Member News

Smooth Technology can act as the catalyst for the introduction of Industry 4.0. At its core is the ability to gather and analyse data, enabling the factory floor and management suite to make better, faster decisions, improving yield and speeding up production. Crucially, it is entirely scalable. As production increases and new machines or automation equipment are introduced, Smooth Technology can be quickly scaled up to match new requirements. In an Industry 4.0 factory, every aspect of production is connected, monitored and analysed, from production scheduling through to virtual simulation of the component to be cut, energy consumption, tool management and maintenance practices. The goal is to deliver more productivity and better quality products with less machine downtime. Factory floor…

It’s been argued that manufacturing companies are becoming more and more like service companies, and any line between the two is getting harder to draw. There have been many articles recommending that manufacturing companies invest in a high-performing customer service team to better meet their customers’ needs that previously may have been neglected. In many ways I could say I am now tasked with much of the responsibility of selling our machines, a role that traditionally sat with sales and marketing. I say this because the most effective way to build customer loyalty is by providing excellent aftermarket support – by being agile and responding quickly to customer requests. We recently interviewed our customers and after sales support was by far the number one priority. Technology is transforming how a traditional customer service team operates, with remote diagnostics and preventative maintenance quickly becoming…

Frequently asked questions about additive manufacturing (AM): Could 3D-printed parts ever match the characteristics of traditionally manufactured components? Are the parts reliable, or safe? Can’t you only print small components? Isn’t it slow? Aren’t the materials expensive? And can’t people just steal your intellectual property (IP) by copying your designs and printing them? A lot of people are working on answering one of these questions or another. But Aurora Labs aims to tackle them all. Aurora makes 3D printers, but it brands itself as “an industrial technology and innovation company”, and Founder and Managing Director David Budge describes a number of separate divisions to the business, covering distinct elements of manufacturing process. The actual printers are only part of the story, but they’re a good place to start. “When we first looked at 3D printing we realised there were two primary problems: the machines were very slow, and very expensive,” says Budge. “So naturally the parts produced had to be…

There’s a lot of talk these days about Industry 4.0 and Smart Factories. However, many manufacturers with a large burden of legacy systems – and especially smaller-sized organisations – see the vision of the Smart Factory as too complicated, and therefore unachievable in the short-to-medium term. In April 2017 our Prime Minister’s Industry 4.0 Taskforce entered into a co-operative agreement for information-sharing with Germany, including the development of global Industry 4.0 standards – with the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) co-ordinating work in Australia. Germany’s Platform Industrie 4.0 is an admirable initiative, but many German companies are relatively large – both in terms of revenues and people – and therefore have the turnover and the economies of scale to justify complex new digital manufacturing strategies, at least on new process lines. As an Australian manufacturing company – albeit with a global customer base – we at Sutton Tools see many of the customers with whom we work running smaller operations. This reflects OECD data that…

Held at Leonda by the Yarra, the one-day conference brought together around 150 delegates from across Australian manufacturing. Over the course of the day they got the opportunity to learn ways in which they can build resilience in their businesses and in their professional and personal lives. The Conference offered a program of expert speakers from across manufacturing and beyond, examining everything from automation for small manufacturers, to developing effective leadership skills, and much, much more. The day’s presentations got underway with a keynote address from Michael Grogan, Director for Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales for the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC). Grogan discussed recent research by the AMGC, which found that Australia has one of the most volatile manufacturing industries in the world. He cited companies such as ANCA, Marand Precision Engineering, Lovitt Technologies Australia and Sutton Tools as examples of Australian manufacturers that exhibit the three attributes of resilient manufacturers: superiority, diversity, and flexibility. “The good news is that when you focus on resilience, you can also become more competitive,”…

In October 1981, the first Okuma DCMC for the Australian and New Zealand markets was completed and installed. That first machine, an MCV-A model delivered to a customer in Christchurch, New Zealand 37 years ago, is still in active use to this day. Okuma DCMCs are defined by their basic construction. Often referred to as bridge construction, Okuma prefers the DCMC description. The machines have fixed columns either side of a table that moves underneath an elevating cross rail (W Axis). The table is connected to the two columns, along which the Y-axis/main-spindle headstock travels. This is actually similar to the MB-V/Genos M Vertical Machining Centre (VMC) range, another market-leading product line for Okuma. The key for the DCMC is its five-face machining ability using a choice of angular, extended or high-speed attachments. For…

The oil & gas industry has suffered considerably over the past years, due to the global economic crisis that left the major manufacturing players – in both the upstream and downstream sectors – having to meet low market requirements for new reserves, while making severe cuts to their workforce, machinery output and further development. A positive shift in 2017 set new demands from well-known offshore deep-water oil & gas exploration companies for rig components such as pressure heads and valves, Xmas-tree and wellhead valves, and manifolds. Components of these kinds are all made from or with nickel base exotic materials that can resist extreme conditions such as high-low temperatures, high pressure, and most if not all abrasion and corrosion side-effects. Parting off Jet-Cut technology The Jet-Cut line provides advanced cut-off machining technology…

Drive north from Melbourne CBD for about an hour, and you could until recently have been forgiven for not noticing Merrifield at all. It won’t show up in a search on Google Maps; switch to satellite view and for the most part it’s just empty, green fields. It doesn’t have a Wikipedia page. Or a pub. But all that is set to change. The area is currently undergoing an ambitious development program, with plans to build homes for up to 7,000 residents, retail and leisure facilities, and a business park projected to create 20,000 jobs. And in addition, Merrifield is now home to one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities of its kind, rated among the top factories in the world implementing the principles of Industry 4.0. DuluxGroup’s new Merrifield site is the biggest water-based paint plant in the Southern Hemisphere, occupying a footprint of 22,000sqm – larger than the playing area of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). When it reaches full production, the $165m facility will produce around…

Construction & demolition (C&D) in Australia produces 19 million tons of waste every year, accounting for approximately 40% of the country’s total waste generation. It isn’t surprising then that the C&D waste management industry is an upcoming one in the country, with immense scope for business growth and employment generation. Presently, there are more than 500 active businesses in the C&D waste management industry in the country, making it a strong supplier of jobs and resources to the economy. As the name suggests, C&D waste is what gets generated from demolition activities at construction sites – either residential or commercial. Such waste typically comprises timber, concrete, wood, metals, plastics, cardboard and mixed site debris such as soil and rocks. Since C&D waste incurs heavy landfill levy costs, recycling it is a more cost-effective approach. As a result, most C&D waste in Australia gets recycled. In most Australian states, recovery rates are at…

Dr Foley is a world-renowned physicist and science leader most noted for her work developing superconducting devices and systems which have assisted in unearthing over $6bn in minerals worldwide. Dr Foley will start in the role at the end of September. She said her priority will be promoting science, STEM and women in science. “Australia’s future prosperity will be fuelled by science,” Dr Foley said. “Science which creates new industries, new jobs and shapes the minds and aspirations of our future leaders. We can’t keep thinking about science as something which is locked away in a lab. It connects and drives everything we touch and do. I’m looking forward to not just spreading the word, but helping shape the science agenda and raising the profile of the role of women in STEM.” Dr Foley is currently the Deputy Director and Science Director of CSIRO’s manufacturing business unit. She has been an advocate for women in science, for the communication of science and…

Under the theme ‘Strategies for Manufacturing Resilience and Growth’, the 2018 AMTIL National Conference will be held at Leonda by the Yarra in Hawthorn, Victoria, on 22 August. The one-day event will take delegates on a learning journey that will help them to build resilience in their businesses, explore opportunities for growth beyond their traditional avenues, and inspire them to think outside the square. These themes will be explored in a program that encompasses every aspect of running a business today, touching on issues ranging from the relevance of automation for small manufacturers, through to how you can develop effective leadership, communication and relationship-building skills, and much, much more. To address these themes, AMTIL has assembled an impressive roster of experts who will be speaking at the Conference. Inspiring speakers Iconic athlete Deanna Blegg will deliver the closing address at the 2018 AMTIL National Conference, in which she will be discussing ‘Personal Resilience’. In 1994, at the age of just 24, Deanna was diagnosed with HIV after…

Under the direction of Managing Director Eric Woodgate, Shamic rapidly gained the excellent reputation it has today for providing high-quality sheet metal units and parts for a wide range of customers – from small producers to large multinational companies including motor vehicles, electrical and electronic products and industrial components and parts. In 1985, the sheet metal specialists began manufacturing wood heaters, acquiring the rights to an array of well-known heater brands between 1998 and 2001, with gas heaters added to their impressive portfolio in 2001. Having grown extensively over the years, in 1998 Shamic moved to a larger manufacturing and warehousing facility in Croydon, Victoria. Today, Shamic manufactures and sells the full range of HeatCharm, Arrow and Coonara wood and gas heaters across Australia through a huge network of more than 150 distributors. With strong relationships with distributors across the country, Shamic prides itself on staying true to Australian suppliers and the industry, employing expert staff to support the local market. Remaining competitive Shamic provides a vast service offering for its customers, manufacturing…

Based in Lytton, Queensland, ART has developed Metaltek XB1200, an advanced robotic structural steel processing system that has the potential to help Australian firms better compete with cheap imported fabricators through lower costs, quicker turnaround and superior accuracy. David White, Director of ART, said the grant funding would enable the company to transition from research & development (R&D) to a production product. “This grant will help us cover the costs of building and installing a prototype system here at our Brisbane facility,” White said. “It will also help us complete and transport a display model they we can use for real-world demonstrations in Australia and overseas. This will help us generate leads with companies that are crying out for this kind of product, because we’ll be able to actively demonstrate the efficiency of this system in an industry neutral environment.” To mark the awarding of the grant, ART was visited by Senator Michaelia Cash, Federal Minister for Jobs and Innovation, and Ross Vasta, the Federal Member for Bonner.  Vasta…