Industry News

In a move set to strengthen Australia's domestic manufacturing sector, Capral Aluminium has entered into a strategic supply partnership with Tindo Solar, Australia's only solar panel manufacturer. This collaboration will see Capral supply extruded aluminium for Tindo's locally produced solar panels, with the potential for further expansion to support Tindo's future Gigafactory. This partnership marks a significant step for both companies as Tindo scales its operations to meet increasing demand. The initial supply arrangement signals a shift by Tindo towards prioritising local suppliers in the renewable energy sector. Capral operates several aluminium extrusion plants across the country and is recognised within the Australian market as a leader in the supply of 'LocAL' lower carbon aluminium. This partnership aligns with Capral's commitment to sustainability and supporting Australian industries. "Capral's collaboration with Tindo is a testament to the strength of Australian manufacturing,” said Luke Hawkins, Capral's Divisional General Manager of Industrial and Supply Chain. “While our initial focus is on meeting Tindo's current production needs, we are particularly excited about supporting their future Gigafactory with locally extruded aluminium. This…

In recent years, Porsche Werkzeugbau GmbH in Schwarzenberg, Germany, has advanced its mechanical machining to the highest technical level. Two large Starrag HSC machining centres, Droop+Rein FOGS, play a major role in this. The machines finish press tools for moulding skin parts of vehicle bodies with the utmost precision and produce surfaces with grinding quality. A premium car manufacturer should have a premium engineering plant. To ensure that the Porsche Werkzeugbau GmbH Schwarzenberg plant fulfils all of the preconditions for this, €40million was invested over the last five years to develop the tool-engineering plant to the highest possible level following the transition from KUKA. Among other things, the Schwarzenberg-based company used this money to set up two new production halls, purchase a new 25,000kN servo press for production-related tool try-outs and invest in retrofitting and new machine tools – including two Starrag HSC centres of the Droop+Rein FOGS 35 68 N40C type. In addition to this, mechanical production was completely overhauled and the production processes were restructured. All of these measures were based on a solid foundation. Beforehand, the whole…

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…

Welding thick-section steel can be 40% faster and use 60% less energy when Dynamic Beam Lasers (DBL) from Civan are used instead of hybrid welding. These are just two of many remarkable results of a collaborative study by shipbuilder Fincantieri and welding systems firm Castellini, which shows that DBL technology is set to revolutionise shipbuilding and has the potential to transform thick-section welding for other manufacturing industries. Hybrid welding, which combines laser and Metal Inert Gas/Metal Active Gas MIG/MAG technologies, is the advanced approach for thick-section welding in shipyards. Improvements in welding are crucial because ships often require 300 to 600 kilometres of weld seams to ensure structural integrity. John Grace, physicist and Managing Director of Raymax Applications, which distributes Civan equipment in ANZ, believes the control and power now provided by DBLs not only weld thick sections faster but are also more economical and sustainable. “Unlike traditional lasers, which produce a fixed beam, Dynamic Beam Lasers can adjust the beam's shape, intensity, and size in real-time. This flexibility, increased precision, and control make them highly effective for…

Jaunt is an automotive workshop reinventing four-wheel drives and classic cars through electric conversion. Swapping engines from internal combustion to electric allows people to enjoy their vehicles while reducing their environmental impact. Despite the political word salad in 2019 Canberra about electric cars ‘ruining the weekend’, Australia has been converting cars to electric since the 1970s. In fact, the Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) is one of the oldest electric vehicle associations in the world. Dave Budge and his business partner Marteen Burger had “worked together with some great engineers and designers on making emerging tech beautiful and saleable,” explained Budge. “We both enjoyed camping and four-wheel-driving. I owned a Land Rover, but I wished it was electric, and there was no electric 4x4 on the market.” Budge had worked as a consultant with Holden and General Motors globally for a long time, which familiarised him with automotive sales stats. “Australia buys more four-wheel drives than anyone else, and the only electric cars were sedans…

Any company successfully operating for over 55 years has to recognise emerging market trends and adapt and evolve to meet those needs. Padstow-based D&D Smith Metal Pressers is one such company. The company was established by Dennis Smith and his business partner Bruce McEwan as McEwan & Smith. Their business began with just a couple of machines in Dennis’s father’s back shed, but after the first year of operation, they had grown enough to rent a property. Later that decade, they bought the premises, and Dennis built a new factory with his own hands on the site. The company took advantage of the boom in metal-stamping in Sydney during the 1980s and soon became an acknowledged expert and leader in the metal stamping industry. Dennis was passionate about improving quality and efficiency and, during this period, implemented a fully accredited quality system to ISO9002 standards. The current owner, Daniel Smith, son of Dennis, began working for the company in 1998 when he was 22, and the company was subsequently renamed D&D Smith Metal Pressers and Production Engineers P/L. In…

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and Murdoch University have launched the Bioplastics Innovation Hub. This $8m collaboration will collaborate with industry partners to develop a new generation of 100% compostable plastic. The Bioplastics Innovation Hub aims to revolutionise plastic packaging by developing biologically derived plastic that can break down in compost, land, or water. Dr Andy Whiteley, director of the CSIRO Research Program, said the Hub aims to bring together experts in microbiology, molecular genetics, synthetic biology, biochemical engineering, advanced manufacturing, and the circular economy by translating advancements in bioplastics research into real-world applications. “Our primary focus is the development of 100% compostable, bio-derived packaging for use as sprays, films, bottles, caps and wrappers, which are engineered to break down in compost, land and aquatic environments fully,” said Dr. Whiteley. Global concerns over plastic pollution and fossil fuel depletion are driving increased demand for compostable bioplastics. The Hub will equip the plastics industry with the tools and expertise required to manufacture materials and continue to drive a green plastic waste economy. "It is critical to address the growing…

Many factors contribute to the successful manufacture of vacuum windows. Understanding and using cutting-edge technology, quality control via state-of-the-art metrology tools, and material properties are critical to their design and manufacture. Combined with a culture of innovation and in-depth and broad experience in precision optics manufacture, these technical capabilities can be honed to ensure optimal vacuum window manufacturing. What are vacuum windows? Vacuum windows are components designed to separate different environments while allowing light to pass through. They are commonly used in applications where a controlled atmosphere, such as a vacuum, must be maintained on one side of the window while allowing optical observation or the passage of laser beams. They are made from materials with high transparency to specific wavelengths of light and excellent mechanical strength. Common materials including fused silica (known for its low thermal expansion and high transparency in the ultraviolet to infrared range), sapphire (extremely hard and durable, suitable for harsh environments), borosilicate (excellent thermal resistance, low thermal expansion, and high chemical durability); and Zinc Sulfide (high transparency…

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…

Delahenty Machinery is a leading Australian provider of machinery, automation solutions, machine tools, bespoke tooling, and service to manufacturers across a wide range of industries. They offer complete support, including machinery sales, installation and training, servicing and maintenance, Macbend tube bending, machine lubricants, spare parts, and tooling, to meet customers' unique project needs. Since 1964, Delahenty Machinery has collaborated with world-leading, innovative partners to provide customers with the right metal fabrication machine solutions to expand their manufacturing capability and improve efficiencies in an ever-changing landscape. Pirtek Southern Highlands, based in Moss Vale, NSW, is dedicated to delivering exceptional fluid transfer solutions. The team serves a diverse customer base, specialising in mobile onsite service and replacing hydraulic and industrial hoses and fittings. Stephen Jones, Managing Director at Pirtek Southern Highlands, recently invested significantly in another YLM mandrel tube bending machine. This time, purchasing a state-of-the-art machine with CNC capabilities, a 37-degree flaring machine, and a deburring machine to enhance their production capabilities. Pirtek Centre Manager Fiona Martin shared they are very appreciative of the Delahenty personalised support, installation and training of…

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…

A dynamic partnership thrives between Kinetic Engineering Services, Okuma, and Sutton Tools. With a commitment to quality, innovation and local support in Australian manufacturing, their companies are shaping the industry's future. At Sutton Tools, we try to foster strong relationships with all Machine Tool brands, and in this case, Okuma was the chosen machine tool brand by Kinetic Engineering. We both share similar values and processes, which further strengthens our partnership. Similarly, consistent engagement and problem-solving have nurtured our collaboration with Kinetic Engineering Services. Week after week, we strive to deliver solutions tailored to Kinetics’ needs, offering tools, exceptional service, support, and competitive pricing. Sutton Tools sat down with Tom Hawkes, CEO of Kinetic Engineering Services, to discuss what sets them apart in the competitive manufacturing landscape. “Kinetic Engineering Services is known for being a go-to partner in the steel production and heavy manufacturing sectors,” explained Hawkes. “We handle everything from design to precision machining, fabrication, and assembly. Our services extend to industries like mining, rural, transport, and automotive all across Australia. Kinetic Engineering Services has been operating since…