Industry News

Victoria’s Minister for Economic Development Tim Pallas welcomed the decision by Conymet Duratray International to grow its current Victorian footprint by onshoring overseas manufacturing functions and establishing a new innovation division in West Cranbourne. “Conymet Duratray is relocating its global HQ to Victoria because of our highly skilled workforce, and our world-renowned capabilities in advanced manufacturing, innovation, and research and development,” said Pallas. “Attracting investment from companies such as Conymet Duratray will help us grow high-value jobs and boosts our economy.” The company intends to draw on Victoria’s highly skilled workforce and the State’s innovation, research & development capabilities, to develop new specialties in the areas of mining data analytics, Internet of Things, machine learning as well as advanced composite materials for its product line. “We’re excited to embark on this new innovation journey in Victoria,” said Marcelo Medel, Managing Director of Conymet Duratray International. “We’re committed to supporting Victoria to become the mining tech hub of Australia,…

Additional support from the South Australian Government will supplement nearly $4m the company is raising itself. If the grant application is successful, Fleet Space will become a major satellite manufacturing hub and increase its payroll from 31 staff today to 128 by 2024, according to CEO and co-founder Flavia Tata Nardini. Most of the new employees will be engineers and specialist satellite assembly technicians. Fleet Space has spent $12m since 2015 on research & development (R&D) to develop the world’s most advanced beam-steering antenna and to miniaturise its satellites’ communications payload. These make it possible to deliver its Nebula space-based data network using a 10kg nanosatellite, where previously this level of connectivity was only possible with a 100kg satellite. The company, which has already launched four nanosatellites, has applied for a $5m grant from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources under the MMI to help it make the jump. Fleet Space plans to build a new factory…

The survey, released by PROS, found that 55% of Australian manufacturers intend to reshore their operations to Australia by 2023 following market volatility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and international relations with neighbouring countries. The Australian Manufacturing Outlook survey revealed confidence in that the Australian economy is growing, with more companies signalling they intend to bring manufacturing operations back to Australia. Nearly one quarter (22%) of respondents have already reshored their operations, with nearly half of companies’ overall manufacturing capacity (48%) targeted to return to Australia by 2023. Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia are poised to lead the nation’s charge on reshoring over the next three years according to respondents, with a focus on creating local jobs and growing priority sectors such as lithium batteries, defence and space, and capitalising on their respective geographic advantages. The drive to reshore has been prompted by the need to future-proof critical supply chains in the face of market change and disruption, to minimise risk and protect jobs in key industries, coupled with Federal Government…

When negotiating a new commercial lease, multiple options for further lease terms are an excellent way of securing a site for a long term, while giving your business the flexibility to relocate or exit the property at regular intervals as may be needed to support future growth, consolidate or respond to merger and acquisition opportunities. In other words, option periods in your commercial lease provide your business with an excellent safety net. If your business is performing well and the site continues to meet your needs, you have the security of knowing you can stay for at least as long as the option periods last. In a manufacturing context, this long-term certainty is critical for accommodating capital-intensive plant and…

AME Systems is now a key Northrop Grumman supplier of cabling and wiring harnesses associated with the MQ-4C Triton program for the Royal Australian Air Force. “AME Systems is extremely proud to be partnering with Northrop Grumman,” said Nick Carthew, Managing Director of AME Systems. With the US Navy’s planned program of record for 68 operational Tritons and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)’s planned acquisition of six to seven Tritons, the opportunities for AME Systems are significant. AME Systems’ enhancement of production capabilities has been further strengthened by being awarded Northrop Grumman’s harness manufacturing certification. AME Systems is now one of only three companies globally certified to this level of manufacturing, positioning AME Systems to potentially supply a new level of technology to Northrop Grumman and the broader Australian defence industry. “Growth of Australian industry content within our programs is one of Northrop Grumman’s top priorities,” said Chris Deeble, Chief Executive of Northrop Grumman Australia. “AME joins a growing number of Australian companies supplying components for the…

In the historic 36th America’s Cup, the Kiwis have retained the oldest trophy in international sporting history, seeing off Italian challenger Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, in spite of extra challenges including Covid-19, race cancellations and delays. This was the fourth time that New Zealand has triumphed in the America’s Cup and is another victory to add to their three previous successes. Back in 2018, maxon joined Emirates Team New Zealand as an official supplier, supplying 480W DC motors with 42mm gearbox combinations, and EPOS motor controllers. This particular DC motor combination was selected because of its outstanding power density and ability within even the harshest of environments. The America’s Cup AC75 Class Rule allows the use of electric motors to operate hydraulic valves, drive clutches, rudders and foils. Teams may also use motors for driving simulator platforms and numerous test jigs. Creating a boat from simulation and the use of AI technology were big risks for Emirates Team New Zealand, who were frank about the lack of boat-on-boat racing experience…

A few of these are outlined in brief below as we believe they are important to not only our future as an organisation and membership body, but to the wider manufacturing technology industry as well. Education and training initiatives  We are looking at short, medium and long term initiatives that will address skill shortage issues that exist in our industry. Raising the image of manufacturing as a career opportunity for our younger generation is high on our priority list, along with developing some short courses that will produce CNC operators, which is a particular skill shortage that remains an issue. We are also looking at how we can leverage off our major exhibition - Australian Manufacturing Week – to be held next March, to showcase new and exciting technologies to our secondary students. Exhibition and event portfolio With the introduction of Australian Manufacturing Week, alongside Austech as our flagship exhibition moving forward, the discussion around timing and location of this event continues to be of strong…

AMT: Tell us a little bit about IMTS and how long you have been in business. SS: IMTS Machinery initially began in 1994 servicing laser cutting systems around Australia. Based in Melbourne, we’ve since expanded across multiple states of Australia and New Zealand. We offer the complete range of sheetmetal machinery from leading manufacturer Prima Power. In addition we are also the number one supplier of laser system consumables across Australia and New Zealand, using quality European suppliers. Our laser consumables business is able to supply parts at short notice for all laser system brands, not just Prima Power.   AMT: How long has IMTS been the sole agent for Prima Power? SS: IMTS has been representing Prima Power in Australia and New Zealand for nearly 20 years. Prima Power nominated IMTS to solely represent them in this region due to our level of experience with laser cutting systems. This…

Digital manufacturing technologies like 3D concrete printing (3DCP) have immense potential to save time, effort and material in construction. They also promise to push the boundaries of architectural innovation, yet technical challenges remain in making 3D-printed concrete strong enough for use in more free-form structures. In a new experimental study, researchers at RMIT looked to the natural strength of lobster shells to design special 3D printing patterns. Their bio-mimicking spiral patterns improved the overall durability of the 3D printed concrete, as well as enabling the strength to be precisely directed for structural support where needed. When the team combined the twisting patterns with a specialised concrete mix enhanced with steel fibres, the resulting material was stronger than traditionally-made concrete. Lead researcher Dr Jonathan Tran, a senior lecturer in structured materials and design at RMIT, said 3D printing and additive manufacturing opened up opportunities in construction for boosting both efficiency and creativity. “3D concrete printing technology has real potential to revolutionise the construction industry, and our aim is to…

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Christian Porter, said vehicle research & development is vital to the nation’s prosperity with Australia being a significant competitor on the global stage. “By extending the automotive research and development tariff concession, the Morrison Government is supporting the ongoing design and development of cars here at home, and providing ongoing job opportunities for our highly-skilled workforce,” Minister Porter said. “We’re supporting highly-skilled Australians such as engineers, designers, technical, automotive and other specialists to remain in these important jobs. “It’s also evidence that while automotive manufacturing in Australia has changed over the past 10-15 years, we still have a healthy sector with well-paid jobs right along the value chain.” Ford Australia, which employs more than 2,500 staff, is a key beneficiary of the tariff concession, along with Toyota Motor Corporation Australia and Robert Bosch Australia. The tariff concession is demand-driven and was worth more than $4m on goods imported from 35 countries in 2018 and 2019. This extension capitalises on the Government’s investment in the…

Co-located with sister company Brabham Automotive in Adelaide, South Australia, BusTech Group is gearing up to produce at least 60 electric buses for the NSW Government over the next 18 months after its recent inclusion on a list of approved electric bus suppliers. It also has orders for electric buses in Queensland, which it aims to start delivering in the second half of this year. The all-electric buses aimed at the Australian market will use a Proterra battery pack and drivetrain following a partnership with the US company. Owned by SA-based Fusion Capital, which also owns Brabham Automotive, the company rebranded as BusTech Group in December 2020 following the 2019 purchase of Queensland-based Bustech, bringing it into the same group as SA-based Precision Buses. BusTech Group executive chairman Christian Reynolds says the two manufacturers first collaborated under a joint venture agreement back in 2017. “We could see the opportunity to take more of a leading position within the bus space so we worked through a transaction…

The Government is investing $1.5bn into the Modern Manufacturing Strategy. Manufacturers can apply for a grant to help strengthen their local supply chain, handle mass production, upskill employees, scale up and improve competitiveness. According to Saeid Nikdel, quality management expert at SAI Global, COVID-19 restrictions across the world have impeded availability of goods due to parts and components held up in international supply chains. The problem has highlighted the Australian manufacturing sector’s dependence on overseas markets for the supply of machinery, tools, parts and product components. Most of the machinery brought into Australia comes from the US and Europe, while product components and parts mostly come from China. In the last 12 months, local manufacturers, assemblers and distributors have faced delays almost twice as long as in 2019. “These have impacted their ability to produce local goods” says Nikdel. “Manufacturers have also struggled to scale up operations to meet the increase in demand. It has been a wake-up call for…