Product News

The metal forming industry relies heavily on precision, durability, and cost-efficiency. Traditional manufacturing methods, such as casting, milling, and forging, require extensive tooling, long lead times, and significant financial investments. 3D printing is revolutionising this space by enabling rapid prototyping, tooling production, and custom part fabrication at a fraction of the time and cost. The new Mingda industrial 3D printer range—featuring the MD-400D, MD-600D, and MD-1000D—is particularly well-suited to support businesses in the metal forming sector and the manufacturing industry. These printers offer large-format capabilities and exceptional material versatility, enabling companies to digitise their production workflows and minimise reliance on expensive traditional tooling. Key benefits Rapid Tooling Production: Print cost-effective tools, dies, and fixtures quickly for testing and small production runs. Large-Scale Prototyping: Create full-scale prototypes with massive build volumes, reducing lead times and costs. Support for Composite Tooling: Use advanced materials like carbon fibre-reinforced filaments for strong, lightweight tools. Customisation and Low-Volume Production: Produce bespoke parts and tools without additional tooling costs. Open-Material System: Experiment with various filaments to meet specific mechanical and thermal requirements. Cost and Time Savings:…

Rockwell Automation has launched Logix SIS, a cutting-edge safety instrumented system (SIS) designed to address the evolving needs of modern industrial environments. The introduction of the Logix SIS from Rockwell Automation provides a modern and integrated safety solution, offering both SIL 2 and SIL 3 certifications for enhanced process and hybrid safety. Logix SIS delivers all components of a safety instrumented system, including the process logic solver and I/O. The system is engineered to provide high availability with proven Rockwell Automation hardware, leveraging the latest 1756 controller, FLEX 5000® I/O platform, and Studio 5000 Logix Designer® application for a truly integrated user experience. "Logix SIS represents a significant step forward, offering exceptional flexibility for process and hybrid safety applications while leveraging our proven hardware to target the highest safety levels," said Dan DeYoung, vice president of product management at Rockwell Automation. "Its intuitive interface, consistent with our other solutions, minimises complexity and empowers partners to deliver high-level safety solutions." Key capabilities of Logix SIS: Modern SIL 2 and SIL 3 solutions deliver comprehensive safety across various industrial applications;…

Advanced Navigation, a world leader in navigation and autonomous systems, has announced the expansion of its versatile Certus range, with the new Mini series. Available in three variants, the Certus Mini series includes a GNSS-aided Certus Mini D and Certus Mini N inertial navigation system (INS), while Certus Mini A functions as an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS). Weighing no more than 55 grams, the series delivers impressive performance and cost-efficiency, defying expectations for its weight and size. Advanced Navigation CEO Chris Shaw said, “Manufacturers and system integrators often face trade-offs between performance, size, cost, and weight. The Certus Mini series is a testament that these attributes do not need to conflict. This value-driven breakthrough lowers the entry barrier to precise and reliable navigation for customers deploying land-based vehicles. It also unlocks new possibilities for lightweight airborne platforms, such as drones, where every gram counts towards flight efficiency and power consumption. Designed with flexibility in mind, the series is easily integrated into existing and new system builds with simple plug-and-play…

HVAC systems run almost constantly, leading to an increased risk of belt failure - and a potentially costly ripple effect on sensitive, temperature-controlled facilities. HVAC systems are often exposed to extreme ambient temperatures and environmental conditions, which can strain equipment. Maintaining your facility is already complex without adding in additional maintenance or unexpected part failure. Gates has engineered high-performance belt solutions that can withstand high temperatures, chemicals, and humidity without re-tensioning and at a lower upfront cost than comparable belts.   V-BELTS - TRI-POWER™ & QUAD-POWER™ 4 MOULDED NOTCH V-BELTS V-belts are essential power transmission components in industrial applications worldwide. Excessive belt slippage, stretching, and wear can result in big problems for facilities, with disproportionate resources spent re-tensioning, maintaining, and replacing underperforming belts. Gates offers high-performance v-belts engineered to save energy, minimise maintenance, and have a longer lifespan than competitive belts. Raw edge, moulded notch construction saves up to 3% on energy costs over wrapped belts. Specially designed moulded notches dissipate heat better than standard v-belts and are engineered to increase flexibility for improved energy efficiency. FEATURES: Innovative…

The Australian food industry is poised for continued growth between 2024 and 2028, driven by several key factors, according to the report Australia: Food Manufacturing Market Overview 2024–2028. Among the most significant trends are the rising demand for health-focused, sustainable food products and more premium and convenience foods. The report states, “These shifts are anticipated to spur product development and packaging innovation, catalysing growth across various market sub-sectors. “Simultaneously, sustainability and transparency are becoming increasingly important in food manufacturing, with consumers demanding more eco-friendly packaging and clear, honest labelling. Manufacturers who successfully respond to these demands will likely enhance their market shares during this forecast period.” Regulatory changes, trade agreements and macroeconomic factors will further influence the market. Therefore, understanding the competitive dynamics, market segmentation, and growth opportunities will be essential for food and beverage manufacturers to navigate this evolving market landscape successfully. The Australian food and beverage industry also increasingly benefits from technological advancements, particularly in automation, digitisation, and artificial intelligence. These technologies, which aim to increase efficiency and reduce costs, are expected to reshape the…

Pick-and-place robots are increasingly important in automated processes, such as assembly lines. With its EXPT, the automation specialist Festo offers an exact and dynamic solution for this. Operating at up to 150 picks per minute, the robot works continuously. For this, safe and gentle feeding of the cables to the gripper had to be guaranteed. The unique feature—a rotating additional axis—led to increased wear of the cables. With a unique energy chain for tight installation spaces and dynamic applications, including a rotation module, the cables are now safely guided at high rotation angles Problem Festo SE & Co. KG is a leading provider of automation solutions for processes and entire production plants. The manufacturer also includes its universal parallel robot, "EXPT," in its extensive product portfolio. The tripod-based pick-and-place robot works with high performance and precision and manages up to 150 picks per minute. Its design and control system enable flexible and cross-application use, enabling convenient implementation in applications with several robots in the production line. An A5 axis was to be implemented at the lower end…

Servo systems are increasingly finding their way into applications used by industry; everything from simple vertical filling machines to high-speed printing presses are using servos to improve their output. Harry Mulder, Product Specialist for Motion Products at Beckhoff Automation, explains that while some believe all servos are the same, there are, in fact, some clear differentiators. “It’s these differences that yield big benefits.” What sets Beckhoff apart from the rest, according to Mulder, is its wide selection of motors and matching gearboxes. “Each motor offers a range of feedback options - everything from resolvers for harsh environments to 24-bit multi-turn absolute encoders with SIL 2-rated safety. Beckhoff also supports EnDat, SSI, BiSS and other protocols, as well as providing input for secondary feedback systems.” One feature that rates very highly among end users is a single connecting cable between the motor and the drive, commonly known as One Cable Technology or “OCT”. “Using just one cable to carry power, braking and encoder signals is more cost-effective and so much more convenient than running separate cables. In addition, not having a…

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has unveiled ProPlanAI, an automated computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programming tool that cuts the time it takes to program factory machine tools by 75%. Powered by Microsoft Azure services built into Hexagon’s cloud-based Nexus connectivity and collaboration platform for discrete manufacturers, the new artificial intelligence technology is the next step in the evolution of CAM programming, enabling machine shops to achieve operational excellence at scale. ProPlanAI was unveiled at the Microsoft Ignite Conference in Chicago. Hexagon’s AI application uses Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Cosmos DB, and Azure Databricks to help manufacturing businesses of any size apply their institutional knowledge more quickly, easily, and thoroughly. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automate time-consuming process planning. ProPlanAI, due to launch in Q1 2025, will ‘learn’ from the data created by a company’s CAM programmers. This will enable manufacturers to automatically explore existing programming information to predict ideal outcomes tailored to a company’s preferences, production capabilities, and needs. Available within Hexagon’s popular desktop CAM software and powered by Nexus, ProPlanAI will continuously learn and adapt, ensuring programs are…

The New Zealand-based company Hayes International, was founded by Tom Hayes in 1960. In 1999, this private company became part of the Bradbury Group of Kansas, USA. Today, Hayes International is known as a market leader, with more than 1,820 Hayes machines exported to more than 90 countries worldwide. Hayes originally started producing corrugated sheet machines for roofing and cladding. However, products made by this fantastic 64-year-old New Zealand manufacturer today include Panel Mills, Purlin Mills, Stud Mills, Roll-Forming Accessories, Purlin Mill Accessories, Auto-Curvers, Folding Machines, Coil Handlers and more recently Finished Product Handling Equipment, including automated Purlin Stacking Equipment. “In purchasing a Hayes machine, our clients get the best in the industry in terms of reliability and performance, which also provides them with a competitive advantage with the whole-of-life cost, reduced machine downtime and waste minimisation,” noted Managing Director Nick Looijen. “90% of our business is repeat customers or direct referrals from existing customers, with our principal markets being Australia, UK, USA and New Zealand,” he said. Okuma has been an integral part of this advanced manufacturing business,…

Kanyana Engineering has followed a policy of providing unique sheet metal services at its Greenfields, WA manufacturing facility since its formation in 1997. They started this process with a 100-ton press capable of bending 6mm material when their competitors could only bend 3mm material. This policy is continuing and now the company has progressed from high tolerance plasma cutting to fibre laser cutting with a 15kW 1.5m x 3m Bystronic Bystar and the first Bystronic 20kW Penta laser with 2.5m x 6m bed in Western Australia. This machine can cut 50mm mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium, giving the company the largest job shop capacity in the region. The company's capabilities make it sought after for supplying civil, mining, industrial, construction and creative arts projects. The huge variety includes balustrades for the Kalbarri Skywalk, which soars 100m above the Murchison River Gorge, and mining refuge chambers designed to protect miners in an emergency. The Managing Director of Kanyana Engineering, Graham Dawe, understood that software and integrating the company’s systems was crucial to his plan. “I had experience from a previous computer business and…

Brisbane health-tech company WearOptimo has unveiled the initial $7m phase of its Advanced Manufacturing Facility (AMF), paving the way towards releasing its first Microwearable sensor. Custom-built in Brisbane, the AMF is the first facility in the southern hemisphere, pioneering the use of Nanoimprint Lithography (NIL) for health-tech. Its unveiling marks a major milestone along the company’s journey to having its first product – a hydration Microwearable sensor – on shelves, opening up global markets with a potential value of more than $5bn. “WearOptimo’s vision is to create global healthcare solutions that are accessible and affordable, and this new manufacturing capacity is central to that ambition,” said founder and CEO Professor Mark Kendall. “The AMF’s use of NIL will allow us to rapidly advance our Microwearable technology towards the release of on-the-shelf sensors that are scalable for widespread deployment, at a low cost per unit. “When operating at full capacity it will allow production of up to 30 million sensors annually, which will be used by everyone from elite athletes to aged-care residents and in industries ranging from the military to resources.” It’s also…

Regularly calibrated measuring instruments are essential wherever components are manufactured with high precision. But how do you stay on top of things? Lange & Haasis has switched from handouts to digital measuring equipment management from Gühring, saving a lot of time. Measuring screws, limit gauges, thread gauges – the machinists at Lange & Haasis always have their measuring equipment at hand to check the quality and dimensional accuracy of the construction parts. Although the products produced by the company for CNC metalworking in Albstadt differ significantly, they all have one thing in common: the highest precision down to the μ range. “No order is processed without measuring instruments,” noted founder and co-owner Jens Lange. And that’s why so many of them are in Lange & Haasis’ production. The problem: Measuring instruments have an expiry date and must be recalibrated before expiry. Uncalibrated measuring instruments must not be used for measurement. But how do you keep track of all the measuring equipment in everyday production? Jens Lange had to find out in his company that…

Australia’s construction and manufacturing industries face a turning point driven by a growing need to reduce import reliance and revive local production. Leading this charge is RJS Tech Group, founded by industry veteran Ron Smyth, who brings nearly 40 years of expertise in woodworking and machine tools. Ron’s vision is to restore manufacturing excellence and strengthen Australia’s industries. RJS Tech Group, through strategic acquisitions and a suite of companies, exemplifies entrepreneurial determination and national pride. RJS Tech Group’s mission supports the Australian construction and manufacturing sectors by providing businesses with world-class tools, machinery, and locally manufactured products. With a focus on creating Australian jobs, RJS Tech Group is reshaping industry landscapes by championing self-reliance, innovation, and local expertise. RJS Tech Group includes: Wood Tech: As a premier supplier in the woodworking and construction industries, Wood Tech provides exceptional machinery and service across Australia, empowering businesses to enhance productivity. Whitelaw Engineering Machinery/Metal Tech: This brand delivers high-quality metalworking machinery to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific, supporting vital sectors such as automotive and aerospace. Rogers Industries: Since 1953, Rogers Industries…