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The implementation of Closed-Loop Manufacturing (CLM) across its manufacturing capability using Siemens’ Manufacturing Execution System (MES) will enable HeliMods to achieve development and production of high-complexity, high-value, scalable solutions using a single digital thread across the entire product lifecycle. The implementation of the software was enabled by a $350,000 co-investment grant from the AMGC and will support HeliMods’ global and local growth trajectory in aerospace, defence, air ambulance and other key industries. In total, the project will see an investment of $808,543 from combined AMGC, industry and in-kind contributions. The announcement was made at HeliMods’ premises in Sunshine Coast by Federal MP Andrew Wallace “Thanks to this project, HeliMods is now the only Australian business with Defence Production Approval that is using such a Closed Loop Manufacturing system, offering Australia a unique new sovereign defence industry capability-based right here on the Coast,”…

When drilling holes in most aerospace components, manufacturers have three chances of getting the hole correct – after which, it will be impossible to rework the hole within the required design specifications. If just one hole misses those three chances, by diameter, surface finish or delamination, the entire component will need to be scrapped. Given the enormous value of aeroplane components, holemaking is a risky business. That applies especially when drilling composite materials, which place new demands on machining. Holemaking has emerged as one of the most common machining processes when working with composites. Machining composite materials – which combine two or more materials with different physical and chemical properties – involves cutting, or fracturing, of the fibre part of the material. If this is done incorrectly then layers of the composite material peel away from where they belong. This is known as delamination, and according to…

Between 2000 and 2019, AMTIL operated Austech, Australia’s premier advanced manufacturing and machine tool exhibition. The event was historically co-located with the National Manufacturing Week (NMW) exhibition, run by Reed Exhibitions. When Reed decided in 2020 to cease the operation of NMW, AMTIL saw an opportunity to create AMW, a more extensive event demonstrating the full scope and diversity of the manufacturing industry in Australia today. Austech has now been incorporated into AMW as a specialist zone showcasing the latest metalworking, machine tools and ancillary equipment. The Austech zone will cover a vast spectrum of advanced manufacturing products and processes, including: CNC Machinery, Lathes, Mills. Contract Manufacturing/Precision Machining. Cutting Tools, Tooling & Tool Holding. Forming & Fabricating Machines. Plasma, Laser, Waterjet & Ultrasonic Machines. Ancillary equipment suppliers. A diverse range of companies will be exhibiting within the Austech section of AMW. Founded in 1952, ISCAR has grown from its origins as a small blades factory to one of the world’s leading manufacturers of metalworking tools, and will be showcasing its vast range of innovative cutting tools for…

The pandemic has upended the manufacturing sector and put the spotlight on Australia’s reliance on global supply chains. Lockdowns made it impossible for many manufacturers to access the staff, sites and equipment necessary for maintaining operations and filling orders, according to the Australian Manufacturing Growth Centre. At the same time, the pandemic highlights the need to build a local manufacturing sector as the nation looks toward COVID-19 recovery. So much so, that one in two manufacturers intend to bring operations back to Australia within the next three years. Following market volatility caused by COVID-19, reshoring is a step in the right direction for Australia’s manufacturing sector. However, four in five (82%) senior employees in the sector are underprepared to compete in a digital economy. Businesses need to fast-track e-commerce channels to overcome competition from imports and online sources. Leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and digital selling is one way…

DMTC Limited is working together with Australian defence manufacturers assisting in their capacity and technology development in digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT) – including smart factories. Spanning an 11-year career at DMTC, Deepak Ganga is currently Head of Program Management, where he leads the Enterprise Program Management office, responsible for business transformation and the strategic alignment of DMTC’s programs. “We have expanded a lot recently,” says Ganga. “As well as traditional defence R&D projects, we are also working on technologies with applications in related areas like health sciences, AI, robotics, IoT and Industry 4.0. During the last two years, we’ve been working behind the scenes on our program governance framework and to standardise processes. We’re now developing more software to digitalise project management tasks, as well as automating the reporting that we need to continue to do to demonstrate the value we provide to our…

As a result, businesses continue to collect sensitive information about employees, contractors and other visitors to the workplace, including vaccination status information and medical certificates. Information about a person’s vaccination status and medical certificates are ‘personal information’ which must be collected, used and disclosed according to Australian privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) and associated Australian Privacy Principles. The following outlines the key principles to be aware of and considered regarding privacy obligations when collecting this type of information. In what circumstances can businesses collect vaccination status information about employees, labour hire workers, contractors, volunteers, candidates and other visitors? Vaccination status information is ‘sensitive information’ about an individual and is afforded higher protection under the Privacy Act. This means, generally speaking, a person’s vaccination status must only be collected if: the information is necessary for one or more of the business’ functions or activities; and the individual has consented. Businesses may need to collect vaccination status information to prevent and manage…

The broad aim of the team is to redefine sustainable transport. However, they are probably better known for their success at competing in the World Solar Challenges. Since 1996 the teams of students and academics have built six solar-powered vehicles to enter these challenges – and most recently have been hard at work on the development and manufacture of car number seven. With some 45 people in the Sunswift team all contributing in different ways, the primary aim is to show the world that innovative technology is available today, not in years to come, and they are setting about to demonstrate their ideas and applications. Sub-teams make up the construction sections of the car-building group, comprising mechanical, electrical, computer science, photovoltaics – in other words, solar cells – and systems engineering. Each of these groups has a defined task that also provides them with opportunities to develop skills that they can use in future work environments. For example, the…

The reduction is being achieved by implementing recommendations provided from auditing the compressed air system including: upgrading compressed air equipment; adding an Industry 4.0-ready compressed air management system; and implementing an air leak management programme. Stuff Limited is New Zealand’s leading media organisation. Its flagship news website stuff.co.nz is well known, but Stuff also owns and prints a large portfolio of New Zealand’s best-loved magazines and newspapers. This includes national, metropolitan and regional newspaper titles, including the Sunday Star-Times, the Press and The Dominion Post. Stuff prints its newspapers and magazines across two print plants located in Petone and Christchurch. Both plants are continuously striving to improve processes and technology to reduce the impact they have on the environment. This is part of the company’s wider commitment to being a sustainable business. Part of this commitment includes reducing its emissions. Stuff became a signatory of the Climate Leaders Coalition in 2017, and in 2019 set an ambitious target to reduce its Scope 1 (fleet fuel) and Scope 2 (purchased…

You might not realise that when solar panels are fitted to the roof of homes or commercial buildings, the panels are typically installed using a series of aluminium rails. The rails allow for consistent and regular fixing to the roof structure and deliver a robust and streamlined way for panels to be installed. As homes and businesses choose solar to improve their carbon footprint and reduce energy consumption, it is important to consider the full life cycle of the solution. While considerable research has been done into the payback period, life cycle and emission offset for solar panels, you would rarey ever see news coverage about the impact of the many thousands of kilometres of aluminium solar rails spanning the roofs of Australian homes and businesses. When it comes to solar and environmental sustainability, credentials matter. That’s why Australian-manufactured Mill Finish aluminium solar rails are fast becoming…

There is stored energy and there is kinetic energy – or movement. Motors turn the first into the second. As with everything else, ways to create movement have evolved. One comparatively recent kind of actuation, tubular linear motion, is gaining in favour in applications as diverse as machine tool building, factory automation, packaging, printing and material handling. ANCA Motion is an Australian developer and manufacturer of motion control systems, hardware, and software, including for its sister company, ANCA CNC Machines. ANCA CNC Machines has used LinX tubular linear motors for its globally-renowned tool and cutter grinders since 2014, introducing them in their FX Linear and MX Linear tool grinding machines. Customers have also welcomed the better surface finish, increased efficiency and improved reliability gains at reduced operating cost in their machines incorporating LinX tubular linear motors within the precision toolmaking industry, where micron-level resolution,…

The vehicle, aimed to be launched in 2030 and code-named the Polestar 0 Project, will be developed with the single goal of eliminating emissions from the entire supply chain including all logistics and support functions rather than planting trees to offset CO2 emissions. “At Polestar, we are not just about changing the cars we drive, we are about changing the way vehicles are made,” says Samantha Johnson, Managing Director of Polestar Australia. “Vehicles are not produced sustainably today but by addressing the challenge of climate change through the supply chain we can be part of the solution. “We know that Australia is home to some of the best innovative minds and businesses, manufacturing high-quality products that are competitive on the world stage. We are seeking their input into the global Polestar 0 Project as we accelerate the shift to sustainable mobility.”…

AMTIL member AW Bell won the Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Export Award at the 2021 Australian Export and Investment Awards last November. The award takes a prime place at the entrance of the Victorian metal casting and precision engineering business. “It is a great recognition of the innovative work that our team has been doing the past 10 years,” says Sam Bell, the company’s CEO. “We are also very grateful to our partners, suppliers, customers and ongoing government support.” Leading defence primes are among AW Bell’s many valued customers for its precision manufacturing of components, which it supplies for defence land vehicles, submarines, F-35 fighter Jets, missiles, gun mounts and targeting systems. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC), BAE, Marand (ground support equipment), Levett, Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney and Lockheed Martin are its key customers for the F35 jet components. AW Bell manufactures and supplies high-strength aluminium castings for the aircraft’s camera housing and decoy measure housing. Among its many other precision defence products and global defence clients, AW Bell also supplies Thales (Bushmaster) and…

In automotive racing, Team Penske is synonymous with winning. Its legacy has been forged by the leadership of founder Roger Penske and a team of individuals and partners dedicated to producing champions. Hundreds of race wins, pole positions and scores of national championships accentuate their commitment to excellence. However, for Team Penske, achieving that kind of performance means constantly asking how things can be done better, and technology is a cornerstone of that cause. “Technology plays a big role in racing today.” Those are the words of Team Penske President, Tim Cindric. According to Cindric, technology isn’t invented at the racetrack but rather, it’s demonstrated there. One technology that Team Penske has fully embraced is additive manufacturing. Using Stratasys 3D printing solutions, Team Penske turns ideas into racetrack reality much more quickly than previously possible. Highlighting its impact in race strategy preparation, Cindric adds: “It gives us more ideas of what’s possible.” That’s understandable since for Team Penske, additive manufacturing solutions cover a lot of ground. “When we first started using 3D printing in the early 2000s,…