Industry News

Minister for Education, The Hon Jason Clare has announced that the Australian Research Centre will fund the establishment of the ARC Training Centre for Innovative Composites for the Future of Sustainable Mining Equipment at the University of Wollongong (UOW). UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia Davidson said the Illawarra is the perfect setting for a centre focusing on sustainable mining. “Wollongong has deeply held roots in mining and manufacturing, and this training centre will be the perfect launch pad for global collaboration and innovation,” Professor Davidson said. “Our state-of-the-art engineering and technology hubs will offer the perfect environment to train the future minds of mining and to find solutions to revolutionise an industry that contributes 15% of Australian GDP.” In Australia the Mining Equipment, Technology and Service (METS) sector is estimated to add more than $50bn and 80,000 new jobs to the Australian economy by 2030. The transformation of the sector towards more efficient, cost-effective, innovative, sustainable and digital operations will require safer machinery and equipment, which is able to operate in deeper mines and harsh…

Successful Endeavours has won the Australian Industrial Product of the Year 2022 at the Manufacturers Monthly Endeavour Awards. And they were also a category finalist for the Best Industrial IoT Application. “I’m very pleased for this recognition for our team and for this product, which is designed in Australia and made in Australia,” said Ray Keefe, Founder and Director at Successful Endeavours. “The Plumb Guard MkIV Bluetooth is a good example of the types of projects we undertake.”  Ray Keefe has developed market-leading electronics products in Australia for more than 30 years. The Endeavour Awards have been at the pinnacle of Australian Manufacturing awards for the past 10 years. Ray Keefe was surprised and elated to win the Australian Industrial Product of the Year for 2022. “We have a great team and I am pleased they are able to be recognised at the industry level for their contribution to Australian manufacturing,” he said. The Plumb Guard MkIV Bluetooth product is a modern industrial IoT-enabled safety device that helps keep plumbers alive by warning them, and their on-site supervisors, that they are in…

Evonik is continuing its materials campaign in 3D printing. The specialty chemicals company is launching three new INFINAM photopolymers for industrial 3D applications expand the photo-resins product line launched last year for use in common UV-curing 3D printing processes such as SLA or DLP. With a total of seven new photopolymer formulations, Evonik has diversified the additive manufacturing material landscape in less than two years. Photopolymers product line continues to grow INFINAM RG 2000L is a photo resin for the demanding eyewear industry. The clear liquid formulation cures quickly and is easy to process. A low yellowing index – even after prolonged UV irradiation – not only makes the high-performance material attractive for additively manufactured eyewear frames, but it is also suitable for applications such as microfluidic reactors or transparent high-end prototypes for observing the inner workings of complex assemblies. The excellent light transmission of INFINAM RG 2000 L also opens up further applications such as lenses, light guides, and illumination covers. INFINAM RG 7100 L was specially developed for DLP printers and enables the…

Capral introduces LocAl®, a lower-carbon primary aluminium option available across Capral's locally manufactured extruded aluminium products. Providing Australian manufacturers access to cleaner, greener, more sustainable aluminium for their projects. The 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. In 2022, Capral committed to reaching Net Zero emissions by 2050, a significant step change, driving rapid innovation and cultural evolution throughout the business, most notably within procurement and operations. The introduction of LocAl demonstrates a deliberate shift in Capral's procurement strategy for primary aluminium billet. Luke Hawkins, General Manager of Supply & Industrial Solutions, said this is a strategic change for Capral, “driven by our desire to make lower Carbon aluminium accessible to Australian manufacturers. The market is looking for this product, and as Australia's largest extruder of aluminium, we must make it available. In 2022, 22% of the primary aluminium billet Capral uses in its eight local extrusion presses had a carbon content lower than eight kilograms CO2e per kilogram…

Facteon has spent the past four decades crafting factory automation and proprietary welding solutions and has grown to become an international specialist in factory solutions, smart manufacturing, and IIoT technologies. The company’s welding solutions focus on developing technologies that deliver weld strength, alignment, and a superior cosmetic finish, as Warren Collenette, Senior Design Engineer from Facteon explains. “We are focused on customer confidence; we want our customers to be confident in each and every solution that we supply.” Facteon provides robust welding solutions to some of the world’s largest appliance manufacturers and their welding technology can be used to process aluminum, mild steel, and multiple grades of stainless steel. “Irrespective of the industry, consistency, and repeatability are key,” Collenette says. Naturally, finding the right automation partner is central to the success of any manufacturer and Collenette says that Facteon looks to SMC Corporation Australia New Zealand for many of its unique automation requirements. “We started working with SMC more than 25 years. The initial relationship was between Fisher and Paykel, who at the time owned Facteon, and SMC,” he says. “We have a great…

Conflux Technology has released its first product - an ultra-high-performing Water Charge Air Cooler (WCAC). Conflux Technology has used its rich and extensive knowledge in additive manufactured (AM) heat exchangers to deliver a premium WCAC product that rivals and out-performs other leading WCACs, applicable to motorsport and high-end automotive markets. As AM technology advances, industry leaders are recognising the complementary power of digital inventory and mass customisation. “The Conflux WCAC embodies how we deliver what motorsport and elite automakers ask for – a definitive performance advantage. A product is rapidly configured to our customer’s prioritisation of performance, size, and packaging requirements. AM lets us supply the WCAC with low lead time and competitively priced.” says Dan Woodford, Chief Product Officer at Conflux. This technologically advanced product has already made an impact in European motorsport circles as the superior WCAC; consistently eliciting demonstrable enthusiasm from leaders in the field over its fine features, incredible geometry, and highly competitive pricing. Conflux Products deliver industry-leading performance; are scalable and configurable to unique boundary conditions, performance, and packaging requirements. "I am really excited about the product roadmap for…

Leading materials handling manufacturer Enmin is manufacturing electromagnetic drives in Australia. These drives offer a unique handling method for controlling the flow of food products, ingredients, and bulk material. Products can be screened, sized, or accurately metered to ensure a smooth, uniform, and fully variable flow. With minimal moving parts, next to no ongoing maintenance, and low energy consumption it’s a reliable, low-cost method of product handling. The drives are designed and constructed to meet the rigorous requirements of the food and pharmaceutical industries such as maximum hygiene, ease of cleaning, and continuous 24/7 operation. The cyclic operation is controlled by a range of electronic controllers that will vary the feeding rate in a manner to suit the specific application enabling high-speed filling coupled with pinpoint accuracy. The controllers are available in different enclosures or as standalone for incorporation into central panels. As production lines evolve and other components are updated to achieve higher throughput, older and less efficient drives cannot match the required capacity increase. “Fitting one of our new generation drives will ensure that a higher conveying speed can be achieved to…

With the increasing demand for high technology equipment (e.g., catalytic converters) and a transition to green energy economies, battery metals (e.g., cobalt, nickel, and lithium), and rare earth elements (e.g., cerium and lanthanum) are critical. In recent years, significant commitments have been made by the Australian and Indian governments, consistent with transitioning to a net zero economy by 2050. The projected demand for these critical minerals in India presents a unique opportunity to increase cooperation with Australia which has abundant resources and world-class expertise. InnovEco Australia has developed and patented two technologies - resin in pulp (RIP), and resin in moist mix (RIMM) with a high target metal extraction performance from fine particles in an eco-friendly manner. “Our company has been developing a novel metal recovery technology since 2012 when we first identified a key issue in the heap leaching process – the processing of fine fractions in copper ore,” said Gennadiy Sukhinin, Managing Director at InnovEco Australia. Particularly, the technology has been successful in copper recovery resulting in 96 – 98 wt.% yields compared to 70 wt.% for conventional heap leaching technology.…

Australian manufacturers will now gain access to a ground-breaking new composite 3D printer at the Swinburne University of Technology, from global market leader Markforged. The Markforged FX20 printer is primarily designed for high-strength end-use parts in the aerospace, defense, automotive and energy industries. The FX20 prints nearly five times larger builds and is up to eight times faster than Markforged's existing line of composite printers. The FX20 printer at Swinburne’s Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) will be the first and only FX20 printer openly accessible to industry in Australia for use in research and development, helping promote new aerospace development and support the continued growth of the sector locally. It also features a heated build chamber capable of maintaining a temperature of up to 200°C to print flame-retardant, high-performance thermoplastic material. Shai Terem, President and CEO of Markforged, hosted the Australian launch of the FX20 3D printer at Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus as part of a three-city launch tour in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. “With this combination of hardware and software, users can create end-use, mission-critical parts and build resilient and sustainable supply chains that extend directly…

Hybrid Systems Australia has unveiled its new rapidly deployable stand-alone power system (RD-SPS) at the All-Energy Expo in Melbourne. The award-winning SPS experts have delivered a new skid-mounted system comprising the latest solar PV technology, batteries and backup diesel generator that can provide energy to customers in under an hour from delivery. The modular design, manufactured and engineered in Western Australia, uses the same platform that has been successfully installed at more than 110 sites across Western Australia and can be combined with rapidly deployable PV arrays, existing PV installations or temporary ground-mount arrays of up to 36 kW peak. The system also incorporates the company’s new Hybrid Integrated Power System (HIPSTM), an outdoor-rated enclosure that contains the battery inverters, solar charge controller, battery and control system, which has been designed with 24/7 remote operation in mind. Mike Hall, Executive Director for Hybrid Systems Australia, said the company is pleased to introduce an innovative SPS solution to the market that can be operated remotely, transported, and installed very quickly, and that is proven to operate effectively in some of Australia’s harshest conditions. “It’s a…

Boeing has opened its new Skills Development Centre at its aircraft components manufacturing site in Fishermans Bend. The $1.6m centre will train current and new employees on advanced manufacturing technologies and processes. The centre is training its first class consisting of five members of the Boeing Aerostructures Australia (BAA) Female Apprenticeship Program. That program teaches apprentices the skills they need to assemble and install aircraft components, prepare and use aircraft support equipment, and inspect, maintain, and repair aircraft components and systems. Apprentices will graduate with a Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Structures) from Aviation Australia. “Between the centre opening and the start of our Female Apprenticeship Program, we are making a serious commitment to growing advanced manufacturing in Victoria with the best, brightest and most diverse workforce we can find and train,” said Mick Sorrenson, managing director of BAA. “The training centre’s focus on safety and quality will help ensure that we provide our team with the resources they need to produce complex airplane parts for Boeing.” Boeing Aerostructures Australia makes wing components and flight control surfaces for 737, 777 and 787 commercial aircraft for Australian…

Technofast Founder and CEO John Bucknell began innovating with farming technology, before applying similar principles to create Technofast’s hydraulic tensioning technology now used globally by mining, sugar, cement, food processing, quarrying and other applications. Another Australian farmer is following in the footsteps of the inventors of the stump-jump plough by achieving international renown for his ingenuity for down-to-earth solutions for problems encountered by producers globally. Queensland farmer John Bucknell’s hydraulic bolts are now used around the world in applications such as nuclear reactors, boilers, turbines and mining and energy equipment where speed, accuracy and even, precise fastening of multiple sets of bolts is required. The idea originally stemmed from his desire to find a quicker and more secure way to fasten bolts used to tighten gang bolts on large disc ploughs on his family’s property near Nindigully, Queensland (about 500km west of Brisbane). Just like brothers Richard and Clarence Smith of Yorke Peninsula who invented the stump jump plough in 1876 to allow farmers to cultivate land without removing rocks and stumps, John used his disc plough to break in new country, ready for…

Markforged, creator of the integrated metal and carbon fiber additive manufacturing platform, The Digital Forge, is pleased to announce the local Australian launch of its newest printer, the FX20. “We are very excited to bring Markforged’s FX20 to Australia to strengthen local sovereign manufacturing capabilities and support reshoring initiatives,” said Richard Elving, Senior Director Australia, Markforged. “Given our remoteness in Australia, supply chain issues can be costly and time-sensitive, and with the FX20 we see this as an enabler of printing parts that will provide a competitive advantage to manufacturers by being able to react quickly to solve problems right on the manufacturing floor. The FX20 will meet the needs of even the most demanding local industries, such as defence, F&B, and mining.” “The FX20 is a beast of a machine and represents our commitment to providing innovative solutions to our customers to empower them to build anything they can imagine. The addition of the FX20 to the Digital Forge strengthens our leading position in the additive manufacturing market by enabling the robust production of lightweight, advanced composite parts. With this combination of hardware and software, our…