Member News

As of February, we’ll be producing six editions of AMT per year, instead of ten. As opposed to the current monthly schedule (excluding December and January), each new magazine will come out every second month: February, April, June, August, October and December While this means AMT readers will get twice as long to read their copy of the magazine, there will be a lot more in each issue for them to get through. Next year we’ll be including a broader range of features in each issue, with each feature exploring its subject in greater depth. The new, bi-monthly schedule allows us to cover a greater array of industries and a more diverse range of products over the course of the year. In addition we’ll be continuing to expand our coverage via our online channels, via www.amtil.com.au/News. For information about advertising in AMT Magazine, please contact our Sales Manager, Anne Samuelsson, by calling 03 9800 3666, or by emailing asamuelsson@amtil.com.au. To submit articles or to discuss editorial ideas, contact AMT’s Editor William…

In 1898, a young and aspiring innovative engineer named Eiichi Okuma established the Okuma Noodle Machine Co. to manufacture and sell noodle-making machines. It may seem an unusual field of technology to enter, but the consumption of noodles was (and still is) very high in Japanese cuisine and an invention to cut down the massive labour content in producing them was indeed revolutionary. Eiichi Okuma went on to make several automated machines, most notably cigarette-rolling machines and even textile-knitting machines a little later. However, it was in 1904 that machine tools became Okuma’s focus as industrialisation really took hold, and by 1918 Okuma Machinery Works Ltd was formally established and the volume production of the OS Lathe commenced. By 1937, Okuma was the number 1 machine tool producer in Japan by value. The company’s growth remained rapid through the 1950s, and in 1963, it launched the OSP control with its unique absolute position feedback encoder, thus becoming the only machine tool builder to build its…

We have just gone through a number of focus sessions with our members and gathered feedback from them that the cost of inputs into their businesses is getting prohibitive and reducing their competitiveness. So I thought it would be a timely reminder that the benefits of industry associations should not be overlooked when it comes to minimising costs in your company. AMTIL offers quite a few member services including electricity brokerage, all types of insurance, foreign exchange, telephone and ICT solutions, and consulting services through William Buck. Make It Cheaper is our energy expert. The company offers a quick, easy and efficient route into what can be a murky energy market, doing everything they can to save time and money for your home or business. Their experts will compare prices from Australia’s leading energy suppliers to ensure you’re getting a fair deal. Once they have found the best prices from their panel of 14 different retail providers, they then set you up on these rates to make your…

The Australian PMI increased by 0.4 points in September to 52.1 (readings above 50 indicate expansion in activity, the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase). Six of the seven activity sub-indexes expanded: new orders (up 0.5 points to 53.4); production (up 0.5 points to 51.7); manufacturing sales (up 4.6 points to 53.2); supplier deliveries (up 0.9 points to 53.9); employment (down 0.6 points to 50.7); and exports (up 4.6 points to 53.2). Manufacturers ran down their stock levels for an eighth consecutive month (broadly unchanged at 48.6). The input prices sub-index eased 0.9 points but remained elevated at 66.9 as further depreciation in the dollar raised prices for imported inputs. The wages sub-index fell by 9.3 points to 55.0 as the annual wage increases for national minimum and award wage rates (effective July 1) have now passed. “In encouraging news for an economy searching for sources of growth outside mining, September saw the manufacturing sector consolidate on gains generated in recent months,”…

Since its establishment in 1917, Sutton Tools has continued to develop an expanding portfolio of cutting tools. Today, while its products are exported worldwide, the company remains a proudly Australian family business. The tour took in the entire production process, from raw materials to warehousing and distribution, providing fascinating insights into its specialised areas such as coatings, heat treatment and the company’s dedicated regrinding facility. One highlight was a look at the inspection process on a line of tiny forming taps that Sutton supplies to Foxconn in China for the production of Apple’s products. Sutton produces more than 10,000 of these taps a year, and each one must be meticulously checked for quality. Sutton’s Chief Manufacturing Executive, Peter Sutton, was particularly happy with the tour, saying it allowed the company to showcase its world-class facility and demonstrate that manufacturing can continue to exist in Australia. “We really enjoyed hosting the tour,” said Sutton. “It was a great networking opportunity to meet others from the…

AMT: Let’s start with your background and how you came into your current role. Geoffrey Brooks: I started originally in chemical engineering. After I graduated I started working in a lot of small companies that were building and making and fabricating things. I got involved with all sorts of things; I ran a plastic fabrication business for a while. After a few years of that I did a PhD in pyrometallurgy (the science of making metals), and most of my research in the last 20 years has been in that area. I’ve worked in Canada, the USA, and I’ve been at Swinburne for the last 10 years. Personally I’m a specialist in the science of making steel, and I’ve also done a lot of work in aluminium and magnesium. A few years ago the university asked me to take over the role of co-ordinating all the manufacturing research at the university. And Swinburne has a lot of manufacturing research across all sorts of areas: IT, electric vehicles, nano-materials – it’s a very broad…

After only the manufacturing exports sub-index managed to stay marginally above 50 points in June, four of the seven activity sub-indexes expanded in July. Manufacturing sales (up 12.9 points to 53.9) expanded for the first time in 14 months, while production (up 10.6 points to 54.2) and supplier deliveries (up 6.3 points to 50.6) reversed sharp declines in June to return to expansion. New orders (up 7.6 points to 49.8) also recovered lost ground to approach stability, but stock levels (down 1.7 points to 47.9) and manufacturing employment (up 2.6 points to 47.5) remained in negative territory. The exports sub-index expanded for a third consecutive month (up 1.6 points to 51.8), reflecting the lower Australian dollar. The input prices sub-index was unchanged in July (up 0.2 points to 63.1), while the wages sub-index rose by 7.4 points to 64.5, reflecting the…

In order to pass this legislation, the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 requires the completion of a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS). The RIS process, including a mandatory public consultation period, will provide insightful and meaningful analysis (both quantitative and qualitative) of the benefits and costs of the public holiday on businesses and the broader community. This RIS process is expected to be completed by early August. It is an interesting debate. PricewaterhouseCoopers, in its capacity as advisor to the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, has just released the RIS which attempts to assess the impacts on the community and economy by the introduction of two additional public holidays – being Easter Sunday and the Friday before the AFL Grand Final. For the record, let me highlight the current number of public holidays each state and territory has just to put this debate into some perspective. In 2016, Tasmania has 10 public holidays scheduled, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland have 11,…

With Austech 2015 over and done with, we’ve been hard at work on the program for the coming year. Along with regular features such as the Annual General Meeting (AGM), our ever-popular Golf Day, and our usual Christmas get-togethers, we are planning a rich and diverse array of additional activities. Branded under the name AMTIL Connections™, these events and activities will be aimed at helping AMTIL members to learn ways to improve their business, gain access to valuable industry information, have their say on the issues affecting them, and simply to network and socialise with their peers in the sector. Our 2015-16 Events program will include: Plant tours – There are few better ways to improve your business than through learning first-hand from your peers. AMTIL is planning visits to the facilities of several major manufacturing companies and research organisations, where members can learn about new technologies and processes. Networking functions – Members will have the chance to share ideas, develop essential business relationships, and simply relax and socialise…

The Entrepreneurs’ Programme, developed from the Enterprise Connect initiative of the previous Government, is a flagship initiative focused on raising the competiveness and productivity of eligible companies at an individual level. The Programme will deploy more than 100 experienced Advisers and Facilitators, offering support to businesses through three elements: Business Management, Research Connections, and Accelerating Commercialisation. AMTIL is a partner organisation in the Programme. Under Enterprise Connect and throughout the transition to the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, AMTIL employed a team of six people across Australia. Of that group, Bruno Bello, Neil Clarke, Michael Fetherstonhaugh and George Pofandt have remained on board to implement the new Programme on behalf of AMTIL. In addition, five new faces have been added to the team, with the appointment of Vineet Ahuja, Mal Clark, John Lochery, Rob Murphy and Richard Penman. Vineet Ahuja Business Adviser, Victoria Tel: 0418 566 381 Email: vahuja@amtil.com.au Vineet has a passion for supply chain continuous improvement, with over 39…

EMO runs every two years and covers the following product sectors - metal forming and metal cutting machine tools, machines for welding, for thermal and surface treatments, robots, mechatronics, additive manufacturing technologies, automation hardware and software, assembling, tools, parts, components, accessories, metrology, quality control, systems for safety and environmental protection. The AMTIL stand will be part of the International Association Pavilion and provides an opportunity for us to promote our members’ capabilities to an expected audience of over 100,000 visitors. Australian visitors can also have access to our meeting room, bag storage and, of course, a cold refreshment. Shane Infanti and Greg Chalker will be attending on behalf of the Institute. In addition, we are planning a site visit or two depending on interest, so please let us know if you are attending and would like further information. Accommodation is very scarce and AMTIL does not have any further rooms available, so if you are planning on attending and have not booked accommodation yet, we suggest you go to http://www.emo-milano.com/en/visitors/hospitality For…

AMT: What is the Entrepreneurs’ Programme and what is it aiming to achieve? Deborah Anton: I’m really excited to be a part of the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, which aims to improve business competitiveness and productivity at the firm level. It is the Australian Government’s flagship initiative that drives business growth and competitiveness by supporting business improvement and research connections in targeted growth sectors and through the commercialisation of novel products, processes and services. Based on my experience managing this programme, I can say that it is very business-orientated. It uses experienced Facilitators and Advisers drawn from industry to help small-to-medium-sized organisations develop the skills and knowledge they need to advance and grow. It also focuses on providing access to quality advice and established expert networks to meet business needs, and the programme delivers this objective through three distinct programme elements. AMT: What are those three elements? DA: ‘Accelerating Commercialisation’ helps entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, and researchers to address the commercialisation challenges…

Of the seven activity sub-indexes, only manufacturing exports expanded in June, but at a mild pace (down 8.1 points to 50.3) and largely concentrated in the food and beverages sub-sector. The new orders (down 10.6 points to 42.2), production (down 9.3 points to 43.5), employment (down 5.9 points to 44.9) and supplier deliveries (down 9.7 points to 44.3) sub-indexes all failed to maintain last month’s brief expansion, and a 13th month of decline in manufacturing sales (down 6.9 points to 41.1) signalled continued weakness in local demand. Readings below 50 indicate a contraction in activity, with the distance from 50 indicative of the strength of the decrease. However, four of the eight manufacturing sub-sectors still managed to expand in June, led by food, beverages & tobacco (up 0.7 points to 60.5) for a 13th month. The wood & paper products (up 4.5 points to 63.8) sub-sector also maintained recent strong performance, while textiles, clothing & furniture (up 5.8 points to 52.5)…