed in the late 1960s by founder Kevin Kerr. In 2000, the engineering company was purchased by David & Mark Kinsman who have transformed it into a dynamic operation employing more than 90 personnel, introducing and operating the latest technology. Kerr Engineering is based within the Australian Marine Complex at 27 Alacrity Place Henderson, with land size of 12,500 square metres and a 9,000 square metre building to which it relocated in 2019 to meet continuing growth. Today it can be regarded by all accounts and purposes as a high-technology precision Okuma shop, from an initial purchase of a new Okuma GENOS M560 Vertical Machining Centre, Kerr Engineering now has seven Okuma machines in operation with two additional machines on the way to further increase the company’s capability under the banner of their new slogan ‘When Quality Matters’. A new Okuma LB4000BMYC Turning Centre is being commissioned in April and the latest Okuma…

In the realm of machining operations, achieving precision and reliability is an ongoing pursuit. Sandvik Coromant has met this challenge head-on with a tool that promises to revolutionise milling processes. Here, Sangram Dash, Product Application Manager for Indexable Milling at Sandvik Coromant, explains how an innovative concept for milling applications in ISO K and ISO P materials, CoroMill® MF80, supports more precise and cost-effective machining. Close to 90-degree shoulder milling is highly desirable in machining applications due to its ability to create precise components, which is a necessity as automotive engines grow more complex. Automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are striving to manufacture parts that comply with tighter tolerances and in accordance with more intricate and contemporary designs. These more sophisticated components include engine block transmission cases, gearbox housings and steeling knuckles. Due to the intricate shape of these components and the resulting fixturing limitations, a close-to 90-degree shoulder milling tool is more desirable. That’s because the tool is able to efficiently machine intricate components with low axial loads, which leads to cost savings and increased efficiency in the…

Manufacturing engineers often face the challenging task of deburring complex 3D shapes such as off-set threaded internal cross holes. As a global leader in deburring solutions, XEBEC Technologies has developed the spherical Back Burr Cutter as an ideal tool for deburring difficult 3D edge profiles. In addition, customer-specific tool cutter paths can be provided, creating the highest quality uniform edge, extending tool life by utilising the entire blade edge and creating machining times five to ten times faster than conventional tools. Simultaneously the customer is spared considerable time on complex programming. Suitable to be used on any machine with 3-axis simultaneous control the Back Burr Cutter and Path have already particularly proven themselves in the field with manufacturers of complex hydraulic manifolds and related components. Holes as small as 1mm can be effectively reached at depths of up to 15 x diameter, plus threads from M3 to M24. Fine micro grain carbide together with AlTiCrN coating allows for processing a wide variety of materials including hard-to-cut metals such as inconel and titanium. Uncoated versions are…

Welding is fundamental to our world. The process of fusing pieces together, usually metals, to form a continuum is used in the construction of buildings, bridges, overpasses, railways, ships, planes, the car that you drive, domestic appliances and much more. Demand for welding skills has climbed worldwide, yet the number of welders has steadily declined, particularly in developed economies (including Australia) challenging welding machine manufacturers to continuously enhance their equipment. Whether it is America, Canada, Europe, Japan, the United Kingdom or Australia, the demand for more welders in the Western world is staggering. According to the European Welding Federation, there is a shortage of around 300,000 qualified welders in Europe. By 2027, the US will need an additional 360,000 welding professionals says the American Welding Society. In Japan, where the overall workforce is shrinking, some 250,000 welders will be needed by 2050; while in Canada, they are experiencing an ongoing shortage of welders says CWB Group’s Welding Industry Report, 2022. In Australia, the picture is equally bleak. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 83,400 tradesmen identified as welding workers…

Today’s manufacturing landscape is rapidly changing from traditional production processes guided by paper trails and manual labour to one empowered by a new digital era of connectivity and efficiency through Industry 4.0. At its core, Industry 4.0 combines digital technologies with physical manufacturing systems to empower organisations to leverage data-driven insights and automation to optimise their operations. Think of Industry 4.0 as the digital thread within organisations – a seamless flow of data that connects every aspect of the manufacturing lifecycle, from design through to production, distribution and beyond. So, what does Industry 4.0 entail, and how does tapping into your organisation's digital thread deliver groundbreaking results? Industry 4.0 - the digital thread connecting the dots in your organisation Industry 4.0, often referred to as the fourth industrial revolution, integrates the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) into the manufacturing process. This combination of technologies enables real-time monitoring, gathering insights to drive efficiency, agility, and innovation across the value chain. At its core, Industry 4.0 is the digital thread that connects the dots within your organisation. From initial…

In the coastal town of Salamander Bay, Deeps Engineering continues to redefine the boundaries of excellence. What began as a modest venture in the garage of Steven Dee's home has blossomed into a testament to resilience, ingenuity, and a steadfast commitment to excellence. For over three decades, Deeps Engineering has not only pioneered advancements in custom plastic injection moulding but has also championed environmental stewardship, setting a new standard for responsible manufacturing practices. Founded by Steven Dee, a visionary with a passion for toolmaking and moulding ideas into reality, Deeps Engineering has been the driving force in the plastics industry for over thirty years. Semi-retired but still a guiding influence, Steven Dee's journey began with a tool-making trade in Sydney where he used his skills in various tool workshops, followed by a bold move to Nelson Bay in 1991 to establish Deeps Engineering. “We started out renting machinery down in Sydney,” recalls Dee, “and I'd travel down three or four days a week to manufacture and trial the moulds.” With determination and support from his family, he transformed his garage in Nelson…

In the early hours of 22 March 2024, a rocket blasted off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, USA. On board was a small device labelled ‘Multi-resolution scanning’, packed with CSIRO smarts. Its goal was to test a new CSIRO-developed 3D sensing and mapping payload for a NASA robot called Astrobee, which operates inside the International Space Station (ISS). Leading the project was Dr Marc Elmouttie. For Elmouttie, this launch was the culmination of years of hard work and extensive international collaboration. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s take a step back. What is the Astrobee anyway? Why does it need multi-resolution scanning? And what are they doing up in space? Let’s start with Astrobee. This system of three free-flying robots moves around the ISS autonomously, or via remote control, to document experiments or even move cargo. As modular platforms, they can be loaded with other technologies, one of which will be multi-resolution scanning. The multi-resolution scanning device brings together…

Bosch, a pioneer in automation solutions, has teamed with RayGen, a leading innovator in solar and long-duration storage technologies, to expedite the deployment of its state-of-the-art concentrated solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This collaboration showcases the pivotal role of automation in modern energy solutions. The project centres around the assembly of heliostats (mirrors used to focus sunlight), a crucial component of the concentrated solar PV system. These heliostats are designed to track the sun throughout the day, optimising solar energy capture. The process, to be deployed on-site at RayGen’s first utility-scale project, after rigorous in-field testing, involves the assembly of the heliostats on a highly automated production line designed by Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions (BAMS) automation engineering specialists. BAMS’ cutting-edge automation capabilities are instrumental in making this assembly a faster and lower cost process. The project aims to assemble a heliostat every three minutes. The heliostats, each measuring approximately 4x5 metres, are comprised of eight individual mirror panels that must be assembled to tight tolerances to maximise the energy produced by the solar technology. Scheduled for deployment by the end…

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub has welcomed news that the Australian Manufacturing Capability Network (AMCN) has been selected as an Industry Partner Organisation for the Industry Growth Program. Australian Government Minister for Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic recently announced that several not-for-profit organisations will work with the Industry Growth Program to help participating small and medium businesses bring new products and services to market. The Industry Growth Program provides expert advice on commercialisation and early-stage business growth to startups and high-growth small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) operating within the priority areas of the National Reconstruction Fund priority, and to help build Australian manufacturing for the future. This advice is provided by Industry Growth program advisers. As an Industry Partner Organisation, the AMCN will complement this advice, and add value to and enhance the support provided to SMEs by offering specialised advisory services, drawing on its sectoral expertise. ARM Hub Founder and CEO Professor Cori Stewart said this was an opportunity to better enable SMEs and startups to become global innovation leaders. “On behalf of the…

Plastics that would otherwise go to landfill can now be repurposed into building materials at Australia's first RESIN8 production facility that opened in Melbourne recently. CRDC Australia, in partnership with the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP), are proud to officially open the state-of-the-art facility, located in Tottenham. The opening marks a significant leap in Australia's efforts to tackle the plastic waste crisis, by transforming hard-to-recycle plastics into a valuable material for the construction industry. The launch event, attended by over 100 stakeholders from government, non-profits, academia, and industry, highlights the collaborative effort towards innovative environmental solutions. RESIN8, a versatile, high-performance, low-carbon hybrid mineral-polymer, is engineered for both structural and non-structural building applications. It meets and surpasses international ASTM standards, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional building materials. Unique to RESIN8 is CRDC’s proprietary, carbon-negative production process, which accepts all types of plastics (resins 1-7)— a significant advancement over traditional recycling methods that typically only handle resins 1 and 2. Shane Ramsey, Managing Director of CRDC Australia, said officially opening the full-scale RESIN8 facility was a landmark in…

In December of last year, the Westpac Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) survey revealed that sentiment among local manufacturers had fallen to its lowest levels since the global financial crisis. This sentiment was mirrored in the New Zealand market with the latest data from Business NZ revealing that the manufacturing sector contracted for the tenth straight month in a row. The results were no surprise, given the ongoing economic uncertainty caused by inflationary pressures, regulatory change and supply chain disruptions. Despite the economic headwinds, I have observed a sense of quiet confidence among local manufacturers regarding business conditions. Data can often be a lagging indicator, and with inflationary pressures likely to ease in the second half of this year, the Australian economy is expected to land more softly than originally anticipated. A recent Grant Thornton study also suggested that local manufacturers have a more positive outlook on the market, with many recording strong sales growth in 2023. This trend is particularly evident for emerging manufacturers that are continuing to…

From an early age, Dr. Maryam Parviz was inspired to innovate, even channelling her creativity into drawing and designing a more comfortable hearing aid for her mother. Today, as a biomedical engineer, scientist, and CEO and Co-Founder of SDIP Innovations, she is at the forefront of designing medical devices that will transform bone repair, while also advancing manufacturing excellence and capabilities in New South Wales. Driven by witnessing the distress faced by pediatric patients and their families due to repetitive orthopaedic surgeries, SDIP’s Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Iman Manavitehrani teamed up with Dr. Parviz motivated to develop a transformative solution. Their goal: to pioneer a product that reduces the need for multiple surgeries and improves treatment outcomes for both patients and healthcare providers.   Challenges with traditional bone repair Traditionally, repairing bone fractures involved plaster casts and moulds. As medical technology advanced, the use of metallic implants became widespread. However, these implants have introduced significant issues, including pain after insertion, inflammation, and the potential need for revision surgeries. They also present a particular…

Alloys announces its expanded partnership with UltiMaker, a global leader in professional 3D printing technology. Under this enhanced collaboration, Alloys will distribute UltiMaker's full range of 3D printers, including the professional S series, throughout Australia. UltiMaker has earned a reputation for its innovative and reliable 3D printing solutions, catering to professionals across diverse industries such as engineering, design, manufacturing, education, and healthcare. The addition of the UltiMaker S series to Alloys' product lineup further solidifies the company's commitment to providing cutting-edge technology solutions to its customers. “We have been involved in the 3D printing market for a number of year and the extension of our partnership with Ultimaker provides us with further opportunities for our partners to grow their sales and capabilities in this space”, said Paul Harman, Alloys CEO.  “Our customers have been asking us to distribute this range and we believe we can provide growth for the entire Ultimaker stable at Alloys.” The UltiMaker S series provides professional 3D printing, combining cutting-edge features, reliability, and seamless integration into existing workflows. Designed to…