Member News

As Southwell Lifts & Hoists prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2025, it stands as a testament to enduring innovation, resilience and excellence in engineering. Let’s take a comprehensive look at the historic milestones, significant achievements and enduring legacy of a company that has been a cornerstone of the vertical transport industry in Australia. The early years: founding and initial growth Founded in 1945, Southwell Lifts & Hoists began its journey in the post World-War-Two era, a time when industrial growth was paramount to rebuilding economies. The company's inception was rooted in addressing the burgeoning need for reliable lifting solutions in various industries, including manufacturing, construction and logistics. With a vision to deliver high-quality, dependable products, the founders laid a strong foundation that would support decades of innovation and growth. In its early years, Southwell focused on manufacturing simple hoists and lifts designed to meet the immediate needs of local businesses. The company's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction quickly garnered a loyal customer base, setting the stage for future expansions. Technological advancements and product diversification…

The Combi-LC is Combilift’s latest innovation supporting the global shift to renewable energy. As demand in this sector ramps up, there is a constant need to handle increasingly large loads and this machine answers the call. Blades for onshore wind turbines typically measure up to 80 metres long, but the latest LC model goes one step further. While making light work of onshore blades, the LC can handle lengths of up to 115 metres and weights of up to 70 tonnes – the kind used for larger offshore wind farms. In 2022, Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, announced the identification of six priority areas for offshore wind – Gippsland, VIC; Hunter, NSW; Southern Ocean, VIC; Illawarra, NSW; Bass Strait, TAS; and Indian Ocean off Bunbury, WA. This announcement solidified the need for the Combi-LC for the wider energy and manufacturing sectors. However, the size and weight of each blade is only half the issue for Siemens and other…

Since the first range of Okuma CNC Double Column Machining Centres were introduced in 1966 they have set the industry benchmark with more than 10,000 units sold to date worldwide, surpassing all competitors with the long-time Okuma cultural ethic and success. Within the Australian and New Zealand market, the first Okuma double-column machining centre was delivered to a customer in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 and this machine remains in active service. Since that time forty-two have been installed with a record-breaking seven being installed and commissioned within the current 2024 year. Ideally suited to a broad range of industry segments the Okuma Double Column Machining Centres are now extensively used in industries such as rail, heavy transport, mining, hydraulics, industrial machinery, tool & die, gas & fuel, power generation and general engineering, among many others. Leading specialist engineering supplier, Steelrod Pty Ltd in Queensland has substantially increased its capacity by adding a second high-speed Okuma Double Column Machining Centre (DCMC) to their workshop. Their first Okuma DCMC was an Okuma MCR-BII with a table capacity of 45 tons with the…

There’s a lot of work going on at Ego Pharmaceuticals (Ego), equating to a huge investment in their future. As they grow their capacity to provide quality skincare to the world, they also work passionately towards operating within even more sustainable means. This complete refurbishment of Ego’s production at their Braeside site, costing $100m, will increase production capacity by 100% and create 90 new jobs. The company is also extending the Distribution Centre in Dandenong South; increasing capability and capacity to support local and fast-growing export markets. Ego produces more than 150 dermatological skincare products, with brands including QV, SunSense, Elucent, MOOV and Aqium being stocked both locally and across more than 15 countries. Key export markets include Asia, the Middle East and the United Kingdom; with exports now making up half of the sales. From humble beginnings 70 years ago in a laundry in suburban Melbourne, Ego has grown into a leading global brand with more than 730 employees in 15 countries, including more than 400 staff in Victoria. Sustainability Measures Right up front,…

Let's delve into the world of the 'K-factor'. This term, coined by journalist Alberto Ronchey, former Italian minister of cultural and environmental heritage, has an interesting history. It was initially used to describe the lack of change in political forces in the early 1950s of republican Italy. However, in our context, the K-factor represents something entirely different. It symbolises MG's ability to innovate its offer, specifically the K-model, an innovative plate rolling model for which our company holds the patent. But why a new model? To understand the reason for the K model, we have to refer to a customer who chose two models, namely the 4-roll plate bending machine model K2020C (14mm rolling capacity and 10mm pre-bending capacity) and the 4-roll plate bending machine model K3042G (34mm rolling capacity and 42mm pre-bending capacity). So why choose an innovative model? The answer lies in its configuration: already in the current 4-roller models, the minimum straight side is 1.8 times the thickness of the sheet being processed, which saves…

SPERONI’s hardware and software solutions in the fields of tool presetting, tool measurement and tool management are the top choice for leading companies in the manufacturing sector, thanks to the company’s innovative outlook and its products’ precision, longevity, ease of use and ‘Made in Italy’ guarantee. All SPERONI products are equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and are Industry 4.0 ready. Digital manufacturing is the goal of all companies: from logistics to measurement, up to data transfer to machine tools, the exchange of data between controls and tool management systems is fundamental to allow for the improvement of the whole production process, from the tool room to the production. INTELLIGO, the tool management software developed completely by SPERONI, realises these concepts by allowing the management and real-time integration of all services and devices tied to the tool resource in an effective and centralised way. INTELLIGO includes all functions for the optimisation of the shop-floor activities tied to the tool resource: stock management, location management, cost management, tool assembly/disassembly and…

Composed of site visits across August and September, the 2024 Medtech Manufacturing Roadshow is a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the cutting edge of Victorian medtech and experience our sector's manufacturing capabilities first-hand. Hosted by the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions, and Cell Therapies*, the Roadshow offers valuable insights for both industry and students. Students can discover our sector's range of career pathways and internship opportunities, helping them chart a course from graduation to success. Professionals and entrepreneurs can learn more about the advanced manufacturing capabilities in our sector, helping them select the right partner for their next project. Places are strictly limited! Please note some events are intended for specific industry or student audiences. We look forward to seeing you there!   Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions REGISTRATION LINK 2.30 to 5.30pm – Thursday, August 22nd 1555 Centre Rd, Clayton VIC 3168 Transport from city centre available   Australian National Fabrication Facility REGISTRATION LINK 2.30 to 5pm – Thursday, August 29th…

Come to a special one-day-only event at our Sydney showroom, August 21st. The Headland team will demonstrate TRUMPF Oseon smart factory software in a simulated production environment with a live TruLaser 1030. Discover how TRUMPF’s Oseon software works on our simulated sheet metal production line; from receiving an order to laser cutting, deburring and bending. Experts from our smart factory and sheet metal team will be present to walk you through the tech in detail and how it could benefit your sheet metal production. Make sure you RSVP soon as we only have 12 spots available for each session. Date: August 21st, 2024 Times: 10am – 12pm (morning session), 1pm – 3pm (afternoon session) Location: Headland Technology Sydney showroom, 23-25 Muriel Ave, Rydalmere, NSW, 2116   RSVP HERE Live: TRUMPF TruLaser 1030 As part of our simulated smart factory and Oseon demonstration, Headland Territory Sales Manager Warrick Theron will demonstrate the simulated smart factory and run our TRUMPF TruLaser 1030 laser-cutting machine on real parts. Warrick has over 30 years of experience in sheet metal technology…

In the realm of manufacturing, the quest for efficiency, safety and quality never ceases. Automated Solutions Australia (ASA) stands at the forefront of this pursuit, offering cutting-edge solutions for material removal through robotics. As industries evolve, so does the necessity for advanced systems that not only meet current demands but also set the pace for future innovations. ASA specialises in designing robotic systems tailored for a diverse range of finishing and material removal applications. Their unmatched expertise in the field is evidenced by their commitment to designing products specifically for automated finishing. The choice of FANUC robots for material removal tasks underscores this commitment, ensuring that whether it's cutting, grinding, deburring, polishing, sanding, or buffing, ASA has the perfect robotic solution to fit the application. Comprehensive material removal capabilities Material removal robots are integral in applications such as surface finishing, cutting, deburring and polishing. These tasks, while essential, can pose significant health and safety risks to workers. By integrating robots into these processes, ASA not only enhances safety by mitigating these risks but also addresses labour shortages—a…

The Australian Antarctic Division, which is in Hobart, Tasmania and is part of the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), coordinates the Australian Antarctic Program. The Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) is a collaborative partnership between the government and more than 150 national and international research institutions. The AAP’s Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientific research contributes to understanding the world’s climate and the effects of climate change. The AAP’s scientific research is supported by Australia’s leading international policy role in preserving Antarctica as a natural place devoted to peace and science.   The Mazak QTE-300MY SG The simple and compact Mazak QTE-300MY SG, which is manufactured in Mazak’s Singapore factory, is designed to fit into even the smallest machine shop, but with no compromise on power. The Mazak QTE-300MY SG is equipped with a powerful 5,000 rpm built-in spindle motor that is capable of ultra-high-speed acceleration and deceleration delivering high-efficiency, high-accuracy machining. Since there is no loss of power through mechanical transmission, the built-in…

Born from a desire to reinvigorate watchmaking capability in Australia, NHW developed the capacity to make up to 85% of its watches in-house by 2020. Things then took a surprising turn for the Sydney-based watchmaker, when an unexpected partnership with astronomy instrumentation builders created the potential to move into new, untapped markets. This was the beginning of NH Micro, a new business arm of NHW. Precision parts manufacturing is at the heart of NH Micro, and since its inception, the company has grown significantly over a short period. Its client base now includes customers within major government bodies, the medical industry, and the space/aerospace sector. They are also starting to slowly move into the defence sector and have started to reinvest in the business to the tune of $1m per year. All of which Technical Director Josh Hacko attributes to the first, relatively small job they did with a team of astronomers led by Dr Julia Bryant from the University of Sydney – building precision parts…

Damon Nehls from Laser 3D spoke about a unique one-off fabrication project, a metal sculpture infused with a sense of playfulness and whimsy for a small front garden space. In what was called ‘The Elsternwick Build,’ commissioned by ABC’s Grand Design program, the paper plane is a folding process remembered clearly by anyone who has had a childhood. But this presented a unique challenge and aluminium opportunity for teams from both Laser 3D and design studio Entanglements Metal Art Studio. Laser 3D is a laser cutting service with a network of outlets in QLD, SA and Victoria. Starting in 1992, Laser 3D’s modern machinery now includes six CNC press brakes, twelve flat bed CO2 and fibre lasers, 2-axis and 5-axis cutting, machining, edge rounding, finishing and welding services. Entanglements Metal Art is a renowned Australian-based studio specialising in creating unique metal art pieces and sculptures. Founded in 1998 by Helen Neyland, Entanglements has gained recognition for its distinctive and innovative…

PsiQuantum will build the world’s first utility-scale quantum computer at a strategically located site near Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Australia. The Australian Commonwealth and Queensland Governments will invest $940m into PsiQuantum through a financial package, comprised of equity, grants, and loans. PsiQuantum is on an aggressive plan to have the site operational by the end of 2027. A fault-tolerant quantum computer will be able to solve commercially useful problems across industries built upon chemistry, math, and physics; thereby transforming critical industries – including renewable energy, minerals and metals, healthcare and transportation – that will propel the global economy for decades to come. The quantum computing industry has long faced complicated scaling challenges in building a quantum computer with enough physical qubits to enable error correction, making it capable of delivering on quantum computing’s promise. PsiQuantum has scaled its fusion-based architecture using a photonics- approach, encoding qubits into particles of light, and leveraging advanced infrastructure in the semiconductor manufacturing industry to fabricate and test millions of photonic…