Smart Manufacturing

Australia on target to bring laser technology up to speed

The University of South Australia has been awarded a $1.8 million Federal Government contract to develop technology that underpins the next generation of high-powered lasers in Australia for the defence and manufacturing sectors. UniSA Professor of Laser Engineering, David Lancaster, will lead the three-year project, funded by the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), in collaboration with the University of Adelaide. Professor Lancaster, who heads one of the country’s leading laser and photonics manufacturing research laboratories at UniSA, will use the funding to help build sovereign manufacturing capability, bringing Australia up to speed with other developed nations. “High-powered lasers are increasingly being used in defence and manufacturing, but despite a long history of developing lasers in Australia, our technology is still relatively immature compared to other countries,” he says. “There is a substantial gap between the research outputs and the needs of our defence industry, so Australia has had to buy this technology from other countries, which is quite restrictive because most nations severely limit their exports of lasers.” Over the next three years, Prof Lancaster aims to build a new type of high-powered laser that combines multiple smaller lasers, fine tuning the manufacturing process so it is cheaper and more efficient. “In the past, I have worked on lasers that take years to build and cost millions of dollars. I think it’s more important to put years of effort to develop the technology and manufacturing processes to build many miniature and safer lasers which cost hundreds of dollars each. That is our aim.” UniSA’s Laser Physics and Photonics Devices Lab will manufacture the lasers and the University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensors will develop the specialist laser glass. Prof Lancaster says Australia’s universities and defence sector need to be more closely integrated to build sovereign independence […]

The secret of productivity growth is not technology

The idea that technology drives productivity growth is both a commonplace and a common frustration. Economies operating at or near the technological frontier have long seen sagging trend growth rates despite marvellous technology – from artificial intelligence to bioengineering to robotics – proliferating at breakneck speed. This matters because productivity, or output per input, pays for higher wages and is the foundation of long-run prosperity. In that sense, it matters most in rich economies where higher productivity growth would allow political debates to shift from (re-)distributing a relatively stagnant economic pie to sharing a growing one. Yet, there is an often-overlooked factor in the debate about technology and growth. Yes, technology undoubtedly plays a critical role, but we should think of it as the fuel of productivity growth. The spark is provided by tight labour markets, i.e. when firms are forced to better utilise technology because they cannot add labour easily. So how can cyclical tightness spur productivity growth? Which types of economies are set to benefit from this relationship? And why should policymakers see tight labour markets as both an opportunity and risk? Understanding the spark of productivity growth Availability is often not enough to prompt broad adoption and utilisation of technology – integration can be costly and there may be implementation risks. It is often easier for firms to continue to grow with the next incremental hire. When labour markets are tight and wage growth runs above long-run trends, however, firms will face downward pressure on margins even when revenue is growing. Such a pressure cooker economy can force executives, managers and workers to adopt and better utilise existing technology, instead of looking to an expensive labour market for extra capacity. The fuel of productivity growth is global, but the spark is local While the frontier of technology can diffuse […]

Treotham has lubrication-free igus spherical balls

Heavy dirt accumulation, dust and swarf are commonplace for pillow blocks and fixed flange bearings. Constant lubrication and maintenance is therefore necessary. With the injection-moulded igus spherical balls, customers can resort to a lubrication-free and maintenance-free solution for their metallic pillow blocks. igus has now developed new spherical balls made of the high-performance plastic iglidur J, specifically for cost-effective sheet metal housings. Metal and lubrication are found close together in mechanical engineering. igus proves that this does not always have to be the case. The motion plastics specialist has developed its igubal exchangeable spherical balls especially for pillow blocks and fixed flange bearings with metallic housings. These consist of the high-performance polymer iglidur J, which reduces costs since lubrication and maintenance are eliminated. The use of polymers prevents dirt and dust from settling in the bearing, which additionally reduces the sealing and prevents an unplanned machine downtime. The use of exchange bearings is also suitable in agriculture and farming, in the food industry or in plant and mechanical engineering. The igubal spherical balls come directly from injection moulding and are therefore cost-effective. Within a few seconds, they can be mounted in place of ball bearings in existing classic metallic pillow blocks and flange bearing housings and now also in low-cost sheet metal housings. The bearing system consisting of sheet metal housing and igubal spherical ball is available from Treotham. The plastic spherical ball has a high durability and its service life can be easily calculated online. Lubrication-free operation thanks to iglidur J The spherical balls made of iglidur J are not only cost-effective, but also have a very low coefficient of friction in dry operation. The material absorbs only a little moisture, so that the use of the spherical balls is also suitable for outdoors. Due to the chemical resistance […]

South Korean patent granted for Archer’s quantum computing chip

Growing Australian small cap, Archer Materials Limited, has announced the granting of a Republic of Korea patent associated with the company’s 12CQ quantum computing chip technology. The Korean Patent is a significant commercial milestone in the development of the 12CQ chip and in the Company’s efforts to access global markets. South Korea is a major global manufacturer and exporter of semiconductor chip devices, with its conglomerates, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, among the top producers of semiconductors in the world. The KR Patent application successfully underwent substantive examination procedures by the Korean Intellectual Property Office, which has over 1 million patents in force. South Korea has the highest number of patents per unit of GDP and the country files patents most heavily in electronic equipment (top ranked globally) and computing technology. Together with the US and China, South Korea is one of the most competitive jurisdictions for patent granting. Patent protection in South Korea is required for any future commercial operations in the country and provides Archer with access to a top 5 innovation economy to exploit IP rights related to the 12CQ chip with a duration of patent right up until Dec 2036. South Korea has named investment in its world-leading semiconductor industry, with the country committing to invest US$450 billion through to 2030, the bulk of which coming from companies, including US$150 billion by Samsung Electronics and US$200 billion by SK Hynix. Archer will need patent protection in South Korea if the Company is to participate in the country’s semiconductor industry. Commenting on the grant of the South Korean patent, Archer CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair said: “Archer’s quantum computing chip IP is now well protected in South Korea – home to some of the world’s largest chipmakers, and a critical part of the global semiconductor supply chain. “We […]

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Wind power assembly challenge cuts time and labour input by half

A challenge to reduce the assembly times of wind power generator couplings has resulted in a halving of the time and labour taken to do the job – and increased the safety of the job as well. The Australian Technofast Industries hydraulic fastening company was asked by a US operation of a major European manufacturer to improve the efficiency of the operation to help meet burgeoning demand for its products. “There are now more than 340,000 wind turbines on the planet, generating more than 700 GWe of power, and the total is increasing exponentially. So any operation that improves efficiency and safety of production is very welcome and applicable to thousands of applications,” said Technofast CEO John Bucknell. Technofast’s challenge was to develop an alternative to older methods of fastening – such as torque wrenches – to cut the assembly time of the shrink disc coupling which joins the turbine to the generator of the design involved. The coupling consists of tapered components which are fixed using an array of bolts grouped together to make a friction drive designed to be capable of slipping under extreme load to protect the generator from damage in service. Technofast produced a custom-engineered EziTite hydraulic bolt incorporating a flexible base, which allows the unit to absorb movement of the of the flange being bolted during assembly without damage to any part of the system. “The operation – which is applicable to a wide range of applications in the power industry – used to take eight-to-ten hours using two crews of six-to-eight workers to do a consecutive torque tightening routine. “So we have cut time and labour needs at least in half, while also solving the OHS issues of fatigue from holding up individual wrenches involved in the job. The large crews doing the job […]

DGL acquires freehold property of its chemical manufacturing operation in Victoria

DGL Group Limited a specialist chemicals business that manufactures, transports, stores and processes chemicals and hazardous waste, is pleased to announce the acquisition of a property at 120 Fulton Drive, Derrmiut, Victoria for a total consideration of $5.5mil. The site houses the head office of Chem Pack Pty Ltd (Chem Pack) and includes warehouse facilities purpose built for the formulation and storage of chemicals. The property is locatedapproximately 20km from the Melbourne CBD and benefits from access to the main arterials including the Western Freeway and Western Ring Road. Under the acquisition of Chem Pack, DGL obtained an option to purchase various properties owned by Chem Pack vendors that Chem Pack operates from in Fulton Drive. After completion of relevant due diligence 120 Fulton Drive was selected as the property most crucial to the business of Chem Pack and most complimentary to the broader DGL Group. The acquisition is in accordance with DGL’s broader strategy to own the specialised sites from which it operates, which also encompasses the relevant licenses that the business requires foroperations, thus ensuring that DGL can design and upgrade the properties to meet the bespoke needs of the business. Founder and CEO of DGL, Simon Henry, said: “DGL has always had a strong focus on owning its own sites. This allows us to invest for the long term in the capital-intensive infrastructure required for the safe production and management of chemicals. This is not always possible on a leased site.”

World first – 3D printing of equipment parts for Aussie red meat processors

The Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) together with Markforged and Konica Minolta are working together to establish a world-first, industry-owned additive manufacturing (3D printing) service model to help red meat processors across Australia to print equipment parts, revolutionising equipment maintenance to help ensure continuous supply of meat products. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has been around for about a decade; however, new uses for the technology are constantly being discovered. This led AMPC to investigate its potential in meat processing facilities. In a high-volume environment like a processing plant, parts such as bolts and rollers can wear or break. As in any industry, time is money, and if a part fails the result is lost productivity and expensive down-time until the part is sourced and replaced. With 3D printing, the industry can benefit from part replacement, creation, and refinement. Chris Taylor, CEO, Australian Meat Processor Corporation, said, “Meat processors rely on a multitude of equipment, with multiple components. Even a small component failure can be a costly exercise. The ability to simply print a replacement part could drastically reduce downtime and minimise the need to wait for parts, reducing the chance of supply being at risk.” Matthew Hunter, Innovation Product Marketing Manager, Konica Minolta, said, “The need for sovereign capability for the Australian supply chain coupled with Australian government support for local food and beverage manufacturing has resulted organisations looking to adopt innovative practices. Konica Minolta Australia is proud to partner with AMPC in getting this world-first capability off the ground.” Richard Elving, Director of Sales Asia-Pacific, Markforged, said, “We are very excited about bringing Markforged’s Digital Forge to AMPC and AMPC’s members to support maintenance, repair and operation needs. Supply chain issues can be costly and time-sensitive, and with these tools in place, AMPC will provide a […]

Marr awarded heavy lifting contract in WA

Marr Contracting Pty Ltd (The Men From Marr’s), has been awarded the contract to deliver specialised heavy lifting crane services on the construction of the East Rockingham Waste to Energy Project in Western Australia. The AU$511 million project located in the Kwinana Industrial Area, 40 kilometres south of Perth, will be the second large-scale waste to energy (WtE) plant in Australia. With capacity to process 300,000 tonnes of residual waste from non-recyclable commercial and industrial sources every year, East Rockingham WtE will deliver a cost-effective waste treatment solution and a vital source of dispatachable renewable energy to the City of Perth. After ACCIONA and their partner, Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), were awarded the lead contract for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) on the project in 2019, ACCIONA contacted Marr Contracting to work with them to develop a lifting strategy and craneage methodology that supported thier modular construction. The geotechnical conditions of the greenfield site, which is located in a high wind area close to the coast, posed a number of challenges that ACCIONA wished to address based on experiences on similar projects completed or currently under construction. Their primary concern was to find a solution that would reduce the number of lifting activities during the construction of the project. Marr’s solution – using a 330-tonne capacity M2480D Heavy Lift Luffer (HLL) – will allow critical lifts, weighing up to 150 tonnes, to be completed by a single crane from a fixed location, with a total site covearge of over 32,000 square meters and an ability to place 25 tonnes anywhere within that coverage. “Working closely with ACCIONA’s construction team during the early stages of the project, we’ve been able to design a simple craneage solution that will help to reduce congestion and improve safety on-site. “This is a great example […]

KLINGER Australia enhances production capacity

KLINGER Australia has just commissioned a new cutting machine on their shop floor in Western Australia that will increase current production capacity in the manufacture of soft-cut gaskets. Bringing the latest technology in design and functionality, KLINGER’s new Atom knife cutter system adds a new level of excellence to its existing, quality range of production machinery. ‘Our enhanced scope of soft cutting machinery means we can improve productivity and capacity in soft cut gasket manufacturing by 50%’ states Kevin Woolley; Managing Director ‘Its customisable, automatic nesting system and user-friendly interface provide benefits such as reduced process times and maximised material yield. These benefits translate into increased efficiencies and a reduction in material wastage’ explains Antonio Pacca; Warehouse & Logistics Manager. ‘It’s considerably faster and easier for my team to set up each production run because it removes a lot of the complexity. Firstly the interface is very easy to navigate, with popular options like finding different materials and sheet sizes for example at the click of a button. Secondly the overhead projectors enable us to directly see how the different gasket types are positioned on the sheet material. “This means we can very quickly and easily make the necessary adjustments to nesting, to get the most out of the sheet material.’ explains Ron Judge; Production Supervisor Ron has worked at KLINGER for 37 years and has witnessed how automation has evolved in the production facility, from using 13 presses many years ago to 3 machines today; delivering the same level of output. ‘There’s been a significant shift in production quality and consistency over the years compared to machinery used back in the day’ mentions Ron. KLINGER Australia’s production capabilities include the manufacture of standard and custom-made soft-cut, metallic and semi-metallic gaskets. This provides customers in Australia and nearby countries in […]

The future of work:Management platform meets the needs

Integrated employee experience features set a new bar for advanced workforce management solutions designed for global enterprises WorkForce Software has a Suite of enterprise SaaS-based workforce management solutions with a fully integrated set of employee experience (EX) capabilities, designed to facilitate meaningful, in-the-moment interactions between managers and deskless employees. Critical capabilities delivered in the newest release include two-way communications and real-time workforce data, which managers can use to engage staff, capture feedback, and act on employee sentiment. Harnessing these digital interactions through the WorkForce Suite can drive more effective employee engagement, provide for a safer, more compliant work environment, and boost employee retention for greater organisational resiliency and agility. “In our work with some of the largest global employers, we can see that focusing on improvements to employee experience are being prioritised even more highly than before the pandemic,” said Mike Morini, CEO of WorkForce Software. “A tightening labor market, lower barriers to job change, and an increasingly diverse and digitally native employee population with higher expectations creates a demand for employers to re-imagine their workforce management technology and include solutions aimed at improving the employee experience.” Today, there are 2.7 billion deskless workers in the global workforce—many of whom indicate a disconnect due to a growing technology gap, which makes it difficult for employers to communicate with employees and keep their workforce engaged at scale. A recent survey conducted by WorkForce Software revealed a significant disparity in how employers and employees perceive the digital and technological support provided to meet workplace needs. According to the report, employers felt they had provided adequate job training, employee recognition, and scheduling flexibility, among other criteria, but many employees surveyed disagreed. This disconnect further exacerbates the struggle many organisations face to retain talented employees. Companies can no longer afford to consider solutions primarily […]

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