February 13, 2020
Thermwood is a US-based manufacturer of CNC machinery that markets its products and services through offices in 11 countries. Its has also become a technology and market leader in large-scale additive manufacturing (LSAM) systems for thermoplastic composite moulds, tooling, patterns and parts. Its line of LSAM machines can perform both 3D printing and trimming operations on the same machine. Its systems are marketed to major companies in the aerospace, marine, automotive and foundry industries, as well as military, government and defence contractors. Unlike standard LSAM systems, which feature dual gantries operating over a large fixed table, the LSAM MT (which stands for “Moving Table”) features a single fixed gantry mounted over a moving table. This configuration offers several significant advantages, not the least of which is a dramatically lower price. Despite the lower price, the LSAM MT is still a massive, robust industrial production machine capable of reliable, day-in and day-out production. Unlike standard LSAM systems, the…
February 6, 2020
As an internationally recognised and respected freight specialist, SternaGL offers a truly seamless service, utilising resources positioned all over the globe to move freight efficiently from its origin to its destination. SternaGL offers a wide range of cost-efficient and flexible cargo options, including freight-forwarding, customs clearance and transport. Combining more than 50 years of logistics experience with exceptional human talent and systems, SternaGL provides customers with tailored solutions for any import or export shipments moving via sea, air, rail, road or multi-modal. From parcels to over-dimensional cargo, and everything in between – SternaGL’s dedicated team utilise their extensive skill and expertise to manage the journey of shipments from origin to destination, intact and on time. SternaGL services a wide range of industries including manufacturing, with extensive experience handling delicate process-line machinery and raw materials. Its consultative approach ensures attention to detail, which invariably leads to strong results and a positive customer experience. SternaGL operates under four core principles that permeate the organisation into every transaction – Integrity, Care, Accuracy, and Innovation. Under these principles SternaGL presents a refreshing brand of honest advice…
February 6, 2020
Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D metal printing, allows for the manufacture of complex shapes from light metals with high mechanical strength. This unique material combination yields parts with a high strength to weight ratio along with good corrosion and fatigue resistance. One of the most popular powder-based materials is the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V, which has found its way into both aerospace and medical applications. Titanium is already widely used in aircraft manufacture to prevent fatigue cracks or in structural parts like the frames of cockpit windows. Applications of titanium alloys are even more widely used in military aircraft, helicopters and spacecraft due to their high performance and unique properties, particularly weight reduction. Selective laser melting machines are regarded as the most versatile additive manufacturing technology because the system can process a wide spectrum of materials that include aluminium, titanium, iron, nickel, cobalt, copper-based alloys and their composites. Choosing the appropriate material…
February 3, 2020
January is traditionally the slowest month for Australian manufacturing but the start to 2020 was even slower than usual, with food & beverages the only sector to report expanding conditions, down 0.5 points to 60.3 (readings below 50 points indicate contraction in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the contraction). Among the six manufacturing sectors in the Australian PMI, machinery & equipment was broadly stable (down 1.1 points to 49.0). All other sectors contracted at a faster rate than in December. “Australia’s manufacturers are seeing a disappointing start to this new year and new decade,” said Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox. “Activity, new orders, deliveries, sales and exports all slowed in the last months of 2019 and this has continued into January, affecting all segments of manufacturing.” Six of the seven activity indices in the Australian PMI contracted in January, with exports the only index reporting stability (down 4.2 points to 49.8). Production (down 3.5 points to…
January 30, 2020
Lehane Centrifugal Clutches (Lehane CC) was founded in 1961, when Peter Lehane began operating a small manufacturing business out of his father’s backyard in Lidcombe, having completed an apprenticeship at de Havilland aircraft. He remains closely involved with the company, though these days he has largely handed the reins to his son, also called Peter, as he transitions into retirement. Peter Junior joined in 1985 and is now the company’s General Manager. A third generation of the family joined in 2015, when Peter Junior’s son Pierce came on board; he now works as the company’s CNC foreman. In the early years, Peter Senior had picked up general engineering jobs, including quite a lot of work in automotive and motorsports. However, over time the business found its niche in the manufacture of high-quality industrial clutches. “First of all we started repairing clutches, and then we started improving them,” explains Peter Senior. “And later on from about 1980,…
January 30, 2020
JC Butko Engineering was established in 1976 by John and Carolyn Butko. Employing 128 tradespersons and 30 contractors, the company’s expansion – particularly over the last 10 years – has seen its factory grow to the present size of 7,000sqm (with an additional 450sqm of administration area). With an average annual turnover today of $35m, it is now the region’s largest general engineering company. Born to Ukrainian immigrant parents, John Butko was apprenticed as a fitter and turner in Melbourne before returning to Wodonga and joining Milos Metrol & Sons. In 1972, John was named as Albury & Wodonga’s top apprentice. Soon afterwards, he rented a small shed in Kendall Street, Wodonga, and invested heavily in machinery – including a lathe, guillotine and a set of rollers – and the rest is history. The team at JC Butko consists of boilermakers, sheet metal workers, pipe welders, fitter/machinists and apprentices. The management team comprises project managers, mechanical engineers, certifying engineers, project supervisors, estimators, drafting personnel, quality assurance,…
January 30, 2020
The 47-year-old company, based in Kilsyth, Victoria, counts Kenworth Trucks as one of its longest-serving customers and prides itself on how its staff continue to deliver exceptional client service by providing timely solutions to help solve customers’ problems. Rae-Line has been recognised as Kenworth’s ‘Supplier of the Year’ seven times. Brett Vorhauer, Managing Director for Rae-Line says the business has been successful at reactively addressing issues, but that the company is now at a point where employees’ time needs to be freed up to allow them to do more with the limited time they have. Despite a solid customer base, the growth of the company and its customers’ businesses means the organisation needs to progress its digital transformation journey, so that efficiency can be improved via better predictability throughout the supply chain. “Due to customer growth, the business has outgrown our legacy system of relying on manual data collection and requires a more integrated IT system,”…
January 30, 2020
State-of-the art turbochargers are used in diesel vehicles, and almost all automotive manufacturers offer a turbocharged petrol engine. Why? The turbocharger makes comparable performance with a smaller engine capacity possible and that contributes to the advance in downsizing. Turbochargers also contribute to the reduction in fuel consumption and are therefore fundamental in meeting strict emission limits. Challenge for machining tools Most turbochargers are exhaust gas turbochargers and each automotive manufacturer has a different design that incorporates special geometries and the need for special tools. However, when it comes to petrol engines, there is one common factor in all variants – the very high temperatures achieved during operation. It is due to this reason that the turbine housing, the so-called ‘hot side’, is manufactured from a very abrasive, heat-resistant material. These materials represent a particular challenge for every machine tool, especially regarding the cutting tools applied. Mapal has taken up these challenges and developed new cutting materials and tool geometries.…
January 30, 2020
A third-generation family business based in the Gold Coast suburb of Carrara in Queensland, Prendergast Fasteners is a long-term user of Okuma’s range of high-tech manfacturing equipment, having commissioned its first CNC machine back in 1996. Most recently the company commissioned five new Okuma CNC lathes with OSP-P300LA control and four LNS ALPHA SL65-S Bar Loaders. While the new machines are in many ways similar to the existing Okuma machines in the Prendergast Fasteners workshop, they also provide for enhanced consistent accuracy and increased speed of production, thereby allowing for shorter lead times and improved efficiencies. For the company’s Managing Director Nat Prendergast, the new machines have had a clear impact on operations at the company’s Carrara facility, further bolstered by the aftersales support provided by the team at Okuma Australia. “Okuma has been a standout for us,” said Nat. “The performance of these machines is outstanding as we are already…
January 23, 2020
It’s been two years since the last of the major car manufacturers ceased vehicle production in Australia, when GM Holden followed in the footsteps of Ford and Toyota and closed its manufacturing operations here. The automotive aftermarket manufacturing sector has consequently had to move with the changing market, and the signs are currently very positive. In June, the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) published research conducted with ACA Research to evaluate the state of the market. It reveals that 300 automotive manufacturing companies operate in Australia, up from 260 in 2015 (when the AAAA last surveyed the sector). Although the sector’s combined annual revenue has dropped from $5.2bn to $4bn and employment is down from 21,000 to 9,800, the research also shows that 93% of the automotive manufacturers surveyed expect revenue to grow, and 82% expect…
January 23, 2020
“It was a pretty easy choice for me,” says Aaron. “I looked at all my options and decided I wanted to go with an Australian-made machine as I knew the quality of the TECHNI machines was world class. It also helped that the TECHNI head office was local, so if we needed any support, the guys were very close. “I started the business back in 2008 as I thought there was a gap in the market for a waterjet cutting job shop here in the area. At the time I didn’t really know which way the business would go, but I was confident that we could build a strong business providing a quality service. Eleven years later, we now have a total of six TECHNI Waterjet machines – eight cutting heads, running 10 hours a day.” Soon after he opened Aztech Cutting Solutions and the business began to grow, Aaron knew he needed more support.…
January 23, 2020
Australian Made Chief Executive Ben Lazzaro highlighted the importance of supporting local businesses this Australia Day, especially those in regional and bushfire affected areas, to help communities bounce back in what are extremely challenging times. “Australian-made and -grown products play an important role in our economy. It’s been tough for Aussie farmers and manufacturers, particularly those in rural and regional areas affected by fire and drought,” said Lazzaro. “We need to rally behind our local businesses. Every dollar spent on locally made and grown products will have a direct impact on the livelihoods of Aussie farmers and manufacturers, as well as the wider community. “We are so lucky to have access to some of the best products in the world made right here in our backyard. Shoppers should look for the Australian Made logo to be sure they’re buying genuinely Australian products.” These sentiments were echoed by Australian Made licensee MiniJumbuk, located in the country town of Naracoorte in South Australia. MiniJumbuk…
January 23, 2020
Owned by Australian farmers since 1895, NORCO recently invested in a Micro-Vu Vertex Multi-Sensor vision system, supplied by Hi-Tech Metrology, to enhance the production and quality of its injection-moulded ice cream containers. According to Trent Dobrunz of NORCO: “We needed a better way of measuring the dimensions on an ice cream container. As they are flexible with no straight edges conventional methods proved difficult, unreliable and definitely not repeatable, which prompted a call to Hi-Tech Metrology.” NORCO had previously been using a Go/No-Go gauge that was highly susceptible to operator influences, making it very difficult to obtain reliable results. As the ice cream containers are flexible the solution needed to be non-contact, so the search began for an automated measuring system that utilised vision technology. The system ultimately chosen for the task was a Micro-Vu Vertex, supplied complete with a suite of fixtures and part programs to measure a variety of…