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Located in Melbourne’s north, Thomastown and Epping are an established and industrious manufacturing base, collectively home to over 7,600 businesses, employing 39,000 workers. Manufacturing is the leading sector in Thomastown and fifth highest in Epping. The local eco-system is recognised as a key ingredient in the ongoing vitality of the area, which continues to diversify, expand and develop, despite challenging tough market conditions. The region plays a pivotal role in business and employment opportunities for Melbourne’s north, with government investment in infrastructure and roads supporting rapid growth. The recent announcement of Federal Government investment in the Beverage Intermodal Freight Terminal will increase connection to regional, national and international markets, and reduce reliance on air and road transport. Thomastown is 15km from the CBD and one of the largest consolidated areas of industrial-zoned land in Metropolitan Melbourne. "An exporter of more than twenty years, we love having Aromababy's head office in Thomastown and the ease of ensuring urgent air freight reaches Tullamarine quickly. As a regular business traveller both interstate and overseas, it's also a super convenient commute from home to office to boarding…

One of the world’s most recognised and innovative materials scientists and an engineer and inventor has been announced as this year’s City of Parramatta Australia Day Ambassador. 2022 NSW Australian of the Year and UNSW Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla, is a highly awarded researcher at the forefront of recycling science, who launched the world’s first e-waste microfactory. The professor’s work has led to the development of green ceramic tiles and green steel, made from recycled glass, textiles and steel. Professor Sahajwalla has been invited to address the City of Parramatta’s Citizen of the Year awards on 25 January and as a guest on 26 January. She said she’s excited to visit Parramatta and celebrate with locals. “It’s such an honour to be an Australia Day Ambassador for Parramatta,” Professor Sahajwalla said. “It’s also a privilege to share my story around science and engineering and how our UNSW SMaRT Centre MICROfactorieTM Technologies are helping to tackle our waste and recycling challenges.” Already the City has benefitted from these revolutionary green materials, with Mirvac’s Pavilions apartment building in Sydney Olympic Park leading the pack…

Six of the nation’s leading research institutions, including Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, have united with international researchers to spearhead innovation to address challenges in clean energy production and storage. In a joint effort between Australia, the US, Canada, and the UK, two multi-lateral research projects have been announced today as part of the National Science Foundation Global Centres in Climate Change and Clean Energy (NSF Global Centres) program. Together, these countries have pledged more than A$118m in investment in the NSF Global Centres program over five years to tackle challenges posed by climate change as the world moves towards net zero. Kirsten Rose, Acting Chief Executive of CSIRO, said as Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO is proud to be part of a strong national contribution to solving this critical global challenge. “CSIRO is proud to stand alongside numerous Australian research organisations to combine our shared expertise, strengthening our national response to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, sustainable energy future,” Ms Rose said. “Collaborative initiatives like CSIRO’s Hydrogen Industry Mission and Smart Energy Mission are essential in ensuring solutions…

It's no secret plastic and oceans don't mix. You've probably heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a 1.6m square kilometre area full of discarded plastic between North America and Japan, hemmed in by the major Pacific currents. As of 2018, it contained 45,000-130,000 tons of toothbrushes, water bottles, pens, plastic bags, and more, some of it up to 50 years old. Then there are all the microplastics damaging marine ecosystems, broken pieces of fishing nets, microwave containers, and car tyre rubber measuring 5mm or less. There were barely any in the oceans between 1950 and 1980, and today there are over half a million tons. But now, a radical idea from Western Australia is posing a unique question; what if the ocean can actually save us from plastic? Not so fantastic There's a race to solve the problems of plastic production. Back in June, AMT reported on a company called Samsara Eco that uses a special enzyme that…

Registrations are now open for your attendance at Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2024) in Sydney. Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2024) is run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), with the NSW Government as the Major Sponsor. This huge event will occupy more than 6,560 square metres of exhibition space at the Sydney ICC at Darling Harbour. Coming up to 250 organisations have already taken stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. Don’t miss out!    REGISTER NOW   WELD & AIR SOLUTIONS ZONE The Weld & Air Solutions Zone will highlight advanced welding processes and provide high-quality interactive experiences that demonstrate developments and applications in the welding sector. Welding is critical in metal fabrication and manufacturing today.  The technology is used in creating more than half of the products manufactured in Australia. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join or cut metal parts. The various types of Welding Technologies at Weld & Air Solutions Zone would be Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG), Shielded…

Just recently, the Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic revealed an interim response from the Australian government on the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence. The public, especially the Australian public, have real concerns about AI. And it’s appropriate that they should. AI is a powerful technology entering our lives quickly. By 2030, it may increase the Australian economy by 40%, adding $600bn to our annual gross domestic product. A recent International Monetary Fund report estimates AI might also impact 40% of jobs worldwide, and 60% of jobs in developed nations like Australia. In half of those jobs, the impacts will be positive, lifting productivity and reducing drudgery. But in the other half, the impacts may be negative, taking away work, even eliminating some jobs completely. Just as lift attendants and secretaries in typing pools had to move on and find new vocations, so might truck drivers and law clerks. Perhaps not surprisingly then, in…

With the Australian manufacturing industry facing mounting pressure from the government to prioritise sustainability and environmental awareness, here’s a cutting-edge technical solution designed to align with these imperatives. Yaskawa’s pioneering solution revolves around the efficient utilisation of robot braking energy. This feature comes standard and does not require additional hardware. Notably, larger MOTOMAN robots, boasting payloads of 35kg or more, in conjunction with the latest YRC1000 robot controller, possess the capability to convert kinetic energy generated during downward and sideways motions directly into the in-house power supply system. This transformative process significantly reduces the energy demands of the robots and is referred to as energy recovery. MOTOMAN robots achieve even greater efficiency gains through their sleek and compact design, characterised by minimal moved masses. Furthermore, they swiftly apply brakes during motion pauses, effectively deactivating active position control when not in use. This intelligent operational concept, including automatic robot shutdowns during planned breaks, contributes substantially to energy conservation. In the context of their diverse tasks, such…

The Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC) has announced that it is launching a bid for funding in Round 25 of the Australian Government Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Grant Program. Globally there has been a rapid take-up of Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies by companies developing new products to stay ahead in the innovation race. Start-ups and high-growth companies like Boeing, Tesla, Stryker, and Align have all documented significant advantages in utilising AM to enhance product performance, customise the user experience, and improve supply chain efficiency. These advantages address many of the challenges that Australian manufacturers face in getting products into world markets and with the national imperative to get Australia making again, AM will be a critical part of this transformation journey. AMCRC’s bid is industry-led and backed by Australia’s peak manufacturing industry association, the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), 13 leading research organisations, and CSIRO. AMTIL CEO Shane Infanti observed that the Australian industry has been adopting 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies at a record pace but with global players like the US, EU and…

Advanced Navigation has unveiled a new high-tech robotics facility for autonomous systems based at UTS Tech Lab. Located in Botany NSW, the facility will scale up the manufacturing of Advanced Navigation’s world-first AI navigation systems for GPS-denied environments, including its digital fibre-optic gyroscope (DFOG) technology, Boreas. Advanced Navigation is one of only four companies in the world with the capability to manufacture strategic-grade fibre-optic gyroscopes. This technology empowers reliable navigation for marine vessels, space missions, aerospace, defence, autonomous vehicles and flying taxis. The company deploys its unique AI-based physics algorithms to solve complex challenges earth-bound and beyond. Strengthening Australia’s sovereign capabilities Xavier Orr, Advanced Navigation CEO and co-founder, said, “There is a critical need to improve Australia’s economic complexity and sovereign capabilities. A key step is to build our industrial capacity in high-tech, as well as drive knowledge exchange and propel collaborative initiatives between government agencies, academic institutions and industry leaders.” State-of-art robotics manufacturing for autonomous systems There is a seismic shift across the landscape of sovereign manufacturing, driven by advanced technologies like AI, automation and precision engineering. In…

Located on the NSW Central Coast, PCW Commercial Windows is a longstanding and respected market leader in manufacturing and installing commercial, industrial and upmarket residential windows and doors. Their exceptional portfolio of work spans the Central Coast, Sydney and Hunter Regions of NSW and includes many schools, civic buildings, institutions and architectural homes. "Our extensive industry experience and product knowledge means we can offer advice and design ideas for projects of virtually any size,” says owner and Managing Director Leigh Spinks. “We’ve forged strong relationships with many builders, big and small and are very proud to be 100% Australian owned and operated and manufacturing all our products to Australian Standards.” Keeping abreast of changes within the construction industry is a high priority for Spinks and his team. “It's constantly changing; in particular, windows and glazing are undergoing great changes at the moment, energy provisions are tightening, and the performance of windows just needs to be better than in the past. More and more of our projects are double-glazed, and we are seeing increased demand for energy-efficient products, particularly in…

Inventory management is critical for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) because it directly influences both production efficiency and profitability. However, despite this, it's often an area that needs the greatest improvement. Effective inventory management involves complex and interrelated tasks, from forecasting demand and maintaining optimal stock levels, to ensuring swift and accurate delivery, managing storage, and reducing waste or obsolete models. These require detailed analysis, accurate data, and the use of advanced technology or inventory management systems. Without these, manufacturers may struggle with issues like low inventory turns, lack of visibility across departments, overstocking, stockouts, and high holding costs, which can significantly impact their operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and bottom line. Manual processes cost time and money Results from a recent ECI Software Solutions' customer "Warehouse Management Woes" survey shows that 53% of SMBs conduct manual inventory counts approximately once a quarter and 50% of respondents have challenges counting or reconciling inventory. This is because many SMBs do not have inventory recordkeeping policies and processes in place, including regular inventory counts, maintenance, and documentation.…

Registrations are now open for Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2024), held at the Sydney ICC in Darling Harbour. Run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2024 will occupy more than 6,560 square metres of exhibition space at the Sydney ICC at Darling Harbour. More than 220 organisations have already taken stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. Don’t miss out! Register NOW! There are seven Zones on the vast floorspace of Australian Manufacturing Week, which takes up almost of the Sydney ICC. Each Zone focuses on particular aspects of manufacturing in Australia. These include: Austech Machine Tools, sponsored by finlease; Additive Manufacturing Zone; Australian Manufacturers Zone; Manufacturing Solutions Zone, sponsored by The Execution Factor; Robotics & Automation Zone, sponsored by IFS; Weld and Air Solutions Zone; and the Plastic Technology Zone. ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION The Robotics & Automation Zone, proudly sponsored by IFS, will feature the latest state-of-the-art equipment and processes for the optimisation of manufacturing operations. Robots are practical technologies, with artificially intelligent…

Jamie Whincup has been a part of Triple Eight Race Engineering as a driver since he joined the team in 2006. “My father bought me a go-kart when I was seven years old, so racing was originally a hobby,” Whincup tells me. “Fast forward, and the whole thing just got out of control and has become my profession for 20 years. I was very happy to join what I regarded as the best team in the country in 2006. And they've gone from strength to strength. And we've won many races, but it must be stated that we are an engineering company that showcases our talents on the racetrack.” Now Managing Director, Whincup is straight-forward with his descriptions of what Triple Eight does. “Motorsport has always been about getting a team of people together, to build a race car, take it to the track and race our mates, try to go around in circles quicker than them and get to the…