Industry News

The importance of integrating engineering data with other enterprise systems cannot be overstated for engineering and manufacturing firms. Imagine your CAD models, drawings, and BOMs flowing seamlessly between departments without constant manual effort. This type of integration streamlines the entire design-to-production process, making it more efficient. As a CAD engineer, you can concentrate on your designs. At the same time, routine tasks like file management, revision control, and data synchronisation are automated, giving you more time to innovate and solve complex challenges. Autodesk Vault is a leading data management solution designed specifically for engineering teams. It provides secure storage, version control, and easy access to CAD data. When integrated with other enterprise systems, like ERP and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), Autodesk Vault transforms into a powerful engine for streamlined workflows and enhanced data synchronisation across departments. Integrating Autodesk Vault with ERP unlocks advantages such as increased data accuracy, streamlined processes, and faster time to market. coolOrange tools—powerGate and powerSync—are designed to maximise these benefits, ensuring seamless communication between Autodesk Vault, ERP, and ACC. With these solutions, your team gains a…

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has opened a $6.8m facility in Clayton, Victoria. The facility is dedicated to bringing its printed flexible solar technology out of the lab and into the real world, helping to meet the growing demand for renewable energy across sectors. CSIRO’s flexible solar cells are printed on thin plastic films, unlike traditional silicon solar panels. This makes them lightweight and portable, making them suitable for various applications in urban construction, space, defence, mining, emergency management, disaster relief, and wearables. CSIRO Executive Director, Digital, National Facilities and Collections, Professor Elanor Huntington, said the cutting-edge CSIRO Printed Photovoltaic (PV) Facility is the newest addition to CSIRO’s suite of critical infrastructure that enable the industries of tomorrow – in this case, a thriving Australian flexible solar manufacturing industry. “Through CSIRO’s new Printed PV Facility, industry partners can access both researcher expertise and specialised equipment to improve and apply flexible solar technology in novel ways, anywhere there is sunlight,” Professor Huntington said. “It’s exciting to see the techniques that enabled another great CSIRO invention…

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are jointly investing more than $60m over five years to establish the Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at TAFE NSW’s Tighes Hill campus in Newcastle. Both the Albanese Government and Minns Labor Governments are investing $28.1m, with a further $5.27m in federal funding to support the centre. This will accelerate the development of a Higher Apprenticeship model focused on the advanced skills required for net zero manufacturing. The upgraded Centre will play a pivotal role in building up new skills for workers across the Hunter, investing in their future. “The Hunter region is a powerhouse for energy and manufacturing,” said Premier of NSW, Chris Minns. “We are proud to partner with the Albanese Government to deliver this training centre, so the local community and industry have the skills needed to benefit from the energy transition. “We are getting on with the job of delivering three TAFE Centres of Excellence in NSW, a key part of our commitment to provide fully subsidised training to an additional 1,000 apprenticeships a year in advanced…

The Australian Government has legislated changes that tightened restrictions under the thin capitalisation provisions. In this article, we explore what this could mean for Australian manufacturers. What is thin capitalisation? Thin capitalisation rules aim to limit Australian debt deductions, such as loan interest, line fees or other borrowing costs. The overarching policy intends to avoid profit shifting by multinational entities through excess debt deductions in Australia. For manufacturers, we see that these companies constantly grapple with thin capitalisation: Australian manufacturing companies that are expanding and have overseas subsidiaries Australian manufacturing companies that are foreign-owned and growing in the Australian market, or a combination of the above. The thin capitalisation provisions are commonly triggered when one of the above entities has total debt deductions exceeding $2m in a tax year. If the total debt deductions of the company and all its associates for that year are below $2m, these rules do not apply. Before the recent changes, our experience was that many Australian manufacturers relied upon a ‘safe harbour’ ratio test. This broadly allowed debt deductions to…

Since a group of local private investors purchased the MaxiTRANS trailer business in September 2021, the company has focused on setting the business up for long-term sustainability. “We embarked on a significant transformation journey when we purchased the trailer business, to create a new era for the future of the company and the trailer manufacturing industry in Australia,” said Greg L’Estrange Freighter Group, Executive Chairman. “The journey started with a $50m investment into our Ballarat site. This investment has seen the introduction of a range of state-of-the-art equipment and an expansion of the facility's overall footprint, transforming it into a modern manufacturing environment. Completing the upgrade puts the business in a position to continue evolving with the changing needs of our customers long into the future.” This is a new era for our business. Changing our name to Freighter Group better reflects who we are as a business and our vision for the future. As the preeminent trailer brand in Australia, Freighter has a rich history, with origins dating back to 1946, and has continued to build a strong…

Australian innovator Products For Industry (PFi) is introducing what is believed to be a world-first pure titanium cross-flow membrane solution, which has uptime, environmental, and yield benefits compared to traditional wastewater treatment methods. After more than ten years of development, this fully evolved and tested product is now entering service in Australia with a leading beverage company, which will use the new technology to separate solids from liquid streams in various stages of the waste stream process. “This solution is game-changing for the food and beverage industry, particularly beverages and spirits, because titanium allows for a lower footprint and longer times between Clean In Place (CIP), thereby reducing downtime,” said PFi managing director, Gavin Dunwoodie. PFi is a locally owned and operated business servicing the industrial sector, offering a full suite of in-house capabilities to support manufacturers with machine automation products, systems and solutions, from concept to production. “With traditional membranes made of ceramic or plastic, back-pulsing and cleaning often creates problems, so the overall lifetime of the equipment is reduced,” added Dunwoodie.…

This article was first published in the AugSep2023 issue of AMT magazine. To keep the topic front of mind, we are republishing here to keep the conversation going. Advanced Robotic Technology (ART) is an Australian machine manufacturer and distributor concerned with machine safety. Director David White is most certainly not the only manufacturer with concerns.  He says, “The huge volume of imported machinery coming into Australia with lack of adequate safety equipment and proper training and information is extremely concerning to us.” Fibre laser cutting machines have revolutionised manufacturing with their precise cutting capabilities. However, using open Fibre laser cutting machines can pose significant risks that are often overlooked. In this article, we will shed light on the dangers of 1070nm laser emissions on the retina and explore why people don't blink when exposed to this radiation. We will also discuss the importance of awareness among business owners in Australia and the personal and legal repercussions that may arise in case of injuries. Additionally, we will highlight the measures necessary to ensure…

The mining industry is the backbone of modern civilisation, providing the raw materials essential for everything from buildings and infrastructure to electronics and medicine.  The global coal mining industry has grown by nearly 20% on average for each of the last five years, meaning conveyors are carrying more coal than ever. However, these mining operations often occur in remote and challenging environments where reliable communication is paramount. Coal-carrying conveyor belts can be up to 20km long. If they break and do not immediately stop, cargo can be spilled everywhere and cause a major safety risk. Conveyors usually come equipped with contacts that indicate problems like breakages, but with the extreme distances involved, these can be unreliable. Ian Loudon, international sales manager at remote monitoring specialist Omniflex, explains why new fibre optic modules are game changers in mining applications in terms of reducing downtime and improving safety. Modern mining conveyor belts can extend for tens of kilometres, carrying tonnes of material daily. These mammoth systems are crucial for transporting extracted resources from the mine to processing facilities or stockpiles. Therefore, ensuring efficient…

Electric cars are becoming increasingly common on Australian roads, and industrial players are investigating their use in commercial fleets, with one recent study from the University of Michigan finding electric trucks can reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by between 13% and 35% Research firm IDTechEx expects electric trucks to become a US$15bn industry. Could the same change transform mining? If so, we're a long way off—a 2022 study said only 1% of industry power came from electricity—but plans are accelerating. Several Australian industry players and their supply chain partners are members of the Electric Mine Consortium, a think tank driven by the mission to accelerate progress towards a fully electrified zero-CO2 and zero-particulates mine. As a spokesperson from automation technology provider Rockwell Automation told us, mine site tools are fertile ground for adopting wide-scale electric power. “Most mines are in places with lots of renewable energy, and many are a long way from the grid and have to run generators,” he said. “It's…

Australia’s manufacturing industry, employing around 900,000 people and contributing approximately $100bn to the national GDP annually, is pivotal. Additive Manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, is transforming the landscape by enabling the creation of complex geometries and customised products across various sectors, including defence, aerospace, healthcare, automotive, construction, and fashion. AM is expected to expand rapidly over the next decade, significantly driving Australia’s economic and technological advancements. The AM market reached $14.7bn in 2023, with a growth rate of 13%. Recognised by the Australian Federal Government as part of its Critical Technologies within the advanced manufacturing and materials technologies field, the AM market is expected to continue expanding. Additionally, the AM industry is projected to grow rapidly, with revenues expected to hit $25bn by 2025. This growth is attributed to hardware, materials, software, and services advancements. This expansion underscores the importance of developing robust standards to help ensure quality, safety, and innovation. Standards Australia’s National Committee MB 028 – Additive Manufacturing is actively collaborating with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which has a unique partnership agreement with ASTM International…

NRW Civil & Mining (NRW) is one of Australia’s leading contractors, able to deliver a complete suite of civil and mining services at numerous locations nationwide. It is part of the NRW Holdings Group, an ASX-listed entity offering diverse contract services to Australia's resources and infrastructure sectors. After securing the mining, train loading, and miscellaneous services contract with Karara Mining Ltd, NRW began reducing GHG emissions at the Karara Iron Ore project, the largest mining operation in the Mid-West Region. With a track record of excellence in managing the environmental implications of mining and civil projects, NRW continues beyond ensuring compliance with legislative mandates. They go beyond partnering with clients to refine best practices and find innovative ways to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations. NRW planned to introduce an intelligent technology solution at Karara, to harness data-driven insights to refine operator behaviours, improve performance, and establish tangible carbon emissions reduction strategies. NRW partnered with MaxMine to achieve these objectives, building on their successful collaboration at the Dalgaranga project. The MaxMine intelligent technology platform is designed to help…

OnRobot, a world-leading turnkey provider for collaborative applications, has partnered with Queensland-based robotics and machine company DCISIV Technologies to introduce an off-the-shelf collaborative palletised for SMEs in Australia. This industry-first solution offers same-day installation, requires no programming, and can be re-deployed within minutes. DCISIV Technologies is situated in Toowoomba, inland from Brisbane. “OnRobot has successfully introduced end-of-arm tooling and sensors for robotic automation to the market by ensuring seamless integration with all major robot brands and providing a simplified and consistent user experience,” said James Taylor, Chief Commercial Officer for OnRobot. “With D:PLOY, we are taking the next logical step in simplifying the overall application rather than just focusing on individual components within the robot cell.” Founded in 2018 in Denmark – more than two decades after the first collaborative robot (cobot) came onto the scene - OnRobot identified a need for quality cobot hardware. “With so many cobot manufacturers coming onto the scene, we recognised a need for a reputable manufacturer that could provide all the complementary physical hardware required.” From two- and three-finger grippers to sanders, vacuums, polishers,…

Blade Pile, a top supplier of screw piles for Australia’s residential construction, began in 2007 in Southeast Queensland, producing locally at their Burleigh Heads factory and have since grown steadily. The management team realised that their traditional fabrication processes incurred high costs and challenged their competitive advantage. In 2022, Blade Pile recognised the opportunity to automate its production processes in its new purpose-built Yatala site using a TRUMPF TruLaser Tube 5000, automated material handling, and robotic welding. The Blade Pile Group manufactures, supplies, and installs a wide array of steel piles and piling accessories for the construction industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Blade Pile is recognised as a leader in residential piling products and foundation systems. Our technical innovation and inventive approach to piling has provided our customers with a range of industry-leading products alongside our network of engineering and installation support services. Blade Pile encountered a pressing challenge: to differentiate their product in the market and control costs. Robotic welding was part of the solution. Robotic welding provides consistent welding results…