Many industry associations can greatly assist their members through third-party providers by using the buying power of their membership to negotiate discounted rates on overhead costs.

We have just gone through a number of focus sessions with our members and gathered feedback from them that the cost of inputs into their businesses is getting prohibitive and reducing their competitiveness. So I thought it would be a timely reminder that the benefits of industry associations should not be overlooked when it comes to minimising costs in your company.

AMTIL offers quite a few member services including electricity brokerage, all types of insurance, foreign exchange, telephone and ICT solutions, and consulting services through William Buck. Make It Cheaper is our energy expert. The company offers a quick, easy and efficient route into what can be a murky energy market, doing everything they can to save time and money for your home or business. Their experts will compare prices from Australia’s leading energy suppliers to ensure you’re getting a fair deal. Once they have found the best prices from their panel of 14 different retail providers, they then set you up on these rates to make your life as easy as possible.

We have had a number of AMTIL members who have had their electricity bill analysed by Make It Cheaper and 100% of them have been able to save money. The review of a bill is a free service just to make sure you are being billed correctly and is also obligation-free so there is no issue with picking up the telephone and checking what saving you can get.

The average saving for AMTIL members per annum has been estimated at around $15,000 per company by utilising this service. Make It Cheaper also provides this service to employees of member companies. This is a great benefit to your staff as well and does not always involve a change of your current electricity provider, as there have been cases when just a check of your bill and a phone call from Make It Cheaper has resulted in rates being lowered through your existing retailer.

For more information on AMTIL membership and benefits please contact our Corporate Services Manager, Greg Chalker at gchalker@amtil.com.au or 03 9800 3666.

Innovative Manufacturing CRC Update

The Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) recently held an election of seven Directors that were appointed by 23 Foundation Members covering industry, research providers, universities and industry associations. AMTIL is pleased to be a Foundation Member and Portal Organisation.

The IMCRC will bring industry into clusters together with world-leading research capability and through the development and application of new materials, systems and technologies, will create new products, processes and business models. These will enable industry to embrace the innovative manufacturing paradigm of high value, high knowledge, customer-specific products of the future.

Through active support for research into and adoption of enabling technologies such as additive manufacturing, automated and assistive technologies and accelerated high-value product development, together with innovative business processes and models for industry transformation, the IMCRC is uniquely placed to meet Australia’s future needs in these critical areas.

Congratulations to the recently announced Chairperson, Mr Philip Butler, and the Board of Directors including Prof Calum Drummond, Prof Mary O’Kane, Simon Marriott, Dr Alexander Gosling, Prof Robert Saint and Mr Innes Willox. We look forward to working with the Board and staff at the IMCRC in order to help them meet their objectives.