Industry Update April/May 2022 Issue 125

Industry Update

AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST CIRCULATING MANUFACTURING MAGAZINE

MANUFACTURING GROWTH “More Australian manufacturers are Technology to drive future manufacturing exporting under the Coalition Government.

Australian manufacturing is set to of infrastructure projects – particularly in New continue its unexpected wave of growth South Wales, and when you view this against a throughout 2018 and beyond, buoyed by

by Claire Moffat background of robust global economic growth, unprecedented infrastructure investment the opportunities are there for manufacturing to he FederalAussie Government of the National Manufacturing and a weakened dollar. has prosper.” a vision to meld high level

For every $1 of revenue the sector generates, 28 cents comes from abroad. That’s up from 23 cents a decade ago,” says Senator Cash.

Priorities of Space, Defence,

technology with traditional The growth of the manufacturing sector hasRecycling and Clean Energy, Bizarrely, the threat of a global trade war manufacturing to create a “smart been charted by the Ai Group Performance of Medical Products, Food and seems and to have worked in favour of Australian manufacturing” sector. In an Beverage, Resources Manufacturing Index, which peaked in March Technology and Critical Minerals exclusive interview with Industry industry – in the short term at least – by softening toUpdate, a record the highMinister while marking consecutive Processing. for18 Industry, the value of the Aussie dollar. months of and growth.

Energy Emissions Reduction “Over the next 12 months

Besa Deda from St.George also sees positives in the manufacturing employment statistics. “Although manufacturing employment as a proportion of the economy as a whole is in a long-term decline, the recent gains are encouraging,” she says, pointing to nearly 10,000 new manufacturing jobs and increasing capital expenditure plans in the sector.

more today than we did a decade ago. Australian exporters have, in fact, sold $2.7 trillion to the global economy over the last decade.

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Angus Taylor, outlined the three the Government will work with Nonetheless, the nation’s reliance on export Besaof Deda is Chief Economist for pillars its integrated manufacindustry to finalise Manufacturing markets has increased in recent years. According turing, energy and emissions Plans for each priorSt.George Bank, and having analysedplan. the data Investment to Minister for Jobs and Innovation Senator Taylor has previously stated ity sector to guide further longis keen to highlight the continuing improvement that manufacturing is an essential termMichaelia investment in Australian Cash: “Australia’s access to global One word of warning, though, comes from indriver some ofofthe subindexes of the Australian PMI.manufacturing.” skills, jobs and capability. international markets will be fundamental to financial analyst illion, which noted in its most “It’s particularly encouraging,” she says, “that the “The ability to make things here According to Taylor, if Australia the continued health and success of our local recent Australian Business Expectations Survey new is at a record high.” andorders do itsubindex well is critical to our econ- is strong in those areas then the that one in three manufacturers had reported manufacturing industry. omy and our economic plan.” country will have a sustainable Andfocus, while she cautious about Australia’s The heisexplained, was to manufacturing sector. customers suppliers become insolvent or The Minister for Industry,or Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor “We export more than $20 Continued on billion page 6 a year continue building oninvolving the success exposure to any trade war China unable to pay them in the preceding 12 months,

and the USA, Besa Deda points to a combination of factors fuelling the growth of the manufacturing sector. “There’s a bulging pipeline

36

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® 2022 $12.00 inc.GST Issue 125 April/May

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CONTENTS 4

From the Publisher

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Industry News

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Industry Politics

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2 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

MANUFACTURING MAGAZINE Circulation 19,242 Readership 76,968 as at September 2018

All material in this publication is copyright to the publisher and/or its contributors. No material may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written consent from the Publisher. It is a condition of purchase or acceptance of this magazine that the Publisher does not assume any responsibility or liability for any loss or damage which may result from any inaccuracy or omission on this publication or from the use of the information in this publication or from the use of the information and illustrations contained herein and the Publisher makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to any of the material contained herein. © Copyright Industry Update Media Pty Ltd 2022 Publisher SCOTT FILBY scott@industryupdate.com.au

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

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Claire Moffat

The amazing Australian manufacturing industry

Six weeks can be a long time

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n my thirty-year manufacturing media career, I have been constantly amazed at how resilient the Australian manufacturing industry has been, to not only survive, but thrive.

Australia’s manufacturers have had to manage incredible change; some did not survive, whilst others took their operations offshore to compete with an ever-shrinking world market that made it virtually impossible for Aussie manufacturers to compete with lower cost labour in emerging Asian economies.

Yet, through it all, we have survived and now it is turning full circle. Who would have ever imagined that a worldwide pandemic’s silver lining would prove to Australians that it is essential for our country to have a strong and vibrant manufacturing industry that isn’t reliant on other nations! The onshoring trend will continue to build momentum and Industry Update Media will be here to keep each of you up to date through excellent reporting from our growing editorial department.

Australian Manufacturing Week There are some great surprises instore for visitors to the highly anticipated reinvention of the National Manufacturing Week and AUSTECH trade shows. AMTIL has taken full control of the two shows and for the first time in ten years AUSTECH makes an exciting return to Sydney so don’t miss this opportunity to checkout this first post COVID-19 trade shows. Stands sold out long ago which means industry is expecting a significant turnout.

Industry Update is exhibiting, and you can visit us at stand MT34.

Workplace Health & Safety Show No one in Australia runs a better safety event than Marie Kingsella & the IEC Group. The first WHSS of 2022 is Melbourne and it promises to be worth the visit. An exciting addition to the safety industry event landscape, WHSS is the official exhibition of #SAFETYSCAPE. This all-encompassing safety event will also include numerous conferences produced by the Australian Institute of Health & Safety and associated partners.

Visit Industry Update’s stand at F10 and see our safety feature from page 58.

F AU REE ST SH RA IP LIA PI W NG ID E

Australian Made Week In 2021, the Australian Made Campaign launched Australian Made Week which was such an incredible success that it will now be held annually. From this edition of Industry Update we will publish an every-edition editorial update about Australian Made Week, so if you have missed out being involved this year, we will keep this great initiative at

the front of your mind for 2023. But it isn’t too late to take part via our special Australian Made Week feature that begins on page 24!

hat’s the period since our last edition and during this time, Australia has endured two extreme flood events, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and most recently the historical signing of a security pact between our Pacific neighbour The Solomon Islands and China.

Then, as we go to print the relentless march of COVID-19 has knocked the Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese out of the election campaign for at least a week.

Through our bi-weekly newsletter and magazine we endeavour to frame these events for our readers through the industry lens, albeit one that is morphing beyond the realm of traditional manufacturing.

You will see this reflected throughout our news pages and our four Features: Women In Manufacturing, Australian Made Week, Health and Safety Show and finally our massive Australian Manufacturing Week coverage which spans 20 pages.

Both the government’s Angus Taylor and the opposition’s Ed Husic - two men with the mammoth task of helming the rebuild of the country’s manufacturing sector echo this theme in their exclusive pre-election interviews with Industry Update.

This is further validated by Deloitte’s 2022 Manufacturing Outlook on Page 22.

Both leaders are deeply focussed on the constant mantra of technology and the future and Deloitte validates this when along with the four key trends for the year, it observes, “The fast rise of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors is redefining and elevating sustainability in manufacturing as never before.”

However, it also delivers around the sector of Cybersecurity a warning,“Legacy systems and technology weren’t purpose-fit for today’s sophisticated network challenges.”

And this is the crux, we are a robust, dynamic and innovative country but, until the theory of Smart Manufacturing is translated and applied intelligently, enabling many ‘legacy systems’ to take a back seat, we can’t profoundly transform.

That is what we all need today: transformative thinking that will let us loosen our perspective on what life, work and the world was like yesterday. Then we will have a good chance at mustering the courage to build the industry that must be constructed to withstand the vagaries of tomorrow.

We hope that this important edition of Industry Update informs all our readers with some insight to make that journey.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Australian leaders travel to Europe for the new ‘hydrogen economy’

A

ustralian hydrogen companies and project owners are preparing to travel to Rotterdam for the World Hydrogen Summit (9-11 May), Europe’s leading hydrogen conference.

Rotterdam will be the first big opportunity to engage with Europe in more than two years, and Austrade is partnering with the Australian Hydrogen Council.

According to analysis by Deloitte, Australia’s hydrogen economy could be worth up to $26 billion by 2050, opening doors to new streams of foreign direct investment, increasing innovation within the sector and contributing significantly to a reduction in greenhouse gases.

Australian Hydrogen Council CEO Dr Fiona Simon said the Australian contingent represents many companies at the forefront of the hydrogen sector. This is an important conference in terms of the exchange of knowledge but importantly, the creation of business opportunities and collaborations that connect and drive international supply chains.

“Hydrogen presents Australia with an economic growth opportunity, a way to evolve our resource and mining sectors and provide long-term economic security.

“Australia is not only putting its best foot forward at Rotterdam, to demonstrate global leadership in a fast-evolving space. It is also about doing the groundwork to create a viable future export market for hydrogen and its derivatives,” Simon said.

Australia competitively placed Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Netherlands, Annika Barton said Australia is competitively placed to be a major global player in the production and export of green hydrogen and already highly regarded as a prime candidate for global supply chain partnerships.

“With decades of energy export experience and an ideal geography, Australia is leading the way to scale up the global hydrogen economy.

There is a strong commercial appetite to shape this energy transition within the industry,” Barton explained.

Australian Hydrogen Council CEO Dr Fiona Simon said the Australian contingent represents many companies at the forefront of the hydrogen sector.

“European partners have a great deal to offer with key production technologies and in supporting utility scale of hydrogen projects. Australia is not only producing innovative hydrogen storage and transport technologies, but also sees Europe as a key client for offtake of green hydrogen within the next decade.”

Companies such as Woodside, CWP and Origin Energy, among others,

are leading the way in investing in hydrogen technologies and initiatives to help reduce the emissions of their customers and supply chains.

“With Australia well positioned to be a major supplier of green hydrogen, and global demand continuing to rise, establishing ties with future global markets will lay the groundwork for a prosperous sustainable hydrogen energy future,” Barton added.

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Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 5

INDUSTRY POLITICS

Technology to drive future manufacturing

by Claire Moffat | Continued from page 1

“Due to the changes in global trade as a result of the pandemic and now the war in the Ukraine, there is a window open for Australia to grow. To drive this we need to lift the commercialisation of our manufacturing,” he added.

Although Australia has been behind the rest of the world in medical manufacturing, Taylor cited Vaxxas, a medical technology start-up located in Brisbane. The ASX listed company is revolutionising the way vaccines are delivered as an example of the translation of research from the University of Queensland that has been commercialised.

“Vaccinations have historically been given using syringes and needles; however through research and development, Vaxxas has been able to develop their Nanopatch – a less invasive vaccine delivery technology that creates a more potent immune response,” he said.

Embedding technology The second pillar encompasses the link between technology and traditional processes and systems.

“This is critical if we are to compete globally,“ he said. “We see time and time again in Australia that when we can embed technology into existing industries, that we can be a world leader without the high labour costs,” he explained.

Urea is the most commonly used solid nitrogen fertiliser and in February this year, Strike Energy Limited was granted Major Project Status for Project Haber, its $3 billion urea manufacturing facility in the Narngulu Industrial Area, near Geraldton, Western Australia.

The project will produce up to 1.4 million tonnes per annum of urea from clean hydrogen and natural gas. Australia is almost completely dependent on imports of urea to support the nation’s agricultural sector.

Strike Energy is developing Project Haber to provide lower cost, lower carbon emissions fertiliser to Australian farmers.

Taylor said the project was estimated to support 1,135 full-time jobs each year during the three-year construction phase and 300 full-time jobs per year over its 30-year life.

UOW sets up Industry 4.0 Technology hub with Demmeler cobot system

I The Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said that the project will foster deeper collaboration with steel manufacturers.

“Strike Energy’s project has enormous potential for job creation and emissions reduction through embracing new technologies and onshore manufacturing,” Minister Taylor said.

“The facility has the potential to deliver significant emissions reduction to Australia’s urea manufacturing sector through the use of advanced ammonia and gas processing technology, as well as dedicated clean hydrogen.

“It also aims to reduce the reliance of Australian farmers on international supply chains to enhance our food security, given more than 90 per cent of urea is currently imported.”

Investing in critical infrastructure The third pillar focuses on the development of a competitive energy sector and Taylor believes that here, Australia has an advantage due to our population.

“Our technology not taxes approach will make sure Australia meets and beats our 2030 emissions target, and plays a leading role in bringing down global emissions by investing in the technologies that won’t just help Australia, but will help the world.

“We are also investing in critical infrastructure to ensure reliable and secure energy for Australian households and businesses, and build on our strong record of reducing prices.”

Taylor noted that the 2022-23 Budget continues to back-in Australian manufacturing with an additional investment of more than $1 billion.

“This builds on our initial $1.5 billion investment already committed through the Modern Manufacturing Strategy”.

“Due to the changes in global trade as a result of the pandemic and now the war in the Ukraine, there is a window open for Australia to grow. To drive this we need to lift the commercialisation of our manufacturing”

6 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

n September 2020 during the COVID pandemic, the University of Wollongong (UOW) opened a new industry hub at its Shoalhaven campus in Nowra which features Industry 4.0 technology. The new Industry 4.0 hub includes a working demonstration unit of the Demmeler 3D table system supplied by Leussink Engineering with a cobot (collaborative robot).

The Hub has several goals: Support local and regional industry (for example SMEs in manufacturing, agribusiness, defence industry) with the awareness and adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies Engage with schools and community to educate around Industry 4.0 and generally promote interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Strengthen connections between UOW researchers and local industry.

The innovative Hub showcases numerous Industry 4.0 Technologies, including cobots, virtual and augmented reality (VR & AR), as well as additive manufacturing (3D printing).

“The equipment is used to demonstrate and showcase resources to industry partners looking to adopt new technologies. Equipment can also be accessed and used by students and the community through ‘makerspace’ activities,” UOW Industry 4.0 hub research engineer Evan Brown explained.

“Once the COVID lockdown period ended last year we had pent-up demand for people wanting to visit the Hub which is great. HMAS Albatross, the largest operational Naval establishment and the Navy’s only Air Station is based in Nowra with many supporting businesses, so there are plenty of locals who want to see the Industry 4.0 technologies in action. It allows people to see how new technology could improve their business, and how they can adopt the latest equipment,” Brown added.

Brown and his team has worked closely with Leussink to set up two Demmeler tables to mount the collaborative robot welding system.

Affordable solution Cobots are designed to operate close to humans as they perform their tasks, and unlike fully-fledged robots, they are an affordable solution to automate processes to support employees.

In the UOW Industry 4.0 Hub, the

cobot is set up on a Demmeler table system to undertake welding tasks. The Demmeler system plays a dual role. It holds the cobot firmly and accurately in place, and it also holds the workpiece securely and precisely while the welding is taking place.

“The two systems demonstrate great synergies and visitors can see how this system will work in their business,” Brown said.

Unlike traditional industrial robots, cobots are responsive to human touch and the environment around them, and therefore do not need to work behind large safety screens because they pose little risk of accidents occurring.

Humans provide direction to the cobot, and the cobot provides precision steering and control.

“One of the key advantages which we can demonstrate is how quickly it can be set-up and programmed for just a few welds, before moving on to the next.

Operators do not have to be experts in computer programming or welding to be able to operate the Demmeler cobot system,” Brown added.

The Demmeler welding and fabrication system, distributed exclusively in Australia by Leussink Engineering, is the ideal partner product for a cobot.

The main reason Demmeler tables and cobot systems were chosen for the Hub was to meet the objective to support local and regional industry (manufacturing, agribusiness, defence industry) with the awareness and adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies.

Growing awareness As a consequence, the business development manager and acting lead of the Industry 4.0 Hub works closely with groups like the Shoalhaven Business Chamber and local industry as well as attending industry events to spread the word with local businesses and those further afield.

The Demmeler 3D workbench and welding table is a versatile jig and fixturing system for all types of welding and fabrication work. A cobot can be anchored and fixed to a Demmeler table system to ensure accuracy and versatility. The cobot can return to the same position every single time.

Working in partnership with robotic experts, Leussink develops cobotbased systems for clients in a range of industries, enabling them to meet many different requirements. industryupdate.com.au

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INDUSTRY POLITICS

Ed Husic: Future Made In Australia Office

by Claire Moffat

W

hile strengthening manufacturing capability in Australia is no easy task, Husic said he has a plan to help. We’ll create a $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, providing loans, guarantees and equity to support projects that create secure well-paid jobs and invest in our national sovereign capability.

“The fund will play to our strengths, transitioning existing industries to net zero emissions and support new and emerging industries.

One of the key sectors we’re focussing on is enabling capabilities including building our capabilities and application of artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing.

“We know the government has to do its part to make that happen. That’s where Labor’s Buy Australian Plan comes in - we’ll improve the way government contracts work, giving more opportunities to Aussie businesses.

“Procurement policy is a major economic lever available to drive the economic recovery. Through a dedicated Future Made In Australia Office within government we will work with industry to build strategic capability.

He was blunt when he said that Australia ranks dead last on OECD manufacturing self-sufficiency.

“We should be a country that makes things. And we can be. Industry is already rising to the challenge of smart manufacturing, adopting a technology driven approach to improve manufacturing processes and production,” he said.

Challenge for self sufficiency “We’re at a pivotal point in time. Postpandemic lockdowns combined with the pressure to diversify source markets for inputs and products, means increasingly governments world over are re-examining how industry policy can boost national self-sufficiency in critical areas.

We have a big challenge in this regard, with the nation ranking dead last on manufacturing self-sufficiency.

Husic said that he was also concerned that the government has wasted time addressing this issue.

“They announced the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative in October 2020 but by mid-February this year only committed $292.4 million, less than a quarter of the total fund.

Creating a future made in Australia is one of the biggest lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation Ed Husic.

Instead, the Morrison government played politics and we lost crucial time,” Husic added.

When questioned on the ability of Australian manufacturers to adapt to the reordering of supply chains from global to local, Husic said that he had visited a range of Australian firms and manufacturers that have already pivoted to focussing on building up local supply chains.

“I see local manufacturers re-imagining supply, working out how to onshore manufacture products to meet the demand of fashion retailers.

Embracing new technology to make manufacturing more efficient has been the key for Mereton Textiles, based in Penrith, investing in digital laser cutting machines. Their work supports local designers of everything from sports uniforms to film costumes and everything in between.

“In Brendale, I toured Solar Bollard Lighting with Leader Anthony Albanese and our Candidate for Dickson, Ali France. The Australian made and owned company has been designing and manufacturing solar bollard lighting for almost two decades and export their products all over the globe. An innovative product made in Australia is now in more than 35 different countries. That’s the sort of vision that’s in Australia’s DNA. In this way, Australian manufacturers are either responding to the challenges of disrupted global supply chains

or reinforcing local ones to help deliver us a better future.

As manufacturers face geopolitical uncertainty Husic said Laor also had a plan to give them confidence to invest in technologies. “The biggest thing I would want to emphasise is this: Labor sees strong industry policy contributing to both economic and national security.

Manufacturing capability will be vital in boosting local self-sufficiency in areas important to the nation.

Husic agrees with his government counterpart Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor when he said that, “As a country we have an incredibly skilled workforce, a huge pool of national savings, a store of critical resources to support emerging areas of activity and deep within the DNA of a people that have had to think quick to survive in a continent strung out from major supply lines, Australians have had to be innovative to survive and prosper.

However, he said that a genuine and consistent belief is lacking in the power of local industry and innovation to drive the country to future growth.

“The Coalition record of cuts, sudden hype, abandonment and politicking in this space has sapped us of vital momentum. Labor is determined to change this and signal to manufacturers that we “have their back”. The proof is what we’ve committed to: our $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund along with our Buy Australian Plan.

“The fund will play to our strengths, transitioning existing industries to net zero emissions and support new and emerging industries. “

Ed Husic visits Professor David Reilly at the University of Sydney

According to Husic, when global supply chains broke down and the Government failed to heed industry warnings about critical shortages of essential goods, Australians were faced with a massive challenge.

“Supermarket shelves were stripped bare, and it was easier to get COVID-19 than it was to find a rapid antigen test,“ he said.

“Then suddenly, within one month they announced more than $600 million worth of grants. They turned what should have been a critical program to rebuild and strengthen manufacturing into an election slush fund.

“While states were emerging from lockdown we had the chance to work early, recognise that this work has long lead times, and helped industry.

8 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

industryupdate.com.au

INDUSTRY NEWS

Brickworks reveals smart technology with traditional knowhow

by Claire Moffat

T

he Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor met with the Industry Update team late last week during an exclusive tour of the Brickworks Design Centre at Horsley Park, NSW. The tour of the state-of-the-art facility enabled Taylor to witness the combination of traditional techniques melded with smart technology, which the minister confirmed is the foundation of the federal government’s manufacturing vision.

Largest manufacturing operation Brickworks has an impressive Australian manufacturing pedigree.

It was established in 1930 when the Board of Brickworks Ltd voted to establish a representative body, the Council of Brick Manufacturers which purchased shares from Brickyard owners.

By 1950, Brickworks gained control of Austral Bricks making it the biggest

and most powerful brickmaking company in the country. Ten years later, the company (BKW) listed on the stock exchange and Plant No. 1 opened at Horsley Park managing the Austral Masonry, Austral Precast and Bristile Roofing brands.

The company continued to expand and in November 2018 Brickworks acquired Glen-Gery, the fourth largest brick manufacturer in the United States, which was the company’s first major overseas investment. 2018 also saw the grand opening of the new Brickworks Design Studio in Sydney, located in the Sydney’s, Barrack Street.

According to Brickworks plant manager Sam Boardman, who led the tour of the company’s facilities, sustainability is a critical plank of the company’s strategy. He pointed to the company’s public statement, “Our strategy is to manufacture products in a sustainable way with strong governance and a culture of care for the community.” This includes:

• Investing in the transition to the hydrogen fuel economy • Reducing potable water use in water stressed areas • Driving progressive rehabilitation • Year on year increase in recycled material use • Over $2 million investment in emission abatement • Stretch target 10 percent increase in gas efficiency at Austral Bricks plants by 2030 (Baseline FY18) This commitment was evident within the block machine operations (where the machine manufactures various kinds of bricks) along with the curing and drying chambers. Here, technology has reduced intervention by 20 percent, resulting in labour

savings, increased consistency of product and a lower error rate.

The bricks are composed of 40 percent recycled ‘coarse face mix’ of granite and the company’s own waste.

Recycled glass comprises 10 percent, with bottom ash making up 16-23 percent.

According to the company’s Sustainability Report 2021, its recycled material use increased by 61 percent to account for 12.5 percent of recycled content in raw materials in Australia.

Once the raw materials are mixed at the batching plant, it only takes three minutes for the batches to move to the block machine.

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Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 9

DEFENCE REPORT

Adelaide about to boom with the promise of 1,000 defence jobs

T

he day following the signing of China’s security pact with the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Scott Morrison, said that more than $60 million will be invested to turbocharge defence manufacturing jobs in South Australia.

The statement came during an election campaign visit to Adelaide and has been seen as a move to get ahead of Labor which is targeting the seat of Boothby, held by the Coalition on a 1.4 percent margin and situated in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.

Adelaide is the nation’s defence manufacturing hub, with the nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement to be built in the city.

Morrison will announce $50 million to create a new business and research partnership with the University of Adelaide to help build new defence technologies and products, creating 1000 new jobs over the next four years.

The project aims to develop 100 new defence products amid growing

uncertainty in the world including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a more aggressive China.

Morrison said the $270 billion investment in building the nation’s local defence capability was future proofing the country. “We will now back in Australia’s brightest and best to develop new defence industry technology and products”.

“Our national economic plan is supercharging Australia’s research and development, creating more jobs and helping build a stronger economy for a stronger future,” Morrison said.

Acting Minister for Education and Youth Stuart Robert said the University of Adelaide and its industry partners had promised $188 million in co-investment, matching public funding by more than three to one.

“This project will help harness the cutting-edge defence research being done in our top universities, and ensure that our defence forces have access to defence technology at the global cutting-edge, including applications of

The project aims to develop 100 new defence products amid growing uncertainty in the world.

quantum materials, hypersonics and robotics,” Robert said.

Women to keep Australia safe Morrison also said that an additional $14.4 million would be spent for a program to attract more women into defence industry jobs.

An extra 360 training places for engineering students working in the defence sector will be added to the Defence Industry Internship Program, which provides engineering students internships in small and medium defence companies across Australia.

The government will set a target of at least 40 percent female participation in the program.

“We are determined to break down the barriers that stop girls and women studying engineering and other STEM subjects and help them take advantage of the future jobs boom that our defence investment is creating,” Morrison added.

“Bolstering the number of Australians skilled in these important job, particularly engineers, is a key part of our economic plan and our plan to keep Australians safe.”

Recycling transformation drives jobs in Victoria

T

he Federal Government is investing $55.4 million to shore up the supply of Australian steel to support renewable energy projects and the local Defence sector.

This investment covers funding for BlueScope Steel’s $217 million Advanced Steel Manufacturing Precinct around the Port Kembla steelworks, under the Collaboration Stream of the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

The precinct includes a new facility to produce plate steel for Defence armoured vehicles and patrol boats, as well as the type of steel used to create wind turbine towers and largescale solar installations.

Reduce imports reliance According to a statement by the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor, this will reduce the need for overseas imports and secure our sovereign capability in steel fabrication.

Taylor said that the project will foster deeper collaboration with steel manufacturers by building on the existing relationship with the Steel Research Hub at the University of Wollongong.

This will result in more than 200 people being employed directly in

steel manufacturing once the precinct is up and running, with about 1,000 more workers in adjacent industries.

Bolster domestic supply chains Taylor said the enhanced capability at Port Kembla will bolster domestic supply chains, as well as increasing

the downstream local manufacture of steel goods at home.

“This precinct represents an incredible win-win, not only increasing the local production of Aussiemade steel, but also helping build up our renewable energy and defence sectors,” Taylor said.

“The Port Kembla steelworks has a proud history. This precinct will help BlueScope thrive into the future and create more jobs in the region. The Government is determined to back our steel industry, the manufacturing sectors it helps drive and the local communities they represent.”

The Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said that the project will foster deeper collaboration with steel manufacturers.

10 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

industryupdate.com.au

DEFENCE REPORT

South Australia: leading defence manufacturing

by Claire Moffat

The funding for the $75 million project will ensure Australia’s combat systems are integrated with world-leading technology.

O

ver $22 million has been invested by the federal Government to help build the home of Australia’s sovereign combat system capabilities in South Australia while powering its continuous shipbuilding initiative.

This investment has been made into Saab’s Sovereign Combat System Collaboration Centre under the Collaboration Stream of the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative.The project is anticipated to create more than 950 jobs by 2027.

According to the Government, Australia has “incredible strengths in Defence manufacturing” and this funding will amplify those strengths by uniting small and medium businesses which each bring their own unique capabilities to create vital combat systems.

World-leading technology The funding for the $75 million project will ensure Australia’s combat systems are integrated with world-leading technology, by combining the expertise of small and medium manufacturers and building the highly-skilled workers of the future.

Saab’s Sovereign Combat System Collaboration Centre will provide a state-of-the-art facility to support Australia’s sovereign defence capability, address critical industry skills shortages, and help Australian small and medium businesses gain access to lucrative national and global defence supply chains.

“Keeping Australians safe is one of industryupdate.com.au

the Government’s highest priorities.

Today’s funding from the Modern Manufacturing Initiative comes on top of the billions of dollars the Government is investing to build our sovereign manufacturing capability in defence,” Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said.

“Our Government knows that strong national security and economic security go hand-in-hand. We are committed to building a strong, sustainable and innovative local naval shipbuilding industry, and this Centre will ensure our small and medium manufacturers can continue

highly-skilled workforce, and world leading innovation and manufacturing might to strengthen our combat system capabilities on home soil and unlock new opportunities in some of the world’s most advanced supply chains,” he explained.

Win for SA Minister for Finance and Senator for South Australia Simon Birmingham underlined that the Morrison Government’s $22 million investment would ensure this high-tech collaboration centre gets built.

“This is another win and vote of confidence in South Australia’s boom-

“Keeping Australians safe is one of the Government’s highest priorities. Today’s funding from the Modern Manufacturing Initiative comes on top of the billions of dollars the Government is investing to build our sovereign manufacturing capability in defence” to be a crucial part while helping employ more Australians,” he said.

Taylor added that the Government wants more Australian businesses to contribute to local and international defence supply chains, and more Australian innovation and intellectual property to be contributed to products supplied to the ADF and other markets.

“This investment with Saab will enable us to leverage our

ing defence industry,” Birmingham said.This project will lead to more modern manufacturing jobs in SA and down the track more export dollars for our state.We’re making sure that South Australian defence businesses as well as our highly-skilled engineers and designers come together, collaborate and develop world-leading technologies for the future.”

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the Government’s

investment was yet another example of its determination to create and sustain local jobs.

“I was briefed by SAAB on this opportunity last year and am delighted that they have secured a grant for this important work,” Price said.

“We are determined to build our sovereign capability to ensure that we can deliver at home what we need to defend ourselves, when we need it, and this investment will help us achieve that.

“Our Government has an incredibly strong track record of job creation, particularly highly-skilled jobs. This $22.6 million investment is further evidence of our unwavering support for small and medium businesses not only in South Australia but right across the country.”

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said the investment further cemented South Australia as the Defence State.

“Today’s announcement means hundreds of jobs in South Australia in a vital sector for our state and I thank the Federal Government for continuing to commit to South Australia as the nation’s Defence State,” he said.

“South Australia’s defence sector is already creating thousands of jobs in our state and will continue to for decades to come – helping to build a strong future and opening new opportunities for our kids and grand-kids to have rewarding jobs right here in SA.”

Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 11

INDUSTRY NEWSNEWS INDUSTRY

The primary purpose of the event was to lift awareness of the resources and funding available to aid in implementing advanced manufacturing techniques.

The future glimpsed at Modern Manufacturing Town Hall

M

ore than 100 industry leaders assembled at Sydney Olympic Park on Wednesday March 30 for the Modern Manufacturing Town Hall at Waterview Conference Centre.

International Exhibition & Conference Group (IEC) CEO, Marie Kinsella explained that the primary intention in hosting events which bring the industry and key stakeholders together,”...is to support manufacturers, particularly those in small-to-medium sized companies who may not be aware of the resources and funding available to aid in implementing advanced manufacturing techniques.”

Kinsell acknowledged that, having Investment NSW come on board as a Foundation Partner, manufacturers could be directly connected within a network that will nurture their growth and efforts to strengthen the NSW economy.

said. The program has $250 million in funding available to manufacturers, with the goal of creating 25,000 more jobs in NSW. Investment NSW says this will be achieved by reducing the cost of establishment and the financial risk while increasing speed to market.

It includes a variety of support levers such as payroll tax relief, enabling infrastructure rebates and subsidised training package rebates.

Companies that wish to participate will need to commit to creat-

Supporting the sector NSW Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Stuart Ayres addressed the event by video link.

He said that, by becoming a founding partner of the Modern Manufacturing Expo, the NSW Government could continue to ensure its efforts to support the sector are made available to as many manufacturers as possible.”

Ayres also encouraged manufacturers who wished to take advantage of the financial assistance programs offered by the NSW government to grow their business are encouraged to apply for the Jobs Plus Program.

“This is designed to reward companies that expand their economic footprint in NSW through job creation,” he

ing a minimum of 30 jobs within their organisation by 30 June 2024.

Applications are open until the end of June 2022 and must be made online through the Service NSW Jobs Plus Program website.

Hub, a state-of-the-art facility that offers local manufacturers the opportunity to engage with researchers and utilise the University’s world-leading research infrastructure.

According to Williams, a third of all R&D in Australia is done in universities yet only 10 percent of companies have chosen to partner with them. Professor Simon Ringer, director, Core Research Facilities for the University of Sydney closed the presentations with an invitation to manufacturers to utilise the

“We know that we need to continue to be an economy that makes things, and we know that we need to be at the end of the value chain to ensure that we keep our manufacturing as competitive as it can be.”

Linking local manufacturers The Town Hall programme placed a spotlight on the possibilities unlocked by linking local manufacturers to NSW’s foremost academic institution, the University of Sydney, through presentations from Professors Gwénaëlle Proust as well as business development manager at the University, Adeline Williams.

Key topics included the introduction of the new Sydney Manufacturing

12 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

university as their R&D partner and to embrace the skills, technology and expertise the university has to offer.

Other highlights from the day included presentations from industry-leading manufacturers including 3rd Axis, the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, Thales Australia, Stryker, CSIRO, Romar Engineering and Equinox Orthopaedics who shared how adopting new technologies has changed the way they manufacture.

The speakers echoed the sentiment that manufacturers need to challenge “the way they’ve always done it,” to embrace modern manufacturing in order to see transformation in the sector.

Modern Manufacturing Expo Town Hall attendees also received a first look at the launch of the Modern Manufacturing Expo which will be held on 20-21 September 2022 at Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney Olympic Park.

The first-of-its-kind exhibition will help companies stay competitive and boost effectiveness through smart manufacturing. It will also offer educational streams to showcase practical steps on how digitisation can be implemented by giving manufacturers clear and direct pathways to the latest technologies.

The Modern Manufacturing Expo 2022 marks the beginning of a new paradigm where visitors can discover the latest in: Digital & Automation; Industrial Innovation; Green & Sustainable Manufacturing, Modern Manufacturing Business services and benefit from an “Ask the Experts” arena, free on-floor presentations and a host of networking opportunities.

Speaking to the need for a new event such as the Modern Manufacturing Expo, Kinsella said: “We cannot ignore the fact that the manufacturing landscape is changing. Both government and manufacturers are looking for new and innovative ways for the industry to become more sustainable and globally competitive and the Expo is the perfect place to showcase these opportunities.”

This sentiment is shared by Ayres: “We know that we need to continue to be an economy that makes things, and we know that we need to be at the end of the value chain to ensure that we keep our manufacturing as competitive as it can be.” industryupdate.com.au

INDUSTRY NEWS

Sunshine Coast expands food and beverage manufacturing hub

T

he Sunshine Coast will expand its food and beverage hub with the federal Government’s $33.4 million funding for an Aussie-first manufacturing precinct at Sunshine Coast Airport.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor has revealed support for the $112.8 million Turbine Collaborative Food and Beverage Manufacturing Precinct under the Collaboration Stream of the Government’s $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

The precinct will be home to local food and beverage companies that will be able to utilise shared warehousing and logistics, an education and training centre, as well as a collaborative hightech manufacturing facility.

It will bring together beverage company Lyre’s Spirit Co, the Queensland Drinks Accelerator and ingredients company Doehler Australia, with the Food and Agribusiness Network and University of the Sunshine Coast.

By having all the facilities under one roof, it will help drive the competitiveness of local companies by collaborating together and building further capability. Once complete, it will be Australia’s leading industry-based food and beverage research and commercialisation facility.

Teaming up with the University of the Sunshine Coast, the collaboration will yield the precinct’s first-of-its-kind embedded training centre will also help the next generation take the next step to their future roles in areas such as food science, transport and logistics as well as hospitality.

131 new jobs The project is expected to see 131 new jobs during construction and support 687 once operational with $200 million in economic benefits.

Taylor said the Sunshine Coast is home to incredibly innovative

Once complete the hub will be Australia’s leading industry-based food and beverage research and commercialisation facility.

manufacturers especially when it comes to amazing food and beverage products.

“Food and beverage manufacturing is the largest manufacturing sector for the Australian economy. One in four

export demand and creating new local jobs across the region and beyond through this world-class airport precinct.

“Not only does it remove barriers to businesses getting started, it will also

“Not only does it remove barriers to businesses getting started, it will also help companies build their capabilities together and drive growth in the food and beverage sector on a scale not yet seen in Australia.” people employed in manufacturing are employed in our food and beverage sector and it contributes $27.5 billion to our economy,” he said.

“This funding will support some of the most innovative producers that leverage technology to increase their production, while meeting growing

We are proud to partner with

help companies build their capabilities together and drive growth in the food and beverage sector on a scale not yet seen in Australia.”

Catalyst for further investment Federal Member for Fairfax, Ted O’Brien said this funding boost will

not only enable the project to get off the ground but become a catalyst for further industry investment into the world-first precinct.

“This massive investment will transform the local food and beverage sector and will create a stronger future for the Sunshine Coast – built on a stronger economy,” O’Brien commented.

“This end-to-end collaborative food and beverage precinct is a world-first and it will provide lucrative opportunities for businesses at all stages and all sizes to build, scale and export, all under one roof.

“But it’s not just business that benefits – this will create lifelong careers for local people.

“From food technologists to designers and engineers, the Turbine Precinct will create hundreds of highly-skilled careers for locals within an industry where the Sunshine Coast will be among the best in the world.”

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WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING

approach are paying clear dividends: our WGEA Employers of Choice are closing their pay gaps faster, have a higher proportion of women in management, a stronger pipeline of women moving into senior management, a higher representation of women on their Boards and a higher proportion of female employees working full-time than other employers,” she said.

“We extend our congratulations to these leading employers and look forward to working with them closely to help accelerate positive change across all Australian workplaces.”

Tackling gender equity in manufacturing 120 Australian employers are now carrying the WGEA yellow tick to certify they are driving progress to make their workplaces equal.

R

ecognizing the contributions women are making to the manufacturing industry is important to underscore achievement, but is also essential to encourage more women to enter the field.

While women comprise almost 67.6 percent of the Australian labour force (according to ABS Gender Indicators 2020), a rate that is the highest during the past 10 years, they represent less than one-third of the manufacturing workforce.

For example, less than a quarter (24.1 per cent) of management positions in the energy industry are held by women, according to data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s Gender Equity Scorecard (2020-21). And the current gender pay gap in the electricity and energy sector is 14.5 percent.

To provide a clear picture of the local corporate leaders who support the growth of women within industry, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has named the latest list of Australia’s Employers of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE).

120 Australian employers are now carrying the WGEA yellow tick to certify they are driving progress to make their workplaces equal, including 12 new companies awarded the prestigious WGEA certification this year.

Together, these organisations employ approximately 320,000 Australians, offering benefits to those workers such as family-friendly workplaces through paid parental leave and flexible working policies.

Employees looking for a certified company to work for have the most options in the Professional Scientific

and Technical Services group, with 47 Employers of Choice; followed by Financial and Insurance Services (21 Employers of Choice) and Wholesale Trade (13 Employers of Choice).

The WGEA citation is awarded following a rigorous application process with a range of stretch criteria, designed to measure the actions organisations are taking to advance gender equality outcomes for their employees. Compared to other organisations in the Agency’s dataset, the WGEA Employers of Choice for Gender Equality are set apart by a range of factors, as seen in their data: • Lower gender pay gaps: EOCGEs have an average gender pay gap of 18.9 percent compared to 23 percent for others. They conduct pay audits annually, and track and report gender equality metrics to their Boards.

• Higher proportion of women on boards: 35 percent of EOCGE employers have women on their boards, compared to 28 percent in others.

• Longer periods of parental leave: 14 weeks on average; compared to 10.7 weeks, with leave available to new employees as soon as they join an EOCGE organisation.

• Superannuation on parental leave: 100 percent of EOCGEs pay super on employer-funded parental leave, including 18 percent who are also paying it on the Government scheme; compared to 81 percent and 7 percent respectively in non-EOCGE employers.

• More male managers are taking parental leave: Nearly 29 percent of all managers taking primary carer’s leave in EOCGE organisations were men, compared to 15 percent in

14 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

non-EOCGE organisations.

These organisations have a demonstrated commitment to advancing change not only in their organisation, but as leaders driving gender equality in their wider industries too.

Bar raises every year Director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Mary Wooldridge, says the bar for certification is raised each year to challenge companies to continue maintaining leading practice standards in workplace gender equality.

“Our WGEA Employers of Choice for Gender Equality emerge from an evidence-based assessment as Australia’s leading change-makers, who are driving and embedding gender equality in their workplaces and business practices.

“Critically, these organisations are delivering on a formula that sees better support structures in place for working families; stronger actions to address pay inequalities; and strategic recruitment and promotion practices that help to encourage the full participation of women at work.”

Kimberly-Clark Australia is one of the most recent companies to receive WGEA accreditation. Over the past two years it has held a specific focus at its Millicent Manufacturing site in lifting the applications received from females for Operations based rolls.

Wooldridge added that research into the cohort of Employers of Choice - produced in partnership with the University of Queensland – has analysed the actions they are taking compared to other organisations.

“It proved the outcomes of this

“Our WGEA Employers of Choice for Gender Equality emerge from an evidence-based assessment as Australia’s leading change-makers, who are driving and embedding gender equality in their workplaces and business practices.”

Employer of Choice citation The Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation is a voluntary, leading-practice recognition program. It is designed to encourage, recognise and promote organisations’ active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces.

All employers in Australia with 100 or more employees report annually to WGEA to comply with the Commonwealth Workplace Gender Equality Act. The citation holders are companies who then choose to go through an additional evaluation process, passing a range of evidence-based criteria under seven focus areas.

These criteria cover leadership, strategy and accountability, developing a gender-balanced workforce, gender pay equity, support for caring, mainstreaming flexible working, preventing gender-based harassment, discrimination and bullying and driving change beyond an employer’s workplace.

The assessment process examines the employees’ lived experience, along with the CEO’s commitment to driving and influencing equality outcomes not only within their businesses, but in their industries too.

industryupdate.com.au

WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING

Merilyn Glenn: from secretary to CEO

M

erilyn Glenn is the founder and CEO of Liftco, a dedicated provider of safety devices to the Crane and Manufacturing industry, and which celebrated its 30th year in business. While it began in Ingleburn Western Sydney, its warehouse and showroom are now based in Wollongong.

Liftco was established to fill the market gap that existed in Australia and New Zealand for the provision of reliable safety and electrification products for Cranes and Hoists.

As founder of such a traditional male orientated business within a traditionally male orientated industry Glenn is unique, if not unusual in possessing the extraordinary qualities which have sustained her throughout her 30 plus year career.

Many Australian female leaders have built successful business careers that commenced as a secretary (now known as personal assistants (PA) and increasingly gender inclusive).

“My secretarial career started straight out of school in the late eighties, when I attended a secretarial college learning shorthand and dictaphone (which I don’t even think is used anymore).

“My first job was as a PA in a small company and my duties included running the office when my boss was away.

This gave me a good grounding for my future career, she told Industry Update.

Leading since 1991 Glenn has been at the helm of Liftco from 1991 when, along with a business partner, they decided to seek an Australian agency for load limiting devices.

“Liftco was established in 1991 when we saw the need for improved safety across the Australian overhead crane and manufacturing industry. I started off with a business partner who later decided to pursue other avenues of business. I continued to lead Liftco, celebrating 30 years in business in 2021,” she explained.

Under this leadership, Glenn guided Liftco’s evolution into a small family business. “Everyone does a little bit of everything, I mainly look after marketing, advertising, stock control and the general running of the business.

However, I am not afraid of getting my hands dirty in the factory when we are busy,” she added.

The last two years have been the most challenging for most Australian leaders

of either gender and Glenn echoes this, “I think the last two years have been the biggest challenge of everyone’s career.

“Facing an uncertain business environment we have focused on staying positive. Our positive outlook and determination to succeed helped us through a very tough time,” she said.

Tenacity inspires While Glenn doesn’t attribute her inspiration to any one particular female leader, she said that, “all women in business who are willing to put in hard work and make sacrifices inspire me.

My female family members inspire me, I admire their tenacity.”

It is a commitment to continual improvement that has underwritten much of the success Liftco has experienced over three decades.

“The primary focus of our product range is to improve safety protocols on overhead cranes,” she said. But these protocols not only help save life and limb, they also “help reduce repair and maintenance costs”.

In the same way, Liftco has actively pursued inclusive employment practices. This pursuit has not only been ethically good, but it has also strengthened the business by

Merilyn Glenn ( left)with Liftco team members Chris,Chantal and Aria Stojanovski.

enriching its workplace.

The company has been involved with various charity organisations, including Care Flight, Biggest Morning Tea, Relay for Life and Shave for a Cure, just to name a few.

Now that the pandemic years seem to be behind us, Glenn says that she sees the future as the biggest challenge.

“Remaining competitive in this difficult economic climate is an opportunity for Liftco to grow the business through innovation,” she said.

“After 30 years, I am also slowly moving towards retiring and handing over the reins to the younger members of the family who have taken on my work ethic and values. I’m confident that under their future management, Liftco will be supplying companies around Australia and New Zealand for a further 30 years.”

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Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 15

WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING

Why manufacturing needs women

F

or over 25 years Integra Systems commercial director Erika Hughes, has seen a lot of changes in Australian manufacturing. While the introduction of more women into the industry is definitely one of the changes on her list, she knows Australia has a long way to go before we achieve gender parity, and that may not even occur in her professional lifetime.

“It wasn’t long ago that I would go to manufacturing industry networks and find myself one of few women in the room, if not the only woman,” Hughes told Industry Update.

“I don’t feel quite as lonely anymore but it would be advantageous to the industry as a whole if there were more women involved. Research has shown that countries and specifically industry sectors flourish when there is a balance of genders and even strong female leadership.

“Men and women have different ways of going about things, which make for better decision-making and better business. Other industry sectors are doing it, and manufacturing still lags behind..”

Traditional roles Erika believes the perception of traditional gender roles continues to play a strong part in keeping women out of the industry. For example, many women aren’t taught things that are hands-on, but there are women who love working with their hands in practical and mechanical ways that aren’t either art or craft-oriented.

Additionally, the misconception that you need to be an engineer or an industrial designer or even an assembly line assistant to work in manufacturing still prevails.

“It doesn’t have to be blue-collar employment in manufacturing,” Hughes said. “It can be really fun, cool, funky, creative and you can make a difference. Manufacturing encompasses the full range of vocations – from the factory floor to design, administration and sales and marketing. These are all places where women can help usher manufacturing into the future,” she said.

Hughes enjoys seeing women of all types and all ages at Integra Systems, because diversity is about so much more than just fresh, young graduates.

“I think Integra’s team has been

FWC appointment welcome but more needed

A

ustralian Resources and Energy Group AMMA has appointed Paul Schneider to the Fair Work Commission. AMMA chief executive, Steve Knott said that Schneider is well known and widely respected within Western Australia’s industrial relations community.

“He brings significant experience from across the resources industry - the powerhouse of Western Australia’s economy - and in particular the offshore and maritime support sectors where industrial relations can be both complex and challenging.”

Schneider’s appointment as a Commissioner comes shortly after the news that deputy president Amanda Mansini will leave the FWC to assume her new role as Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Schneider is the Industrial Relations Manager of OSM Australia and has undertaken senior human resource roles with Seven West Media, Svitzer Australia, Upstream Production Solutions, Downer EDI Mining and McDermott Australia.

Schneider has a Bachelor of Business and a Masters of Business (Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations) from Victoria University.

However, AMMA has noted “with some concern” that the FWC will remain as having 43 statutorily

partly behind the supercharge of change in Australian manufacturing,” she adds.

“It’s the way we’ve chosen our people, the way we work with the government, how we work with universities, and the way we handpick our people who match our values. We don’t see age or race or gender, we see values, and that just naturally brings more women into our company.”

When asked how to change perceptions and address the gender imbalance,

Hughes suggested, “Passing on this knowledge and building up the confidence in young people, young women especially, by exposing them to what the possibilities are, that’s where you start to get the interest and stimulate new lines of thinking.

“But, at the moment, I don’t think enough women know that this is possible.”

REDUCE MAINTENANCE COSTS Steve Knott AM Chief Executive Australian Resources and Energy Group AMMA

appointed members - a historically low level of resourcing.

“The Morrison Government should very seriously consider additional appointments to the FWC prior to the 2022 Federal Election,” Knott advised.

“When the ALP left office in September 2013 there were 46 tribunal members and Australia’s labour force contained some 11.6 million people.

“Today the FWC has 43 members and the labour force contains approximately 13.4 million people.

“Not only is the FWC administering an employment system with 1.7 million additional users than when the ALP was last in office, but matters are increasing in both volume and complexity. This includes a raft of COVID19 related workplace disputes that are swamping the commission currently and are only expected to grow.

Reid congratulated the AttorneyGeneral for making a high quality FWC appointment today.

“It is AMMA’s firm view that at least three more appointments would not only be well justified prior to the Election, but very necessary to maintain the functioning of the FWC,” he added.

16 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

ON OVERHEAD CRANES LOAD LIMITERS

ROPE AND CHAIN CRANES AND HOISTS • Helps reduce the risk of accidents • Protects against overloading of Crane and supporting structures • Quick and easy installation and available for all capacity cranes • Available preset or easily calibrated on site • Helps reduce maintenance costs • Minimizes down time • Automatic reset by reducing the load

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Available in steel & copper Quickly and easily installed Supports required only every 1.5m Also available in a compact cluster range

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Liftco Industrial Supplies Pty Ltd

(02) 9829 4411 sales@liftco.com.au

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INDUSTRY NEWS

How Royal Apollo spearheaded Oceania growth

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he Apollo Group is one of the world’s largest manufacturers.

In this Q&A we asked chief commercial officer, Kevin Suphapvanich its growth within the Oceania region.

IU: Can you describe Apollo’s activity within the Oceania market. How has that grown in the past two years?

KS: The Royal Apollo Group established a production facility and sales/ service centre in Thailand five years ago to locally assemble, sell and service our Spiral Conveyors to the AsiaPacific vertical conveying market.

Apollo has expanded to locally assemble, sell and service its Spiral Conveyors to the Asia-Pacific vertical conveying market.

Initially, we were not very active in the Oceania market due to the pressing demand of East Asian and Southeast Asian markets. During that time, there were mostly indirect sales to Oceania through the European headquarters of some of our international system integrator customers.

They would purchase and ship the spiral conveyors from Europe to Oceania themselves to integrate into the complete conveying line onsite.

Then from 2020, we significantly increased our focus and attention to the Oceania region.

Unfortunately, it was also the year that the COVID pandemic started.

This prevented our Asia-Pacific team from physically travelling to the area.We approached the market through digital marketing and also via established channels like Industry Update. We made the best use of our AR sales and service tools to gain rapport to our customers despite the distance. It also helped that our modular designed Spiral Conveyors industryupdate.com.au

are relatively simple to transport and install, even without the presence of our installation technician, through the use of pictured guidelines and AR service app.

This resulted in significant brand exposure, customer base expansion, and sales growth within the last two years.

But we are aware that we are just in the beginning stage and there is still much ground to cover in this region.

IU: What is your largest market in this region and what products are the most successful and why?

KS: Our Spiral Conveyors are used to transport packaged products in two main industries in this region.The first and largest industry is the food and beverage industry. Packaged food and beverages in bags, pouches, cans, jars, trays, cartons, and other primary and secondary containers sometimes need to be transported in large capacities and continuously up, down, or even over the production or filling lines.

This is where our Spiral Conveyors make the best use of the limited space to elevate products. For example, we are able to convey up to 120,000 bottles per hour continuously 24/7. We can proudly say that the biggest beverage manufacturers use our Spiral Conveyors in their production facilities around the world.

The other fast-growing industry is the warehousing sector. Here, cartons, totes, crates, and even irregularly shaped products such as car tyres and golf bags can be transported on our Spiral Conveyors. E-commerce and express delivery services, such as DHL and Amazon, require multi-feed spiral conveyors to move goods to and from the multiple floors of their storage rack.

IU: What benefits do customers in this region gain from your product and service?

KS: In 2022, our company, a family-owned 6th-generation business of Dutch origin, celebrates its 175th anniversary (as Industry Update readers may have found out from the previous issue). This year, we were also awarded the Royal title from the King of the Netherlands himself. This says something about who we are and what we stand for.

Our customers are actually receiving Spiral Conveyors from one of the pioneers in this niche vertical conveying market. On a glance, Spiral Conveyors may seem mechanically simple compared to the robotics of today, but there is actually a lot of know-how required to manufacture a

“From 2020, we significantly increased our focus and attention to the Oceania region.”- Kevin Suphapvanich

robust and reliable solution.

For the Oceania region, our Spiral Conveyors are manufactured from Thailand. We have deliberately chosen this location, over other options such as China, to be our main production hub for the Asia Pacific region. We have made sure that the quality matches the machines assembled at our Dutch headquarters, less the European price tag and transportation difficulties.

IU: Could you talk about your participation in Auspack next May and CemAT next July?

KS: With the opening of borders and reduction of travel restrictions, we took the first opportunity to join an overseas exhibition. That exhibition is Auspack in May, and we will be present with our own booth (D246).

In July, we will return with another booth (B30) at CeMAT Australia.

We aim to convert our remote communication into physical meetings with existing customers and to meet new ones in person over the course of these two exhibitions. I hope Industry Update readers will be able to meet us at our booth as well!

IU: Given the current global disruptions could you comment on how you are managing with supply?

KS: The cost of materials and the availability and price of transportation has definitely been impacted greatly by the current global

“In 2022, our company, a family-owned 6th-generation business of Dutch origin, celebrates its 175th anniversary This year, we were also awarded the Royal title from the King of the Netherlands himself. This says something about who we are and what we stand for.” disruptions. We aim to increase the percentage of locally-sourced parts to maintain production lead times, without compromise to the standard of quality of course.

At the same time, we are establishing agreements with suppliers to maintain part prices where possible, so that our customers continue to receive the same prices. So far, we have been successful in maintaining our price and production lead time to customers.

Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 17

INDUSTRY NEWS • Proactive alerting and process control via a single point of control (SPC) • Digital work instructions • Digital check-sheets • Gauge and instrument management

Plex QMS is based on global and local experience in systematically reducing issues such as quality loss and risk of warranty issues.

Plex QMS ushers in digitally integrated quality and risk management

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ockwell Automation, is bringing its digitally integrated Plex ® Quality Management System (QMS) to Australasia and the South Pacific.

The cloud-delivered Plex QMS enables manufacturing enterprises to adopt industry best practices while helping them to reduce the cost of quality, maintain compliance, manage risks, and simultaneously scale up operations as required. The smart manufacturing system is deployed internationally in industries such as food and beverage, precision metalforming, high technology, electronic products, and automotive.

One sought-after capability provided by the technology’s cloud platform, for example, is the ability to

QMS supports closed-loop quality control across individual enterprises or multiple operations to drive continuous improvement and business growth. It employs a Plan-Do-CheckAct perspective that installs quality management as an integral part of a company’s culture, shared across the whole business, by making it inherent to workflows and processes,” Cahill explained. “Plex QMS lifts quality assurance and compliance out of the “too-hard” or “too-costly” basket and transforms them into a cost-efficient, user-friendly process. By using Plex, companies can build their business and brand reputation through continuous quality governance and compliance with a broad range of statutory requirements and customer needs.”

for regulatory compliance – such as British Retail Consortium (BRC), Safe Quality Food (SQF), Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), and Food Standards Agency (FSA) – are supported easily with best practice templates. This built-in digitised-assurance-of-excellence is a true generator of brand reputation and profits.

“The shared access and assurance delivered by Plex QMS is a welcome

Smooth transition Plex QMS is part of the broad Rockwell Automation family of products designed to smoothly transition companies into the future of industrial automation and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Plex Systems’ suite of products for enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications were welcomed to the Rockwell Automation family in 2021.

The platform deals with over eight billion transactions a day and has an A security rating. Plex Systems offers a single instance, multi-tenant Software as a Service (SaaS) platform for manufacturers that plugs into existing ERP applications, including manufacturing execution system (MES), QMS, supply chain planning (SCP), asset performance management (APM), production monitoring, process automation, and manufacturing analytics capabilities.

The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform is designed for configurability, extensibility, and integration, enabling organisations to tailor the system to meet the unique needs of a production line and individual plants while maintaining enterprise-wide control and insight. “With platforms

“As a versatile cloud platform, Plex QMS supports closed-loop quality control across individual enterprises or multiple operations to drive continuous improvement and business growth. achieve a “single version of the truth”, enabling audits and mock recalls in minutes, hours, not days or weeks.

Plex provides quality documentation and standards in real-time, digitally – across the enterprise. Plex QMS makes it possible to track production defects at the level of the container or individual part and determine products that need to be returned to the supplier. “Plex QMS is part of Plex’s practical, future-focussed suite of tools that responds to the needs of businesses seeking to build their local and export sales on the basis of outstanding quality, assured brand reputation, and enhanced customer relationships,” Rockwell Automation Information Solutions Sales Executive, Michael Cahill told Industry Update.

“As a versatile cloud platform, Plex

Quality requirements and documentation can be shared in real time from top floor to plant floor, from supplier to customer, through the Plex QMS cloud platform.

The system generates digital process control plans with detailed inspection instructions and digital check sheets, all tightly integrated with product specifications.

Local and global experience Plex QMS is based on global and local experience in systematically reducing issues such as quality loss and risk of warranty issues. Businesses can use it to manage and track documents such as engineering and material specifications, or recipes, while maintaining a detailed and constantly evolving list of compliance requirements, he added.

Integrated system and workflow

18 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

Rockwell Automation’s Plex QMS expertise is complemented by industry-specific managers in key markets, such as food and beverage, abovewarranty issues.

change from piecemeal and disjointed quality control. It transforms diverse compliance from being seen as a necessary pain and expense, turning it into a strong positive process that provides a competitive advantage for the future.” Plex QMS is designed to provide immediate value for companies while preparing them for whatever the future brings. Built-in capabilities of Plex QMS include: • A single quality repository (rather than multiple places where data is siloed) plus drag-and-drop dashboards that require no setup, configuration, or special training • Integrated system and workflow for regulatory compliance (APQP, FSA, HACCP, HARPC, and more)

such as Plex – as well as Fiix ® customised plant maintenance software – Rockwell Automation offers SaaS solutions to customers, providing them with greater agility and closer alignment to where technology is heading, without large up-front investment costs,” Cahill continued.

“Previously, having sophisticated software and automation systems in place required data centres, infrastructure, large migration costs, and other up-front capital costs. Plex and Fiix level the playing field and allow companies of any size to capitalise on the latest technologies to enhance their manufacturing plant and processes, without needing to have a big budget,” he said. industryupdate.com.au

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BUSINESS & FINANCE

Clean Plus finds the winning formula with St.George

The Clean Plus business owned by CEO Wasim Farhart, has enjoyed year-on-year growth since 1992.

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lean Plus CEO Wasim Farhart runs one of Australia’s hardiest manufacturing businesses located at Auburn, a light industrial suburb in Sydney. For 30 years, he has helmed the cleaning supply business which became an essential service during the recent COVID crisis.

Farhart started the business in 1992 after he and his family (originally from Lebanon) migrated from France. He had already graduated with an engineering degree, and had been working for a food processing company where he became acutely aware of the need for high levels of cleanliness for food manufacturers.

It was while he was operating within the French food processing

“The key is to give employees a comfortable workplace with initiatives and incentives while keeping communication clear.” industry, that he observed the opportunities for selling bleach. He brought that insight to Australia with the plan to establish what has now become Clean Plus.

Setting up a business as a migrant in the nineties had its challenges, including a hefty $87,000 start up cost required to fund the initiative and the initial lease on a 210sqm premises at Roselands.

Whilst the challenges were apparent, Farhart was committed to realising his vision to “formulate and manufacture the highest quality cleaning and hygiene chemicals in Australia.”

Developing the right team Over the years, as Farhart built his business, he created and refined his own formula for business success, held together by a loyal team and overwhelming family support. His brother, also an engineer, assisted with initial funding while his wife was a pillar of strength, particularly in the early days when she became the single income earner for close to five years.

Farhart’s focus on attracting and retaining employees has been a cornerstone for the business’ success, with General Manager Nikki Hursaslas contributing to the team for 27 years.

Staff retention has always been a top priority, which Farhart attributes to a team-first culture where everyone works with a sense of “partnership” within the Organisation.

“The key is to give employees a comfortable workplace with initiatives and incentives while keeping communication clear.”

“They need to feel that they are remunerated above the market rate.

We make sure we offer a 10-20 percent profit share and I’m blessed to have a business like this which feels like family,” he says.

Despite the production pressures of such an unexpected increase in demand from COVID-19, Farhart’s team of trusted and loyal companions pulled together as needed, sometimes running three shifts over 24 hours to meet demand.

Building business resilience The Clean Plus business model is one based around flexibility and innovation with a pure B2B focus. Supplying to the highly competitive hospitality, healthcare, aged care, food processing, laundry, automotive and commercial industries requires a resilient operation.

“When COVID hit we grew significantly, and have maintained a 16 per cent per annum growth rate since”

20 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

Farhart explains.

One of Clean Plus’ highest revenue generating services is the ‘white label’ service which is offered alongside the comprehensive product catalogue.

Clean Plus offers an extensive range of customised solutions to meet the cleaning needs of its customers.

“This enables them to stand out and make an impact with a customised rangeof branded products with personalised packaging, “ he says.

“One of our ongoing challenges is to keep clients happy so that they don’t get tempted by our competitors, so we are always thinking of the next innovation.”

“There are currently three to four projects that we are working on. This includes a product that is based on enzymes as well as tablets that make cleaning more environmentally friendly,” he said.

Consistent growth Since the first office and warehouse were set up in Roselands, Clean Plus

has been on a geographical journey through Condell Park (450sqm) and Milperra (750sqm) before finally settling at Auburn in 2008 at more than 3,000sqm.

The company also owns two large warehouses in Brisbane and Perth.

With the support of St. George and the relationship fostered by Head of Manufacturing and Wholesale NSW and Regional General Manager, Matt Kelly, Clean Plus is poised to upscale once again.

This includes new warehousing facilities next door to the current Auburn location, along with an investment in new blending vessels, packaging machines and a new platform using AI, all with the aim of diversifying production.

Kelly, who has known Farhart for nearly six years said “We love working with Clean Plus and have proudly fostered a strong relationship with them. They are incredibly focused on growing their business and have done so successfully year on year since 1992. I’m happy to say we’ve been able to meet their complex needs to allow them to further grow their warehousing and manufacturing footprint. We’ve also connected them with the right contacts to assist with Government Grants.”

Clean Plus Chemicals cleanplus.com.au

St.George Bank stgeorge.com.au/ manufacturing

The support of St.George’s division of Manufacturing and Wholesale, is enabling Clean Plus to significantly grow its warehousing and manufacturing footprint.

industryupdate.com.au

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Budget is good news for manufacturers

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he Australian Government handed down the 2022 Federal Budget with very few surprises, unlike the largesse of the past several years, as the fight went on to counter the economic shock from COVID. This year’s Budget contained incentives for manufacturers, with boosts to encourage employment, training and apprenticeships, along with 120 percent taxation writeoff for expenses relating to upgrade of software for cybersecurity, cloud based programs and payment devices. A temporary reduction in fuel excise will also help offset the recent vast increase in fuel prices.

EOFY is nigh The last Budget contained measures for Temporary full expensing and Loss Carryback which continue only into the next financial year. In essence, large capital purchases may give rise to a taxation loss which may then be used as a ‘credit’ against tax paid in the past several years – which in turn can mean a refund of taxes previously paid; or a loss carried forward against future profits.

• There is no limit to the value of capital purchases, nor a limit to the number • Goods purchased may be new or secondhand In our view this is an unprecedented gift, unlikely to be repeated, and although these provisions continue until 30 June 2023, they are ideal for planning as the end of financial year 2022 draws close.

Interest rates It is clear that the uber low rates of the past several years are behind us, although the rises to date have been modest. New equipment and vehicle purchases can still be financed beneath

Australiawide finance director and broker, Colin Cooper advises manufacturers “to begin your finance transactions early”.

5 percent, financiers are very competitive and, in our experience, will discount heavily in the final months of the financial year ending 30 June.

“It is clear that the uber low rates of the past several years are behind us, although the rises to date have been modest.”

As finance markets continue to evolve and change, there is a constant march

of new lenders, many of which identify a niche or opening, left by the major banks which concentrate on a narrow band of customer and asset types for which they will provide finance.

COVID measures have ended The final restriction upon lending following the pandemic crisis was removed only in the past fortnight, by the largest and most aggressive (consequently the cheapest) equipment financier. This means a full return to ‘matrix’ type lending – automatic approval without having to present financials, tax returns, BAS or bank statements.

A caution – get in early Financiers have lengthy delays as they come to terms with their increased

responsibilities relating to the Anti Money Laundering & Counter Terrorism Financing Act (AML). Since the Act was first introduced in 2006, the rules have intensified each year.

The larger lenders now have departments set up to meet obligations to positively identify (with certified identification documents) every person identifiable with an equipment finance transaction. This becomes complex with multiple directors and shareholders, Trusts and beneficiaries.

The secret is to begin your finance transaction early – having finance approval prior to purchase gives certainty with the added benefit of acting as a cash buyer would (possibly extracting a big discount for immediate settlement).

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Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 21

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Eyeing growth despite turbulence

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ccording to the Deloitte 2022 manufacturing industry outlook, the global manufacturing industry is building back fast, undeterred by significant labour and supply chain challenges. To maintain this momentum, Deloiite suggests that manufacturers navigate elevated risks while advancing sustainability priorities.

outsourcing remains a generational challenge for some manufacturers to overcome. The industry may need to deploy creative solutions to improve workforce perception and experience.

Manufacturing executives may need to balance goals for retention, culture, and innovation. Remote work for office workers was one of the early successes

This extract from the 2022 outlook explores three manufacturing industry trends that can help organisations turn risks into advantages and capture growth.

Manufacturers are remaking supply chains for advantage beyond the next disruption, says the report, with record numbers of unfilled jobs likely to limit higher productivity and growth in 2022.

Talent scarcity is also compelling more manufacturers to consider raising pay. Although the industry has historically had a higher baseline wage for production workers, some competing industries are increasing wages faster than manufacturers.

As digitization transforms manufacturing work, automation of recurring tasks could help to blunt some of the labour shortage’s impact.

Organisations may also have more incentive to “pull forward” futureof-work strategies by re-architecting work, rethinking the composition and capabilities of the workforce, and adopting flexible and innovative workplace strategies.

To attract and retain talent, manufacturers should pair strategies such as reskilling with a recasting of their employment brand. Shrinking the industry’s public perception gap by making manufacturing jobs a more desirable entry point could be critical to meeting hiring needs in 2022.

In Deloiite’s survey, 38 percent of executives report that attracting new workers is their top priority for the production workforce in 2022, followed by retention (31percent) and reskilling (13 percent).

Reputational harm from a history of moving jobs to lower cost regions or

for business continuity in the pandemic and has changed the minds of many employees and employers.

Hybrid and flexible work models will likely continue to evolve. As flexible work is taking root in offices, manufacturers should explore ways to add flexibility across their organisation in order to attract and retain workers.

Organisations that can manage through workforce shortages and a rapid pace of change today can come out ahead.

“In Deloite’s survey, 38 percent of executives report that attracting new workers is their top priority for the production workforce in 2022, followed by retention (31%) and reskilling (13%).

Supply chain resilience Supply chain resilience has been a thread through our recent outlooks, and the challenges are acute and still unfolding.

There is no mistaking that manufacturers face near-continuous disruptions globally that add costs and test abilities to adapt. Purchasing manager reports continue to reveal systemwide complications from high demand, rising costs of raw materials and freight, and slow deliveries in the US. Transportation challenges are likely to continue in 2022, including driver shortages in trucking and congestion at US container ports. As demand outpaces supply, higher costs are more likely to be passed on to customers.

Root causes for extended US supply chain instability may include overreliance on low inventories, rationalisation of suppliers, and hollowing

22 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

out of domestic capability.

Supply chain strategies in 2022 are expected to be multi pronged, according to our survey, includHalf of executives Deloitte surveyed expect to increase operational efficiency in ing 41percent 2022 through their investments in robots and cobots. of executives who report their with advanced manufacturing comcompanies will further add or diversify pared to many competitors globally. suppliers in existing markets. FiftyThe number of industrial robots as a three percent of surveyed organisations share of manufacturing workers in the plan to enhance data integration for United States is below countries like supply-and-demand visibility and Korea, Singapore, and Germany. planning.

Half of executives we surveyed Digital supply networks and data expect to increase operational analytics can be powerful enablers for efficiency in 2022 through their more flexible, multi-tiered responses investments in robots and cobots. to disruptions. The risks from not Investment in artificial intelligence “connecting the dots” through availtechnologies is also expected to see a able data can be significant: A lack of compound annual growth rate (CAGR) supply chain integration could stall above 20 percent through 2025. smart factory initiatives for 3 in 5 Discrete manufacturing is among manufacturers by 2025. the top-three industries expected to Beyond the data, reshoring of invest most heavily in Al, primarily in components or even final assemblies quality management and automated are likely to pick up steam as global preventive maintenance use cases. sourcing and low-inventory models Advanced global “lighthouse” factocontinue to diverge. Rising wages ries showcase the art of the possible in and transportation costs globally bringing smart manufacturing to scale. make nearshoring or onshoring more Foundational technologies such as competitive at the same time that cloud computing enable computational organisations power, visibility, scale, and speed. look to avoid a Meanwhile, Industrial 5G deployrepeat of 2020ment may also expand in 2022 with 21. Twenty-four advances in technology and use cases. percent of manOne global equipment manufacturer ufacturing exechas invested in multiple private 5G utives surveyed networks to enable automation and are considering intelligence on factory floors as well moving operaas to support connected products. tions closer to end customers in Rising threats different regions High-profile cyberattacks across in 2022. industries and governments in the past year have elevated cybersecurity Acceleration as a risk management essential for in digital most executives and boards. Surging technology threats during the pandemic added Manufacturers looking to capture to business risk for manufacturers in growth and protect long-term the crosshairs for ransomware. An profitability should embrace digital expanding attack surface from the capabilities from corporate functions connection of operational technology to the factory floor. Smart factories, (OT), information technology (IT), including greenfield and brownfield and external networks requires more investments for many manufacturers, controls. Legacy systems and techare viewed as one of the keys to drivnology weren’t purpose-fit for today’s ing competitiveness. sophisticated network challenges.

More organisations are making Now, remote work vulnerabilities progress and seeing results from more leave manufacturers even more susconnected, reliable, efficient, and ceptible to breaches. predictive processes at the plant. In Manufacturers should look not only 2022, 45 percent of manufacturing at their cyber defences, but also at executives surveyed expect further the resiliency of their business in the increases in operational efficiency from event of a cyberattack. The potential investments in industrial Internet of for additional oversight is likely to Things (lloT) that connect machines prompt more industrials to rethink and automate processes. preparedness for crisis response.

US manufacturers have room to run industryupdate.com.au

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AUSTRALIAN MADE WEEK Australian Made Week builds on success

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Australian Made CEO Ben Lazarro said that licensees are being offered the chance to promote their Australian Made Week ‘Mates Rates’ deals on the Australian Made Campaign website.

he second annual Australian Made Week will run from Monday June 6 to Sunday June12 with the campaign focusing on encouraging consumers to actively seek locally Australian made and grown products during the week and into the future.

The first ever Australian Made Week ran during the last week of May in 2021, Australian Made Campaign encouraging Australian shoppers to buy locally-made goods over internationally-sourced products.

As the only initiative of its kind, a multi-channel advertising campaign will be scheduled to run across TV, radio, out-of-home, print, online and social media, along with a curated PR campaign and ambassador to be named.

“We want our licensees and partners to get involved in supporting and celebrating the thousands of local makers and growers around the country,” Australian Made campaign chief executive Ben Lazzaro said.

Manufacturers can participate in Australian Made Week 2022 by: • Proudly promoting your Australian Made products carrying the Australian Made logo, • Running an Australian Made sale event and/or promotion, • Sharing Australian Made Week assets across your social networks (these will be provided to you in the coming weeks) with the hashtags #AustralianMade #AustralianMadeWeek, • Telling your Australian Made story, • And spreading the word about Australian Made Week 2022 to your customers!

This year we’re taking it to the next level and offering licensees the chance to promote their Australian Made Week ‘Mates Rates’ deals on the Australian Made Campaign website.

and our economy to stay strong.

Australians more than ever need products they can trust that are safely manufactured to a high standard which is not only good for you… it’s good for everyone.”

“Buy Australian Made, support your communities far and wide. We sure the heck need it right now,” she appealed. Wide local range From tapware, cookware and fire pits to pet care, swimwear and beauty products, a wide range of Australian Made goods are featured on the page.

“Australians are aware of the value that buying Australian products brings to the economy. Choosing locally manufactured goods and locally grown products helps support local communities and generate Aussie jobs. As a result, consumers are increasingly seeking out the green and gold kangaroo to help make their purchasing decisions,” Lazzaro said.

The Australian Made Campaign features almost 900 businesses across flood-affected communities.

Helping local makers with flood fightback

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s the devastating rain continues across Queensland and New South Wales and more clean-ups are necessary, the Australian Made Campaign (AMCL) is encouraging consumers to help local businesses fight back through its new ‘Flood Fight Back’ product page.

Featuring almost 900 businesses across flood-affected communities, the page provides consumers with a way to not only discover new and exciting Australian Made products but visit the makers’ and growers’

websites directly. Here they can put money straight in the pockets of those that need it most.

“Floods, fires, COVID-19 and lockdown restrictions, Aussie businesses have had to overcome a number of incredible challenges in the last few years,” Australian Made campaign chief executive Ben Lazzaro said.

“While Aussie manufacturers have demonstrated their capacity to innovate and adapt, the latest floods in QLD and NSW are a big hit to some businesses that were already hurting.”

24 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

Local Mullumbimby maker and founder of the family-run business Hemp Collective, Maxine Shea, said supporting local businesses was one way Australians could help them persevere and secure the region’s future.

According to Shea, “We have just been through one of the largest floods in living memory - people have lost their homes, livestock and businesses.

The devastation has been heartbreaking. When you buy Australian Made, you are helping to directly support local workers, Australian families

Most trusted symbol “Underpinned by a third-party accreditation system, the green and gold kangaroo logo is Australia’s most trusted and recognised country of origin symbol.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, three in five (58 percent) licenced Australian Made businesses have seen an increase in customers actively seeking, requesting, or buying more Australian Made and Grown Products.

Almost all Australians (99 percent) recognise the green and gold Australian Made logo, with 97 percent associating it with the support of local jobs and employment opportunities, 95 percent with safe and high-quality products, 89 percent with the use of ethical labour and 78 percent with sustainability. Trust is also strong, with 92 percent of Australians confident products displaying the logo are made in Australia.

industryupdate.com.au

AUSTRALIAN MADE WEEK

Two women and a “superb” machine

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n 1983, Liz Valek started Clover Fields, a home business crafting artisan soaps and body care products. As the business began to flourish, Valek brought in what she describes as “superb” triple-milling Italian soap-making machinery.

This machinery allowed her to become the first Australian soap manufacturer to move away from tallow-based soaps and create products with unbeatable longevity. It had a soap finishing line incorporating two triple-roll mills, a duplex vacuum plodder, guillotine cutter and stamper.

offering over 25 scents that is now an Australian household staples,” she said.

Shampoo duo In 2018, she was joined by her daughter Geneva and together they embarked on an exciting new journey creating an Eco-friendly and plastic-free range known as ‘Shampoo With A Purpose’.

According to Valek, the brand revolutionised haircare for thousands of Australians through its iconic Shampoo Bars.

“Each Shampoo Bar equates to six

Fields to develop products that are conscious of the environment. They have been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Sydney Morning Herald,

Home Beautiful, Vogue Magazine, Instyle, Marie Claire, WHO, New Idea, Studio 10 on Channel 10, Frankie and many more.

“Each Shampoo Bar equates to six bottles of regular shampoo and conditioner. Since its inception, Shampoo With A Purpose has saved over two million plastic bottles from being made, usedip and carelessly discarded into landfill” According to Valek, by using strict temperature controls and line coordination, she was able to produce fine-quality soap. Along with the machine, Valek also credits her “hard-working female-led team”.

“One of our most successful creations is Nature’s Gifts, a soap range

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bottles of regular shampoo and conditioner. Since its inception, Shampoo With A Purpose has saved over two million plastic bottles from being made, usedip and carelessly discarded into landfill,” she noted.

The launch and success of Shampoo With A Purpose has shifted Clover

Liz and Geneva Valek with their Local Business Award.

Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 25

AUSTRALIAN MADE WEEK

High quality transfer between pump stems

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ose reels come in various shapes and sizes from small and lite duty plastic models through to some truly colossal motorised reels used to run 4 and even 6” fuel lines to ships.

But for the most part, the hose reels McNaught uses in the automotive service space tends to lie somewhere in the middle of these extremes.

Motor vehicle servicing worldwide relies heavily on the humble hose reel. They are deployed to bring necessary fuels, oils and coolants right to the fill points of vehicles and they provide the means by which tools and other compressed air driven equipment are delivered their motive power.

For almost 40 years now Macnaught has been manufacturing industrial quality hose reels here in Australia under the banner Retracta. The Retracta reel, manufactured in high impact polypropylene is found in countless applications around Australia and the wider world. The Retracta reel demonstrates that not only that a ‘plastic’ reel can exceed the needs and expectations of almost every industry, it has been deployed in its well executed, innovative design moves the industry forward.

Smart design such as Macnaught’s new generation Retracta R3 industrial quality poly reel, with it’s use of modern materials, world class spring technology and robust functionality continue to set the standards by which other manufacturers measure themselves.

Not all fluids are in a modern automotive service facility are dispensed via hose reels however and Macnaught’s approach to design, innovation and future development is not limited to the realm

of world class hose reels. One area of the modern workshop that seems to be still operating in last century is the way oil is dispensed from smaller 20 and 60litre containers. Technicians are still using labour intensive manual pumping technologies despite the fact these smaller containers, especially 20 litre, have become more ubiquitous as vehicle requirements have become more specialised.

Macnaught’s BOP Battery Operated Pump for 20 and 60L drums enables automotive workshops to work more efficiently. The clever use of technology combined with clever design and intuitive operation provides a product that solves not only the problem of fatiguing manual pumps and reduces the likelihood of spills, but also provides an expandable platform of oil handling efficiencies for the business.

Based around the simplicity of Li-Ion battery technology for absolute portability, the BOP platform utilises a patented mechanism that allow the Powerhead to be simply and easily transferred between pump stems. This ingenuity gives the operator the versatility to maintain pump stems in any number of oils and coolant products ready for use. The application of the powerhead which includes the battery creates a completely portable, flow on demand fluid transfer unit.

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Contact us or visit our website for a free quote (03) 9796 5300 26 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

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AUSTRALIAN MADE WEEK

Locally made medicines have a long way to go

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nder the Collaboration Stream of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, the Federal Government will provide $23 million support for the $71.2 million Australian Precision Medicine Enterprise.

Currently Australia imports more than 90 percent of its medicines.

Global Medical Solutions Australia will work with partners Monash University and Telix Pharmaceuticals for the production of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer, kidney disease and other illnesses here in Australia. This project and its facility to be built in Clayton, Victoria will secure Australia’s sovereign capability, while its economic impact is expected to be $461.8 million over the next 15 years.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the investment demonstrated the Government’s commitment to building Australia’s medical manufacturing capability.

“Making medicines like these right here means more security from disruptions, more homegrown skills and more local jobs,” the Prime Minister said.

“Building up our ability to make products like these is key to our plan for a stronger future. The pandemic has shown us more than ever before

we need access to what Australians need here at home and this project will help ensure we have critical precision medicines for our patients.

The Australian Precision Medicine Enterprise will help cement precision medicine development here in Australia, also helping deliver a stronger economy by growing opportunities for our medical sector and the highly-skilled jobs it supports.”

The 2022-23 Budget demonstrated the ongoing commitment to manufacturing with an additional $1 billion for the Morrison Government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy, including an extra $750 million for the Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said these projects will help onshore technology and expertise not currently in Australia, while securing new sovereign capability.

“This project will see the construction of a new facility that will house a high energy 30 mega-electron volt (MeV ) cyclotron, which will be a new domestic source of critical radioisotopes – which are currently imported into Australia – and will be used in the treatment of cancer, kidney disease

A strong medical manufacturing sector is key to the federal government’s vision.

and other illnesses,” Taylor said.

“By combining research and development and the manufacture of precision medicines locally we are shoring up our supply chain resilience. These projects will also create highly-skilled jobs in the medical sector, such as radiochemists, radio pharmacists and engineers, while also reducing our reliance on overseas suppliers of vital medications.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt added that believed the project would see “incredible” collaboration with the Monash Biomedical

Imaging Centre, National Synchrotron and the Victorian Heart Hospital.

“Not only will this facility and the precision medicines it will help lead to better patient outcomes, it will help bolster Australia’s entire medical ecosystem,” Hunt said. “This project will help realise the incredible potential of medicines that are customised to patients, all the way from clinical trials to their local manufacture right here at home.”

The facility will directly support 42 jobs with 105 additional along the supply chain.

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(03) 9796 5300 www.bomac.com.au/get-a-quote Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 27

AUSTRALIAN MADE WEEK

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28 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

orkspace Commercial Furniture has been a leader in Australian manufacturing and design for over 110 years. Specialising in project-based solutions for commercial, office, education, hospitality, health, aged care and accommodation settings, the company’s focus lies in a complete end-to-end service.

From product design and development through to planning, manufacture, despatch, freight and installation, the Australian Made and Owned brand continues to offer clients an unrivalled experience.

Showrooms are located across the eastern seaboard as well as a 12,500 square metre manufacturing facility in South Australia and according to Workspace, Chief Executive Tom Clark, its experience and capability enables it to undertake national and global projects of varying size.

“Workspace employs over 150 Australians. Our dedicated team works to ensure that each of our 1,200 standard products meet our clients’ expectations and needs. Further to this, no project is too large or complex for our team. We have the potential to complete mass customisation for clients within our FSC certified, locally based facility, ” Clark explained.

Crafting a wide range of products from chairs and tables, to filing cabinets and ottomans, Workspace collaborates with in-house design teams, as well as research and development teams, to ensure each product maintains its reputation for quality and innovation.

“Manufacturing our products

locally ensures our clients are receiving quality products, made from quality materials. It also allows us to have complete control over the entire design and manufacturing process.

We are proud to offer an extensive range of tested and certified products with proven strength, durability, stability and function, ” Clark added.

Workspace’s commitment to Australian manufacturing and local employment is evident within its local apprenticeship program, where the company employs five industry capable apprentices yearly.

“Here at Workspace, we resonate closely with the attributes of the Australian Made logo. Whether it be manufacturing our products in a sustainably certified warehouse or providing jobs within the local community; our core values are strengthened by showcasing the green and gold kangaroo on our products.”

Clark also acknowledged the ability of the logo to convey the impact of a purchase in its wider surroundings.

“Purchasing products sporting the iconic Australian Made logo helps consumers understand the broader implications of their purchase,” he said. “Not only are they supporting our individual business, their purchase is also supporting our network of local suppliers and local employees, which in turn positively impacts the overall Australian manufacturing industry.”

“In supporting Workspace and Australian Made, our clients can rest assured they are supporting local business, local people and the local economy.”

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AUSTRALIAN MADE WEEK

Australian Made – backing local manufacturing percent with the use of ethical labour and 78 percent with sustainability.

Renewed pro-Australian sentiment presents an opportunity for

“Renewed proAustralian sentiment presents an opportunity for Aussie manufacturers to capitalise on their ‘Australian Made’ story and expand their markets.”

T

he Australian Made claim has never been more powerful than it is right now. It tells consumers that products which carry the mark are made to some of the world’s highest manufacturing and safety standards, with inputs often sourced from Australia’s clean green environment. It also makes a compelling statement about generating local jobs and economic activity.

As a result, Australian Made products are viewed positively, even more so in the current COVID and

disaster-affected environment. In fact, recent Roy Morgan research found 73 percent of Australians had a favourable opinion of businesses that partner with the Australian Made logo, with 75 percent likely to purchase from them.

Underpinned by a third-party accreditation system, the logo ensures the products that carry it are certified as ‘genuinely Australian’. It is Australia’s only registered country of origin certification trademark and has helped thousands of brands

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communicate their Australian credentials to consumers, businesses and all levels of government for more than 30 years.

High awareness Roy Morgan’s research found that almost all Australians (99 percent) know the iconic Australian Made green and gold kangaroo. With 97 percent associating the green and gold kangaroo with the support of local jobs and employment opportunities, 95% with safe and high-quality products, 89

Aussie manufacturers to capitalise on their ‘Australian Made’ story and expand their markets. Nine in ten (89 percent) of Australians now believe Australia should be producing more products locally following the COVID-19 pandemic. And since 2020, three in five (58 percent) licensed Australian Made businesses have seen an increase in customers actively seeking, requesting, or buying more ‘Australian Made’ and ‘Australian Grown’ products.

If being recognised as genuinely Australian is important to selling your products, certify them to carry the iconic Australian Made, Australian Grown logo.

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Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 29

AUSTRALIAN MADE WEEK

NSW manufacturer is revolutionising conveyor sortation

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ustralian manufacturer Omnia Wheel is revolutionising conveyor sortation for materials handling according to its managing director, Peter McKinnon.

The Australian designed and made omni directional sortation modules harness the unique capabilities of omni wheels to deliver 360-degree solutions for logistics and manufacturing.

“The Omnia sortation solution is highly adaptable and scalable to handle a range of package sizes and weights to meet the needs of just about any sortation challenge” McKinnon said.

Omnia showcased its sortation solution at the Modex 22 materials handling expo, in Atlanta last month with great success.

“The level of interest received at Modex from some of North America’s market leaders in logistics and e-tailing businesses tells us our solution has the efficacy and flexibility required to provide the dependable singulation and sortation they are seeking.”

McKinnon credits his team for the system’s design simplicity and wheelon-shaft construction which extends mean-time-to-failure and makes it

easy to install, program and maintain.

“There are no pop ups, swivels, pushers, pneumatics or hydraulics - fewer parts generates less wear to reduce unplanned downtime,” he said.

“The team deliberately designed for impact resistance and low wear to deliver mission critical reliability.

The light, compact design enables hassle free installation into existing conveyor rail systems or as an independent unit. Compatible with 24V systems, the tables can be supplied pre-programmed or as a programmable ready module.”

With businesses looking to do more with less, McKinnon said Omnia’s multi-functional sortation systems deliver time, money and space saving benefits.

“As long as it’s within the laws of physics, an Omnia Wheel sortation system can direct payloads as small as envelopes or as large as pallets.

McKinnon explained that the ability to move packages in any direction means they can be diverted, sorted, merged, aligned, rotated and singulated with precision, at any angle.

“This makes labelling, printing, scanning, sampling and quality inspection more efficient.”

McKinnon told Industry Update that he understands that, in a world of constant change, businesses are looking to de-risk their investment, reduce the costs of ownership and improve sustainability metrics.

“Our manufacturing facility is solar powered, and the sortation modules have been designed for low wear and repurposing with programmability and scalability at the core of the design. This extends the asset lifecycle.”

“Energy is predominantly consumed driving the payload, not the system components. The low friction, light weight design generates less heat and uses less power.”

“The system’s noise rating averages 64 dB which is equivalent to a standard office environment rather than a typical industrial environment,” he added.

McKinnon says Omnia is leading the world in the production of high performance omni wheels and their applications, with customers across more than 50 countries.

Peter McKinnon says Omnia, which was recently showcased at Modex 22, is leading the world in the production of high performance omni wheels and their applications.

If you specialise in B2B, talk to a specialist B2B marketing agency.

Business To Business Marketing that's Australian Made

32 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

E: peters@bravotangobravo.com.au www.bravotangobravo.com.au

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AUSTRALIAN MADE WEEK

Leussink is a second-generation family business with 40 employees including apprentices, based in Unanderra, just south of Wollongong NSW.

Manufacturing thriving in the Illawarra

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he COVID pandemic has shone a complements our existing lathe and spotlight on Australian manallows us to increase the size of the ufacturing instead of overseas items we machine as well. imports from countries such as “We’re investing in our future China, particularly for companies like work. Having just one large lathe in Leussink in the Illawarra. our workshop was creating a bottleDuring the pandemic, Illawarraneck that will now be eliminated. The based engineering firm Leussink old lathe will be used to rough jobs out invested $1 million to future-proof and the new one for finish machining. its state-of-the-art workshop with “Australian manufacturing is the acquisition of an additional CNC alive and well and we will continue lathe package. to invest in it. We’ve been competing According to Leussink’s managing with overseas companies for years director Jason Leussink, “the new and the COVID pandemic has brought lathe effectively doubled the turning new work Industry-update-230mm-X-155mm.pdf 1 21/03/2022 8:49:42 AM our way because overseas capacity within our workshop. It suppliers cannot always guarantee

continuity of supply or the same quality that we offer,” Leussink added.

Leussink is a second-generation family business with 40 employees including apprentices, based in Unanderra, just south of Wollongong NSW. “At Leussink we genuinely believe in local manufacturing. Of course, in our industry, it is not always possible to buy 100 percent Australian-made materials, but where we can, we do buy Australian and support other organisations that have the same philosophy,” Leussink explained.

Leussink’s services include CNC machining, milling and turning, wire cutting, surface grinding, design, metal fabrication, welding, robotic welding, assembly, reverse engineering, power transmission repairs, equipment upgrades and parts qualification and verification.

Diversified industry The company works across many sectors and industries including defence, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining and minerals processing, pulp and paper, heavy industry, transport, construction, civil engineering and marine.

“Over the years, we have had many opportunities to manufacture offshore, but have always chosen to stay local. For example, we have a joint venture with an Australian company that straightens

steel fence posts on rural properties.

“In producing the machinery, there was an opportunity to manufacture offshore at a cheaper price. But we decided to maintain local manufacturing,” he added. Leussink employs 40 staff and half of them have been employed at Leussink for more than 25 years, the company aims to employ local people from the Illawarra region wherever possible.

Leussink’s expertise in reverse engineering is another example of keeping manufacturing within Australia.

Reverse engineering is particularly applicable where there are machines that can run 24/7 for months on end, repeating the same process over and over again. This type of high use means parts and accessories invariably need to be replaced often, and in some cases major components as well.

Given the potential lifespan of some machinery, by the time a major part is required, it may no longer be in production or may be too expensive to replace. Or, in the case of our current times, it may not be available to order in a reasonable time frame.

Reverse engineering was not possible a few decades ago, but with technological advancements, it has become feasible and economical. And not only that – it also keeps jobs and expertise in Australia.

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Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 33

AUSTRALIAN MADE WEEK

Packserv and UTS using AI to transform factory floor

Packserv managing director Nathan Wardell (left) hosted the Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation, Ed Husic (centre) to the Marrickville factory along with Packserv chief operations officer, Ken Seddon (right).

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t a recent visit to the Packserve Marrickville factory, the Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation, Ed Husic, witnessed the unveiling of the actions to gather data to be used as a framework for the implementation of AI technology. This

technology will be harnessed to enable, amongst other things, predictive servicing requirements for the machines they make from scratch, in Australia.

According to Packserv’s managing director Nathan Wardell, the visit left a positive impression on the Shadow

Minister who, later the same day, in a speech he made to The Australian Institute, stated, “It’s not just a technology for big business (AI), Packserv, who’ve teamed up with UTS to use AI to reimagine the way they scale up their production lines, crucial to their longer-term viability, staving off competition”.

UTS Centre for Advanced Manufacturing’s Dr Nick Bennett explained, “Packserv have identified that AI can play an important role in their next generation of products and crucially that this is not just a technology for large, multi-nationals.

AI will be transformational for Australian manufacturing and that can apply to SMEs too. When AI expertise doesn’t exist in-house, universities, like UTS can support businesses by bringing the necessary knowhow. This is exactly the engagement model we’ve developed with Packserv.”

Wardell added, “when we first embarked on this project over two years ago, the prospect of using AI seemed a step too far almost, but with our friends at UTS we have continued to push the boundaries well beyond that which we envisaged possible. I think this not only shows the extent of the possibilities we are trying to harness, but the true value of working closely with an academic resource such as the team at UTS.” Packserv is working to have a prototype of their new machine in time for their appearance at its first ever Auspack tradeshow on May 17 2022.

Wardell added, “The pressure is on for Packserv and UTS to start walking the walk after all the talk that’s taken place. To say the whole team is excited would be a huge understatement. We’re looking to make a leap that will help put Australian manufacturing, front and centre in marketplaces throughout the world.”

Green & Gold logo registered in the Philippines

T

he registration of the Australian Made Logo in the Philippines further protects the logo in export markets, with licensed Aussie makers and growers the only group allowed to harness the logo’s power.

Australian Made chief executive, Ben Lazzaro explained, “Formal registration of the logo in the Philippines provides an essential legal framework which exporters can rely upon if the logo is copied or used without proper authority. While the Philippines represents a relatively small export market for Australia, we see the registration of the logo as an opportunity to expand interest in Australian Made products.”

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia exported $2,130 million worth of merchandise to the Philippines during the 2019-20 financial year.

Research also conducted by Horizon Consumer Science in 2020, the driving forces behind overseas consumers purchasing Australian Made products are quality, reputation and ethical standards. Additionally, 97 percent of overseas consumers have a positive first impression of the Australian Made logo, with 87 percent of consumers believing products that carry the logo are genuinely from Australia.

The registration covers 10 classes (Classes 3, 5, 20, 25, 29-33 and 35) extending to a wide range of products, including toiletries and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, furniture, clothing and footwear, food and beverage and retail services.

The formal registration of the AMAG logo in the Philippines follows its registration in other key export markets, including the European Union, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, China, South Korea, India, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia, where it is known as Australia’s mark of authenticity.

A REVOLUTION IN SORTATION 360° FLEXIBILITY No Pop Ups No Swivels No Pushers No Pneumatics 34 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

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AUSTRALIAN MADE

How well calibrated testing machines optimise safety, reliability, and performance

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esting machines are vital to the safety and reliability of so many industries.

They keep hard-working production machinery well calibrated, and ensure operations are efficient, safe, and Standards compliant.

But who’s testing the testers?

For more than 20 years, Test Machines Australia has dedicated itself to this task. As the COVID pandemic over the past two years has highlighted safety and performance, it’s now paramount for machinery to be operating at optimum capacity for industries including manufacturing, materials handling, food and beverage production, process engineering, water and wastewater treatment.

The company manufactures and services a broad range of materials testing machines, and retrofits or updates older equipment, to provide modern functionalities.

“Companies that have invested in testing machinery understand the value in keeping machinery running at optimum efficiency, and in compliance with Standards. A machine not running could be causing costly downtime, so having a local Australian-based support team just a phone call away can make a big difference to getting things back up and running swiftly,” Test Machines Australia managing director Paul Cibotto explained.

“Our team is working in the same time zones, and has a stock of spare parts locally, ready to support Australian and New Zealand industry. This type of local support has been crucial in keeping industry functioning smoothly through the pandemic,” he added.

Bespoke solutions In addition to its standard range of testing machines, Test Machines Australia can create bespoke solutions to suit unique conditions and requirements. Through a global network of quality suppliers and expert local technicians, Test Machines Australia can provide servicing and calibration work, quality spare parts, fast turnaround times and 24-hour support.

“We service all makes and models of testing machines, and have the capacity to design and manufacture various fixtures and accessories to further extend the capabilities of these machines,” Cibotto noted.

“Rather than trying to sell the flashiest or newest product, we prefer to take the time to understand the client’s needs and recommend an ideal solution. This solutions-first approach has resulted in long-term partnerships with our valued clients,” he said.

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Our teams working within the same time zones

DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS OF 19” RACK SYSTEMS

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Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 35

AMW 2022 : more than just an exhibition

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ustralian Manufacturing Week (AMW) and Austech exhibitions will be held from 7-10 June 2022 at the International Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney. The 2022 event will run with the two exhibitions co-located side by side, with all exhibitors offered Austech’s existing pricing structure, including package options, AMTIL member discounts and other opportunities.

The twin exhibitions will also feature a number of specialised areas focusing on specific manufacturing technologies. As in previous years, Austech will feature sections devoted to Additive Manufacturing, Digitalisation

(Industry 4.0) and Air Technology.

It will also include the Manufacturers Pavilion, highlighting the capabilities of some of Australia’s most accomplished advanced manufacturing businesses. Meanwhile AMW will house dedicated zones covering a range of specialist categories, such as robotics and automation, safety, and welding technology.

AMTIL’s aim is for AMW to be more than just an exhibition. It will instead act as the centrepiece of a week-long celebration of manufacturing in Australia today. Alongside Australian Manufacturing Week and Austech, a variety of additional events

will be taking place in parallel to the twin exhibitions.

New episode While AMW represents an exciting new episode for AMTIL, the cessation of NMW will mark the end of its highly successful collaboration with Reed Exhibitions, after two decades running co-located exhibitions.

“Personally I’d like to thank Reed Exhibitions for what has been a wonderful working relationship running Austech and NMW side by side all these years,” saidat AMTIL events manager Kim Banks.

“It’ll be strange next year at

Austech not having them just ‘next door’ running NMW. But we’re looking forward to making AMW and Austech a real celebration of manufacturing in this country.”

“AMTIL has valued its 20-yearlong partnership with Reed,” AMTIL CEO Shane Infanti added. “They did a terrific job running NMW over the last two decades, and our collaboration with them has been a key factor in making Austech the success it is today. We’re grateful to all of the team at Reed and we wish them all the best for the future.”

Australian Manufacturers’ Pavilion – spotlighting advanced manufacturing

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he Australian Manufacturers’ Pavilion is a specially dedicated section of the Australian Manufacturing Week exhibition that spotlights Australia’s precision engineering and advanced manufacturing industry.

Originally featured at the Austech 2013 exhibition, the Manufacturers’ Pavilion is now an integral part of AMW, with 12 manufacturing businesses signed up to exhibit this year.

“We’ve worked very hard over the years to make the Manufacturers’ Pavilion a key feature of AMTIL’s exhibitions, and it’s been really satisfying to see it establish itself,” AMTIL CEO Shane Infanti said.

“We see the Manufacturers’ Pavilion as an opportunity to showcase our industry as a whole, and we’ve got a really strong line-up of exciting, innovative manufacturing companies that have booked stands this year.”

The Australian Manufacturers’ Pavilion showcases the capabilities of component manufacturers, precision engineering firms, toolmakers, advanced manufacturers and general engineering companies. For example, Integra Systems designs, manufactures

and sustains complex and innovative equipment and products for many different industry segments, while Marsh Alliance is one of the most recognised and trusted names in spring, wire form

and pressed parts manufacturing.

Infanti said that the Pavilion will also help businesses like Integra and Marsh promote their capabilities to an expected audience of thousands of

visitors, connecting them with potential clients, partners, and other organisations such as government, research and training bodies.

AMTIL sees the Manufacturers’ Pavilion as an opportunity to showcase the industry as a whole.

36 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

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AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WEEK

Welding gasses improve safety, quality & productivity

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rc welding is a metal joining process using mainly Argon or Argon/CO 2 mixtures as shielding gasses. Arc welding is widely used for the fabrication of a wide range of products and structures such as truck trailer bodies, silos, boats, waste bins and compactors, and steel constructions for warehouse frames.

Air Liquide’s Arcal brand is its dedicated welding gas range and consists of five reference products (Arcal Prime, Arcal Chrome, Arcal Speed, Arcal Force, Arcal Flux) that covers 100 percent all customers welding applications (carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium and other non-ferrous metal ). The technical range consists of 10 advanced gas mixtures for more specific welding needs.

Arcal products are designed to minimise spatter and oxidation, while keeping the customer in the front of mind to improve their bottom line.

These gasses are available in cylinders, packs or even in tanks with an integrated mixing unit. Air Liquide’s mixing unit, Liquid Arcal Mixer, is a solution to produce a highly

These gasses are available in cylinders, packs or even in tanks with an integrated mixing unit.

consistent shielding gas mixture for high volume consumers and is particularly beneficial for welding procedures. Arcal cylinders have industry leading safety features such as our innovative Smarttop, Altop

and Exeltop. Features include a contents gauge, valve protection, quick fit connection, residual pressure valve (RPV) and more.

The company’s technical support is also a differentiating factor as

specialists visit customers’ premises and help them optimise their production process or resolve any problems they may have.

AIR LIQUIDE ARCAL™ range provides quality and efficiency

Discover How. Air Liquide’s four ready-to-weld argon mixture solutions that cover virtually all welding application needs.

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Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 37

AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WEEK

Giant Kaishan compressors meet domestic nickel demand

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ustralia is one of the world’s largest nickel producers with multi billion dollar sales per annum. As demand for nickel increases, the manufacture of stainless steel and more recently as a major component in lithium batteries to store electricity from wind and solar installations and power the electric vehicles of today and the future, consequently, the demand for nickel is set to grow dramatically.

metal powder and briquettes for local and export markets.

Australian refineries will need to meet a rapidly expanding local and global demand for 99.99 percent pure nickel sulphate. To power mining and refinery processes required to meet this rapidly growing demand, superseded compressors are being replaced with Kaishan krsp 2-Stage, rotary screw compressors with integral variable speed control.

Kaishan compressors employ advanced 2-stage and variable speed technology to each produce 70m3/min air at 10bar.g. with a highly beneficial output to input energy ratio. The energy saving operation of these new age compressors compliments the green energy and sustainable production capabilities for Australia’s nickel refining processes.

“Australian refineries will need to meet a rapidly expanding local and global demand for 99.99 percent pure nickel “Kaishan sulphate.” compressors According to Kaishan, which supplies a wide range of air compressors employ advanced from heavy duty rotary screw models to compact compressors, the sustain2-stage and able production of nickel is essential variable speed as the customers purchasing Electric Vehicles (EV) want to know that the technology to each inputs to the manufacturing of these vehicles are also sustainable. produce 70m3/min Nickel sulphide is mined before being crushed and concentrated using air at 10bar.g. with nickel sulphide floatation technola highly beneficial ogy. The concentrate is then dried and smelted into a granulated matte output to input 68 percent pure nickel product. The refinery process converts this base energy ratio.” product to 99.8 percent pure nickel

The sustainable production of nickel is essential as the customers purchasing Electric Vehicles.

Each compressor is 4350 x 2200 x 2580 and weigh11,500kg, specially built to handle the hot, dusty and harsh conditions of mining and heavy industrial applications.

The compressors will be maintained and serviced by Kaishan partner company, Hoerbiger. Through their global design and manufacturing facilities Kaishan Compressors have the capability to design, produce and install custom compressed air solutions for every application.

The company supplies a wide range of air compressors from heavy duty rotary screw models to compact compressors for a range of general and specialised applications.

Kaishan Australia kaishan.com.au

Manufacturing Solutions – Meeting all requirements

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The Commonwealth Bank is sponsoring the Manufacturing Solutions Zone.

40 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

he manufacturing industry would not be able to function effectively without a diverse array of ancillary technologies and support services – and these are all reflected in the Manufacturing Solutions Zone.

The Manufacturing Solutions Zone offers optimised solutions to the most common challenges experienced by manufacturers, covering everything from materials handling technologies, to integrated manufacturing and safety solutions.

The Manufacturing Solutions Zone is where you can get advice and support

when it comes to some of the most common challenges experienced by manufacturers. It encompasses everything from equipment for warehousing and logistics, through to the latest software for streamlining manufacturing operations.

Sponsored by Commonwealth Bank, the Manufacturing Solutions Zone also features an array of specialist service providers in areas such as law, finance, and skills, training & recruitment. It’s also where you can talk to AMTIL’s corporate partners: Interlease, Rigby Cooke Lawyers, Sterna GL and William Buck. industryupdate.com.au

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AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS EVENT

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AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WEEK is the industry exhibition encompassing all aspects of manufacturing in Australia. AMW will showcase the latest in manufacturing technologies and processes, with a strong focus on innovation and digital transformation.

AMW will be a week-long celebration of manufacturing in Australia today.

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SYDNEY: 7-10 June, 2022 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE SYDNEY

1615AMW INDUSTRY UPDATE

AUST MANUFACTURING WEEK

How collaborative robots can power sustainable manufacturing practices

S

ustainability ranks high on both the global and political agenda as many countries continue to set bold energy and emission targets.

These commitments have companies around the world prioritising their sustainability efforts to help fight climate change, and this movement is set to soar in 2022.

Universal Robots is working to make its own working practices and production more sustainable. With this in mind, James McKew Universal Robots Asia Pacific regional president James McKew has some answers to the question: “What makes a manufacturing process more environmentally ‘sustainable’?”

“Well, if you ask 10 different manufacturers around the globe, you are likely to get 10 different answers. However, when it comes to the use of robots that can work safely alongside humans, fondly dubbed as cobots (collaborative robots), some common themes unite the ever-growing list of sustainable manufacturing initiatives.”

Amongst these, the following initiatives are most tangible and are ranked as follows: 1) Waste reduction 2) Energy consumption 3) Space saving production processes 4) Reshoring initiatives McKew highlights five ways that cobots help to improve customers’ footprints as follows: 1. Reducing waste “As part of our commitment to eliminating defects and waste during the manufacturing process, we recently deployed a UR3 cobot at Italian power tool maker RUPES to help achieve its ‘zero defects’ production target,” McKew explained.

This deployment resulted in reduced waste, lowered operating costs, enhanced productivity, improved working conditions as well as the allocation of workers to higher value tasks.

As the RUPES example shows, one of the most effective ways to reduce waste is to improve the quality of your manufacturing procedures.

Cobots can help companies reduce their energy consumption.

2. Reduced energy consumption By means of remote monitoring and access, companies can now reduce their energy consumption.

The UR+ ecosystem supports digitalisation with a wide range of remote monitoring and access solutions.

Typically accessible via tablet, PC and smartphone, these tools provide a wealth of information on KPIs that can then be used to tweak the cobots’ performance, resulting in improved production efficiency and reduced electricity consumption.

3. Environmentally friendly footprints Traditional automation typically boasts a large footprint and requires that numerous changes be made to the layout of a production facility. In a recent success story, Thailand-based company, Benchmark Electronics deployed four UR5 and two UR10e cobots to help improve their operational efficiencies by 25%. This also saved them 10% manufacturing floorspace.

4. Bringing production home Minimising the distance involved in supply chains reduces transportation costs and is better for the environment.

Coupled with uncertainty about the resilience of global supply chains, these environmental concerns have spurred reshoring efforts.

5. Maximising energy efficiency in cobot deployments Generally speaking, cobots are more affordable and consume less energy than their traditional robot counterparts. There are very simple steps manufacturers can take to minimise energy consumption in their cobot-powered applications; running your cobot at 70-80 percent of its maximum speed and payload, where possible, will reduce energy usage and extend the lifespan of the cobot. And when it comes to application design, make sure to consider path optimisation strategies as this will also reduce electricity consumption when the cobot is up and running.

INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING, ELECTRONICS DESIGN, MANUFACTURING AND TESTING ELEXON ELECTRONICS – EXPECT EXCELLENCE

• Electronics design, manufacturing and testing • Innovative engineering • State-of-the-art equipment • Turnkey product development • Our unique Industry 4.0 manufacturing facility includes: – Intelligent Inventory Management with full traceability

CONTACT: sales@elexonelectronics.com |

44 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

– Flying Probe Tester – 3D AOI and X-Ray

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t: +61 7 3193 7140 | 253 Leitchs Road • Brendale QLD 4500 | www.elexonelectronics.com

industryupdate.com.au

AUST MANUFACTURING WEEK

UK manufacturing confidence crushed after Ukraine invasion

A

s Australia buoys its national confidence in a rejuvenated manufacturing sector, and prepares to embrace Australian Manufacturing Week, confidence among UK manufacturers has fallen at the fastest rate since the first Covid-19 lockdowns, according to a report in The Guardian.

As the Ukraine war and rising inflation deepens, business sentiment and export optimism both fell in April. These are at the sharpest rates since April 2020, as the report states, economic uncertainty and commodity prices both jumped.

The balance between UK factories who were more upbeat about their business situation, rather than pessimistic, slumped to -34 per cent in April from -9% in January, according to the CBI’s first quarterly Industrial Trends Survey since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

also hiked domestic prices at the fastest pace since October 1979, which will feed through to consumers as higher prices in the shops.

The cost of raw materials was the most important factor behind expectations for cost growth in the next three months (80 percent of respondents said this was extremely important), followed by energy costs (59percent), transport costs (41 percent) and labour costs (38%).

CBI Anna Leach deputy chief economist, told The Guardian,“Manufacturing orders and output continue to grow, albeit at slower rates. But the war in Ukraine is exacerbating the Covid-related supply crunch, with cost increases and concerns over the availability of raw materials at their highest since the mid-1970s.”

Dearer raw materials and energy resulted in the fastest average price

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Investment intentions for the year ahead weakened across the board in comparison to January.

Biggest drop since 2020 It’s the biggest drop in confidence since April 2020, in the first wave of the pandemic.

Investment intentions for the year ahead were much weaker across the board in April compared to three months ago, suggesting that firms are cutting back.

Companies also reported that growth in output and new orders slowed over the last quarter, with new orders expected to keep falling in the next quarter -- a sign that the economy is slowing.

Cost pressures remained intense, with average costs growing at the fastest rate since July 1975 . Firms

industryupdate.com.au

increases (+60 points) since 1979, with a further acceleration in price growth expected in the next three months.

The CBI said the downward trend in optimism among manufacturers had continued. A year ago, when the UK was emerging from the early 2021 lockdown, firms upbeat about the outlook outweighed those gloomy by a balance of +38 percentage points.

By October that had dropped to +2 points as supply chain shortages pushed up prices. The figure now stands at -34 points.

Get in touch today…

T +61 7 3271 3500 E sales@marshalliance.com.au W marshalliance.com.au

Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 45

AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WEEK

Elexon Electronics forges future in Defence The Elexon Electronics team has spent the past year working on its Defence-readiness plan: Cyber Security Uplift, Quality and Management Systems, Team development and upskilling and Manufacturing Equipment Upgrades.

E

lexon Electronics has invested a further $1.9m in developing its state-of-the-art Industry 4.0 defence and aerospace manufacturing facility by securing a Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority (SICP) grant.

Australian electronics manufacturer, Elexon Electronics, has enhanced its manufacturing capabilities, procuring six new state-ofthe-art machines for its Industry 4.0 manufacturing facility as part of its defence-readiness program.

Automation and interconnectedness have been the primary goals for Elexon, in developing its world-class Industry 4.0 manufacturing facility, offering unparalleled precision and manufacturing standards.

Over the past 16 years, Elexon Electronics has established itself as a global electronics player, pioneering various highly innovative and commercially successful products for a range of industries such as mining, pathology, automotive and recently defence.

The leading difference for Elexon, is its ability to design, engineer, prototype, test and manufacture complex electronics in-house, from high-precision custom PCB boards assembly to software and final assembly.

Today, Elexon is a trusted supplier of electronics for world-class companies such as Rio Tinto, Newcrest, Volvo, Aurizon, Aim Lab, Agilent and EM Solutions.

Defence-readiness Elexon Electronics has spent the past year working tirelessly on its Defence-readiness plan, consisting of four key areas; Cyber Security Uplift, Quality and Management Systems, Team development and upskilling and Manufacturing Equipment Upgrades.

Following engagement with the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC), Elexon received government support for its Cyber Security Uplift, ISO 14001 and AS 9100D management standards installations.

The successful implementation of environmental management standards ISO 14001 and aerospace quality standards AS 9100D also involved Elexon upgrading its physical and cyber security to protect IP - both Elexon’s and that of trusted Defence partners.

Government support, firstly in the form of the “Made in Queensland” grant 3 years ago, and lately, the SICP grant, allowed Elexon to invest almost $4 million to significantly increase its design, prototyping and manufacturing capability. A strong focus was placed on Industry 4.0 interconnectedness and automation.

The early procurement of high-precision automated surface-mount technology (SMT) equipment from leading European producers allows intelligent material handling, solder paste jetting, vacuum vapour phase soldering and X-Ray inspection.

Enhanced standards More recent procurement of intelligent production and inspection/ testing machinery, has also enhanced the quality standards achievable at Elexon’s Industry 4.0 facility, now offering 3D automated optical inspection, dual-side flying probe testing, selective soldering, PCB cleaning, and high-precision conformal coating.

The development of Elexon’s intelligent Industry 4.0 production facility has already resulted in the manufacturer securing a project with Tier 1 Australian Navy supplier, EM Solutions (EMS), delivering RF PCB assemblies for their marine Satcom terminals.

46 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

A milestone achievement for Elexon within the Defence space, is being approved as a supplier for Rheinmetall Group following and successfully bidding for work on Land 400 Phase 2 and 3 projects.

“Defence is a sector well suited to Elexon’s capabilities as an electronics manufacturer, even more so following our Industry 4.0 facility investment,” Elexon Electronics CEO Frank Falle said.

“Elexon is no stranger to high-precision, high-durability electronics, with its suite of wireless sub-surface mining solutions built to withstand the harshest of environments.

“The latest round of Industry 4.0 upgrades allows Elexon to produce extremely precise, durable, and meticulously tested electronics faster than ever before,” Faller said.

“Over the past 16 years, Elexon Electronics has established itself as a global electronics player” Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Facility The Koh Young Technology Zenith2 is one of the most advanced true 3D AOI machines and another exciting addition to the Elexon Electronics facility, combining advanced vision algorithms and high-resolution 3D optics.

A major benefit of the Zenith2 is simplicity of use with AI-driven programming, offering up to a 70 percent reduction in programming time.

The SPEA 4060 S2 Flying Probe

Tester was purchased for component testing, offering dual-side flying probing, as well as the option to use fixed probes, bed-of-nails, and more.

Another reason for choosing the 4060 S2 is its ability to test large boards, up to 20kg in weight, with high accuracy and rapid test times.

An Inertec CUBE.460 selective soldering machine allows Elexon Electronics to move from manual through-hole soldering to precise machine automated selective soldering; reducing manufacturing costs and guaranteed quality Not only is manual labour removed from the soldering process, reducing time and eliminating human error, the CUBE.460 allows Elexon Electronics to solder complex PCB’s.

Precise cleaning requires a high-quality PCB cleaner and for this reason, Elexon Electronics recently invested in an MBtech NC25E PCB cleaner, to enhance and automate PCB cleaning capabilities.

A patented filtration system provides precise and efficient cleaning of PCB after reflow, and the use of an aqueous solution makes it possible to separate residues, ensuring a 100 percent closed-loop cleaning process to meet environmental demands.

Elexon Electronics has also acquired a Mycronic MYC50, replacing existing coating methods with a high-speed, high-precision solution.

The Mycronic MYC50 allows for the automation of high-performance conformal coating, for complex PCB’s.

All of the recent upgrades come together to form the backbone of Elexon Electronic’s Industry 4.0 manufacturing facility - a move made by the company to prepare for a serious push into the Defence manufacturing sector. industryupdate.com.au

AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WEEK

A success story for Industry 4.0 in local manufacturing

I

ndustry 4.0 – or the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where the computerisation of industry becomes optimised through increased interconnectivity and smart automation – is a hot topic in global circles.

But it’s not a matter of just magically flicking a switch and transforming your facility into a fully functioning i4.0 environment.

While many Australian manufacturers are only commencing their journey into Industry 4.0,of Melbourne-based advanced manufacturers Integra Systems, managing director Paul Hughes has been on a path of continual transformation through i4.0 as a working example to inspire others.

What i4.0 looks like at Integra Systems “The factory floor at Integra looks very different these days,” Hughes observed. Every work centre is now fitted with 43-inch touchscreen and gesture-controlled kiosks – Integra’s own K4.0 hardware designed and developed in-house.

The K4.0 kiosks streamline

Integra’s operations by enabling personnel to access part schematics, plans, and animations and 3D drawings (as well as manipulate those drawings), while also capturing engineering change requests and integrating with Integra’s CAD, scheduling, QMS and ERP system.

In addition to production efficiencies, this smart automation enables better collaboration and communication across every stage of the design and manufacture process. Each kiosk is equipped with video conferencing capability, which means, alongside real-time internal conferences, operators or the design team can link externally to bring clients and suppliers into meetings without being physically present.

“Outside of work, everyone’s familiar with iPads and smartphones, and how they operate,” Hughes explained.

“So, we’ve tried to bring that into our operations and what they’re doing as part of their work. That makes it a more fun way of doing things, and a more familiar way of doing things, as opposed to reading a paper drawing. It’s completely digitising the

environment. We’ve basically gone paperless and created a digital manufacturing environment.”

Robotics are also an important aspect of operations at Integra as part of the overall commitment to i4.0. As Hughes noted, “We’re focusing a lot on COBOT (collaborative robot) systems. We’ve employed a team whose focus is solely on i4.0, robotics and the design of our K4.0 kiosks: with computer science expertise, electrical engineering expertise and mechatronics engineering expertise.”

“It’s about having useful tools that enable our designers and manufacturers to come up with high-quality products. At the end of the day, it’s

about having a really strong set of features that actually do something for you, rather than a whole bag of tricks that you never use.”

For the team at Integra, i4.0 is important because of the possibilities it opens. “Committing to i4.0 really gives you a point of difference,” he added. “It provides your business with a level of transparency that people can really see, like a window into the core of how your business operates.”

“We’ve had many quality audits performed on us by defence customers, and when you go through the process with the auditors, it’s quite easy to explain what you do because they can see it all through this transparent interface.”

+61 3 9359 3133 www.integratransform.com.au integratransform@integrasystems.com.au

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industryupdate.com.au

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Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 47

Austech

– An exciting new episode

Anyone familiar with AMTIL’s background as an organiser of manufacturing industry exhibitions will know the name Austech.

B

etween 2000 and 2019, AMTIL operated Austech, Australia’s premier advanced manufacturing and machine tool exhibition. The event was historically co-located with the National Manufacturing Week (NMW) exhibition, run by Reed Exhibitions.

When Reed decided in 2020 to cease the operation of NMW, AMTIL saw an opportunity to create Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW), a more extensive event demonstrating the full scope and diversity of the manufacturing industry in Australia today.

Austech has now been incorporated into AMW as a specialist zone showcasing the latest metalworking, machine tools and ancillary equipment. The Austech zone will cover a vast spectrum of advanced manufacturing

“Austech has been at the core of AMTIL’s activities on behalf of Australian manufacturing since we were founded in 1999” products and processes, including: • CNC Machinery, Lathes, Mills • Contract Manufacturing/Precision Machining • Cutting Tools, Tooling & Tool

48 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

Holding • Forming & Fabricating Machines • Plasma, Laser, Waterjet & Ultrasonic Machines • Ancillary equipment suppliers.

A diverse range of companies will be exhibiting within the Austech section of AMW. Founded in 1952, ISCAR has grown from its origins as a small blades factory to one of the world’s leading manufacturers of metalworking tools, and will be showcasing its vast range of innovative cutting tools for metalworking.

Romheld Automation supplies high-quality workholding equipment, machine tool accessories and automation tooling to all types of manufacturing industries, from medical clean rooms to foundries. Meanwhile,

Sheetmetal Machinery is dedicated to providing the latest leading-edge solutions from a number of reputable innovative European machine tool manufacturers.

“Austech has been at the core of AMTIL’s activities on behalf of Australian manufacturing since we were founded in 1999,” AMTIL CEO Shane Infanti explained.

“So as we moved forward with AMW, it was very important to us to maintain some continuity with that heritage within the metalworking and machine tool space. We’ve got a lot of longtime Austech exhibitors coming to AMW, and they will be a big part of AMW,” he added.

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Earth Day 2022 Reflections: Collaborative Robots and Sustainability

L

ast year, Earth Overshoot Day fell on July 29th.

This marks the day that our ecological footprint passed the planet’s biocapacity. Now, with Earth Day here (22 April 2022), it’s our chance to consider how this can be improved from both an individual and economic level.

While collaborative robots (cobots) – robots that can work safely alongside humans - and sustainability aren’t a pairing that most people commonly think about, Earth Day gives us the opportunity to reflect on the difference that robots can make: Reducing waste in manufacturing Masayuki (Masa) Mase, Country Manager for Universal Robots Oceania explains that the manufacturing sector is one of the many sectors to consider in our plight. “It requires a lot of raw materials and generates waste - including those generated through manufacturing defects.”

One of the most effective ways to reduce waste in this sector is to improve the quality of manufacturing procedures using cutting-edge technology and robotics. Here we see some grounds for optimism as we know that the cobots being built today can help reduce manufacturing waste.

Masa adds that unlike humans, cobots can repeat processes in the way cycle after cycle to improve production quality. “While the impact on waste at each workshop or factory may seem insignificant in the context of the world’s challenges, the total impact of precise robotic technology across the global could be considerable.”

General images of collaborative robots at work

Increasing resilience in industry The European Commission’s vision for industry in the future (or Industry 5.0), is a sector that is sustainable, human-centric, and resilient. Over the last few decades, the focus has been on mass production at low prices. We have seen the development of complex global production chains, but mindsets are changing.

The pandemic has highlighted vulnerabilities in supply chains and forced many companies to look more carefully at their production processes.

“The trend towards reshoring in Australia and New Zealand has been commendable over the past two years. Bringing production close to home reduces the impact of global transportation and makes our economy more resilient through local employment and the empowerment of local supply chains.”

Space savings While traditional industrial robots were designed as large, fixed installations focusing on a single task, collaborative robots require less floor space, making it easier for companies to increase their output without the need to build new cells and buildings. In addition, the versatility of cobots is a huge game-changer for companies, opening new possibilities for high-mix, low-volume tailored production.

To conclude, Masa says that Universal Robots foresees a shift in preferences from mass-produced goods to more individualised and personalised products. “In this way too, we may see collaborative automation used to produce goods in a more artisanal and less wasteful way.”

Universal Robots Australia universal-robots.com

50 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

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Wazer Desktop waterjet: An innovation success story

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lthough Waterjet cutters have been around for a long time, their size and cost has placed them out of the reach of individuals or small businesses.

The first desktop waterjet, Wazer cuts any hard or soft material with digital precision, using a high velocity jet in a combination of high-pressure water and abrasive particles.

Co-founders of Wazer, Nisan Lerea and Matthew Nowicki met at Penn Engineering when they were building custom racing cars for the Formula SAE international competition. Their quest for a solution to make precision cuts in hard materials sparked their interest in low-cost waterjet technology.

In 2012 Nisan led a team of undergraduate students on research in developing the technology and in 2015, the project had advanced to the point where both quit their jobs to continue developing the waterjet.

By January 2016, the team temporarily moved to Shenzhen, China to join the Hax Accelerator, the world’s first and largest hardware accelerator.

Most of that year was spent in Shenzhen to develop the business and refine the design and engineering of Wazer.

Exceptional market response During that time an engineering team was assembled to assess market needs, subsequently building five generations of prototypes and testing performance across a wide variety of materials. The design of the final prototype considered the need for production processes and involved building relationships with key manufacturing suppliers.

When the final prototype was shown, market response exceeded expectations and a few years later, the founders decided to focus full time on manufacturing the first desktop waterjet.

Today, the Wazer team comprises mechanical, electrical and manufacturing engineers who collectively have led the designs of multiple products both at startup and large companies.

The Wazer small format waterjet can cut through sheets of any material including metal, stone, ceramic, composites, plastic, rubber and foam. It is great for professional-grade fabrication. Users have been attracted by its simplicity of setup which is connected to standard electricity, water and drainage.

The unit’s compact size fits in any work space and brings professional-grade fabrication into any workshop.

It is ideal for on demand cutting of custom parts and its in-house capabilities reduce costly outsourcing.

Wazer has been in high demand by small manufacturing businesses, research and development facilities, universities and technical departments where it is used for prototyping, manufacturing, fine art and instruction.

The design of the final prototype considered the need for production processes and involved building relationships with key manufacturing suppliers.

The Wazer concept: How did it start?

Wazer co-founders, Nisan Lerea (left) and )Matt Nowicki (Right).

I

n the words of Nisan Lerea: “I met my future Wazer co-founder, Matt Nowicki during orientation of my freshman year of college at the University of Pennsylvania. All of the extracurricular clubs had lined the main walk on campus and were trying to recruit new members.

“I would go on to spend hundreds of hours in Penn’s machine shop, CNC-milling metal parts for the race car, for research labs, or for my own coursework. Because of all the setup and breakdown time that machining necessitates, I would regularly work late into the night making a part.

“Whenever possible, the engineers would avoid the shop because of the time commitment and instead would design parts that could be laser-cut, which was faster. The downside to using a laser was the parts had to be made in acrylic or MDF, because as is the case with lasers at most makerspaces, ours could only cut certain soft materials.

“What we really needed was a waterjet for cutting sheet metal, but

54 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

Penn never had one because they were so big and expensive. In 2011 my professor suggested that we attempt to build a small waterjet for our yearlong senior design project.

“I loved the idea for many reasons: it was an engineering challenge, it involved my passion for making things, and I knew that there was real potential for the product — and I always wanted to be an entrepreneur.

By May of 2012, our team had built the first small-scale waterjet, capable of cutting through ¼” aluminium and ⅛” steel.

“After we graduated, I felt this could be more than a school project and Matt, who had been working for the start-up BioLite called me and said they were looking to hire a mechanical engineer.

“In 2014 Hackaday got wind of our senior design waterjet project and published a blog post about us.

Hundreds of people emailed, asking if we had plans to commercialise the technology. By 2015 I was ready to make the leap to start a waterjet

company. But I needed a partner and Matt, who had since moved on from BioLite, was looking for a change. It wasn’t hard to convince him to join me as co-founder and CTO. “We started out by researching the market from my parents’ basement and testing the Penn waterjet prototype in the backyard. Then we googled “hardware accelerator” and discovered Hax, an accelerator for hardware start-ups in Shenzhen, the electronics capital of the world. We joined Hax in January 2016, hired Dan Meana and Christian Moore — two engineers from the Penn race car team — and moved to China.

“We launched Wazer in September 2016. The campaign was a huge success, but we knew it would be difficult to transition from prototype to production. After qualifying vendors and redesigning the machine for volume production, our team established Wazer’s headquarters in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where we are part of a mission to revitalize manufacturing in New York City.

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Visit us at AMW on stand MT 46, Sydney, 7-10th June 2022.

Everyone loves a 2 for 1 deal.

That’s Applied Thinking.

The new Yawei Laser Punch Combination provides the forming capabilities of a turret punch press, with the flexibility of a fiber laser cutter - all in the one machine. The machine features class-leading components which are a hallmark of all Yawei machines; these include a Siemens 840D controller, IPG laser source and

Precitec auto-focus cutting head.

Forget tedious slow punching – companies can now boost their productivity with this versatile 2 in 1 machine. For fabricators that want to take their manufacturing to the next level, the new fiber laser punch combination is the answer.

To find out more, call: 03 9706 8066, Email: sales@appliedmachinery.com.au, or visit: www.appliedmachinery.com.au

AUSTECH

Applied exhibits handheld fiber laser welder amongst others at Austech

The Yawei pressbrake on display is a PBH Series with a 160-ton bending capacity.

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s a long time exhibitor at Austech, Applied Machinery will again be showcasing a diverse range of machines at this year’s event. Taking centre stage on the Applied stand will be a 9-Axis Yawei CNC pressbrake.

Yawei pressbrakes offer manufacturers access to affordable, precision CNC bending. With a range available from 35 ton up to 3000 ton there are virtually no limits to what can be bent.

The Yawei pressbrake on display is a PBH Series with a 160-ton bending capacity. It features a Delem DA-69T Controller, 6-axis CNC backgauge and a servo driven hydraulic system. An automatic tool clamping system, CNC bending help and robotic integration are amongst the additional options that are available.

Over the past decade Yawei has built a loyal following; establishing an enviable reputation for quality, performance and outstanding value for money. In addition to pressbrakes, Yawei has an extensive range of fiber lasers, turret punch presses,

guillotines and smart-factory automation solutions.

Grinding and deburring device Also on the stand will be a Weber grinding and deburring machine.

Weber is a German-based company with an impressive 100 years’ experience in grinding machine manufacturing. Weber grinding machines grind, round, deburr and descale lasered, punched and nibbled parts, to ensure a consistent, brilliant surface finish for either final use, or preparation for additional processing.

One of the most innovative products that will be on the Applied stand is the new Fanuci handheld fiber laser.

Handheld laser welding machines are increasing in popularity for the many benefits they offer compared to conventional welding.

Maintenance free The Fanuci fiber laser welder provides high speed welding coupled with a far superior, smoother weld line. It features low heat input, small deformation, large penetration depth and good

repeatability. The with a far superior unit offers low energy weld, coupled with consumption and increased producis virtually maintetivity and reduced nance free. operating costs,” Mr Fanuci’s wobble Fisher said. welding technology “There has ensures that opernever been a more ators can achieve important time to a consistent and support Australian aesthetically pleasing manufacturers. weld. The quality of We’re proud to be the weld presentation able to play our role can eliminate the by supplying high The Fanuci fiber laser welder provides need to clean-up the quality, value for high speed welding coupled with a far weld with a secondmoney products that superior, smoother weld line ary process, which boost productivity, in turns saves time improve quality and and money. Fanuci fiber laser welders allow companies to expand their marare all manufactured to CE/TUV ket offering,” Mr Fisher concluded. standards; 1000W, 1500W and 2000W models are available.

“We’ve already had a huge level of interest in the new Fanuci handheld fiber laser. With its broad capabilities, Applied build quality and unique features we Machinery expect to find a ready-made market applied in Australia. Companies can now machinery.com.au take their welding to the next level

Applied Machinery can be found at Stand MT 46.

56 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

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SHOWCASING THE LATEST IN MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES AND PROCESSES ACROSS 6 PRODUCT ZONES

SYDNEY 7-10 June, 2022 ICC SYDNEY

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Australian Manufacturing Week is proudly owned and operated by AMTIL

WH&S Show 22 Personalised & interactive

To register for your free ticket visit whsshow.com.au Creating mentally healthy workplaces is a significant topic to be covered at the Workplace Health & Safety Show 2022.

T

he anticipated return of the Workplace Health & Safety Show 2022, will see industry trailblazers and game-changing newcomers unite to present a series of live, interactive two-way learning experiences.

These will cover all the latest trends, technologies and issues faced by Australian businesses today.

Taking place over two days 25-26

May at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, this year’s comprehensive seminars and forums cover topics including innovation, technology, major hazards, wellbeing, mental health, and injury prevention.

Additionally, attendees will discover 90+ exhibitors showcasing the latest resources, services and products for the safety industry in the exhibition.

After a tumultuous two years, with the global pandemic taking a toll on mental health and leading to a restructuring of the modern workforce, Australia’s leading workplace health and safety event promises thought-provoking discussions and interactive forums on all the hot topics.

“We are excited to create a personalised and interactive space for

professionals to hear from industry leaders on how best to foster healthy and safe work environments,” IEC Group Australia CEO, Marie Kinsella said.

The Free Education program will take place over two days with sessions held in the Knowledge Centre or on the Spotlight Stage.

The full Fee Education Program includes:

DAY 1 WEDNESDAY 25 MAY

DAY 2 WEDNESDAY 26 MAY

What does the future look like for Victorian business?

Brain Chemistry: Impact on health, safety, mental wellbeing and performance

Presented by Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Paul Guerra - Chief Executive Officer; Amy Bell - General Manager Workplace Relations; Anton Zytnik - Acting Manager, Health, Safety & Wellbeing

Creating mentally healthy workplaces: Business case studies in primary prevention Jennifer Fry, Director of WorkWell, WorkSafe Victoria

Minimising the challenges to embrace technology

David Miller Business Development Manager, Skytrust

Changes to height safety management; A new holistic approach Scott Barber, CEO, WAHA

Mental Wellness begins with our care for others

John Toomey, CEO, Wide Awake Wellness

MSD Risk Analysis: A data-driven approach

David Bick - Director of Professional Services, Joint Action Solutions

The missing links in Wellbeing.

A corporate Wellbeing checklist.

Carli Phillips BHSc, MBA, Wellbeing Keynote Speaker

Do you know your OHS Duties?

Cameron Hannebery Special Counsel, Lander & Rogers

Workplace health & safety management, Powered by Microsoft Thai Phan - Head of Growth, Clade Solutions

Early Intervention: Why it’s critical to get it right James Murray- Founder and Managing Director, Work Healthy Australia

Meet the Inspectors from WorkSafe Victoria WorkSafe Victoria Inspectors

58 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

Greg McLoughlin Managing Director, Health by Design

Creating mentally healthy workplaces: Business case studies in primary prevention (repeat session) Jennifer Fry, Director of WorkWell, WorkSafe Victoria

Digitally transforming safety in the Workplace Corey Burford - Managing Director, Skytrust

Using wearable technology to reduce injury risk and improve RTW Scott Coleman - Managing Director, Preventure

Practical guide to preventing work-related back pain Mark Alexander- BPhty (Hons) MPhty (Sports) MBA

The destruction of a person’s career and life expectations Mark Heaysman - CEO, Longitude6 Pty Ltd

Meet the Inspectors from WorkSafe Victoria WorkSafe Victoria Inspectors

The psychological stresses of prosecutions and how to manage them Alan Girle, Special Counsel, Macpherson Kelley

WorkSafe OHS essentials free consultancy program from Victorian small/ medium employers Gloria Morosinotto, Director, Contract Safety Solutions

industryupdate.com.au

WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY Domestic Family Violence’ $1.9bn workplace impact

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here is a critical need to talk about domestic and family violence in the manufacturing workplace.

Regrettably, Domestic Family Violence is one of the most serious and urgent challenges confronting our society. It is imperative that your workplace knows how to manage a situation should it arise.

Employees who experience family or domestic violence often rely on the workplace to be a safe place to escape the violence. Meanwhile, the workplace is also a vital source of economic support for those affected by DFV. A KPMG survey reports that DFV costs the Australian economy $22 billion annually. Other studies have found that it has a $1.9 billion impact directly on Australian businesses in areas such as lost opportunity costs, poor service, stress, performance management, search & hiring costs, &retaining costs.

Flexible work helps The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) has been amended to provide the right for workers to request flexible work arrangements if they are experiencing DFV. For staff at risk of injury, threats or harm from a current or ex-partner who may be stalking, threatening or harassing; flexible work may be a simple life saving step.

An effective workplace DFV policy can help workplaces be prepared and responsive to incidences of DFV. A policy should distribute up to date information and resources and train staff in how to recognise, respond and refer to the correct support services.

This means the workplace can appropriately support the affected employee to help potentially change their circumstances whilst remaining employed.

Employers need to understand how to manage the range of workplace issues that DFV presents. How would you respond if the following occurred in your workplace; • An aggressive ex-partner of one of your employees gained entry to your workplace • One of your employees requests a flexible working arrangement so they can manage a range of DFV associated activities (e.g., attending counselling, court hearings, custody issues etc.)

• An underperforming employee raises DFV as a mitigating factor in the context of a disciplinary process.

Consider the following to improve the way you respond to DFV 1. Train your managers Training your managers will ensure that they know how to spot the early warning signs of DFV and intervene

appropriately, and that they understand the complex legal issues that come into play 2. Treat DFV as a workplace safety issue Your most important obligation as an employer to your staff is to provide a safe workplace for your employees and contractors.

Treat DFV as a traditional workplace hazard and manage it in the same way as any other by using risk-management principles.

3. Develop a DFV strategy As a business, you have an important role to play in reducing the stigma associated with DFV. Your workplace can build and maintain a workplace culture where DFV is not normalised and barriers to disclosure are removed.

There are programs and educational sessions available for employers to assist them in dealing with DFV in the workplace.

Anton Zytnik, Manager Health Safety and Wellbeing at Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will deliver a session in the Free program at the Workplace Health & Safety Show Melbourne, 25 -26 May 2022 being held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

International Exhibition and Conference CEO Marie Kinsella cites a KPMG survey report that DFV costs the Australian economy $22 billion annually.

Topics covered include having a supportive DFV conversation, DFV and the law, your obligations under workplace relations, safety, workers’ compensation, equal opportunity and privacy legislation.

The Workplace Health & Safety Show Melbourne will also deliver a range of Wellbeing, Mental Health and other contemporary sessions (all free to attend) including sessions from WorkSafe Victoria on ‘’Creating Mentally Healthy Workplaces’’.

+61 3 9359 3133 www.integratransform.com.au integratransform@integrasystems.com.au

TRANSFORM YOUR INDUSTRIAL WORKSPACE WITH THE

AEROSMART INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONIC SIT-STAND WORKSTATION

AUSTRALIAN MADE & OWNED

Australian-Made

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Winner of The Tech Leader Award KPMG Circular Advantage Program 2021

Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 59

New Product Release

Telephone: +61 2 9625 8927 www.asafeau.com

For more information contact sales@asafeau.com

Bespoke to suit any column width, the Padded Column Guard provides 360-degree protection from floor to head height. With a maintenance-free, hygienic cover material that is easy to clean, resistant to water and chemicals, as well as being UV-resistant to prevent fading. The Padded Column Guard is a perfect cost effective solution to any pedestrian area.

The A-SAFE Padded Column Guard protects your employees from injuries caused by collisions with columns and other solid vertical structures. With a durable, high-visibility cover to provide a clear visual warning, while a soft foam core absorbs impact in the event of a collision.

Preserve and protect your people

WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY

The five features women need to look for in a sit-stand desk

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octors, no fans of sedentary lifestyles, rarely encourage anyone,especially those with back pain,to spend all day sitting. A standing desk can help avert aching muscles if you use it correctly, get off your feet and move at regular intervals.

Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh researcher April Chambers, said women could benefit greatly from a standing desk. But she added that in order to achieve positive outcomes with sit-stand desks, we need a better understanding of how to properly use them. “Like any other tool, you have to use it correctly to get the full benefits out of it.”

Finding an solution For Integra Systems, creating the ideal sitstand desk came from finding a solution for the chronic pain and illness suffered by one of the company’s directors.

No product on the market met their required standards, so they decided to design and manufacture their own workstation options, which became the foundation of a range of WorkSMART solutions assigned to the proprietary division of the business, Integra TransForm.

Such research into hybrid workstations and consultation with ergonomics experts saw the workforce at Integra develop a wealth of knowledge about sit-stand working. They share some tips with us to bear in mind when standing up for your health.

1. Not just sitting, standing too The word is: sitting is the new smoking.

So the answer must be to stand up at your computer across the course of the day, right? Wrong. Just as you can harm yourself by drinking too much water, long hours of standing won’t do you much good either.

Micro movements of standing up and sitting down at regular intervals during the

62 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

Integra Systems integra transform.com.au day can improve your health and burn calories. That’s why finding a desk that transitions easily (and quietly – so not to annoy your co-workers) is one of the most important features you need to look for in a sit-stand desk.

Think: does the desk have onetouch operation? Does it adjust smoothly without me having to push and pull at its structure? Do I feel at ease changing this desk from a sitting to a standing position and then back again? Is the desk or conversion unit sturdy and safe? If you answer ‘no’ to any of these questions, it’s likely you won’t use your sit-stand desk properly and, therefore, you will not benefit from its sit-stand advantages.

2. Plenty of adjustability What is good for one person is not good for another – in other words, we’re all cast from different moulds. Similarly, your body shape and height may change, as well as your standing/sitting habits, which means your sit-stand solution must be adjustable if you want longevity from your purchase.

Can your sit-stand workstation hold more than one computer monitor? Does it have a small footprint so it doesn’t clutter your workspace or obstruct your feet? Or does it overwhelm your desk?

In terms of adjustability and the office furniture already at your disposal, you might need an entire sit-stand desk or just an electronic converter that sits on existing furniture transforming it into a functional sit-stand workstation (the latter option might be more affordable and sensible).

3. Height memory and setting options There are desks with hand-cranks for changing height but, by far, the more elegant and future-proof sit-stand workstations are powered electronically with

an LED keypad for entering different heights, as well as different timeframes to alert you to change from a sitting to a standing position and so on.

You need to be confident your desk sit-stand memory is good – and the desk doesn’t slowly drop across the day! You also need to be confident that the electronic componentry incorporated into the workstation is both safe and reliable.

4. High-quality materials and good looks Good furniture, whatever it may be, is defined by the quality of its materials and craftsmanship. By comparing different sit-stand solutions before making a purchase, you will be able to immediately discern whether a workstation is strong, sturdy and stable, or flimsy, inferior and a waste of money.

Don’t underestimate the importance of acquiring a sit-stand desk that is also attractive and fits effortlessly into your workspace. Given you will be using your workstation on a daily basis, a smart and elegant sit-stand solution is going to have a positive impact on both your mind and body – and the two are inextricably linked.

Just remember that skimping on quality is a false economy.

5. Supporting information & after-market care So you’ve chosen an excellent sitstand option, but what do you do with it? As we’ve already discussed, it’s not sufficient to swap your sitting all day for standing all day so – if you don’t need to follow the advice of a doctor or you don’t have a physiotherapist to create your sit-stand schedule – the company that supplies your workstation should also have supporting materials and research to start you off in the right direction. Don’t be afraid to ask for these details.

industryupdate.com.au

WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY

Why Safety Knives?

T

he traditional ‘utility knife’ has been around for decades.

Once upon a time, not too long ago, one could probably be found in just about every house and workplace in the country and it would be equally as common to find someone sporting a scar received while using one. Fortunately for us there is now a greater awareness of risk and a sharper focus on safety, particularly in workplaces. As a result, we can now find safer options for cutting than the traditional old utility knife kept in the bottom of a drawer somewhere.

“Martor, a knife manufacturer based in Solingen Germany, the historical ‘city of blades’ turned their design and development focus to the task of making cutting safer.“ Fortunately, through innovation and design, we now have award winning safety knives and cutters to

help keep you, your staff, and your products safe!

Martor, a knife manufacturer based in Solingen Germany, the historical ‘city of blades’ turned their design and development focus to the task of making cutting safer. With the development of three key safety technologies and a range of more than 100 different products, Martor offers a safe cutting solution for a wide range of cutting tasks.

From concealed blade cutters that ensure the blade remains safely out of reach of fingers while also protecting valuable stock, to fully automatic blade retraction which all but removes human error from the equation to automatic blade retraction for improved safety, there is a safety level and knife design that provides you with the ideal mix of ‘safe and effective cutting’.

A heavy knife with a long blade isn’t necessary when opening a box and or the risk of damaging valuable stock with a sharp blade when removing external wrappings. But with over 100 products to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you?

The team at Martor Australia is here to provide you with all the product information and support you need to ensure you find the knife/cutter that is right for you.

Choosing and using the right Safety Knife will reduce risk, reduce damage, and ensure less of those scars now and for future generations.

Martor, with the development of three key safety technologies offers a range of more than 100 different products.

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Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 63

RECYCLING MANUFACTURING

Recycling transformation drives jobs in Victoria The thirteen funded projects will enable Victoria to reuse over 137,000 tonnes of plastics, glass and tyres every year.

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he transformation of Australia’s recycling sector has stepped up another gear with the Australian and Victorian Governments jointly announcing 13 new projects that will see 137,000 tonnes of plastics, paper, glass and tyres remade into new products while creating new jobs and new investment in the Victorian economy.

Federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley and Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced $36.5 million in joint funding for projects under the Australian Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) and the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria Infrastructure Fund.

Minister Ley said the Morrison Government’s $190 million contribution to the RMF was facilitating unprecedented investment in recycling infrastructure, with the combined Commonwealth, state, territory and industry co-investment model on track to reach around $800 million.

“This latest round of projects includes a joint PET recycling venture that will process the raw plastic equivalent of one billion drink bottles each year to produce over 22,000 tonnes of recycled PET bottles and

food packaging,” Ley said.

“It also includes remanufacturing projects, new products that will re-make waste into garden pots, railway sleepers and corrugated pipe.

“The co-investment model is exceeding all expectations and showing that materials can be recycled

$86 million in industry investment, giving a total value of $122 million,” Minister D’Ambrosio said.

“These projects will reduce waste to landfill and boost the local economy through the creation of 204 local jobs, in addition to other jobs generated indirectly through the

“The Government is determined to overcome the city-country divide and ensure that regional communities can reap the same benefits of recycling their waste into valuable new products as their city counterparts” and remanufactured to create new products and new jobs while helping our environment.”

The Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio said the new processing and remanufacturing technology would help create jobs, divert more recyclable material from landfill and tackle climate change.

“The thirteen funded projects will enable Victoria to reuse over 137,000 tonnes of plastics, glass and tyres every year and have generated over

64 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

construction and operation of these new facilities.”

The federal Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans, said that the announced projects include two funded under the RMF’s regional and remote funding round. “t” Assistant Minister Evans said.

“These communities often have to send their waste long distances for recycling, making it harder to create opportunities for local recycling and remanufacturing.

“This means our RMF investments in new recycling infrastructure can make transformational differences to these communities – delivering local circular economies and creating and keeping jobs in the region.”

The Government is driving a $1 billion transformation of our waste and recycling industry to turbocharge domestic recycling so we can process in Australia materials that were previously sent overseas.

The $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund investment, and measures to support Australia’s National Waste Policy Action Plan, will create approximately 10,000 new jobs all around Australia over the next 10 years.

The Recycling Victoria Infrastructure Fund is part of the Victorian Government’s $515 million investment to deliver the biggest ever transformation of the state’s waste and recycling industry. This includes $380 million to deliver Recycling Victoria: a new economy, the state’s 10-year plan to reduce waste, create jobs in new industries and drive more value from our resources.

industryupdate.com.au

$45 million recycling plant opens in Albury

vertical shredders.

Built tough for the most demanding of shredding applications.

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RECYCLING MANUFACTURING

Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said that this initiative demonstrates commitment to our national packaging targets when the supply chain and government work together.

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ustralia is taking a giant step into the circular economy in Albury with the opening of the nation’s largest PET (polyethylene terephthalate) recycling plant, capable of processing one billion plastic bottles each year.

Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the plant represented a massive step forward in ensuring end to end recycling by using materials sourced and remanufactured in Australia.

“The Circular Plastics Australia joint venture between Pact Group Holdings Ltd, Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd, Asahi Beverages and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners was born out of our first ever national plastics summit, and it is wonderful to see it come to fruition in Albury today,” Ley said.

“Up to 28,000 tonnes of PET plastic bottles will now be recycled and remade into new bottles and beverage packaging.

“This demonstrates commitment to our national packaging targets when the supply chain and government work together.

“Often the domestic manufacture of drink bottles has involved importing recycled plastic that has been recycled and processed overseas.

“This is a ‘bottle to bottle’ process that sees industry and government working together to help our environment and economy by fully remanufacturing on shore.”

Leading the way NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole said regional NSW was leading the way with this world-class facility.

“Establishing the country’s largest end-to-end PET recycling plant in Albury proves we’re serious about delivering jobs and investment in the regions,” Toole explained.

“On top of the huge environmental benefits from recycling an estimated industryupdate.com.au

1 billion plastic bottles each year, it is supporting the local economy by providing more than 200 local jobs during construction and more than 40 local jobs during operation.”

NSW Environment Minister James Griffin added that the state is building momentum with government, industry and the community working together to find better ways to deal with waste and conserve our resources while reducing landfill and litter.

“The joint venture between Pact Group Holdings Ltd, Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd, Asahi Beverages and Coca Cola Euro Pacific Partners will provide ongoing benefits to the local economy,” Griffin said.

“It is great to see NSW’s highly successful Return and Earn scheme providing the raw ingredients for this game-changing circular economy project, backed by a successful partnership between federal and state governments and private industry.”

Federal Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans said that the Australian and NSW governments are proud to have invested about $5.3 million in this facility.

“Through the NSW Government’s Remanufacture NSW grant program we were able to support the installation of specialised equipment to the production of high-quality recycled plastics suitable for use in food and beverage packaging by major Australian brand owners,” Evans said.

Member for Albury Justin Clancy added, “This has been an exciting journey for the partners who together make up Circular Plastics Australia.

Already well-established in Albury, by working together and utilising the statewide resources of the Return and Earn program, we are seeing an evolution towards a true, nation leading circular economy in action.

• Aggressive size reduction and densification of preshredded materials • Clean, high bulk density output for easy sorting and transportation • C&D waste, scrap metal and other heavy duty applications • Available with up to 440kW of power • Industry-proven and built tough for Australian conditions

To find out more, call: 03 9706 8066, Email: sales@appliedmachinery.com.au, or visit: www.appliedmachinery.com.au Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 65

RECYCLING MANUFACTURING Demand for A Plus Plastics product is so strong that the operation’s manufacturing schedule is currently maxed out, but Arto says that will not stop the business from innovating.

“As a business, we are growing, with over 100 lines already and more to come, but we are not just focused on profits. We want to lead the way on keeping waste out of landfill and helping our customers continue to innovate. We see ourselves as an innovator and driver in this sector and we want to make plastics a good story.

“Right now, everything A Plus Plastics makes is recyclable, and about 50 percent of the products manufactured are made from recycled materials” Holloway Group CEO Matt Holloway with general manager A Plus Plastics, Arto Taalikka.

Reshaping plastic – the product and its reputation

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Plus Plastics is an Australian owned business that has been in operation for nearly 50 years, and one of its key goals is to help the plastics industry drive towards sustainable solutions and true closed-loop recycling. General manager Arto Taalikka said the

plastics manufacturing sector has the power to reshape the way people think about this essential product.

“There is a vast amount of innovation in this space. We need to enable that, and we need to talk about it, because so much of the good work is happening from within the industry,” he said.

66 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

End-to-end service “We’re about more than injection moulding. We work with customers to help them refine their ideas and create products that solve problems – and all the while, we are focused on promoting local manufacturing and improving sustainability. We’re also the first business able to offer an end-to-end service from design to manufacture, to recycling over several key categories,” Taalikka explained.

Right now, everything A Plus Plastics makes is recyclable, and about 50 percent of the products manufactured are made from recycled materials.

According to Taalikka, within five years, that figure is likely to be

80 percent and by 10 years it will be virtually 100 percent,”.

One of the latest ventures for A Plus Plastics has been the introduction of Ocean Bound Plastics, an alternative to virgin plastic and regular recycled plastic. Ocean Bound Plastics (OBP) differ from other plastics recycling programs because they remove plastic waste from the environment before it ends up in waterways. The composition of the product is different from other recycled products, making it suitable for a wide range of uses.

“A major plus is that OBP can be certified food safe, unlike many recycled plastics, which means there is enormous scope to develop products for the food processing and service sectors,” Taalikka said.

“Also, while it’s possible to create coloured products from general recycled plastics, it’s tricky because of the nature of the plastics that end up in most recycling programs,” he says.

“Ocean Bound Plastic, on the other hand, includes a lot of clear plastics so that makes it much easier to colour.”

Bunnings signs up for Ocean Bound Plastics A Plus Plastics has just struck a deal that will bring a range of Ocean Bound Plastics products to nearly 300 Bunnings stores. Initially, Bunnings committed to offering four tech bin products at its warehouse stores, with more SKUs to follow.

Taalikka added thaT the ongoing demand for plastic products and the growing range of sustainable options create a strong story for industry.

“We’re excited to continue to work with customers, especially major supply chain players who can influence the whole market, to create not just products but programs that address business needs and develop the circular economy.”

industryupdate.com.au

VIDEO PRODUCTION Tim Webster

Product Videos / Case Study Videos / How To Videos Manufacturing Current Affairs Videos

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Product Video Packs

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Companies now need good video content, buyers expect it and will just go elsewhere if they don’t have something interesting and informative to watch.

In 2022, online videos will make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic — 15 times higher than it was in 2017 (Cisco).

More importantly it increases sales by 81% With over 1.5million impressions and 600,000 views in less than 12 months, our videos are getting high rates of engagement.

Each video has an accompanying story published online, in e-news and in the magazine (with a QR code) to integrate all media options.

Industry Update youtube.com/c/IndustryUpdate

2,100,000 impressions 953,826 views Since its launch in 2017, Industry Update Video has been a remarkable success, with content spanning the whole of the manufacturing industry.

43% said video was made necessary by new challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic.

Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to 10% when reading it in the text (Insivia) 22% said they had become clearer on the ROI of video and this had given them confidence to invest.

Source : wyzowl.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com

Some of our Industry Update Video clients

Number one manufacturing publication in Australia Circulation of 19,233 and readership of 76,932 Audited by

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PRODUCTS

How Tente’s Levina Light castors became so reliable Plate

Grip Ring Stem Secure connection with four screws.

Threaded Stem

Safe distance between castor and application due to collar.

Solid fitting due to threaded screw.

Levina Light is cost competitive while offering a stylish design.

T

he Levina Light range of design castors from Tente are more efficient and reliable in production processes as a result of three easy plug in fittings.

The housing is made of glass-filled nylon in swivel and swivel brake configurations and Levina Light also comes in three standard colours (RAL 7001 / RAL 9002 / RAL 9011) with other colours available

for minimum quantities. They are available in 75mm, 100mm and 125mm and the wheel tread is made of thermoplastic rubber making the castor ideal for the healthcare and furniture industries.

Some examples were Levina Light can be used include: • Healthcare Furniture (over bed tables, bedside cabinets),

• Medical Carts (medication carts, ultrasound and x-ray carts), • Ventilators, IV Poles, • Sterilisation Equipment, • Surgical & Laboratory Equipment, • Professional Furniture (chairs, desks, educational furniture), • AV & Entertainment equipment, • Food & Catering Equipment and Store Fixtures (z-racks, display tables POP displays).

Adding to the versatility of Levina Light are the various popular fittings available in many sizes.

When a different fitting is required, just the fitting can be changed, not the castor. Levina Light uses many popular sized fittings and has a weight capacity of 75kg for 75mm and 82kg for 100mm and 125mm diameter sizes.

Levina Light is cost competitive whilst offering a stylish design, high quality and good performance capabilities as well as flexibility in design options.

Contact Tente Castors & Wheels for further information on this unique range of quality and efficient castors.

Tente Castors & Wheels tente.com.au

These handles use intense, multi-pole, shallow-field magnet technology.

Handles keep steel sheets under control

G

ripping a steel sheet to manipulate or move it into a press or process is not always easy, especially when sheets are stacked and there is a vacuum effect preventing them from parting.

Serpent & Dove’s Drag-on Magnetic Handles are designed to solve this problem and allow the user to drag one sheet from a stack with ease.

Designed and made in Australia by Serpent & Dove, Applied Magnetics, the Drag-On Magnetic Handles come in three drag strengths of 50, 100 and 200 kgs. They have proved a boon to steel fabricators for many years.

Using intense, multi-pole, shallow-field magnet technology, these very popular, light-weight magnetic handles

quickly put a handle on a steel sheet to provide a safe means for dragging and keeping a sheet under control.

Serpent & Dove’s Drag-On Magnetic Handles have made many steel fabrication shops safer and more efficient by preventing finger and hand injuries, especially as Drag-On will select one sheet from the top of a stack. The Drag-On Magnetic Handle is removed from the sheet with a quick upward movement of the handle.

Serpent & Dove serpent-dove.com

68 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

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PRODUCTS

igus expands scope of 3D printing service

T

he extension of the igus 3D printing service delivers chemical-resistant, lubrication-free tribo-polymer components that can be manufactured using selective laser sintering (SLS). This evolutionary step is made possible by a new printing material for laser sintering printers: iglidur I10 is resistant to acids, bases, alcohols as well as greases and is therefore suitable for use in electroplating and food processing plants. The 3D filaments are also available to purchase directly from Treotham if the customer wishes to perform their own printing.

The new laser sintering printing material iglidur I10 from Treotham is not only resistant to acids, bases, alcohols, greases and oils. It is also characterised by low moisture absorption, high toughness and high ductility – which indicates the

property of a material to deform permanently under shear load before breaking. The iglidur I10 is therefore an ideal material for weight-saving industrial functional components with elastic properties.

High food safety There are numerous applications for the new printing material and no doubt that iglidur I10 will be increasingly used in the electroplating industry in the future. 3D-printed components that are in electrolytic baths for coating processes must be resistant to acids otherwise there is a risk of defects and possible system failures.

“However, the new material is also interesting for applications in the packaging and food industries,” igus head of Additive Manufacturing Tom Krause said.

“This is because we are one of the few manufacturers to have had the laser sintering printing material certified in accordance with the specifications of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”

The new material also complies with EU Regulation 10/2011, which certifies that the plastic is harmless in contact with food.

3D printing service produces industrial components Treotham will also offer the new printing material via the igus 3D printing service. Customers can upload a STEP file online with the 3D model of the desired component and select the quantity and printing material. igus will then manufacture the lubrication and maintenance-free elements using selective laser sintering. A laser fuses

wafer-thin powder layers of the material on a building platform, which is lowered layer by layer. Step by step, the component is created.

“The process has the advantage that it requires no tools and is significantly more cost-effective and faster than classic processes such as injection moulding. This is especially true for prototypes and small production volumes,” Krause explained. As a result, the customer could be in receipt of the 3D-printed component five days after igus receives the order.

Treotham treotham.com.au

Test Machines Australia supply Australian designed and Australian supported tes�ng equipment.

We offer Na�onwide service and support as well as repairs to all makes and models of various tes�ng equipment.

Test Machines Australia also offer the full range of Kyowa products including strain gages.

Contact Test Machines Australia on 0418 369 505 or sales@testmachines.com.au | www.testmachines.com.au TMAAdJuly20Final.indd 1

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2/06/2020 2:52:44 PM

Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 69

PRODUCTS

Flow meter helps chemical company lower energy cost

The installation of the ST80 Flow Meters was part of an initial benchmarking project.

P

rocess and plant engineers tasked with new stringent energy conservation goals to meet the requirements of ISO

50001 while also reducing costs will find the ST80 Series Thermal Mass Flow Meter from Fluid Components International (FCI) helps them meet

I NS T RU MENT A TION & CALIBRATION PTY LTD S P E C I A L I S T S www.ams-ic.com.au AMS have been suppliers of instrumentation and calibration equipment to all industries since 1973 representing some of the world’s leading manufacturers of the equipment in their field.

Flow Measurement Specialists

www.ams-ic.com.au sales@ams-ic.com.au

70 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

both their environmental energy conservation and operational cost goals.

A global manufacturer of specialty chemicals that employs compressed air throughout its process facilities recently installed the FCI ST80 Air/ Gas Flow Meter with VORTAB® Meter Run (VMR) Flow Conditioners to help it attain ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification.

The installation of the ST80 Flow Meters was part of an initial benchmarking project to establish present energy usage and to identify areas for improvement.

The company engineers chose to install the thermal mass flow meters with the tab-type flow conditioners for several reasons. First, they wanted to avoid any installation concerns with regard to sufficient pipe straight run for optimum flow measurement accuracy at their desired measurement points.

The ST80 Flow Meters achieve a standard accuracy of ±1.0percent reading, ± 0.5percent full scale, or better, with repeatability of ±0.5percent of reading with flow rates as low as 0.07 to 305 NMPS and up to 100:1 flow turndown.

Second, they also chose to install the thermal flow meters with isolation ball-valve connections for easy extraction of the meters from the compressed air process lines during operation to permit calibration verification or re-calibration if necessary, which also is required to comply with the ISO standard.

The thermal dispersion meters, which require virtually no maintenance, were installed on 101.6 and 152.4 mm compressed air lines.

They are also available for other

applications in line sizes from 25 to 2500 mm and air/gas temperatures up to 454°C. The VMR Meter Run flow conditioner is a low-pressure loss solution for flow profile irregularities caused by elbows, valves, blowers, compressors and other disruptions often present in industrial piping systems. The VMR is suitable for Schedule 40 or 80 pipe from 51-305 mm. Construction materials are 316L stainless or carbon steel or Hastelloy C. Featuring FCI’s Adaptive Sensor Technology™ (AST™), the ST80 Flow Meter is designed with an innovative, patented hybrid sensor drive. This measuring technique combines, for the first time, both of the industry’s highly proven constant power (CP) and constant temperature (CT) thermal dispersion sensing technologies in the same instrument.

In addition to this new measurement drive technique, an exclusive flow sensor design was developed by FCI and optimised for compressed air applications to ensure high levels of measurement performance. This unique sensor design is immune to the pulsations and mechanical noise commonly found in compressed air systems. Coupled with the FCI’s ability to calibrate under actual flow, pressure and temperature conditions, accuracy and repeatability is unrivalled within the industry.

The output and user interface choices for this meter are extensive and interface with virtually any control system and/or set-up or configuration devices. Standard outputs include dual, NAMUR NE43 compliant 4-20 mA analogue outputs, HART (version 7), Modbus 485 and a USB port (for interfacing with configuration freeware). Foundation Fieldbus or PROFIBUS PA or DP can be optionally added. The optional backlit LCD display provides digital and bar graph readouts of the flow rate and temperature, totalized flow, alarms, diagnostics feedback and even a user defined label/tag field.

The transmitter enclosure for the ST80 Flow Meter is NEMA 4X/IP67 rated, selectable for NPT or metric conduit port threading and is available in both aluminium and stainless steel and may be remotely located up to 305 m apart from the flow element. The instrument also carries global approvals for use in hazardous areas and a 3rd party evaluation that demonstrates compliance to IEC 61508.

AMS ams-ic.com.au

industryupdate.com.au

PRODUCTS

Revolution in concentration measurement-in-line process refractometer

T

oday, traditional concentration measurement methods have been chosen and implemented by most relative industries. It relays manual measurement methods to

monitor variations in concentration.

There are too many factors that might lead to inaccurate results.

As a result, it will affect the quality of the products or cause issues in the

whole system.

ZHYQ has recently self-developed a GND15 In-line Process Refractometer for in-line real-time monitoring and measuring the concentration of the solution in the system. GND15 adopts the principle of sapphire refraction for its relabel concentration measurement. It is installed in the operating system and provides real-time reading for concentration, temperature and refraction rates.

The Accuracy is as high as ±0.3 per cent. The instrument also comes with a reasonable large size touch screen for more convenient management.

The elements displayed on the screen are concentration (%), Temperature (ºC) and Refraction Rate (nD). All connection parts were made by 316L stainless steel.

The shell has an IP67 protection rate which can be used in variable extreme working environments. The nature of this instrument can help manufacturers save lots of their cost from manual labour, water, material and energy.

GND 15 In-line Process Refractometer has been used widely in different industries such as food and beverage, petroleum, chemical and mining industries. The product is mainly used for the preparation and detection of the weight percentage

and concentration of the cooling emulsion in the machining industry and the m-IO and MDT emulsion commonly used in mines. It provides a convenient method for the preparation of emulsion safely and economically.

The list below are some examples of what GND15 can be used to test.

Fine chemical products: emulsion, castor oil, pigment, paint, ink, paint, emulsion, brake fluid, antifreeze, etc.

Chemical raw materials: alcohol, n-butanol, dimethyl silicone oil, dispersant, tripropylene glycol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, acetic acid, acrylic acid, ethyl acetate, methanol, alum, ammonium tungstate, sodium molybdate, ammonium molybdate, solvent, etc.

Fuel oil: crude oil, heavy oil, residual oil, oil, diesel oil, lubricating oil, coal tar, electrical insulation oil, aviation gasoline, gasoline, transformer oil and other light oil; Slurry: mud water, sludge, coal slime water, iron pulp, pulp, paper pulp, coal water slurry, mud.

ZHYQ zhyqsensor.com.au

The Single Australian Supplier for Conveyor Technology

From a basic conveyor component to a modern Integrated Smart Conveyor System

Innovative solutions to the materials handling industry Specialising in order fulfilment systems Bringing e-Commerce alive with the scope and range to satisfy and support most go ahead companies.

Faster Deliveries – Not subject to long lead times. Extensive local stock.

Flexible Design – Ready solutions from a basic European component to a full system analysis, scoping, design and implementation anywhere in Australia including the Pacific Islands.

Long Term Support – Availability of spare parts from legacy to current designs.

Local Australian Manufacturer Quality European Components

sales@adeptconveyor.com.au adeptconveyor.com.au

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Sydney (02) 9771 4655 Melbourne (03) 9357 8814 Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 71

PRODUCTS over time. It ensures a low-friction dry operation between the inner ring and the stainless-steel spherical ball.

The absence of lubrication also significantly speeds up cleaning the rod ends. Without grease, dirt and dust have little chance of settling.

To further increase food safety, the high-performance plastic iglidur A160 is designed in blue.

This is a colour on which food residues and mould spores can be quickly detected during cleaning inspections. Moreover, the colour is optically detectable. “This high level of hygiene is also confirmed by the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which follows one of the strictest hygiene guidelines in the world”, says Preißner. “So does conformity with the EU 10/2011 guideline.”

Rod ends are an indispensable part of machine and plant engineering for the food industry.

Plastic-metal hybrid for higher loads in the food sector

C

onstant relubrication of metallic bearing points in the food industry costs time, money and increases the risk of contamination.

Maintenance-free igus igubal spherical bearings from Treotham are an economical and safe alternative.

Now, the motion plastics specialist is introducing a new model for higher loads. It is equipped with a stainless-steel housing, a self-lubricating polymer inner ring and a stainless-steel spherical ball. This

allows for higher-load applications to be converted to future-proof tribo-technology.

Rod ends are an indispensable part of machine and plant engineering for the food industry. They are used everywhere from filling plants to meat-processing machines and packaging systems, where they transmit dynamic forces to pivoting, tilting and rotating movements. In the process, the heads must be relubricated to guarantee low-friction movement

ZHYQ newly independently invented In-line Process Refractometer is a perfect alternative choice in the market.

www.zhyqsensor.com.au

+61 433244552

roger@zhyqsensor.com.au

between the slide ring and the spherical ball.

A job that is not only time-consuming, but also increases the risk of contamination as dirt and dust easily form sticky coatings and solid lumps.

“To ease the burden on food-processing plants while improving hygiene in their moving applications, we have expanded our range of igubal rod end bearings”, explains igus product manager Thomas Preißner.

“The new plastic-metal hybrid consists of a steel housing and spherical ball, and an inner ring made of the high-performance plastic iglidur A160, which meets the requirements of both the FDA and EU 10/2011.”

Hygienic dry operation As with all iglidur plastics, there is a solid lubricant in iglidur A160, which is released in microscopic amounts

Not only clean, but robust However, the new igubal products are not only hygienic, but also robust, even in outdoor applications. They have a higher breaking strength and rigidity compared to a plastic rod end. In addition, they are resistant to moisture, acids, alkalines and UV rays and are suitable for temperatures between -40°C and +90°C. The abrasion resistance of iglidur A160 is also ten times better than that of polyamide according to results in the igus test laboratory - even with fast rotational movements of the mounted shaft. Thomas Preißner: “Users can therefore significantly increase the reliability of their systems with a modest investment.” The new rod ends are available in sizes M6, M8, M10, M12, M16 and M20.

Treotham treotham.com.au

SECURITY FASTENERS

LM FASTENERS

PTY. LTD.

UNIT 3 / 64 HASSALL STREET - SMITHFIELD NSW 2164 PHONE: (02) 9757 4367 EMAIL: sales@lmfasteners.com.au 72 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

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PRODUCTS

D

rag chains are mechanical machine elements that play an increasingly important role in Industry 4.0 automation, communication, safety and security, protecting energy, data, and signals that have to withstand the most diverse environmental influences.

These robust flexible assemblies – also called energy supply chains, or e-chains – are designed to be used in applications that are constantly moving. They ensure the fail-safe supply of energy, data, and impulses, and are engineered to guide and protect multiple layers or bundles of cabling.

Applications include guidance of sensitive bus and data cables, machine tools, packaging, process and automation machinery, cranes and mobile process machinery ranging in size right up to mining draglines.

According to Lapp Australia managing director, Simon Pullinger, cable drag chains come in an extremely large variety of sizes and types. Their expanding role has been anticipated by Lapp Australia, which has responded with Australia’s widest range of drag chain cables backed by strong local stocking of Lapp’s globally respected OLFLEX® flexible drag chain assemblies.

“The most important points to consider in selecting drag chain cables are the unique specifics of the application – one type does not fit all.

Factors to consider include length of

Australia’s largest drag chain ranges safeguard data & industry 4.0 cabling Cable drag chains come in an extremely large variety of sizes and types.

travel, the number of cables or hoses, the size and weight of the cables, the required speed and acceleration and environmental factors such as exposure to any debris, excessive heat or chemicals,” Pullinger said.

He has introduced Australian technical guidance teams to assist with issues arising in our widely diverse physical, climatic and industrial environments, which can range from super clean food, beverage, medical, electronic, manufacturing and processing plants, through to the outback extremes of mining and oil and gas processes.

Selecting the right drag chain cables As a global leader in cabling solutions, Lapp provides drag chain cables that cover power and control, ethernet and data communications solutions. These cables can come in PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), PUR (Polyurethane), or TPE

(Thermoplastic Elastomer), so they can be tailored to different environments, including harsh outdoor applications and extreme temperatures.

The PUR cables are also halogen-free, which reduces the risk of toxic fumes in indoor environments.

Cable types include: • OLFLEX® Power and Control cables • UNITRONIC® Bus and Data Communication cables • ETHERLINE® Industrial Internet cables “Each of these ranges meets the highest global compliance standards, and is fully traceable back to the point of manufacture,” Pullinger noted.

Lapp Australia – the Australian branch of the German global leader in cabling and connectivity solutions, LAPP Group, has more than doubled its inventory of locally stocked product lines, from 1,500 to more than 4,000, since setting up in this country

just four years ago.

“Lapp Australia has also helped major industries weather the COVID pandemic by securing their supply chains to world-best product through our online shop listings growing from 5,000 product listings to over 25,000 products.

These cables, connectors, and services are vital to industries and automation/Industry 4.0 applications including food and beverage, solar and energy, resources and materials handling, primary production and process engineering, acoustics, electrical contracting, water and wastewater, recycling, machine building and automation,” Pullinger added.

LAPP lappaustralia.com.au

Extensive conveyor range extends Enmin’s equipment portfolio

W

hile Victorian-based Enmin is well-known for the manufacture of vibratory equipment, there is perhaps less awareness of the extensive range and types of conveyors they also manufacture.

These include models that improve bag presentation to maximise net volume, improve packing utilisation and reduce shipping costs.

One of Enmin’s core capabilities is innovation which is demonstrated with their Mi-CON modular conveyor – the first ever hygienically designed full wash-down system to offer multiple standardised components.

“The key benefit of the Mi-CON modular system is that it eliminates equipment redundancy and expands with the customer’s business. It can be added to, extended and modified in the years ahead as a company’s production needs evolve,” Enmin’s general manager, Anthony Gallaher said.

The flexible modular design coupled with a range of standard parts and components, ensures suitability for multiple applications. Mi-CON is the only conveyor system on the market that can be delivered flat packed in a industryupdate.com.au

box, allowing fast and cost-effective delivery and simple installation by the customer’s maintenance team. It can also be delivered to the customer partially complete or fully complete for quicker installation and commissioning. The Mi-CON is available in Plus, Mini and Reversing models.

Other Enmin conveyors include Accumulation, Bag Flattening and Compaction models.

Major functions Accumulation Conveyors serve two prime functions: one being bulk storage of product and the other having the ability to slowly meter the product into subsequent handling operations.

Numerous applications benefit from the use of an Accumulation Conveyor.

In many cases avoiding double handling with conventional storage bins or damage to the product is sufficient reason to incorporate an Accumulation Conveyor into a production line.

Anyone involved with vertical bag filling knows that in many cases the result is a pear-shaped bag which makes subsequent packaging into cartons or onto pallets more difficult.

To overcome this problem the Enmin Bag Flattening Conveyor when incorporated into the conveyor line automatically shapes the filled bag using Enmin’s unique controlled vibration and pressure action. This in turn provides a reduction in transportation costs through greater space utilisation.

Any filling process will always produce a bag that is out of shape. The bag may be 25 kg in weight or 1000kg, the problem of shape will always remain.

This then presents a secondary problem when attempting to pack the bags on a pallet or into a transport container.

The role of the Bag Compaction Conveyer is to assist with shaping and conditioning the bag to achieve the maximum net volume of material thereby maximising profit. This process in turn improves bag presentation for packaging and a reduction in transportation costs through greater space utilisation.

All Enmin conveyors are manufactured to comply with the stringent hygiene standards of the Australian Food and Pharmaceutical Industries.

The simplicity of the design results in ease of cleaning and minimal

All Enmin conveyors are manufactured to comply with the stringent hygiene standards of the Australian Food and Pharmaceutical Industries.

maintenance and their robust construction guarantees outstanding reliability and durability.

“Our range of conveyors can be integrated into any production line and are designed to maximise production efficiencies and condition bags for optimum volume content and improved packing utilisation. Coupled with our extensive range of vibratory equipment, drives and controllers we can design a complete materials handling line for just about any application and environment,” Gallahar concluded.

ENMIN enmin.com.au

Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 73

PRODUCTS

Consideration should also be given to the maintenance of bearings in plants that are idle for extended periods.

Incol digital torque wrenches are pre-calibrated and allow you to set torque and angle levels

What happens when grease degradation sets in

Just like people, overtightening can cause fasteners to lock up

G

I

rease-lubricated bearings that are kept idle for long periods are subject to the effects of grease degradation and possible vibration damage. According to GreaseMax®, a leader in chemically operated lubrication, a lubricator controlled, slow-rate continuous lubrication will assist with these maintenance problems.

“GreaseMax lubricator’s controlled, slowrate continuous lubrication will assist with these maintenance problems.”

Problems that can occur with bearings that are idle over time include: • Water contamination: Liquids, humidity and condensation inside the bearing housing caused by daily temperature cycles all result in the grease absorbing water. This will in turn cause a break-down of the oil’s film strength, it will allow the on-set of corrosion, the grease additives will be degraded and bearing surface damage can occur due to hydrogen embrittlement. Note that daily temperature

cycles can cause a build-up of condensation even in dry climates.

• Oil separation: This will vary between greases due to variations in the grease type and manufacturer’s processes however if the base oil in the grease separates out from the grease thickener the grease will lose its lubrication properties. If the oil film separating the rolling surfaces degrades or is lost, vibration-caused damage will occur.

• Vibration damage: Sometimes only a portion of the plant will be shut down, so vibrations from the plant still running can be transmitted to the static plant, with damaging effects to the bearings, especially rolling element bearings, as oscillations drive lubricant out of the contacting bearing elements. A sufficient supply of grease should be maintained to keep a film on the bearing surfaces and to ensure that the grease forms a seal to exclude moisture.

Consideration should also be given to the maintenance of bearings in plants that are idle for extended periods.

GreaseMax lubricator’s controlled, slow-rate continuous lubrication will assist with these maintenance problems.

GreaseMax greasemax.com.au

74 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

t doesn’t matter whether you’re working on heavy machinery, a truck, car, bicycle, or anything else, wrenching down every nut and bolt as tight as you can get them to go is a recipe for disaster.

Many people assume that fasteners need to be as tight as possible. However, this can cause all sorts of problems.

Many nuts and bolts are not designed to be tightened past a certain point.

Overtightening them can cause parts to lock up, fail, be out of alignment, get damaged or worse.

So, how are you supposed to know when your bolt or nut is adequately tight? Luckily there’s a perfect tool for that - a torque wrench. In fact, there are many types of torque wrenches on the market. Incol digital torque tools are affordable, extremely accurate and in most cases the perfect solution.

An Incol digital torque wrench is a specialised tool that is used to make sure that components are not under or overtightened. Mechanical tasks are easier and more precise with digital torque wrenches as they provide you with a digital display that shows the exact amount of torque being applied.

All devices are equipped with an LCD display, indicator lights and a buzzer which alerts the operator when the desired torque or angle has been reached.

Incol digital torque wrenches are pre-calibrated and allow you to set torque and angle levels so you can

quickly shift from one task to another with the push of a button.

The Incol range is available in several configurations – angle wrenches, mini-wrenches, screwdrivers and adapters covering a range from virtually zero to 2000Nm. Using a digital torque wrench you can expect an accuracy of +/- 3% which is guaranteed from 20 percent to 100 percent of full scale.

“So, how are you supposed to know when your bolt or nut is adequately tight? Luckily there’s a perfect tool for that - a torque wrench.”

Incol digital torque tools work in both clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. You can select the measurable unit as newton metres, inch pounds or degrees on angle models. All models have auto shut-off when left idle for extended periods.

GotTools gotdigitaltorque wrenches.com.au

industryupdate.com.au

PRODUCTS

A tough and ready new identity for a ruggedly reliable Australian pressure cleaner

Y

ou’d be hard pressed to find a workshop, factory, farm or mine site in Australia that hasn’t been cleaned by a Spitwater pressure cleaner over the last 39 years.

A series of innovations and new products coupled with a new visual identity and marketing campaign is keeping the ruggedly reliable Spitwater, and the teams that live and breathe the brand, fully focused.

Spitwater distributors in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney and dealers Australia-wide are proudly promoting a new look logo, colour scheme and brand promise on their buildings, vehicles and, indeed, the Spitwater pressure cleaners themselves.

“It’s been some decades since we’ve updated the brand. We are doing it now because we want to create a new and exciting future for the next generation,” says Prue Martinotti, General Manager of the Spitwater Australia factory in Albury, NSW. The new branding is being launched with marketing campaigns celebrating the ‘Same rugged reliability. Brand new

look and just how “Tough + Ready” a Spitwater is to do the dirty work.

Spitwater is an enduring manufacturing success story in Australia, where most competitor products are produced offshore and made with global markets in mind.

Spitwater’s Australian-ness is central to its values. Being an owner of a Spitwater is being a customer for life. Innovation suggestions are taken from customers, ensuring that the company builds resolutely to get the job done for Australian industry.

The Spitwater factory is undergoing a rebrand too and name going forward will be OTTICO Equipment, a blend of the founders’ family name ‘Martinotti’ and the word ‘company’, representing the innovative culture originally created by the Martinottis and continually shaped by the collaborators and contributors that have made Spitwater what it is today.

The new OTTICO Equipment name creates a distinct identity for the factory so it can broaden its product scope and develop its other brands, the likes of JETFIRE space heaters,

VACSTORM vacuum cleaners and so on, whilst still innovating and improving the jewel in the crown, Spitwater.

Of pride is the number of small Australian family businesses built on the back of a Spitwater. Seeing the likes of roof cleaners, rural contractors and even bee keepers start successful family enterprises

using something originally created in Albury is particularly rewarding for everyone involved.

Even with the brand changes and innovations, the core of Spitwater remains unchanged. Same owners and the same teams, producing the same ruggedly reliable quality Australian manufactured products and solutions.

Upgrade by AJ Bush Bromelton makes aeration safer The solution Hydro Innovations recommended using two of their Gorman-Rupp Echo-Storm venturi aerators. These are bank mounted aerators that use self-priming pumps to ‘drive’ them. The required pump to drive these units was a Gorman-Rupp self-priming T10 [Super T Series] pump. This was perfect for Boyers, as he was able to repurpose a pump that the plant already had within its asset list, as it was already a GormanRupp pump user.

The benefits Boyers said that one of their first thoughts when selecting equipment is ease of access, and this was the beauty of the Echo-Storm venturi aeration system. He also said that due to unimpeded access, installation was a “breeze”.

M

eat by-products are processed through six different rendering process lines, and AJ Bush and Sons is the recipient of a Climate Alliance award for site emissions reduction.

The company operates the largest capacity rendering facility within Australia, located within the State Development area of Bromelton, Queensland. industryupdate.com.au

The issue Not a company for resting on their laurels, when their treatment lagoon was not responding to the installed surface aerators, plant engineering manager, Byron Boyers, contacted Hydro Innovations for advice.

The results Boyers and his team told IndustryUpdate they were extremely happy with the outcome of the project. “The visual colour of the water and surrounding odour has significantly improved within a week after installation”. According to the company, Gorman-Rupp’s Echo-Storm venturi aerators are available in four sizes [50mm, 75mm, 100mm and 150mm] and are proving popular with companies and organisations wanting to improve safety and reduce maintenance costs associated with running their aeration systems.

Hydro Innovations hydroinnovations.com.au

Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 75

PRODUCTS

Broad M12 Power Portfolio

T

urck is expanding its extensive connection technology range and is now offering a fully comprehensive M12 Power portfolio in K, L, S and T codings. The M12 Power range now includes field wireable connectors, receptacles and junctions and M12-to-7/8” adapter cables as well as the existing overmolded M12 Power cables.

In addition to the connection technology, Turck is also offering its customers M12 Power technology in its robust I/O and RFID block modules as well as field mountable power supply units with IP67 protection.

The wide range of possible combinations enable simple and efficient solutions for a structured and decentralised power supply – from the power supply unit to the control cabinet through to any end devices.

Users benefit from high system availability as well as time and cost savings thanks to the safe and high-performance power transfer – even at high ambient temperatures.

“The wide range of possible combinations enable simple and efficient solutions for a structured and decentralised power supply – from the power supply unit to the control cabinet through to any end devices.”

Turck’s robust M12 Power solutions are a match for the toughest applications in industries such as machine building, materials handling, automotive or sorting and packaging plants. The compact M12 connectors are suitable for virtually any application.

This is particularly important in restricted spaces or in environments that are difficult to access. With protection to IP69K they ensure safe operation at any time.

The different codings of the connectors prevent the possibility of connection errors when used in a wide range of applications. The 4 and 5-pin L-coded as well as 4-pin T-coded M12 Power connectors are specially designed for use with DC power supply units for up to 63 V DC/16 A. The 5-pin K coded and 4-pin S coded variants were developed for power supplies up to 630 V AC/16 A and are particularly suitable for the power supply of AC motors and drives.

Turck turck.com.au

76 | Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022

Indonesian PT ULTI brings Yale products and service to support local manufacturers

I

ndonesian materials handling and heavy equipment specialists, PT. Universal Traktor Indonesia ( PT ULTI), has joined the Yale authorised dealer network.

PT ULTI is an existing sole distributor of MAGNI telescopic handlers from Italy and SENNEBOGEN material handlers from Germany, so adding Yale forklifts and materials handling solutions was an ideal fit, as the company seeks to expand its profile in Indonesia.

“We truly believe having Yale lift trucks in our main product portfolio will help us deliver distinctive values to our customers and will strengthen our company proposition as ‘The ULTImate Lifting Solution’.”

According to PT ULTI chief of operations,Inang Sukriman, “Our customers value machine uptime above all else. This uptime is delivered through product quality, reliability, and continuous support readiness, which are all qualities Yale is renowned for globally.”

Yale, which is part of the Hyster-Yale Group, has more than a century of lift truck and materials handling experience, and is dedicated to solving industry’s most pressing challenges with quality products, intelligent solutions, and outstanding after sales service.

“Yale is a well-known and reputable global forklift brand with a complete range of solutions to bring to our market, from traditional to more technologically advanced products. It was a natural fit for our business,” he said.

Hyster-Yale director for dealer development – Asia and China, Richard Ong, explained that the background and experience of PT ULTI positioned the company to take on new challenges and continue to grow in the Indonesian market, as it aligned its strategic direction and vision with Hyster-Yale.

“Through the early stages of their Yale dealership journey, our team will work very closely with PT ULTI to provide training and guidance, to develop and strengthen the knowledge and skill of PT ULTI’s team so that they can confidently support their customers in the marketplace,” Ong added.

ULTI-mate lifting solution PT ULTI places a strong focus on delivering top quality machinery, high spare parts availability, and efficient service. Inang said these values aligned perfectly with Yale and the broader HysterYale Group.

“The new partnership is aligned with our mission to be a one-stop material handling solution provider for the Indonesian market. Yale offers complete quality warehousing products, and maximum uptime performance – bundled with excellent aftermarket service, which are all essential qualities for basically every industry here,” he said.

“We truly believe having Yale lift trucks in our main product portfolio will help us deliver distinctive values to our customers and will strengthen our company proposition as ‘The ULTImate Lifting Solution’.”

“We hope to grow the Yale brand in Indonesia through continuous support and excellent service.

We have already had strong support from Yale, and we are excited for the journey ahead.”

Hyster-Yale hyster.com.au

industryupdate.com.au

EVENTS

Upcoming Events

Workplace Health & Safety Show 2022

Australian Manufacturing Week 2022

CeMAT Australia

25 to 26 May 2022 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

7 to 10 June 2022 International Convention Centre

9 to 21 July 2022 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

ARBS 2022

The Workplace Health & Safety Show (Sydney)

Modern Manufacturing Expo Sydney 2022

16 to 18 August 2022 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

20 to 21 September 2022 Sydney Showground

20 to 21 September 2022 Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush

CeMAT Australia rethinks supply chain for 2022

C

eMAT Australia 2022 registrations are now open as the world’s leading trade fair for intralogistics, materials handling, and supply chain management prepares for the event on 19-21 July 2022 at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The CeMAT exhibition will be a one-stop-shop featuring leading and next-generation supply chain technology, equipment and service providers.

On show will be the latest innovations and insights determining the future of intralogistics, warehousing, manufacturing, wholesale and 3PL for a wide range of industries - from FMCG to resources.

latest in Industry 4.0; IIoT; digitisation and automation.

Beyond resilience Complementing the incredible showcase of world-class exhibitors will be a free-to-attend, three-day conference in the Knowledge Theatre.

This year the conference theme is Beyond resilience – rethinking, reinforcing and reconnecting the supply chain.

In 2022 there is much to say and see regarding changes to the way we work and the technological advancements shaping everything from warehousing to transport to the retail experience of the future. Expect to hear world class experts and leading brands addressing hot topics surrounding the

Sustainability and safety Climate change is also a major concern for the manufacturing sectors so the pressure for environmental sustainability is affecting everything from energy sources and technologies to warehouse design and transport.

In the face of COVID and widespread labour shortages, safety has become all the more critical so solution providers, researchers and leading authorities will be on hand to address future plans and modern-day solutions.

The Expo Pass provides access to the Knowledge Theatre, adjacent to the 2022 CeMAT show floor, which

industryupdate.com.au

Ongoing influence of online shopping The continued rise of online shopping is making a huge impact on the way the world does business along with the impact of the pandemic.

Sessions will also include online consumer loyalty, its pervasive influence and the need to rethink supply chain configuration and networks.

Innovative approaches to micro fulfilment, multi-story urban DCs and warehouse design are some of the ideas and solutions that will feature at CeMAT Australia 2022.

will showcase an incredible array of world class exhibitors bringing the latest equipment, solutions and innovations to industry decision-makers from a huge range of industries.

The event itself will be COVID-safe – planned and delivered in accordance with the guidelines of government and health authorities.

To find out about exhibiting opportunities and register to attend free, go to cemat.com.au CeMAT cemat.com.au

Industry Update Issue 125 April / May 2022 | 77

Manufacturing Careers

Connecting the right people with the right jobs.

For the latest career listings

• Understanding detailed drawings or specifications to determine the required materials and equipment for the job.

• Attending various work sites to install finished products.

Bomac Engineering is a family-run business that has been fabricating cranes and fall arrest systems out of SE Melbourne for more than 30 years.

Unit 1/153 Wedgewood Rd, Hallam VIC 3803 OFFICE ADMIN ALL-ROUNDER The role is permanent, part-time initially 25 hours per week, with some flexibility on specific days and times.

Job tasks and responsibilities will involve • • • • • •

Phone and reception duty Type quotes (details provided by engineers) Filing and organising paperwork for each job Invoicing customers once orders are received Book outgoing freight Managing servicing contracts including scheduling and invoicing • General office duties as required • Communicate with customers regarding quotes, jobs in process and following up after jobs have been installed Skills and experience We are looking for someone who can work autonomously with minimal supervision and who possesses the following qualities: • Reliable and punctual • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal • Basic numeracy skills (basic maths, ability to convert lengths from mm to cm or metres) • Able to take initiative • Organised and able to prioritise tasks to manage your own time • Professional manner • Willingness to learn new skills as required

Skills and experience • Basic knowledge of hand tools • Commitment and enthusiasm with a genuine interest in engineering • Effective English communication (spoken and written) skills • Basic maths skills – successful applicants will be required to complete a test during the interview phase • An outgoing and friendly personality Preferred but not essential: • Manual Drivers licence (if over the age of 18) • Outside interests that demonstrate hands on practical skills • Ability to read and comprehend 2D drawings • Completion of an Engineering or Mechanical VET course at school Please include a cover letter with your application demonstrating how you meet the above criteria and why you would like to start a career in metal fabrication.

50 Greens Road, Dandenong South FOOD INGREDIENTS PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR

Duties and responsibilities

1ST-YEAR METAL FABRICATION APPRENTICE As part of our team, you will undertake a fouryear apprenticeship with a registered training organisation to become a qualified fabricator. The first three years will require the successful applicant to attend off-the-job training one day per week.

The final year will be spent within the normal working team.

A Certificate III Engineering Fabrication Apprenticeship with Bomac Engineering will involve • Cutting, drilling and welding metal products to produce parts.

• Utilising various equipment such as hand and machine tools, welding equipment both manual and robotic as well as computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines.

• Utilising various techniques for assembling fabrication parts and structures.

• Aligning and fixing pieces together through welding, bolting, or riveting.

• Adding the finishing touch to products: cleaning, filing, and applying protective finishes.

2X FULLTIME INTERNAL SALES STAFF

Due to our constant growth in the supply and servicing of air compressors and systems, we are in need of experienced and aspiring technicians to man our fleet of mobile workshops.

We pay top dollar commensurate with experience and capability.

Our field technicians are self-starters, work with minimal supervision, are computer literate and enjoy working with and meeting new people.

You will work in an interesting variety of environments and compressed air applications.

Submit cover letter and resume to: employment@kaishan.com.au

• Planning and overseeing production schedule, and reporting directly to the Managing Director • Managing and working with existing production team, including staff rostering • Overseeing use of production equipment and machinery and training production staff • Maintaining food safety and HACCP systems, and overseeing cleanliness of production facilities • Maintaining quality control over incoming goods and manufactured food ingredients • Assisting with stock control and production planning Qualifications and attributes • Previous experience in food manufacturing industry is essential • Food safety and HACCP system knowledge and training • Ability to work with and manage and supervise staff • Ability to multi-task • Basic computer literacy and experience with food production and packing equipment Timings, remuneration and benefits • Full time role, Monday to Friday, 8.00 – 5.00pm.

• Annual salary of $70,000 plus superannuation.

• 10% staff discount from our retail store.

Submit cover letter and resume to vs@hindustan.com.au

We are looking for 2x Fulltime Internal Sales staff to join our growing team in Glendenning NSW. This position is part of the Sales team and provides national client support through these key responsibilities.

Appointment Setting for External Sales • Researching new business opportunities through cold calling (Direct marketing) • Qualifying Leads and Lead follow up • Outbound warm calls to follow up leads, convert to appointments.

• Appointment booking and planning to ensure best use of external sales manager time in a geographical area.

Account Management

KM Tubular is a manufacturer of steel commercial furniture located in Altona North, VIC 3025

Experience in a small business environment would be a plus. You must have the right to work in Australia to be considered for this position.

Secure, onsite parking, and close to the Hallam train station, so public transport is also an option.

Flexibility around days and hours worked

SERVICE TECHNICIAN

Submit cover letter and resume to bomac@bomac.com.au

Production Supervisor for manufacturer and packer of dry food ingredients, including seeds, grains, flour, nuts, herbs and spices.

Job benefits and perks

Location - NSW

Please note only candidates with Australian citizenship or permanent working rights will be considered for this role. All candidates will be expected to comply with current public health orders.

Experience using Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel are necessary. Experience with MYOB software is preferable.

When applying, please include a cover letter addressing the above requirements and outlining any relevant experience you would bring to the role.

Locations - VIC. NSW. QLD

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT/ WAREHOUSE CONTROLLER This is a newly created position working closely with our Production Manager and Foreman to ensure all jobs are completed on time and to the highest standards possible.

We are seeking a Production Assistant/Warehouse Controller who possesses the following: • Attention to detail to ensure all products meet client’s specifications • Ability to communicate with clients to ensure that they are kept up to date with the status of their orders • Control pick ups and deliveries for customers and suppliers • Methodical in workflow and able to work under pressure to ensure completion dates are met • Ability to manage multiple tasks and “think on your feet” • Ability to plan/forecast • Well organised team player • Positive attitude, an eye for detail and a need to take pride in their work • Computer Skills • Forklift licence will be an advantage Duties include: • Maintain and monitor stock levels of all inventory to achieve production deadlines • Monitor progress of all orders to ensure completion dates are met • Coordinate pick-ups and deliveries for both customers and suppliers • Communication with customers on status of orders Please note: KM Tubular is required to comply with government mandated vaccination directions and all employees must be vaccinated against COVID 19.

Submit cover letter and resume to: admin@kmtubular.com.au

• Provide customer support from initial enquiry through to order, arranging site visit, installation & delivery • Customer service – follow up calls after product installation to check customer is happy with the product • Follow-up call where a quote doesn’t convert to a sale.

• Using CRM to schedule regular contact with existing customers (e.g. second site visit 6 months after installation to identify new business opportunities).

Systems & data integrity • Accurate, on-time data input into CRM, including all leads & external sales activities.

CRM analysis & reporting to support external sales activity.

• Monitoring & reviewing CRM to maintain data integrity.

External Sales Support • Prepare sales materials for External Sales, including researching other sites that already have A-SAFE product installed for the same customer internationally or at sites of competitors for that customer.

• Build strong relationships with External Sales team members and with customers.

• Any other duties commensurate with the level of the position.

About you You will be results driven, organised & able to prioritise your work day. You will be excited to work in a highvolume outbound sales team in a rapidly growing global company, helping to secure new B2B business opportunities to hand over to the External Sales Team.

Previous experience in the below, is highly desirable: • Experience in a appointment setting/ appointment generation • Experience in B2B cold calling • Experience in CRM systems • Experience in Business Development • Experience in selling the industrial arena • Able to work Autonomously What We Offer A-SAFE Australasia offers a welcoming global workplace, paid study opportunities, career progression, flexibility with working hours and a national commission scheme.

A-SAFE Australasia is a equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on Race / color, National origin / ethnicity, Religion, Age, Sex / gender / sexual orientation, Physical or mental disability.

Please note: To be considered for this role you must have full working rights within the NSW Australia.

To apply, send your resume through to sales@asafeau.com

Australia’s Best Intralogistics and Materials Handling Event Beyond resilience – rethinking, reinforcing and reconnecting the supply chain Attend CeMAT Australia and access: Free to attend programme, featuring case studies and panel discussions Networking sessions with peers and vendors Product demonstrations Free expo entry

19 – 21 July 2022 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

Register for free at cemat.com.au

3 Day Event

100+ Exhibitors

30+ Content Sessions