Company News

Tradie’s IVECO Daily 4×4 ideal for work and play

For his 60th birthday, Sydney painting contractor, Peter Avery, treated himself to a new Daily 4×4 and in doing so, he found a dual purpose vehicle he could use for both his business and spare time. As the owner of Innerwest Painting Services, a company specialising in residential, heritage, commercial and industrial painting, Peter previously operated a van to carry his materials and equipment. But when the time came for an upgrade, he thought outside the square and began to research a vehicle that could replace not only his van, but also his recreational four wheel drive. “Whenever I’d go away on weekends camping or four wheel driving, my wife would always complain that she’d be left without the car,” Peter said. “This lead me to start looking for a vehicle that could serve both purposes – something that would be suitable for work, but that I could also use to get away on weekends and on longer trips.” After much research, Peter settled on the Daily 4×4 Dual Cab and then sought to customise the truck to meet his trade and camping needs. The Daily now features an aluminium canopy with heavy duty roof racks, a dual battery system, 240 and 12V power sockets, a long range fuel tank, an under tray water tank with pump, and a bull bar and winch. A reversing camera also helps Peter squeeze the truck into tight parking spaces in the inner city, where most of his work is done. “The canopy has plenty of room for paint, along with various sanders, pressure washers and other equipment, it also has a net that acts as a mezzanine type level where I can carry lighter equipment such as brooms and poles,” Peter said. “Access to the inside is via gullwing-style doors that have integrated […]

First Pacific Patrol Boat launched

The first of 21 Guardian Class Pacific Patrol Boats to be designed and built by Austal has been launched. The launch of the first vessel comes just two years after the contract was awarded to the Australian shipbuilder. The first vessel is now scheduled for delivery to Papua New Guinea in late October 2018. The launch of the first Pacific Patrol Boat is a milestone for Austal, with the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPB-R) program marking the company’s first steel ship program. “Austal is proud to be delivering the PPB-R program for the Commonwealth. This is the first steel ship program we have managed and we are doing so on time and on budget,” Austal chief executive David Singleton said. “It is a testament to the skills, experience and management of the Austal PPB-R team that the first vessel has met its project milestones for design and build, on schedule. The overall construction program is well underway, with vessels two and three in build and the fourth vessel commencing construction in June.” Singleton said the program will support 200 direct jobs at Austal and 200 indirect jobs in the broader Australian industry in a program that now extends out to late 2023. This employment is in addition to several hundred jobs at Austal created by a number of large commercial export contracts currently under construction and planned for construction at the Henderson shipyard. “We are already working on export opportunities leveraging off the Pacific Patrol Boats, which will assist Australia to sustain its sovereign naval shipbuilding industry. Austal has already delivered over 40 patrol boats to international customers around the world,” Singleton said. The Pacific Patrol Boat contract was awarded to Austal in May 2016, worth $305 million for the original 19 vessels and associated in service support, with a further […]

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Konica Minolta at National Manufacturing Week

Konica Minolta is offering manufacturers a first look at revolutionary technology that will propel them into the future at National Manufacturing Week, from May 9-12 in Sydney. Konica Minolta is offering manufacturers a first look at revolutionary technology that will propel them into the future at National Manufacturing Week, from May 9-12 in Sydney. Marc Brandon, 3D and Robotics Marketing Manager, Konica Minolta, said, “Konica Minolta is showcasing a new wave of technologies for Australian manufacturers that will accelerate operations and reshape businesses. These technologies – spanning additive manufacturing, material sciences, software, and robotics – are advancing and intersecting at such a rapid rate that they are for the first time, a reality for industry-leading organisations.” Konica Minolta is partnering with 3D SYSTEMS to make 3D production a reality for the Australian manufacturing industry, with the new Figure 4™ system. This new, high-speed digital moulding system will redefine manufacturing by accelerating production, automating manufacturing processes and producing flexible and scalable production, through a new processing technology known as Digital Light Printing (DLP). In an Australian-first preview, Konica Minolta will showcase the 3D SYSTEMS Figure 4 Standalone system, part of a wider family of Figure 4 technologies, at National Manufacturing Week 2018. These cutting edge DLP systems, deliver the industry’s first scalable, modular, fully-integrated 3D printing platform with ultra-fast speed, enabling throughput improvement up to 15 times and up to 20 per cent lower parts cost. Matthew Hunter, National Manager 3D, Konica Minolta said, “Konica Minolta is already engaging with industry and organisations that are willing to partner with us in bringing this and other additive manufacturing production systems to the market. By working together, we can expedite its arrival, while leveraging Konica Minolta’s industry leading support capabilities, to the benefit of all manufacturers in Australia.” Another technology that is making […]

Top practices for a top-performing production floor

Quality is an area where local businesses can excel. The Australian manufacturing industry continues to face significant challenges that mean businesses need to find ways to evolve and outperform their competitors to remain viable. Competition from overseas manufacturers with lower costs and a strong Australian dollar have put pressure on local businesses in recent years. “However, there are signs the Australian manufacturing industry could be set for a comeback with manufacturing jobs increasing by 40,000 in the last 12 months. (1) This suggests Australian manufacturers have found new ways to compete and prove their relevance,” said Greg O’Loan, regional vice president, ANZ for Epicor Software. The most successful manufacturers tend to concentrate their efforts in three key areas: 1. Production planning and scheduling Manufacturers must first plan what products need to be produced to satisfy existing orders, then when these products can be made. There are four ways manufacturers can maximise production: Define existing capability for production: a realistic assessment of production capacity includes factors such as the availability of machine time, the flexibility of the various types of machines for different tasks, and the availability of skilled labour within the organisation. Improve accuracy of production scheduling: organisations must continuously refine both manufacturing processes and the time allocated to them. This may be achieved by storing the load time (the amount of time it takes for production) for each job operation and recalling this to improve scheduling accuracy for future quotations as well as for actual production. Use technology to enhance production control: an accurate schedule should be available not only to those in production planning, but also to people on the shop floor who may be actively managing or producing products. An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system has these capabilities and is flexible enough to accommodate changes. Communicate the […]

Advanced manufacturing hub opens in Geelong

The Victorian Government is bringing more manufacturing jobs to Geelong, with the official opening of the industrial innovation and accelerator hub, ManuFutures. The Victorian Government has invested $3 million towards the $13 million project to create a future for Geelong’s manufacturing future. The facility will focus on creating new products and driving the region’s transition to advanced manufacturing by leveraging Deakin University’s industry-focused research expertise. The new facility includes flexible manufacturing production space, lab space, serviced offices, reception, and meeting areas. Tenants will also benefit from co-location with Deakin University and have access to research teams, student placement programs, specialist technologies and equipment through various Deakin centres. So far, seven tenants have been secured, including Insight Engineering, HeiQ, Flaim Systems, Partington Advanced Engineering, FormFlow, Conflux Technology and The Smart Think. SEA Automotive has also been confirmed as a partner organisation.

An Aussie car maker – can it really be done?

It’s at least interesting to see another company floating the possibility of making cars here. ACE Electric Vehicles plans to make EVs in Nth Queensland, and says it can manufacture here at volumes of 10,000 a year. ACE says it will release its first vehicle by the 3rd quarter, with parts made in China and assembled here. “They are shipped to Australia and put together like Ikea,” MD Greg McGarvie told the SMH. Mr McGarvie said once demand increases all manufacturing will shift to Australia. “Once we hit around 10,000 units a year we can shift all building and manufacturing to Australia.” After the sad end of Tomcar, success would make it the country’s only car manufacturer. ACE wouldn’t be the first company in recent years saying they can make cars viably in Australia, and I’m not going to bash anyone for having a go (and wish them the very best of luck) but I’m skeptical. -Brent Balinski

Décor moves into Dandenong

After almost four decades at their architecturally designed office in Scoresby, it’s time for Décor to move house into newly renovated premises in Dandenong South. Décor has been making Australians everyday lives easier and more enjoyable for 60 years, with homewares that are beautiful, functional, affordable and made to last. Originating in Melbourne, Australia in 1958, Décor has built its reputation on design excellence, product innovation and trusted quality. Today there are over 500 products in the Décor range, including kitchen-ware, lunch and hydration, picnic-ware, garden-ware, baby products, brush-ware and other cleaning products. With a strong commitment to research and development, new products are continually being introduced. Iconic Décor products such as Match-ups food storers, Microsafe microwave containers and the Décor Garden pot range will be manufactured and warehoused right here in Dandenong, alongside head office operations. Producing in excess of 20 million products a year, Décor is an established leader within the Australian market and continues to invest heavily in product design and innovation. “Décor has enjoyed consistent year on year company growth and is now fully focused on driving huge opportunities both locally in Australia and expanding overseas. This strategic growth also includes exciting new innovations within existing product categories as well as expanding the offering across new homewares categories. Décor has always been laser-focused on smart consumer solutions and the move to our new head office in Dandenong will allow us the creative and logistical space to action our future growth plans” explained Anton McKernan, Décor Managing Director. The move cements Décor further into the Australian lifestyle landscape – more opportunities and more jobs for Australians, right here in Dandenong, Victoria.

Business loans ideal for short term investments in the industrial sector

While banks and other major lending institutions are turning short term investment financing into a drawn-out and useless process, Warbler Enterprise has brought a solution to the construction sector specifically to negate this problem. Apart from providing a turnaround in as little as 48 hours, the company has also eliminated the much hated administration and processing costs that otherwise fill the pockets of lawyers and brokers rather than the coffers of your business. And it is doing this for loan amounts ranging anywhere from $100,000 to $10 million for loan periods of one to six months – time frames which are vital for businesses in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. Spokesperson for the organisation,Val Pavlovic, says it was the added processing and establishment charges making most short-term finance a near-useless affair and in the end provided no benefit to those in the industrial sector needing short term finance that can be turned around quickly. “Warbler does things very differently,” he said. “We don’t ask the applicant company for many thousands of dollars up front for all manner of admin, brokering and processing fees; our charges are just $495 and that covers our due diligence on their business and valuation on equity.” “There is a set interest rate for the agreed period, so any business that applies knows exactly how much it is going to pay over the course of the short-term business loan. “And because we don’t have these annoying additional fees it makes it absolutely viable for companies that are seeking very short-term loans for up to six months. “While other lenders would expect tens of thousands of dollars in their own pockets above and beyond your interest payments for no valid reason over the short space of time which effectively makes other short-term lending useless.”

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Is a global trade war getting serious and how will it hurt Australian industry?

Despite what Donald Trump says a global trade war does not produce winners, only losers, with Australia likely to be one of the biggest losers. History tells us that economic growth and prosperity are strongest when trade is flowing, so the US’s imposition of tariffs on imports, and China’s escalating retaliations are particularly worrying. As a price taker of somewhat undifferentiated commodities rather than must-buy value added goods into the global economy we are always hit hard by global recessions. The US industries that are likely to be hit, and hit hard by China’s latest tit for tat tariffs on the US vary from high value aircraft and pharmaceuticals to all the basics of manufacturing such as meat processing. While one might imagine a bit of a lift for Australian wine, say into China, the reality of a trade war will be hard. What will be hit in Australia? Can Australia, and can manufacturers do anything to protect themselves from this looming war? -Peter Roberts

Compressed air expert lays foundation for further growth

BOGE managers look towards the future with optimism (from right to left: Wolf D. Meier-Scheuven, Michael Rommelmann, Gavin Monn, Ricarda Fleer and Thorsten Meier. Future investments, awards and new business models – the Bielefeld-based family-owned company BOGE can look back on a year full of high points. In 2017, the company was in step with its international customers once again with its advanced compressed air solutions. One highlight of the year was the opening of the smart factory at the head office in Bielefeld. Since September 2017, high speed turbo technology has been in series production there. The new “continuous improvement programme” was awarded a prize. This progressively enhances the compressors via ongoing further development in customer deployment. The mechanical engineering company is the first to bring this solution onto the market. Classic maintenance is therefore a thing of the past. BOGE has been synonymous with forward-looking compressed air solutions through intelligent engineering for 110 years. Its anniversary year saw the opening of the smart factory, and the company creating the preconditions to fulfil the high demands of individual customer compressed air solutions even better. In the digitalised factory, people, component and machine communicate with one another to produce the parts for the prizewinning BOGE HST high speed turbo compressor, specifically for the customer and to zero error quality. “Achieving this production line represented a major challenge for us”, says Wolf D. Meier-Scheuven, the managing partner. “Thanks to the advanced production technology we are now in a position to manufacture in many versions and with process reliability. This is innovative and demonstrates our response to the continuously increasing requirements of our customers.” In 2017, BOGE invested more than five per cent of its turnover in research and development; around twice as much as the average invested by companies in the […]

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