Company News

Time-saving quoting automation at AMW

ipCompute product manager Mark Washington, left, gives a demonstration at Australian Manufacturing Week, where he showed enthusiastic young industry professionals the time saving potential of automated laser quotation software, which allows laser and plasma cutting job shops to quote more jobs, win more work, and grow the business A company bringing laser and plasma cutting quotation automation to Australia and globally has drawn strong interest at Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) as the industry feels the bite of labour shortages. ipCompute, which includes ipLaser and Tempus Tools, spoke with industry professionals, who were typically taking 15 to 30 minutes to produce a quote, depending on the complexity of the job, and the quality of the drawings provided by the customer. With ipCompute’s latest ToolBox quoting automation software suite, each quote can be done as quickly as 90 seconds. “People are usually sceptical that quoting can be done that quickly, but once they have a demo, then they can see the power of the ToolBox software suite. Completing so many more quotes in an hour is particularly useful, given the average win rate of a laser job shop quote is about 30-40%,” says ipCompute Co-Founder and CEO, Ivan Cooper. “Our research shows that you can win an additional 5-10%, without extra costs, by providing the quote within an hour,” he said. Mr Cooper and his ipCompute’s co-founders have a combined 100 years of experience in the laser industry, from operating job shops to designing and installing machines across the globe. They have used this practical, hands-on experience to shape the development of their quoting automation software, to ensure it responds to the real needs of job shops in Australia and around the world. With all this experience behind them, they have brought together highly experienced young code writers to make the most […]

Educational space program takes off from Adelaide

The Andy Thomas Space Foundation is launching its primary and high school programs to introduce space science and technology into the classroom, with the intention of taking the innovative courses national. Piloted in 2021, these programs are two of the nine educational scholarship and award opportunities on offer from the Foundation in 2022 and approach space innovation and education in unique and interactive ways. Andy Thomas Space Foundation Chair, Michael Davis AO, said the importance of supporting space education initiatives in schools is evidenced by the response of the students to the learning and problem-solving challenges they are presented with. “Space-related projects are a wonderful source of inspiration for students, and they also assist to shape tomorrow’s space workforce,” Davis said. The primary school program is in collaboration with the South Australian education technology company Makers Empire and utilises design challenges to expose students to space innovation with the assistance of 3D printing and app-supported development resources. Two to five teachers from each school will train with subject-matter experts who will share how space technology is being used to solve problems on earth. Co-CEO of Makers Empire, Jon Soong, said the program helps young students develop an interest in space. “It engages them in STEM learning connected to real-world problem-solving to gain an understanding of some of the pathways to a career in space,” he said. The secondary school program is coordinated by Hamilton Secondary College and facilitates the use of the Aldrin Foundation’s Giant Mars Map to engage students in a deeper understanding of space travel. Principal of Hamilton Secondary College, Peta Kourbelis, said she was excited to see that the range of projects proposed by schools is increasingly innovative. “More rural schools are involved, allowing students from throughout South Australia to find out about the amazing opportunities available in the rapidly […]

End-of-life plan needed thousands of wind turbine blades

A new study led by The University of South Australia indicates tens of thousands of wind turbine blades will end up in landfill by the end of the decade unless end-of-life programs are established soon. The study, led by Professor Peter Majewski, highlights the challenges of recycling wind turbine blades, which are made of either carbon fibre or glass fibre composite material, both of which are expensive to break down, with the recovered materials having minimal market value. “The same features that make these blades cost-effective and reliable for use in commercial wind turbines make them very difficult to recycle in a cost-effective fashion,” Prof Majewski says. “As it is so expensive to recycle them, and the recovered materials are worth so little, it is not realistic to expect a market-based recycling solution to emerge, so policymakers need to step in now and plan what we’re going to do with all these blades that will come offline in the next few years.” In many parts of the world, wind turbine blades are currently dumped in landfill, but this practice has been banned in some European countries, and with estimates suggesting there will be more than 40 million tons of blade waste worldwide by 2050, alternative solutions are urgently being sought. Professor Majewski says that, while there is some very limited potential for reuse of blades in niche construction settings and a small market for some of the reclaimed materials, it is likely the costs of disposing of the blades in a sustainable fashion will need to be factored into their production and running costs. “Our research indicates the most likely viable option is a product stewardship or extended producer responsibility approach, where the cost of recycling the blades is factored into either the cost of their manufacture or the cost […]

HMPS produces an industry-first

The intricate merging of two processes spells significant savings and prospects for the packaging industry at-large. Proud Australian machine builders HMPS Group (HMPS) began in 1980 and have evolved into specialists in the design and manufacture of automated processing and packaging solutions. Over the years, the company has solved complex packaging challenges and their most recent success story was no exception. In an Australian first, HMPS designed and developed a sleever and cartoner in one footprint for Real Dairy. Real Dairy is a 100% Australian owned and operated company, with sites across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. The company produces their own speciality cheese products and supplies these to retailers across the country. How it works Adam Read, Sales Manager at HMPS explains that this first-of-a-kind machine offers a small footprint, enhanced efficiencies, and long-term cost savings. “This system can handle pre-glued sleeves in 2, 3 and 4 cell trays at up to 180 tray/minute for the 2 cell trays. With minimal change over it can also operate as an end load cartoner erecting, loading and hotmelt sealing primary cartons.” HMPS supplied two complete units for this project, allowing Real Dairy to handle up to 360 trays/minute. “Combining two machines into one is extremely complex but rewarding – particularly for the end-user”. “Generally, these tasks would be handled by two different style machines, and in this case, we had to figure out how to fit four machines into two machines.” Upon entry into the machine, the product (cheese and cracker packs) is transported through the machine along the main index conveyor where a sleeve is then applied to the product. “The finished product is then fed through the inkjet printer where a defined code is applied. It is then transferred to an outfeed conveyor” adds Adam. The machine includes […]

Modern manufacturing In Australia under a new government

“I want to use the power of government to bring back Aussie manufacturing. Because Australia should always be a company that makes things.” This statement, made by then leader of the Labor Party and now Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese in 2020, is coming to fruition with the recent commitment to a $1 billion investment in advanced manufacturing.[i] This funding is part of a larger national reconstruction fund. According to a statement by the Prime Minister, it is “intended to stimulate employment opportunities and replace the 85,000 jobs lost under the previous administration.”[ii] New jobs would be created for manufacturing positions in the transport, defence, resources, agricultural and food processing, medical science, renewables and low emission technologies industries. “Australia must be able to stand on our own two feet” Marie Kinsella, CEO of the International Exhibition & Conference (IEC) Group, and organiser of the upcoming Modern Manufacturing Expo in September, agrees with Prime Minister Albanese’s statement that ‘serious countries can make things and stand on their own two feet when it comes to manufacturing essentials.’ “It’s essential that Australia be self-sufficient when it comes to manufacturing. The pandemic further proved the pitfalls of relying on other countries to fill the gaps in our supply chain,” says Marie. “As organisers of some of the biggest and most influential industry-focused events in Australia, we regularly come into contact with smaller manufacturers who’ve made it clear that while they would like to advance their manufacturing capabilities to become more competitive, they often don’t have the resources to do so.” Targeted government support for local manufacturers may be key to helping Australia catch up to the pace of the global economy. A 2020 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report ranked Australia as last in manufacturing self-sufficiency among the world’s developed economies[iii], […]

Unlock the value of data to drive business intelligence

By Kevin Dherman, CIO at SYSPRO Data forms the backbone of any manufacturing enterprise. With continuous supply chain disruptions, the allure of data and Business Intelligence (BI) is the ability to look deeper into production, performance, and efficiency. For today’s industries the issue isn’t whether they’re generating enough data, it’s whether they’re getting value from that data. SYSPRO research reveals that only 20 percent of manufacturing and distribution businesses have looked at investing in big data analytics tools to process and analyse data in response to ongoing disruptions, and only five percent of businesses have investigated the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to draw any long-term benefits from data collection. As industries look to digitally transform to the factory of the future in a data-first world, investment in technologies is irrelevant without data analytics to understand the internal and external factors impacting a business. Without the right data insights businesses are unable to compete with global supply chains as they don’t have the visibility to anticipate shifts and respond to market changes. Here’s how manufacturers can obtain visibility across the entire operation and collect accurate real-time data to not only automate processes but make data-driven decisions that drive the factory of the future: Actionable insights with ERP Ultimately, ERP fuels data-driven decision making and drives business intelligence. It allows information to be centralised and organised into readable reports and dashboards. With a variety of valuable KPIs, metrics and more information at their fingertips, they can act on new opportunities, respond to issues, and make informed decisions quickly. A SYSPRO customer, Ruprecht, was able to tackle supply chain disruptions and remain competitive through leveraging data insights. The business which supplies ready-to-eat food products in the US integrated their ERP system with AI and a predictive model to maintain […]

Kemppi Australia launches Art of Welding Competition 2022

Kemppi Australia recently announced its Art of Welding Competition for 2022. The competition showcases “welding art” which can take the form of a welded sculpture, pattern design, a motif or an object. The welding process involved to create the art piece can be manual or use more advanced techniques such as robotics, lasers or friction welding. Now in its third year, the company has been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and creativity from both professional artists and amateurs for the competition. “Whether the entrants are welders, apprentices, teachers, hobbyists or professional metal artists, the flair and quality that we have seen over the last two years has been impressive and we are delighted to be able to once again run the competition,” said Paul McVicar, Managing Director, Kemppi Australia. This year, the competition will again feature a dedicated amateur category. Entrants can win from a pool of four great prizes that include Kemppi welding equipment, helmets and clothing. The competition will run until Friday 30th September and is open to anyone in Australia and New Zealand over the age of 18. For more information on how to enter visit the Kemppi Australia Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn pages or message Kemppi Australia’s social media pages directly. Alternatively, email skettos@skettos.com.au for a copy of the competition flyer.

Zone RV boosts capability with biggest 3D printer in Southern Hemisphere

Queensland manufacturer Zone RV has made a major investment in its production capability with the purchase of the largest 3D printing system in the Southern Hemisphere, supplied by CNC Design. Established in 2016, Zone RV offers a range of Australian-made off-road caravans that combine lightweight composite bodies with class-leading components. Headquarted in Coolum Beach, the company employs technologies from sectors such as aerospace and maritime to manufacture off-road caravans that are lighter, stronger and safer. The Zone RV team boasts more than a quarter-century of experience in true composite manufacturing across the marine, aeronautical and civil construction industries. In its ongoing pursuit of improved processes at its production facility, Zone RV recently turned to additive manufacturing as a means of expanding capability and raising productivity. In particular it was keen to streamline its mould-making operations through the adoption of 3D printing. Following extensive research, the company opted for a VSF122 large-area gantry-based machine from CNC Design, a hybrid additive-subtractive system capable of both 3D printing and machining in composite materials. Zone RV Dave Biggar commented: “At Zone RV we’re always looking for new ways to deliver a better product more efficiently, and the new 3D printer from CNC Design will undoubtedly help us achieve that goal. It will give us greater flexibility in terms of how we design and manufacture, while delivering big gains in productivity. “I think the fact that this will be the biggest 3D printer in the Southern Hemisphere demonstrates Zone RV’s ambition to be a true innovation leader in our sector and across Australian manufacturing.” The new system, scheduled to installed at Zone RV’s manufacturing facility in June, will be used for trimming and polishing moulds and for printing of blanks for mould production. CNC Design will work closely with the team at Zone RV in […]

RS Components & CRC Industries Australia announce partnership

RS Components are thrilled to announce a brand new partnership with CRC Industries Australia – a renowned manufacturer of high quality aerosol and bulk lubricants. This cooperation is a natural partnership for RS Components, who will now be providing CRC products as a part of its overall offering to engineers and procurement managers in Australia & New Zealand. The brand supplies a wide range of industry grade lubricants, anti-rust products and adhesives for customers in the manufacturing, marine, automotive and electrical industries – amongst others. CRC is a leader in product quality, performance and regulatory compliance which is key when working with clients who operate in the particular fields RS service, and CRC’s product offering has these three attributes in spades. Melanie Mangos, Head of Industrial Sales Trans-Tasman for CRC Industries Australia, says “CRC Australia is proud to be partnering with RS Components and sees great synergies. We have begun developing excellent key stakeholder relationships and are in the process of working on exceeding end user expectations with the team.” CRC’s prestigious history and longevity as a company is only surpassed by the quality of the products and services it provides. In short, CRC’s innovative research and development team continually develops new and improved products to help our clients perform their job faster, easier and safer. “CRC has a great reputation and industry recognition,” says Scott Philbrook, Managing Director RS Components AU/NZ. “It makes perfect sense to provide CRC’s fantastic range of products to our diverse customer base in Australia. We are proud to be working alongside such leading brands and are excited to see what the future holds for both RS and for CRC.” RS is proud to stock over 100 new CRC products in Australia ready for fast delivery.

Scaling your manufacturing business globally

Cynthia Dearin There are plenty of opportunities for manufacturers to scale internationally in 2022, but it’s not a risk-free exercise. For your international venture to thrive, there are key things that you need to get right. In this post, Here are three of the big ones. Use data to drive decisions When it comes to making decisions around taking your manufacturing business global, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of using data and evidence. This applies to market selection and to defining your ideal international client. Market selection The number of people who choose an international market on the basis of ‘gut feel’ or serendipity blows my mind. I know founders who picked export markets because they went on holiday somewhere and fell in love with it. One that springs to mind is the guy who went to Bali, couldn’t get a packet of Smiths Salt & Vinegar chips … and decided to set up as the agent for Smiths in Bali. Or the founder who says “I met this guy at a trade show and he loved our product, so we decided to work with him to expand our footprint into … “. It’s good to love the country you plan to sell to and it’s a privilege to meet people who love your product and want to support what you do. But relying on chance isn’t the right way to choose an international market, because it usually delivers mediocre results. Without evidence, it’s hard to know where the real opportunities lie. There’s probably no point trying to sell microprocessor chips made in Australia to Vietnam for $25/unit, when an equivalent product is already manufactured locally, is well-known and sells for $5/unit. On the other hand, if you manufacture high-end health supplements in Australia, you might find that there […]

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