016
INDUSTRY NEWS
Ronson Gears shoots for the stars with Lockheed Martin Satellites produced by Lockheed Martin will carry Australian-made precision gear components into space, manufactured by Melbourne-based Ronson Gears. In the last year, Lockheed Martin has signed five contracts with Ronson Gears under its Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program agreement with the Commonwealth. This makes the gear manufacturer, headquartered in Highett, Victoria, the first-ever Australian company to supply precision gear components that will be carried into space. Ronson is providing prototype gears for the Common Solar Array Drive Assembly (CSADA), which will be utilised on several Lockheed Martin satellite platforms. The CSADA performs key functions, including the deployment and rotation of the solar cell arrays that power the spacecraft. This helps ensure they remain optimally positioned towards the Sun. Additionally, Ronson has been awarded a contract for the delivery of anti-backlash output gears. Designed to perform with tight tolerances, these components will be integrated into a subassembly that will be used on several satellite programs. “The agreements with Ronson Gears reinforce Lockheed Martin’s commitment to developing Australia’s space sector,” said Joe North, Lockheed Martin Australia Chief Executive. “Our collaboration with local research and industry partners, like Ronson, demonstrates that Australia has the capabilities here and now to participate in Space.” Lockheed Martin follows a rigorous qualification process to ensure gold-standard manufacturing practices. It’s critical that the components it uses are designed to withstand the extreme environment of space. Ronson Gears met these standards and demonstrated its ability to maintain precision over the lifetime of the spacecraft. “Coming from the automotive industry, it was important that we prioritise innovation and invest in digital technologies that could enhance precision across our production processes – especially for a Space environment,” commented Gavin New, General Manager, Ronson Gears. “From our first introduction, Lockheed Martin has been collaborative and supported our vision. We’re proud to be the first Australian company to supply precision gear components that will be carried into space.”
New is the most recent graduate of Lockheed Martin’s Program Management Institute (PMI), with Australia being the only non-US market approved for non-Lockheed Martin employees to attend. Because of the pioneering work that companies like Ronson Gears have accomplished, Lockheed Martin Space procurement teams are continually scanning Australia to identify potential technology partners for its global supply chains. This includes everything from machined parts to software and even propulsion technologies. “The Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program is uniquely Australian and provides the local market with access to Lockheed Martin’s global programs,” added Christopher Hess, Head of Industrial Development, Lockheed Martin Australia. “We’re continuously identifying new opportunities for Ronson Gears to contribute to our missions, and applaud their dedication to supporting innovative initiatives such as IoT technologies.” These agreements also represent downstream supply chain opportunities for Ronson Gears’ partners, including Heat Treatment Australia and Electromold Australia. Their hardening processes and magnetic particle inspection, respectively, are evidence of the world-class capabilities available in Australia to the space industry. www.ronsongears.com.au
Nine in ten Australians believe Australia should produce more locally New consumer research from Roy Morgan has found that nine in ten (89%) Australians believe Australia should be producing more products locally following the COVID-19 pandemic. The research found that Australians’ key motivations to manufacture locally were to reduce Australia’s reliance on other countries (38%), create jobs (26%), support Australian business and industry (26%), a safeguard for vulnerable international supply chains (20%), and to strengthen Australia’s economy (16%). “Australia’s over-reliance on imported products has been highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Australian Made Chief Executive, Ben Lazzaro. “This research indicates that Australians are placing priority on manufacturing self-sufficiency and job creation, along with a renewed appetite to address the imbalance between locally made and imported products, to ensure Australia’s long-term prosperity.” The preference for Australian-made products was already high before the COVID-19 pandemic, with Roy Morgan research in January finding 88% of Australians were more likely to buy products
AMT OCT/NOV 2020
made in Australia. Since the pandemic, more than half of Australians (52%) say they now have an even higher preference for Australianmade products. Roy Morgan CEO, Michele Levine, said “The impact of COVID-19 on Australians is unprecedented in so many ways, not least of which is our shopping behaviour. More Australians are now organising delivery of products; doing online research prior to making a purchase; shopping online, both in stores they would usually visit and different stores. And critically since COVID-19, Australians have an ever greater preference for Australian Made products.” The research found that since the start of the pandemic, 37% of Australians are conducting more research online prior to purchasing products. Data from Australian Made’s website supports this finding, with traffic more than doubling in April to June compared to the same period prior.
