Industry News

Surface morphology is an important property for many high-tech surfaces with features as small as a few nanometers and surface roughness below one nanometer. The Nanite Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) from Nanosurf is the tool of choice for surface analysis of all shapes and sizes of workpieces. It delivers nanoscale precision measurements and is small enough, at less than 48x87x61mm, to allow integration into virtually any imaginable environment. The NaniteAFM is a versatile tool that can be used across various industries, from nanotechnology to data storage and precision optics. Its ability to unveil intricate nanoscale surface details, including sub-nanometer roughness, makes it invaluable for diverse applications such as ceramics and glass analysis. The NaniteAFM is designed for ease of use and integration. Its compact, robust design, with a tip-scanner, two inspection video cameras, and an on-board approach motor, fits into an exceptionally small footprint. It contains everything needed to operate independently, making integration a breeze. With just 300cm3 in space and a stable docking site, you can mount the AFM and start using it right away. The NaniteAFM uses a dovetail…

AMTIL’s 25th birthday was always going to be a big event. A party everyone would remember for a long time—one for the record books. Organised over several months, the occasion brought together AMTIL members to acknowledge the opportunities and business milestones of the last quarter century. With an unrivalled view of the sun setting over the entire city of Melbourne, AMTIL members were served an array of beautifully presented hors d'oeuvres by a small army of impeccably dressed staff. The venue boasted floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the city skyline, illuminated by a billion or so lights as night fell. Drinks flowed throughout the evening, and the live music provided by Rita Satch and her band, added to the party atmosphere. The main event of the evening was the awarding of trophies to companies that had been members of AMTIL since the association's foundation. Many attendees flew in from interstate. Brigitte Stavar, the president of AMTIL, handed 22 representatives their large…

A range of hyper-accurate cancer drugs is in production at a newly opened research and manufacturing hub at The University of Queensland. The newly opened Australian Research Council (ARC) hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals (AMTAR) is a one-stop shop that connects biotech firms with the expertise and equipment needed to design, test, and deliver groundbreaking precision cancer treatments. Created through a $5m ARC grant and more than $10m in industry funds, the AMTAR hub will operate out of UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) with support from collaborators across the radiopharmaceutical supply chain. Hub leader and AIBN director of research Professor Kris Thurecht said radiopharmaceuticals were an emerging group of drugs designed to spare the body from the harsh effects of cancer treatment. “Medical technology is still very much in development, but radiopharmaceuticals already represent a multi-billion-dollar industry that will be integral to modern healthcare,” Professor Thurecht said. Through AMTAR, we have an opportunity to position Australia as a global leader in this field.” Therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy have traditionally been the backbone of…

A new facility at The University of Queensland is set to provide Australian researchers with cancer vaccines tailored to individual patients. The lab at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) will combine equipment and expertise to enable the design, manufacture, and delivery of new mRNA cancer vaccines. Backed by a $3.3m grant from the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) National Critical Research Infrastructure program, the new hub will provide the local research community with vaccines that match each patient's specific treatment needs. Deputy Director of AIBN’s BASE facility, Dr. Seth Cheetham said it could transform cancer treatment. “Personalised mRNA cancer vaccines are now being used to train the body’s immune system to recognise and eradicate cancer cells,” Dr. Cheetham said. “Despite the huge potential, Australian researchers haven’t had the necessary infrastructure to build these vaccines, leading to a critical gap in the local drug development pipeline. “This lab changes that, with a leading team of investigators in a purpose-built space, working with local industry and academics to progress a range of high-quality mRNA cancer vaccine candidates from design…

ON Accelerate breaks down the challenges that often prevent deep tech ideas and research from evolving into real-world applications and market-ready ventures. The showcase highlighted the impressive strides made by the ten deep tech teams from the latest ON Accelerate cohort since commencing the three-month program. They were selected for their work in addressing critical areas of innovation, including global health challenges, championing sustainability through circularity and pushing the boundaries of advanced manufacturing and AI. “The ideas, innovations and advancements delivered by this year’s ON Accelerate program were truly inspiring,” CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Doug Hilton said. “These researchers are working at the cutting edge of technology to tackle some of society’s greatest challenges. The CSIRO is proud to play a pivotal role in unlocking success pathways that ensure the translation of ideas into real solutions, products and companies.” Dr Grant Lynch of EMU Systems from the University of Sydney, and one of the Accelerate 8 teams, was announced as the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Stanford Australia…

In Australia's vast and varied landscape, where long distances separate cities and regions, the transport sector plays a pivotal role in connecting communities and driving economic activity. However, with growing concerns about climate change and environmental sustainability, a pressing need to decarbonise this crucial sector is needed. Recognising this urgency, Australian trailer manufacturer Borcat Trailers has taken a significant step towards sustainability by embracing Capral Aluminium's LocAl® Green lower-carbon aluminium. Borcat Trailers, a renowned name in the Australian trailer manufacturing industry, has built its reputation on quality, durability, and innovation. Committed to reducing its environmental footprint, the company has partnered with Capral Aluminium, a leading supplier of aluminium products, embracing LocAl® Green lower carbon aluminium as the new standard for extruded aluminium supplied into its business. Capral's LocAl® offer includes two lower carbon aluminium options: LocAl® Green with carbon emissions of 8kg CO2e/kg Al* and LocAl® Super Green at 4kg CO2e/kg Al* - amongst the lowest carbon aluminium available globally. The carbon emissions in primary aluminium production range from under 4kg CO2e/kg Al to over 20kg CO2e/kg Al, largely dependent upon…

As Southwell Lifts & Hoists prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2025, it stands as a testament to enduring innovation, resilience and excellence in engineering. Let’s take a comprehensive look at the historic milestones, significant achievements and enduring legacy of a company that has been a cornerstone of the vertical transport industry in Australia. The early years: founding and initial growth Founded in 1945, Southwell Lifts & Hoists began its journey in the post World-War-Two era, a time when industrial growth was paramount to rebuilding economies. The company's inception was rooted in addressing the burgeoning need for reliable lifting solutions in various industries, including manufacturing, construction and logistics. With a vision to deliver high-quality, dependable products, the founders laid a strong foundation that would support decades of innovation and growth. In its early years, Southwell focused on manufacturing simple hoists and lifts designed to meet the immediate needs of local businesses. The company's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction quickly garnered a loyal customer base, setting the stage for future expansions. Technological advancements and product diversification…

The Combi-LC is Combilift’s latest innovation supporting the global shift to renewable energy. As demand in this sector ramps up, there is a constant need to handle increasingly large loads and this machine answers the call. Blades for onshore wind turbines typically measure up to 80 metres long, but the latest LC model goes one step further. While making light work of onshore blades, the LC can handle lengths of up to 115 metres and weights of up to 70 tonnes – the kind used for larger offshore wind farms. In 2022, Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, announced the identification of six priority areas for offshore wind – Gippsland, VIC; Hunter, NSW; Southern Ocean, VIC; Illawarra, NSW; Bass Strait, TAS; and Indian Ocean off Bunbury, WA. This announcement solidified the need for the Combi-LC for the wider energy and manufacturing sectors. However, the size and weight of each blade is only half the issue for Siemens and other…

Since the first range of Okuma CNC Double Column Machining Centres were introduced in 1966 they have set the industry benchmark with more than 10,000 units sold to date worldwide, surpassing all competitors with the long-time Okuma cultural ethic and success. Within the Australian and New Zealand market, the first Okuma double-column machining centre was delivered to a customer in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 and this machine remains in active service. Since that time forty-two have been installed with a record-breaking seven being installed and commissioned within the current 2024 year. Ideally suited to a broad range of industry segments the Okuma Double Column Machining Centres are now extensively used in industries such as rail, heavy transport, mining, hydraulics, industrial machinery, tool & die, gas & fuel, power generation and general engineering, among many others. Leading specialist engineering supplier, Steelrod Pty Ltd in Queensland has substantially increased its capacity by adding a second high-speed Okuma Double Column Machining Centre (DCMC) to their workshop. Their first Okuma DCMC was an Okuma MCR-BII with a table capacity of 45 tons with the…

There’s a lot of work going on at Ego Pharmaceuticals (Ego), equating to a huge investment in their future. As they grow their capacity to provide quality skincare to the world, they also work passionately towards operating within even more sustainable means. This complete refurbishment of Ego’s production at their Braeside site, costing $100m, will increase production capacity by 100% and create 90 new jobs. The company is also extending the Distribution Centre in Dandenong South; increasing capability and capacity to support local and fast-growing export markets. Ego produces more than 150 dermatological skincare products, with brands including QV, SunSense, Elucent, MOOV and Aqium being stocked both locally and across more than 15 countries. Key export markets include Asia, the Middle East and the United Kingdom; with exports now making up half of the sales. From humble beginnings 70 years ago in a laundry in suburban Melbourne, Ego has grown into a leading global brand with more than 730 employees in 15 countries, including more than 400 staff in Victoria. Sustainability Measures Right up front,…

Let's delve into the world of the 'K-factor'. This term, coined by journalist Alberto Ronchey, former Italian minister of cultural and environmental heritage, has an interesting history. It was initially used to describe the lack of change in political forces in the early 1950s of republican Italy. However, in our context, the K-factor represents something entirely different. It symbolises MG's ability to innovate its offer, specifically the K-model, an innovative plate rolling model for which our company holds the patent. But why a new model? To understand the reason for the K model, we have to refer to a customer who chose two models, namely the 4-roll plate bending machine model K2020C (14mm rolling capacity and 10mm pre-bending capacity) and the 4-roll plate bending machine model K3042G (34mm rolling capacity and 42mm pre-bending capacity). So why choose an innovative model? The answer lies in its configuration: already in the current 4-roller models, the minimum straight side is 1.8 times the thickness of the sheet being processed, which saves…

SPERONI’s hardware and software solutions in the fields of tool presetting, tool measurement and tool management are the top choice for leading companies in the manufacturing sector, thanks to the company’s innovative outlook and its products’ precision, longevity, ease of use and ‘Made in Italy’ guarantee. All SPERONI products are equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and are Industry 4.0 ready. Digital manufacturing is the goal of all companies: from logistics to measurement, up to data transfer to machine tools, the exchange of data between controls and tool management systems is fundamental to allow for the improvement of the whole production process, from the tool room to the production. INTELLIGO, the tool management software developed completely by SPERONI, realises these concepts by allowing the management and real-time integration of all services and devices tied to the tool resource in an effective and centralised way. INTELLIGO includes all functions for the optimisation of the shop-floor activities tied to the tool resource: stock management, location management, cost management, tool assembly/disassembly and…

Composed of site visits across August and September, the 2024 Medtech Manufacturing Roadshow is a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the cutting edge of Victorian medtech and experience our sector's manufacturing capabilities first-hand. Hosted by the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions, and Cell Therapies*, the Roadshow offers valuable insights for both industry and students. Students can discover our sector's range of career pathways and internship opportunities, helping them chart a course from graduation to success. Professionals and entrepreneurs can learn more about the advanced manufacturing capabilities in our sector, helping them select the right partner for their next project. Places are strictly limited! Please note some events are intended for specific industry or student audiences. We look forward to seeing you there!   Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions REGISTRATION LINK 2.30 to 5.30pm – Thursday, August 22nd 1555 Centre Rd, Clayton VIC 3168 Transport from city centre available   Australian National Fabrication Facility REGISTRATION LINK 2.30 to 5pm – Thursday, August 29th…