October 18, 2018
As product design complexity increases and high-performance materials become a necessity, manufacturability generally decreases. These fabrication realities are evident in high-performance components such as turbine discs, blades and vanes made from difficult-to-machine titanium and nickel alloys for the defence and aerospace sectors. Fabrication of these components results in low productivity, and therefore high final component costs. Custom cutting tools are often required over standard mass-manufactured tooling as the latter may not be capable of performing the task, or the current rate of production is limiting profitability. However, the costs and long lead times associated with custom tooling fabrication often acts as a strain on production and a barrier to their wider adoption. Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies expand the horizon of manufacturable designs as they have fewer constraints compared with conventional manufacturing methods due to the layer-by-layer manufacturing process. Recently, the knowledge base has matured, to the point where…
October 18, 2018
The concrete samples were manufactured at Talga’s German process test facility and the Betotech (Heidelberg Cement Q&C) laboratory in Germany, using industry-standard cement with additions of Talga’s pristine graphene, graphite and silica-rich by-product of ore processing. The optimised formulation targeted high electrical percolation at low material concentrations and with potentially lower cost factors. Graphene is a layer of crystalline carbon a single atom thick, with properties of strength, conductivity and transparency that stem from its unique 2D structure. The samples were tested in-house by a European industrial partner and further measurements were undertaken by Professor Ian Kinloch’s group at the University of Manchester (UoM) in the UK. In the UoM study, the conductivity of samples was measured using electrical impedance spectroscopy in both through-plane and in-plane directions over a range of frequencies. For reference, a standard mortar (without Talga additives or…
October 18, 2018
Things are changing fast in our increasingly digitised world and manufacturing is no exception. The hot topic of the last few years, Industry 4.0, is a collection of no fewer than nine technologies revolutionising the way things are made. Nine revolutions, all at once. Every sector and every supply chain is being shaken up. The electrification of cars, for example, will see parts per vehicle shrink from over 2,000 to less than 20. For those making these parts, or the tools that make these parts, there are big implications. According to research by the International Federation of Robotics, in 2015 the number of industrial robots increased 15%, and growth will continue by double-digit percentages through to 2019. At ANCA, we supply the automotive, electronic, medical, aerospace and many other manufacturing verticals, and it’s our business to meet their fast-changing needs. We keep a close watch on market trends, and our salesmen and application engineers are constantly visiting customers’ factories. In…
October 18, 2018
According to the Australian Index Group, the next two-year forecast for the manufacturing industry is predicting growth. On the back of this forecast, businesses that have seen a downturn in results should look to seize this opportunity to turn their business around. The Government is making headway to allow manufacturing to flourish and evolve in Australia through grants and the Research & Development (R&D) Incentive. Furthermore, to promote innovation, the introduction of Safe Harbour Legislation creates a safety net for entrepreneurs to fail – if they act in good faith – and removes the historical stigma attached to insolvency. Prior to the introduction of Safe Harbour, entrepreneurs facing risk of insolvency only had the option of a Voluntary Administration (VA). Safe Harbour acts as an alternative to VA; parking the risk of personal liability by providing an insurance policy for directors…
October 15, 2018
The new 25,000sqm facility provides space for around 500 employees, with SLM aiming to reach a production capacity of some 500 machines per year. The company invested approximately €25m into the new headquarters, confirming its intention to remain in Lübeck and to grow its already-strong market footing in metal 3D printing. The new facilities allow SLM to develop improved processes and to streamline production workflow of its current product range: the SLM125, SLM280 2.0, SLM500 and the latest SLM800 system. Spaces have been allocated for customer consultation and training on dedicated machines, as the company shifts from being purely a machine manufacturer to a solutions provider. By forming partnerships with clients it will provide support and advise on uptake of an SLM laser systems into ‘real’ business operations. Research & development are not being neglected, with a proposed 12-laser SLM Cube system on track to be launched in 2019. The development of the Cube…
October 11, 2018
“Seco has always been committed to providing our customers with the best products and services available,” said Ben Alexander, Business Manager Online Services at Seco Tools. “Partnering with MachineMetrics will allow us to not only continue to help our customers learn about themselves but will transform our ability to help them improve their machine tool utilisation and production capacity.” Seco plans to use the MachineMetrics Industrial IoT platform and its manufacturing analytics applications as a cornerstone in its expansion into new technology services. With data provided by MachineMetrics, Seco can apply its extensive experience and engineering capabilities to the continuous improvement of its customers by helping them make data-driven decisions to improve their efficiency and bottom line. Leveraging Seco’s experience in tooling with MachineMetrics’ data collection capabilities will help both Seco and MachineMetrics customers gain a deeper understanding of what’s happening with their tools in real-time. These insights…
October 11, 2018
Australia’s life-sciences sector is booming, with investment in the industry at an all-time high. Business and employment growth are highly positive and Australia is recognised globally for its innovation, quality and expertise in life-sciences. This was revealed in the eighth annual Biotechnology Industry Survey, released this July. AusBiotech, supported by Grant Thornton, conducts this valuable industry survey every year. The research responses this year show that the biotech sector is thriving, with 87% of businesses surveyed expecting to grow in 2018. A massive $1.073bn was raised by Australian biotech companies last year to 31 December 2017, the second-largest amount this decade. Australia is regarded as one of the world’s leading countries for life-sciences innovation, quality and expertise. Investment and interest in life-sciences is growing, with around 140 ASX-listed life-sciences businesses, holding a market capitalisation of more than $50bn. The life-sciences sector employs 232,200 people across 1,654 organisations, or 1.86% of the nation’s labour force, with the industry employing 69,000 people in 850 companies. These figures compare favourably with the mining sector, which accounts for…
October 11, 2018
I don’t need to convince you of the game-changing benefits of the additive manufacturing (AM), do I? If I do, then you need to sign up to the AM Hub so you can see for yourself the great work that is being done right here in Australia. So what will this AM Hub funding go towards? Firstly, the AM Hub will have a dedicated person, working exclusively on the AM Hub; this will give the program some much needed energy and effort. Second, the AM Hub will have its own website, much like the AMTIL website, but focused on additive manufacturing (and not purple, but orange!). With a comprehensive capability directory, the latest news and events, case studies and information. The new website will be the first port of call for anyone seeking information about additive manufacturing technology. Lastly, the AM Hub will also deliver the ‘Build It Better’ grant, a…
October 4, 2018
AMTIL regularly sends a delegation to the major overseas exhibitions and this year it was IMTS in the USA. AMTIL had a booth within the International Associations area of the show, alongside manufacturing assocations from countries all over the world. As well as enabling us to provide information and advice about manufacturing in Australia to anyone who came by the stand, it offered the opportunity to network and interact with those other associations, sharing insights about the state of the industry and exploring opportunities to collaborate. Moreover, having a fixed presence on the exhibition floor meant we were able to support any Australians who were visiting the show, offering a port of call where they could drop by for a chat and a coffee – our team were pleased to bump into a fair few familiar faces from back home during the week of the show. Australian companies were also making their presence felt in the exhibition, with the ANCA Group, Techni…
October 4, 2018
The Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council defines advanced manufacturing as a family of activities that either: depend on the use and coordination of information, automation, computation, software, sensing, and networking; and/or make use of cutting edge materials and emerging capabilities enabled by the physical and biological sciences, for example nanotechnology, chemistry, and biology. This involves both new ways to manufacture existing products, and especially the manufacture of new products emerging from new advanced technologies. Manufacturing in Australia accounts for almost a significant proportion of jobs across the country, with approximately 253,000 people employed in the industry. Embracing advanced manufacturing technology is crucial for the ongoing profitability of the industry, and the strength and diversity of the economy. Headland’s new Advanced Manufacturing Division boasts an extensive portfolio of product lines including Trumpf metal 3D printers and laser welders, VisiConsult Inspection/CT/X-ray scanners, and Voxeljet investment casting and industrial 3D printing (sand and plastic), and Mimaki colour 3D printers. Annaliese Kloé, Managing Director of Headland, says: “We’re thrilled to have partnered with such…
October 4, 2018
Advances in the orthopaedic field in particular are enormous; hip and knee prostheses and spinal implants are in demand like never before. Around 180 different types of product are being used in the human body nowadays. Interest in diagnostics and surgical instruments is also growing. Amid this growth, economic production of medical technology products is a key issue. As the leader of technology in machining and as a partner for virtually all notable manufacturers in the industry, DMG MORI plays a key role in enabling implants and instruments to be machined efficiently and above all to meet the high demands on quality. This comprises the entire material mix from high-strength plastic, stainless steel and titanium. to cobalt-chrome and now degradable magnesium alloys. CNC solutions for six-sided turn-mill machining, five-axis simultaneous milling, ultrasonic technology and high-speed cutting are all included in the portfolio, as well as additive manufacturing with powder bed technology, and digital solutions for future-oriented processes in medical technology. Continuous growth in the market for medical technology…
October 1, 2018
The Australian PMI has indicated positive conditions (results above 50 points) for 24 consecutive months – the longest run of recovery or expansion since 2005 (readings above 50 indicate expansion in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase). Five of the eight manufacturing sub-sectors expanded in September (according to trend data), with expansions strongest in food & beverages, non-metallic minerals, and wood & paper products. Recovery in the petroleum, coal & chemicals sub-sector has been slowing in recent months and was broadly stable at 50.5 in September, with many respondents reporting that rising oil prices were putting upward pressure on input costs. “The run of strong performance by Australia's manufacturing sector hit a new milestone in September capping two years of growth,” said Ai Group CEO Innes Willox. “The food & beverages sub-sector has been the cornerstone of this run and has been solidly supported by the construction-related non-metallic mineral product…
September 25, 2018
As a listed entity within the Commonwealth Government portfolio of the Treasury, the Royal Australian Mint is the sole supplier of Australia’s circulating coinage. Since its establishment, the Mint has produced more than fifteen billion circulating coins and now has the capacity to produce two million circulating coins per day. The demand for uncirculated coins has led to the expansion of the Mint’s manufacturing capability of high-quality and innovative collector coins. In addition to producing Australia’s coinage, the Mint produces coins for other countries – along with medals, medallions, tokens, and seals for private clients both national and international. The Royal Australian Mint is also a tourist attraction. It educates students and visitors on the history of Australian coinage, and it explains how technology is being used in its modern manufacturing environment. Shifting focus In 2010, the Royal Australian Mint had implemented a manufacturing resource planning solution to facilitate the production of circulating coins and…