Manufacturing Technology

Getting the right information to the right place

The AVR Lab, a leading supplier of augmented and virtual reality (AVR) technology and services announces their partnership with Gemvision, bringing the Gemvision’s Communication Platform as a Service (CPAAS) to the Australian and New Zealand markets. The Gemvision (CPAAS) platform gives engineers, healthcare workers, electricians, technicians, that are hands-on workers, their hands and of course their mind to get the job done. Well-trained employees are getting harder to find, while service and maintenance standards are getting higher. Effective communication, fast remote resolution times and first-time-fix-rates are extremely important for keep the client happy and the costs in check. This is not limited to industry. Whether it be healthcare, maritime, protective services or manufacturing, we find similar use cases where the Gemvision solution fits seamlessly to support business excellence. With Gemvision you can: § Give and receive remote work instructions and connect to remote colleagues to ’share your view’ through smart glasses or mobile devices. § Remotely control the camera of smart glasses and mobile devices during support video calls § Live annotate, capture pictures, record video streams, share your screen and more to get the right information to the right place. § Do routine maintenance checks and inspections with workflows to rapidly access checklists, audit forms, troubleshooting guides and easy submission when fulfilled. § Capture and share expert knowledge with field workers § Offer standardised workflows for employee training § Offer on demand access for field workers for procedures, manuals, checklists, workflows etc. § Integrate with management software that manage your jobs, tasks, work orders etc. § Use voice commands to be truly hands-free while working with smart glasses in the field. § Integrate with a multitude of CRM, IoT, ERP, Analytics and Service platforms, providers and technology. “When we identify new partners for the ANZ territory they not only […]

Very smart Australian manufacturing

Solar-powered furniture offers off-grid connection South Australian outdoor furniture brand Sedi has developed bespoke benches and shelter options for smart cities and regional areas. Bronte Modra, the director of Adelaide-based modular engineering company Specialised Solutions, created the Sedi range of park benches, parklets and bus stops in February 2019. The smart shelters are built from sustainable timber and steel and have solar-powered lighting, integrated charging ports, WIFI and informational screens that all run off a battery. Modra said he created Sedi to fill a large hole in the Australian manufacturing market created by the burgeoning smart city movement. “People want to be connected to the furniture and to the web, and the greater society,” said Modra. “Everyone talks about smart cities but no one is really delivering a piece of smart furniture here. “We just saw a real need and something that we could make out of our existing facility.” The Sedi office is located at the Tonsley innovation district alongside technology companies such as SAGE Automation, which, together with JPE Design Studio, helped develop the furniture. Modra decided to make the units “off-grid” to attract buyers who couldn’t connect to a power source. “It being solar-powered gives us a lot more flexibility to where the Sedi is placed,” he said. “With Sedi we can go to regional, remote locations and open up connectivity there. “It’s also cost-saving measure for councils to install in the park [as] service connections are fairly expensive.” Modra said they weren’t “reinventing the wheel” with the furniture’s individual technological features, however these add-ons were compounded to develop a new brand of smart furniture fit for a multitude of environments. “We would like to see them absolutely everywhere: the typical bus stops on your streets, your typical parks, council parks and reserves,” he said. “But we’re really trying to tap into […]

X5 FastMig for arc-welding productivity

Kemppi, has released its new X5 FastMig multi-process welding system for MIG, DC TIG and stick welding (MMA) as well as gouging. Designed in conjunction with professional welders specifically for steel welding, the X5 FastMig delivers a range of features to help significantly enhance arc welding productivity. Built using energy-efficient inverter technology, the X5 FastMig offers faster welding and quality welds thanks to Touch Sense Ignition, effortless operation, excellent welding ergonomics and flexible equipment setup. Faster welding, better quality welds Built to perform, the X5 FastMig features the latest in ignition technology – Touch Sense Ignition – as standard in all available models. When combined with WiseSteel software, which also comes as standard with every model, the X5 delivers precise ignition capability and stable arc control. It tackles the challenges of globular arc by alternating between short arc and spray transfer. In short-circuit transfer, it improves the arc stability adaptively, provding better out-of-position steel welding capabilities. In spray transfer mode, micropulsing of the current and voltage increases travel speed significantly. In doing so, the X5 helps to minimise the spatter produced by a traditional globular arc, as well as the need for post weld cleaning, saving the welder both valuable time and cost, while helping to deliver better quality welds. For more challenging applications, the arc control can be further optimised with optional welding programs and Wise special processes. Effortless operation Designed to be hassle-free, the X5 FastMig is very easy to operate. It features a large, graphical and impact-resistant TFT display panel that illustrates all the required information clearly and without the use of abbreviations. Welding parameters are set automatically when the user adjusts the wire feed speed. And memory channels are also available to customise and save personal settings. Easy to use, the operating basics of the X5 […]

Case Study:Scan Xpress steps up to the mark

Silvertone UAV develop, design, and manufacture unmanned aerial vehicles with flexible payload capabilities. One of their drone aircraft systems, the Flamingo Mk3, carries a heavy package of telemetry and sensor equipment. To improve flight efficiency, the pannier bracket that attaches the sensor package to the fuselage and supports the landing gear had a requirement to be re-designed to a lightweight alternative that retained the same mechanical performance. Enter Topology Optimisation and Additive Manufacturing – The existing design was put through Altair’s design topology optimization software to produce an organic freeform design that satisfied the required loading and boundary conditions. The resulting geometry from topology optimisation is usually not well suited to traditional manufacturing methods. However, additive manufacturing producing components via a layer-wise manner and has no limitation on the geometry that can be produced. Amiga Engineering were contracted to manufacture this topology optimised component. The specimen was printed in Gr23 Titanium on a 3D systems ProX DMP machine in one continuous build. The manufactured component achieved a significant weight reduction – 800 grams down from the original 4 kilograms, improved balance and rigidity, enhanced safety, longer flight times, increased payload capacity and better battery efficiency. Scan-Xpress was contracted to measure the manufactured component using the high resolution ATOS Q and to perform critical quality control checks prior to installation. The ATOS Q optical measuring system from GOM is well suited to measuring organic and free form surfaces generated from topology optimization including the pannier bracket. Traditional measuring methods such as tactile CMMs would struggle to measure and obtain enough discrete points to make an assessment of the state of build of components such as the pannier bracket. The ATOS Q sensor projects a phase shifting fringe pattern across the measuring surface to collect millions of points to generate an accurate […]

Five decades strong: Neumann Steel turns 50

Established in 1970, Neumann Steel, (part of The Neumann Group of companies), celebrates half a century in business and sets its sights on the next five decades. The oldest, family-run reinforcing steel business in the country, Neumann Steel has grown from a tenacious operation to a proudly Australian-owned and operated company, today employing over 220 people. Run by second generation directors – Marc and Paul Neumann along with Mark Shearman – as part of the wider Neumann Group, the steel business has flourished over the decades due to its ability to provide the market with products and service that exceeds customer expectations. “We’ve always innovated, delivering steel solutions to support projects big and small,” said Director Marc Neumann. “In the 1980s we were the first in the country to innovate with rib wire and rib mesh, transitioning it to the domestic market. We’ve always been responsive, serving our customers’ needs, no matter the size of the job.” The company has had a hand in many prolific projects including the Q1 tower, Jewel Resort, the Gold Coast Light Rail, the Toowoomba Range Crossing and more. Neumann Steel are also proud to be the supplier of choice for residential home builders throughout south east Queensland and the Hunter Region. “Over five decades we’ve supplied reinforcing steel solutions to a wide variety of major infrastructure projects and large-scale developments, always with a view to delivering the best product possible for the desired customer outcome.” The resilience required to combat the tumultuous ‘boom and bust’ of the building industry has long established Neumann Steel and the wider Neumann Group as stayers in a volatile sector. General Manager, Kathy Bartley, believes this has to do with the company’s ability to listen to the market and produce products that have constructed a steadfast reputation […]

Manufacturing in the solar industry flourishing

The Australian solar industry is one of the few industries that hasn’t had to rely on overseas products. Despite the impact of Covid-19 on imports, manufacturing in the solar industry has been flourishing. Solar Mounting company Clenergy and local manufacturer Capral Aluminum recently partnered to produce a locally manufactured aluminum solar mounting rail known as the ‘Cutter Rail’. The following Q&A for Australian Manufacturing News www.australianmanufacturingnews.com has been answered by Sean Guzzi, National Channel Manager at Clenergy and Peter Darvell, General Manager South West Region at Capral Aluminium. What’s the current state of the solar industry and how do you see this growing in the future? Sean Guzzi: “Solar panels are getting larger and more efficient every day. From 2010, the dimensions of a solar panel were 1580 x 808mm (1.28m²), and today in 2020 it is about 1956 x 992mm (1.94m²), which is almost double in size. “As solar panels grow, the rails to mount the panel also have to grow. Just like a frame is to a painting, solar mounting equipment is to the solar panel. The mounting equipment aids to fasten the solar to the roof or the ground, using either the roof battens (which is the main structure of the house), concrete, or even ground screws, and provides enhanced aesthetics to the final solar project. ” As the solar panels adapt to the market with the desire for bigger solar systems, we at Clenergy adjust and grow to fit this new environment.” How does manufacturing locally help the industry? Sean Guzzi: “Clenergy was founded in 2007, and back then we predicted to be competitive within the market, we had to manufacture our products overseas. “Today, thirteen years later, we offer a locally made mounting structure, which is a first for the Australian solar industry. This helps […]

Getac first manufacturer to bring integrated LiFi technology to rugged mobile computing market

Getac is working closely with selected strategic customers to commercialise new solution based on specific industry applications and requirements Getac has announced that it is bringing integrated Light Fidelity (LiFi) technology powered by pureLiFi to the rugged market for the first time. The announcement means customers across a wide range of professional sectors will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of fully rugged reliability and innovative LiFi connectivity in a single device, unlocking a host of powerful new applications and use cases. Previously, users wishing to capitalise on the benefits of LiFi technology had to rely on a USB dongle plugged into the side of their device. This approach is highly vulnerable to even the slightest knock or drop, making it unviable in many working environments, such as those found in the defence, public safety, automotive, energy and manufacturing sectors. With this announcement, users across these sectors will be able to purchase a fully rugged solution with LiFi technology fully integrated into the device. The first Getac device to offer integrated LiFi capability will be the recently launched UX10 fully rugged tablet. LiFi technology: Secure, high quality, light-based connectivity LiFi technology uses light to transmit data rather than radio frequency, which is the case with traditional technologies such as WiFi, LTE, 4G and 5G. This innovative approach has a number of benefits over RF-based technologies including: Improved privacy and security: Light can be more easily contained than radio waves, and secured in a physical space. As a result, it is much less vulnerable to hacking or hijacking, while giving greater control over network localisation, asset tracking and user authentication. Superior connection quality: LiFi offers a thousand times the data density of RF-based networks, resulting in enhanced reliability and interference free communications. LiFi also doesn’t interfere with RF signals, meaning […]

Verizon Business takes private 5G global

Verizon Business has announced the launch of its international private 5G platform for global enterprises located in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Delivered in partnership with Nokia, the offering will enable businesses to deploy a private industrial grade dedicated 5G network capability within their premises. In addition to ultra-low latency and increased speed, a key benefit of a private 5G network is the ability for businesses, particularly those with manufacturing, distribution and logistics facilities, to deploy a customised on-site mobile network, eliminating the need to transmit data through public networks. “We’ve announced the next phase of Verizon’s global 5G vision with the launch of private 5G for our international customers,” said Tami Erwin, CEO, Verizon Business. “If the past few months have taught us anything, it’s that there’s never been a more critical time for mobility, broadband and cloud products and services. Private 5G networks will be a transformative technology that will drive the new era of disruption and innovation for enterprises around the world.” A private 5G network is a self-contained network whose components all reside in a single facility, consisting of micro towers and small cells and connects to an organisation’s Local Area Network (LAN) and enterprise applications. It will utilise Nokia’s Digital Automation Cloud, a private wireless network solution with automation enablers that will allow for application deployment through a web-based interface. “Private wireless connectivity has become central to many industries in realising their long-term digital transformation goals. By delivering private 5G together with Verizon, we’re paving the way to accelerate digitalisation for the most demanding industries who crave reliable wireless connectivity,” said Brian R. Fitzgerald, SVP Global Solutions at Nokia. Verizon has been leading global efforts around 5G. In addition to its 5G Lab and production studio in London, the Company recently announced a 5G roaming […]

Why manufacturers should consider 3D and robotics to innovate following the federal budget

COVID-19 has brought the importance of Australian supply chains to the fore. As overseas supply chains came to a halt, industries here were significantly impacted as supplies depleted. This prompted the government to consider an initiative that could sustain local manufacturing. The $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy was announced in the 2020-2021 federal budget. [1] The Australian government is also providing a further tax incentive that will write off the value of assets for businesses, with more information yet to be released. The funding aims to give the manufacturing industry a chance to reinvigorate and innovate. Manufacturers are encouraged to implement cost-effective practices, which will give smaller manufacturers the opportunity to improve efficiency and competitiveness. The funding will modernise factories, increase exports, and secure a sovereign capability across six priority sectors, including: resources technology and critical minerals; food and beverage; medical products; clean energy and recycling; defence; and space. Taking advantage of the funds, Australian manufacturers can improve operations and increase opportunities with new technology, like robotics and 3D printing, according to Konica Minolta. Using robots to innovate offers many advantages to various activities for manufacturers. Two significant benefits include: 1. Improving warehouses or factory operations. Employees spend a significant amount of time moving goods around the warehouse or factory. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) automate the transportation of pallets and heavy loads and can streamline up to 46 per cent of routine tasks. [2] By taking people off manual tasks and using a robot instead, employees can be deployed to areas of more value. Martin Keetels, national manager – emerging technologies, Konica Minolta, said, “For companies in a position to set up a new warehouse, implementing a robotic system will provide an almost immediate return on investment (ROI). However, companies with existing facilities don’t have to redesign to automate; […]

Schneider Electric Canada Inc--Schneider Electric digitizes load

TeSys Island a leap forward for OEMs in their Industry 4.0 journey

To make machines smarter and help reduce machine stoppages and downtime for unprecedented productivity, Schneider Electric has, launched TeSys Island – a digital load management system – in Australia. The new connected system digitally integrates multifunction motor starters into machine control panels, allowing fast installation and configuration for the direct control and management of low voltage loads thanks to an end-to-end digital customer experience. TeSys Island’s innovative object-orientated concept of TeSys avatars acts as a digital replica on top of the physical devices to facilitate integration and allows faster time to market. This approach lets users focus on machine design, load integration, control and simplifies the selection and commissioning of each electro-mechanical component. Due to integration with the industrial fieldbus, TeSys Island eliminates the need for auxiliary wiring and therefore reduces the need for I/O modules. Once in operation as part of Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Machine solution, TeSys Island helps minimise machine stoppages by providing easy and secured access diagnostic data for engineering and maintenance personnel by generating pre-alarms when unusual electrical load behavior is detected. Operators can access information remotely and set up timely intervention by maintenance personnel. This unprecedented level of data enables more accurate decision making to all users and reveals the secrets of the machine in operation. TeSys Island provides comprehensive device health, load level energy consumption, and application-specific protection data. Asset identification data is also available to track installations and support the development of new service enabled business models. As part of the renowned TeSys range, TeSys Island can be easily integrated into Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Machine architecture and 3rd party automation systems; supporting all major fieldbuses. Automation integration is simplified, as are programming, testing, and commissioning. The system manages motors and other electrical loads up to 80A, and electrical and mechanical configurations can be […]

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