Industry News

Throughout history, manufacturers have sought ways to make their machining processes more efficient and cost-effective. Those efforts involve ongoing development of advanced and precise production machinery, improved cutting tools and optimisation of cutting systems overall. Specific strategies include high-speed machining, high-feed machining, high-performance machining and digital machining. The recent initiative called sustainable machining aims at reducing raw material consumption, energy use and generation of waste throughout the product lifecycle to a level that at least is in balance with the carrying capacity of our planet. Often the general discussion of sustainability concentrates on large global environmental issues but overlooks the basic elements of price, cost, customer satisfaction, process knowledge and reliability. When it comes to sustainability in machining, true success starts with simple, straightforward steps and analysis.…

Machining long parts, such as shafts and axles, is challenging because the workpiece must be supported throughout to maintain cutting speed and surface quality. The main and sub spindles must be synchronised to ensure cutting can be performed while both spindles hold the workpiece for maximum support. Bars are also frequently repositioned in incremental steps to keep workpieces rigid, as well as to account for limited bed length. Because the repeat repositioning of the bar presents a collision risk, it benefits machinists if they are supplied with NC code that tracks machine motion for greater flexibility and readability at the machine control. Without the ability to track machine motion, a significant amount of time is spent hand-editing NC code and troubleshooting programs before production begins using complex multi-tasking scenarios. ESPRIT TNG CAM software now automatically tracks the location of work offsets regardless of part position by enabling programmers to define the offset and offset translations, or the points at which offset changes occur. In addition to enabling…

Aero Spec is a family owned business established by Klaus Linke in 1973, and is now managed by his two sons Nick and Mark, who bought the business in 2000. To help enable their vision of taking the business to new opportunities, the brothers changed the company name, invested in a larger manufacturing facility and established a commitment to continual investment in the latest CNC machine and tooling technology. Aero Spec specialises in supplying complex and difficult to manufacture components to various industries such as medical, defence, infrastructure, transport, aviation and mining. Their expertise in machining, CNC turning, three, four and five-axis CNC milling, and design and turnkey manufacturing has enabled the company to develop a reputation as a one-stop manufacturing facility capable of catering for every requirement, including working with materials such as stainless, inconel, acrylics, PEEK and other plastics. While Aero Spec shines in working with complex and difficult components, they also…

Sometimes they may look pretty familiar and insignificant – but seals and gaskets are rapidly advancing fields of technology that perform functions vital to safety, testing, machine-building and manufacturing operations. They play a key role in ensuring the efficacy and longevity of valves, pumps, reticulation systems, machinery and automation solutions, where they are essential in avoiding leaks of fuel, fluid power mediums, harmful emissions, vapours and chemical and aggressive process solutions. And because they may look so simple and familiar, users may assume that what has done a job previously will continue to meet a whole host of issues that may arise in the future, including new challenges where they are essential to the integrity of process automation, materials-handling, machine construction and maintenance and safety, hygiene and export compliance. Sometimes this approach may be right. Proven can be good – if the application is the same, or very similar. But trusting old solutions with new tasks may also be wrong. New machinery technologies (faster, higher…

Additional benefits for global organisations to choose to manufacture here include access to Australia’s generous Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI), especially if they plan to commercialise the results of R&D programs in Australia. Informing them of and promoting their potential access to cash refunds or general tax benefits could help secure the work for Australia when other jurisdictions are also being considered. Australia’s generosity to companies that undertake business here will in turn help bolster its medtech and life sciences manufacturing expertise through promotion of Australia as a destination for R&D and manufacturing. There are several scenarios where Australian manufacturing activities could be subject to an RDTI claim for overseas companies looking to set up an Australian presence to contract with local manufacturers. There could be…

The Offshore Energy Infrastructure Bill could permit the construction of the 2.2-gigawatt Star of the South wind farm off the Gippsland coast in Victoria’s south-east. The Bill could also enable construction of the Marinus Link interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania, as well as windfarms in areas like Gladstone, Newcastle and Wollongong. “The only way to ensure that these massive wind turbines meet Australian Standards for reliability, quality and safety is to award the fabrication contracts to local Australian companies,” said Geoff Crittenden, Chief Executive Officer of Weld Australia. “Local fabricators comply with internationally recognised Australian Standards and are certified by the relevant Australian authority. The Star of the South and Marinus Link interconnector projects alone are worth $10bn combined and are expected to create 10,000 jobs. According to Crittenden, a procurement policy that mandated local content would see that $10bn reinvested back into the Australian economy. It would also create thousands of jobs in regional…

The investment will deliver far-reaching benefits by enhancing research commercialisation, supporting the creation of future industries and jobs, accelerating the attraction of international investment, and building access to global supply chains. The funding will support investment integration to maximise impact in three core areas across the Monash Technology Precinct by June 2022, including: Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC): Expansion of MMIC’s presence to a new node at Clayton, allowing the scale-up of medicine manufacturing capability, and support for clinical trials and growth of exports and jobs. UP-LINK university partner collaboration space: A platform at the heart of Clayton campus that will drive manufacturing innovation and modernisation. This will provide industry with early access to Monash research and talent pipelines. In addition, incubator and start-up facilities will support commercialisation and spinouts, enabling entrepreneurial activity across the precinct, and creating new businesses. oNKo-innate Headquarters: A biotechnology research and development facility to accelerate the development of cancer therapies, enabling target identification, validation, and subsequent development, manufacturing and commercialisation of cancer treatments.…

Workers compensation insurer Allianz has released data revealing workplace mental health injuries are on the rise – with active psychological claims increasing by 5%, for the last financial year. In addition, Allianz found 69% of Australian employees surveyed have not had a conversation with their employer about their mental health since the start of the pandemic. This trend remains unchanged compared to 2020 (69%). Allianz claims data showing that the average cost per active psychological claim is around 3.5 times that of active claims for physical injuries. COVID-19 has not only raised concerns about employee mental health, but also the lack of strategies that organisations have in place to support employees, with 43% of those surveyed saying their workplace has not introduced new mental health initiatives since the start of the pandemic. The Allianz research of Australian employees and senior managers across industries shows that while both employees and employers agree there are challenges in the workplace, they also see a disparity between their challenges. Experiencing worries or concerns with balancing work…

A partnership between UoW, Lithoz and Objective3D allowed the remote installation of the high-resolution ceramic printer to occur, which will be used for a broad range of applications in the development of bioprinting hardware. The printer was purchased by the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) Materials Node, which is based at UoW, for use at the Translational Research Initiative for Cellular Engineering and Printing (TRICEP). TRICEP works with research institutions and industry to develop innovative technologies using 3D bioprinting. Dr Johannes Homa, CEO of Lithoz, said the project highlighted the importance of agile working: “We are world and industry technology providers for ceramic 3D printing systems and materials, and have been working in research and industry for more than ten years. After the past year, it has become clear to us just how critical flexibility in the manufacturing world is, and we are very happy that this remote installation has been a success.” The investment from ANFF will give TRICEP a highly flexible means of customising and producing…

AMT: How long has Alspec been in business and how has it evolved over the years? Clinton Matthews: We’ve been in business for over 45 years with distribution facilities located across Australia. We have multiple businesses within the group and have in excess of 500 employees nationally supporting our customers. We have in-house design and NATA-accredited testing facilities assisting in the development of new aluminium window and door systems supporting the building sector. We are big on R&D, we invest in our people and technology to deliver exceptional service across our supply chain.   AMT: What prompted you to invest in the Hänel system? CM: Our main problem was capacity within an existing facility, in conjunction with labour productivity – the time it was taking to fulfil orders through the picking process. Traditionally we would store small components in traditional key lock racking systems, and we were looking for a way to increase productivity and the storage capacity of our facility. We have not had the system long and…

Innovation to commercialisation in years, losing your IP in minutes A business may develop a strategic approach, or just strike it lucky in finding an unexpected technological breakthrough. To progress from this point, requires further research and development, securing government grants and tax breaks, and maybe applying for patents in Australia and overseas, with an eye on potential overseas markets. Hopefully before too long commercialisation creates further growth and opportunities. Many start-ups and established corporations alike strive to achieve success, after the ‘sweat and tears’ of enduring many late nights of endless research and experimentation. The creators of innovation might work in an informal setting, like a start-up, made of a collection of friends and family members with a shared vision of making that imagined product a reality. Or in a large corporation, with the formal procedures, protocols, sign…

Melbourne-based Kesem Health develops and commercialises a digital health medical device and develops artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled solutions in the field of urology. Current methods of assessing patients with urinary dysfunction are time-consuming, expensive, and space-intensive. The current standard of care compromises clinical outcomes and increases the costs associated with diagnosing urinary dysfunction. The solution is the iUFlow, a novel, patented, fully automated, and easy to use bladder monitoring device, implemented on a smartphone platform. The iUFlow device is designed and priced to be used over a period of 48-96 hours as required by the patient’s urologist. The challenge The project entailed the design and manufacturing of multiple components to further tune the design of iUFlow, utilising additive manufacturing principals of multiple parts of the iUFlow product. This is due to the complexity of the design, which is difficult to achieve by going directly to injection moulding. In addition, the costs and processes involved with a typical injection moulding set-up presented a significant barrier to entry. Therefore, it was deemed risky, as well as…

Of the six manufacturing sectors in the Australian PMI only food and beverages expanded at a faster pace (seasonally adjusted) in August, increasing by 1.7 points to 56.5 (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with higher results indicating a faster rate of expansion). The related sectors of chemicals (down 8.5 points to 56.4) and TCF, paper & printing (down 24.4 points to 53.3) also expanded, albeit at a slower rate. Machinery & equipment manufacturing stalled (down 11.3 points to 50.4) while metal products (down 16.2 points to 45.5) and building materials manufacturing (down 15.8 points to 42.4) contracted due to restricted manufacturing and construction activity in NSW and Victoria. “August saw a steep retreat from the healthy expansion in manufacturing performance that has characterised most of this year,” said Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox. “Lockdowns across the country, particularly in NSW and Victoria, were the major detractor from performance with ongoing strength outside of these states sufficiently…