Company News

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 […]

Businesses’sharing’ staff to make the most of downtime

A Gold Coast company’s match-making service is helping businesses make money by ‘filling the gaps’ in rapidly evolving workplaces. Peaks and troughs are part of the ride for any business, but a company based on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia is helping those troughs potentially become valuable money-earners. Technology provider BenchOn, has re-imagined its “staff sharing portal” to help companies manage their workforces in new ways. Established by the City of Gold Coast, The Gold Coast Business Portal uses the established technology to further strengthen the local business community, connecting local companies experiencing high demand for specialist talent with those that have talent to spare. Springing out of the pandemic, the platform links businesses and helps them tap into another organisation’s under-utilised talent, or offer up their own staff, for profit, to help others fill the gaps. Founder and CEO Tim Walmsley said while the company started six years ago, it had hit its stride as massive change tipped traditional workplace operations sideways. “The foundation of BenchOn is all around workforce management and ensuring that we smooth out the peaks and troughs in business so we can match the workforce capacity to where it’s needed across industry,” Walmsley said. “The collaborative platform system allows businesses to request support or offer out staff if they have capacity. “The AI (artificial intelligence) algorithm matches companies that need staff with a company that has a person available at the right time and at the right price, and it works as a business-to-business subcontract, providing the support of a certain skill set for a certain period of time.” As the world’s first business talent sharing platform, BenchOn sits firmly within the modern-day share economy. It supports more than 3,000 companies from global firms to banks and energy providers, through to small-to-medium businesses and start-ups […]

Centauri 5 satellite successfully launched

Fleet Space Technologies has successfully launched its next-generation Centauri 5 satellite on the Space X Falcon 9 Transporter-5 mission. This was the company’s third launch with SpaceX, following the successful deployment of Centauri 4 on the Transporter-2 mission in June 2021. Centauri 5 will be placed in low earth orbit (LEO) at an expected altitude of some 530km (330 miles). A 6U sized microsat with a total weight of 12kg, it will add capacity, reduce latency and provide additional network redundancy in the existing six-strong Centauri constellation, which Fleet operates in collaboration with Tyvak International. Upgrades to the Centauri 4 payload includes enhancements that mitigate the effects of radiation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), direct communication links to Fleet’s ground station, and an extended S-Band range, allowing uplink at standard ground station frequencies. Digital beamforming provides extra gain, increasing the data rate, and also allows the S-Band frequency channels to be reused on the different beams. This combination increases the satellite’s data capacity by 2.6 times. In a world first, the all-metal patch antennas are all entirely 3D printed. The advances in 3D printing technology used in the construction of its patch antennal also feed into the development of the forthcoming fully 3D printed micro Alpha constellation, scheduled for launch during 2023. Together, the two systems will provide continuous coverage, data rates up to 520 kbps and tailored frequency bands servicing current and future generations of IoT devices. The combined constellation also enables Fleet Space’s ExoSphere system. This is transforming mineral exploration by using ambient noise tomography to locate critical resources up to 100 times faster and with far less environmental impact than conventional methods such as explosives, vibroseis machines and drilling. The Centauri 5 launch further strengthens Fleet Space’s position in the vanguard of the burgeoning Australian space technology industry, which the federal […]

Climate finance fund launched

Emit Capital Asset Management has announced its new socially responsible investment and ESG fund, the Emit Capital Climate Finance Equity Fund, will be open to wholesale investors from 1st July 2022. The long only fund will invest in globally listed companies that aim to reduce the impacts of climate change. The manager is targeting funds under management of $150m in its first year to capitalise on the market shift to net zero emissions. As an impact investor, Emit Capital believes the financial markets are fundamental to driving real change and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Through investment in companies that target decarbonisation, Emit Capital believes investors can outperform the broader market over the medium to longer term. The fund employs a thematic strategy focusing on four key climate finance sectors: energy transformation, transport and infrastructure, energy efficiency and storage, and water management. In addition to the thematic strategy, Emit Capital also evaluates environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards as part of its investment process. Emit Capital has secured the services of highly experienced former Vanguard fund manager, Roger McIntosh who will head up the investment committee. In addition, the fund manager has added to its research capability through an agreement with a North American investment manager based in Greenwich, Connecticut. Managing Director of Emit Capital Matt Dever said “This is an extremely exciting time for Emit Capital as we embark on this new investment fund. “The market for climate finance is rapidly expanding as both business and consumers increasingly target the reduction of emissions in a concentrated effort to the limit the rise in global temperatures. “As a socially responsible investment manager, our vision is to target investments that focus on decarbonisation and which will reward our investors over the medium to long term.”

One in five Australian businesses have paid or would pay a ransom for their data

New research from Thales has found that ransomware, malware and phishing continue to plague Australian organisations. Four in ten (38%) businesses been breached in the last year; 73% of ransomware attacks impacting internal and/or external operations. First seen in the late 1980s, with the PC Cyborg Virus, the frequency and damage caused by ransomware attacks has accelerated due to the rise of cryptocurrency as the preferred payment method. The 2022 Thales Data Threat Report, conducted by 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, with more than 2,700 IT decision-makers worldwide, reveals a fifth (22%) of Australian organisations admit they have paid or would pay a ransom for their data. Encouragingly, half of Australian respondents (51%) have a formal ransomware plan while 37% of businesses have increased their security budget in response to heightened concerns. Similarly, half of Australian organisations (48%) have been able to avoid a breach notification process because the stolen or leaked data was anonymised using encryption or tokenisation.   Data Visibility is a Challenge As more companies adopt multicloud strategies and hybrid work remains the norm, IT leaders continue to be challenged by the sprawl of data across their organisations. As a result, less than a quarter (23%) of Australian IT leaders have complete knowledge of where their data is being stored, and only 23% state they are able to classify all their data. Threats & Compliance Challenges Throughout 2021, security incidents remained high, with almost four in ten (38%) businesses experiencing a breach in the past 12 months. Additionally, 40% of IT leaders admit to having failed a compliance audit. Australian IT leaders rank ransomware (45%), malware (43%), and phishing/whaling (40%) as the leading source of increased security attacks. Managing these risks is an ongoing challenge, with half (50%) reporting an increase in the volume, severity […]

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