Industry News

South Australian ports operator Flinders Port Holdings (FPH) has inaugurated the PV Spirit, welcoming the first of three pilot boats commissioned and built in conjunction with Hart Marine to its fleet at an event at the South Australian Yacht Squadron. The vessel Spirit is a state-of-the-art pilot boat that features the Volvo Penta Inboard Propulsion System (IPS), which will enhance fuel efficiency, reduce environmental footprint and improve sustainability. The new vessel Spirit features advanced composite hull technology, including a lightweight and corrosion-resistant structure that is durable in the harshest marine conditions. Its bow design facilitates smooth navigation in turbulent waters and improves self-righting capabilities. The vessel features improved safety measures such as continuous railing, and a change in Pilot Vessel size provides FPH pilots and crew with additional room on the outer deck for pilot transfer and coxswain activities. “We’re also proud of the introduction of Dynamic Positioning into our fleet to improve the manoeuvring of the vessel in adverse weather conditions,” General Manager Carl Kavina said. Further innovations include the ability to access…

Electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies are gaining traction and becoming increasingly common. As vehicles become more technologically advanced and digitally connected, they are transforming the automotive industry, making modern vehicle repair more complex. This is especially true in the industrial sector, where vehicles have grown increasingly intricate, integrating sensors, automation, and digital interfaces. Many Australian repair shops are now confronted with changing demands that extend beyond their traditional expertise. Technicians are required to handle software diagnostics, electronic calibrations, and intricate digital networks alongside traditional mechanical repairs. A malfunction or breakdown in an industrial setting doesn't just mean a repair cost. Instead, it can lead to significant operational downtimes, jeopardising projects and impacting bottom lines. The rapid pace of the industrial sector doesn't leave room for prolonged equipment downtime. Stakeholders, from operators to investors, demand quick turnarounds, minimal disruptions, and a guarantee that machinery will operate at peak efficiency. To meet these stringent demands and keep pace with the…

The collaboration brings together Titomic, a leading manufacturing technology company, and Stärke, a global advanced manufacturer headquartered in South Australia. Stärke, comprising a network of vertically integrated advanced manufacturing companies, is renowned for assisting diverse industries in producing complex, high-performance components. With clients including DSTG, Babcock, Boeing, and Thales, Stärke is known for delivering robust and reliable solutions. The partnership’s primary objective is to harness the strengths of both Titomic and Stärke in advanced manufacturing technology. Leveraging Stärke’s industry connections and expertise, the collaboration aims to provide innovative solutions to clients in high-performance sectors such as defence, aerospace, and automotive. “This venture promotes knowledge exchange between Titomic and Stärke, allowing us to blend our strengths and explore new applications,” TTT Managing Director Herbert Koeck said. “We are thrilled about our partnership with Stärke, a global leader in advanced manufacturing and a partner which shares our commitment to manufacturing innovation,” Koeck said. “This collaboration is set to accelerate Titomic’s growth, thanks to Stärke’s deep industry expertise and network. This venture promotes knowledge exchange between Titomic and Stärke, allowing…

Jack Fitzgerald is full of energy. He bounces out of the back of the sprawling office which is home to Think Fencing. The factory is set upon land on a hill out the back of Portarlington. Here, the company makes residential and rural fencing, but also Titan Rail, Ecoduct and all kinds of decking, and all out of recycled Polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC. This is a widely used polymer that is economical, versatile, chemically and electrically stable, and weather-resistant with good processing characteristics. Now, Fitzgerald’s Think Fencing was brought to our attention after the company took out the Leader in Manufacturing award at the 2023 Victorian Manufacturing Gala Hall of Fame Awards. That night in August, Jack brought to the stage with him a couple of engineer staff members, Ben Zappia, and Elise Vella who’d built a plastics extruder in her bedroom at home. “Elise created it all on her own, and is still studying at Deakin University, doing her fourth year in Mechatronics,” says Jack. “Elise looks after the whole technology division we're…

The future of Australian steelmaking is being backed up to deliver the energy transformation and help keep our producers competitive on a global scale. The first round of the Powering the Regions Fund (PRF) will provide $200m in grant funding to BlueScope Steel Limited and Liberty Steel Australia to progress projects at their respective operations in New South Wales and South Australia. BlueScope has been awarded $136.8m towards the reline and upgrade of its No. 6 Blast Furnace at the Port Kembla Steelworks. This project will maintain domestic production, reduce emissions, and support pathways to producing even lower-emissions steel in the future. LIBERTY has also been awarded $63.2m towards the purchase and commission of a low-carbon electric arc furnace (EAF) to replace the existing traditional blast furnace at the Whyalla Steelworks. The new state-of-the-art EAF will support the manufacturing of green steel and help achieve LIBERTY’s aim of carbon neutrality by 2030. Total steel demand for the energy transformation from 2022 to 2050 will be almost five billion tonnes, accounting for 75% of the total material requirement – and that steel will increasingly…

Businesses looking to turn ‘blue sky' ideas into reality are tapping into on-site expertise, facilities and student talent at Monash Innovation Labs, located at the heart of Monash University’s Clayton campus in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs. Opened in 2023, the Monash Innovation Labs, formerly the Monash Smart Manufacturing Hub, is designed to support and enable companies across all sectors and at all life stages to advance their ideas, their products and their processes. A partnership with Monash Innovation Labs allows a company to licence state-of-the-art offices, workshops and/or ‘wet lab’ spaces to design, test and develop new innovations, with full technical support and purpose-built infrastructure. Recognising that innovation doesn’t only depend on physical resources, Monash Innovation Labs also offers access to the talent and thinking of students and researchers in disciplines from engineering and science to business and IT. In January 2024, companies including Jupiter Ionics, Proton Intelligence and Enzide Technologies joined Monash Innovation Labs’ first licensee ElectraLith, which is pioneering clean and efficient technology for direct lithium extraction and refining. ElectraLith traces its origins to groundbreaking research on lithium-selective membranes…

University of Queensland researchers are working with industry to develop biodegradable ‘plastic’ bags for use in mushroom farming, which could open lucrative opportunities in packaging and manufacturing. Dr Nasim Amiralian from UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology is collaborating with Queensland producer Scenic Rim Mushrooms to reduce the company’s reliance on plastic ‘grow bags’. “Grow bags are widely used across the fungiculture industry, but most are made from non-biodegradable materials which can only be burned or sent to landfill,” Dr Amiralian said. "This adds to the 80,000-plus tonnes of plastic waste generated by Australian agriculture each year. “This 12-month project is about designing a grow bag that provides optimum growing conditions, while also breaking down in soil.” Dr Amiralian said existing biodegradable plastics made from corn starch, potato starch, or even mycelium – the vegetative part of mushrooms - are often brittle and lack long-term integrity. “But using fibres from agricultural waste like sugarcane is an affordable, high quality and sustainable way to ensure plastic grow bags can withstand high temperatures and humidity,” she said. Scenic Rim Mushrooms founder Matthew Davis said the…

Australia's manufacturing industry continues to adapt to an ever-evolving business environment. Despite challenges, the sector remains focused on meeting global demands while keeping costs low and waste to a minimum. One noticeable shift has been Australian manufacturers’ ability to seek out improved efficiencies and increased productivity through the adoption of advanced technologies designed for manufacturers. According to the 2023 CommBank Manufacturing Insights Report, Australian manufacturers are prioritising investment in new technology as their top business focus for the upcoming year, with 87% of manufacturers planning to increase their technology-related spending. This inclination is even higher in regional locations, where 99% of manufacturers intend to boost their investments in new technology. Additionally, businesses in the manufacturing sector are looking to enhance efficiency, productivity, quality and capacity as key objectives in the next 12 months. The Manufacturing Insights Report also found that manufacturers are not only focusing on established technologies but are also exploring emerging ones to drive efficiency and improve customer satisfaction. The report also found that anticipated growth areas in technology adoption…

When you fly out of Melbourne airport, look for the rooftop installations of iconic brands like Elders recreated in solar panels mounted using systems from Australia's leading commercial solar mounting manufacturer. In the renewable energy landscape, Sunlock is synonymous with innovation and efficiency, with its solar mounting systems gracing the rooftops of Australia's most prominent commercial and government buildings. Sunlock's work with renowned brands, including Ikea, Aldi, McDonald's, Goodmans, Woolworths, Bunnings, and KFC, and its widespread presence on commercial and government rooftops across Australia underscores its market-leading position. Sunlock, as described by general manager Mani Kaparakis, is not just a company but a revolution in the solar industry. “We're fresh, we're innovative, we are very different in how we approach the market and our products and our customers,” said Kaparakis. This ethos of innovation is deeply ingrained in Sunlock's operations, from its unique C-Channel designed for commercial installations to its rapid three-year ascent to becoming Australia's leading commercial solar mounting manufacturer. Sunlock's specialised focus on commercial solar mounting systems is a critical factor in its success. “We only make commercial solar mounting systems…

Australian Manufacturing Week is being held at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour from 17th - 19th April and promises to be another great exhibition with 260 exhibitors across seven product zones including machine tools, additive technologies, welding & air technology, manufacturing solutions, plastic technology, robotics & automation and a dedicated area for Australian manufacturers called the Manufacturers Pavilion. In addition to the exhibition, a Future Solutions speaker program will also be an integral part of a visit with many great topics and speakers lined up already. Registration to AMW and the Speaker Program is free to attend by visiting australianmanufacturingweek.com.au Our AMT Magazine continues to be one of the most highly regarded industry publications in the country and we take great pride in this. A nationally controlled circulation list, with a readership of over 20,000 per issue, combined with quality…

Registrations are now open for Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2024), held at the Sydney ICC in Darling Harbour. Run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2024 will occupy more than 6,560 square metres of exhibition space at the Sydney ICC at Darling Harbour. More than 220 organisations have already taken stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. Don’t miss out!   Register NOW!   There are seven Zones on the vast floorspace of Australian Manufacturing Week, which takes up almost of the Sydney ICC. Each Zone focuses on particular aspects of manufacturing in Australia. These include: Austech Machine Tools, sponsored by finlease; Additive Manufacturing Zone; Australian Manufacturers Zone; Manufacturing Solutions Zone, sponsored by The Execution Factor; Robotics & Automation Zone, sponsored by IFS; Weld and Air Solutions Zone; and the Plastic Technology Zone. PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY ZONE The Plastics Technology Zone @ AMW2024 will be showcasing the most advanced technologies within this sector. The various techniques within Plastics Technology include:…

Robotic Automation’s client, a prominent distributor in the logistics industry, faced significant operational challenges in their warehouse facility. The lack of organisation and haphazard arrangement of pallets resulted in inefficiencies, with difficulties in locating stock leading to unnecessary delays and increased manufacturing costs. Safety concerns arose from tall pallet stacks and incidents of forklift operators damaging racking structures. To address these issues, the client sought a solution that would streamline warehouse operations, improve stock management, enhance safety, and integrate seamlessly with new, RA-specified ASRS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System) shuttle system. The key obstacles in this project were twofold: firstly, the requirement to integrate the new AGV (Automatic Guided Vehicle) system with the ASRS shuttle system, and secondly, the need to transition the entire warehouse inventory into the new system without interrupting ongoing operations. System installation: a tailored solution A phased approach was adopted to implement the solution effectively. The following steps were taken: AGV deployment A fleet of four MAXAGVs was introduced into the facility. These state-of-the-art vehicles are designed to autonomously navigate the warehouse…

Who is entitled to a fuel tax credit? The scheme provides businesses with a credit for the fuel tax that is included in the price of fuel. Fuel tax credits may be claimed where the following conditions are met: you acquire, manufacture or import ‘taxable fuel’ - this is fuel that is liable for duty under excise or customs legislation (e.g. diesel and petrol), with certain minor exceptions; you acquire, manufacture or import this fuel for use in carrying on your enterprise; and you are registered for GST, or required to be registered. The fuels must also constitute ‘eligible fuels’, and you must undertake ‘eligible activities’. What are the ‘eligible fuels’ that attract fuel tax credits? To claim fuel tax credits, the fuel must be ‘taxable fuel’, on which excise or customs duty has been paid. Eligible liquid…