Industry News

A significant quality improvement of the de-powdering and cleaning operation for 3D printed components at lower costs and shorter cycle times! A leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles is fulfilling this goal with the purchase of the automated post-processing system, S1 from AM Solutions – 3D post-processing technology. With their innovative designs and powerful drive systems the motor homes, caravans and panel trucks of the Knaus Tabbert AG allow safe, comfortable and sustainable travelling. At its German headquarters in Jandelsbrunn, Bavaria, the company is using its know-how to continuously improve the materials and designs of its vehicles. Naturally, this also includes the employment of new manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing (AM). Mario Meszaros, development engineer at Knaus Tabbert explains: “On the one hand we are using the 3D printing technology for creating prototypes. On the other, we are also using additive manufacturing for producing standard components in volume such as the bracket for an alarm system or the hinge mechanism for the swing-out shower stall.” A challenging post-processing task To date, the de-powdering and cleaning of PA 12 components, produced by a…

A significant quality improvement of the de-powdering and cleaning operation for 3D printed components at lower costs and shorter cycle times! A leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles is fulfilling this goal with the purchase of the automated post-processing system, S1 from AM Solutions – 3D post-processing technology. With their innovative designs and powerful drive systems the motor homes, caravans and panel trucks of the Knaus Tabbert AG allow safe, comfortable and sustainable traveling. At its German headquarters in Jandelsbrunn, Bavaria, the company is using its know-how to continuously improve the materials and designs of its vehicles. Naturally, this also includes the employment of new manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing (AM). Mario Meszaros, development engineer at Knaus Tabbert explains: “On the one hand we are using the 3D printing technology for creating prototypes. On the other, we are also using additive manufacturing for producing standard components in volume such as the bracket for an alarm system or the hinge mechanism for the swing-out shower stall.” A challenging post-processing task To date, the de-powdering and cleaning of PA 12 components, produced by…

The grant program, which attracted over 5,300 applications in the last round (2,600 of which were first-time applicants), aims to foster economic benefits for Australia by supporting the development and expansion of foreign markets for Australian products and services, specifically by providing funding for promotional activities and development of marketing skills to SMEs. What funding is available? There is a Tier 1, which is targeted at eligible exporters who are ready to export in the grant year, have not previously exported, have appropriate skills in marketing eligible products in a foreign country. There’s a maximum funding cap of $40,000 per financial year for up to two years and the grant will be up to $15,000 per financial year. There is also a Tier 2, which is targeted at eligible exporters who are exporting eligible products or are seeking export promotion activity for eligible products. There’s a maximum funding cap of $80,000 per financial year for up to three years and the grant will be up to $23,000 per financial year. Then there is a Tier 3, which…

Not that you would have noticed, because as Con-form Group Managing Director Nigel Cro says, “People will drive along on a highway overpass and there are a lot of things on roofs that you see; now if you don’t see those things, that’s because we’ve done a good job – that’s our goal.” Industrial HVAC systems are heavy and often noisy. Con-form Group provide an engineered solution for the structure to cater for the weight on rooftop installations and additionally deliver acoustic solutions to minimise environmental noise. Con-form Group’s lightweight aluminium plant platforms and screens are now found on industrial, commercial and public infrastructure roofs right around Australia. The Bathurst-based business was established more than 20 years ago and employs approximately 35 staff. In 2014, the Con-form Group team developed an industry-leading lightweight roof-mounting platform system for mechanical equipment. “It was painful to see large structural steel sections getting craned onto roofs laboriously day after day, piece by piece and the danger and the logistics involved,” says Cro. “I remember just looking at…

In a world-first, Australian quantum computing manufacturer, Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC), has announced they have developed a quantum computing chip that integrates all the necessary components found on a classical computer chip but at the atomic scale, making up a functional quantum processor. This quantum processor was then put to the test by using it to model a small molecule in which each atom has multiple quantum states - something that traditional computers would struggle to do. This opens up the possibility that this quantum processor can be used to model other more complex molecules such as pharmaceuticals, or materials for batteries to give us a better understanding of the way the world works at an atomic level. “One of the most promising potential uses of quantum technology is to use one quantum system to simulate other quantum systems. In this work, the authors considered a chain of ten quantum dots and used them to emulate the so-called SSH model,” said Dr. Charles Hill, Senior Lecturer In Quantum Computation at The University of Melbourne. This big step forward has come less than a…

Veolia Water Technologies, a subsidiary of the Veolia group and leading specialist in water treatment, announces the Asia Pacific launch of the Barrel, an integrated plug-and-play reverse osmosis (RO) technology. With increasing demand and rising concerns over scarcity of fresh water in the Asia-Pacific region, the Barrel meets the challenges and expectations of the desalination market while producing fresh water complying with all water quality standards. It is also suitable for wastewater reuse and low-pressure RO applications. The Barrel was selected as a key technology for the first experiment in Europe in wastewater treatment for the supply of drinking water through the Jourdain programme, in France’s Vendee region. The technology has also been in use at the Oman Sur desalination plant since 2019. The Barrel is a multi RO element vessel that is designed to be a plug-and-play system. The carbon steel pressure vessel is manufactured and tested off-site, and is delivered as a single unit, so installation on-site can be fast-tracked and project schedules shortened. In addition, the modular design of the Barrel makes it highly scalable,…

Kaeser Compressors has been on hand for over two decades now, ensuring their team of highly trained refinishing, repair and painting experts have access to a reliable and efficient supply of quality compressed air on demand. When it comes to repairing prestige vehicles, Charlie Battisti & Co. has over 30 years of experience under its belt. Melbourne’s finest smash repairers, Charlie Battisti is one of only a handful of body shops Australia-wide, that is a Porsche Certified Collision Centre, an Accredited BMW Body Shop and Mercedes Benz dealer recommended. Accident repairs, detailing and windscreen replacement are just a few of the services Charlie Battisti offers to its customers. However, regardless of the job at hand the focus is always the same - to ensure that the customer is 100% satisfied with all repairs undertaken and to maintain the vehicle's original build quality, strength and integrity. To meet these goals Charlie Battisti invested some years ago in a state-of-the-art and purpose-built vehicle…

The Australian Technologies Competition is an internationally recognised national awards and growth support program for technology scaleups. It comprises a three-stage national competition for sector awards and Australian Technology Company of the Year, high calibre mentoring from successful technology entrepreneurs and senior corporate executives, an International Growth Masterclass and access to partner and investor connection events. The 12 categories of the Competition reflect the enormous capabilities of the Australian technology sector and the more than 250 high-growth companies that have previously reached the semi-finals or finals read like a Who’s Who of Australian ‘deep’ technology.  They include Agridigital, BindiMaps, BluGlass, Calix, CancerAid, CIM Enviro, Fleet Space, Gilmour Space, RedEye, Sound Scouts, StormSeal, SwitchDin, Wattwatchers and many more. This year Impact Tech Ventures is partnering with Investible to deliver the program. The early-stage VC has a proud record of investing in, mentoring and supporting tech companies to grow internationally. It is also investing substantially in the Australian ecosystem with Greenhouse — an emerging innovation hub, supported by the City of Sydney, built for climate tech companies…

The evolution of this proudly Australian machine building powerhouse was further accelerated by the acquisition of two companies in just two years. “We’re growing our end-to-end production line offering,” explains Mark Emmett, owner and CEO of HMPS Group and Propac Industrial. The acquisition of two reputable companies - Vertical Form Fill Seal machine producers, Propac Industrial and manufacturer of stretch wrapping machines, equipment and systems, Integrated Machinery, have helped expand HMPS’ offering. The evolution of the company is underpinned by its passion for problem solving and adapting to meet customers’ ever-changing needs. “As our customers grow so do their requirements. We are here to meet these requirements - all along the packaging line,” says Emmett. To further entrench its service capabilities, HMPS has also expanded its footprint through these acquisitions, as Emmett explains: “In addition to our Adelaide head office, we now also have manufacturing and service capabilities in Melbourne and Sydney with a technical office in Brisbane.” Growth in a Time of Uncertainty HMPS saw the COVID-19 pandemic as a time for opportunity, and their bold…

Charlie Eilbeck heads the machining business of Eilbeck Cranes, the parent company which commands 75% of the bespoke overhead crane market in Australia. The machining division opened in 2015 at the site we are touring, which has done well enough to grow its headcount to 40 and open a second workshop (also in Ingleburn). Eilbeck Heavy Machining (EHM) has brought more and more crane component manufacturing in-house, and gone about chasing projects outside of the company. “Building these machine shops has a lot to do with the passion of my father, Tom, because he’s a fitter and turner, and he worked in one growing up. So machine shops allow us to be a very flexible business, but they also come from his heart,” explains the younger Eilbeck. “A lot of what we do is driven by passion. We're not a public company driven by a board of directors where we have to justify when we want to spend three million dollars on a mill. We see opportunity, and we see opportunity in Australia.” If there’s a couple-paragraph…

Okuma Australia has been expanding its service and technical support for its current and ever-growing list of Queensland customers in line with the Okuma business Monozukuri philosophy – ‘the art of making things better’. With modern new Queensland premises in Hamilton and a growing team of four engineers and technical support personnel, each with a passion for Australian manufacturing, Okuma Australia is well placed and committed to advance its strong market position in Queensland. Northern Regional Manager for NSW & Queensland, Sydney based Steve Norbis, has more than 30 years in the industry. Steve leads a team of eleven in New South Wales and Queensland and his passion for the industry filters down through the entire team. “We currently have a broad range of advanced technology machine orders in hand and a growing level of enquiries in the pipeline,” said Steve Norbis. “The new team appointments and expanding branch structure will ensure that Okuma’s solid presence in the Queensland market is maintained and supported thus enabling our Queensland team to maintain the level of service our customers currently enjoy and have…

The key trends in tube bending include lightweight construction, customised machine configuration and automation. The figures provided by Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) speak for themselves: Among all newly registered vehicles in Germany in the period from January to November 2021, the share of those with alternative powertrains amounted to almost 35%. The share of vehicles with purely electric drives was at around 11% of all new registrations in this time. But an increase of new electric vehicles (EVs) becomes particularly clear when looking at passenger cars. In that segment, the EV share in all newly registered passenger cars was 6.7% for the entire year 2020. This share has substantially risen to over 25% when looking at the period of January to November 2021. The effects of this shift are being felt not just by the automotive manufacturers themselves but across the entire supply chain. Lightweight construction is a major theme here, since the lighter the vehicle, the less energy it needs. And this increases the range, crucial for EVs. It also leads to a change in requirements for tube bending, with…

VALO, which is targeting domestic and international markets in premium stadium lighting, will use Kent Town to ramp up production, bringing its manufacturing back onshore and centralising operations in its new, carbon-neutral facility. Founder and CEO Aaron Hickmann said VALO had grown its local staff from four to 15 over the past 12 months and was rapidly growing. The company has invested heavily in research and development, plant and equipment – including surface mount technology and an assembly line, VALO is ready to manufacture its most advanced lighting systems in Adelaide. “Having production move back onshore will allow us to increase employment in South Australia and provide economic benefits for the state in an emerging advanced manufacturing industry,” Hickmann said. “VALO is future focused and we’re constantly researching and developing smart lighting products which will improve sustainability, reduce carbon footprints and provide significant benefits to wide-ranging communities,” he added. “We’re accelerating the use of disruptive technologies, not just in premium sport stadium lighting, but also in street lighting, and producing cutting-edge,…