Business

Calling all Manufacturing Mates

Suicide affects us all. The suicide of a friend, family member or workmate can be devastating across the whole community and particularly at work. Over 3,000 Australians die from suicide each year; of these, 75 per cent of them are men. It’s a leading cause of death for people in the 25-39 age group. The pandemic has brought mental health issues into the forefront. Despite the devastating number of workers infected with Covid-19 in workplaces, Safe Work Australia have reported that nearly one in every five Covid related workers’ compensation claims were generated on mental health grounds. In manufacturing, with many predominantly male or multicultural workers, there have been barriers to discussing mental health as openly as possible. Mates in Manufacturing has been set up to remedy the challenges of suicide ideation and mental health more generally. Bringing together employers and unions and drawing on the expertise of the Mates organisation, Mates in Manufacturing is now ready to deliver its critical workplace training, building this peer-based program within our workplaces and developing the knowledge within our industry to enable us to confront this. Funding has been secured from both the NSW and Federal Governments for research by Western Sydney, Deakin and Melbourne Universities, to ensure that the programs are fit for purpose. Undertaken as a partnership between employers and unions in the sector, Mates in Manufacturing will start its rollout over November this year and will officially launch on December 10. Members of the group overseeing the project, the steering committee come from manufacturing industry leaders like Downer Group, OPAL, UGL, Stramit and Thales and are joined by the Australian Industry Group, with workers represented by the AMWU, AWU and UWU. We recognise that suicide prevention and improving mental health support transcends traditional workplace issues and that by working together […]

Amiga Engineering to manufacture world’s first 3D printed scramjet engine

Hypersonix has placed an order with Amiga Engineering for the Additive Engineering build of the SPARTAN scramjet. SPARTAN is Hypersonix’ fifth generation scramjet. It is a fixed geometry self-igniting hydrogen powered scramjet capable of accelerating from Mach 5 to Mach 12. SPARTAN’s fixed geometry means it has no moving parts, so the design lends itself to Additive Manufacturing (3D printing). This reduces both the cost and time to produce the scramjet, whilst potentially adding to reliability and performance. Additive manufacturing allows the creation of parts that have a complex design. Perfect for light-weighting, which is essential for the Space industry. SPARTAN uses green hydrogen for fuel, so creates no CO2 emissions. The hydrogen fuel also allows Hypersonix to utilise regenerative cooling on the combustor, in turn allowing the use of readily available high temperature alloys in place of more expensive and complex high temperature composites. David Waterhouse, Managing Director and Co-Founder, Hypersonix said: “The use of Additive Engineering to manufacture a scramjet engine will fundamentally disrupt the cost structure of scramjets and an important step in providing more affordable access to hypersonic flight. We are very proud of Australia’s world leading heritage in hypersonics and the ability of Australian companies to work together to demonstrate of Sovereign capability in this New Space technology.” Additive Manufacturing/ 3-D Printing techniques is one of the key elements mentioned in the Australian Modern Manufacturing Strategy which among others includes priorities such as Space, Defence and Clean Energy. The manufacture of the SPARTAN scramjet is being done under the Federal Government ACA Grant that Hypersonix was awarded in August 2020. Under this grant, Hypersonix is building a flight ready scramjet engine and fuel system. Hypersonix has been able to leverage the growing global hydrogen economy to repurpose off-the-shelf high-pressure composite hydrogen tanks. Hypersonix completed shock tunnel […]

Overseas and Australian executives to accelerate pathways to net zero emissions

The Impact X Summit Sydney to be held on November 2-3, brings together an ambitious line-up of Australian and international leaders from government, NGOs, Indigenous organisations, and industry sectors, to discuss technology, investment, and collaborative pathways to net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. As the world grapples with the need for urgent and genuine action to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and a 50% reduction by 2030, Australians have consistently stated that they believe the Australian Government should be doing more to address climate change, with one of the most recent polls being conducted by the Australian Conservation Foundation showing that 67% of voters overall shared this view which was held in all 151 national seats. “Under the Paris Agreement, Australia committed to reduce emissions by 26%-28% below 2005 levels by 2030, a level which is well below that of other OECD nations. “While a more ambitious target is expected soon, Australian business and industry will then need an unprecedented level of innovation, transformation and investment to deliver on our commitments. Technology will be key to this,” said Tony Gourlay, CEO of Blue Impacts, the organisation behind the summit. Matt Kean, NSW Treasurer & Minister for Energy & Environment, who has been leading the charge for net zero emissions with a series of bold policy commitments, will also be speaking at the summit. The summit will ensure that a voice is given to Indigenous Australians, who have largely been left out of the conversation on climate change. The Gaimaragal Group Founder and Director Susan Moylan-Coombs, who will be speaking at the summit said, “All Indigenous peoples globally are the caretakers of the planet. “We only took what we needed, not what we greeded. The perseverance of all Indigenous people in the face of global extractive economic practices and […]

Bullish sentiment dominates logistics

Business restrictions and border closures haven’t dampened the enthusiasm of Australian transport and warehouse operations with the latest CartonCloud Logistics Index (CCLI) showing high industry optimism and strong growth expectations. The second edition of the CartonCloud Logistics Index took the pulse of warehouse and transport businesses in the second quarter of 2021 with 52 survey respondents providing feedback on business operating conditions, workforce and hiring outlook, growth, opportunities and challenges. CartonCloud founder Vincent Fletcher said the latest CCLI provided deep insight into sentiment into the industry and the opportunities and challenges facing businesses. “The logistics industry continues to go from strength to strength and this quarter demonstrated high optimism for the current economic climate,” Mr Fletcher said. “Australia is relying on the local logistics industry now more than ever and that means more business, stable jobs and more growth opportunities. “Businesses are forecasting growth for the rest of 2021, although there’s slightly lower optimism for hiring compared to the first quarter. “The reduction in hiring expectations could be a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions and economic impacts, but it may also mean businesses have fulfilled the hiring intentions they had in the previous quarter. “Overall, the economic shifts, government stimulus and changes to business practices in response to the pandemic have had a neutral or slightly positive net impact on the logistics industry. “This has offset many of the negative effects from business restrictions and border closures. “The CCLI also put a spotlight on environmentally friendly practices in the industry and the Q2 results show a clear opportunity for improvement. “Switching to paperless technology is the most likely investment businesses are targeting to improve environmental practices. “The results of the index point towards a robust industry capitalising on economic conditions with strong confidence for the future.” STATISTIC SNAPSHOT Economic climate General […]

Australia’s clean hydrogen revolution is a path to prosperity

–John Mathews, Professor Emeritus, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University. Days out from the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, the Morrison government on Tuesday announced a “practically achievable” path to reaching its new target of net-zero emissions by 2050. As expected, the government will pursue a “technology not taxes” approach – eschewing policies such as a carbon price in favour of technological solutions to reduce emissions. Developing Australia’s fledgling hydrogen industry is a central plank in the plan. This technological shift should not be seen as a cost burden for Australia. Yes, major transformation in industry is needed as it moves away from conventional fossil-fuelled processes. But this green industrial revolution is a potential source of great profit and prosperity – a fact Australia’s business sector has already recognised. Acting quickly, and powering the shift with renewable energy, means Australia can be a world leader in green hydrogen technology and exports, particular to Asia. A ‘priority technology’ Hydrogen can be produced in several ways. So-called “green” hydrogen is produced using electrolysers, powered by renewable energy, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. “Blue” hydrogen is produced from coal or gas, with some carbon emissions trapped and stored underground. A report released earlier this month found Australia could create 395,000 new jobs and generate A$89 billion in new trade by 2040 by investing in clean energy exports. Some of the biggest opportunities were in green hydrogen produced using renewable energy. The National Hydrogen Strategy, published in late 2019 and spearheaded by then-Chief Scientist Alan Finkel, aims to make Australia a world leader in hydrogen. Under the most optimistic scenario, it predicts Australia’s hydrogen industry could be worth A$26 billion to the economy in 2050. Energy Minster Angus Taylor on Tuesday said clean hydrogen was a “priority technology” in the government’s roadmap to reaching net-zero emissions this century, […]

NSW Hydrogen strategy massive leap forward

The Australian Hydrogen Council has applauded the New South Wales Government on its Hydrogen Strategy. “Setting aside $3 billion to support the scale up of our hydrogen industry is a leap in the right direction, a clear demonstration to us that the New South Wales Government is serious about meeting its net zero commitments and the role of hydrogen to get there,” said Dr Fiona Simon, CEO of the Australian Hydrogen Council. “The strategy contains precisely the type of policy commitments, targets and funding that we have called for in our recent white paper Unlocking Australia’s Hydrogen Opportunity, and we are delighted to see the NSW Government taking this next evolutionary step. “In line with our white paper, the NSW Government has committed to prioritising heavy transport, trucks and refuelling infrastructure; heavy transport is a key sector that needs hydrogen to decarbonise, replacing petrol and diesel with hydrogen. “Australia has enormous opportunity to lead the world in the production, use and export of hydrogen and the NSW Government has demonstrated the leadership needed to drive the creation of the clean hydrogen industry. “We are glad the NSW Government has stepped up to the level at which our trading partners are competing. Plans and funding like this will mean Australia should not miss the boat on international opportunities and instead, will be well positioned to be a leading producer and user of hydrogen in Australia and globally. “This kind of strategy will draw through huge amounts of investment needed to secure local jobs of the future, from now. “An Australian hydrogen industry will require large scale electrolysers, renewable electricity, hydrogen storage, water and water pipelines, electricity infrastructure, CCS as appropriate, and hydrogen pipelines. “Planning, with the right funding and targets, is a vital part of getting this industry to scale and […]

FormFlow’s CustomFlow C90 wins Best in Class at Good Design Awards

FormFlow is honoured to be among the winners of Australia’s peak international design awards, receiving a prestigious Best in Class Accolade yesterday during 2021 Good Design Awards Week. The Good Design Awards are the highest honour for design and innovation in the nation and reward projects across 12 design disciplines and 30 subcategories. FormFlow’s CustomFlow C90 was recognised in the Product Design category for outstanding design and innovation. FormFlow’s technology creates a discrete and aesthetically appealing bend in corrugated metal sheeting, producing an airtight, structural connection at corners and enabling a host of new solutions for sustainable and low-cost building fabrication. The Good Design Awards Jury commented: “This is a great use of material that will reduce construction time, finishing and extend the life of joints and structures. It’s an innovative product with many potential applications due to its unique aesthetic and structural properties. Overall, the product is elegant and deceptively simple and worthy of the highest level of recognition in this category. Well done.” “It was not until we were told we had won that we read through the other entries in this category — it is such an impressive field of companies and products that we can’t quite believe we won,” said Dr Matthew Dingle, co-founder and Managing Director at FormFlow. “We were so inspired by some of the other companies that we are already looking at ways to work together.’ The CustomFlow C90 is now widely available through BlueScope Lysaght. BlueScope’s National Sales, Marketing & Innovation Manager Matt Lloyd said, “The combination of the CUSTOMFLOW C90 cornered cladding and Lysaght’s ever-popular CUSTOM ORB corrugated profile is set to provide a contemporary unique and cost-effective solution for roofing and walling applications. It delivers a brilliant combination of aesthetics and functionality.” The Australian Good Design Awards is the country’s […]

RS Components supports future-focused Engineering programs

RS Components (RS) is proud to announce a three-year partnership with Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB), supporting its ‘Regioneering’ and ‘Pathways’ programs. These programs are designed to inspire students from First Nations backgrounds in rural and remote regions of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands to explore how they can contribute to creating a better world through STEM-related vocations. The EWB and RS partnership aims to strengthen relationships with First Nations communities; to inspire, educate and train students, practitioners, advocates and leaders of engineering; and to contribute to meaningful and lasting social change. EWB Australia began in Melbourne in 2003 with a small group of engineers dedicated to harnessing the potential of engineering to create an equitable reality for the planet and its people. Today, the EWB community includes thousands of people and dozens of organisations working together to create a world where technology benefits all. EWB CEO Eleanor Loudon said, “RS Components multi-year commitment to EWB is significant. It ensures that our highly impactful programs can reach and inspire even more First Nations young people. “This work is key in shifting the perception of what engineering is, communicating the role engineers play in the world with a focus on real-world examples in their own backyard, and portraying diverse examples of what an engineer looks like. We do this with hands-on activity based learning. This is critical in ensuring that the people creating solutions to some of the world’s most wicked problems represent all voices in society.” Regioneering and Pathways is a focused part of EWB’s Outreach program, which commenced in 2015. Over the past year, this program has been delivered by over 190 university volunteers from the likes of RMIT, University of Sydney and Monash who have facilitated 266 workshops, inspiring more than 6000 students at 88 schools across […]

WA Government must put an end to port strike

The Western Australian Government must step up and seek to put an end to the CFMMEU’s prolonged and irresponsible strike action at Fremantle Port, says Australian Resources and Energy Group AMMA. After three months of ongoing strikes, AMMA is highly concerned that major international shipping companies are now forced to bypass Fremantle Port and freight critical mining, resources and agricultural supplies by road and rail into Western Australia. “Employers in Australia’s resources and farming sectors are doing their best to keep their businesses and the economy afloat during this pandemic, the last thing they need is an act of industrial bastardry delaying the delivery of critical plant and equipment,” Steve Knott AM, AMMA Chief Executive, said. “It’s highly irresponsible for the CFMMEU to block the unloading of large international cargo carriers at Fremantle Port at a time when interstate movement of freight is difficult, costly and a proven risk of introducing COVID-19 into virus-free regions. “During the pandemic, Western Australia’s border and quarantine resources should be freed-up as much as possible to process essential freight and people returning or travelling to the state, often for compassionate reasons. “With the Western Australian Government set to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all resources sector workers – an initiative AMMA supports and welcomes – it beggars belief the state would wash its hands of this industrial dispute and put all responsibility on the Commonwealth. “This is a serious state issue. By stopping all work at Fremantle Port, the CFMMEU is not only damaging WA’s revenue-generating industries, but also creating new potential COVID-19 entry points at a time the government is taking all measures to keep the virus out. “Premier Mark McGowan must write to the President of the Fair Work Commission seeking, as per section 423 of the Fair Work Act, to put a […]

Industry brokers to build Australia’s manufacturing future

Creating ‘industry brokers’ at the nation’s key research infrastructure facilities could propel a new wave of home-grown advanced manufacturing industries, the science and technology peak body says. Science & Technology Australia’s submission to the Senate inquiry on manufacturing proposes the cut-through idea to help industry tap into specialised research facilities. The Australian Government funds major national research infrastructure specialist facilities as the backbone of our research capability. They include complex facilities in geological surveying, supercomputing, specialised DNA studies, precision medicines, and new treatments for disease funded via the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme. Science & Technology Australia CEO Misha Schubert said: “These assets are key to Australia’s entire research enterprise – and long-term secure funding for them is essential to achieve the nation’s research ambitions,” she said. “But industry partners can often find it really hard to work out how to access these highly specialised facilities.” “We’d like to see the creation of new ‘industry broker’ roles to help businesses get to know these capabilities and identify how the business can use them.” “We see a huge advantage especially for advanced manufacturing firms to be able to reach into these specialist facilities for expertise, support and assets.” “These roles should be created with a funding boost on top of operational budgets.” Science & Technology Australia also calls for a new Research Translation Fund – and a national strategy to drive further advances in clean energy technology and expand clean energy advanced manufacturing onshore. “We should capitalise on the growing global demand for clean energy technology made in Australia using our abundance of clean energy raw materials,” she said. “The bottom line is that we should be trying to ensure that what is discovered in Australia is made in Australia.” Read the full submission here.

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