Industry News

As the leading supplier of analytical instruments, Applied Spectra stands at the forefront of laser ablation-based elemental analysis techniques, simplifying the process of elemental chemical analysis, while delivering rapid, high-precision results that are environmentally friendly. Today, laser analysis offers a compelling value proposition over traditional chemical analysis methods. A case of taking chemical analysis into space was the arrival on Mars, of NASA’s Curiosity Rover. Deploying a LIBS instrument, named ChemCam, it is analysing the chemical composition of the Martian terrain. Scientists from Applied Spectra worked in partnership with NASA to develop the instrument. An integrated module, ChemCam includes a laser, telescope, a stereo pair of navigation cameras, and a three-channel optical spectrometer inside the rover itself (just to name some parts). The instrument permits Curiosity can take thousands of LIBS spectra a day and perform rapid elemental analysis of rocks and soils remotely making chemical analysis on the surface of Mars with unprecedented speed and communicating the results back to Earth. “Aside from this spectacular contribution to space exploration, Applied Spectra continue to develop their instruments making available…

Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2023) is approaching fast! Less than four days! Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 9-12 May 2023. Organised and run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2023 will take up more than 10,770 square metres at the MCEC, with over 346 organisations showcasing the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. Over the four days, there will be presentations on the AMW Future Solutions Stage from specialists in each field.  There are side events, huge networking opportunities, big machining tools and plenty of spectacular tech on display. Don’t miss out!  Register online now at australianmanufacturingweek.com.au There are also two co-located shows alongside AMW 2023.  Deeply related to the manufacturing industries, namely Plastics and Electronics. The Plastics and Medical Applications is a one-day conference held by the Society of Plastics Engineers Australia-New Zealand Section on Wednesday 10th May. This One-Day Conference is in collaboration with AMTIL, AMW2023, BioMelbourne Network and the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA). To register for the One-Day Conference, go to: plastics.org.au   ElectroneX is an electronics…

If you are working at any level in manufacturing and you are passionate about innovation, Manufacturing Skills Australia wants to help you achieve your goals! We encourage and support people who work or study in sectors and occupations within manufacturing industries, including: metal, engineering, and boating aerospace process manufacturing, including chemicals, hydrocarbons, mineral products, plastics, and rubber. laboratory operations recreational vehicles textiles, clothing, and footwear furnishing competitive systems and practices (Lean) environmental monitoring and sustainable operations. Applicants can apply for between $1,000 and $10,000 to develop their skills and knowledge through research, education and/or training. Applications for 2023 are open from 1st of May and will close on 1st of July 2023. Applications are welcomed from all individuals employed or seeking employment in the Australian Manufacturing industry seeking support for individual skilling and development that is not supported by any other funding opportunity. Applying is Simple! If you are working or studying in manufacturing and you are passionate about innovation or developing your career through increasing your own skills and knowledge, we want to help…

Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, will be showcasing its Plex cloud-based manufacturing platform at this year’s Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) in Melbourne from May 9-12. Demonstrations will be held at stand RA650 (Robotics and Automation Zone). Plex, which Rockwell Automation acquired in 2021, is a Software as a Service (SaaS) Smart Manufacturing Platform that connects people, systems, machines, and supply chains. It is a digital system of record that automates business processes, tracks data from the shop floor to the top floor, and delivers analytics to improve visibility, quality, and control. Rockwell Automation recently released its 2023 State of Smart Manufacturing Report, which comprised data from thousands of manufacturers globally, including 75 in Australia. Rockwell found that more than 45% of Australian manufacturers say that they lack the innovation, skilled workforce, and technology to outpace the competition over the next 12 months. “Although smart manufacturing is key to Australia’s success, only 25% of the country’s manufacturing industry leaders said they were extremely familiar with the technologies,” said Anthony Wong, the Regional Director – South Pacific, Rockwell Automation. Plex opens up…

Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2023) is approaching fast! This will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 9-12 May 2023. Organised and run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2023 will almost fill ‘Jeff’s Shed’, more than 10,770 square metres, with 346 organisations showcasing the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. Don’t miss out!  Register online now at australianmanufacturingweek.com.au We've detailed some of the attractions on the other days in previous posts, and here is the line-up for the final day. On Friday 12 May, Day FOUR of AMW 2023, the Future Solutions Speaker program has a theme of ‘Innovation and Research’ at the Sessions Stage at AMW2023!  This is your chance to hear about the future of manufacturing. 10:15 AM – 10:45 AM Monash Smart Manufacturing Hub – Your access to Talent and Innovation Location: Future Solutions Speaker Sessions Stage Speaker: Prof. Adrian Neild, Founder and Director Smart Manufacturing Hub at Monash Professor Adrian Neild will share how manufacturers can partner…

Apollo Motorhome Holidays, a leading manufacturer of Recreational Vehicles (RV), is pleased to announce its partnership with Markforged, the industry leader in industrial 3D printing solutions. By integrating Markforged 3D printers into its manufacturing process, Apollo is taking a significant step towards revolutionising the caravan industry. Apollo has been at the forefront of the RV industry, offering high-quality, luxury motorhomes, campervans, and caravans to customers around the world. Now, with the addition of Markforged 3D printers to its manufacturing process, Apollo is set to take its craftsmanship to the next level. Markforged 3D printers are designed to produce functional, high-strength parts using a range of materials, including carbon fiber, stainless steel, and Onyx. With the ability to create custom parts quickly and easily, Apollo can solve supply chain issues, and reduce lead times and costs while maintaining its high standards of quality. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Markforged," said Edney Ferreira /Engineering Manager of Apollo. “Their 3D printing technology is cutting-edge and will allow us to create high-quality, custom parts that are essential to the motorhomes, campervans and Caravans we…

Additive manufacturing continues to disrupt the traditional manufacturing paradigm, and every day secures a more robust foothold as a production technology. The reason for this is driven by advances in build processes that promote increases in speed, accuracy, and repeatability of production, and therefore increased yield ratios. As is now well-known and accepted, AM is important as it facilitates the creation of geometrically complex parts and components. AM reduces waste and allows for the creation of lighter structures with an obvious importance in the automotive, aerospace, and medical sectors. AM also allows for the simple production of replacement parts impossible or uneconomical to replace using traditional processes, meaning that machines can be repaired not replaced. All such advantages along with AM’s ability to democratise and localise manufacturing with all that implies in terms of shortened and domestic supply chains means that as a technology, its future is assured. AM and post-processing One area where significant issues reside in AM parts…

Did you know Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2023) is only ONE WEEK away! This will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 9-12 May 2023. Organised by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2023 will fill ‘Jeff’s Shed’ almost to bursting, with 346 companies showing off the latest manufacturing tech, processes, and support services. Some of the biggest machine tool systems in the world will be there, in operation! Over four days in May, there will be presentations on the AMW Future Solutions Stage from specialists in each field. Supagas is in the Welding and Air Zone at WA235, and they sponsor Erebus Motorsports. Top professional Supercar driver Will Brown is making a special appearance at the Supagas stand on Thursday 11th of May, at 11:00am – 1:00pm. Don’t miss out!  Register online now at australianmanufacturingweek.com.au Day Three of AMW2023 will showcase a range of manufacturing successes and advances happening here at home, exporting to the world. 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Autodesk Australia - Digital Transformation - Case studies Location : Future Solutions…

Chris Winter is the Co-Founder and the brains behind RedEarth Energy Storage’s battery energy storage systems (BESS) and LFP Troppo batteries. Winter previously co-founded RedFlow, where he manufactured flow batteries alone. “But it’s a bit like biotech, where you have to put in a few years work before reaping the benefits,” he said. “Building the flow battery took up a lot of my time, and one day I decided I should just produce a complete system, which is easy to install,” he said. “RedEarth now manufactures complete energy storage systems, including our own battery, which are on-grid and off-grid, ready to power businesses, homes, SMEs, and retail outlets.” One of RedEarth’s initial goals was to bring down the complexity of installation for the kits.  Installers could also install inverters, solar panels, and the battery power systems like a Meccano set. But more recently, Winter has moved into having the whole kit as an integrated storage system which includes inverters, batteries and…

Third-generation South Australian family-owned precision engineering business, R.C. Williams Pty Ltd, is keeping abreast of the latest technology to remain internationally competitive and expand into new markets. Founded in 1967 the company is run by brothers Sam and Nick Williams with a staff of ten highly skilled engineering personnel. As a family business, R.C. Williams prides itself on a long tradition of quality and service to customers, started by its founder Ron Williams more than 55 years ago. The company is a long-standing customer of Okuma having installed its first machine 34 years ago. Now with a shop floor full of these impressive machines it’s not surprising the most recent investment was the latest Okuma Multus U3000 multitasking machine with a fully flexible and productive ASA robot system. “The new addition was carefully planned to complement our existing inventory, increase our capacity, flexibility and performance overall,” said Managing Director Sam Williams. “Twin spindles, stacked magazines full of tools and in-process gauging means that we can do medium to large runs in quick time whilst never compromising on quality. ASA’s robots and expert programmers…

Situated in Box Hill, Maton Guitars is where some of the finest quality guitars in the world come to life, each with a unique character and tone. Bill May pioneered the use of many Australian wood species in guitar construction and is regarded by many Australian luthiers as the founding father of their industry. The Blackwood series still sound as good as they did when they were released. Star guitarists like Neil Finn, Tommy Emanuel, Paul Kelly and Colin Hay count Maton Guitars as key to their great sounds. “The main role AMTIL has played throughout the term of our membership has been one of great collaboration,” Managing Director David Steedman said. “In particular, Greg Chalker is a resource who knows this business and our industrial needs intimately. AMTIL contributes to this business in the identification of government programs or initiatives that are of interest to us whereby we can look to applying for federal or state government funding for various project works.” “This role materialises in not only tangible wins and resultant…

Super-thin chips made from lithium niobate are set to overtake silicon chips in light-based technologies, according to world-leading scientists in the field, with potential applications ranging from remote ripening-fruit detection on Earth to navigation on the Moon. They say the artificial crystal offers the platform of choice for these technologies due to its superior performance and recent advances in manufacturing capabilities. RMIT University’s Distinguished Professor Arnan Mitchell and University of Adelaide’s Dr Andy Boes led this team of global experts to review lithium niobate’s capabilities and potential applications in the journal Science. The international team, including scientists from Peking University in China and Harvard University in the United States, is working with industry to make navigation systems that are planned to help rovers drive on the Moon later this decade. As it is impossible to use GPS technology on the Moon, navigation systems in lunar rovers will need to use an alternative system, which is where the team’s innovation comes in. By detecting tiny changes in laser light, the lithium-niobate chip can be used to measure movement without needing external signals, according to Mitchell. “This…

The past few years have seen many organisations implement tech-driven changes at a rapid pace. As society embraces and adopts digital technology, the effective management of new processes becomes key to the success of almost every business. The rapid workplace transformation evident across industries, whether that’s moving to hybrid working or adopting new technologies, prompts us to ask: what can we expect from 2023? Turnkey solutions make automation more accessible than before In recent years, we have witnessed the development of many different types of sophisticated technologies. Advances in robotics, machine learning and other technologies have increased the pace of this change tenfold. While these promise to revolutionise the business world, all technology companies face the same challenge – they can’t be good at everything. In the world of robotics, this is no different. Creating a robotic system requires hardware development, software development, application development, sensors, and interfaces - to name a few. That’s why 2023 will be the year of turnkey solutions. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will lie at the…