Industry News

Industry 4.0 is the fourth industrial revolution that is currently transforming manufacturing through digitalisation, enabling new efficiencies and business models not previously possible. Swinburne is playing a leading role in the practical implementation of Industry 4.0 in Australia, through supporting the manufacturing industry and investing in the development of a National Industry 4.0 Testlab for Composite Additive Manufacturing in partnership with CSIRO, in addition to the Factory of the Future, Swinburne’s industry portal for Industry 4.0. Platform Industrie 4.0 Austria and Swinburne’s Industry 4.0 program have agreed to increase knowledge exchange to promote technology transfer, best practices and business model innovation between both countries. Networking efforts and links to other European centres for digital innovation will be deepened, and successful policy settings and joint submissions for research project funding will also be explored. “We are delighted to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Platform Industrie 4.0 Austria to advance the fourth industrial revolution,” said Swinburne Vice-Chancellor Professor Pascale Quester. “The digitalisation and integration of production, with state-of-the-art information and communication technology along…

The manufacturing capabilities that Australia has available within its borders have received a lot of attention this year, becoming the subject of much discussion in the media and elsewhere. Whether or not this interest will be sustained in the long term remains to be seen. Manufacturers are hoping that it will be; that the country can rebuild its industrial muscle, and that public and private procurers will look locally first. For many years the tendency for electronics manufacturers and others has been to look offshore. Elexon Electronics, a successful electronics engineering and contract manufacturing business based in Brendale, admits there are challenges to resisting this trend. However, the company is on a mission to change it. About two years ago, Elexon went through a significant growth phase due to demand for its unique mining products. At that time Elexon considered outsourcing due to capacity constraints. Instead, it decided to double its own production capacity, investing heavily in a new Industry 4.0 line, restructuring the…

Designed to provide a much-needed stimulus to Australian manufacturing businesses in the wake of COVID-19, IMCRC activate stimulates and fast-tracks R&D investment, offering access to valuable expertise and matched cash funding between $50,000 and $150,000. The first approved project of the initiative is led by Alcolizer, a Perth-based company developing a rapid saliva test for SARS-CoV-2 virus antigens using its existing drug testing technology. Alcolizer’s partnership with IMCRC and research collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) will see the project accelerate quickly in the face of the global health pandemic, evolving from a proof of concept to secure Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) readiness in just four months. As Australia emerges from the worst of the COVID-19 crisis, providing valuable and strategic support for shorter-term research projects in advanced manufacturing and digital technologies is a priority for IMCRC. David Chuter, CEO and Managing Director of IMCRC, commented: “As the fourth largest industry in Australia, manufacturing is critical to rebuilding the health of our…

“Manufacturers are now trying to adapt to the changes in conditions, especially in two major aspects,” said Hajime Sugiyama, Vice-President Factory Automation at Mitsubishi Electric. “For example how do you implement social distancing in a factory?” It’s a very interesting question, which has more permutations than most people initially consider. Starting with the individual, we can all imagine the use of face guards and masks. And indeed many industries have traditionally used such personal protection equipment (PPE), though this was driven from a hygiene or clean environment standpoint for industries producing such things as food, drugs or even sensitive electronics and semiconductors. Such PPE is not necessarily desirable in all industries. For example, in hot or humid environments the act of wearing a mask may actually increase risks of heat exhaustion, so care must be exercised in truly understanding the worker’s environment. Some…

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the Taskforce was aimed at addressing the need to support NSW manufacturers by putting the policies in place that create local jobs and support local industry. “We currently import the more than 86,500 tonnes of steel that form the foundations for critical energy infrastructure – including some finished manufactured goods,” Barilaro said. “As we come out of this recession, we need to lead by example by backing our local supply chains, local manufacturers and local jobws. This Taskforce will make sure we have the knowledge we need to do just that, and unlock regional NSW’s renewable energy manufacturing potential.” Energy Minister Matt Kean said the Taskforce will look at everything from material sourcing and supply to contracting arrangements, and explore ways to give NSW manufacturers a competitive advantage in emerging ‘green’ supply industries. “Industry tells us we will need more than 650,000 tonnes of steel to deliver our three Renewable Energy Zones,” said Kean. “My priority is finding ways…

Pneumatic actuators, which run on compressed air, have been around since World War II. They are well-understood, cheap, and suited to harsh environments. However, they also come with their penalties. Obviously, compressed air must be generated to power them. Depending on the expansiveness of a factory, this can mean numerous compressors and/or a complicated reticulation system. A reliable level of pressure must be maintained, or pneumatics will work poorly or not at all. Air leaks can be expensive. According to a leading compressor technology company, one leak in one unit costing 15 cents/kW/hr to operate will represent well over $2,000 a year to a power bill. With a single point of failure – for example air leakage at one location – the air pressure of the whole plant will drop, and operations will be affected. Then there is the noise. “If you are working in or visiting a factory, you will usually hear…

Dr Foley, who has spent the last two years as the CSIRO’s Chief Scientist, will take over from Dr Alan Finkel AO, whose tenure comes to an end in December 2020. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Dr Foley had the background needed to deliver during such a pivotal time in history. “As we recover from COVID-19 and look to rebuild a brighter future, the role of the Chief Scientist has never been more important,” Morrison said. “Dr Foley has a big task ahead to drive collaboration between industry and the science and research community, as we look to create jobs for the COVID-19 recovery and for the future.” Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews also thanked Dr Finkel for his service and said Dr Foley would bring a unique mix of experience to the role. “Dr Foley is highly regarded in the scientific community, has extensive experience working with government, but most importantly understands how to drive collaboration between industry and researchers,” said Andrews. “We know science will play a crucial role in helping to create jobs at this…

Professional services and global consulting firm Deloitte recently published a study – The heart of resilient leadership: Responding to COVID-19 – into what effective leadership looks like in a crisis. Integra’s leadership team – Managing Director and CEO Paul Hughes and Commercial Director Erika Hughes – discussed how their organisation is meeting Deloitte’s benchmarks for resilient leadership in the context of COVID-19. Stabilise today, spark innovation tomorrow The Integra team is using the COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity to emerge stronger on a number of fronts. One of the key strategies of Integra has been to use what otherwise would become a bit of downtime for an informal internal review; an opportunity to prepare, refine and then “plough ahead” – as Paul describes it – with the company’s development. “There’s an underlying mission to…

The State Government is allocating $37m in the upcoming 2020/21 State Budget to upgrade the Port Bonython jetty as part of an ambitious plan for SA to become an exporter of green energy to world markets. Premier Steven Marshall said upgrading the jetty will unlock significant investment and export opportunities, with hydrogen driving renewed interest in Port Bonython. “SA’s ambition to create, use and export green hydrogen is getting global attention, and has great potential to create jobs and sustain long-term investment,” said Marshall. “Maintaining this critical piece of infrastructure will unlock further export opportunities in key markets, particularly across Asia, boosting economic activity and creating jobs in our state. “My government has also been working to assist Australian company H2U to establish connections with potential international customers, and their hydrogen project at Port Bonython is a very exciting one for South Australia. The $240m demonstrator…

The sudden shortage of essential medical equipment brought on by the pandemic, including respiratory support and personal protective equipment (PPE), has offered a glimpse at how supply chain disruptions can be mitigated with 3D printing, as well as new business opportunities 3D printing can provide when adopted at a large scale. One advantage of 3D printing is extreme flexibility and the ability to rapidly redeploy equipment from one task to another – in other words, to retool. Using a 3D printer, you can be creating building materials one moment and medical prosthetics the next by loading a digital design of the new part into the printer. This agility makes 3D printing useful for prototyping and for making low-run parts that can be used to repair outdated equipment or create custom products to solve unique challenges. Flexibility has allowed industries to repurpose their production and R&D capabilities towards manufacturing…

The two organisations have entered into an agreement to expand their combined international outreach. “This partnership between AWS and the Australian Research Council Training Centre for Surface Engineering for Advanced Materials (SEAM) is a great outcome,” says SEAM Director, Distinguished Professor Chris Berndt. “We will both have significant benefits by training early career researchers who will share their excitement and enthusiasm in surface engineering.” The collaboration will ensure a pathway for the promotion and advancement of fundamental knowledge and understanding of surface engineering. ITSA, a standing committee of the American Welding Society, is a professional industrial organisation dedicated to expanding the use of thermal spray technologies for the benefit of industry and society. “Part of the AWS mission is to advance the science, technology and application of allied joining processes, including thermal spraying,” says Alfred Nieves, Manager of AWS Membership Operations and ITSA liaison. “The partnership between ITSA/AWS and Swinburne aligns with our mission and will encourage the next…

Established in 1982, GMG is a metal manufacturing and engineering company offering customers exceptional quality and service utilising the latest advancements in technology. Located in Maryborough with a second facility in Gladstone, GMG employs 60 highly skilled staff servicing industries including mining, defence, construction, transport, rail, medical, marine/shipping, and oil & gas. Highly experienced in metal fabrication, surface coatings and component machining, GMG offers a complete turnkey solution utilising modern world-class equipment and Lean manufacturing principles. The new Mazak machines are a VTC-530/20 vertical travelling column machining centre, a VCN 530C vertical machining centre, and a HCN-5000 twin-pallet horizontal machining centre. GMG Managing Director Richard Aylward cites increasing client demand as the driver for the investments, together with productivity increases brought by newer technology. “The latest Mazatrol Smooth conversational controllers have delivered a significant reduction in programming and set up time for us,” he explains. “And together with the latest technology Mazak offers in their machines, this has given us significantly reduced in-process times.” The Mazak VTC-530/20 vertical machining centre features a…

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the Demonstrator Feasibility grants will allow businesses and researchers to look into whether their projects are viable – showcasing local space capabilities on the global stage. “Investing in space is investing in our future,” said Andrews. “By backing Aussie businesses to be part of global space supply chains we can grow our economy and create new jobs. These grants will provide opportunities for businesses and researchers to scope out the feasibility of projects which have the potential to operate or support operations in space, including activities related to NASA’s Moon to Mars endeavours. “Space isn’t just about launch. Space technology can improve our lives, from assisting in the delivery of remote rural medicine, helping us stay connected with loved ones across the world and assisting farmers to manage their land through advancements in robotics. We’re also focused on building…