June 29, 2022
Australian clean energy company MGA Thermal has reached a milestone with customer interest for 20GWh of energy storage, the equivalent of powering 1.3m homes, from customers for its breakthrough technology. The company also unveiled the first stage of its new commercial manufacturing facility in Newcastle, Australia to meet that demand amid the growing and urgent need for new energy storage to replace aging or increasingly expensive thermal and other conventional power stations. As national grids make the transition to renewable energy, BloombergNEF predicts an average of 245GWh of new long-term energy storage — including batteries, hydrogen and other storage technologies — is required every year globally to meet 2030 net-zero targets. MGA Thermal’s unique blocks, which store renewable power as thermal energy for later use, will contribute to that growing need, with the current customer pipeline of 20GWh enough to meet 8% of annual estimates. MGA Thermal is gearing up for commercial scale, with the first stage of its manufacturing facility and research & development lab in Newcastle, Australia. The new equipment…
June 27, 2022
AMT: Can you please describe what is involved in bioelectric and neurotechnology device development? Ludovic Labat: Simply put, we develop neurotechnologies and bio-electronics medical devices for our clients. There are devices that are used in patients to either stimulate a nerve or to read activity on a nerve as a way of treating a variety of diseases and conditions. Historically, the most commonly known device is a pacemaker where the devices apply an electrical signal on the heart to help with coronary issues. The cochlear implant is another very common application for the technology. There are now many more other applications in the field of epilepsy and Parkinson research and treatment and many other medical arenas. AMT: With the development of neurotechnology devices, talk about Neo-Bionica’s part in that area of manufacturing. LL: Our clients are all developing technologies for new treatments. We are in the innovation field of neuro-technology and we initially help our clients from the ideation, the concept point of…
June 25, 2022
A significant quality improvement of the de-powdering and cleaning operation for 3D printed components at lower costs and shorter cycle times! A leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles is fulfilling this goal with the purchase of the automated post-processing system, S1 from AM Solutions – 3D post-processing technology. With their innovative designs and powerful drive systems the motor homes, caravans and panel trucks of the Knaus Tabbert AG allow safe, comfortable and sustainable traveling. At its German headquarters in Jandelsbrunn, Bavaria, the company is using its know-how to continuously improve the materials and designs of its vehicles. Naturally, this also includes the employment of new manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing (AM). Mario Meszaros, development engineer at Knaus Tabbert explains: “On the one hand we are using the 3D printing technology for creating prototypes. On the other, we are also using additive manufacturing for producing standard components in volume such as the bracket for an alarm system or the hinge mechanism for the swing-out shower stall.” A challenging post-processing task To date, the de-powdering and cleaning of PA 12 components, produced by…
June 23, 2022
Not that you would have noticed, because as Con-form Group Managing Director Nigel Cro says, “People will drive along on a highway overpass and there are a lot of things on roofs that you see; now if you don’t see those things, that’s because we’ve done a good job – that’s our goal.” Industrial HVAC systems are heavy and often noisy. Con-form Group provide an engineered solution for the structure to cater for the weight on rooftop installations and additionally deliver acoustic solutions to minimise environmental noise. Con-form Group’s lightweight aluminium plant platforms and screens are now found on industrial, commercial and public infrastructure roofs right around Australia. The Bathurst-based business was established more than 20 years ago and employs approximately 35 staff. In 2014, the Con-form Group team developed an industry-leading lightweight roof-mounting platform system for mechanical equipment. “It was painful to see large structural steel sections getting craned onto roofs laboriously day after day, piece by piece and the danger and the logistics involved,” says Cro. “I remember just looking at…
June 23, 2022
In a world-first, Australian quantum computing manufacturer, Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC), has announced they have developed a quantum computing chip that integrates all the necessary components found on a classical computer chip but at the atomic scale, making up a functional quantum processor. This quantum processor was then put to the test by using it to model a small molecule in which each atom has multiple quantum states - something that traditional computers would struggle to do. This opens up the possibility that this quantum processor can be used to model other more complex molecules such as pharmaceuticals, or materials for batteries to give us a better understanding of the way the world works at an atomic level. “One of the most promising potential uses of quantum technology is to use one quantum system to simulate other quantum systems. In this work, the authors considered a chain of ten quantum dots and used them to emulate the so-called SSH model,” said Dr. Charles Hill, Senior Lecturer In Quantum Computation at The University of Melbourne. This big step forward has come less than a…
June 15, 2022
The key trends in tube bending include lightweight construction, customised machine configuration and automation. The figures provided by Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) speak for themselves: Among all newly registered vehicles in Germany in the period from January to November 2021, the share of those with alternative powertrains amounted to almost 35%. The share of vehicles with purely electric drives was at around 11% of all new registrations in this time. But an increase of new electric vehicles (EVs) becomes particularly clear when looking at passenger cars. In that segment, the EV share in all newly registered passenger cars was 6.7% for the entire year 2020. This share has substantially risen to over 25% when looking at the period of January to November 2021. The effects of this shift are being felt not just by the automotive manufacturers themselves but across the entire supply chain. Lightweight construction is a major theme here, since the lighter the vehicle, the less energy it needs. And this increases the range, crucial for EVs. It also leads to a change in requirements for tube bending, with…
June 9, 2022
A clear sunny morning in Sydney once again. Up on the third floor above the trade show, the accounting firm William Buck was staging a Business Breakfast for manufacturing business owners full of advice I know manufacturers would benefit from, but some things I’m sure some owners don’t want to hear about. “One third of business owners do not have a succession plan,” said Mark Calvetti, Director at William Buck. “There should be more future proofing for businesses, especially manufacturing, because there are so many attached careers to that business. Staff, share-holders and creditors. In fact, 65% of the manufacturers in a recent survey had done no business valuation over the last three years. They had no idea of the value of their business.” Invariably something goes wrong along the way in a lot of business stories. Disputes in family businesses perhaps, in a company without a shareholder agreement. The plea from lawyers speaking this morning, was that manufacturers and owners need to know to do a ‘financial due diligence’ on their nest egg. Be ready for that unforeseen circumstance before it…
May 31, 2022
A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with approximately 66,000 employees and serves more than 3.6+ million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide’s scientific territory and have been at the core of the company’s activities since its creation in 1902. Air Liquide’s ambition is to lead its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability. The company’s customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organisation implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitisation, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders. Air Liquide Australia Limited provides innovative, responsive and customer focused services to our product range, which improves the performance…
May 25, 2022
In the midst of a pandemic in 2020, the pursuit of continuous improvement and growth didn’t stop for the Aerostructures team at RUAG Australia, with decisive action taken to upgrade manufacturing machinery at its hydraulic centre of excellence in Bayswater, Victoria. RUAG Australia are dedicated to maintaining the quality of all equipment and machinery to continue providing high quality service to customers. The fully integrated automated shot-peen system is one of the largest of its kind used in Australia for Defence and Aerospace applications. The system uses blast media whereby small steel beads impact the target surface to create a compressive stress layer on the surface, leading to improved durability and structural integrity, so the substrate is better able to withstand failure. The typical components to be manufactured using the shot peen machine include air frame components, hydraulic landing gear actuators, undercarriage components and structural components for military aircraft. The RUAG Australia engineering team approached international experts in surface finishing and blasting technology, Rösler International (Rösler) to upgrade their shot peen machine. Rösler worked closely with…
May 23, 2022
Link Assistive, which supplies sensory, interactive, and assistive devices including world-first eye tracking technology in iPads, will move into a custom-built premises later this year, in a major expansion of its Adelaide operations. Its new headquarters will include space to reconfigure and service a range of assistive technology products for the Australian market, a warehouse to store its growing suite of devices, and a cutting-edge sensory play space where children and their carers can trial and test equipment. Link Assistive Managing Director Bas Tijdhof said the move to Tonsley would allow the company to significantly upscale, with plans to expand its workforce by almost 40% in the next year: “Having a larger space for Adelaide-based clients to go to experience the technology and have access to our highly skilled team who can work with families and carers and show them the highest quality technology, is an exciting new chapter for us. “We have an amazing team, and we want to be able to further attract…
May 23, 2022
Plasma beamlines, profile cutting machines, robotic welding systems, Eagle Lasers: at Kraftech they do it all. Their automation technology experts have the experience and expertise to tackle even the most challenging automation applications. They can tailor their equipment specifically to customer’s requests yet keeping it standardised for versatility. Kraftech want to create the most effective solutions so that their customers can maximise their productivity. Kraftech offers full support and training for all systems to make sure that customers are not only up and running fast but utilising the equipment to its potential. All Kraftech’s equipment is backed by in-house servicing and supply of cutting consumables and spare parts. The X-calibre robotic plasma coping robot provides you with a single machine that can process all your structural steel profiles. It can process up to 1200 I-beams, 200×200 angle, 380PFC, 400 SHS, with a piercing capacity up to 60mm. The robot cutting path is generated by a specialised offline programming and nesting software that accepts 3D models in DSTV-NC or Step formats to minimise…
May 23, 2022
Compared to traditional thermal welding processes, laser-based techniques require less heat input due to the beams’ high energy. All welding methods involve melt-pool formation and subsequent rapid solidification, which can alter the properties of the welded metal. The high energy of laser welding, however, not only melts the material but also evaporates it, creating a vapour capillary in the material called a ‘keyhole’. This gives laser welding the advantage of a very high aspect ratio, defined as a high ratio of penetration depth to weld seam width. Compared to thermal welding methods, which generally provide wider and shallower weld seams, laser welding’s high aspect ratio translates into potentially lower part distortion. To meet the demands of modern manufacturing CIVAN has developed a High Power Single Mode Laser with dynamic beam. This innovative product enables different beam shapes, beam steering, and fast movement of the focal point, all electro-optically controlled with no mechanical movement. For example, CIVAN’s unique beam shaping allows uniform penetration in aluminium welding with…
May 17, 2022
Applied Machinery will again be showcasing a diverse range of machines at Austech. Taking centre stage on the Applied stand will be a 9-Axis Yawei CNC pressbrake. Yawei pressbrakes offer manufacturers access to affordable, precision CNC bending. With a range available from 35 ton up to 3000 ton there are virtually no limits to what can be bent. The Yawei pressbrake on display is a PBH Series with a 160-ton bending capacity. It features a Delem DA-69T Controller, 6-axis CNC backgauge and a servo driven hydraulic system. An automatic tool clamping system, CNC bending help and robotic integration are amongst the additional options that are available. Over the past decade Yawei has built a loyal following; establishing an enviable reputation for quality, performance and outstanding value for money. In addition to pressbrakes, Yawei has an extensive range of fiber lasers, turret punch presses, guillotines, and smart-factory automation solutions. Also on the stand will be a Weber grinding and deburring machine. Weber is a German-based company with an impressive 100 years’ experience in grinding…