Member News

A 130% price increase for a cast steel blank is a challenge for the Albstadt-based security engineers of Assa Abloy. The solution? Do it yourself—with a new machining strategy and tools from Gühring. The result? A 50% cost saving per component is not the only benefit for the company. Whether it’s a cucumber in the supermarket or a steel component in an industrial company, war and a pandemic have made shopping expensive. Assa Abloy, a security technology manufacturer in Albstadt, also felt this. The company usually purchases the housing for its electric strikes from a steel precision casting manufacturer. But about three years ago, it increased its prices by 130%. “Suddenly, it was no longer economical for us to offer these products,” recalled Patrick Matysiak, Deputy Product Cell Manager at Assa Abloy. An alternative needed to be found. Can we reduce prices with cheaper injection moulding from China? Patrick Matysiak had a better idea: “I had a thought: Why don't we switch to free-cutting steel and machine the entire component in-house?" The plan is clear: A new machining centre will…

Small businesses in remote and isolated areas in Australia encounter unique challenges when sourcing specialised materials and components for their manufacturing operations. One obstacle is the difficulty in accurately cutting steel plates that exceed a certain thickness. These robust metal plates are crucial for various industrial applications, such as mining equipment, construction projects, and heavy machinery repairs. BEZ Engineering connected with Headland Technology at AMTIL’s Australian Manufacturing Week, and their experts understood the challenges and presented the OMAX Maxiem 1530 water jet machine as a technology solution. Andrew Smith, Managing Director of BEZ Engineering, oversees all business operations and financial aspects. Bez Engineering is a family-owned and operated business in the Pilbara since 2000. The company was initially opened to service the Oil & Gas, Mining and Marine industries in the Pilbara region. The business has undergone many transitions, with a change of directors in 2023. The vision of the business follows Henry Ford’s saying, “Quality means doing the right thing when no one is looking”. This mindset allowed Bez Engineering to be a leader in manufacturing quality products for…

A second-generation family business based in Narangba, Queensland, Steelrod Pty Ltd is a leading specialist engineering supplier to rail authorities and mining companies throughout Australasia and selected export regions. Founded in 1974 by Doug Veneris and celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the company continues to expand and is now run by sons Damian and Shawn Veneris as joint Managing Directors. Damian is a qualified boiler maker, and Shawn specialises in the commercial side of the business. Today, the company employs a highly skilled team of more than 55 experienced personnel. Based on the strongest foundations built on quality engineering excellence and delivery performance across a diverse range of engineering capabilities and complex industrial projects, Steelrod has continued to invest in modern state-of-the-art high-end machining centres and has kept abreast of cutting-edge technological developments. In 2008, Steelrod commissioned its first Okuma Double Column machining centre, replacing an older alternate machine. In June this year, it commissioned a second Okuma Double Column machining centre, MCR-A5CII 20x40 with OSP P300MA Control, based on the earlier machine's performance and reliability,…

In the pipe welding industry, advancements in automation continue to provide solutions to the labour gap caused by an acute shortage of skilled welders. Novarc Technologies Inc., a full-stack robotics company specialising in designing and manufacturing cobots and computer vision AI for automated welding applications, has been a pioneer in welding automation since 2013, providing a solution to the welding labour shortage. Weld Australia predicts a shortage of nearly 70,000 skilled welding operators in Australia by 2030. With an aging welder workforce and a need for uptake of the welder trade, there are no simple solutions to the welder demographic. According to Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia), a member survey conducted in 2023 found that “labour shortages, and the rising cost of materials, energy and labour remain high on the agenda for the welding industry. Without funding and support from governments at all levels, these challenges will make it nearly impossible for industry to deliver the necessary manufacturing capability required for the Federal Government’s ambitious renewable energy revolution.” Novarc Technologies Inc.'s flagship product is the Spool…

Many manufacturing projects involve artificial intelligence (AI), and AMTIL collaborated with Monash Innovation Labs once again recently. They invited AMTIL members to tour the facilities and network with the best minds in the business. Prof. Adrian Neild, Director of the Monash Innovation Labs, presented on industry partnership opportunities. There were guided tours of the Makerspace, the Monash Deep Neuron display, Monash Automation, and Monash Smart Manufacturing with the digital twin systems, as demonstrated by Dr Keenan Granland. To bookend the tours, there was a panel on the critical theme of the evening, ‘AI in Manufacturing, ’ moderated by Monash’s Michelle Willis, with Dr Yunlong Tang from Monash University, Dr Juxi Leitner of LYRO Robotics and Dr Ziejue Chen from CSIRO. Up for discussion were the current developments in AI that are most impactful to the Australian manufacturing sector. Dr Ziejue Chen from CSIRO addressed the security concerns about the data being collected for the AI engine. “The collection can be from just one camera and collected on just one PC, which doesn’t have to be connected to…

Plant managers often have a deep understanding of all the critical operational challenges facing their facility and a broad knowledge of the instrumentation that can help solve them. However, they might only sometimes be aware of the latest innovations that can make their lives easier. For instance, multifunctional monitoring instrumentation simplifies all plant measurement and control processes. Ian Loudon is an international sales and marketing manager at Omniflex, a remote monitoring specialist. Streamlining technology is one of the most effective ways to innovate. In almost every industry, a business will likely opt for a single solution with multiple functionalities over a selection of specialised products—provided it doesn’t compromise on quality. Signal conditioning is no different. Signal conditioning converts physical qualities into readable data that computer systems can process. Often, applications are complex, with multiple specialised components configured to measure an individual physical property, such as line linearisation in tanks. This method quickly becomes impractical across all industries with signal conditioning applications because multiple physical processes require 24/7 monitoring. In an industrial plant environment, physical processes…

According to one of the country's leading geologists and immersive technology experts, a virtual and robotic revolution in Australia’s mining industry could end fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workers within decades. Virtual and augmented reality, along with automation, are transforming the mining sector, says UniSA Professor Tom Raimondo, allowing more work to be done remotely, saving time, money and removing many of the risks and travel for workers. Professor Raimondo, Dean of Programs for Information Technology and Mathematics at the University of South Australia, is developing VR and AR platforms to enhance core logging with machine learning, create fully digital reconstructions of mining operations, and even simulate the drilling process. MinEx CRC, the world’s largest mineral exploration collaboration, has facilitated this innovative work. It includes projects such as the RoXplorer digital twin, an ultra-realistic simulation of the drill site of the future, and the Exploration Metaverse, a collection of immersive AR and VR platforms for collaboratively viewing and analysing complex mining data with colleagues and experts from across the world in real time. “Globally, it is becoming more difficult and more…

The Federal and South Australian governments have selected CIMIC Group CPB Contractors to deliver the Tram Grade Separation Projects in an Alliance with McConnell Dowell, Mott MacDonald, ARUP, and Aurecon. Designed to improve transport safety, efficiency, and reliability, the Tram Grade Separation Projects will also enhance amenity, connectivity, and liveability along the existing tram line from Adelaide’s CBD to Glenelg. Modifications to the existing overpass at South Road are key to this project and are required to facilitate the construction of the highly anticipated River Torrens to Darlington Project. CIMIC said in a news release that the Tram Grade Separation Project will generate revenue of approximately $212.8m for CPB Contractors. “These upgrades will be critical to supporting economic growth in South Australia and reducing travel times for motorists, buses, freight, and airport traffic while promoting sustainable urban growth and low-emission, healthy transport choices for commuters,” said CIMIC Group Chairman Juan Santamaria. “On completion, these works will foster a stronger sense of community between the suburbs of Adelaide, providing better, safer, and more accessible tram stops with improved…

TROAX offers innovative products designed to optimise safety and efficiency in warehouse environments. TROAX's mesh panel partitions represent a leap forward in material handling safety. Crafted from durable wire mesh, these partitions provide excellent visibility and ventilation, crucial for maintaining optimal operational conditions. The design allows light penetration and facilitates sprinkler systems, enhancing fire safety measures. By integrating these partitions, warehouses can create safer and more productive environments. From expansive distribution centres to sensitive areas like data centres, Troax offers tailored solutions to meet diverse logistical needs. The mesh panels are not only functional but also versatile. They can be configured in numerous ways to suit specific requirements, providing an affordable and future-proof solution. With standard heights of 2,200 and 3,000mm and free-standing wall heights of up to 6,600 mm, these partitions offer both flexibility and scalability. TROAX's commitment to safety and innovation ensures that each installation is unique and perfectly aligned with the needs of the facility. Whether integrating mesh panel systems or steel sheet alternatives, Troax ensures a seamless fit with smart…

The potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to improve social and economic well-being is immense. AI development and deployment are accelerating and are already permeating institutions, infrastructure, products, and services. This often occurs undetected by those engaging with it. The Australian Government’s consultations on safe and responsible AI have shown that our current regulatory system is not fit for purpose to respond to the distinct risks that AI poses. Internationally, governments are introducing new regulations to address the risks of AI, with a focus on creating preventative, risk-based guardrails that apply across the AI supply chain and throughout the AI lifecycle. Australia needs a modern and effective regulatory system to unlock innovative uses of AI. Last year, the government consulted with the public and industry about AI, and Australians told them they wanted to see stronger regulation so they can confidently seize the opportunities that AI presents. The next step was producing the Proposals Paper for Introducing Mandatory Guardrails for AI in Hisk-Risk Setting. This included a proposed definition of high-risk AI, Ten proposed mandatory guardrails, and three regulatory…

Customer Relationship Management systems (CRMs) are making an impact in Australia’s construction scene and not in the way you might think. Software traditionally used by sales and marketing teams to store data and track interactions, CRMs have now evolved to help with project management, product forecasting and compliance. Speedpanel, a leading Australian manufacturer of lightweight, user-friendly, fire-rated acoustic systems, has relied on SugarCRM for traditional sales and marketing needs for years. Now, the company is expanding its CRM use as part of an internal technology transformation. Their company use case shows how CRMs can be leveraged to improve business processes outside sales and marketing. Data in one place Bringing data into one place was Speedpanel’s biggest priority when upgrading to SugarCRM. Before SugarCRM the company used different systems to track building projects, leading to inconsistent and, at times, unreliable data. Now, all building project information is stored in SugarCRM. “Sugar is our project information oracle,” says Peter Lorenc, National Sales and Marketing Manager at Speedpanel. “With SugarCRM, everyone can see what stage a project is in and view related documents, meetings, call notes,…

Siemens and Ampcontrol, a leading Australian energy solutions provider, have announced a collaboration agreement to develop technology solutions for battery energy storage and grid applications in the Australian renewable energy market. The announcement comes at a time of growing demand for these solutions due to Australia's rapid expansion of renewable energy. The new agreement extends the existing relationship between the organisations that have worked together on several energy and renewable projects. The agreement will focus on solutions for battery energy storage and grid applications designed around Siemens’ renowned SINAMICS S120 inverters, which provide virtual synchronous generator functionalities for system strength and grid stability in the network. Overall, this will help increase digitalisation and grid resilience and support the nation’s transition to net zero. “It’s great to formalise the relationship with Ampcontrol who we’ve worked with for many years,” said Darryl Kaufmann, head of Siemens’ digital industries division in Australia and New Zealand. “This comes at a critical time for the renewable energy sector and the energy transition. A successful energy transition requires collaboration – especially to scale…

New modelling reveals that low-carbon concrete developed at RMIT University can recycle double the amount of coal ash compared to current standards, halve the amount of cement required and perform exceptionally well over time. In 2022, more than 1.2 billion tonnes of coal ash were produced by coal-fired power plants. In Australia, it accounts for nearly a fifth of all waste and will remain abundant for decades to come, even as we shift to renewables. Meanwhile, cement production accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions, and demand for concrete—which uses cement as a key ingredient—is growing rapidly. Addressing both challenges head-on, engineers at RMIT have partnered with AGL's Loy Yang Power Station and the Ash Development Association of Australia to substitute 80% of the cement in concrete with coal fly ash. RMIT project lead Dr Chamila Gunasekara said this represents a significant advance as existing low-carbon concretes typically have at most 40% of their cement replaced with fly ash. "Our addition of nano additives to modify the concrete’s chemistry allows more fly ash to be added without compromising…