Technology News

In the realm of manufacturing, the quest for efficiency, safety and quality never ceases. Automated Solutions Australia (ASA) stands at the forefront of this pursuit, offering cutting-edge solutions for material removal through robotics. As industries evolve, so does the necessity for advanced systems that not only meet current demands but also set the pace for future innovations. ASA specialises in designing robotic systems tailored for a diverse range of finishing and material removal applications. Their unmatched expertise in the field is evidenced by their commitment to designing products specifically for automated finishing. The choice of FANUC robots for material removal tasks underscores this commitment, ensuring that whether it's cutting, grinding, deburring, polishing, sanding, or buffing, ASA has the perfect robotic solution to fit the application. Comprehensive material removal capabilities Material removal robots are integral in applications such as surface finishing, cutting, deburring and polishing. These tasks, while essential, can pose significant health and safety risks to workers. By integrating robots into these processes, ASA not only enhances safety by mitigating these risks but also addresses labour shortages—a…

The Australian Antarctic Division, which is in Hobart, Tasmania and is part of the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), coordinates the Australian Antarctic Program. The Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) is a collaborative partnership between the government and more than 150 national and international research institutions. The AAP’s Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientific research contributes to understanding the world’s climate and the effects of climate change. The AAP’s scientific research is supported by Australia’s leading international policy role in preserving Antarctica as a natural place devoted to peace and science.   The Mazak QTE-300MY SG The simple and compact Mazak QTE-300MY SG, which is manufactured in Mazak’s Singapore factory, is designed to fit into even the smallest machine shop, but with no compromise on power. The Mazak QTE-300MY SG is equipped with a powerful 5,000 rpm built-in spindle motor that is capable of ultra-high-speed acceleration and deceleration delivering high-efficiency, high-accuracy machining. Since there is no loss of power through mechanical transmission, the built-in…

Born from a desire to reinvigorate watchmaking capability in Australia, NHW developed the capacity to make up to 85% of its watches in-house by 2020. Things then took a surprising turn for the Sydney-based watchmaker, when an unexpected partnership with astronomy instrumentation builders created the potential to move into new, untapped markets. This was the beginning of NH Micro, a new business arm of NHW. Precision parts manufacturing is at the heart of NH Micro, and since its inception, the company has grown significantly over a short period. Its client base now includes customers within major government bodies, the medical industry, and the space/aerospace sector. They are also starting to slowly move into the defence sector and have started to reinvest in the business to the tune of $1m per year. All of which Technical Director Josh Hacko attributes to the first, relatively small job they did with a team of astronomers led by Dr Julia Bryant from the University of Sydney – building precision parts…

Damon Nehls from Laser 3D spoke about a unique one-off fabrication project, a metal sculpture infused with a sense of playfulness and whimsy for a small front garden space. In what was called ‘The Elsternwick Build,’ commissioned by ABC’s Grand Design program, the paper plane is a folding process remembered clearly by anyone who has had a childhood. But this presented a unique challenge and aluminium opportunity for teams from both Laser 3D and design studio Entanglements Metal Art Studio. Laser 3D is a laser cutting service with a network of outlets in QLD, SA and Victoria. Starting in 1992, Laser 3D’s modern machinery now includes six CNC press brakes, twelve flat bed CO2 and fibre lasers, 2-axis and 5-axis cutting, machining, edge rounding, finishing and welding services. Entanglements Metal Art is a renowned Australian-based studio specialising in creating unique metal art pieces and sculptures. Founded in 1998 by Helen Neyland, Entanglements has gained recognition for its distinctive and innovative…

PsiQuantum will build the world’s first utility-scale quantum computer at a strategically located site near Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Australia. The Australian Commonwealth and Queensland Governments will invest $940m into PsiQuantum through a financial package, comprised of equity, grants, and loans. PsiQuantum is on an aggressive plan to have the site operational by the end of 2027. A fault-tolerant quantum computer will be able to solve commercially useful problems across industries built upon chemistry, math, and physics; thereby transforming critical industries – including renewable energy, minerals and metals, healthcare and transportation – that will propel the global economy for decades to come. The quantum computing industry has long faced complicated scaling challenges in building a quantum computer with enough physical qubits to enable error correction, making it capable of delivering on quantum computing’s promise. PsiQuantum has scaled its fusion-based architecture using a photonics- approach, encoding qubits into particles of light, and leveraging advanced infrastructure in the semiconductor manufacturing industry to fabricate and test millions of photonic…

SRA Solutions designs, manufactures and installs a comprehensive range of data centre equipment including Security Construction and Equipment Committee (SCEC) racks. These are used in high-security environments that store and process classified information. SCEC racks must meet strict specifications and tight tolerances, as well as being tamper-proof, and tamper-evident, and have anti-drill mechanisms and special locking devices. SRA Solutions Managing Director, Gordon Campbell said “Our purpose is to create world-leading data centre solutions, enabling a more connected, secure and sustainable future. The SRA racking systems are designed for efficient manufacture which enables fast assembly, while building quality into the product. “Fuelled by demands from both long-term and emerging customers, the business has grown from producing racks to an advanced capability to deliver associated and added value services. “We can produce highly customised turnkey projects with power, cooling, racks and containment bundled together with project management and monitoring software. This is all enabled by our advanced manufacturing capability and our world-leading partners. The next phase of our development will include the…

Okuma Australia's Western Australian branch recently had the honour of participating in South Metropolitan TAFE's latest Sundowner event as a testament to its commitment to supporting the next generation of skilled professionals. The event in Rockingham showcased the innovative spirit and dedication to excellence that defines Okuma Australia and South Metropolitan TAFE, creating a platform for industry engagement and knowledge exchange. Okuma Australia, a leading provider of Okuma CNC machine tools and automation solutions, has a strong tradition of collaborating with educational institutions to contribute to the growth of the manufacturing and engineering sectors. The partnership with South Metropolitan TAFE underscores Okuma's dedication to nurturing talent and fostering a seamless transition from education to industry. The Sundowner event provided a unique opportunity for Okuma Australia's Western Australian branch to engage with students, educators, and industry professionals showcasing its state-of-the-art Okuma CNC machines, giving participants firsthand experience of the advancements driving modern manufacturing. "Okuma Australia's recent participation in South Metropolitan TAFE's Sundowner event, showcased Okuma’s cutting-edge technology.  This event epitomises our collaboration and commitment to bridging the gap between industry and education,"…

Established in 2002, Motium is a WA-based expert in the ground-up design and manufacture of rugged computers and associated technologies for use in harsh environments. Motium provide sophisticated solutions to businesses requiring robust products that can endure and continually operate in extreme conditions and tough industries. Motium's products are designed specifically for key industries including mining, transportation, waste management, emergency services, marine, defence, construction, machine control, and industrial automation. Motium was originally a distributor of small PCs. However, early in the company’s life, customers requested more durable and rugged products for use in harsh environments. Motium identified the opportunities, shifting from distributor to designer and advanced manufacturer. Located in Perth, Motium is privately owned and operated and is one of the few businesses designing and manufacturing highly customisable rugged technology products in Australia. Founder and Co-CEO Andrew Warenczak has achieved over 20 years of business stability by listening to the rugged technology requirements of customers, creating robust and reliable products, and developing ongoing service and support that continues for the life of the product. “Our guiding philosophy has always been to listen…

Western Australian Kerr Engineering was a small firm with two to three people, formed in the late 1960s by founder Kevin Kerr. In 2000, the engineering company was purchased by David & Mark Kinsman who have transformed it into a dynamic operation employing more than 90 personnel, introducing and operating the latest technology. Kerr Engineering is based within the Australian Marine Complex at 27 Alacrity Place Henderson, with land size of 12,500 square metres and a 9,000 square metre building to which it relocated in 2019 to meet continuing growth. Today it can be regarded by all accounts and purposes as a high-technology precision Okuma shop, from an initial purchase of a new Okuma GENOS M560 Vertical Machining Centre, Kerr Engineering now has seven Okuma machines in operation with two additional machines on the way to further increase the company’s capability under the banner of their new slogan ‘When Quality Matters’. A new Okuma LB4000BMYC Turning Centre is being commissioned in April and the latest Okuma…

In the realm of machining operations, achieving precision and reliability is an ongoing pursuit. Sandvik Coromant has met this challenge head-on with a tool that promises to revolutionise milling processes. Here, Sangram Dash, Product Application Manager for Indexable Milling at Sandvik Coromant, explains how an innovative concept for milling applications in ISO K and ISO P materials, CoroMill® MF80, supports more precise and cost-effective machining. Close to 90-degree shoulder milling is highly desirable in machining applications due to its ability to create precise components, which is a necessity as automotive engines grow more complex. Automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are striving to manufacture parts that comply with tighter tolerances and in accordance with more intricate and contemporary designs. These more sophisticated components include engine block transmission cases, gearbox housings and steeling knuckles. Due to the intricate shape of these components and the resulting fixturing limitations, a close-to 90-degree shoulder milling tool is more desirable. That’s because the tool is able to efficiently machine intricate components with low axial loads, which leads to cost savings and increased efficiency in the…

Manufacturing engineers often face the challenging task of deburring complex 3D shapes such as off-set threaded internal cross holes. As a global leader in deburring solutions, XEBEC Technologies has developed the spherical Back Burr Cutter as an ideal tool for deburring difficult 3D edge profiles. In addition, customer-specific tool cutter paths can be provided, creating the highest quality uniform edge, extending tool life by utilising the entire blade edge and creating machining times five to ten times faster than conventional tools. Simultaneously the customer is spared considerable time on complex programming. Suitable to be used on any machine with 3-axis simultaneous control the Back Burr Cutter and Path have already particularly proven themselves in the field with manufacturers of complex hydraulic manifolds and related components. Holes as small as 1mm can be effectively reached at depths of up to 15 x diameter, plus threads from M3 to M24. Fine micro grain carbide together with AlTiCrN coating allows for processing a wide variety of materials including hard-to-cut metals such as inconel and titanium. Uncoated versions are…

Welding is fundamental to our world. The process of fusing pieces together, usually metals, to form a continuum is used in the construction of buildings, bridges, overpasses, railways, ships, planes, the car that you drive, domestic appliances and much more. Demand for welding skills has climbed worldwide, yet the number of welders has steadily declined, particularly in developed economies (including Australia) challenging welding machine manufacturers to continuously enhance their equipment. Whether it is America, Canada, Europe, Japan, the United Kingdom or Australia, the demand for more welders in the Western world is staggering. According to the European Welding Federation, there is a shortage of around 300,000 qualified welders in Europe. By 2027, the US will need an additional 360,000 welding professionals says the American Welding Society. In Japan, where the overall workforce is shrinking, some 250,000 welders will be needed by 2050; while in Canada, they are experiencing an ongoing shortage of welders says CWB Group’s Welding Industry Report, 2022. In Australia, the picture is equally bleak. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 83,400 tradesmen identified as welding workers…

Today’s manufacturing landscape is rapidly changing from traditional production processes guided by paper trails and manual labour to one empowered by a new digital era of connectivity and efficiency through Industry 4.0. At its core, Industry 4.0 combines digital technologies with physical manufacturing systems to empower organisations to leverage data-driven insights and automation to optimise their operations. Think of Industry 4.0 as the digital thread within organisations – a seamless flow of data that connects every aspect of the manufacturing lifecycle, from design through to production, distribution and beyond. So, what does Industry 4.0 entail, and how does tapping into your organisation's digital thread deliver groundbreaking results? Industry 4.0 - the digital thread connecting the dots in your organisation Industry 4.0, often referred to as the fourth industrial revolution, integrates the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) into the manufacturing process. This combination of technologies enables real-time monitoring, gathering insights to drive efficiency, agility, and innovation across the value chain. At its core, Industry 4.0 is the digital thread that connects the dots within your organisation. From initial…