Member News

Water and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are going to have to work harder as Australia’s weather patterns turn drier with the arrival of the El Nino forecast by the Weather Bureau to be with us by the end of this year. One of their first lines of defence against process disruption, blockages and environmental spills will be WWTP headworks comprising mechanical screens, screening compactors, grit removal systems and grit washing systems installed in municipal and industrial plants. The challenges for WWTPs during El Nino may include widely variable flow patterns, including extended lower flow rates bringing with them greater concentrations of solids, debris, and grit carried in the reduced volumes of inlet water. Headworks will be asked to efficiently process throughputs without clogging and environmental spills – and continue to do it with less on-site maintenance because many local authorities today can afford fewer specialist operations and engineering staff on call or on-site. Prevention is better than downtime Prevention is better than expensive downtime. Damage or weakness is…

Advanced Composite Structures Australia (ACS Australia), based in Port Melbourne, specialises in designing and manufacturing composite structures. With over three decades of experience, ACS Australia is best known for taking on composites development in the ‘too hard basket’. In recent years, this has expanded to the automated manufacture of ultra-high temperature composites for hypersonic and space vehicle parts. ACS Australia has made significant investments supported by a Federal Government Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority (SICP) grant, which has assisted in the funding of a $400k project to further advance the production capabilities of ultra-high temperature composites for hypersonic vehicles and space applications. This contributes to a total investment of over $1m for the past year. Ultra-high temperature composites utilise materials capable of withstanding hypersonic speeds greater than five times the speed of sound (≥ Mach 5) and temperatures up to 2,500°C. Under these conditions, conventional materials tend to break down through surface-level reactions. Production of UHT composites is complex and costly and involves advanced manufacturing processes. Thus, ACS Australia has been developing ultra-high temperature materials and automated processes to…

Markforged has unveiled the FX10 Metal Kit, a print engine that makes the FX10 capable of metal printing. With this kit, the FX10 becomes the world’s first industrial 3D printer to print metal filaments and composites with continuous fibre reinforcement. The new metal printing capability for the FX10 will accelerate adoption on the factory floor. “Customers no longer have to choose between a metal and a composite printer. Years of R&D investment and field experience have come together to provide an all-in-one solution for 3D printing to provide immediate return on investment once installed on a factory floor,” said Shai Terem, CEO of Markforged. “The FX10 supercharges other equipment on the factory floor to be better utilised and run more efficiently, increasing productivity and reducing potential line down events.” The FX10, released in November 2023 as a composite-only printer, was designed to be the most versatile tool on the factory floor and has received tremendous feedback from early customers. With its modular architecture, upgrades like the Metal Kit enable FX10 customers to gain additional value from the machine…

The Victorian advanced manufacturing industry supports jobs for more than 283,000 people. Victoria is the manufacturing base of choice for local and multinational manufacturers. Victoria’s advanced manufacturing capabilities attract investment in health tech, zero and low emissions technology, food, defence, aerospace and digital technologies. In addition to its established and rapidly growing pharmaceutical manufacturing base, which is the largest in Australia and includes CSL; the fastest growing brand in the biopharmaceutical industry globally. Victoria also has a range of local and global manufacturing and supply chain capabilities for medtech products. Victorian manufacturers’ top export markets include New Zealand, the United States, China and Japan. Victoria is home to 41 ASX-listed medtech companies with a combined market capitalisation of $14bn. The MedTech manufacturing sector in Victoria includes large-scale state-of-the-art ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 qualified contract manufacturers with rapid scale-up capability that provide responsive manufacturing services through all stages of design, development and market supply. Industry players include Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions, Hydrix, Invetech, Planet Innovation, SCHOTT MINIFAB and SRX Global. The Victorian Medical Device Prototyping and Scale-up…

Hare & Forbes Machinery House has expanded its footprint, opening a new store in Adelaide, South Australia. This exciting development marks a significant milestone for the family-owned Australian business as it seeks to serve its customer base in the region better. The new store, boasting over 4,300sqm, will offer a wide range of machinery and equipment catering to various industries, including metalworking, woodworking, automotive, and fabrication. This is the fifth Hare & Forbes Machinery House store, with existing branches in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. “We’re really pleased to be trading in Adelaide finally,” said Rick Foster, General Manager. “This project has been in the plans for almost five years. It’s really exciting for us to invest in a brick-and-mortar store in a new location.” The new store's launch underscores Hare & Forbes' dedication to innovation and growth and its ongoing commitment to providing industry-leading solutions to its customers, as it has done for over 90 years. Through its extensive product offerings, knowledgeable staff, and dedication to customer service, Hare & Forbes aims to become the go-to destination for engineering…

Monitoring the health of humans hundreds of kilometres above the Earth and in the infinite space beyond is a major challenge in the complex microgravitational environment of space. Australia’s population, dispersed across a vast geographic landscape, offers a similar challenge to health professionals. The ability to access real-time data that could aid in precise diagnosis, predictive assessment, and, consequent treatments during human spaceflight could in turn save lives for those operating in isolated areas such as mining, defence, or those living in remote environments on Earth. Australia is already a world leader in delivering medical care to remote regions. This iLAuNCH Trailblazer project will build on this expertise, transferring the capability to predict and monitor physiological changes to human spaceflight. “I applaud Aspen Medical for making the leap into the demanding environment of space, and showcasing how space technology can help us here on Earth. It's a great project led by the Australian National University, partnering with industry leaders including Saber Astronautics, Aspen Medical, and Liquid Instruments,” said iLAuNCH Trailblazer Executive Director, Darin Lovett. Aspen Medical is one partner…

Increasing production capacity in a manufacturing business is often costly. It can involve purchasing new machinery, employing additional staff, and renting or buying additional buildings. However, before investing in these costly options, first ensure you are using all the hidden capacity in your factory. Here are three places to find it. Downtime I frequently visit factories and see many machines stopped without any clear explanation. While breakdowns can often be a factor, the biggest reductions in downtime usually come from simple process and organizational changes that are quick to implement and cost nothing. There are dozens of improvements you can make to reduce downtime and liberate hidden machine capacity. The start point is measuring your downtime and analysing the potential causes. You then chart these on a Pareto chart and focus on reducing the top two or three causes to have the biggest impact. Wasted space We are often approached by clients who have run out of factory space. They are often considering the difficult and expensive…

Headland Technology has successfully acquired Noble Industrial Machinery Repairs (NIMR), a well-respected business servicing machinery in the steel and fabrication industry, based in Western Australia. This acquisition represents a key milestone in our growth strategy, significantly expanding our geographical reach and enhancing our service capabilities. This acquisition of NIMR accelerates Headland’s market reach and coverage in Western Australia, strengthening its position in the local fabrication industry.  By complementing its existing business lines, NIMR enables Headland to provide clients with a more comprehensive service capability. NIMR brings specialised knowledge in repairing plasma lasers, drill lines, coping lines, beamlines, and other industrial equipment.  As we integrate Noble Industrial Machinery Repairs, we prioritise providing exceptional value and superior service to our clients. Jacques Strauss, our WA State Manager, will oversee a seamless transition while upholding our high service quality standards. Our combined strengths will allow us to serve a broader range of industries and enhance our service offerings, ensuring our clients receive the highest quality service and innovative solutions. This strategic acquisition aligns perfectly with Headland’s commitment to growth and…

AMTIL’s 25th birthday was always going to be a big event. A party everyone would remember for a long time—one for the record books. Organised over several months, the occasion brought together AMTIL members to acknowledge the opportunities and business milestones of the last quarter century. With an unrivalled view of the sun setting over the entire city of Melbourne, AMTIL members were served an array of beautifully presented hors d'oeuvres by a small army of impeccably dressed staff. The venue boasted floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the city skyline, illuminated by a billion or so lights as night fell. Drinks flowed throughout the evening, and the live music provided by Rita Satch and her band, added to the party atmosphere. The main event of the evening was the awarding of trophies to companies that had been members of AMTIL since the association's foundation. Many attendees flew in from interstate. Brigitte Stavar, the president of AMTIL, handed 22 representatives their large…

A range of hyper-accurate cancer drugs is in production at a newly opened research and manufacturing hub at The University of Queensland. The newly opened Australian Research Council (ARC) hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals (AMTAR) is a one-stop shop that connects biotech firms with the expertise and equipment needed to design, test, and deliver groundbreaking precision cancer treatments. Created through a $5m ARC grant and more than $10m in industry funds, the AMTAR hub will operate out of UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) with support from collaborators across the radiopharmaceutical supply chain. Hub leader and AIBN director of research Professor Kris Thurecht said radiopharmaceuticals were an emerging group of drugs designed to spare the body from the harsh effects of cancer treatment. “Medical technology is still very much in development, but radiopharmaceuticals already represent a multi-billion-dollar industry that will be integral to modern healthcare,” Professor Thurecht said. Through AMTAR, we have an opportunity to position Australia as a global leader in this field.” Therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy have traditionally been the backbone of…

A new facility at The University of Queensland is set to provide Australian researchers with cancer vaccines tailored to individual patients. The lab at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) will combine equipment and expertise to enable the design, manufacture, and delivery of new mRNA cancer vaccines. Backed by a $3.3m grant from the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) National Critical Research Infrastructure program, the new hub will provide the local research community with vaccines that match each patient's specific treatment needs. Deputy Director of AIBN’s BASE facility, Dr. Seth Cheetham said it could transform cancer treatment. “Personalised mRNA cancer vaccines are now being used to train the body’s immune system to recognise and eradicate cancer cells,” Dr. Cheetham said. “Despite the huge potential, Australian researchers haven’t had the necessary infrastructure to build these vaccines, leading to a critical gap in the local drug development pipeline. “This lab changes that, with a leading team of investigators in a purpose-built space, working with local industry and academics to progress a range of high-quality mRNA cancer vaccine candidates from design…

ON Accelerate breaks down the challenges that often prevent deep tech ideas and research from evolving into real-world applications and market-ready ventures. The showcase highlighted the impressive strides made by the ten deep tech teams from the latest ON Accelerate cohort since commencing the three-month program. They were selected for their work in addressing critical areas of innovation, including global health challenges, championing sustainability through circularity and pushing the boundaries of advanced manufacturing and AI. “The ideas, innovations and advancements delivered by this year’s ON Accelerate program were truly inspiring,” CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Doug Hilton said. “These researchers are working at the cutting edge of technology to tackle some of society’s greatest challenges. The CSIRO is proud to play a pivotal role in unlocking success pathways that ensure the translation of ideas into real solutions, products and companies.” Dr Grant Lynch of EMU Systems from the University of Sydney, and one of the Accelerate 8 teams, was announced as the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Stanford Australia…

In Australia's vast and varied landscape, where long distances separate cities and regions, the transport sector plays a pivotal role in connecting communities and driving economic activity. However, with growing concerns about climate change and environmental sustainability, a pressing need to decarbonise this crucial sector is needed. Recognising this urgency, Australian trailer manufacturer Borcat Trailers has taken a significant step towards sustainability by embracing Capral Aluminium's LocAl® Green lower-carbon aluminium. Borcat Trailers, a renowned name in the Australian trailer manufacturing industry, has built its reputation on quality, durability, and innovation. Committed to reducing its environmental footprint, the company has partnered with Capral Aluminium, a leading supplier of aluminium products, embracing LocAl® Green lower carbon aluminium as the new standard for extruded aluminium supplied into its business. Capral's LocAl® offer includes two lower carbon aluminium options: LocAl® Green with carbon emissions of 8kg CO2e/kg Al* and LocAl® Super Green at 4kg CO2e/kg Al* - amongst the lowest carbon aluminium available globally. The carbon emissions in primary aluminium production range from under 4kg CO2e/kg Al to over 20kg CO2e/kg Al, largely dependent upon…