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6 Editor’s Comment

26 Issues & Insights

38 Women in Industry

10 Comment

28 Safety@MM

43 Financial

12 News@MM

32 Manufacturing Strategies

44 What’s New

20 Industry Focus

34 Events@MM

46 Last Word

24 Research & Development

37 Software & Systems

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Behind the cover To grow Australia’s manufacturing sector, industrial organisations and governments are collaborating to get businesses of all sizes, Industry 4.0 ready. In this issue, we find out what help is available for SMEs and startups wanting to gain the most from the latest technology in the market. While larger companies are able to implement the best in technology into all products and services, smaller companies may struggle to find the funds and knowledge to use the best technology on offer. So, Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions (BAMS) and AMTIL have collaborated to create a pilot program that aims to help SMEs in their Industry 4.0 ventures. BAMS general manager Andrew Bartlett told Manufacturers’ Monthly that connecting quickly at a decent price point is becoming standard, so moving faster

than the market is necessary. In a bid to help SMEs and start-ups move into the Industry 4.0 space, and maximise growth opportunities in Australia, the federal government has also established numerous programs. This includes the Empowering Business to Go Digital program, which helps improve accessibility of small business digital information, and increase small business awareness and the adoption of digital technology. While the focus of this story is on SMEs and start-ups, it highlights growth for larger businesses who are creating these programs, which raises their profiles while helping the industry as a whole. Manufacturing strategies and the importance of safety also feature in this edition along with industry insights from manufacturing experts.

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Comment

SYED SHAH – Managing Editor, Manufacturers’ Monthly

Bridging the 4.0 gap

HETHER it is the Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial Internet of Things, Internet of Everything, Industry 4.0 or a term that insinuates technology associated with the fourth industrial revolution, Australia has certainly made its choice. Or rather, the Office of the Prime Minister has when it formed the Industry 4.0 taskforce a few years back (now called the Industry 4.0 forum headed by the Ai Group). At least, that is the answer that I give anybody who asks me where Australia is in terms of adopting “next-generation” technology, specifically in manufacturing. “Next generation” has many interpretations, I feel, as do many of Manufacturers’ Monthly’s valued partners. Last year alone at the National Manufacturing Week, terms like artificial intelligence (AI), automated robots and machineto-machine learning were floated around. 3D printing took major steps forward in this country when Titomic announced it had manufactured the largest 3D printer in the world. As each year progresses, technology progresses quicker, and it gets more

disruptive the further we move along. Hence, the faster we adopt, the better we survive. Global analyst company Mckinsey has provided a regulated guess in their report, Disruptive technologies: Advances that will transform life, business, and the global economy, that in a number of technologies involving next generation technology have a potential global economic impact between US$14b ($19.6b) and US$33 trillion a year by 2025. Still, smaller manufacturers may tend to not prioritise upscaling their business to Industry 4.0 technologies due to a lack of time and resources to invest in digitisation. Compared to larger businesses, many are reluctant to commit to bigger technology investments because they need to see a quicker (and rightfully so) return on investment (ROI). Another reason I discovered that SMEs are risk averse, is that their staff do not possess the expertise to handle these new technologies. Other issues include the perception of potential job losses and so any implementation has to be carefully approached. Still, because much of the

Australian manufacturing GDP is made up of SMEs, these companies need to innovate and move forward in technology. Operations have to move to the next level in terms of accuracy, efficiency and greater control – if they want to survive in the long haul. In this issue of Manufacturers’ Monthly, we find out how important the role of the government is when it comes to filling in this gap. Not just through grants, but also through education in the form of workshops to level-up SMEs. We follow a story about a Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions collaboration with an association to create a pilot program that aims to assist SMEs in their Industry 4.0 journey. They hope to use the results to encourage other Australian SMEs down the road to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies and strategies. So, what does this mean for jobs? We have already seen robot baristas that can replicate at a quicker pace, the quality of coffee made by a human barista. Job security is always a fear when new technological advances arise. Technology is often seen as something that job holders on the factory floor in the

manufacturing sector fear. In this issue, according to Pilz Australia, this is not so. The company believes in upskilling staff to handle nextgeneration technology because it is about making their systems safer and more efficient. This is a case of a company that believes in the synergy between Industry 4.0 and the workforce. One thing, however, remains clear: the challenge for SMEs is to enable interdisciplinary thinking – between existing concepts and new technologies and organisations. The latter would do well to see to the creation of flexible organisational structures as a means of boosting this. In short, there is a need for appropriate training measures for Industry 4.0 because, following training and implementation, is the reallocation of tasks and new responsibilities. Industry 4.0 has a lot of implications for manufacturing SMEs. For one, they don’t have the luxury of resources like larger corporations, but they still need to step up to have a more secure future in the sector.

Small companies are taking on Industry 4.0 technologies.

6 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

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Comment

GEOFF CRITTENDEN – CEO, Weld Australia

Welding compliance: an issue of public safety

HE lack of regulation covering steel manufacturing, fabrication, and erection is a national disgrace that has reduced our industry to the lowest common denominator: cost. In a misguided commercial experiment, Australia eradicated the regulations that mandated compliance to Australian Standards. The aim of this experiment was to cut through the regulatory red-tape imposed on Australian industry, in a bid to give our homegrown manufacturers more of an opportunity to compete within an increasingly global marketplace. In reality, the abolition of these regulations has handed a substantial portion of our local industry – and therefore local jobs – to our overseas competitors. More importantly though, this complete lack of regulation has put Australian lives at risk. There is no compulsion for either a client or a fabricator to comply with Australian Standards. The problem is that if structures and components are not fabricated in accordance to Australian Standards, there is simply

caused by “factors of safety lower than required by standards”. The lack of fatalities to date is pure luck; it simply will not last with the current level of regulation.

The problem is that if structures and components are not fabricated in accordance to Australian Standards, there is simply no way to guarantee The international perspective In Europe, it is mandatory for all that they will not fail. no way to guarantee that they will not fail. The entire lifecycle of the welding process – from design right through to inspection – must consider all aspects that could affect weld quality, and therefore public safety. This type of approach is essential because it is impossible to undertake verification of a completed welded joint, particularly if it has been painted over and galvanised. Unfortunately, inspection after completion does not guarantee weld serviceability. As such, quality must be built into the welding process, right from the very beginning. Just look at some of the recent examples reported across Australian news outlets. On January 8, 2019, a

sign over the Tullamarine Freeway in Melbourne fell on a car, narrowly avoiding killing the driver. Preliminary findings indicate that the road sign may have failed due to a missing stiffener plate in the gantry that held the sign. However, investigations into the cause of this accident were still underway at the time of writing. If the collapse of this sign is proved to be due to welding or fabrication failure, it could spell disaster for freeways across Australia – thousands of road signs may require remediation, costing taxpayers millions of dollars. Similarly, the new Opal apartment tower in Sydney had to be evacuated because of structural cracking that occurred on Christmas Eve. The large cracks are believed to have been

companies involved in welding to be certified to the appropriate international standards by an independent, accredited third-party authority. All products and structures must be CE marked (an abbreviation of French phrase Conformité Européene, which literally means European Conformity). Similar regulations apply in Japan, where products and structures are JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) marked. In Canada, a mandatory system was implemented in 1947 that ensures the safety of all publicly-funded welded structural steel. A system that has now been adopted by many of Canada’s large companies. While the United States does not mandate compliance, it has a legislative framework that delivers the same result. Our close neighbours, suppliers

Weld Australia estimates more than 30 per cent of fabricated steel structures and products in use in Australia are imported.

10 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

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and competitors, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, do not have welding compliance regulations or systems in place. Instead, welders and fabricators in these countries tailor production to customer specifications. As a result, most imported fabricated steel is of inferior quality and does not meet Australian Standards. Weld Australia estimates that over 30 per cent of fabricated steel structures and products in use in Australia are imported. Whilst Australian companies normally specify Australian or international standards, the cost of ensuring compliance is so high it rarely happens. There is no requirement for imported steel to be tested and inspected prior to installation. Weld Australia estimates there could be as much as 1.5 billion tonnes of noncompliant welded structural steel in Australia. Australian welders and fabricators have the opportunity to join the likes of Europe, Japan, Canada and the

Freeways across Australia require strong structures.

United States. By substantially raising the quality of the welded components and structures produced in Australia, we bolster the competitiveness of the local manufacturing industry, helping reverse the decline in local manufacturing jobs and provide a safer environment.

The way forward The federal government must show leadership and amend the necessary regulations to mandate compliance to Australian standards or wear the

consequential loss of life. It is critical that all • Fabrication completed in Australia is compliant with AS/NZS 1554 Structural steel welding, • Welders are qualified to ISO 9606 Qualification testing of welders, • Welding and fabrication companies are certified to AS/NZS ISO 3834 Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials, • Workplace Health and Safety legislation holds the importer responsible for ensuring mandatory

compliance to relevant Australian or International standards, governing welding production and fabrication. Clearly, these regulations are necessary, as evidenced by the specifications developed by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) in New South Wales. RMS has already rolled out a highly successful welding safety control system under which companies must be certified to AS/ NZS ISO 3834 to undertake work on gantries and bridges. The other states have yet to implement similar systems. There is absolutely no question lives are at risk. The fundamental issue is a lack of adequate regulation across Australia. The only way to guarantee public safety is to implement and enforce regulations that mandate compliance to Australian Standards for the manufacture, fabrication, and erection of steel within Australia, and the inspection of imported structural and fabricated steel.

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News @MM Survey indicates 90 per cent of Australians want locally made products Ninety per cent of Australians are more likely to buy Australian-made products than those from overseas, a new Roy Morgan study has found. The survey of 15,000 Australians, aged 14 and over, measured how likely Australians were to buy products from Australia and large players such as USA, China and the UK. The survey, conducted between October 2017 and September 2018, compared results from a survey between October 2013 and September 2014. The results were slightly up from four years ago where 88 per cent of Australians said they were more likely to buy Australian-made products. Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine said although these figures are still very high across all age groups, it is those in Generation X (92 per cent) and Baby Boomers (91 per cent)

who are even more likely to prefer Australian-made products than other generations. In the study, 90 per cent of respondents indicated that they would be more likely to purchase food products that were made in Australia, 76 per cent more likely for clothes, 73 per cent for wine, 62 per cent for sporting goods, 62 per cent for electrical goods and 52 per cent for motor vehicles. Australian Made Campaign chief executive Ben Lazzaro said Roy Morgan’s research highlights the importance that Australian’s place on buying local. “There is an increasing demand for authentic Aussie products produced in our clean, green environment and manufactured to our high standards. “Awareness around country of origin labelling has increased in

recent years, with more Australians wanting to know where their products come from. “The Australian Made logo is the most important tool for consumers in identifying authentic Aussie products,” said Lazzaro. The respondents were asked to indicate whether they would be more likely or less likely to buy products made in Australia, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, UK and USA. In the year to September 2018, 60 per cent of Australians aged 14 and older said they’d be more likely to buy products made by Australia’s closest neighbour, New Zealand, up per cent from 2014. However, the biggest improvement in sentiment over the past four years

The majority of Australians say they are most likely to buy Australian-made products. was for products from Canada. Now, 54 per cent of Australians aged 14 and over are more likely to buy products made in Canada, up from 45 per cent in 2014. China, Australia’s largest trading partner overall including for both imports and exports, saw a decrease. The year to September 2018, 34 per cent of Australians aged 14 and over said they’d be more likely to buy products from China, down 1 per cent from 2014.

National survey shows increase in research and industry collaboration

Research projects are transforming everyday life.

12 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

The latest National Survey of Research Commercialisation, released in early 2019, shows a strengthened relationship between researchers and industries in Australia, including manufacturing. Australian minister for industry, science and technology Karen Andrews said the latest survey results show a dramatic increase in activity in the past few years. There were more than 18,000 research contracts and collaborations in 2016, generating income of more than $1.9 billion. “There has been a 64 per cent increase in research contracts and collaborations and an additional $513 million in income generated from when the coalition came into government,” said Andrews. “These results tell a story of our world class research organisations working alongside

industry to translate great ideas into real world outcomes and create more Australian jobs. “Australia has a strong track record of research successes and our technological breakthroughs have transformed everyday life, including CSIRO’s Wi-Fi technology and the world’s first cervical cancer vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix,” said Andrews. The government invested an additional $2.4b towards Australia’s science, research and technology capabilities in the 2018-19 budget and it is increasing funding to research agencies such as CSIRO over the next four years. Now in its 16th year, the National Survey of Research Commercialisation tracks knowledge exchange activities in Australia’s public research system by assessing universities, medical research institutes and publicly funded research agencies. manmonthly.com.au

News@MM Boeing autonomous passenger air vehicle’s first flight a step to new heights Boeing has completed the first test flight of its autonomous passenger air vehicle (PAV) prototype, which the company hopes will revolutionise passenger services worldwide. The test flight, in Manassas, Virginia, was completed in January with the PAV completing a controlled takeoff, hover and landing during the flight. Future flights will test forward, wing-borne flight, as well as the transition phase between vertical and forward-flight modes. This transition phase is typically the most significant engineering challenge for any high-speed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Boeing NeXt, which leads the company’s urban air mobility efforts, used Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences to design and develop

the electric VTOL aircraft and will continue testing to advance the safety and reliability of on-demand autonomous air transportation. Boeing chief technology officer Greg Hyslop said in one year, the company has progressed from a conceptual design to a flying prototype. Powered by an electric propulsion system, the PAV prototype is designed for fully autonomous flight from takeoff to landing, with a range of up to 80.47km. Measuring 9.14m long and 8.53m wide, its advanced airframe integrates the propulsion and wing systems to achieve efficient hover and forward flight. Aurora Flight Sciences CEO John Langford said this is what revolution looks like and it’s because

Boeing’s autonomous passenger air vehicle takes flight.

of autonomy. “Certifiable autonomy is going to make quiet, clean and safe urban air mobility possible,” he said. The test flight represents the latest milestone for Boeing NeXt. The division works with regulatory agencies and industry partners to lead the responsible introduction of a new mobility ecosystem and ensure a

future where autonomous and piloted air vehicles safely coexist. In addition to the PAV, the Boeing NeXt portfolio includes an unmanned fully electric cargo air vehicle (CAV) designed to travel up to 226.80km and other urban, regional and global mobility platforms. The CAV completed its first indoor flight last year.

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Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2019 13

News @MM New technology helps robots detect emotions in human speech Researchers have developed technology to detect emotions in human speech, enabling more natural conversations with robots. Current voice-activated technology used in virtual assistants is limited by its inability to decipher human emotions, causing it to provide irrelevant responses or miss the point of some conversations entirely. But a team of researchers from RMIT University’s school of engineering, led by associate professor Margaret Lech, has discovered how to add emotional capabilities to machines to make communication more natural and more socially acceptable. “There’s always an emotional context when we talk to people and we understand it, but machines don’t understand this,” said Lech. “When we call an automatic call centre, for example, people get very frustrated because they talk to the

machine and it does not understand that they are sad, they are anxious, that they want things to be done quickly. “They don’t understand the emotion associated with the task and we can hear from many recordings people saying, ‘I want to talk to a person, not a machine’. “There is no way to explain certain things to a machine, including those subtle cues that we can express through emotions when we talk to each other,” she said. Lech and her team have spent 11 years creating new machine learning techniques that allow technology to understand human emotions from speech signals, and to analyse and predict patterns of emotional interactions in human conversations. Equipped with these capabilities, voice-activated devices can now understand both the linguistic and emotional contents of speech, and

provide appropriate responses. They can read seven human emotions: anger, boredom, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and neutral. The challenge of making machines read human emotions lay in measuring the unspoken commands in voices such as subtle changes in tone, volume and speed. Emotion recognition will unlock many more applications and wider benefits from voice-activated technology, said Lech. “People will accept machines more, they will trust machines, they will have the feeling that the machine really understands them and can help them better. “People, especially the elderly, will not be so reluctant to use automatic call centres. Then we can employ machines, for example, robots as companions. An older person may like actually talking to a machine and hear that the machine can laugh with

RMIT University associate professor Margaret Lech. her, can sympathise, and understand her feelings. “It could also be good if used for kids’ toys. Children will interact with robotic toys that can talk emotionally, so children will learn more about emotions,” said Lech.

Endeavour Awards sponsorship opportunities open door to industry’s best

REDARC’s Anthony Kittel with the Exporter of the Year 2018 Award. The prestigious Endeavour Awards program will see industry leaders from all manufacturing sectors come together on May 16 in Melbourne to celebrate the best accomplishments in the sector. The annual event, held in conjunction National Manufacturing Week, shares the successes of businesses and organisations making their mark on the manufacturing industry across 14 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Australia and worldwide. With huge presence of industry influencers and companies pushing the boundaries of innovation at last year’s awards, sponsorship opportunities have filled up fast. However, there is still a chance to get on board as a sponsor of Australia’s premier awards program for the manufacturing industry. Weld Australia, Bestech, Vega, SEW Eurodrive, IBSA Manufacturing, Beckhoff and B&R are already on board as sponsors for the 2019 awards. Weld Australia represents the welding profession in Australia with a primary goal of ensuring the industry remains both locally and globally competitive now and into the future. Bestech manufactures and supplies industrial sensors, signal conditioners and data acquisition systems. The company also has an in-house

manufacturing facility for production of electrical training panels. Vega is a global manufacturer of process instrumentation. Its product portfolio includes level measurement sensors, point level switches, pressure transmitters, and equipment and software for integration into process control systems. SEW Eurodrive’s products stand for diversity, quality, reliability and the power of innovation. The company offers drive solutions to suit all manufacturers’ needs. IBSA Manufacturing helps create a skilled workforce by working closely with industries to identify what skills are needed and develop training products and services to meet these needs. Beckhoff implements open automation systems based on PC Control technology.

B&R offers its customers a complete automation solution that provides maximum flexibility and economic efficiency. With an impressive line-up of sponsors and nominees for the awards, companies and individuals are gearing up for another big night of celebrations at the Arts Centre in Melbourne. To enquire about becoming a sponsor contact Danilo Cortucci at danilo.cortucci@primecreative.com.au or on 03 9690 8766. Nominations for the 2019 Endeavour Awards are also open. If you have a new technology, solution, or know of a product, initiative or company that should be recognised for their dedication to the manufacturing industry, visit www.endeavourawards.com.au to nominate now. manmonthly.com.au

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News @MM Australia’s defence sector invests in information computer technology The Australian government Department of Defence has signed three contracts to deliver information computer technology (ICT) support services, to commence transitioning in February 2019. The support services include ICT service desk operations, integration and coordination of multiple suppliers to bring increased alignment and optimisation of ICT operation, and deskside support for about 100,000 users across more than 450 locations around Australia. Assistant minister for defence, David Fawcett, said the contracts would provide defence with efficient and economical ICT support services for all staff and personnel at military bases, offices and sites across Australia. “Defence has been in negotiations with the successful tenders to ensure that these contracts provide value

for money and support military operations and business,” said Fawcett. Kinetic IT has been awarded two separate three-year contracts to the total value of $91 million, for the provision of ICT service desk operations and service integration and management (SIAM). “Kinetic IT will be establishing a regional office in Canberra, creating around 200 jobs across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory,” said Fawcett. Fujitsu Australia has been awarded a contract worth $99m to deliver national deskside support services for Defence over the next three years. “Fujitsu Australia has a longstanding relationship with Defence, with over 600 staff dedicated to Defence activities and contracts,” said Fawcett. Kinetic IT chief executive officer

Michael North said the company will be working on behalf of Defence to integrate their services and coordinate multiple suppliers to bring increased alignment and optimisation of their IT operations. Kinetic IT will also transform the ICT support experience for Defence’s 100,000 personnel with a focus on enduser satisfaction. “The service desk component will manage and streamline a single point of contact for ICT engagements and support the adoption of new technologies across the agency,” said North. Kinetic IT chief product officer Brett Roberts said the Defence deal follows the trending industry demand for organisations that can navigate complex IT environments and tailor solutions that unlock improved business outcomes. “We invest heavily in our

Australian defence is boosting its computer technology sector

capabilities in SIAM and leading technologies to provide a true alternative in the ICT sector for large enterprises. “We believe in fostering new talent to drive innovation, we’re proudly Australian owned and passionate about developing local skills and expertise,” said Roberts.

New Australia-UK agreements guarantee exports post-Brexit vote Australia and the United Kingdom have signed a new bilateral Mutual Recognition Agreement and Wine Agreement that will help ensure the continued flow of trade post-Brexit. The agreements come after the British parliament voted against a Brexit deal on January 16,

Exporters will still benefit from Australia-UK agreements.

16 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Australian time. Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Simon Birmingham, said the agreements would ensure arrangements already in place between Australia and the European Union for exports continue to apply for the UK post-Brexit. “This will mean Australian exporters can continue to benefit from existing arrangements for mutual recognition as they do currently, even if the UK leaves the EU without an agreement,” said Birmingham. “These agreements provide assurances to Australian exporters that they will be able to get their goods into the UK post-Brexit – whether it be wine, medical devices or automotive parts – without additional trade barriers or regulations.

“They are a significant and necessary step in our post-Brexit preparations, where we want to minimise disruptions to trade flows and provide as much certainty to Australian exporters as we can,” he said. “On top of these, we’re committed to securing a comprehensive free trade agreement with the UK as soon as they are in a position to do so, which will even further boost trade flows between our two countries,” said Birmingham. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the Mutual Recognition Agreement will help facilitate trade flows between both countries, guaranteeing continuity of the existing mutual recognition arrangements post-Brexit. “For Australian businesses, this

will eliminate the cost and time of duplicative testing or the need for re-certification when their products arrive in the other country’s market,” she said. Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said nearly a third of Australia’s exported wine went to the UK last year. “This agreement protects Australia’s geographical indicators so UK consumers know our wine is fair dinkum. “We can grow our UK trade under this agreement and put more money in Australian wine growers’ pockets,” he said. The Wine Agreement replicates an agreement already in place with the EU, meaning the UK will accept Australian labelling standards and certification standards as well as winemaking practices.

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News@MM New horizons for adult learners wanting to embark on careers in computer technology Adults wanting to embark in careers that use the latest technology now have a course targeted at them. Monash University has launched a coding boot camp for adults, in partnership with global workforce accelerator Trilogy Education. Geared toward adult learners and working professionals, the Monash University Coding Boot Camp will teach front-end and back-end coding skills in demand by Melbourne’s growing number of tech employers. The 24-week, part-time program begins on in May 2019 at the Monash Caulfield Campus, with two, threehour evening classes during the week and a four-hour class on Saturdays. Boot Camp graduates will receive a Certificate in Full-Stack Web Development from Monash University. The university’s deputy vicechancellor Susan Elliott said in recent years, dozens of global tech companies have opened offices in Melbourne, including Google, Salesforce, Square, Slack and Amazon. “We believe Monash University has an important role to play in developing the skills in our community to meet the demand for more tech talent. By offering the Monash University Coding Boot Camp, in partnership with Trilogy Education, we can give local professionals best-in-class technical instruction and career coaching to ensure they are positioned to be part of Melbourne’s growing digital economy,” said Elliott. With Melbourne’s tech labour market growing more competitive, employers are hungry for jobready talent. In the next five years, Australia is expected to need more than 200,000 additional technology workers, with Melbourne boasting the most competitive salary increases in Australia’s IT sector, according to the university. CEO and founder of Trilogy Education Dan Sommer said Melbourne’s local workforce has an opportunity to benefit from a growing tech sector, but there’s a clear manmonthly.com.au

demand for more skilled workers than currently exists in the market. “Monash University joins a network of top universities globally that recognise the power of partnership to establish high quality, career-oriented learning programs that can quickly adapt to the needs of the community. Together, Monash University and Trilogy Education will deliver a boot camp that enables the residents of Melbourne to pursue rewarding careers and fuel the city’s tech scene.” The program’s curriculum covers the basics of coding, algorithms and data structure plus intensive training in JavaScript, Node.js, HTML, CSS, jQuery, Java and more. No previous training or experience is required, but applicants should have an understanding of coding basics. In addition to classroom

instruction, students will spend at least 20 hours a week on outside projects, homework, and experiential learning activities. They will also build a professional project portfolio to showcase their abilities and hone their competitive edge in the employment market. Participants will receive a range of career-planning services, portfolio reviews, recruiting assistance and extensive staff support. Salesforce, which has offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, is also growing its ecosystem with a Salesforce-based course available at RMIT University. The customer relationship management (CRM) professional course aims to train students for jobs of the future. According to a 2018 Deloitte Access Economics report, Australian universities produce fewer than

5,000 technology graduates per year. The International Data Corporation has projected that jobs created in the Salesforce ecosystem will continue to grow, reaching 79,000 in Australia by 2022. RMIT Online CEO Helen Souness said the reality is that Australia’s technology skills gap is widening. “We need to take immediate action if we wish to remain competitive globally in a world that is dominated by digitisation – or we risk falling behind.” With Salesforce experiencing rapid growth in the Asia Pacific region in particular, this new course aims to meet the demand for qualified skills in the fast-growing CRM category by providing students with the skills to become wellrounded CRM professionals and Salesforce specialists.

Monash University has introduced a web development course for adults.

Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2019 17

News @MM Spray-on technology repairs damaged navy ships

Professor Adrian Mourtiz with a carbon fibre loom. Researchers have developed spray-on technology for repairing navy ships damaged by fire or missile attack. The research led by RMIT University’s Adrian Mouritz, and funded by the Australian Department of Defence and the US Navy, allows ships to repair themselves while at sea.

Partnering with CSIRO, Mouritz is developing a polymer that can be squirted onto cracked or damaged fibre composite surfaces to repair them within 10 minutes. “At the moment, if you damage a composite, whether it’s an aircraft, a naval ship, a wind turbine blade or anything, you need to take it out of service,” he said. “You’ve got to cut out, or grind out the damaged area and then put new material in, and that’s a pretty slow and expensive way to do it. “Our method allows you to do repairs immediately when the damage forms and it can heal itself in the same way that your body does,” said Mouritz. Preserving defence fleets is critical work, but protecting personnel is even more important. Fires on ships at sea or while docked can threaten lives, not to mention the loss of millions of dollars

in infrastructure. The research aims to prevent blazes like the one that destroyed HMAS Bundaberg, a $54 million navy patrol boat, in 2014. This work ties in with Mouritz’s other research on the effects of fire on ships made from fibre composites and also aluminium. While both materials are lightweight and more economical, they are sensitive to high temperatures. This has prompted Mouritz’s research into managing the fire risks of fibre composites. “The work we’ve been doing with Defence is to develop models the navy can use to predict, if there is a fire on a ship, how long that fire can burn before it becomes a major safety hazard to the structural safety of the vessel,” he said. “It also allows them to get a better understanding of the fire protection measures needed to put on board

a ship which is made out of either aluminium or composite materials.” Experimental tests have led the team to create predictors used to save lives in ships as well as planes and buildings. “We took that information and then developed models, which allow people to predict how these two groups of materials will weaken, and when they’ll fail in the event of fire. “That sort of work has never been done before. These models that we’ve developed can be used not only for naval ships, they can be used if there’s a fire on an aircraft, or in a building,” said Mouritz. He and his team, who are collaborating with local and international organisations, have also investigated how composite fibres react to explosions. The team’s insights continue to inform the next generation of composite materials.

Joint partnership helps advance Industry 4.0 in Australia Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC), Swinburne University of Technology and Sleep Corp have formed a joint partnership to advance manufacturing in Australia. With a planned move to fully automated manufacturing, this partnership will analyse Sleep Corp’s business and see what improvements can be made as they move towards Industry 4.0. Over a two-year period, researchers from Swinburne will work closely with Sleep Corp to set up a novel virtual manufacturing system that connects robotics-based machinery to a digital twin allowing for a faster and more flexible manufacturing approach to address changing customer requirements while maintaining cost competitiveness for 18 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

its range of products. Swinburne senior lecturer in computer aided engineering Ambarish Kulkarni said Swinburne is at the forefront in delivering to Australian industry using transformative augmented and virtual reality tools. “Industry 4.0 has been implemented previously in manufacturing industries by Swinburne with sustained productivity and quality gains,” said Kulkarni. Researchers will connect and integrate all manufacturing operations ranging from tailoring, cutting and sewing to packaging in one virtual manufacturing system application which then will be linked to Sleep Corp’s enterprise resource planning and data analysis/analytics to provide enhanced visibility across

Collaborations are helping transform Australian manufacturing.

the manufacturing value chain. IMCRC managing director and CEO David Chuter said it is another great example of how smart companies can collaborate with Australian Universities to undertake joint Industry 4.0 research and development programs that deliver real world outcomes. Sleep Corp, headquartered in

Melbourne, is the home of the Protect-A-Bed brand as well as others including Buddies, Moonshadow, Dreampad and SnoreBeGone. Sleep Corp founder David Kaplan said Sleep Corp’s goal is to continue to be a proud Australianowned and made manufacturer, exceeding retailers and consumers expectations on a world stage. manmonthly.com.au

News@MM New analytics platform to help future-proof farms

CSIRO has launched a new platform to help farms. Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO and rural technology start-up Digital Agriculture Services (DAS) have launched a new platform that combines artificial intelligence, machine learning and cloud-based geospatial technology to deliver reliable, independent and robust farm data and analytics. The Rural Intelligence Platform is the first ever software to comprehensively assess and monitor rural land anywhere in Australia, drawing on information from trusted data sources on productivity, water access, yield, land use, crop type, rainfall, drought impact and more. CSIRO agriculture and food deputy director, Michael Robertson said the platform refines a range of technologies developed by CSIRO in order to provide a picture of what has happened on a property over the years as well as the current situation. The platform uses satellite manmonthly.com.au

imagery to track paddocks and their performance over time. Information from Australia’s digital soil map is incorporated and climate information interpreted to show drought, frost, heat stress for livestock and other risks. “The Rural Intelligence Platform will help the agribusiness community calculate the risks associated with certain investments or management decisions,” said Robertson. DAS estimates that annually about $125 billion in agricultural economic decisions in Australia are based on unreliable or incomplete data “The platform provides accurate information that can help to identify vulnerability or the most promising options for investment that will build resilience. “This is a whole new model for rural analytics which will make it easier to quantify risk and prepare

for challenges like climate volatility and change,” said Robertson. The Rural Intelligence Platform analyses data from a range of sources using machine learning algorithms to make sense of the data with a clarity that wasn’t possible before. The platform incorporates an AI-initiated automated valuation model that is capable of valuing rural properties instantly with up to 90 per cent accuracy. Previously this was only possible for residential properties, where there are a wide range of valuation and analytic tools for real estate. Since it was established in partnership with CSIRO in 2017, Melbourne-based DAS has secured a total of $4.25 million in funding from founding equity and R&D partner CSIRO, Australian ASX-listed agribusiness Ruralco and private investors. DAS is already working closely with a number of leading companies

to pilot the Rural Intelligence Platform, with some of the strongest uptake coming from the property, financial services and insurance sectors. DAS CEO Anthony Willmott said digital agriculture is far more than just on-farm technology, it’s also about improving off-farm decision making and this platform lays the foundation for Australia to become a leader in new generation agricultural analytics. “This is about supporting the ecosystem that supports the farmer – ensuring that farmers, business, policy makers and anyone invested along the agricultural ecosystem has the right rural data to make more informed decisions.” The market for digital agriculture in the Asia Pacific region is estimated to be worth $10-25b by 2028, fuelled by pressure to meet challenges from population growth and climate change. Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2019 19

IndustryFocus Making Industry 4.0 possible for all manufacturers As an SME or a start-up allocating funds and time to the latest technology can seem impossible. But governments and corporations are banding together to help support smaller businesses. Miri Schroeter writes.

ARGE businesses can allocate funding to introduce the latest robotics, to automate factories and implement cloud computing solutions by parting with a small percentage of their annual revenue. But for small businesses, the risk of committing money to Industry 4.0 technologies can be greater. This is what industry experts anticipate as a sticking point for SMEs and startups. Therefore, governments and organisations are helping SMEs and start-ups gain valuable knowledge and technologies to help drive them into an Industry 4.0-savvy world. When speaking to Manufacturers’ Monthly, Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL) chief executive officer Shane Infanti said the role that Industry 4.0 plays in improving manufacturing in Australia is not easy to answer, but it is important in deciding what aspects are beneficial. Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions (BAMS) and AMTIL have collaborated to create a pilot program that aims to help SMEs in their Industry 4.0 ventures. Infanti said figuring out Industry 4.0’s role in Australian manufacturing is one of the major reasons for undertaking the pilot program. “We can do some implementation work and determine the commercial outcomes of any work done. We will then be able to showcase these results through case studies and further promote early adoption of Industry 4.0 by Australian SMEs. “Most SMEs are followers, so AMTIL has a belief that SMEs will engage in more Industry 4.0 implementation if they can see the benefits. When it comes to activities in this area, we believe case studies and analysis of results

20 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

The Bosch group is aiming to have all of its product categories connected by 2020.

is a better option than raising awareness through more events and seminars. Government funding to assist the uptake of the technology and encourage project work to be done, would be a good initiative. We will continue to seek this support from both state and federal governments,” said Infanti. With a $265,000 fund from the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), matched with industry funds on a dollar-fordollar basis, AMTIL will fund a pilot project where 15 SMEs undertake a first stage Industry 4.0 implementation project. “The intent is to highlight the differing aspects of Industry 4.0 and how it can be applied to small businesses

as well as large. The 15 companies will commit to having a case study written up on the outcomes of their project so that we can further showcase their stories to a much broader audience, and hopefully then create a greater take up of the technologies and methodologies,” said Infanti. The AMGC was established in 2015 as a key plank of the Australian government’s Industry Growth Centres Initiative to drive innovation, productivity and competitiveness across the country’s manufacturing industry. Since then, the government’s support for Industry 4.0 hasn’t waned as there is a continued push to help SMEs and start-ups get a slice of the pie.

Government support for SMEs Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, told Manufacturers’ Monthly the government has introduced targeted policies and programs for start-ups and SMEs to support their growth and ensure all Australians share in the jobs and opportunities created in the technology space. “These include the Empowering Business to Go Digital program, which will establish an organisation to build and enhance small business digital capability, improving accessibility of small business digital information, and increase small business awareness and adoption of digital technology.” The federal government has manmonthly.com.au

IndustryFocus Minister Karen Andrews said getting the right advice is key for SMEs and start-ups.

“We are starting to meet a standard in products, which can be connecting quickly and at a decent price point. We need to move as fast as the market, if not faster, with these technologies.” introduced numerous initiatives to assist start-ups to grow, including the Incubator Support initiative, which provides funding to incubators to deliver services to Australian start-ups with an international focus. Funded incubators assist start-ups with improving their business capabilities and prospects of commercial success in international markets. As of November 2018, the initiative has supported 67 projects to the value of $10 million. There is also the Landing Pads Initiative which provides market-ready Australian start-ups and scale-ups with access to some of the world’s most renowned hubs including San Francisco, Tel Aviv, Shanghai, Berlin and Singapore to help commercialise their products overseas. Landing Pads, administered by Austrade, are part of the National Innovation and Science Agenda. They are aimed at assisting Australian entrepreneurs and building innovation capabilities. More than 167 start-ups have accessed Landing Pads. “Getting the right advice is key for SMEs and start-ups,” said Andrews. Another platform, the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, recently introduced a suite of technology advisory services. “The program assists SMEs in integrating new disruptive technologies needed for transformation,” she said.

There’s no cohesive strategy. A clear strategy would be good, and it would be useful in finding out what the available funds or programmes are. “Manufacturing is 6.8 per cent of the GDP and it’s slow growing, but working cohesively would help in doubling this. The more uptake there is from industry, the more opportunities there are to support it.” Bartlett said most small companies look at improving bottlenecks and cost savings that help improve business, whereas large businesses are more likely to be able to have comprehensive approaches to Industry 4.0. Having a cohesive strategy, as is

the case in Germany where Industry 4.0 was established, would help SMEs in their goal of integrating the latest technology, he said. “We are starting to meet a standard in products, which can be connecting quickly and at a decent

price point. We need to move as fast as the market, if not faster, with these technologies.” The Bosch group is aiming to have all of its product categories connected by 2020, including everything from home appliances

Creating one cohesive program While different bodies are working on programs that aid SMEs and startups in the Industry 4.0 space, BAMS general manager Andrew Bartlett said it can be difficult to navigate which programs are most beneficial. “For the SMEs there are so many different programmes, they don’t know which is the right body to go to. manmonthly.com.au

Having secure networks and products is beneficial to not only companies, but their clients too.

Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2019 21

IndustryFocus to power tools. In helping SMEs achieve Industry 4.0 readiness, BAMS is taking members of the pilot program to the next step of introducing new technologies to their businesses.

Education grows business While implementing new technologies is a step in the right direction, maximising the potential of this technology is key. Pilz Australia national sales and marketing manager Rob Stevenson said teaching employees how to use their products and systems correctly can save time and money. Pilz, an automation solutions specialist, offers workshops that teach equipment users how to optimise their systems. Stevenson said often SMEs, as well as larger businesses, will seek technical support as soon as there is an issue. “Being able to go online and diagnose a problem in-house can reduce downtime and increase efficiency not to mention saving the need for a service call. We can help upskill our end-users’ staff. “We offer a raft of training courses around machinery safety and legislation. We also offer specific courses on how to work with robotics. “It’s about training them to make their systems safer, more secure and more efficient. It’s a huge part of our business with 10-15 per cent dedicated to training.” As well as training staff in using

SMEs and start-ups have access to numerous government-led programs. the technology available in their facilities, Stevenson suggested ensuring security measures are in place to minimise the risk of system failures. “Cybersecurity might not be a major issue for SMEs, but for any corporation it is going to be a greater consideration into the future. It’s an issue if you get disrupted productivity.” With individual businesses, governments and organisations assisting and creating programs for SMEs and start-ups, implementing Industry 4.0 is becoming more of a reality for all Australian businesses.

Slow but positive start for manufacturing in 2019 Keeping ahead of the competition remains challenging for manufacturing businesses of all sizes, but overall the industry has seen a steady start to the year in Australia. The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) recovered by 2.5 points to 52.5 in January 2019. This indicates that manufacturing conditions turned mildly positive again in January, after a flat result in December 2018, ended 26 months of continuous expansion (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase). January 2019, saw a mild improvement in sales, new orders, exports and production compared with December for many manufacturers. Conditions remain more favourable for food and beverage manufacturers than those in other sectors, with exports and new orders looking especially promising. Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said 2019 is clearly bringing a new set of challenges to Australian manufacturing. “The new orders index remains positive, but it is already below its longrun and recent averages, suggesting a slower period of growth lies ahead. Respondents continue to report problems with energy costs, shortages of specialist skills and fiercely competitive global markets. Locally, we are now also starting to see the effects flowing through into manufacturing of a weaker national construction cycle as well as the legacy of the drought. Recent changes in the finance sector are becoming relevant. For example, a number of manufacturers noted that difficulties obtaining customer finance is denting their business-to-business sales of certain types of specialist machinery and equipment,” said Willox. The Australian PMI saw three of the six manufacturing sectors expand in January, with food and beverage continuing to perform well, albeit a touch slower (down 1.0 point to 54.2). Machinery and equipment (down 0.1 point to 50.9) and

Pilz Australia offers training workshops to help people maximise their products’ technology.

22 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

metal products (down 0.2 point to 50.8) were broadly flat, while the chemicals sector experienced a mild contraction (down 1.3 points to 49.3).

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ManufacturingStrategies Traceability: A necessity that companies can’t afford to get wrong insignia’s Boyd Rose explains the importance of ensuring the quality of traceability solutions to avoid pouring more coin into products than planned. Manufacturers’ Monthly writes.

CCURATE labelling can be the difference between an efficient supply chain or ending up with spilt milk. One company found this out the hard way when staff forgot to change the product labels on the production line when they started processing a different size of their core product. This oversight resulted in mislabelled bottles that were sent to customers and eventually thrown out. insignia’s product manager for the Domino range, Boyd Rose, knows all too well that mishaps occur in any facility no matter how good the checklist is, but minimising human error by implementing automated processes can help. The costs of wastage, reproduction and damage to the brand’s reputation can amount to a huge loss for the manufacturer. It can happen in all sorts of sectors, including food and beverage manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and electronics, but Rose confirms that with the right equipment, humanled errors can be greatly reduced. “Quality has always been controlled by a human, but now customers want to automate that control. We’ve seen a space in manufacturing where it now becomes a requirement. The main reason would be the demand from retailers and the costs when it comes down to a recall. Customers are saying they can’t take that risk anymore. They have to make sure that every single product is labelled correctly and clearly,” he said. insignia has 50 years’ experience as a label manufacturer, and distributor of variable printing, scanning, mobility and coding solutions. By supplying an endto-end solution, insignia offers

32 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Using Industry 4.0 technology can maximise efficiency. Credit: Domino Printing.

“Quality has always been controlled by a human, but now customers want to automate that control.”

its customers the ability to label, code and verify their products, and provide traceability solutions for full visibility throughout the supply chain.

Keeping the milk flowing The above example resulted in the company enlisting insignia’s help to make sure it didn’t happen again. Considering the mission-

critical nature of the customer’s manufacturing facility, Rose and his team had a solution that would keep the bottles moving smoothly. “We implemented measures to ensure the right label is being applied at the right time to the right product. Using connected printers, vision and scanning technology, we are helping our customer ensure that every bottle has the right label, the right date code and that every code is readable.” Rose noted many manufacturers still use either human verification processes or no verification process, which leaves significant room for error. A 2017 Vanson Bourne study found that 23 per cent of all unplanned downtime in manufacturing is a result of human error. The use of modern technologies can assist manufacturers in automating their quality control processes to ensure traceability in high-speed production. insignia also offers a range of solutions that improve coding and marking operations, including the Ax-Series continuous inkjet printers in the Domino range. The Ax-Series range can operate in almost any environment thanks to its IP66 standard rating and inks suitable for almost any substrate. When combined with the Domino Cloud, remote diagnostics and real time assistance manmonthly.com.au

ManufacturingStrategies

Accurate labelling can minimise the cost of wastage. can help keep the equipment running at peak performance and availability. The Domino Cloud enables both the company and insignia’s help desk team to receive automatic alerts when faults are detected and predict potential line issues that will result in unplanned downtime. Printer statistics and performance are readily available in real time from a desktop or mobile device, providing a window into your production line from anywhere in the world.

Coding options to suit all While inkjet coding remains a popular and efficient tool for manufacturers, Rose said laser coding is making headway in the manmonthly.com.au

industry. “With laser coding you can print a lot faster but it can be harder to read the code because of the contrast. For example, laser coding on a clear PET water bottle can be harder to see than traditional ink printed codes, but it’s faster, cleaner and marks a permanent code,” he said. “There’s always been a focus on quality, and that’s something laser is delivering. Although the initial cost can be a deterrent for some manufacturers, the cost-effective qualities due to its low maintenance requirements and no fluid consumables is giving companies a good return on investment.” The Domino range, including

“There’s always been a focus on quality, and that’s something laser is delivering.” laser coding technologies, will feature at processing and packing expo AUSPACK from March 2629 in Melbourne this year. With more than 35 years’ experience in manufacturing, Domino aims to set new industry standards in quality and reliability. insignia partners with Domino as the sole distributor in the Australian market, bringing its range of inkjet printers, laser coders, thermal transfer

printers, and automatic labelling systems to the market. insignia helps customers using the Domino range to customise solutions for warehouses, manufacturing lines and distribution centres. AUSPACK visitors will be able to learn more about laser and inkjet coding at insignia’s stand G150, as well as label printing and insignia’s range of self-adhesive labelling solutions. Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2019 33

Events@MM National Manufacturing Week returns with a new vision After a successful event in 2017, with more than 10,000 attendees, National Manufacturing Week is returning with a new stance as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.

ATIONAL Manufacturing Week will bring the manufacturing community together to be inspired and connect across four days from May 14 to 17 in Melbourne. This year’s theme, Industrial Evolution, represents the transformation of Australia’s manufacturing sector into a highly integrated, skills-based, and collaborative environment. National Manufacturing Week exhibition director Robby Clark said the 20th edition marks an important and exciting time in the manufacturing industry. “The rise of automation, collaborative robots, Internet of Things (IoT) and high-level engineering in this sector is a clear sign the manufacturing industry is evolving. “This year’s event is all about celebrating what Australia’s manufacturing industry has accomplished and driving innovation to help local manufacturers stay ahead of the game,” he said. With the global manufacturing landscape more competitive than ever, the week focuses on Australian manufacturers’ need to invest in the latest technologies, adopt more efficient processes and develop advanced skills in order to deliver customised products to the market. Peak industry bodies supporting this year’s event include the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) , Engineers Australia and Weld Australia. National Manufacturing Week 2019 will be co-located with Austech, an event targeted at metalworking, machine tools and ancillary market. Through these strategic partnerships, National Manufacturing Week aims to continue to strengthen the manufacturing community and add 34 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

to the viability of the Australian manufacturing industry.

Industry experts to speak National Manufacturing Week, Austech and the AMGC are collaborating to deliver a conference program with a line-up of industry speakers. The conference program, divided into Industry 4.0 Theatre and Connected Manufacturing Theatre, will feature more than 70 expert speakers who will share exclusive insights into the latest developments of the manufacturing sector. An Industry 4.0 theatre program will offer attendees the latest research and expert opinion on the future impact of Industry 4.0 on businesses. The program will kick off on the first day with a keynote address by Australia’s chief scientist Alan Finkel, an innovation stories series run by AMGC, and a panel discussion.

This year’s theme for National Manufacturing Week is Industrial Evolution.

On the second day, a panel discussion will cover the benefits of onshoring, followed by presentations on driving innovation through advanced materials, and case studies on adopting smart technologies in factories. The third and fourth day will cover various topics such as artificial intelligence in advanced manufacturing, Industry 4.0, digital shipbuilding in global supply chain, outlook of the defence market, and the evolution of robotic manufacturing in Australia. Speakers in the Industry 4.0 sessions include Swinburne University director of Factory of the Future Nico Adams, Australian Centre for Robotic Vision’s Sue Keay, CEO of Innovative Manufacturing CRC David Chuter, Siemens head of digital enterprise Christopher Vains, and AMCG managing director

Jens Goennemann. Aimed at business owners, managers, work health and safety professionals, and designers, the Connected Manufacturing theatre program will focus on business management, design and industrial safety. An extensive range of topics will be covered including reducing electricity costs through demand response, optimising B2B packaging, accelerating operational performance and improvements through the smart factory, safety as a vehicle for culture change, a safety policy case study, metal 3D printing, and much more.

On the exhibition floor More than 200 solution providers at the forefront of manufacturing will exhibit the latest advanced manufacturing products and services. Exhibitors include BAC Systems, 3M Australia, Central Innovation, Universal Robots, Profifeed Technologies and Kobot Systems. A diverse number of firsttime exhibitors are also joining the event such as Partable XRF, ASG Group, and High Tech Products. This year, the exhibition floor will be divided in to six product zones including automation and robotics, engineering, IoT, safety, welding technology and manufacturing solutions. These zones will help visitors navigate the extensive range of products on offer and discover solutions to numerous challenges in improving operations, quality, productivity, and global competitiveness. National Manufacturing Week will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Exhibtors range from forklift specialists, gas suppliers, welding technologies and more. manmonthly.com.au

Events@MM Getting up close with the latest technology The Industrial Internet 4.0 Summit gives attendees a close-up experience with the latest in technology and the future of Industry 4.0. Manufacturers Monthly finds out more. The Industrial Internet 4.0 Summit explores topics such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

HE Industrial Internet 4.0 Summit, held in on February 26-28 in Sydney, brings business, operations and IT leaders together to explore the latest in technology. With a stellar line-up of speakers, the event showcases new technologies and methods of integrating them into companies’ processes. Visitors to the event have the chance to learn how to manage disruption, to enhance growth and profitability, and to boost manufacturing capabilities in a competitive global economy. Visitors will also gain valuable insights on how to attract, train and retain the right talent, how to increase productivity and reduce costs through the digitalisation of a factory. They will also learn how to build a robust security framework against the constant threat of cyber-attacks.

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Key themes at the summit include: • Shaping the factory of the future, Unlocking the potential of Industry 4.0 technology, • Overcoming the integration challenges, • Gleaning lessons from successful business models, • Digitising to thrive across the manufacturing ecosystem, • Tackling cyber threats across the manufacturing line, • Preparing industrial data for intelligent analytics, • Mapping advances in robotics technology for manufacturing, • Clarifying key artificial intelligence applications inside manufacturing plants, • Deploying edge, fog and cloud computing across factories • Revolutionising customer

experience through predictive maintenance, • Forecasting future jobs, knowledge and skills in manufacturing. The Industrial Internet 4.0 Summit brings senior level executives from the Australian manufacturing industry, interested in developing their digital strategies, together. With a lineup of speakers from all corners of industry, visitors can gain insights into specific areas of new technology. Speakers include NSW Cyber Security Network director Todd Williams, Fonterra infrastructure and global IS engagement manager Dave Mcpherson, Engineers Australia national president and chair Trish White, and Swinburne University of Technology deputy vice chancellor Aleksandar Subic.

Launched in February 2017, the Summit has established itself as the go-to event for dynamic business leaders keen to share knowledge and discuss the big issues in the digital transformation of manufacturing. With more than 200 delegates at the last event, the summit attracts leading authorities from government, business, academia and industry associations keen to share their experiences and to look at best practices for manufacturers keen to implement change across their organisation. Running parallel to the Summit, the solutions showcase profiles the latest products and services for Industry 4.0, IIoT, smart factories and the future of manufacturing. The summit is held at the UTS Aerial Function Centre. Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2019 35

MAY 2019 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; WELDING & METAL FABRICATION Welding and metal fabrication are an inherent part of many manufacturing processes, from hand railings to heavy equipment and machinery. In May 2019, we will speak to companies involved in various aspects of welding and metal fabrication, from machinery producers to service providers and safety consultants.

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SENSORS Sensors are at the heart of many of the latest innovations, enabling everything from self-driving cars to manufacturing plants operate smoothly and efficiently. We will speak with providers of sensor technologies who can offer advice on the latest advancements in the world of sensors and the new and emerging applications for manufacturers.

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Software & Systems Keeping unexpected machine shut downs to a minimum Installing the right sensors and monitoring modules can mean the difference between a smooth operation and machine errors. Manufacturers’ Monthly explains.

MAGINE, a large order has just come through. It needs to be completed within 24 hours so that a product can be sent on its way to one of the biggest and most prominent client to-date. But, before waving goodbye to the delivery truck, a machine shuts down and precious time is ticking away while waiting for it to be repaired. This is a situation that no manufacturer wants to find themselves in. It’s also the reason preventative measures are taken as much as possible, in order to avoid unnecessary shut downs. Installing sensors and smart equipment can guard manufacturers against machine errors. The igus isense range of sensors and monitoring modules keeps predicative maintenance at the forefront of the factory floor. It gives manufacturers an Industry 4.0-driven experience that will help keep their machines in check.

isense intelligent solutions warns of potential failures.

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Making production processes easier and more reliable, igus, a motion plastics specialist, developed isense intelligent solutions to warn of potential failure in good time before unplanned and very costly downtimes occur. Treotham Automation, a supplier of electrical and mechanical components, chooses to sell igus’ products for the smart and reliable technology it supplies. Igus’ products include the optimised CF.Q module for the intelligent chainflex cables and the intelligent iglidur PRT slewing ring bearings. The isense e-chain Run Control (EC.RC) – a new system for monitoring e-chains, monitors the operating status of e-chains, especially in guide troughs used on long travel applications. Sensors measure and check the position of the energy chain. In this way, the machine is prevented from continuing to operate when mechanical faults occur. This means

Treotham stocks igus’ products for their reliability on the factory floor. that total loss of the chain or an electrical shutdown, for example, due to cable damage, are minimised. Another new product from the smart plastics family is the EC.M module, which is mounted on the moving end of the chain and automatically records its status, including acceleration, speed, temperature and completed cycles. The distance travelled and the remaining service life of the system can be derived from this. Igus has also improved its CF.Q module, with which the data of the intelligent chainflex cables are gathered. Due to continuous measurement of the electrical properties, ambient temperature and the number of cycles, a possible failure of the cable can be predicted in a timely manner. Igus head of sales and marketing e-chainsystems, Michael Blass, said continuous testing in the

company’s test laboratory and in customer applications helped igus make analysis of the measured values increasingly more precise. “Real applications in which we are already using our intelligent products and our chainflex cables include, for example, robot gantries for transportation in automobile factories, where even short unscheduled standstill times result in very large production losses,” he said. Igus’ icom communication module, which gathers and transfers all the values of these systems, communicates mostly without cables. This makes it easier to integrate into existing production, which is helped by the fact that only a single icom module is needed for several systems. Customers can also connect other manufacturers’ datagenerating units, which monitor status, to the icom module. Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2019 37

Womenin Industry Finding a sustainable work-life balance Grace Lennox has spent most of her 20s working for one company. She talks to Manufacturers’ Monthly about what motivates her to keep moving within Atlas Copco’s logistics sector.

TLAS Copco national warehouse supervisor Grace Lennox works in a role she enjoys and for a company that allows her to grow personally and professionally. While this may seem like a small feat, Lennox is bucking a trend followed by millennials and Gen Zs worldwide. Many anticipate staying with one employer for less than two years, but Lennox hopes to keep climbing the ladder at Atlas Copco, after starting in the Atlas Copco Compressors division. “Because there are so many logistics roles and different sectors worldwide, within Atlas Copco,

there are so many opportunities to grow,” she said. A Deloitte Millennial Survey 2018 indicated that Australian millennials have little confidence in the ability of businesses to help them. The survey of 10,455 millennials across 36 countries, including 337 from Australia, asked people about their attitudes to work. Millennials’ opinion of business’ motivation and ethics is at its lowest level in four years. Less than half (45 per cent) of millennials believe business has a positive impact on society, down from 72 per cent in 2017.

I took the initiative for it because I wanted to keep learning. They were on board with that. I wanted to show Atlas Copco that I wanted to grow. When I joined Atlas Copco I knew I had obtained a job that would take me places and there is opportunity to move around Australia or even overseas. Australian millennials believe culture is more important than money, with 67 per cent rating

a positive work environment as the most important consideration when choosing a new employer,

The Women in Industry Awards celebrate achievements in sectors such as manufacturing and logistics.

38 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

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Women in Industry off in the administration side before moving into a recruitment consultant role. Lennox realised she needed a change with a company that could provide her a work-life balance, so she could continue with her studies, but also work for a company she could grow with for the long term.

Learning and working simultaneously

Grace Lennox plans on working at Atlas Copco long into the future.

compared to 52 per cent globally. Gen Z loyalty to employers is lower than millennials, with 59 per cent saying they would expect to stay with their current employer for less than two years. Lennox has been with Atlas Copco for eight years. While still at school she obtained her first part-time job at 14 years old. Since then, Lennox has continued to hold employment in a range of industries, however working as a supervisor for the Australia sector of Atlas Copco didn’t cross her mind at the time. Lennox said the role comes with its challenges, including proving her place as a young manager, but she enjoys it so much that she can confidently say she will stay with the company for years to come. “You are giving someone with years of experience advice on how to do their job. It can be a challenge. But I love logistics so it would be something I’d like to stay in,” she said. After completing her schooling, Lennox worked full-time and studied part-time for several years to help her progress professionally and personally. Prior to starting her role as a warehouse administrator at Atlas Copco’s Blacktown, New South Wales, headquarters, she worked in the recruitment industry starting manmonthly.com.au

“I was looking for a change. I wanted to further my education and that meant finding a local job in the west of Sydney so I could keep doing courses at TAFE in the evening. Knowing that Atlas Copco was such a large company, I knew there was room for growth.” When Lennox started with the company she was doing a diploma in business administration. About two years into the job, she decided to continue studying. She asked Atlas Copco if they would support her and the company agreed to do so. Lennox continued to work full-time while studying part-time in the evenings, completing a certificate in logistics and a certificate in warehouse operations at TAFE in Sydney. “I took the initiative for it because I wanted to keep learning. They were on board with that. I wanted to show Atlas Copco that I wanted to grow. When I joined Atlas Copco I knew I had obtained a job that would take me places and there is opportunity to move around Australia or even overseas.” Four years into her career, Lennox’s supervisor left, giving her the opportunity to step into a new role. “I received mentoring when I was in the warehouse administration role. I would often help my supervisor when he needed the extra help. Working side-by-side helped me develop and it gave me knowledge to progress.” Her advice to others trying to move to managerial roles is to be open minded. “Just because you are employed to do one job, doesn’t mean you can’t do more. It’s one of those attitudes where people

say, ‘That’s not my job’. That’s not the way I want to think. The more you know, the more valuable you become,” she said.

Supporting people in the industry Atlas Copco Compressors sponsored the Women in Industry Awards 2018 Rising Star of the Year award. The award, won by CSR Limited property

development manager Allison Basford, recognises an individual who shows significant promise within their chosen industry or who has reached new goals at the start of their career. To become a sponsor for Women in Industry 2019 contact Lauren Winterbottom at lauren. winterbottom@primecreative.com.au or on 039 6908 766.

Atlas Copco is sponsoring the Women in Industry Awards 2019.

Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2019 39

Womenin Industry Engineering – a career fit for a lifetime Engineering is a career that one graduate realised was her ideal path after 20 years in the workforce. Miri Schroeter writes.

HEN Marie Fowler finished high school she never imagined she would become an engineer. But more than 20 years on, having studied in her late-30s, her engineering degree has proven to be a leap in the right direction. “When I graduated high school I was in South Africa and university wasn’t an option for me. My family couldn’t afford it. I didn’t expect to be here in Australia, let alone going through university and becoming an engineer. I don’t have any engineers in my family,” said Fowler. Prior to becoming an engineer, Fowler worked in a variety of roles, predominantly in customer service. From 2007, she worked in a corrections facility, but in 2011 she decided it wasn’t a job she could do long-term. “I needed something that would challenge me and where I could move up. I did a fair bit of research in different industries and civil engineering was one that kept me coming back. I didn’t know any engineers before I started the course. I really only had a view of what it was like from documentaries,” she said. Fowler decided to specialise in civil and environmental engineering at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). And at 41 years old, she is embarking on her third year as a graduate civil engineer at Stantec. “I really wanted to do something that would stimulate me and provide me with a career for a long time. There’s always going to be roads and buildings and projects to deliver.” Demand is rife, as Fowler is in a field with plenty of vacancies nationwide. An Engineers Australia Engineering Vacancies Reports November 2018 explains that civil engineering occupations make up the majority of engineering vacancies throughout Australia. The report investigates the current state of

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engineering employment in Australia by analysing the direction of change in engineering vacancy numbers. It covers trends in job vacancies to the end of October 2018, including revisions for previous months. Civil engineering professionals includes civil, geotechnical, structural and transport engineers, and quantity surveyors. The majority of vacancies in all jurisdictions is for civil engineers, except for Western Australia where it is for mining engineers, and the ACT with ICT support and test engineers. In October 2018 there were more than 2,200 civil engineering vacancies in Australia. The majority of these vacancies are in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Growth in this occupation has been slow but steady for the past two years, growing from 1,727 in October 2016, to 2,232 in October 2018. Industrial and mechanical occupations are the engineering occupation with the second-most vacancies, and the larger states are where most of these vacancies are located.

Specialising in civil engineering Fowler chose civil engineering for the positive impact it can have on communities. Having a variety of projects, was a bonus she did not expect. “I chose it because there are jobs that have the opportunity to really make an impact and hopefully do something better for the community like building a dam. I’ve worked on the Burdekin Falls Dam safety project, which is one of the largest dams in Queensland,” said Fowler. Burdekin Falls Dam on Lake Dalrymple, holds 1,860,000ml at full capacity. That’s four times the capacity of Sydney Harbour. Now, Fowler is working on a mining site. “It’s the variety that makes it so different and enjoyable. Right now

Marie Fowler studied in her late-30s as she realised her true passion was in engineering.

It’s the variety that makes it so different and enjoyable. Right now I’m standing in a mine site, whereas last year I was sitting in an office. It’s a very diverse field and I’m only just scratching the surface of it. I’m standing in a mine site, whereas last year I was sitting in an office. I do civil but we touch on geotechnical, electrical and hydrology. It’s a very diverse field and I’m only just scratching the surface of it,” she said. “Being in consultancy is also why it is so varied. It was a very nice surprise.” Stantec is a global design and delivery firm that employs designers, engineers and scientists to deliver building and infrastructure

projects worldwide. The company’s Australian projects included helping develop a plan for new Transit Malls in Gold Coast to prepare for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and reducing potable water by 60 per cent for the master-planned Googong township by planning, designing and delivering an integrated water cycle concept. “Stantec has a fantastic graduate programme where they help you find your footing. I’m definitely manmonthly.com.au

Women in Industry moving forward in the knowledge and growing space,” said Fowler.

Taking the steps to success Fowler was nominated for the Rising Star of the Year award at the Women in Industry Awards 2018. She said, her name was put forward after her managers recognised the work she’d put into dam safety upgrades and micro tunnelling projects. However, Fowler said it wasn’t an easy decision getting to where she is. When she started studying she was nervous about embarking on a new career and entering an environment often dominated by students much younger than her. But, Fowler was surprised to discover a range of faces in the classroom. “It was terrifying walking into university that first day. But, it was a very mixed group when we first started out, our cohort was about 1000 students. There was

almost every nationality,” she said. Completing the degree and landing a role at Stantec had helped her gain confidence. “It’s done amazing things for my self-esteem. Engineering is such a fantastic industry.” However, it’s an industry that continues to go through shortages of skilled workers in Australia. An Australian Department of Jobs and Small Businesses Engineering Professions Australia 2017-18 report showed that “employers experienced greater difficulty recruiting engineering professionals in 2017-18 compared with recent years”. The proportion of vacancies filled, fell from 69 per cent to 59 per cent over the year and the average number of applicants fell from 39.9 per vacancy to 28.9. In 2013-14, 78 per cent of vacancies were filled, but this has been declining year-on-year. Of those who applied, there were only

2.3 suitable applicants on average per vacancy. The report indicated that more than 80 per cent of qualified applicants were not considered suitable due to insufficient experience in the engineering profession, lack of experience in a particular specialisation or industry sector, and a lack of employability skills required to do the job. Fowler said getting more people to consider studying engineering takes education and awareness. “There’s so much more to it than just technical avenues. We have to have a lot of client communication, we have to coordinate between clients and subcontractors. It’s very much a people based role. That’s probably something that’s misunderstood,” she said. “Every year I join other graduates in New Zealand and do workshops on public speaking, client management and the soft skills that maybe aren’t

covered at university. It’s very diverse. “People need information on the variety of engineering jobs that are out there. Many don’t understand how engineering impacts everyday life.” Fowler suggested that high school students take up work experience at councils or engineering firms to get face-to-face with the industry. Engineers could also spread the word by visiting schools to share their experiences, she said. “If they are interested in something, research it and call up universities. They are very helpful in giving information. There’s always massive career fairs as well.” Once people decide to embark on an engineering career, Fowler has one key piece of advice. “Stick with it because the reward at the end is totally justified.” Nominations for Women in Industry 2019 are open. To nominate someone, go to www.womeninindustry.com.au.

Civil engineering can have a positive impact on communities.

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Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2019 41

SAVE THE DATE

1ST - 3RD APRIL 2020

MELBOURNE CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE

Financial@MM Small businesses rising up in Industry 4.0 space The federal government is helping SMEs achieve growth while encouraging them to stay in Australia. Manufacturers’ Monthly finds out more.

HE Australian government is backing small businesses by increasing the instant asset write-off threshold from $20,000 to $25,000. This came into effect on January 30, 2019, along with the extension of the initiative for another year beyond its existing June 2019 end-date. The continued support for small businesses will enable more than three million small businesses across the country, with an annual turnover of less than $10 million, to access the new $25,000 instant asset write-off from now until June 30, 2020. Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Michaelia Cash, said the increase and extension of this initiative will further improve cash flow for hard working Australian small business owners by bringing forward tax deductions and providing a boost to small business activity. It also encourages more small businesses to reinvest in their operations and replace or upgrade their assets. “Our government first introduced the $20,000 instant asset writeoff in the 2015-16 budget. In the first year alone, more than 300,000 small businesses took advantage of this opportunity – this equates to an average of approximately 800 businesses per day making an investment through this initiative.” Cash said when business owners are able to keep more of their money, they are able to invest back into the business, boost productivity, grow the economy and create new, local jobs. So far, the government has delivered tax relief for incorporated SMEs, with turnovers of less than $50m per annum. These companies will move to a 25 per cent tax rate by 2021-22. There has also been an increase to the rate of the tax discount for unincorporated small businesses, with turnover below $5m to 16 per cent by

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Minister Michaelia Cash said the Australian government is helping businesses keep their money for further investments.

[The] government is working to ensure Australia continues to be a country where founders want to build and grow their startup. This includes improving to access talent, finance and global markets. 2021-22, and an increase to the small business entity turnover threshold from $2m to $10m per annum, which has extended access to a range of tax concessions. “Backing small business is part of our plan for a stronger economy to help them reach their potential and create even more jobs,” said Cash. Keeping SMEs and start-ups in Australia, is also driving support from the federal government. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, said to

make accessing finance easier so that start-ups do not have to leave Australia to find investment capital, the government has put in place new tax incentives, such as the Tax Incentives for Early Stage Investors. The government has also enhanced venture capital tax concessions under the Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships. “[The] government is working to ensure Australia continues to be a country where founders want to build and grow their start-up. This includes

improving to access talent, finance and global markets,” said Andrews. The Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships scheme provides fund managers and investors with tax benefits, including a tax exemption on an investor’s share of a fund’s income and gains. To qualify, business must be established in Australia or in a country with which Australia has a double tax agreement, have a partnership agreement that ensures the partnership will exist for between 5 and 15 years, and be a limited partnership or an incorporated limited partnership. The partnership program aims to stimulate the early stage venture capital sector in Australia by helping fund managers attract pooled capital so they can raise new venture capital funds of between $10m and $200 million to invest in innovative early stage businesses. Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2019 43

What’sNew Backplane launches iBASE performance 2U network appliance Backplane Systems Technology has launched iBASE’s new FWA9500 2U network appliance with Dual Intel Xeon scalable processors and up to 66 GbE ports. The highly flexible FWA9500 network computing appliance is designed to be an ideal workhorse for enterprise workloads, capable of managing vast quantities of data to enable robust levels of performance and reliability in industry-grade network security, firewall, VPN, UTM, WAN, and network management applications. It supports Intel Skylake-SP Xeon processors, perfect for today’s ever-changing network environments. The 2U Rackmount system features dual LGA3647 CPU sockets, and an Intel C624 chipset supporting up to 512GB RDIMM memory in 16x DDR4-2666 sockets. With 2x Intel I210-AT gigabit ethernet controllers on-board and configurable NIC module slots, the FWA9500 can be equipped with 8x IBN (iBASE proprietary network interface) cards to accommodate a maximum of 66 GbE ports. The unit features a modular approach to its design as a network appliance with high expandability and scalability. This allows rapid customisation and easy configuration by interchanging and combining modules in order to meet the customer’s optimal requirements, altogether reducing the total cost of ownership. The inner storage expansion with 2x 3.5” or 4x 2.5” swappable drive bays and an 800W redundant power supply ensures high availability and serviceability. It comes with I/O connectivity and expansion slots including a PCIe x8 slot, an M.2 (M-key), a Mini PCIe, 2x USB 2.0, and an RJ45 serial console with LCM display for easy operation. Optional features include LAN bypass and the iBASE IDN100 IPMI 2.0 module.

Key Features: • Dual Intel Xeon Scalable Processors (Skylake-SP) •1 6x DDR4 RDIMM; max. 512GB •M ax. 8x NIC modules; max. 64 GbE ports •O ptional IPMI 2.0 module •1 x PCI-E x8 expansion slot •8 00 watt redundant power supply Company: Backplane Systems Technology Phone: (02) 9457 6400 Web: www.backplane.com.au

Industrial grade and portable inflatable blast shelter Power plants and other turbine-based industries undertake regular and necessary maintenance and service of their turbines continuously. In order to do this, they must shut down their entire system to disassemble, clean, test and reassemble the turbines. The cleaning stage requires high powered blasting apparatus. This requires a fully encapsulated space to contain and filter the blast material and debris and attenuate the noise in order to comply with occupational health and safety (OH&S) requirements. Traditional scaffolding which is then wrapped with an encapsulating cover is expensive in both time and labour, requiring up to three days to just set up. OH&S certifications are then required for work at heights before work could commence. These delays are very costly in lost production and output. This also delays the maintenance and servicing schedule. The Giant Inflatables Industrial design and engineering team set about creating an industrial grade, inflatable blasting shelter that is portable, and easy to set up and pack down. In addition, the inflatable workshop contains all the necessary blasting protection shields and noise attenuating skins and does not need any height certifications in order to comply with OH&S. This blasting shelter can be quickly deflated and packed up onto a pallet and very easily and quickly transported, stored and then redeployed efficiently and easily for use when needed. To solve the problem of dust and pollutants arising from blasting, the inflatable shelter is a fully sealed, encapsulating, environment that contains an air filtration system to ensure that the blast material and dust are captured in a reusable dust bag

44 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

for recycling. With strict operational health and safety requirements on industrial plants, Giant Inflatables Industrial’s shelter offers a huge advantage over traditional methods. Company: Giant Inflatables Industrial Phone: 1300 463 528 Web: www.giantinflatablesindustrial.com.au

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Suhner’s new hand tools for quick metal finishing Suhner Australia, a metal finishing solutions company, has released its nextgeneration electric hand tools for metal finishing. The new C-Series includes a range of grinding and polishing tools that lets users quickly achieve the required finish on stainless steel, aluminium, brass and other alloys. Designed and built in Switzerland and Germany, the C-Series are quality tools created for working on a wide variety of applications including rails, balustrades, vehicle components, medical products, aircraft parts, and tools in manufacturing applications. The range includes the UTC 9R Tube Polisher, UBC 9R Finger File Belt Grinder, USC 9R and 25R Die Grinders and the UKC 3R Fillet Weld Grinder. Designed with the user in mind, the C-Series is ergonomic, compact and lightweight. The unique low-profile design of the tools ensures that users can even access difficult to reach fillet welds for grinding and polishing. The range provides practical portability, manoeuvrability and it is easy to use. Already tried and tested in Europe, the C-Series delivers excellent performance. All the models feature a powerful 600W electric motor and a digitally controlled speed system that ensures a constant contact speed under load which is essential for excellent polishing results. The speed of each tool is infinitely variable to suit the needs of the application. Other key features of the C-Series polishing and grinding tools include an electronic soft-start for jolt free work, and a host of safety functions. Each model has an integrated overload cut-out, and brush wear warning system as

well as a dead safety switch that ensures the tool switches off, and remains off should power be disconnected. Built to last, the range is robust and durable, and each tool complies fully with Australian standards. The tools are also digitally engraved to ensure ownership and warranty cover. The C-Series range lets users achieve their desired grinding and polishing results quickly and easily. However, if users require any training or have any technical questions, Suhner Australia can assist. The company provides expert training by certified and qualified trainers who have vast experience and can teach how to grind, polish and finish various metals and other materials to the required level and in the most cost-effective way. Technical questions are also welcomed. Company: Suhner Australia Phone: (02) 9648 5888 Web: www.suhneraustralia.com.au

3D ethernet cable from Treotham enables fast robot communication In large-scale manufacturing, industrial robots are everywhere. They provide a fast automation of processes and thereby ensure cost-efficiency in companies. Igus has now developed a new long-lasting Ethernet cable, the CFROBOT8.PLUS, to ensure that robot communication between the axes, the control system and superordinate systems functions flawlessly, even under extreme stress. The new family of cables, available from Treotham, have been tested under torsion for several years in the in-house laboratory and are running absolutely fault-free for more than 15 million cycles. The number of robots used in manufacturing is growing rapidly. According to the estimate of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), more than three million industrial robots will operate worldwide by 2020 just to drive the automation in manufacturing. At the same time the requirements for safe communication between robots, axes, control systems and superordinate systems, are also rising. Rainer Rössel, chainflex cables division manager at igus, said the probability that the communication of the future will be dominated by industrial Ethernet is quite high. For this reason the motion cable specialist has been working for more than five years on the development of Ethernet cables for extreme three-dimensional stress and a safe data transmission between the robot components. At the SPS IPC Drives in Nuremberg, igus presented the CFROBOT8.PLUS cable family to a specialist audience. “With our new robot cable, we have become the only manufacturer worldwide to offer a durable and tested torsion cable from stock, with up to +/-360 degrees torsion angle, and thus fill a gap in the market,” said Rössel.

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The CFROBOT8.PLUS has been tested for torsion in the 2,750sqm test laboratory – in the igus triflex e-chain series for three-dimensional motions – with over 15 million cycles. The result is that the electrical features of Ethernet communication work faultlessly. The test series are still ongoing to determine the expected maximum service life. However, we expect the final results in a few years. This is because igus has been developing and testing cables for more than 30 years in the industry’s largest laboratory, these cables being specially designed for use in energy chains. With more than 2 billion test cycles and over 1.4 million electrical tests per year, igus is a motion cables in energy chains specialist. The company igus is the only manufacturer worldwide to provide a guarantee of 36 months for its complete chainflex cable range including the new CFROBOT8.PLUS. The full igus range is available from Treotham Automation. Company: Treotham Automation Pty Ltd Web: www.treotham.com.au Phone: 1300 65 75 64

Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2019 45

The Last Word Australia’s tertiary education system requires a comprehensive policy overhaul Ai Group’s chief executive Innes Willox talks about changes that need to be made in Australia to optimise tertiary education opportunities.

ERTIARY education is vitally important to Australian society and the economy. From an industry perspective, the sectors within tertiary education provide both the skilled and qualified entrants to the workforce as well as the re-skilling or up-skilling of our existing workforce. Ai Group has just released a wide-ranging report into Australia’s tertiary education system which identifies formidable challenges that need to be addressed to deliver better outcomes for industry, our community and the economy. The report, Realising Potential: Solving Australia’s tertiary education challenge, identifies those challenges and makes recommendations that would add greater coherence to the policy framework which controls all post-secondary education in Australia. It highlights that we have now entered an era of mass tertiary education and the achievement of higher level qualifications that were only dreamt of in the past. But despite this impressive growth, the sectors are beset with a range of challenges. Chief among these is seriously unbalanced participation between the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, which includes TAFE colleges, and the higher education sector dominated by universities. The recent dramatic falls in VET participation have also been accompanied by declining funding levels which seriously jeopardise the sector. For example, over the ten-year period from 2005-06 to 2015-16, higher education expenditure grew rapidly by 52.6 per cent. But the reverse was the case in the VET sector, which saw expenditure fall

46 MARCH 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly

by 4.7 per cent over that period. There is a lack of overall policy direction and governance of the system. Consideration needs to be given to the formation of a central and independent coordinating agency to provide common approaches across the sectors and levels of government. While more effective methods of governance require more than addressing funding levels, a more equitable funding strategy needs to be developed. The VET sector is in need of immediate attention in this area. In this context, demand-driven funding models need to be retained but improved to be more equitable than existing practice. The current situation concerning student loans is discriminatory and unacceptable. A way needs to be found to introduce a loans scheme with common characteristics across the sectors, initially for diploma level courses and above. Other key findings and recommendations from our report include: • There is a need to establish a long-term policy view for tertiary education rather than short-term attempts to address components of the overall system. • While recognising the distinctive features of higher education and VET, there is a need for a more coherent and connected tertiary education system to be established. • Given the increasing diversity of learner needs, it is desirable to have a greater variety of provider types within the tertiary education system. • Given the low volume of student transfer between higher education and VET there is a need for a model that includes more

Ai Group’s Innes Willox said Australia’s tertiary education system needs improvment.

It highlights that we have now entered an era of mass tertiary education and the achievement of higher level qualifications that were only dreamt of in the past. systematic methods to facilitate movement between the sectors. • Maintain both the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) as respective regulators for their systems while establishing joint functionality in appropriate and agreed areas. • Promote workplace learning as a recognised key delivery component in all tertiary education.

• T he qualifications structure in Australia needs to be reviewed to consider the emergence of micro-credentials and any other developments impacting on the key outcomes of tertiary education. These are formidable challenges, but we can find solutions. We need to rise to the occasion for a comprehensive reconsideration of the state of tertiary education in Australia. manmonthly.com.au

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AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS

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