Technology News

Researchers at The University of Queensland are harnessing the latest sequencing technology developed by UK-based biotech Oxford Nanopore Technologies to analyse mRNA vaccines and therapies. This approach promises to simplify and better ensure the quality of manufactured mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics worldwide. The BASE team at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) is already recognised as the biggest supplier of research-use mRNA in Australia, having built more than 200 mRNA vaccines and therapies for academic, clinical and industry use. Building upon this work, under the new research partnership with Oxford Nanopore, BASE researchers will use the latest and improved nanopore-based sequencing technology to optimise performance and reduce the time needed to measure mRNA vaccine quality attributes. “Currently, mRNA vaccines and therapies are analysed using a range of different methods that are time-consuming, complicated, and costly, and often outdated,” said BASE mRNA technologies researcher Dr. Helen Gunter. BASE researchers showed how nanopore sequencing can analyse the quality of mRNA vaccines and therapies, in a study published today in Nature Communications. “By using Oxford…

The Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC) is an industry-led collaborative research funding organisation focused on advancing Australia’s additive manufacturing sector. The centre brings together industry partners, developing the next generation of products and services, and research institutions to conduct cutting-edge research, develop new technologies, and drive innovation to foster a globally competitive innovation ecosystem for advanced manufacturing. The CRC matches dollar-for-dollar Industry Partner cash for collaborative manufacturing R&D and innovation projects with CRC Research Partners. This is a potential fit for Industry Partners (e.g. manufacturing and related businesses) where strategy includes: investing in an eligible transformative manufacturing R&D project with a CRC Research Partner of between two and five years in duration, that can commence from 2025 onwards; spending at least $250,000 cash per project to fund the cost of researcher salaries and operating costs at a CRC Research Partner (which, if eligible, the CRC can match dollar for dollar up to a maximum of five million dollars per business); with the Research Partner(s) conducting at least 50% of the overall project research effort; utilising and/or developing new…

In the field of aluminium machining, operators often look for more specialist tools as their requirements are often very specific. Now, with the new DC166 Supreme, premium tool manufacturer Walter has demonstrated just how special a standard drill can be. The solid carbide drill with internal coolant has been specially developed for machining aluminium and other ISO N materials, which is why it boasts certain distinctive features. All the key surfaces on the drill, such as flutes, lands or clearance angles are polished. This reduces friction and prevents adhesion when machining the highly adhesive material. This increases the tool life and the process reliability of the drill. The highly innovative, patent-pending thinner web of the DC166 Supreme is like nothing else on the market. It prevents the edge from building up and improves the chip removal and the supply of cooling lubricant. The aluminium specialists' innovative design facilitates exceptionally high cutting speeds in conjunction with excellent drilling quality – especially in terms of the roundness of the hole and the surface quality. The arrival of the Walter DC166 Supreme is a product that can…

Cross Hydraulics is a global leader in the distribution and manufacturing of customer and application-specific hydraulic system solutions for mobile and industrial applications. Their extensive inventory includes pumps, motors, valves, power units, transmissions, and controls. Since 1976, their proficiency, the quality of individual components, and their operational dependability have garnered market recognition. Through ASA’s partnership with Okuma Australia, Cross Hydraulics came to ASA looking for a machine tending solution to tend to an Okuma LT3000 EX 3T3MY. ASA designed the complete automation cell after consulting with Cross Hydraulics to determine the existing pain points and desired outcomes for this investment, including a Modula Vertical Storage System and Hi-Tech Metrology Shop Floor Co-ordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). Cross Hydraulics adheres to environmentally responsible production practices and was looking for ways to reduce raw material, minimise emissions and waste as well as increasing productivity and reduce customer lead time. They were looking for a solution that not only offered the ability to add a second machine to the cell in the future but also the capability for…

Tynbell Sheetmetal, an Adelaide-based provider of fabricated metal products, has invested in new cutting-edge equipment to accommodate growing industry demands. The strategic investment allows Tynbell to operate at the forefront of complex Defence and Aerospace projects. The family-owned sheet metal manufacturer has recently taken significant steps toward expansion and growth, as it looks to the future of precision manufacturing in Australia. Tynbell has taken delivery of a new Bystronic Xpert Pro Press Brake Machine, representing a significant investment in the future while also improving output, safety and energy efficiency. “Our new press brake is designed to process and bend metal faster, with greater flexibility, repeatability and accuracy,” said Tynbell Managing Director, Raymond Fenech. “The machine incorporates cutting-edge technology to meet the demands of the Defence Industry,” he added. Tynbell Sheetmetal extended its manufacturing facility six months ago, in a strategic move to enhance its capabilities, creating more space to accommodate the specific requirements of Defense customers. This expansion was the first milestone in Tynbell's long-term growth journey, as the manufacturer continues to forge its reputation for unmatched quality and precision within the Defence and Aerospace sectors.…

Plastic waste has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The accumulation of plastic waste in landfills and oceans has reached alarming levels, demanding innovative solutions to tackle this crisis. In recent years, a revolutionary concept has emerged—a game-changing method of plastic waste recycling using an induction furnace. This cutting-edge technology has the potential to transform the industry by bypassing traditional granulating processes and directly converting plastic waste into extruded products. In this editorial, we explore the revolutionary induction furnace and its potential to revolutionise the plastic waste recycling industry. The induction furnace represents a significant leap forward in plastic waste recycling. Traditionally, recycling plastic waste involves a labourious and energy-intensive process that includes sorting, shredding, granulating, conveying, agglomeration and extrusion. However, the induction furnace offers a breakthrough approach by directly processing plastic waste into extruded or form moulded products without the need for these additional processes. This streamlined method not only saves time and energy but also reduces the cost associated with recycling plastic…

This is a worldwide trend driven by several factors - labour shortage, increasing labour costs, the need for maximising uptime, push for 24/7 machine availability and customers demanding shorter lead times. Manufacturers need to be more flexible and responsive than ever before. ANCA has been providing a wide range of automation solutions for many years. One of the recent offerings in this space is the ANCA Integrated Manufacturing System or AIMS for short. AIMS is an ecosystem of individual modules – or building blocks - that could be configured to build a tailored automated tool manufacturing system. Modularity and flexibility mean that it caters to both small and large enterprise-type manufacturers. The system could be designed to be very simple, using a trolley for manual pallet and tool transfer with basic ERP connectivity. It could also be a complex, fully autonomous production solution which requires minimal human intervention. One of the most noticeable components of a fully automated AIMS cell is AutoFetch – the AMR robot responsible for transferring pallets between the setting station called AutoSet, to the tool grinder. It also automatically…

Sus scrofa is one of the most successful environmental and agricultural pests in Australia. Commonly known as feral pigs, their numbers are said to range between 3.2 million and 30 million and they inhabit 45% of the country’s land mass. Farmers and scientists have been working on containment programs for several years, with limited success. These animals reproduce at an alarming rate, destroy livestock, spread weeds, and damage infrastructure. Common food sources for these voracious creatures are food at landfill dump sites and food waste that is being composted. Food waste can contain contaminated animal products (whether legally imported or otherwise) that may not be safe for feeding to domestic or feral livestock. The biggest risk is that pigs may get infected with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) or African swine fever (ASF). The risks of spreading FMD and ASF through Australian livestock are very high. The 2001 outbreak of FMD in the UK was traced to a small farm that fed their pigs with swill, which is prohibited in Australia. Swill is animal food that contains or has been in contact with, meat products or…

In collaboration with his university colleagues, Barry Grogan has spearheaded the creation of an exceptional solution for companies grappling with the challenges of outsourcing smaller-scale jobs. Frustrated by the prolonged lead times, frequent delays, and subpar quality that often accompany outsourcing, Barry and his team present the innovative 5.0 Robotics CNC Router. This cutting-edge router boasts minimal setup time, uncompromising adherence to specifications, tolerances, and speed, and incorporates renowned components such as Delta, Siemens, and Tekno Motor. Introducing the 5.0 Robotics Model 8 CNC Router—a user-centric marvel poised to revolutionise your operations. As a newly qualified Mechanical and Manufacturing engineer from Trinity College Dublin, like his former classmates, Grogan found there wasn’t much work in Ireland when he completed his degree in 2010. “I didn't stay on to do a PhD,” Barry added. Grogan came to Australia, started working as a Project Engineer, managing projects in stainless steel fabrication and automation in food, dairy and beverages, then moved into a process engineering role in pharmaceuticals. “I was always more hands-on, more mechanical, more engineering,…

It is estimated that around $8T is wasted during manufacturing. This amounts to 10% of the Gross World Product (GWP) – the combined gross national product of all countries across the globe. Clearly, this is not sustainable. Not only is it wasteful, but it also increases manufacturing costs, reduces profits and negatively impacts the environment. The more that waste can be kept to a minimum, the better it is for everyone. Lean-ing into a better way of manufacturing Waste is an unavoidable part of manufacturing, and it is unrealistic to think it can be eliminated completely. But Lean Manufacturing, pioneered in the 1930s, identifies any part of the manufacturing process that doesn’t add value so waste can be reduced, and productivity increased. Digital technology takes Lean Manufacturing to an entirely new level. The method now concentrates on the collection of tools, techniques and principles that have proven to be effective at driving out waste. As well as providing the information needed…

PakTech, the leading producer of sustainable secondary packaging solutions, has announced its official launch in Australia, through which its technology, manufacturing and products will enable the food, beverage, and consumer goods industries to respond to the growing ESG pressures and consumer demand for sustainable packaging and practices. Embracing an entirely circular economy model, PakTech is the leading manufacturer of 100% recycled and recyclable secondary packaging. Later this year, using its proprietary technology, PakTech will have the capacity to manufacture 100 million recycled injection moulded packaging handles for cans, bottles and other containers, annually within Australia. Having experienced significant organic growth in Australia in recent years, the company is now establishing an on-the-ground presence, with a contract manufacturing facility in Victoria and a proprietary partnership with Visy. Through it, PakTech will be able to tap burgeoning demand and fulfill its vision: made in Australia, recycled in Australia, and repurposed again into new PakTech products in Australia. Locally, PakTech’s existing customers include Hawkers Brewery, Billson’s of Beechworth and The Apple Press. Its launch in Australia comes as public demand for sustainable packaging and practices skyrockets.…

Ferag AG, a renowned family-owned Swiss company with over 65 years of experience as a global market leader in material flow systems, and dereOida, an Australian pioneer based in Sydney, producing warehouse automation software with their revolutionary doWarehouse system, are uniting their strengths to offer an unparalleled intralogistics solution to businesses across various industries. dereOida's flagship product, doWarehouse, presents a holistic single view across the warehouse. With the freedom to select any automated system, customers can seamlessly integrate their chosen hardware into doWarehouse, all while benefiting from dereOida's outstanding support services. The doWarehouse system enables the user to streamline processes, enhance productivity, reduce costs and allows for continuous improvement through insightful analytics. Notably, it provides a single source of truth, revolutionises sortation management, replaces cumbersome spreadsheets, and optimises warehouse space utilisation. Ferag AG's legacy as a family-owned Swiss company specialising in intralogistics solutions and the development, design and distribution of material flow systems is built upon innovation, quality, and a commitment to customer satisfaction. With a global presence across 18 countries and a team of more than 600 dedicated professionals, Ferag has consistently delivered…

Harrison Manufacturing is Australia’s leading independent expert in the development, manufacture and supply of high-performance grease, oils, specialty additives and services to many industries, including the sheet metal tooling industry. This very proudly Australian family company has been heavily involved in research and development, manufacturing and supplying industry since 1949, and is family-owned and operated, now in its fourth generation. AMT spoke with Julie Harrison, the Owner and Director of the Harrison Group, and CEO of Harrison Manufacturing. Harrison told us the original company A.S.Harrison which had supplied the rubber and vulcanisation industries up to and during WW2, and now distributes high value-add chemicals into the industry was turning 100 years old this year. Operating out of Australian-based facilities, the Harrison Group has a comprehensive range of additional services, and solutions in research and development. Their in-house capabilities provide solutions all the way from initial idea to implementation. Harrison Manufacturing works with a diverse range of customers; some having been with the company for over 30 years and is proud to be part of the Harrison Group of companies. Harrison…