Manufacturers' Monthly November 21 by Prime Creative Media

manmonthly.com.au

MANAGEMENT >> TECHNOLOGY >> SOLUTIONS

NOVEMBER 2021

START-UP TO RISING STAR Building a partnership with the right professional expertise has been central to Star Combo’s development and success.

Daniel Zheng, Chief Financial Officer at Star Combo Pharma, pictured with BDO Partner & National Leader for Manufacturing, Ryan Pollett.

Visit

www.bdo.com.au/manufacturing

to learn about how BDO can assist manufacturing organisations.

TRUST IS NEVER EASILY GIVEN, IT MUST BE EARNED. “I feel we have developed a relationship with BDO based on mutual trust. From my perspective this is built on two key things: a personal connection, and access to technical skills and relevant industry expertise. These factors, and the trust that has resulted, have helped our business grow.” Use the QR code or visit www.bdo.com.au/manufacturing to learn about how BDO can assist manufacturing organisations.

Daniel Zheng, Chief Financial Officer at Star Combo Pharma, pictured with BDO Partner & National Leader for Manufacturing, Ryan Pollett (on left).

AUDIT • TAX • ADVISORY

manmonthly.com.au

MANAGEMENT >> TECHNOLOGY >> SOLUTIONS

NOVEMBER 2021

BRINGING HOME VACCINE CAPABILITIES

Official Industry Partners

INSIDE >>

Print Post Approved PP100007882

Lasers in manufacturing

Robotics in motion

How VEGA supports its customers

manmonthly.com.au twitter.com/Manmonthly facebook.com/Manmonthly

Inside NOVEMBER 2021

For daily news visit manmonthly.com.au

linkedin.com/showcase/manufacturer’s-monthly/

CEO: John Murphy Publisher: Christine Clancy Group Managing Editor (Northern): Syed Shah syed.shah@primecreative.com.au Journalist: Caroline Tung caroline.tung@primecreative.com.au Production Coordinator: Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au Art Director: Blake Storey Design: Kerry Pert, Madeline McCarty Sales/Advertising: Danny Hernandez Ph: 0431 330 232 danny.hernandez@primecreative.com.au Subscriptions Published 11 times a year Subscriptions $140.00 per annum (inc GST)

Overseas prices apply Ph: (03) 9690 8766

Manufacturers’ Monthly Contents Copyright

6 Editor’s Note

30 Manufacturing Strategies

39 Metal Cutting Tools

8 Comment

31 Lubricants

40 Belt Technology

12 News@MM

32 Advanced Robotics

41 What’s New

20 Manufacturer Focus

34 Compressors

43 The Last Word

24 Lasers in Manufacturing

36 Customer Engagement

29 Onshoring Manufacturing

38 Maintenance

Manufacturers’ Monthly is owned by Prime Creative Media and published by John Murphy. All material in Manufacturers’ Monthly is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in Manufacturers’ Monthly are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated. © Copyright Prime Creative Media, 2021 Articles All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format. Head Office 11-15 Buckhurst St South Melbourne VIC 3205

Behind the cover

manmonthly.com.au

MANAGEMENT >> TECHNOLOGY >> SOLUTIONS

NOVEMBER 2021

P: +61 3 9690 8766

www.primecreative.com.au Sydney Office Suite 3.06, 1-9 Chandos Street Saint Leonards NSW 2065, Australia P: +61 2 9439 7227

Printed by: Manark Printing 28 Dingley Ave Dandenong VIC 3175

The federal government has shown its interest from drug manufacturers to make advanced mRNA COVID vaccines in Australia, with an approach to market since the middle of the year. The mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines such as Pfizer are a new type of vaccine which use advanced technology to protect against infectious diseases and are being used in the fight against coronavirus. The government released

an approach to market for the development of onshore mRNA manufacturing. Earlier this year, the government said it was continuing negotiations with existing manufacturers while approaching the market for others that could provide solutions. In this issue, we were invited to the CSL facility to check out what would be the first local mRNA manufacturing facility here in Australia. Read all about it on page 20.

BRINGING HOME VACCINE CAPABILITIES

Official Industry Partners

INSIDE >> 24

Print Post Approved PP100007882

enquiries@primecreative.com.au

Lasers in manufacturing

Robotics in motion

How VEGA supports its customers

Ph: (03) 9794 8337

4 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

manmonthly.com.au

Customised Lubrication Solutions Your goals, our experience SKF Lubrication Systems Distributor JSG Industrial Systems

Correct lubrication reduces maintenance costs, eliminates machine downtime and avoids premature failures by protecting equipment. Our tailored lubrication solutions keep your machinery running smoothly while providing you with excellent return on investment. Our strength comes from high-quality distribution partners who manage installation, service, technical support & training nationwide. As you plan for the future, let our experience guide your success. Lubrication Management | Flow Management | Fire Suppression

Quality Engineered Systems JSG Industrial Systems | jsgindustrial.com | 1300 277 454

Comment

SYED SHAH – Managing Editor, Manufacturers’ Monthly

What comes in the puzzle of productivity

FEW years ago, at a forum in CEBIT, an international IIoT event held in Australia, manufacturers, and those involved with manufacturing from around NSW were present. Two manufacturers were based in Western Sydney, one researcher from UTS, working to develop next generation technologies and processes is based in the heat of Sydney, and one was from the Shoalhaven region, on the South Coast of NSW. What was displayed at the event was diverse. There was one manufacturer that worked on a contract basis for other manufacturers to produce products and designs. Then, there was another defence-based manufacturer that was producing advanced composites that are being used in F-35s. Over at the other end of the spectrum, there was a manufacturer that was researching how to grow seaweed and turn this eco-friendly agricultural system into a product for food, pharmaceuticals, and the beauty industry. Finally, the researcher from UTS, was looking at how universities such as his can support the manufacturers on the panel.

6 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Despite being dispersed and sitting within their individual verticals, all the panellists were involved with with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). For many issues, pre-COVID to the present, in Manufacturers’ Monthly, we have showcased many businesses and products that are part of the IIoT. While each of these have their individual applications, the IIoT field as a whole is as diverse as the manufacturing sector, and potentially, as important. Throw in restructured supply chains and the economic impact that COVID brought, the manufacturing industry is confronting the new reality of its structure as a “sociotechnical system”. While this term has been around since the mid-20th century, as manufacturers grapple with the human and technological aspects of the interconnected IIoT, its importance has resurfaced. An existential issue confronting the industrialised world is the lack of growth in productivity, and Australia is no exception. Productivity growth in Australia, once at a healthy 2 per cent a year, fell to 0.2 per cent according to the Productivity

Commission’s 2019 bulletin and has struggled to push its way through since. In many aspects, the IIoT has some promise of increasing this number. With support from emerging technologies, such as AI, the IIoT has the potential to rapidly increase the value that manufacturers are able to extract from their assets. But moving forward, there are other emerging opportunities to break through the productivity slump besides looking towards the IT side of things. For one, the opportunity in the biopharma industries has proven to be a gem of sorts, globally. According to a recent report by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing output will pass the 7.5 billion dose mark. It mentioned that vaccine manufacturers worldwide, which includes Australia, are now producing 1.5 billion doses per month on an average and this is growing. The organisation estimated that 12 billion vaccines will be produced by the end of 2021 and assuming there are no hiccups along the way, by the middle of 2024, there will be 24 billion doses,

during which vaccine supplies will most likely outstrip global demand. In this edition of Manufacturers’ Monthly, we were invited to CSL’s facility in Melbourne to find out more about the manufacture of COVID vaccines and the process that goes behind it. Recently, it was reported over the mainstream media that Australia could potentially make enough mRNA vaccines for its entire population. This coud be made possible because of CSL’s plan to build two new facilities to combat future waves of COVID-19.According to reports, the facilities will have the capacity to deliver at least 50 million doses within 16 weeks when it goes into operation. This is fully in line with the federal government’s aim to develop a sovereign capability to respond to new variants of COVID-19 should they arrive. According to CSL, Australia has the potential and capacity for mRNA vaccines and it is a process that “should not be rushed”. And rightfully so, the development of a locally manufactured shot should be as close to perfect as it can. Read more about it in the main story for this edition. manmonthly.com.au

TICKETS NOW ON SALE JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THE BEST OF AUSTRALIA’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

WWW.ENDEAVOURAWARDS.COM.AU

2021 SPONSORS

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Comment

GEOFF CRITTENDEN – CEO, Weld Australia

Bridging the gap between education and industry

IKE every industry across the globe, Australia’s welding industry is feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to feedback from Weld Australia’s members, the key challenge being faced across the industry is a shortage of labour, from Welding Supervisors and Inspectors, right through to welders. Finding competent, skilled, experienced welders is becoming more and more difficult. Welders are more in demand than ever with several large-scale, highvalue projects on the horizon, from the Federal Government’s $90 billion Naval Shipbuilding Program, through to major infrastructure projects such as the $12 billion Sydney Metro project, and the $5 billion Melbourne Airport Rail Link. And yet, the number of welding trade workers in Australia dropped by 8 per cent in the course of just five years; from 75,800 in 2014 to 69,600 in 2019. In addition, completion rates of welding apprenticeships, including a Certificate III in Engineering (Fabrication Trade), continue to fall by as much as 23 per cent annually. This shortage of welders has been exacerbated by a lack of short-term workers and immigrants, with our international borders closed due to COVID-19. Members have reported that there simply isn’t the same labour pool available to complete work.

The skills of the future This skills shortage is not a problem that can be resolved in the short term. Weld Australia is working on several initiatives designed to bridge this skills gap. One initiative is innovative STEM programs in high schools that expose students to the opportunities offered by a career in welding. STEM skills are crucial to the changing nature of work. Digital technology is now a part of our everyday lives, and is impacting the world of work in ways never experienced before. According to the Federal Government’s Department of 8 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

A engineer teaches his welding apprentice how to use a TIG welding machine. Education, Skills and Employment, it’s predicted that future workers will spend more than twice as much time on job tasks requiring science, maths and critical thinking than today. It’s vital that Australia keeps pace with technological change to advance its economy and prosperity. Attracting and retaining younger talent while they are at high school, and then through engaging, wellfunded training and apprenticeships is critical to combatting the severe skills shortage. Our young people need to acquire complex, high order technical knowledge and skills. They need robust, deep and transferrable qualifications that provide a strong base for life-long learning and skill development. Kids need STEM skills. We need a vibrant STEM program implemented across schools nationally so that children and parents alike understand the opportunities available – the future of employment in industries like

welding is not hard, dirty work carried out in a dark workshop. It’s focused on IT and programming skills, using robots and co-bots, and implementing Industry 4.0 concepts.

another 10 high schools in regional NSW. Weld Australia is working with the Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania Governments on similar STEM programs.

Innovative STEM Programs in high schools

Women in welding

One way to combat the lack of understanding around STEM career opportunities is through innovative STEM programs in high schools. In June 2020, the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Education and Training (DET) commenced a pilot program to teach welding to students in Years 10 to 12 studying Manufacturing and Engineering, and Industrial Technology. The program utilised cutting-edge training techniques, including the use of 32 augmented reality welding simulators and innovative teacher training delivered by Weld Australia. Based on the success of the pilot program, NSW DET ordered a further 20 simulators to be rolled out across

An added bonus of the STEM program is that the use of augmented reality welding simulators encourages girls to try welding. Currently only 1 per cent of welders are women. If this could be increased to 10 per cent it would go a long way to ameliorating the impending skills shortage. To this end, Weld Australia is participating in a Women Who Weld Program facilitated by the Queensland Manufacturing Institute (QMI). The Program aims to increase gender diversity and participation in manufacturing careers. It provides the opportunities for female high school students in years 10, 11 and 12 to gain insight into trade skills and career pathways, including local employment opportunities. manmonthly.com.au

Indigenous welders Another innovative welder recruitment program in which Weld Australia is involved is Indigenous Welding Australia—a partnership of Weld Australia, the Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium (IDIC) and IPS Management Consultants. It was formed in 2018 to establish a national network of Indigenous Welding Academies focused on delivering welding training backed by specialist pastoral care: ‘For Indigenous people by Indigenous people’. Graduates of the program will be placed in employment with defence primes or local industry through our Indigenous partners. Our principle industry partner is BAE (Shipbuilding).

Industry participation There is no question that STEM education and careers advice must be improved. But industry cannot continue to rely on Government to solve the problem. There also needs to be a “pull” strategy that engages

students through close collaboration between schools and companies. Weld Australia member, Precision Metal Group (PMG) is strong advocate for this type of ‘pull’ strategy. In 2020, PMG began partnering with Parramatta Marist High School to develop a metals and welding program. The program is fostering STEM skills so that students are better prepared to contribute to Australia’s rapidly growing advanced fabrication and manufacturing industries. The shared vision is to have more and more students exposed to the industry, and certified as armoured vehicle welders before they graduate from Parramatta Marist, providing them with pathways supported by a skill set in demand by the Australian Defence Force. To begin, Year 10 iSTEM students rotate through fortnightly two hour welding core skills workshops, while self-nominated students undertake intensive welding training at PMG’s facility in Wetherill Park.

Australian welding and fabrication businesses need to invest in the future of their own workforces and play an active role in the training of welding apprentices. Australia will need an additional 28,000 welders by 2030 based on the existing pipeline of work. Industry has a vital part to play in filling these roles. Industry needs to spend more time developing apprentices – it’s no good expecting kids who have only just finished TAFE to be welding experts.

TAFE Welding Curriculum With these program gaining traction in the recruitment of new welders, welding curriculum at TAFEs must concentrate on the skills that will be essential to the future of industry. These skills must be focused on advancements such as automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, big data, and advanced manufacturing processes. It is these skills that will see Australian industry continue its push into high-quality, complex manufacturing.

As such, Weld Australia is working with the National TAFE Consortium on creating a set of national resources mapped to the national MEM training package, so that learning resources for trade students are consistent across the country. This will help ensure consistent training, regardless of where in the country students undertake that training. The new resources are completely online and accessible via phone, mobile device or computer. This will allow students to access learning at the time, place and pace that suits them best. We are very excited about the project and are already seeing some great results. Technical training is absolutely key to the future prosperity of Australia. Australia’s capacity to deliver major projects relies heavily on our ability to train highly skilled tradesmen and technicians who are qualified to deliver the projects. TAFEs, the curriculum they teach, and the learning resources that have access to, play a crucial role in this.

INTRODUCING LORCH COBOT WELDING TO AUSTRALIA. MAKE YOUR TEAM STRONGER.

Enhance your business with collaborative, industry 4.0 welding solutions. Quick set-up, easy to use, perfect repeatable results. Ideal solution for small to medium businesses. Want to know more? Please contact David Wilton: LSP@lorch.eu or visit www.lorch.com.au to find your nearest Lorch Cobot partner. 4519 LorchCobot halfpg MM 11.21

manmonthly.com.au

Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 9

Comment

ISHAN GALAPATHY – National Committee Member, Association for Manufacturing Excellence

Advancing the Australian Manufacturing Sector every 5-7years. • Consequently, without improving their ability to respond and manage shocks, businesses should expect to lose 42 per cent of one year’s EBITDA, every decade. In response to the McKinsey findings, some – such as the Australian Financial Review – suggest that COVID-19 has induced a greater amplification of factors that had already been starting to separate the best businesses from the laggards. Essentially, the pandemic has accelerated a process already underway, perhaps by a number of years.

The way forward is clear Australian manufacturing saw nine months of consecutive growth since the start of COVID-19.

USTRALIAN manufacturing today is at its lowest point ever. During its 1960s heyday, local manufacturing accounted for over 30 per cent of GDP. This isn’t new news to many in the sector. Currently, that figure is just 5.6 per cent of GDP. And that is despite a quadrupling of output since the 1950s. Productivity holds the key to advancing the Australian manufacturing sector. This may not be widely known. The Australian government has committed to promoting and expanding domestic manufacturing in recent years. Based on the recent Ai Group’s Performance of Manufacturing Index, it appears that something is making a difference: we’ve seen nine months of consecutive growth since the COVID-induced global disruptions hit last year. It is a promising sign. However, a 2020 Australasian Supply Chain Institute report revealed the overall maturity of Australian supply chains fell by six percentage points (from 52-46) between 2018 and 2019. And that was despite unparalleled investment in and focus on automation. “Although members have

10 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

performed better in technology and automation and compliance and regulation compared to last year, they were performing at the same level for logistics and distribution and underperforming in all other components,” it noted. So, the sector is growing. However, the current approach isn’t working – and the pandemic has made this painfully clear.

Tech for tech’s sake It’s no secret that we are living through the Industry4.0 era – the fourth industrial revolution aimed at leveraging connectivity, advancements in technology such as augmented reality and 3D printing, big data, and ever-increasing computing power. The government’s plan to resuscitate the aisling manufacturing sector not only acknowledges this but is fundamentally built upon a heavy technology focus. But technology isn’t a silver bullet. The current approach has resulted in businesses large and small implementing new technologies as solutions looking for problems to solve. Yet the majority still aren’t advancing as they should or could. This lack of advancement

boils down to the fact that these businesses are overlooking fundamental operational excellence principles.

More product but less productivity Output isn’t necessarily a problem: as previously mentioned, the sector’s output has quadrupled in the past six decades. But productivity has failed to keep pace. As the ABS graph below demonstrates, labour productivity is struggling well below the 30-year average. Automation and technology alone haven’t delivered the promised productivity benefits.

COVID exposes cracks in the system Meanwhile a 2020 McKinsey global study of 325 companies across 13 industries exposed some daunting statistics in terms of supply chain disruptions. This data depicts a different world to the one we think we live in today. Among its revelations were: • Disruptions lasting longer than one month will occur on average every 3.7 years. • A single, severe event that causes a 100-day disruption will occur

From an economic perspective, the way out of our current ordeal is to grow Australia’s manufacturing capability and productivity over the next 40 years. Yet as the recently-released Intergenerational Report points out, doing so requires a different approach. We can’t keep taking one step forward and two back. In his book Atomic Habits, NY best-selling author James Clear writes, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems”. I couldn’t agree more. We need to support the SME sector to build and sustain sound operational excellence fundamentals first and foremost, before looking toward technological interventions. Technology can only deliver its promised productivity benefits when it is applied to well-greased processes and utilised by an engaged, empowered workforce. Getting this strategy right will help to unleash latent capacity quickly, which can then be supercharged with the power of cutting-edge technology. Make it effective first then make it efficient, rather than make it efficient and hope it will be effective. Contact AME Australia: Website www.ame.org.au Email ame@ame.org.au Phone 1300 AME AUS manmonthly.com.au

Comment

Chairman, Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre – PAUL COOPER

Material science is an untapped frontier for manufacturers

HE Latin saying “Citius, Altius, Fortius” or “Faster, Higher, Stronger” would be familiar to those at the pinnacle of world sport, the Olympics. Chosen to encapsulate the traits of peak human performance, these three words are just as relevant to athletes as they are manufacturers – both of whom continually seek a competitive advantage. Manufacturers today are continuously innovating to do things faster, manufacturing to higher tolerances, and producing stronger products. One area which can offer significant returns is the adoption of new materials for their products. Research and development (R&D) into new, or frontier, materials can deliver a competitive edge to manufacturers – from high-end bicycles featuring 3D printed titanium parts, to high-strength scandium alloys, and recycled materials. Previous AMGC research has found that manufacturers who reinvest into their business via R&D almost always achieve positive commercial outcomes. Take for example Melbourne-based Bastion Cycles, a company at the leading edge of materials science, developing components for professional cycling teams the world over. Bastion’s in-house team has developed a novel process for titanium material used in additive manufacturing of high-end bike components. Their expertise with materials enables them to make components that are lighter and deliver measurable gains for riders. A win-win – and there is more to the materials story. Initially, additive manufacturing enabled simple 3D printing of plastic (PLA) components. However, as technology adoption and usage mature, so too do the materials available to manufacturers. Additive manufacturing’s progress spurred an idea from a recently announced AMGC project from

manmonthly.com.au

Additive manufacturing has enabled simple 3D printing of plastic (PLA) components.

Kinaltek in Sydney. Kinaltek spotted an opportunity to focus on specialised metallic powders and to deliver into global supply chains, a market that is growing 20 per cent year on year. Targeting the aerospace and renewables sectors, Kinaltek’s world-first process has resulted from years of local R&D to manufacture low-temperature, direct reduction of metal oxides and metal chlorides. The technology can produce a wide range of metallic powders based on 27 different metals. Importantly, they are the only company in the world able to do so. Advances in materials science is allowing manufacturers to unlock hidden value in waste by capturing precious materials or developing new ones from the by-products of our existence. Molycop in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, in conjunction with the University of New South Wales, and AMGC, has developed a process for reusing rubber rescued from tyres, conveyor belts, and boots to replace the use of virgin carbon sources in

the manufacture of steel – hence green steel. In the pursuit of better materials or better use of materials, recycling and the circular economy represent smarter ways to manufacture. A recent CSIRO and KPMG report estimates that an additional $23 billion could be added to the Australian economy by just embracing the circular economy. This means more jobs, more skills, and a solution to our growing waste problems. By seeking new ways to approach old challenges, manufacturers are in the driving seat to solve many of the issues that have plagued previous generations. Graphene, widely touted as the most remarkable substance ever discovered, is another example of a frontier material that can result in products performing better, being stronger or more efficient. Little wonder then that the market for this material is growing at an estimated 19 per cent a year and will reach US$1.4billion by 2025. An AMGC supported project lead

Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) has pioneered a process to manufacture vast quantities of graphene from waste and LPG. The result is a pure material removing the need for a mined graphite feedstock. Why is this important? Graphene is the thinnest material discovered – 200 times stronger than steel, is a thermal insulator, an excellent electrical conductor, and according to GMG could improve the charging time of a battery 70-fold, in short, a wonder material. Australia, with its vast natural resources, world-class researchers, and vibrant manufacturing industry, has a real opportunity to lead the world in the development and application of frontier materials. Whether the use is improving an existing product or suppling materials to clients, frontier materials offer an opportunity for manufacturers to gain that competitive edge and perform faster, higher, and stronger than the competition while generating significant opportunities onshore. Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 11

News @MM Boeing to build pioneering production facility in Queensland Global aviation giant Boeing has chosen Toowoomba in Queensland as the preferred location for an uncrewed aircraft production facility, which will be the first outside of North America. Boeing Australia will establish the facility at Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct to produce and assemble the Boeing Airpower Teaming System, also known as the Loyal Wingman, subject to defence orders. The aircraft made its first flight in February 2021, and would be the first military combat aircraft designed to be developed and manufactured in Australia in 50 years. Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszcuk said the partnership will create new opportunities for Toowoomba and boost the state’s confidence in advanced manufacturing. “By working with the private sector to invest in advanced manufacturing, we’ll continue to create jobs and opportunities for Queenslanders,” Palaszcuk said. “In choosing Wellcamp Airport, Boeing have taken an important step towards delivering their purposebuilt final assembly facility. “This has the potential to greatly

improve our state’s advanced manufacturing capability and help shape a workforce of Queenslanders with the skills to build some of the world’s most cutting-edge aircraft.” Wagner Corporation expect the facility build will support around 300 construction jobs, with at least 70 high-skilled advanced manufacturing jobs to be created once the facility is operational. Queensland minister for manufacturing, Cameron Dick, said Boeing’s decision reinforces the strength of its relationship with Queensland of almost 25 years. “This announcement follows our success with Australia’s first commercial drone flight testing facility at Cloncurry Airport last December, of which Boeing was a first user,” Dick said. “It’s expected the project could generate up to $1 billion dollars for Queensland’s economy over 10 years, with more than just defence industries to benefit.” The uncrewed aircraft is designed to operate as a team, using artificial intelligence to extend the capabilities of crewed and uncrewed platforms. Selecting Wellcamp Airport as the preferred location for Loyal Wingman assembly indicated

Boeing’s new Toowoomba production facility will be the first located outside of North America. Boeing’s global focus and support for Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities, supply chain and export opportunities. Boeing Defence Australia vice president and managing director, Scott Carpendale, said he was confident of the production outlook for the innovative aircraft. “We’re thinking long-term about this investment, which could assist Australia to gain future work share in other global defence and aerospace opportunities, in addition to the Loyal Wingman assembly,” Carpendale said. “The Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct location is attractive due to its access to a flight

line, clear flying days, commercial flight access from major cities and ability to support the rapid pace at which the Airpower Teaming System program is growing.” Wagner Corporation’s sustainable construction methods align with Boeing’s focus on sustainable aerospace, incorporating renewable technology and human-centric designs. Boeing Australia is currently developing six aircrafts in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), with flight testing ongoing. Visit the Boeing website for more information on Boeing Defence, Space and Security.

ABS Figures show strong rise in number of manufacturing jobs More than 91,000 manufacturing jobs have been created in the last three months, supported by the federal government’s investments to transform local manufacturing. ABS Labour Force figures show there are now 80,000 more jobs in manufacturing than there was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The figures demonstrate why the 12 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

government is investing $1.5 billion through its Modern Manufacturing Strategy to transform Australian manufacturing sector and leading support for industry through our gasfired recovery, according to acting minister for industry, science and technology, Angus Taylor. “Although we know current COVID restrictions are having

an impact on the economy, this strong result for the quarter takes manufacturing jobs above pre-COVID levels and bodes well for our road out of COVID-19 and shows the resilience of our economy,” Taylor said. “This is the first time that manufacturing employment has been above 1 million jobs since 2009 and highlights the importance of our fair

deal on energy, the gas-fired recovery and our $1.5 billion investment under our Modern Manufacturing Strategy. “The Strategy is all about government backing our manufacturers to back themselves. It sends a clear signal to the industry, and businesses are responding,” he said. manmonthly.com.au

News @MM Smart Enough Factory program digitises Victorian defence companies A new $1.36 million Smart Enough Factory program will support Victorian defence industry companies to transform their operations by deploying digital technologies to drive value and productivity – spearheading their competitive advantage. The Smart Enough Factory program will support small to medium-sized businesses in Victoria’s defence industry to modernise design and manufacturing processes. “We’re supporting our defence industry to become ever more responsive, adaptive and connected – ensuring we lead the way in advanced manufacturing, innovation and technology,” Victorian minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula said. “This program will help defence businesses to grow and transform,

manmonthly.com.au

supporting jobs and economic growth and cementing Victoria’s status as the advanced manufacturing capital of Australia.” Delivered by DMTC Limited (formerly the Defence Materials Technology Centre), the Smart Enough Factory program will assist participating businesses to adopt digital technologies, overcome barriers such as costs, skill shortages or security vulnerabilities and create opportunities to enter defence supply chains. “This program is not just about getting companies to the starting line, it’s about putting companies in a better position to compete and win work,” DMTC Limited chief executive Dr Mark Hodge said. “It’s about tangible actions to put industrial capability in Australian

hands.” With an aim to boost digital and Industry 4.0 capabilities, the program uses advances in data-driven production to enhance businesses’ operational performance and manufacturing productivity, leading to more efficient processes and significant cost savings. The pilot program is underway with Victorian small businesses Australian Precision Technologies, APV Corporation, A.W. Bell, Heat Treatment Australia and Ronson Gears. The full-scale program will run from the end of the year for an initial period of three years, with up to 20 Victorian defence businesses each year to reap the benefits of the program. The program will also take on up to eight undergraduate or postgraduate

interns a year from Victorian universities through a scheme administered by the state’s Defence Science Institute. This will provide technical support, offering them valuable work experience, defence industry exposure and possible future employment. By embracing advanced technology, the program will ultimately boost participating businesses’ prospects of participating in multi-billion-dollar defence programs, meaning more jobs and investment for Victoria’s defence sector. Victoria’s defence sector contributes up to $8.4 billion to the state’s economy each year, employing around 24,000 people in 6,300 businesses that manufacture equipment and provide services for defence activities.

Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 13

News @MM Australian Space Manufacturing Network makes $150 million bid for MMI funding

The Australian Space Manufacturing Network aims to establish three new space facilities in Queensland. The Australian Space Manufacturing Network (ASMN) are supporting a $150 million bid for the Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Collaboration (MMIC) stream, to recognise the growing market opportunities for new space products and services. Satellites with sensors and cameras that detect bushfires within minutes, provide real-time crop data to farmers, connect our remote towns and communities; and rockets that provide valuable access to space from Australia. These are some of the real-world capabilities possible with modern space technology. Innovations like these are already being developed by researchers and companies in Australia. “However, the space industry is still very new relative to other industry pillars and it lacks the funding and basic infrastructure to support it,” Gilmour Space Technologies CEO, Adam Gilmour, said. Gilmour Space Technologies is Queensland SME planning to launch 14 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

the first Australian-made rockets and satellites to orbit next year. The Australian Space Manufacturing Network – led by Gilmour Space, with backing from the Queensland government – aims to establish three new space facilities, centred in Queensland: • a common test and manufacturing facility, enabling members to advance their space research and technology development at lower cost • an advanced manufacturing facility for building commercial rockets and satellites, anchored by Gilmour Space • an orbital spaceport at Abbot Point near Bowen in North Queensland, that will help bring many of these products to space. “With participation from six states and territories in Australia, we see this as a genuinely industry-led project,” Gilmour said. “Providing the framework and infrastructure needed to unlock collaborations, create jobs and

capability, attract private investment and advance Australian space technologies from initial concept through to commercialisation and launch.” Among the ASMN founding members are Swinburne University of Technology in VIC; Space Machines Company and Neumann Space in SA; Electro Optic Systems and Greatcell Energy in the ACT; Spiral Blue in NSW; the ARM Hub and Griffith University in QLD; and a number of international space companies such as SatRevolution from Poland, which are looking to set up operations in Australia and provide export and supply chain opportunities to local companies. “Australian space manufacturing facilities will unlock Australia’s true potential as a respected space faring nation,” EOS Communications Systems CEO Glen Tindall said. “The Australian Space Manufacturing Network and the diverse range of partners it brings together, demonstrates the end-to-

end benefit these types of facilities will have across Australia and beyond.” For Australia’s manufacturing future, companies need to do bigger business together, according to ARM Hub CEO Dr Cori Stewart. “As a key partner in the Australian Space Manufacturing Network, ARM Hub will be catalysing commercialisation through industry access to the nation’s expertise, de-risking technology adoption and building workforce digital capability, collaboratively,” she said. The global space economy is expected to grow to a trillion dollars by 2030. “The MMIC will provide timely support for our emerging space manufacturers to develop and mature significant, and globally competitive, space capabilities in Australia,” Gilmour said. The ASMN proposal has been submitted to the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. manmonthly.com.au

News @MM Australian manufacturers to join international space supply chains The federal government has awarded $3 million in funding to help four Australian space businesses break into international space supply chains under the Moon to Mars Initiative. Round Three of the Supply Chain Capability Improvement grants will support the companies to improve their technical capabilities and help them enter new national and international markets. Acting minister for Industry, Science and Technology Angus Taylor said the grants directly contribute to scaling up Australian space businesses and their operations to become competitive in global markets. “The grants provide a tangible opportunity for Australian

businesses to support the transformation of our space industry and contribute to projects that will support NASA’s Moon to Mars program.” The four recipients of the Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement grants are: • Gilmour Space Technologies (QLD) has received $1,000,000 to improve its manufacturing capability to produce qualified composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) that can hold fluids under pressure, for use in the aerospace industry • Crystalaid Manufacture (QLD) has received $538,882 to improve its high-tech manufacturing capability to produce electronic components for space use

• Black Sky Aerospace (QLD), a propellant manufacturer and launch service provider, has received $678,487 to expand production of its Responsive Common Use Booster (RCUB) propellant for commercial use • Inovor Technologies (SA) has received $750,000 to deliver rapid, high-reliability and cost competitive satellite manufacturing capability in Australia. These projects demonstrate the incredible opportunities that are present at the intersection of space and manufacturing. Australian Space Agency head Enrico Palermo said the successful projects leveraged the relationship between space and manufacturing

to create jobs. “With this support, these Australian companies will be able to expand their capability and tap into new supply chains around the world – which adds up to opportunities here at home,” Palermo said. The $150 million Moon to Mars initiative is part of over $700 million invested by the government into the Australian civil space sector since 2018, to support the goal of tripling the sector’s size to $12 billion and creating up to an extra 20,000 jobs by 2030. The Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement program offers grants between $250,000 and $1 million. Applications will remain open until 1 May 2023.

Leading Australian manufacturers know that to grow revenue and jobs, they need to innovate through adopting technologies such as robotics and AI. ARM Hub is here to help.

Call 0491 200 260 Email info@armhub.com.au Visit armhub.com.au

manmonthly.com.au

Industry Engagement

• • • •

Site visits and needs assessments Technology demonstrations Industry 4.0 business readiness workshops Business networking

Commercial Solutions

• Validate new technology applications through demonstrations and proof of concepts • Adoption sprints for agile implementation of new technologies • Expert services to support client business objectives

Leveraged Funds

• Assemble teams • Access competitive grants and commercial contracts • De-risk R&D and apply to win

Transforming industry through advanced manufacturing

Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 15

News @MM Robotics experts led by CSIRO have beaten teams from NASA JPL/MIT, California Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University in the Subterranean Challenge, or “Robot Olympics”, claiming second place. Organised by the US government research agency, DARPA, the Subterranean Challenge was designed to push the boundaries of autonomous robotic technology, spanning a three-year-period. Scientists were tasked with remotely running the robots in an underground environment that simulated a real-world scenario. This included locating models representing lost or injured humans, backpacks or phones, as well as variable conditions such as pockets of gas. Points were awarded for correct identification and location of items, mapping the terrain and maintaining autonomy and communications throughout. The competition culminated in a final event held inside the Louisville Mega Cavern in Louisville in Kentucky, with results announced in the US overnight. Made up of members from

CSIRO’s Data61, CSIRO spin-out robotics company Emesent and the Georgia Institute of Technology, the team competed under the name “CSIRO’s Data61” and won the preliminary round before being awarded second in the final circuit. “This is an amazing result! We are the first Australian team to place in the top two at a DARPA robotics challenge,” CSIRO Data61 team leader and CSIRO Robotics group leader Dr Navinda Kottege said. “This cements CSIRO’s place as a world leader in robotics and puts Australia firmly on the map in this increasingly important area of science. “I’d like to thank team partners Emesent and Georgia Institute of Technology for their exceptional research and development and contribution to this amazing result.” The $1.3 million prize money will be reinvested into team CSIRO’s Data61’s research and development of Australian technology. “Congratulations to the winners of the DARPA Subterranean Challenge,” Emesent CTO and cofounder Dr Farid Kendoul said. “It’s great news for Australia and I am so proud of team CSIRO’s

Image: CSIRO.

Australia claims second place in the “Robot Olympics”

One of team CSIRO’s Data61’s quadruped robots in the foreground, with one of the tracked all terrain robots carrying an aerial robot in the background. Data61 placing second, and the contributions that Emesent made over the three years, to advance the team’s state-of-the-art robotics and showcase the capabilities of Australian companies on a

global stage.” The CSIRO team now aims to focus on translating the technology and capabilities developed from the “Robot Olympics”, to solve some of Australia’s greatest challenges.

UGL secures $297 million locomotive manufacturing contract CIMIC Group’s UGL has been awarded a contract to design, manufacture and supply new fuelefficient diesel electric locomotives for their long-standing client, Pacific National. The contract will generate revenue to UGL of approximately $297 million over seven years. It solidifies UGL’s position as Australia’s only manufacturer of freight locomotives. The C44 Evolution locomotives 16 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

will be the most technologically advanced, fuel efficient and environmentally compatible diesel electric locomotives in Australia. They will be designed and manufactured in Newcastle, New South Wales. “Pacific National has a strong focus on improving the efficiency of its locomotives and its environmental performance,” CIMIC Group executive chairman and chief

executive officer Juan Santamaria said. “We’re pleased to support this strategy by delivering locomotives that lower emissions and operating costs with improved productivity, reliability and availability.” “UGL’s unique position as Australia’s only manufacturer and maintainer of Australian-made locomotives allows us to ensure a strong home-grown supply chain and

ongoing local employment,” UGL managing director Doug Moss said. “The C44 Evolution locomotive is better for the environment with lower emissions and better fuel efficiency than anything Australia has seen before. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with Pacific National through the delivery of these locomotives.” The contract is effective from October 2021. manmonthly.com.au

News @MM Industry brokers to build Australia’s manufacturing future Creating industry brokers at Australia’s key research infrastructure facilities could propel a new wave of home-grown advanced manufacturing industries, according to Science & Technology Australia, the peak body for science and technology. Science & Technology Australia’s submission to the Senate inquiry on manufacturing proposes the cutthrough idea to help industry tap into specialised research facilities. The federal government funds major national research infrastructure specialist facilities as the backbone of our research capability. They include complex facilities in geological surveying, supercomputing, specialised DNA studies, precision medicines, and new treatments for disease funded via the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme. “These assets are key to Australia’s entire research enterprise – and long-term secure funding for them is essential to achieve the nation’s research ambitions,” Science & Technology Australia CEO Misha Schubert said. “But industry partners can often find it really hard to work out how Over 75k product SKUs

Science & Technology Australia has proposed to help industry tap into specialised research facilities. Image credit: Science & Technology Australia. to access these highly specialised facilities. We’d like to see the creation of new industry brokers roles to help businesses get to know these capabilities and identify how the business can use them. “We see a huge advantage, especially for advanced manufacturing firms, to be able to reach into these specialist facilities

11 branches nationwide

Australian independent

for expertise, support and assets. These roles should be created with a funding boost on top of operational budgets.” Science & Technology Australia also calls for a new Research Translation Fund – and a national strategy to drive further advances in clean energy technology and expand clean energy advanced

manufacturing onshore. “We should capitalise on the growing global demand for clean energy technology made in Australia using our abundance of clean energy raw materials,” Schubert said. “The bottom line is that we should be trying to ensure that what is discovered in Australia is made in Australia.”

Technical knowledge & support

FROM OUR WAREHOUSE TO YOUR FACTORY FLOOR We help streamline and simplify purchasing, procurement, materials management, warehousing, maintenance and production processes. We achieve this through inventory management solutions such as; kanban, consignment stock, on-site mobile container storage and custom packaging.

www.unitedfasteners.com.au

FASTENERS & FIXINGS I ABRASIVES I CUTTING I SEALANTS I ADHESIVES I LUBRICANTS I TOOLS I SAFETY I PETROCHEMICAL I SPECIAL MANUFACTURE manmonthly.com.au

Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 17

News @MM Stryker launches new R&D facility through new partnership The Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) has congratulated its industry partner Stryker, a global medical technology organisation, on establishing its first Australian R&D facility in Queensland, in partnership with the Queensland government. With the University of Queensland (UQ) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) on board, the facility will bring together researchers, clinicians and advanced manufacturers to accelerate Stryker’s R&D initiatives in Australia. IMCRC has been collaborating with Stryker since 2017, co-investing in an $18 million Australian medtech manufacturing research project that is set to transform the way physicians surgically treat tumours and bone cancer. The five-year R&D collaboration between Stryker, IMCRC and five of Australia’s leading research organisations – RMIT University, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), University of Sydney, University of Melbourne and St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne – has incorporated 3D printing, robotic surgery, design and advanced manufacturing. The success of the project has catalysed further investment by Stryker in Australia, including for this new R&D facility. Stryker has demonstrated strong industry leadership with

The IMCRC’s industry partner Stryker is establishing a new R&D facility in partnership with the Queensland government. this investment. The new facility represents the right framework for collaboration, industry growth and transformation in Australia, IMCRC CEO and managing director David Chuter said. “IMCRC’s business model focuses on facilitating effective industryled research collaboration by safeguarding investment, nurturing unique talent and translating technical know-how into commercial and globally relevant products, services and processes,” Chuter said. “Through our work with multinational industry partners like Stryker, we have seen what can be achieved by creating the right environment for collaboration between local industry and Australia’s world-class researchers. If you get the model, incentives and

Queenslands is leading the way with new technology and advanced manufacturing models in the medical space.

18 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

partnerships right, this shows we can attract global leaders such as Stryker to invest into Australia, which puts us firmly on the world map as a centre of excellence for medtech innovation, digital health, design and manufacturing.” Chuter also commended the Queensland government for committing to support Australian research and innovation through investment. “Queensland is at the forefront of developing and implementing new technology and advanced manufacturing models in the medical space,” he said. “The state’s investment in a rapidly growing, global industry and new medical technology capabilities – as outlined in its Biomedical roadmap – will no doubt bring more opportunities and highly-skilled jobs to the fore.” Stryker South Pacific president Maurice Ben-Mayor said he is proud of the company’s new partnership and grateful for the opportunity to drive medical technology. “With a thriving ecosystem of world-class research, science and health sector capability, Queensland was a clear choice for Stryker to establish an Australian R&D presence,” Ben-Mayor said. “Through our work with IMCRC and university partners, we have come to an understanding of how

vital collaborations of this nature are to research collaboration and to encouraging future project and engagement opportunities with local industry and research partners.” IMCRC has supported and helped drive several industry-led research innovation and transformation initiatives in Queensland including: • Stryker – “just in time implants” development, leading to the establishment of a medical technologies and manufacturing R&D facility in Brisbane • Vaxxas – testing end-user usability, manufacturability and patient acceptability of its renowned needle-free vaccine technology which is set to be manufactured at a new facility in Brisbane • ARM Hub – driving collaboration in manufacturing robotics and automation • Urban Arts Projects – investing in design robotics for mass customisation manufacturing • Verton – manufacturing the world’s first remote controlled load management system to control and manage suspended loads • Mineral Technologies – mineral separation using additive manufacturing Find out more on the IMCRC website, or visit the Stryker website for more information on the new R&D facility. manmonthly.com.au

News @MM Thales and Rheinmetall to support manufacture of Land 400 Boxer Thales’ Lithgow facility in NSW has begun manufacturing 30mm cannon components for Rheinmetall.

NEW full feature oil injected screw compressors 4-22kW

NEW generation series-4 screw compressors up to 160kW

Thales Australia and Rheinmetall Defence have signed a contract to manufacture key components for the Rheinmetall MK 30-2 cannon capability, in support of the Australian Defence Force Land 400 program. Thales Australia’s Lithgow facility in regional New South Wales has commenced manufacturing 30mm cannon components for Rheinmetall Defence Australia, leveraging the support of 16 current and new Australian SME suppliers. Approximately 50 per cent of the work will be done by these SME suppliers and the overall AIC is already over 85 per cent. First samples manufactured in Australia have already passed quality control checks by Rheinmetall Defence in Germany. Lithgow has been the home of small arms manufacturing for over a century, proudly supporting Australia’s soldiers on battlefields around the world. The new manufacturing partnership builds on this distinguished heritage, creating approximately ten new jobs and manmonthly.com.au

supporting 130 jobs on site. The partnership will also look at transferring to Australia the manufacture and sustainment of a range of mounted weapons, combining Thales Australia’s deep manufacturing expertise and domestic supplier base with Rheinmetall’s world-class mounted weapons. Through substantial technology transfer to Australia in support of a number of Defence projects. With an aim of 100 per cent Australian Industry Capability, this partnership will be a significant driver of growth in Australia’s sovereign capability, boosting investment in SMEs, R&D and delivering long-term jobs. “Increasing Australia’s industrial capability will build Australia’s self-reliance and the capability of the broader Australian advanced manufacturing sector, which is vital to delivering a capability advantage to the Australian Defence Force,” Thales Australia chief executive officer Chris Jenkins said. Thales Australia has built a national industrial ecosystem

to support the delivery of capability to the Australian Defence Force. In 2020 alone, Thales Australia spent $657 million with 1,841 Australian firms, 82 per cent of which were SMEs. Thales Australia’s recent supply chain analysis with Accenture demonstrated that there is a substantial economic benefit from domestic defence spending, delivering thousands of jobs through hundreds of businesses across the nation. “This contract is a great testament to the Morrison government’s commitment to strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence industrial capability and maximising opportunities for local business in defence manufacturing,” minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said. “Australian industry will play a vital role in the delivery of the Boxer vehicles. Rheinmetall will use suppliers across the country to design, build, assemble, test and support the Boxer vehicles for the Army. We are backing Aussie businesses and supporting local jobs.”

Oil free scroll compressors Medical, instrument, dental

High pressure piston and booster up to 40 bar(g)

Refrigerated and Desiccant Air dryers from 15-6,000 cfm

For sales and service support contact your nearest BOGE partner www.boge.net.au or (03) 5940 5913

Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 19

Manufacturer Focus Locally manufacturing mRNA vaccines will provide a boost for the Australian economy.

State-of-the-art facilities to future-proof biotech manufacturing Manufacturers’ Monthly speaks with CSL Limited about its new manufacturing facilities, COVID-19, and its exciting plans for local manufacturing of advanced vaccines and other biotech products.

IVEN the events of 2020 and 2021, it is plain to everyone the imperative of ensuring Australia improves its sovereign research and manufacturing capabilities in the domain of biotechnology.

The new base fractionation facility at Broadmeadows.

20 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

CSL Limited has a longestablished reputation for excellence as Australia’s leading multinational specialty biotechnology company in the research, development, and marketing of products that treat

and prevent serious human medical conditions. A CSL spokesperson said that even before the advent of COVID-19, CSL and its subsidiary Seqirus, were taking serious strides to upgrade their capabilities with major investments in three new facilities in Melbourne. The spokesperson said that over the last decade CSL has invested over $1 billion in expanding its Broadmeadows site, with recent investment of $900 million for a new Base Fractionation facility on that site. A new state-of-the-art, cell-based influenza vaccine facility for Seqirus has been developed at Tullamarine, with $800 million invested. Further to that, new global headquarters and R&D facilities are currently under construction in the heart of Melbourne’s biomedical precinct. “These projects will expand current end-to-end biomedical development to manufacturing

capacity, ensuring we have the ability to sustain our operations here by further integrating them into our global network and deliver for increased demand for our products,” CSL said. “They will provide scalable and sustainable capabilities to manufacture products that can be made for Australia and exported to the world.”

World-class facilities that develop local talent The three projects are distinct in their purposes, and so require different staffing capabilities, the spokesperson said. But there is no doubt that their development will be a boon not only to jobs but – perhaps more importantly – the development of homegrown biotechnological talent. “The construction of the Elizabeth Street North site – at the heart of Melbourne’s biomedical precinct – supported roughly 1300 construction staff and will manmonthly.com.au

Manufacturer Focus house CSL employees from across Melbourne once complete,” CSL said. “With the Seqirus facility, the project will support the continuation of more than 1000-plus science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing jobs in Victoria and a supply chain of more than $300 million annually.” Often, the creation of new, technologically sophisticated facilities can set off fear in the public mind about potential loss of jobs – the perennial worry of humans being replaced by machines. But according to its spokesperson, CSL is not expecting any staff reductions because of these projects. In fact, they went further than that. “This is an important vote of confidence in the future of the

Locating as part of the Seqirus facility blueprint means the area is all ready for the mRNA facility construction, with all support functions – such as quality assurance and logistics – already accounted for. company in Australia and will ensure we continue to retain and attract top biotech talent,” they said. “As we utilise advanced manufacturing techniques and deploy new technology, we anticipate the workforce will upskill and adapt to the different requirements of the new facilities.” While CSL doesn’t have a set

policy or quotas for local hires, the spokesperson said that generally speaking CSL’s manufacturing workforce are local hires. As a global business with a large operational footprint, there is much knowledgesharing across sites to be as efficient as possible – so restricting the talent pool to only include local hires would not make sense if CSL is to

Road to Manufacturing a COVID-19 Vaccine A

BC WK1

WK2

D WK3

E WK4

WK5

WK6

maintain its international reputation as among the best of the best. But the strategic location of its new global headquarters and R&D hub in the heart of Melbourne’s biomedical precinct is as clear an indicator as one could wish for that CSL is committed to maximising its use of – and work with – local talent and their associated institutions.

I WK7

WK8

J WK9

Manufacturing the AstraZeneca vaccine required CSL to re-tool its Australian facilities, and CSL’s spokesperson said that because the AstraZeneca team is based in America, a lot of late-night knowledge transfer sessions were involved in order to get the

Road to a Vaccine

Quality testing process after vials are ﬁlled

K WK10

COVID-19: Manufacturing the Astrazeneca vaccine

WK11

WK12 QA

Filled vials of vaccine

BROADMEADOWS

S A

AstraZeneca Comparability testing to make sure CSL manufactured vaccine meets the AstraZeneca global standard

The vaccine is then harvested a process of separation from the cells, then further ﬁltration and puriﬁcation

Once cells are at their critical volume - the adenovirus is introduced to the bioreactor

These cells are transferred to large scale bioreactors (2000L) for further growth

Bulk concentrated vaccine is frozen and stored in bulk CryoVaults, this is called drug substance. Samples are taken and undergo extensive testing – there are checks at every step of manufacture, not only at the end

CSL CSL’s Seqirus team undertakes weeks of critical quality testing which provides additional data for the TGA to assess each batch. Each batch is tested to conﬁrm its stability and sterility - as well as conﬁrming the vaccine contains the right level of antigen (potency testing)

K Vaccine is ﬁlled into vials and aseptically sealed – then every single vial is visually inspected for quality assurance

Samples taken for extensive quality, sterility and stability testing

Purity Testing

Potency Testing

E TGA laboratory testing (and/or review of testing results from an overseas regulatory laboratory that has been recognised by the TGA) to ensure the vaccine has been manufactured according to the required standards The TGA's laboratory may carry out a range of tests, including assessments for composition, identity, potency, purity and adventitious agents (contamination with microorganisms)

CSL

TGA

DID YOU KNOW...

CryoVaults are transferred from CSL Broadmeadows to Seqirus Parkville, and are thawed out ready for formulation

Every box of vials is ﬁtted with a temperature monitor – to track the storage conditions as vaccines are transported Every single vial is visually inspected for quality assurance prior to labelling and packing

FORMULATED VACCINE BULK

manmonthly.com.au

A review of documents supplied by the Manufacturer (Sponsor) which describes the manufacturing process (how the vaccine is made, tested, shipped and stored)

CONCURRENT TESTING PROCEDURES

PARKVILLE

Vaccine is formulated by diluting with buffer to the correct concentration and to ensure it is stable. This product is now called ‘formulated vaccine bulk’

TGA

Stability Testing

J BROADMEADOWS

F QA

S A M P L E S

Vials of host cells are thawed

(adenovirus and host cells)

Small batches of host cells are grown and transferred into increasingly larger size containers to expand and multiply

AstraZeneca provides CSL ‘starter material’ which forms basis of vaccine

L Products labelled and packed, ready for distribution

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is stored between 2-8 degrees celsius – the same temperature as a household refrigerator

Vaccine Release

Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 21

Manufacturer Focus Cell-influenza vaccine technology offers many advantages over the existing process, including being more scalable and offering faster production – particularly important in the case of influenza pandemics. Looking ahead: exciting developments at Seqirus

CSL successfully re-tooled its Australian facilities to manufacture the AstraZeneca vaccine. manufacturing capability up and running so as to deliver vaccines as quickly as possible to Australians. While CSL is gearing up to produce mRNA vaccines in the future, the AstraZeneca vaccine – a viral vector vaccine – was what CSL committed to manufacturing for the Australian Government as part of its vaccine rollout. “The manufacture was a great partnership with AstraZeneca,” the spokesperson said. “Despite not having a subject matter expert on the ground in Melbourne, CSL was able to connect with their experts on a regular basis to ensure the process was safe, efficient and, of course, would meet stringent quality standards.”

Such a facility would be a worldleader in mRNA manufacturing, with the ability to manufacture more than two doses of an mRNA vaccine for every Australian in 16 weeks (roughly 50 million doses). “Locating as part of the Seqirus facility blueprint means the area is all ready for the mRNA facility construction, with all support functions – such as quality assurance and logistics – already accounted for,” CSL’s spokesperson said.

The new facility that Seqirus is building to deliver cell-based technology to Australia is an especially exciting development. “This will be the only cell-based influenza manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere,” the CSL spokesman said. “Cell-influenza vaccine technology offers many advantages over the existing process, including being more scalable and offering faster production – particularly important in the case of influenza pandemics. “The facility will be an important addition to our global influenza manufacturing supply chain, incorporating the technology platform used in our Holly Springs, North Carolina facility.” Seqirus’s proprietary adjuvant MF59 – a substance added to

some vaccines to improve immune response and to reduce the amount of antigen needed for each vaccine, thus enabling more doses to be manufactured more rapidly – will also be manufactured at the new facility. The investment in the new Seqirus facility follows the signing of an agreement with the Australian Government for supply over ten years of influenza pandemic protection for the Australian population, anti-venoms for Australian snakes, spiders and marine creatures, and the Q-Fever vaccines. “For 100 years our company has been on the front line in the fight against influenza in Australia, operating Australia’s only local manufacturing facility for influenza vaccines,” the CSL spokesperson said. “We are excited to see this commitment enter a new phase with this new investment.”

Vials of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Onshoring mRNA capacity CSL responded to the Australian Government’s Approach to Market with a proposal as to how it would develop onshore mRNA capacity in Australia – as part of its broader push to future-proof our country against future pandemic threats. “Under the proposal we submitted, this would be supported by a purpose built, commercial scale mRNA facility co-located at the new Seqirus cell-based influenza vaccine manufacturing facility under construction in Tullamarine, Victoria.” 22 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

manmonthly.com.au

, D E E N U T. O Y E R R E ER N. V E F O T N A O H IS H W D IT RC A N I E F ES TH

RELY ON AUSTRALIA’S MANUFACTURING, MINING AND INDUSTRIAL HUB 70,000 monthly users can’t be wrong. Find what you’re looking for with over 12,000 business listings and 8,000 specific product listings. Access relevant information and resources, empowering you to make a qualified purchase decision. You can always rely on your industry hub.

F E R R E T.C O M . AU

FERRET GROUP OF WEBSITES

MHD Supply Chain Solutions

Industry Focus DSTG has recognised the need for commercialised high-powered lasers in Australia.

Enabling scalable, high-powered lasers in Australia Professor David Lancaster from the University of South Australia and Dr Dmitrii Stepanov from the Defence Science and Technology Group speak to Alexandra Cooper about a new project to develop cost effective components for the next generation of highpowered lasers.

SED for a wide range of applications within the manufacturing sector, laser technology has been recognised by the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) as a disruptive technology that is greatly needed in Australia, and as a precise method for cutting, marking and 3D printing among others. However, it typically has been an expensive tool to develop and commercialise, which has left Australia in the dust in terms of global competitiveness. The University of South Australia, in partnership with the University of Adelaide, has embarked on a new $1.8 million project that is

24 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

developing unique manufacturing platforms for producing reliable, affordable, miniature and integrated optical components. The goal is to underpin commercialised, nextgeneration high-powered lasers built in Australia. Funded under the Next Generation Technologies Fund by the DSTG, the aim is to link the university-led science and technology with Australian Defence needs, and align with plans to bolster Australia’s sovereign Directed Energy (DE) capabilities. Instigated through the DE science and technology network of university and industry partners, the project

will help build an ecosystem of laser technology throughout Australia, especially in manufacturing and defence. EOS Professorial chair in Laser Physics, David Lancaster, leads the Laser Physics and Photonics Devices Laboratories at the University of South Australia. He has a 30-year track record in high-powered laser research and development, including 10 years as a senior research scientist at DSTG, where he initiated and led a program to develop local capability in high-powered fibre lasers. “My research has aligned quite well with Defence over a few years, as my work is relevant to laser

development for atmospherics transmission applications,” Lancaster said. “We’ve developed some unique technology and approaches that complements Defence’s work.” This three-year project is focused on enabling the low-cost production of high-powered lasers by developing the deeper, underlying CNC-based (computerised numerical control) manufacturing process. “In designing and assembling a laser that harnesses 10kW of power, transmitted through an optical fibre which is thinner than a human hair, you’ve got to have a lot of confidence in the underlying technology,” Lancaster said. “That amount of manmonthly.com.au

IndustryFocus strands of hair that must withstand intense heat loads and extreme electric fields.” Using an ultra-fast laser directwrite manufacturing process, the 3D chip lasers are fabricated into a specialist glass that the University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensors has been developing for the past 12 years. This fluoride based glass is highly pure, has been optimised to allow laser written structures to be printed into it and can be “doped” with various rare earth laser active elements. In this work the dopants are thulium and holmium which lase in the infrared. “This technology is unique in terms of performance – the prototype miniature lasers that the university produced have surprisingly high power,” DSTG’s senior laser physicist from the Weapons and Combat Systems Division, Dr Dmitrii Stepanov said. “That makes things simpler when you’re trying to scale up the power because in amplifying the light from these chips to kW levels, you can use a reduced number of amplification stages.”

power allows you to start cutting pretty well arbitrary thicknesses of steel. What we’re developing are manufacturing processes and device architectures to make components that are capable of handling this sort of power.” This requires the components themselves to be quite small and durable, Lancaster explains. “A lot of what we’re trying to do here is develop very reliable, small componentry that underpins these bigger systems because the bigger systems are made up of arrays of very small lasers,” Lancaster said. “We’ll be building these lasers out of components that are thinner than manmonthly.com.au

Another advantage of the technology is that the high output can be achieved with very low size, weight and consumed power (SWaP) of the laser chip prototypes. “We’re working at the scale of the wavelength of light,” Lancaster said. “We’re using lasers to make submicron modifications to realise lasers inside host glass, and that’s our unique approach in building these tiny micro lasers.” According to Stepanov, it is also highly customisable. “The enabling manufacturing technology can be used as a platform for a number of different uses,” Stepanov said. “It is material agnostic and can process any glass material in a highly customisable way, with the ability to produce a

range of different fibre or waveguide devices.” The University of South Australia’s unique manufacturing processes that are used to develop the components will also ensure inherently safer systems than most of the common industrial lasers that are currently on the market. “It’s important to clearly understand the risks and the danger due to the high power,” Lancaster said. “You’re worried about stray reflections and worried about destroying the system as well, because at the end of the day these are not low-cost systems. So you really want to be both protecting yourself and anybody else around, protect the building and also protect the laser.”

We’re using lasers to make submicron modifications to realise lasers inside host glass, and that’s our unique approach in building these tiny micro lasers.

The University of South Australia is producing reliable, affordable small components to underpin a commercialised next-gen laser made in Australia.

Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 25

Industry Focus With a laser harnessing 10kW of power transmitted through an optical fibre thinner than human hair, confidence in the core technology is paramount.

Our approach is to develop manufacturing processes based on a reasonable capital outlay, but then to produce these modules in bulk so that they can be produced cost effectively once you’ve accounted for your capital costs. Carbon dioxide lasers are the most common industrial lasers that are currently available. While this long infrared laser is safer for the user (as it doesn’t transmit to the retina), it is an older technology which does not deliver the necessary concentration of power that is required in many manufacturing processes. “One of the biggest issues with lasers is the scatter of the beam from where it is incident,” Lancaster said. “We’ve developed a novel, very compact laser while working in an interesting spectral region – the infrared region. It’s a waveband that is ideal for transmitting through the atmosphere and it’s also a wavelength that’s considered more ‘eye-safe,’ as it doesn’t transmit through to the sensitive retina in the back of the eye.” The intention for the project is to develop the manufacturing technology capable of producing lower cost modules, which will enable an Australian manufacturer to build the end product in a cost effective way. 26 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

“Our approach is to develop manufacturing processes based on a reasonable capital outlay, but then to produce these modules in bulk so that they can be produced cost effectively once you’ve accounted for your capital costs,” Lancaster said. “By the end of the project, we’re hoping to invite opportunities for potential companies in Australia.” In moving up several types of technology to a more mature technology readiness level (TRL), the aim is for the technology to be spun out through either an Australian start-up or SME that can begin assembling it into prototypes. The project will also help to increase Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capabilities. This is something that Lancaster has struggled with over the years. “Something I’ve grappled with in Australia for a long time is how to get the technology out of a university and into manufacturing. It’s always challenging, because there’s always risk and there’s always a lot of dollars involved – and that combination is a difficult sell,” he

said. “The manufacturers who are using these lasers as tools for 3D laser manufacturing, metal cutting or welding don’t need to understand the tools; they just need the tools to be mature, turnkey systems. And at this stage that doesn’t exist in Australia. “We’re hoping, through this significant project with DSTG, to get to the stage where the risk is reduced and we have some fairly mature manufacturing processes.” This is one of the reasons why DSTG is seeking to develop the underlying layer of expertise that enables these turnkey systems to be made, to build sovereign manufacturing capability in Australia. “By building a sovereign industry with a competitive technology, ultimately the company who commercialises the lasers won’t need a government investment but will be able to sustain the growth themselves,” Stepanov said. “In turn, this will help to essentially increase the laser industry capability in the country.” Building this capability domestically will also mean that the end user in Australia will have improved accessibility for services such as maintenance and troubleshooting. “Currently all the commercial lasers are overseas, so if manufacturers have any issues or need any service they are on their

own,” Lancaster said. “Particularly in light of COVID-19, there’s no laser service engineers who are able to visit from overseas.” Along with this, there are multiple competitive advantages involved in developing this laser. “The proposal was focused on developing manufacturing technology and giving both cost and performance advantage to the potential industry partner, because the technology is scalable to high volumes and can operate at a high speed,” Stepanov said. “Also, while the University of South Australia does have a significant leading edge with their prototype manufacturing technology, the benefit of this particular project is that it capitalises on their already existing intellectual property (IP) and creates a new critical IP, which will help them maintain that competitive edge.” Lancaster believes that the wide use of laser technology is the future of Australian manufacturing; the challenge for laser manufacturers lies in deciding how they can compete in this space on a global stage. “It’s non-contact, there’s no wearable parts and it’s clean – that’s one of the biggest things, as there’s no contaminants from using pure energy in manufacturing,” Lancaster said. “It’s an exciting opportunity for Australia. We’ll just have to push hard and see if we can get a foot in the door.” manmonthly.com.au

FEBRUARY 2022 DEFENCE & AEROSPACE The Australian federal government is committed to companies that companies that are committed in participating in the defence and industry supply chains. With this commitment, many new innovations and job opportunities will arise. In February, we will be inviting manufacturing companies who are committed to these defence and aerospace supply chains and a chance to showcase your abilities and services to your clients in the industry who need them. In every edition of Manufacturers’ Monthly, we’re proud to work with our commercial partners on content that helps connect you with your future customers.

Booking deadline: 21 December 2021

To book contact DANNY HERNANDEZ now danny.hernandez@primecreative.com.au | 0431 330 232

For over 56 years, Manufacturers’ Monthly has lead and informed Australia’s manufacturing industries with its highly credible editorial analysis of the market. Visit our website and subscribe to get your print and digital editions in additon to our free daily newsletters today! manmonthly .com.au

T >> TECHNO

> TECHNOLO

T> MANAGEMEN

.com.au manmonthly

LOWERS

TIONS

LUTIONS

OCTOBER 202

2021

FOR P U D E R A E G M A SPACE JA SHOWCASE FIND YOUR 2021: FABRICATIONEXT N PARTNER

ENT AIR TREATM

INSIDE >>

Official Ind

ustry Partne

22 24 & OXYGEN NITROGENRA GENE TION

ustry Partne Print Post Appro ved PP10000788 2

Official Ind

INSIDE >>

Cobots and we

lding in one

package >>

Boosting the

future with bio

manufacturing

Sensors tha

24 E

24/7 SERVIC

ards Finalists

2 ved PP10000788 Print Post Appro

NERATORS

LOGY >> SO

GY >> SOLU

SEPTEMBER

N DUCTION

SORS

MANAGEMEN

12/08/2021

ctices

best pra Compressor

Endeavour Aw

2021

tion

Robotics in mo

12:57:08 PM

manmonthly.com.au MANAGEMENT >> TECHNOLOGY >> SOLUTIONS

To book contact DANNY HERNANDEZ now danny.hernandez@primecreative.com.au | 0431 330 232

t make the job

easier

Onshoring Manufacturing Onshoring the supply chain Essity Australasia collaborates with local suppliers against COVID-19 with a little help.

ECURE and responsive local manufacturers now have a competitive advantage over international imports in the wake of increased tariffs, shipping delays and global uncertainty. Local manufacturer Essity Australasia, has been tackling the issue of onshoring supply chains as a result of the COVID pandemic, pivoting to local suppliers. Essity had already responded to earlier pandemic-related disruption by installing an in-house 3D printing station at their Springvale facility when the ability to reliably import spare machine parts from Switzerland ground to a halt. After observing the demand for hospital-grade hand sanitiser, they embarked on an ambitious strategy via global brand Tork to fully develop a local supply chain for sanitiser and its accessories, including dispenser bottles and stands. “At the start of COVID, our sanitiser and bottles were produced in Sweden and the stands in the US,” said Matthew Arblaster, Essity’s operations manager at Springvale. “One of the first things we saw at the start of the pandemic was severe supply chain constraints for sanitiser.” Indeed, a major sanitiser supplier in the UK successfully Tork recognised that the majority of sales were through dispensers mounted on walls or stands.

manmonthly.com.au

Ensign’s high-quality sanitiser achieved TGA certification. cited “force majeure” as supply was commandeered for local use. “We recognised that the majority of sales were through dispensers mounted on walls or stands,” said Robin Craigie, marketing manager (Washroom) for Tork. “However, it required a specific bottle which collapses as it dispenses the sanitiser, which is a technically challenging project – not an item you can buy off your average retail shelf.” In collaboration with Quality Blow Moulders based in Dandenong South, the mould was developed at a pace which astounded their European colleagues. “They said it couldn’t be done within our six-month target timeframe,” said Robin. “Seeing the first bottles come off the line, we were all congratulating each other.” In order to supply hospitals and health care facilities with medicalgrade sanitiser, their product required certification from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Ensign Laboratories were a natural fit; based in Mulgrave and geographically close to the Essity facility, they rapidly developed a high-quality sanitiser which achieved TGA certification. The final step was born out of a

need for hand sanitiser in locations not usually found outside the washroom; entryways, doorways, counters, and registers. “Pre pandemic, you could import overengineered stands out of Europe, or poor-quality ones from elsewhere,” said Robin. Essity reached out to the South East Melbourne Manufacturers’ Alliance (SEMMA) to be connected with local metal fabricators who could assist. Hilton Manufacturing, located in Dandenong South, ultimately supplied the stands. “Todd and the Hilton team were fantastic to work with, they were responsive and had a sense of urgency,”said Robin. Now, in addition to supplying the local market, the all-in-one sanitiser, collapsible bottle, and portable stand are exported to regions still experiencing COVID restraints, such as the Middle east and Latin America. “We’re pretty busy; I work for a company supplying toilet paper and sanitiser during a pandemic,” said Robin. “The project came together because of our hard work and the support of all our local partners, it was a great way to end 2020.”

While the pandemic may have brought business closer to home out of necessity, there has been an observable shift in preference for locally made and supplied products with many organisations remaining with their newfound local partners. The versatility of local manufacturers during COVID has been recognised by SEMMA, with many businesses adopting new technologies or strategies which have helped to diversity their business and secure their supply chains, either by bringing them closer to home or inhouse where possible. President of SEMMA, Peter Angelico, said, “Manufacturing drives considerable benefits to the Australian economy – employment, productivity, self-sufficiency and innovation. Australian manufacturers invest heavily in equipment, technology, workplace safety, industrial relations partnerships, and remuneration for their skilled workforce. We choose to do these things because we value quality, innovation and most importantly, our people.” By Beverly Witherby, communications manager of SEMMA. For all SEMMA membership enquiries, she can be reached at beverly@semma.com.au Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 29

Manufacturing Strategies Start-up to rising star Manufacturers’ Monthly finds out more behind the growth of Australian vitamins business, Star Combo, as they worked with BDO to become one of the country’s leading contract manufacturers of supplements.

TAR Combo Pharma Limited’s journey from start up in 2004 to implementation of a high growth strategy has had little to do with luck. Extensive industry knowledge and expertise has seen the Sydney-based business well on the road to fulfilling their strategy to become Australia’s leading contract manufacturer of vitamins and health supplements. Founder and Managing Director, Star JinXing Zhang, is a biochemist with over 35 years’ sector experience and CEO Su Zhang has been working in pharmaceutical industry for over 10 years. From manufacturing a few product lines and selling small volumes into chemists in the early days, the company now has a multichannel distribution for own-brand and contract manufacturing. Star Combo established the organisation’s strategy of ensuring quality through management of the entire production chain, which has led to the stringent quality Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) certification. Building a partnership with the right professional expertise has been central to Star Combo’s development and success. BDO Audit were first engaged by Star Combo in 2018 to assist with the initial public offering (IPO) on the ASX, with partner Grant Saxon assisting the company to transition from a privately owned business to a listed entity. According to CFO Daniel Zheng, BDO’s guidance was “transformational”, delivering much more than the statutory audit. “Our journey through this transition was complex and required a number of recommendations around structural and governance changes. BDO provided this and more. We realised the value of having a trusted advisor in the professional services sector

30 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

to help guide us through our growth and development. This relationship has been something we have been able to rely on as we navigate our growth strategy.” BDO’s National Leader for Manufacturing, Ryan Pollett, connects BDO service line experts with Star Combo where they are needed most. “We work with them across a number of different areas: audit and assurance, corporate finance, corporate tax, transfer pricing, indirect taxes, R&D, financial reporting… whoever the subject matter expert is at BDO is the person we put forward to work with them.”

What a growth strategy looks like in practise Since the IPO in May 2018, Star Combo has acquired an Australianbased e-commerce platform and two physical retail stores in Sydney to sell their own-branded and contractmanufactured products. Online distribution accounts for over 50 per cent of revenue and has enabled the group to expand internationally, with multiple distribution channels throughout Australia, China, New Zealand, Vietnam, Korea, Thailand and Russia. Significant contracts with the likes of TerryWhite Chemmart and Chemist Warehouse means that that there is also a very strong retail base for Star Combo’s nutraceutical product in the Australian market. Today, Star Combo’s strategy is twofold: to grow their manufacturing capabilities and effectively double production, and to leverage government initiatives and keep abreast of the market through development of an R&D capability. According to Daniel Zheng, both initiatives have been developed with the assistance of Ryan Pollett and the

BDO has worked closely with Star Combo as they have transformed from a start up to a listed company in fast growth mode. BDO National Leader for Manufacturing, Ryan Pollett (left), and Star Combo CFO, Daniel Zheng (right), talk about their journey. team at BDO. “Ryan has the expert knowledge and experience in the manufacturing sector. He’s on top of sector trends and initiatives, and in our fast growth mode his skills and knowledge are very handy.” The upscale the current manufacturing facility capabilities is in progress, improving the site and inserting new production lines which will double output. Star Combo have also purchased the land adjacent to their manufacturing facility to develop a new, multi-level complex to accommodate a purpose-built R&D and test laboratory centre. This facility will enable the company to develop new and innovative products that will not only extend their product offering but attract a higher margin. With the assistance of BDO’s Research & Development (R&D) team, Star Combo receives the R&D Tax Incentive Offset to fund their ongoing R&D program so that they can continue to deliver new and innovative products to the market.

Strengthening relationships BDO has worked closely with Star Combo throughout the growth of their business, building a partnership that is highly valued by both parties. “There’s no doubt that it is a journey” said Ryan Pollett. “Like all businesses they have had challenges, and COVID has thrown in a few

stumbling blocks – but they are doing well. I believe that authenticity and trust has been an essential part of the relationship. We do have robust conversations – it is, after all, our job to provide recommendations - but it’s all done in a very collegiate and collaborative way.” BDO’s governance advice and internal control recommendations have been welcomed and implemented by Star Combo. “After working with Ryan for a number of years I feel we have developed a relationship based on mutual trust,” said Daniel. “From my perspective this is built on two key things: a personal connection, and the technical skills and relevant industry expertise. These factors, and the trust that has resulted, have helped our business grow.” “Ryan is very approachable and down-to-earth. He is very easy to contact - when I have questions, he is just a phone call or e-mail away. However, behind this amicable person is someone who is very driven. For example, our ASX reporting is always very tight, yet each time Ryan makes sure these timelines are met comfortably. His commitment and professionalism really stand out.” Clearly, a successful growth strategy in manufacturing has far more to do with good planning and establishing the right partnerships than it has to do with luck. manmonthly.com.au

Lubrication Systems Keeping up to date with automated lubrication systems Manufacturers’ Monthly speaks with JSG Industrial Systems’ New South Wales regional state manager, Brendon O’Loughlin, about how the company is helping manufacturers transition to automated lubricant systems.

NDUSTRY studies and data have shown that lubrication accounts for about one to three per cent of the overall cost of a manufacturer’s maintenance budget. However the impact of poor lubrication on equipment in terms of premature failures can become very costly, amounting up to 40 per cent of their maintenance budget. To help manufacturers avoid unnecessary downtime, JSG Industrial Systems (JSG), a John Sample Group business, uses its vast application engineering resource base, as well as OEM factory specifications, to determine the correct lubrication system needs for customer applications. JSG provides access to a complete service for the supply of automatic lubrication systems covering system scoping, design, installation, and commissioning through a national installation network with comprehensive after sales support. JSG regional manager for New South Wales, Brendon O’Loughlin,

said lubrication systems are vital for providing the right amount of lubricant at the right time, ranging from chain lubrication to rotating equipment. “As stated up to 40 per cent of maintenance costs can be attributed to poor lubrication, so having the right system correctly specified for the right equipment is essential,” he said. “Moving away from manual or older technology is crucial for both preventative maintenance routines and the health and safety of the workforce.” JSG has been a distributor for SKF’s Lincoln lubrication systems since 1961, and is SKF’s largest lubrication system partner globally. JSG became strongly linked with SKF when they acquired the Lincoln Group in 2010. JSG has been involved in the delivery of highquality lubrication systems to all industrial and mining markets for more than 50 years. Since the acquisition, SKF has maintained a strong relationship with

John Sample Group recently upgraded the lubrication system at a steel plant in Wollongong.

manmonthly.com.au

The SKF Dual Line Lubrication System.

JSG – forming a business partnership that has flourished and grown over the past ten years.

Educating customers With a focus on heavy industry in the mining and construction markets in Australia, O’Loughlin said part of the job is doing an investment analysis for companies, as lubrication systems can last up to 50 years. He said it is a big job for customers to integrate a new lubrication system into their processes and JSG provides comprehensive support to ensure this happens smoothly JSG had recently installed an upgraded new automatic lubrication system for a major steel business in Wollongong, NSW area. “This is in an area of the plant where the heat generated is such that employees cannot access the moving chain,” O’Loughlin said. “The system delivers the right amount of lubricant to the moving chain and has been essential for increasing chain life and therefore reducing production stoppages.” JSG offers several types of systems, and the challenge is matching the correct system to the correct application. “For example, up to five different

types of lubrication systems may be needed at one plant, such as in a pulp and paper mill, where zones range from a woodyard to the dryers and paper presses,” O’Loughlin said. With a long history in engineering the right solution for customers, JSG Industrial Systems continues to provide access to a complete service for the supply of automatic lubrication system. These services cover system scoping, design, installation, and commissioning through a national installation network with comprehensive after sales support. “For more tradition manufacturers, as the latest technology is explained to them, it becomes clear they need to change what they are doing. The process is more about the cost savings they can achieve over the long term,” O’Loughlin said. “Many established manufacturers have systems that are more than 50 years old or were incorrectly specified from the start. “As these systems start to fail and spare parts become scarce, (businesses) typically look at alternate options especially if they are experiencing consistent bearing failures.” Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 31

Advanced Robotics Driving growth with AI technology In discussion with Professor Will Browne, chair in Manufacturing Robotics at Queensland University of Technology and CSIRO, with ARM Hub, Manufacturers’ Monthly learns how manufacturers can access AI as a tool to grow their business.

N a manufacturing business’ pursuit of competitiveness and growth, it may regard the use of robotics and artificial intelligence as a fundamental step forward. However, it can be a challenge to take that step, particularly for busy small-tomedium-sized manufacturers. The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub (ARM Hub) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation focused on applying digital technologies to manufacturing businesses, to aid in the pursuit of increased technology adoption for productivity and business growth. Professor Will Browne spearheads this work in his role at the ARM Hub. “Many organisations do the research, but how can you take these

great research ideas and deliver on the actual manufacturing applications needed?” he said. Professor Browne is an expert in explainable AI. Explainable AI ensures humans can understand why the system made a particular decision – it can explain an evolved, useful solution that has pairs symbolic systems with general deep neural networks. “Many companies have said ‘we want to have confidence; we want to have trust. We want to diagnose what’s going on and therefore we need the systems to be able to explain their decision-making process,’” he said. But more than this, it’s about examining what you could do to change the outcome of a decision, Professor Browne said.

“You can integrate AI, not just as a decision-making tool that is independent, but the decision-making tool humans can collaborate with,” Professor Browne said. “A lot of my work is helping Australian businesses understand that AI is not some black box in a corner that spits out wisdom, but something we can interact with and understand why it’s making these decisions. We want to know how we can get it to change its decisions by changing the way we do things. And if we changed our processes, what would be the consequences of that?”

Interacting with robots Facilitating the interaction with AI technology has become a key part of how the ARM Hub has helped

companies to thrive. The ARM Hub is part of a current project to enable adaptive learning robots to complement the human workforce. It aims to address challenges around safety for people working in conjunction with robots in a shared environment. “A lot of the time, SMEs don’t have the capacity to separate half of their workspace for robots and half for humans; they have to have humans and robots working together,” Professor Browne said. “With forestry, for example, you need humans to actually plant the saplings to find the best place for them. But you don’t want them to carry 40kg of saplings up and down the mountain, so you get an

Professor Will Browne, panel member at the Tropical Innovation Festival, discussing AI and innovation.

32 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

manmonthly.com.au

AdvancedRobotics Valiant Space’s space propulsion system in testing.

Professor Will Browne, chair in Manufacturing Robotics at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and CSIRO, with ARM Hub.

We’re finding ways that we can put robotics and AI into enhancing the way manufacturing works, securing jobs, improving profitability and making people’s lives better while they’re at work. autonomous robot to do it.” According to Professor Browne, it is not efficient if the robot stops each time a human is nearby or if it moves as a human reaches to pick a sapling out of the bucket. For this, collaboration is needed. It is also beneficial in removing risks in a dangerous or repetitive job, with the robot and human working together for mutual benefit. “UAP (Urban Art Projects), where ARM Hub is co-located, have an expert metal polisher who has refined the polishing of large scale metal sheets using traditional methods, which is time consuming and backbreaking work,” Professor Browne said. “On the Design Robotics project with UAP, IMCRC, QUT and RMIT, our robotics experts worked with him to get a robot up and running to collaborate on portions of his work, not only is this much faster, but the worker has less back strain, less stress and is now manmonthly.com.au

working to collaborate with robots more readily.” “We’re finding ways that we can put robotics and AI into enhancing the way manufacturing works, securing jobs, improving profitability and making people’s lives better while they’re at work.”

Making AI accessible to manufacturers ARM Hub establishes rapport with Australian manufacturers to discover what they really need for their business to flourish. This could be guidance in securing funding, advice on technology that best suits their needs, or referral to businesses that can provide an off-the-shelf solution to solve an issue. For SMEs, ARM Hub typically helps scope their business processes and business model so the company is aware of all the opportunities available to them. ARM Hub is available to conduct audits and

determine the best course of action to take the guess work out of digital adoption. Support to access funding is also available. “For example, Consolidated Linen Services, accessed a small commercial grant through the Queensland government’s Essential Goods and Supply Chain program, where we assessed the feasibility of automated laundry solutions,” Professor Browne said. “The food and agricultural sector are intensely innovating too. For example, we are investigating robotics to monitor different food stocks, where extra detail such as water in the atmosphere has to managed because of its potential impact on the results. We work with companies to find the best value proposition and provide un-biased options to meet company goals.” With many links to expert talent, all outcomes are project specific and can engage ARM Hub technical and project staff, universities and strategic commercial businesses. The ARM Hub has a large collaborative Learning Factory that provides space for businesses to scale up and prove out technology, with access to expertise and prototyping capabilities. There are up to six leasable spaces available for companies to use to enhance their manufacturing business.

Valiant Space, a Brisbane-based space propulsion company, uses the ARM Hub Learning Factory as the centre of operations where design, manufacture and testing of propulsion systems all happen under one roof. Another Learning Factory tenant Omron, the globally recognised automation, sensor and actuator company, utilises the space to demonstrate their robotic and production data management platforms. ARM Hub’s driving objective is to support Australian manufacturers to understand operational challenges and potential technology solutions to improve their day-to-day operations, effect valuable change and support sustainable growth. AI is one industry 4.0 technology that ARM Hub deploys and is a major opportunity for Australian manufacturers to seek a market advantage. “Netflix will happily tell you what you should be watching next,” Browne said. “There’s no reason why manufacturers couldn’t use these types of recommender systems to figure out where or what they should be selling next, or how to innovate in their supply chain, or to determine the robustness of their processes, or to improve their customer experience. There are vast opportunities for what AI can do.” Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 33

Compressors Screw compressor designed to take the lead Manufacturers’ Monthly finds out about the new S-4 series screw compressors, featuring breakthrough energy savings and easy maintenance.

HE new innovative Series – 4 screw compressors mark both the 4th generation of air compressors for BOGE as well as the 4th generation of the family owners of the company. BOGE now enjoys a history of over 115 years of ‘First Class Engineering made in Germany’. With the new S-4 models the 4th generation of the popular S-series is already starting out to encourage and spearhead industrial progress. This generation not only makes it possible to achieve a significant breakthrough with saving energy, but also takes sound insulation and ease of maintenance to an entirely new level. If you need continuous compressed air, then BOGE screw compressors are your first choice. The S-4 series from BOGE sets the standard for the quiet, efficient and reliable generation of compressed air. Compressed air is, after all, one of the most important auxiliary supplies in industry and trade. And as varied as your demands might be, their long-lasting technology, minimal need for maintenance and improvements to achieve maximum efficiency will

fit perfectly wherever you need a reliable compressed air supply. New models include 55, 75, 90, 110, 132 and 160kW with fixed speed and variable speed options from 7.5 to 13bar. Features of the S-4 compressors include: • BOGE air end The core of the new S-4 range, the BOGE airend, is not just the first airend with this design, it is also the promising new test vehicle in technologies aiming to reduce energy consumption and noise pollution. All of the components are generously sized, which explains the low internal pressure losses and its enormous efficiency levels. • Sound-optimised cooling air duct Reduced noise levels due to specific insulation measures at the deflection points. The drive and airend naturally generate sound pressure. With the new S..-4, every effort has been made to ensure none of the pressure escapes: the multi-deflection cooling air duct deals with noise in a very effective manner. And to ensure this does

•

not cause any losses in cooling performance, the space for the cooling air duct has been designed very generously from the start. Low-speed radial fan The low-volume radial fan operates at a particularly low speed which not only has a positive effect on the sound pressure, but also lowers the drive power of the fan, increase efficiency and reduce energy costs. As an extra, the fan can also be fitted with a speed control to further reduce noise levels and power demand. Elastic “Silent-Mount” suspension The principle of isolation from vibrations is key across the whole design of the S-4. The drive motor and the airend are attached flexibly to the base frame, thereby also separating them from the effects of vibration. Each of these characteristics helps reduce the noise level from the device. Maintenance-friendly design based on easy access All sound-insulating panels on the S-4 can be removed for fast access in next to no time. Regular maintenance work can be performed from just two sides: Changing the oil and separation cartridge takes place at the front of the machine, likewise the suction regulator, minimum pressure valve and oil regulator. Only the oil filter, the air filter and the primary intake air filter are changed from the side. Innovative separation technology for safe, convenient cartridge replacement. New swivel mechanism for the cover makes changing cartridges faster and reduces the risk of accidents

Simply everything under control The new BOGE S-4 screw range compressor delivers high volumes with low energy consumption. 34 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

An intelligent control concept underlies the formidable growth

in efficiency of this series. The modular focus control 2.0 is state-of-the-art, because it allows you to simply have everything under control – with the emphasis on “simply”: this higher level control, which also serves as a network control for up to four fixed and/or frequency-controlled compressors. Everything is simple: you authenticate yourself via the RFID-Chip, and intuitively control the various functions, this makes compressed air generation more efficient and reliable.

S-4 Screw compressor with integrated dryer - taking efficiency to a new level Energy-efficient, high-performance, low noise and compact: BOGE S-4 series is already well-known for these characteristics. But now the compressed air specialist is expanding its portfolio to include screw compressors with an optional integrated dryer. Available in the 55 to 110 kW models, they still provide all the typical benefits of the compressors in the S-4 range but also provide users with extremely low pressure losses and excellent reliability of the refrigerant compressed air dryer. Thanks to the intelligent integration of the dryer into the marginally extended device body, the unit only require very little extra space for installation in comparison to the addition of a separate downstream refrigerant dryer with the associated additional piping, this compares favourably with additional higher installation and overall costs. The refrigerant dryer’s electronics and control systems are integrated directly into the compressor controller.

Reduced footprint and quieter operation Thanks to its large-scale design, the BOGE S-4 screw compressor provides high delivery volumes manmonthly.com.au

Compressors with low power consumption. The core element of every individual compressor is the compression pump designed and produced inhouse, and the robust integrated power transmission or direct drive with speed control. The optimally designed cooling air duct and the vertical oil separator that has been isolated from any mechanical vibration ensure the very quietest operation. Even the integration of the refrigerant dryer into the device has not had any effect on the compressor’s noise emissions. In the case of the S56-4, for example, the volume remains just 68 dB(A). The compressed air has a pressure dew point of 3°C and is suitable for use across a range of applications. One huge advantage of these S-4 compressors is their reduced footprint in comparison with similar compressors with separate downstream refrigeration – having a different unit to dry the compressed air means increased

manmonthly.com.au

installation costs for both the electrics and pipework.

All inclusive: our Cairpacs Original BOGE parts are tested prior to release for several thousand hours to ensure consistently high system efficiency and to minimise the risk of unplanned machine stoppages. Regular maintenance with original BOGE parts, therefore, protects your investment. Our BOGE cairpac maintenance packages include all the parts required for maintenance and cost less than the sum of the individual parts.

About BOGE Compressors Australasia BOGE Compressors have been established in Australia since 2006 and was incorporated as an independent subsidiary in 2010. BOGE Australia import and distribute BOGE high-quality German machines, spare parts and all ancillary equipment through a comprehensive network of fully-

BOGE Cairpacs assist manufacturers by minimising rises of unplanned plant stoppages. trained sales and service partners throughout Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Managing director Zahid Rasool notes that with the increasing demand for compressors, BOGE Compressors Australia keeps a large range of machines in stock, ready for delivery. This includes oil-injected screw compressors from 5.5hp up to

220hp, oil-free scroll compressors from 4kW to 22kW, a large range of medical and desiccant dryers, refrigerated air dryers to over 2,000cfm, 40bar boosters, and a large range of spare parts. For more information contact BOGE Compressors Australia: (03) 5940 5913 Find your nearest BOGE distributor at www.boge.net.au

Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 35

Customer Engagement Solving issues remotely for manufacturers Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, VEGA has been supporting its customers by solving issues remotely. Manufacturers’ Monthly explains.

N the troubled times brought by COVID-19, VEGA has implemented measures to help manufacturers deal with unprecedented lockdowns Australiawide. A large part of this has been remotely troubleshooting their customers’ problems. This includes keeping plant and machinery in a prime condition and solving issues quickly and with ease. VEGA that has been supplying German-manufactured, high-quality products to manufacturers for a long time. Like most companies, they had to adapt to the new climate quickly and have people on the ground in most states and territories.

“We’ve got three in Western Australia, one that covers South Australia and the Northern Territory, three in Queensland, five – including two service guys – in New South Wales and two in Victoria,” said VEGA service manager, John Coulton. “I support them by phone and also Zoom video and remote support if need be. Internationally, we have a 24-hour hotline and if a call comes to my mobile during Australian daylight hours, or if there are issues interstate, I will discuss with the BDM and work out an action plan taking into consideration travel restrictions in the present environment.”

VEGA has offered remote assistance to manufacturers across Australia throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

36 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

VEGA has used a few strategies to help clients with troubleshooting. While it is ideal to be on the ground, with lockdown laws in place, other methods have been adopted. “We’ve got everybody on Zoom, so that is our main way to support the industry in terms of our service and sales team to help with any issues remotely,” said Alex Mazor, VEGA’s marketing manager. “We are available to help customers with product settings, adjustments and diagnostics. Also, we’re remotely assisting our customers by being able to access VEGA software platforms such as PACTware using a remote function via IOS, Android and PC devices, so that helps them with any set up, product demo or backend configurations. We also have live chat, which has been a great tool for remote support and customer service. “Our service and sales team have a wealth of experience and utilising Zoom for them as been really central, especially when it comes to reassuring our customers that it is business as usual for VEGA.” Coulton gives a practical example of how this assistance works for both VEGA and the client. “We have a bagging company that is a client who bought two new radars from us and they tried to set them up themselves, but didn’t have much success,” he said. “So the client set up the PACTware software package and sent us some echo curves and that helped tell us what the issue was.” PACTware is utilised similarly to a depth sounder in a boat. It gives users a graphical representation of what the radar can help them see, said Coulton. “He was in the Riverina, so we connected to his computer via Team Viewer and we saw what was happening, albeit on a smaller scale. We got drawings of the silo so we knew what we were looking at.

As you would expect the bagging system had a big taper, so it wasn’t a straightforward job. It took us two days to help set up the two different silos – we did one during one morning and the next one after that. We told the client what he needed to do in terms of aiming the radar – which is similar to aiming a torch and seeing where you shine it – and fixed the problem. We were seeing it live even though we were not there. With our experience, we were able to fix it.” Another example of support with the same software package comes with what VEGA calls a service recording. The customer does not have to understand what the issue is or to look at it. All they have to do is connect it up to the sensor, which starts recording all the data – such as the parameters, echo curves, trends and an event model – and they can email that information to Coulton. “I’ll take it home and a have a look at it and help them fix the issue,” he said. “If it was something like the bagging issue, it might be that it is playing up where they’re filling it, and they need to do several changes to fix it. While he is doing these changes, I’m looking at it at the same time as him and helping him solve the problem. I treat it like it is a training exercise for them, as well as fixing the problem.”

VEGA Tools App One piece of technology that the company has is the VEGA Tools App, which can be used on either an iPhone, iPad or Android mobile phone. “In the old days there were two ways of setting up an instrument – either pressing a button on the top or a laptop. Now its Bluetooth, so the customer can pull out their iPhone or iPad or android device and use the VEGA Tools App. They don’t need a laptop anymore,” said Coulton. “I was up at a mine in the Pilbara manmonthly.com.au

CustomerEngagement The PACTware software package allows manufacturers to identify and solve problems remotely.

for a couple of weeks doing a training course. We did an exercise where the foreman decided to invite some of the young technicians who utilise a device, we call a hockey puck, which is connected to their phones

via Bluetooth. They put the puck on the sensor and put the information onto their iPhone and they sent me a screen shot of the problem. As with this exercise and in real instances, nine times out of ten we can fix the

issue if we can see what the issue is. It gives clients another tool to fix a problem.” With Zoom, VEGA has gone a little bit further. The customer can have their phone on them, start the

VEGA Tools App, have all the settings ready and can have a Zoom meeting to show Coulton the problem that has occurred via mirroring. “John can mirror his phone with Zoom and diagnose the problem,” said Mazor. “It takes screen shots to the next level. The customer can see what is happening and so can John and can diagnose or change settings that way remotely. The sales team can work in tandem doing the same. It really just takes troubleshooting and support to the whole next level. You can screen share to the service team using any IOS or Android and PC devices. That has been really critical, and we are utilising the technology as much as we can to reassure customers that we are there for them.” VEGA also does product demonstrations live through Zoom, setting up a scenario where the company can go through the product with clients. While the circumstances in which they work might have changed, the amount of support the company offers has not.

MONEY DISAPPEARING INTO THIN AIR? IT MAY BE TIME FOR AN AIR AUDIT.

AA041021

Sullair’s free standard air audit service* assesses where in your system you may be losing valuable airflow – and provides custom solutions to help it run more efficiently.

Book your free air audit today at sullair.com.au/products/air-audits or by calling 1300 COMPRESSOR.

manmonthly.com.au

Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 37

Maintenance Henkel’s LOCTITE maintenance workshops add reliability to plant operations Manufacturers’ Monthly finds out about how LOCTITE products are used to drive cost savings and improve sustainability.

ROACTIVE maintenance is a norm in many industrial operations, including in recycling plants. But even with a program of preventive maintenance in place, it’s easy to miss small leaks through a loose fastener or fretting corrosions in bearings and other cylindrical parts. To help the maintenance and repair teams keep a closer watch on the potential areas of imminent failure and to drive more cost effectiveness from the equipment, Henkel Australia provides in-plant surveys and training workshops in partnership with their national distribution partners. Commercial Business Manager, Stephen Grimstone, explains what the workshops aim to deliver. “Our hands-on, on-site training workshops review common failures, teaching our customers’ maintenance teams how to avoid these with a proactive maintenance routine and avoid costly, unplanned downtime. This helps increase uptime and productivity within plants.” “Our LOCTITE engineers identify process issues and equip maintenance staff with the plans, knowledge and tools to improve cost savings, streamline operations and boost reliability when they implement LOCTITE maintenance solutions,” he says. Solutions that incorporate LOCTITE services, alongside adhesives, epoxies, coatings and sealants, can help businesses develop a more proactive approach, reduce costly downtime, enhance reliability of operations and lower overall operating costs. Henkel’s Victoria and Tasmania State Sales Manager, Richard Hoe, has been with the company for nearly 10 years and delivered hundreds

38 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Henkel Australia’s LOCTITE maintenance and assembly experts support product distributors and end-users by offering guidance and product knowledge about common failure causes and prevention methods in different industries. of MRO workshops to end users in different industries. Hoe explains the workshops are often subdivided into two parts. “First, we conduct a plant survey to identify the specific applications that the particular facility has. We then tailor our training session to focus on the particular solutions that could help the maintenance team achieve more efficiency and reduce downtime by using the range of solutions that Henkel’s LOCTITE adhesives have to offer.” Hoe says having the right products and tools close by can allow you to react as quickly as possible. So even if you can’t completely remove unplanned downtime, you can at least dampen its overall impact. “For example, as part of the training workshops, we might talk about how and why gaskets fail, why the threaded seals leak, what causes bearings to slip in the shafts or housings, and more importantly, how these can be prevented by using the right products from the Henkel LOCTITE range.” The LOCTITE industrial adhesive

range includes a number of anaerobic adhesive solutions that are ideal for preventive maintenance in a workshop scenario, Hoe says. These solutions are subdivided into four core categories: thread locking, thread sealing, liquid gasket solutions and retaining. In a recent LOCTITE maintenance workshop, Hoe says the LOCTITE engineering team noticed that a customer was using PTFE tapes to seal pipe threads, which was not doing the job efficiently. “By introducing the LOCTITE thread sealants to the customer, we were able to resolve the leakage problem. The solution was implemented over the weekend and the production line was back in operation by Monday,” Hoe says. This is where LOCTITE rely on their distribution partners to not only supply products to customers but engage in site surveys to get an insight into the customers’ needs. According to Hoe, while the LOCTITE anaerobic adhesives have become synonymous with high performance and reliability, the

brand is consistently improving. Starting this year, the LOCTITE anaerobic adhesives products are available in new and improved packaging bottles that help reduce the risk of counterfeit products being purchased. In another move that helps end users deliver on their own waste reduction targets, Henkel has partnered with TerraCycle, a global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials, to provide a package recycling solution for its anaerobic adhesive range. Grimstone adds: “Together with our distribution partners, we don’t just provide access to the products required but work with our customers to get the job done right and help them add value in their respective operations.” Even these days with the limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Henkel LOCTITE and its distribution partners both go to great lengths to support its customers and continue to engage with customers through webinars, online meetings and training videos,” he concludes. manmonthly.com.au

Metal Cutting Tools How the best get better: Introducing 3M Cubitron II Fibre Disc 982CX Pro Engineers at BSC have developed metal cutting tools for improving precision, well suited for multiple high-pressure applications.

HE 3M Cubitron II Fibre Disc 982CX Pro features 3M’s pioneered microreplication grain technology with pyramid-shaped precision fibre discs that cut through metal like a hot knife through butter – except without the heat. The engineers at 3M were the first to develop precision-shaped grain technology with the 3M Cubitron 982C series model, and now they’ve reinvented it by re-engineering their original precision-shaped grain to create a fibre disc that cuts 33 per cent faster than the original grade disc, according to Nathan Bamford, Application Engineer from 3M’s Abrasive Systems Division. “Conventional ceramic abrasive grains tend to plow through metal, causing heat to build up between the workpiece and the abrasive, resulting in a slower cut and shorter abrasive life,” said Bamford. “With the new 3M Cubitron II Fibre Disc 982CX Pro, we’ve taken the legendary cutting speed and life of 3M Cubitron II Abrasives to a new level. 3M engineers were the first to develop microreplication technology that form consistent, sharp peaks and easily slice through metal—cutting

When working with stainless steel, some abrasives can have impurities in them that cause oxidisation and corrosion, but this is not the case for the 982 CX Pro. manmonthly.com.au

cooler, faster and lasting longer than conventional abrasive grain.” The new discs are available in 36+ grade, in a range of sizes, designed to speed up production through faster cutting, longer disc life, and improved performance. Importantly, this also means that operators will be less fatigued after use. “One of the ways they achieve this is by cutting with less force and pressure which reduces operator efforts, and the overall heat buildup between the application and the abrasive,” explains Michael Rowe, BSC’s National Product Manager for Abrasives. “This makes the 982CX Pro well-suited to high-pressure applications like weld removal, beveling, heavy deburring and other aggressive grinding applications,” he says, adding that it also makes it ideal for cutting carbon steel. “The 982CX Pro is a must-have for any workshop where steelwork is required,” Rowe said. “When working with stainless steel, some abrasives can have impurities in them that cause oxidisation and corrosion. So, this product can withstand the rigors of steelwork, while also producing a workpiece that is clean and free from impurities.” The iteration of this the new model speaks to the dedication and work on the 3M research and development side, according to Rowe. “This is an evolution in the abrasive side of their business. The precision peak technology with its consistent tiny cutting pyramids is a significant leap ahead from traditional abrasive grain technology from other manufacturers, which can often feel like cutting with a handful of rocks.” BSC are dedicated to offering quality abrasive solutions and are excited to announce that this has landed in Australia and is stocked throughout the BSC network of

The 3M Cubitron 11 Fibre Disc 982CX Pro.

3M engineers were the first to develop microreplication technology that form consistent, sharp peaks and easily slice through metal-cutting cooler, faster and lasting longer than conventional abrasive grain. locations. The 3M Abrasives Team work closely with BSC and Motion Asia Pacific’s businesses to provide training and joint calls aimed at improving their customers’ processes. “We share a joint cause in promoting on-site demonstrations because we feel nothing is as effective as a live demonstration when it comes to understanding how a new product works,” Rowe said. Customers are sure to notice

a difference when they make the switch to the 982CX Pro, with its re-engineered grain design, but Rowe advises customers to try it for themselves against their current grinding wheel and then enjoy the extra time and energy it will afford in the workshop. “Along with 3M, we are offering welders and steelworkers the opportunity to focus on other matters of production beyond getting that perfect clean cut,” he concluded.

The 3M Cubitron II Fibre Disc 982CX Pro features, benefits and applications include: • Faster cutting and longer lasting compared to Cubitron II Fibre Discs 982C • Cuts with less pressure — helps reduce operator fatigue • Ideal for medium and high-pressure applications like weld removal, beveling, heavy deburring and other aggressive grinding applications • Optimised for use on carbon steel

Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 39

Belt Technology Seeding solutions for a Queensland bark mix manufacturer CBC’s processing technologies improves the quality control at Queensland-based bark product manufacturer, Bassett Barks.

ALPH Waldo Emerson once said: “The creation of a thousand forests is contained in a single acorn.” This is the case for Queensland-based Bassett Barks, who produce potting mix for plants from composted bark that provide healthy soil nutrients for growing operations. At the heart of Bassett Barks’ operations is a philosophy that promotes organic and sustainable processes through advanced bark processing technology. According to workshop supervisor, Clem O’Mara, bark has valuable organic properties that retain water, improve the pH balance of soil, and encourage stronger growth rates in plants and micro-organisms. “The bark products we make are manufactured at the Bassett Barks site from plantation timber and recycled milling material,” he said. “Our composting is done on a purpose built concrete treated secure site and we perform rigorous on-site testing to meet strict quality control procedures.” About a year ago, O’Mara discovered CBC as a supplier and immediately saw them as a fit for Bassett Barks’ operational requirements. “We have wheel loaders, excavators, mobile screening equipment, trommels and a fleet of trucks that all require bearing and drives to run, and CBC is a one-stopshop for those type of solutions,” he said. During the manufacturing process, the raw bark is moved from the mills to the Bassett Barks workshop facility where it goes into a megagrinder to be ground into bark chips. At that stage, it is then sorted through screens and trommels and grouped by size for packaging.

40 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

O’Mara maintains, repairs, and services all the equipment on site. “I do a lot of multitasking and prioritising to ensure our machines are always up and running,” he said. Recently, O’Mara was experiencing an issue with the belts on his megagrinder — the belts he was using were simply not lasting and causing unnecessary downtime to the most vital piece of equipment in his workshop. “The megagrinder was running a diesel V12 engine with three belts that were driving the rotor and grinding the bark,” explained O’Mara. “I rang up David Harwood and his team at CBC and they sent out a Gates on-site engineer to our site,” he continued. “They did a design for us and suggested a new belt drive solution which allowed us to run less belts on the same megagrinder with even more horsepower.” CBC sales representative, David Harwood, explained how the right belt drive solution was selected for the megagrinder engine using Gates Design Flex Pro software. “Finding the right belt solution is a constant challenge for any manufacturing environment because every machine has unique service needs,” said Harwood. “Maintenance workers may try to implement the belts they have on hand when a piece of equipment has very specific requirements, which is why we work closely with Gates as a partner to facilitate better belt solutions and increase the performance of belts on any given piece of equipment.” “The Gates Design Flex Pro software makes drive design solutions much more streamlined by calculating the most efficient and effective belt

Gates Super HC PowerBand belts. solution for a particular piece of equipment,” said Harwood. “The software confirms the suitability of the existing drive solutions by analysing maintenance procedures and tension details. It can also survey an entire plants stock management plan to match and consolidate solutions.” According to Harwood, O’Mara’s megagrinder was running for an extended period, which required very high belt usage. “The original belts were experiencing a lot of slippages because of the width of the belts, causing the belts to work twice as hard and break quickly,” he said. “After performing an analysis of the current belt drive system using the Design Flex software, our Gates engineer suggested to change them out to Gates Super HC PowerBand belts.” The PowerBand belts are constructed from multiple v-belts tied together to function as a single unit, enabling them to handle highspeed and high-load applications with combined strength. “Where a single belt may twist or jump off a pulley, the PowerBand distributes load through tensile bands creating a much more stable solution using tensile forces,” explained Harwood. “The strands of the belts fit securely into a sheave groove which resists slippage and vibrational loads.” The solution was successful and got O’Mara’s megagrinder up and running again immediately by increasing the power and the life of each belt, and ultimately reducing overall costs and downtime for his workshop. O’Mara was pleased with the results. “I’ve come to rely on CBC in the past few years,” he said. “I ring David at least twice a week with stock orders and his team always delivers

promptly. I really get the sense that CBC cares about our business and they will go above and beyond to find the right solution — even going so far as to send sales representatives from their suppliers out to our site.” He concluded, “As a customer, there is not much more I could ask for from a supplier. I feel confident that no matter how great a challenge or how big of an ask, CBC would find a way to deliver to us.”

Gates Super HC PowerBand key features and benefits: • The Tie Band assures high lateral rigidity, guiding the belt in a straight line and preventing it from coming off the drive • Concave sidewalls provide proper cord support and full contact with the sheave-groove for equal loading and uniform wear • Flex-Bonded Cords are strongly bonded to the body of the belt resulting in equal load distribution and the absorption of bending stress without cord deterioration • Highly resistant to tensile and flexing forces, fatigue and shock loads • High stability and smooth running on the toughest drives • Temperature Range: -30°C to +60°C (-22°F to +140°F) • Meets RMA oil and heat resistant standards • Meets RMA static conductivity requirements

Size range/availability: • Large Inventory of standard lengths and widths are readily available. See sizing table for details • Other belt lengths available on request manmonthly.com.au

Brought to you by

What’sNew

Introducing Lorch Cobot Welding Cobot welding is growing at an exponential rate across Europe, and Lorch is now bringing Lorch Cobot Welding to Australia and New Zealand. The Lorch Collaborative Robot has a simple to set up, program, which is easy to use. The system is also relatively portable, very flexible, and versatile – for example it can be cost effectively programmed for welding small production, 20 or 30 pieces for one day and something completely different the next. All with 100 per cent perfect welding performance every time from the power source’s standpoint. The Cobotronic software, comes with the Lorch Collaborative Robot package, and is the software platform that is part of Lorch’s IP which combines the cobot elements and the Lorch welding power source together to create a cutting-edge Industry 4.0-optimised welding solution that is simple to program, delivering excellent welding results which is perfect for small-to medium-sized enterprises. A shop floor operator or welder could program the system and use it effectively – and it’s fast to set up, so there is not much training needed. Cobot welding is also not a replacement for industrial robotic welding but instead, something new in welding automation. Lorch Cobot welding technology is different from industrial robots in many areas: • Size, weight & portability: Cobots are small, light and relatively portable. They are designed to be used in the general work environment, in close proximity with people. • Safety: Cobots operate at human speed, have unique integrated safety features enabling close interaction with people with minimal or in some cases no dedicated safety guards or external protection. • Intelligent Lorch Cobotronic software creates a simple to operate welding system that is typically programed by the welder or shop floor operator. • Lorch advanced Speed Processes deliver perfect welding in all positions removing the need for complex and expensive jigs and fixtures.

• Fast setup and simple programming enable much smaller production quantities to be cost effectively welded. • Capital investment: Cobot systems are typically more cost effective with a quick return of investment. Sales demonstration/application and training centres have been setup across the region with accredited Lorch Cobot Partners. To find a partner near you, go to www. lorch.com.au. Additionally, there are well-trained Lorch certified service infrastructure already established across the region for backup and support. Typically, when a customer purchases a Lorch Cobot System, it comes with installation and a two-day training program from the Lorch Cobot Partner. Company: Lorch South Pacific Phone: +1 314 609 6203 Web: www.lorch.com.au Email: LSP@lorch.eu

VSDs – the next generation’s compressor Atlas Copco brings you the GA VSDs – a truly groundbreaking compressor for the generation that demands it all. When Atlas Copco introduced the first VSD compressor more than 20 years ago, it could not imagine that there would ever be another compressor that would so drastically change the industry. And yet, here they are, doing it for the third time with this third generation of VSD technology. It is the result of continuous investment in innovation. But more importantly, it is the result of the expertise and the hard work of their development teams. It is as though they reinvented the compressor – looking at every single component

to figure out how we can make a revolutionary product even better, even more efficient, even more reliable, and even more sustainable. The result is a true marvel of innovation that deserves all the superlatives used today to describe it. But the VSDS is not just a new generation of VSD compressors, it is the compressor for a new generation, a true sustainable innovation. Their products are at the cutting edge of technology and allow our customers to, not only meet today’s standards but also those of tomorrow. Climate change is having a direct impact on lives. Sustainability is no longer an option, but something we must achieve. They have to make a meaningful difference together … not in some distant future but right now. Atlas Copco is ready to seize this mantle of responsibility – because they have never been satisfied with the status quo and will always keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible. There really is no better example of this innovative spirit than this VSDS. It cuts energy use so drastically that it has a direct impact on the customers’ environmental footprint. They also choose not to use rare earth materials in their new motor design. That may seem like a small thing, but it illustrates how important sustainability is. When you add up the unrivalled performance and the careful use of resources, you get a compressor that leads the way and raises the bar once again. It’s a truly transformational compressor for a rapidly changing industry. Company: Atlas Copco Phone: 1800 023 469 Website: www.atlascopco.com/en-au/compressors

manmonthly.com.au

Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 41

Brought to you by

What’sNew

BST presents Neousys’s Nuvo-6000 series Intel 6th-Gen Core i7/i5 Expansion Box PC with up to 5 PCIe/PCI slots Backplane Systems Technology is proud to present Neousys’s Nuvo-6000 Series, which is the perfect replacement for your bulky rack-mount or wall-mount IPC systems. Leveraging the Intel 6th-Gen Skylake platform, it delivers the same computing power as traditional IPCs, but in a more compact form-factor and fanless operation. Nuvo-6000 series supports LGA1151 socket-type CPU, thus you can choose

from Core i7 to Celeron depending on your performance and cost consideration. Its 5-slot capacity gives the same level of expandability as most IPCs. The frontaccessible I/O design, including 2 GbE, 4 USB 3.1 Gen1, and 5 COM ports, makes it easier to access your Nuvo-6000 when it’s placed inside a cabinet or a rack. The proven fanless design on Nuvo-6000 presents extraordinary reliability in all circumstances. And its versatile mounting options make it fit for desktop, cabinet, or a 19” rack. With similar performance and cost, better form-factor, and reliability. The Nuvo-6000 series is speaking for itself on the new horizon of industrial computers. Key features: • supports 6th-Gen Intel Core i7/i5/i3, Pentium and Celeron LGA1151 CPU; • up to five expansion slots; • rugged, -25 °C to 60 °C fanless operation; • 2x GbE, 4x USB 3.1 Gen1 and 5x COM Ports; • dual DVI display outputs; • Up to 3x 2.5” SATA Accommodation and 1x mSATA socket; • wall-mounting, DIN-Rail mounting, and rack-mounting available; and • automatic temperature sensing and fan control (optional). Company: Backplane Systems Technology Phone: (02) 9457 6400 Website: www.backplane.com.au

Embedded box computer with Intel Core i3/i5/i7/i9 processor The innovative design of the BOXER-6642-CML delivers high performance computing power in a low-profile form factor perfect for deploying in tight spaces. The BOXER-6642-CML is the first fanless industrial PC from AAEON to offer 10th Generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7/i9 (formerly Comet Lake) processors with up to 35W TDP. Supported processor options include: Core i9-10900TE, i7-10700TE, i5-10500TE and i3-10100TE. By utilising a desktop socket-type chipset, the BOXER6642-CML delivers greater performance when compared with systems deploying mobile chipsets, plus the ability to be upgraded to match application performance needs when required. With up to 64GB of DDR4 memory, the BOXER-6642-CML ensures top end processing capability. One of the ways users and developers can take advantage of the BOXER-6642CML system’s capabilities is through its broad expansion support. While a 2.5” SATA drive can be internally mounted for operating system and data storage the system also features an M.2 2280 (M-Key) slot driven by PCIe 3.0 (x4) with support for fast NVMe SSDs. Additional expansion is provided by a M.2 2230 (E-Key) that supports a range of functions including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and a full-sized Mini

Card slot which can be configured via the BIOS to support PCIe or mSATA cards. In addition, the BOXER-6642-CML offers a flexible range of I/O features including four serial RS-232/422/485 COM ports, four USB3.2 Gen 2 ports, and two Gigabit Ethernet ports with support for Intel vPro and Intel AMT, enabling remote monitoring and control. A key feature of the BOXER-6642-CML is its low-profile industrial design. At only 54mm in height, the system can fit into any tight space, making it easier to deploy right where it’s needed. The system also features a wide voltage input (10 to 35V) and provides consistent operation without loss of performance in temperatures from 0°C up to 45°C. The BOXER-6642-CML’s unique fanless construction keeps dust and other contaminants out of the system, ensuring reliable, long-lasting operation. The BOXER-6642-CML complements Interworld’s wide range of embedded controllers. Its powerful processor options, expansion capabilities and diverse I/O make the BOXER-6642-CML embedded controller the perfect solution for factory automation applications. Features include: • extreme computing power; • 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2 and 2x USB 2.0 ports; • 10th generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7/i9; • support for DDR4 SODIM, up to • 2x Intel GbE LAN ports; 64GB; • 4x RS-232/422/485; and • wide range DC 10~35V input. Company: Interworld Electronics Phone: (03) 9593 7555 Website: ieci.com.au

42 NOVEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly

manmonthly.com.au

The Last Word

KATE LOUIS – Executive Director, Ai Group Defence Council

Cyber security and manufacturing in the defence sector

HE recent announcement by the Federal Government of the acquisition of nuclearpowered submarines is amongst the most significant defence capability decisions in Australia’s history. This decision complements the Government’s ongoing transformation of the Australian defence industry into a fundamental part of our national security and economic foundations. Supporting Australia’s sovereign defence industry is central to the Government’s Defence plan, and the stakes are now even higher to ensure we protect these investments and provide sufficient priority to security matters, including cyber security. The financial rewards for investing in defence capability are high with the Government investing $270 billion over the next 10 years to upgrade the capability and potency of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), but the risks are equally significant. Defence industry plans include investing in more lethal and longrange capabilities, such as longerrange strike weapons, offensive cyber capabilities and area denial capabilities. There will be investment in capabilities to give Australia better awareness of our region and to support regional engagement and increase our air and sea lift capability. The Government has stated the aim is to develop more durable supply chains, while further strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence industry to create more high tech Australian jobs and enhance the self reliance of the ADF. Australia faces a range of sophisticated and persistent espionage and foreign interference threats from hostile foreign intelligence services. Many of the adversaries targeting Australia are highly capable and have the intent and persistence to cause significant manmonthly.com.au

harm to our nation’s security, information, assets and people. Businesses must ensure they are cyber secure and resilient as we become more connected and engaged in Defence work, and in light of the rise in use of digital technology as result of this pandemic. Companies must develop robust and effective security practices and procedures and remain ever vigilant if they are to be considered as part of Defence’s supply chain. Last year’s Government announcement relating to malicious actors targeting Australian businesses was a timely reminder. The latest annual cyber threat report by the ACSC also highlights that cyber threats are increasing with cybercrime reported every eight minutes in Australia in the 2020-21 financial year. And we need to bear in mind that those are only the reported incidents, noting that they may not reflect all cyber threats and trends in Australia’s cyber security environment. Indeed, Australian businesses are becoming more aware of security risks, particularly in the defence industry which has experienced several high-profile attacks. These kinds of attacks can have serious impacts on Defence capability, the financial viability of businesses, as well as Australia’s competitive position in global markets. Even though Defence and industry have learned from these experiences, threats and associated risks are constantly evolving so Defence and industry must too. Protecting against cybercrime, espionage, unauthorised access and data breaches is becoming increasingly challenging for governments and businesses of all sizes. However, there are many things you can do to raise your levels of security protection and minimise your risks. To support industry in dealing with those risks, Ai Group developed

Australian businesses are becoming more aware of security risks, particularly in the defence industry which has experienced several high-profile attacks.

a guide in cooperation with Defence and other Government agencies, Working Securely with Defence, which was released in February 2021 and is available at aigroup.com.au in the defence sector section. The purpose of this guide is to help provide guidance for businesses to become eligible for classified and sensitive Defence work through participation in the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP). There are a range of industry tips, case studies, links to relevant resources, assistance, contacts and templates. The information will help business put together their applications for membership of the DISP. The DISP helps businesses get the right security requirements when delivering Defence contracts and tenders and gives access to Defence security advice and support services. Importantly it helps companies

to better understand and manage security risks across their business and gives confidence to Defence when procuring goods and services from industry members. As Australian businesses emerge fully from COVID restrictions they will be looking for new opportunities. Defence is one sector where such opportunities will be in abundance over the coming decades. But businesses will need to prepare including developing their security capabilities to the appropriate level required by the Government and potential partners in the industry. The development of a nuclearpowered submarine program only makes this important work more significant for Australia’s national security and stability. Kate Louis is executive director of Ai Group’s Defence Council which is the peak national representative body for the Australian defence industry. Manufacturers’ Monthly NOVEMBER 2021 43

LET’S ROLL

2021 • EDITION 04

australian industrial businesses

RAISING THE GRADE

for food-safe industrial products

unique challenge in the industrial food and beverage processing sector is the requirement for preventative maintenance on machinery that has the potential to cause trace contamination in products. The Australia and New Zealand Food Statistics board revealed that 55 per cent of product recalls were caused by chemical, foreign-body, or biological contamination, between 2008 and 2017 – resulting in millions of dollars in profit losses to manufacturers. 1

SEEDING SOLUTIONS FOR A QUEENSLAND BARK MANUFACTURER CBC supplies belt drive solutions for a megagrinder at Bassett Barks.

Businesses also risk falling out of favour with their customers when a recall is announced, which is why careful consideration must be made in the management of chemicals, greases and lubricants that are used in a food and beverage processing environment.

As a national distributor of INOX products, BSC is working in conjunction with managers and representatives to promote their range of food-safe oils and greases in the food and beverage sector across Australia, explains Steve Keown, BSC National Product Manager for Lubricants.

With recall concerns on the rise amongst manufacturers, Queensland-based company Candan Industries has taken steps to expand their INOX food-grade lubricant range in an effort to greatly reduce the risk of accidental contamination.

“INOX has three key product formulas developed for maintenance of machinery in food and beverage plants: MX3 FG, MX5 and MX6,” says Steve.

SUPPLYING FOODSAFE SOLUTIONS TO A MELBOURNE BREWERY Deeds Brewery adhere to a simple ethos: they brew beer that they want to drink.

“The MX3 FG is a multi-purpose penetrating oil spray, ideal for threads

RID YOUR SITE OF RUST COLLECTORS When it comes to rust removal, the science behind it is the key to developing right formula.

LUBRICANTS

and switches for protection from corrosion,” he elaborates. “The MX5 is an extreme pressure lubricant that contains Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for high load applications including high-speed drilling and machining. While the MX6 is a food-grade bearing grease that has a PAO-based oil and clay thickener which is excellent for bearings, chains, sprockets, geared joints, hinge and bushes.” “INOX’s food-grade range are all NSF Certified with a H1 rating, for maximum protection of the produced goods; and in some cases, we have found these lubricants can enhance the performance of a piece of machined equipment,” adds Steve. Over the last few years, the Australian Department of Agriculture has tightened up on standards and regulations for industrial products that will be utilised in the food manufacturing and processing sectors, aligning more closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) regulatory codes. The USDA mandated food-grade designation for an H1 product means the approval and registration of a lubricant depends on the product’s ingredients. If a lubricant is intended for use in food processing environments where there is a risk of accidental contact, the formula must contain only the approved base stocks,

ingredients to a high-quality oil and grease. They are selected based on performance requirements and possible interactions with oils and other additives.

INOX’s food-grade range are all NSF Certified with a H1 rating, for maximum protection of the produced goods. additives, and thickeners listed in the USDA Code of Federal Regulations item: 21 CFR 178.3750. 2 Lubricants are mixtures of base oils and low levels of additives. Three types of base oils that are used to formulate food grade lubricants are pure grades of mineral oils that are highly refined from naturally occurring deposits of petroleum, synthetic base oils such as polyalphaolephins (PAOs), polyalkalene glycols (PAGs) and silicones, and vegetable oils including castor, palm, soybean, canola and sunflower oils. 3 According to Steve, it is necessary to modify base oils with additives so that they can perform as an effective lubricating agent. Additives are small but critical

PAGE 2 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04

Some examples of additives used in food grade lubricants are friction modifiers, antiwear additives, extreme pressure additives, antioxidants, and rust inhibitors. Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Advisor at Candan Industries, Charmaine Bondeson, says the development of INOX H1 products was the direct result of end-user requirements that were previously being unmet within the market. “To develop these products, some of the requirements we had to consider were that the product had to be non-staining and contain no dyes,” explains Charmaine. “It also had to be very low in aromatics.” But the real point of difference, she explains, is the inclusion of the PTFE ingredient which works to reduce wear, heat, and friction on a machined component, and is completely nontoxic. The INOX MX3 FG was introduced in 2008 as a low-odour equivalent to the original MX3. The MX3 FG is odourless, tasteless, allergen-free, and NZ MPI C15 certified. “The MX3 can be used in food processing plants, beverage filling lines, meat abattoirs, canneries, bakeries, cold storage facilities, and on electrical components, parts, and

INOX food-grade lubricants reduce the risk of accidental contamination from plant equipment.

equipment” says Charmaine. “MX3 FG can be used wherever a low odour food grade lubricant is required.” The INOX MX5 has formulaic similarities to the MX3 FG but with the added PTFE as an extreme pressure friction modifier. A slick, anti-corrosion, anti-moisture liquid lubricant, it was formulated with the highgrade friction modifier PTFE to handle high speeds, high loads, constant friction, and high temperatures, according to Charmaine. It is also non-toxic, low odour, and totally food safe. “MX5 can be used in a variety of situations where previously two or more products may have been required,” explains Charmaine. “It is suitable on applications that require less friction, or are subject to extreme temperature fluctuations, across the industrial sector and significantly for food and beverage processing plants.” MX5 with PTFE is a particularly viable option when a food-grade lube is required for wet areas where corrosion is a risk,” she adds. “It achieves this by a coating of low-friction corrosion protectant, rendering it hydrophobic – so it’s water repellent,” highlights Charmaine. The MX6 bearing grease is a synthetic high temperature formula made with an organo clay bentone thickener and additives that protect against corrosion and oxidation of metals.

“The MX6 is recommended for lubrication applications where high temperatures are present or particular cold temperatures, such as refrigeration applications,” says Charmaine. “MX6 grease is ideal for bearings and conveyors lines at farms or on plantations. It can also be used in meat and poultry plants, hatcheries, wineries and vineyards, coffee roasters, bakeries and dough mixers.” Customer satisfaction with the MX6 grease product has been reportedly high, Charmaine notes: “Our internal reporting has indicated that our customers have been very happy with the quality of the MX6.” “Weighing time versus money – we have found that customers prefer to invest in quality, reliable products that avoid costly repairs and maintenance, or a possible breakdown of a critical piece of machinery that ultimately will cost more in terms of downtime on the production line,” adds Charmaine. Overall, it seems that INOX has been addressing the concerns of manufacturers and achieved the aim of meeting and exceeding their requirements for avoiding incidental food contamination and product recalls. INOX’s close relationship with BSC has resulted in close collaboration with BSC

The development of INOX H1 products was the direct result of end-user requirements that were previously being unmet.

sales and technical representatives. In turn, BSC sales representatives have been working to spread awareness about foodgrade lubricant regulations and standards to operators and procurement managers. References: 1. F ood-safe lubricants: Here’s what you need to know to avoid a costly recall. Engineers Australia. 2. T he Basics of Food-grade Lubricants. Sabrin Gebarin. Machinery Lubrication. 3. F ood grade lubricants – are they environmentally friendly and biodegradable? Dr Mary Moon. New Food Magazine.

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 3

LET’S ROLL

AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES

CONTENTS 06

THE BONDS THAT CAN MAKE-OR-BREAK A MANUFACTURING PROCESS At a major paper manufacturing plant in Victoria, hundreds of staff work to accommodate the high demand for paper and pulp products on the Australian market.

BETWEEN A SHOCK AND A HARD PLACE: SILICONE FOR ELECTRICAL APPLICATIONS

As an island nation with some of the harshest environmental conditions on the globe; Australia has always had be to be nimble in terms of sourcing innovations and solutions.

The material sciences company Dow was among the first in industrial business to invest in silicone chemistry for the manufacturing sector in the late 1940s.

08 Making waves with OEMs in WA

18 A tale of two compressors

12 Pumping up the volume on hydraulic systems

21 A true bearing for business, 50 years strong

14 Cleaner, cooler cuts with 3M’s precision peak grain technology

24 The secret is in the split

bsc.com.au

conbear.com.au

25 No metal is an island

websterbsc.com.au

/BearingServiceAustralia

/CBCBearingsAustralia

/WebsterBSCAustralia

/bsc-australia

/cbc-australia

/websterbsc

The super-strength of an impact socket tool comes from the chrome moly steel it is cast from and can essentially give superpowers to the one who wields it.

A FORECAST FOR THE POSTPANDEMIC INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE

15 Raising a glass to a historic Dandenong manufacturer

SP TOOLS MAKING AN IMPACT IN HEAVY INDUSTRY

MAKING INDUSTRIAL VENTILATION A BREEZE Proper ventilation in an industrial manufacturing environment is a critical factor to the health and safety of the workers and the quality of the final product.

26 Falk scores the leading performance in the production of grid couplings 28 Serving the South Australian outback 29 Not all coupling solutions are created equally

sealinnovations.com.au /seal-innovations

motionasiapac.com 18 Worth St, Chullora NSW 2190

EXPERT PROFILE

MEET THE TEAM

AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES

DAVID HARWOOD, SALES REPRESENTATIVE Name: David Harwood Occupation: Sales Representative Experience: Over 7 years at Industrial Solutions Australia David Harwood is a Sales Representative at Industrial Solutions Australia, part of Motion Asia Pacific. His main focus is to ensure he provides solutions for his customers with core products. David emphasises the importance of customer service, and he ensures all of his customers on the Sunshine Coast have a positive and fulfilling service experience. He has an extensive knowledge of industrial products and is motivated by growing with his local branch. David has established a good working relationship with our Premium Partners and communicates frequently with them to ensure he is well versed in product features and benefits. This allows him, in partnership with our core suppliers, to provide the best service experience to our customers.

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 5

ADHESIVES

THE BONDS THAT CAN make-or-break a manufacturing process

aking paper requires a lot of chemical processing and high temperature applications for steaming and pressing the paper products. At a major paper manufacturing plant in Victoria, hundreds of staff work to output a significant volume of product on a short timeline, accommodating the high demand for paper and pulp products on the Australian market.

“This particular client is responsible for manufacturing the bulk of paper supplies for the whole of Australia,” says BSC Key Account Executive, Duncan McKellar. “This puts an enormous amount of pressure on them as an operation because if their equipment is not performing correctly, the resulting downtime can be extremely costly for them,” he continues, adding; “when we need to assist in streamlining parts and maintenance for operations of this scale, this is when having solid relationships with our supply partners becomes critical for our own business operations.”

According to Duncan, there have been three LOCTITE® products that have saved the day on a few occasions at the site — LOCTITE 660 Compound, LOCTITE 609 Retaining Compounds, and the LOCTITE 406 Instant Adhesive. The LOCTITE 660 is a high strength retaining compound with good gap filling properties. It is an anaerobic adhesive that cures in the absence of air between metal surfaces and has gap filling capabilities of up to half a millimetre per side on a shaft.

“The paper plant site has a lot of driveshafts running around the clock, and the rotating shafts experience intense wear over time,” explains Duncan. “When there is shaft wear, the component needs to be either repaired or replaced. Shafts are difficult and expensive to replace, so the preferrable option is to perform repairs on the shafts — resulting in an enormous amount of time and effort being saved.” “Imagine needing to replace a bearing and the shaft is worn undersize; a reliable fix

PAGE 6 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 03

is to bond shims on the shaft where the bearing will sit. This will help place the bearing central to the shaft,” says Duncan. “Applying the LOCTITE 660, will fill the gap and bond the two surfaces together, allowing you to get your equipment back into service.” The LOCTITE 609 is a medium to high strength retaining compound developed specifically for close fitting cylindrical assemblies. Great for use on new installation, but equally good during maintenance, when replacing your worn bearing. Similar to the LOCTITE 660, these anaerobic products fill the gaps between two mating metal surfaces, providing a strong assembly that will keep up to the rigors of any manufacturing plant. The LOCTITE 406 is a general-purpose instant adhesive, specially formulated for difficult to bond substrates like rubbers and plastics. But according to Duncan it is used most frequently for joining and splicing custom-made O-rings.

Loctite organises training programs for customers with large-scale maintenance operations.

“O-rings are a critical part of sealing for air or liquids,” he explains. “When a standard O-ring cannot be used on an oddly shaped machine such as an industrial exhaust outlet or a pipe connection, then O-ring cord by the metre is used.” In this instance, elaborates Duncan, “Maintenance workers will cut their own custom length ring and then they need a very good bonder to bond it together, the LOCTITE 406 does that job.” The paper plant was ordering significant quantities of LOCTITE products intended for multiple different kinds of use across the site. The issues they were experiencing were complex, according to Duncan. “There was a combination of factors at play. There was such a vast range of LOCTITE products being shipped to the site; all intended for different usages. In addition to this, there were more than 100 maintenance staff at any given time.” The solution he suggested was to organise a two-day companywide LOCTITE training session for all the engineers, fitters, repair, and maintenance staff — no matter what their background, or length of employment at the company. “One of the reasons we enjoy working with LOCTITE so much is that they are an organisation that really prides themselves

on their training programs,” says Duncan. “I called in Shane Saltmarsh who is one of LOCTITE’s Product Engineers, heading up the delivery of intensive training programs to the manufacturing sector,” he continues. “I knew that Shane would find a way to facilitate the training for that number of people and we would be able to work with him on the logistics of delivering it to the paper plant workers.” Shane Saltmarsh has been working for LOCTITE for eight years, looking after their product management and training programs for areas in South-Eastern Victoria and Tasmania. He highlights some of the key products in the LOCTITE range, as well as the purposes and benefits they offer to industrial manufacturing businesses. “As we know, traditional mechanical fasteners tend to become loose,” he says. “The LOCTITE Threadlocker range looks at replacing traditional mechanical fasteners with chemical threadlockers that can withstand thermal cycling and great amounts of vibration.” “The LOCTITE 277 is excellent on critical fastening applications,” he explains. “To loosen it, you would need to apply isolated heat up to 200°C, which would then soften the cured LOCTITE. The LOCTITE 277 also has a high chemical resistance that can stand up to any ingress of chemical contamination.” Another vital compound for eliminating the risk of threads seizing under stress from high-heat and exposure to moisture is LOCTITE LB 8150 Silver Grade Anti-Seize, according to Shane. “The LOCTITE LB 8150 Silver Grade

Anti-Seize handles high temperatures very well and is suited to stainless steel and aluminium parts he explains. “It is formulated with high quality synthetic grease mixed with a graphite and aluminium base, resists galling of your parts during assembly and has high temperatures rating up to 870°C. It also protects against corrosion on if used on exposed threads.” LOCTITE and BSC are industrial partners in assisting a wide range of customers with adhesive applications including chemical threadlockers, chemical retaining compounds, and anti-seize products. “We share a joint cause through on-site training, consulting, and advising end-users, with the goal of ensuring our customers are getting the best out of whatever product they are using,” says Shane. “I conduct those training sessions and I engage with BSC sales representatives to organise and schedule training sessions to give maintenance teams an overview of how each product works.” Shane stresses the importance of personnel understanding how to select the right product for the right application, explaining that on-site training helps to determine the right adhesive for different types of substrates through demonstration. “LOCTITE invests a lot into research and development of new and existing products,” says Shane. “We understand how to bond specific substrates, so the best thing a manufacturer can do is invite us to get involved at the development stage of a production process, to avoid potential bonding and adhesive issues down the track with the end-product.”

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 7

LUBRICANTS

MAKING WAVES

with OEMs in WA

estern Australia has a reputation for being the sunshine state of Australia where heavy industry is always in season. The hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters in Perth afford local residents a Mediterranean climate and ideal work conditions, while most of the surrounding regions form a vast industrial landscape that draws many manufacturers to headquarter their operations there. In particular, it is the manufacturers of fixed and mobile equipment that support the heavy industries around Western Australia, according to CBC Key Account Manager, Sheree Munnik. Sheree has been servicing Perth’s local industry for more than 13 years,

working with OEMs of heavy fixed and mobile plant applications to ensure their machinery operates at peak performance level. The depth of her expertise in the field is well-met by successful distribution partnerships such as the one she maintains with CBC’s partnered supplier, CRC Industries. Both entities work to deliver the best possible products to the Australian market, providing robust lubrication, degreasers, corrosion inhibitors and general-purpose cleaning solutions for parts manufacturers. “The services we provide with the assistance of their Technical Sales Executive Ian Maguire at CRC Perth, could be considered second to none in manufacturing,” says Sheree, “We pride ourselves on the fact that a

PAGE 8 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 03

large proportion of our joint customer base are major players and key decision makers within their respective markets.” Sheree and the CBC team have been working with an OEM customer in the field issuing samples and completing successful trials of a CRC range of products. Most recently demonstrating the CRC mobile Smartwasher® to a customer which is now currently on a 14-day trial. “We have also offered on-site training to the customer which they have introduced into their regular toolbox meetings. It is at these meetings where we describe in detail the correct usage of CRC products to eliminate cause for error and any unnecessary wastage,” says Sheree.

industrial manufacturing segment which consists of many different end-users in the MRO space.” “We are a preferred supplier to CBC in terms of MRO products and this cements the relationship between ourselves and their account managers like Sheree Munnik,” highlights Ian. “CRC has been around for more than 60 years and in Australia for more than 50 of those years,” he continues, “So there is a strong brand awareness and confidence in our products and their quality. CRC products are tried and trusted in the industry and can be supplied with complete confidence that they will outperform most MRO products on the market.”

CRC offers a range of corrosion inhibitors, lubricants and general purpose cleaners.

“We have seen excellent results from this training program, achieving an overall cost saving of 10 percent to the customer’s purchasing inventory.” “Rather than looking to maximise sales profits for CBC, we look to optimise the customer experience so that we can foster long-term relationships with our customers based on reliable technical knowledge and good quality products and solutions for their applications,” explains Sheree. She reiterates that the success they have seen with CRC products and solutions has been due to the exceptional working partnership with the team at CRC Perth. One of Ian’s primary goals within the industrial segment is to get in front of the end-users and facilitate optimisation and the correct application of CRC products, which is best achieved by doing onsite chemical surveys and site evaluations of the end-users’ specific requirements. “No two sites are the same and each of these sites have different requirements,” says Ian. “We cover a range of products that suit a variety of different segments: agriculture, automotive, food and beverage, defence, marine, mining, transport and industrial. Our biggest market in Western Australia is in the

It is particularly helpful that CBC Account Managers have great relationships with their customers, which makes it easier to get onto sites and demonstrate products in various applications, Ian emphasises. “These demonstrations speak a thousand words about what CRC accomplishes in terms of research and development. The benefits of our products are easily realised during these on-site demonstrations.” CRC and CBC have also carried out several on-site chemical surveys together within the manufacturing segment. The biggest pain point for most of these end users is using right product for right application. “By doing these site visits we get to evaluate and recommend the right product for the right application,” says Ian. In one instance they visited a site that was using a competitor’s Contact Cleaner. The customer was employing hydrocarbon as a propellent. “Not only does hydrocarbon take up about 30% of the volume of the can but when hydrocarbons are used as a propellent it can also leave small particles of moisture on the circuit boards after they have been sprayed. This product was being used on very expensive equipment which can have serious implications on the longevity and performance,” explains Ian. “I pointed out that CRC uses a CO2 propellent which takes up less than 10% volume in the can and leaves zero moisture residue on the circuit boards.” CRC CO Contact Cleaner also employs COZOL 404, a propriety blend that helps in the cleaning process and also

evaporates leaving no residue, eliminating any condensation being left behind. Subsequently, the inferior product was swapped out to CRC CO Contact Cleaner immediately. Corrosion is a continual issue on heavy machinery in the manufacturing segment. Valves, cables, dies, moulds, bits, spindles and instrumentation on motors, shafts, and gearbox equipment are often exposed to the elements, whether in the manufacturing process or through outdoor storage of materials and stock. For heavy corrosion resistance and to preserve the life of integral equipment, Ian suggests the CRC Soft Seal solution. “Soft Seal is a long term indoor and outdoor corrosion inhibitor for machined surfaces and assemblies that may be subjected to long periods of storage or adverse conditions,” says Ian. “It displaces moisture and provides a transparent, amber waxy film for heavy protection of parts, equipment and machinery. It further provides protection from heat, humidity, and corrosive atmospheres. This product is ideal for protecting equipment during shipping when exposed to salt spray or other corrosive conditions,” he adds. For long-term preventative maintenance of heavily used industrial applications such as chain drives, conveyors, pulleys, open gears, hoists, conveyors, forklifts, and wire ropes, Ian recommends the CRC TAC 2 lubricant as a tough assertive lubricant that works well on machined surfaces. “The CRC TAC2 penetrates vital chain pin and bushing areas and wire rope strands. It works as an adhesive lubricant that bonds to surfaces to keep them in peak operating condition by reducing friction and wear that can lead to metal fatigue and breakdowns,” says Ian. “This product performs well under hot and cold conditions, against saltwater wash-off and high temperature sling off.” CBC stocks high volumes of CRC products at every branch and facilitates many key distribution channels for them. With the backup technical support from CRC in Perth, CBC can better demonstrate the quality of the products in the CRC range.

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 9

BELTS

SEEDING SOLUTIONS for a Queensland bark mix manufacturer

alph Waldo Emerson once said: “The creation of a thousand forests is contained in a single acorn.” This is the case for Queensland-based Bassett Barks, who produce potting mix for plants from composted bark that provide healthy soil nutrients for growing operations. At the heart of Bassett Barks’ operations is a philosophy that promotes organic and sustainable processes through advanced bark processing technology.

According to Workshop Supervisor Clem O’Mara, bark has valuable organic properties that retain water, improve the pH balance of soil, and encourage stronger growth rates in plants and microorganisms. “The bark products we make are manufactured at the Bassett Barks site from plantation timber and recycled milling material,” he says. “Our composting is done on a purpose built concrete treated secure site and we perform rigorous onsite testing to meet strict quality control procedures.” About a year ago, Clem discovered CBC as a supplier and immediately saw them

as a fit for Bassett Barks’ operational requirements. “We have wheel loaders, excavators, mobile screening equipment, trommels and a fleet of trucks that all require bearing and drives to run, and CBC is a one-stop-shop for those type of solutions,” he says.

During the manufacturing process, the raw bark is moved from the mills to the Bassett Barks workshop facility where it goes into a megagrinder to be ground into bark chips. At that stage, it is then sorted through screens and trommels and grouped by size for packaging. Clem maintains, repairs, and services all the equipment on site. “I do a lot of multitasking and prioritising to ensure our machines are always up and running,” he says. Recently, Clem was experiencing an issue with the belts on his megagrinder — the belts he was using were simply not lasting and causing unnecessary downtime to the most vital piece of equipment in his workshop. “The megagrinder was running a diesel V12

PAGE 10 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 03

engine with three belts that were driving the rotor and grinding the bark,” explains Clem. “I rang up David Harwood and his team at CBC and they sent out a Gates® on-site engineer to our site,” he continues. “They did a design for us and suggested a new belt drive solution which allowed us to run less belts on the same megagrinder with even more horsepower.”

CBC Sales Representative David Harwood explains how the right belt drive solution was selected for the megagrinder engine using Gates® Design Flex™ Pro™ software. “Finding the right belt solution is a constant challenge for any manufacturing environment because every machine has unique service needs,” says David. “Maintenance workers may try to implement the belts they have on hand when a piece of equipment has very specific requirements, which is why we work closely with Gates® as a partner to facilitate better belt solutions and increase the performance of belts on any given piece of equipment.”

“The Gates® Design Flex™ Pro™ software makes drive design solutions much more streamlined by calculating the most efficient and effective belt solution for a particular piece of equipment,” enthuses David. “The software confirms the suitability of the existing drive solutions by analysing maintenance procedures and tension details. It can also survey an entire plants stock management plan to match and consolidate solutions.” According to David, Clem’s megagrinder was running for an extended period, which required very high belt usage. “The original belts were experiencing a lot of slippages because of the width of the belts, causing the belts to work twice as hard and break quickly,” he says. “After performing an analysis of the current belt drive system using the Design Flex™ software, our Gates® engineer suggested to change them out to Gates® Super HC PowerBand belts.” The PowerBand™ belts are constructed from multiple v-belts tied together to function as a single unit, enabling them to handle high-speed and high-load applications with combined strength. “Where a single belt may twist or jump off a pulley, the PowerBand™ distributes load through tensile bands creating a much more stable solution using tensile forces,” explains David. “The strands of the belts fit securely into a sheave groove which resists slippage and vibrational loads.”

Gates Super HC PowerBand Key Features and Benefits CBC suggested a new belt drive solution which allowed us to run less belts on the same megagrinder with even more horsepower.

The solution was successful and got Clem’s megagrinder up and running again immediately by increasing the power and the life of each belt, and ultimately reducing overall costs and downtime for his workshop. Clem was pleased with the results. “I’ve come to rely on CBC in the past few years,” he says. “I ring David at least twice a week with stock orders and his team always delivers promptly. I really get the sense that CBC cares about our business and they will go above and beyond to find the right solution — even going so far as to send sales representatives from their suppliers out to our site.”

Bassett Barks produces premium potting mix from raw bark materials.

He concludes, “As a customer, there is not much more I could ask for from a supplier. I feel confident that no matter how great a challenge or how big of an ask, CBC would find a way to deliver to us.”

• The Tie Band assures high lateral rigidity, guiding the belt in a straight line and preventing it from coming off the drive •C oncave sidewalls provide proper cord support and full contact with the sheave-groove for equal loading and uniform wear • Flex-Bonded Cords are strongly bonded to the body of the belt resulting in equal load distribution and the absorption of bending stress without cord deterioration •H ighly resistant to tensile and flexing forces, fatigue and shock loads •H igh stability and smooth running on the toughest drives emperature Range: -30°C to •T +60°C (-22°F to +140°F) •M eets RMA oil and heat resistant standards •M eets RMA static conductivity requirements Size Range/Availability •L arge Inventory of standard lengths and widths are readily available. See sizing table for details •O ther belt lengths available on request

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 11

HYDRAULICS

PUMPING UP THE VOLUME on hydraulic systems

rotecting hydraulic control systems can be a precarious part of the plant maintenance process without the right knowledge and expertise. Incorrect application of oils, greases and lubricants can hinder productivity and damage valuable components of plant equipment. Hydraulic pumps transmit power and are the vital core components of any hydraulic system and importantly, they require the same level of protection as the heart of any machine system. Natural wear will occur with prolonged usage of the motors and pumps on mobile and stationary equipment, which can lead to repair issues, equipment failures and downtime if not given adequate attention.

requirements and look to design a more efficient and effective lubrication solution for optimising the performance of a hydraulic system, while at the same time, keeping operational costs reasonable.” “Some of the challenges with hydraulic oils are that temperature extremes vary by location,” he explains. “Any environmental exposure or ingress of abrasive materials and contaminants can impact the engineered components of a hydraulic tank’s breathing system.” As a premium partner to BSC, Shell Tellus boasts a range of hydraulic fluids — some of the most advanced hydraulics lubrication technology on the global market.

BSC National Product Manager for Lubricants, Steve Keown, speaks to the ways the team at BSC has worked in partnership with Viva Energy’s Shell Lubricants team to assemble on-site engineers for joint site calls to address challenges with selecting the correct lubrication for mobile and stationary hydraulic plant equipment.

The Shell Tellus S2 series are highperformance, zinc-based, hydraulic fluids that can perform under high-heat or below freezing conditions, and range by viscosity with their ability to withstand varying temperatures. While the Shell Tellus S4 product was developed for particularly low temperature conditions that could be found in cold storage areas of a plant.

“Our objective on any site call is to understand the current state of the equipment and its service history,” says Steve. “From there, we gather

“The Shell Tellus brand hydraulics fluids are all formulated with high water seperation characteristics and excellent viscosity for filterability,” explains Steve. “This enhances

the protective qualities of the fluid and extends the life of the lubricant, and in turn, the hydraulic pump componentry.” Hydraulic systems must stand up to continuous operation and are sometimes subject to long service intervals. This increases the likelihood of environmental impacts being overlooked, according to Steve. “The BSC team works to access the operating condition of hydraulic equipment by referring to the service history, the OEM requirements and subsequently implementing tools for predictive maintenance,” he says. “We want to detect minor issues before they scale into major failures.” Working with the Shell LubeAnalyst program is one way that BSC enables their customers to improve the current state of their hydraulics system and monitor the performance of oils and greases on their equipment long-term. On-site engineers retrieve oil samples from a piece of hydraulic equipment and send them for analysis at a Shell laboratory where samples are tested, analysed, and added to the Shell LubeAnalyst database. Customers are then forwarded a diagnostic report and recommendation for the right solution. Lubricant and oil analysts enable operators to correctly select the appropriate lubricant and oil, and then schedule routine monitoring of the equipment to warn of the potential issues. “If we see a trend in positive results through the analyst program and ongoing monitoring, at that stage we introduce the possibility of extending lubricant drain intervals,” says Steve. “This helps reduce cost of ownership. It also demonstrates the reliability of the Shell lubricant product.”

The Shell Tellus S2 series offers premium protection for hydraulic systems. PAGE 12 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04

The Shell website allows for customers to access lubricant selection guides and the Shell LubeAnalyst database publicly. For further details on the Shell LubeAnalyst program, the Viva Energy, Shell Lubricants Technical Help Desk offers over the phone assistance, or alternatively, a local BSC branch representative can assist with enrolment into the program.

TOOLS

SP TOOLS MAKING

an impact in heavy industry

he nuts and bolts of heavy industry require powerful tools like an impact socket to fasten in place. The super-strength of an impact socket tool comes from the chrome moly steel it is cast from and can essentially give superpowers to the one who wields it. “Impact Sockets are designed to receive higher torque loads, which are delivered by a percussive method,” says Tom Tucker, Founder and Director of SP Tools. “This load needs to be accounted for in the design, therefore impact sockets are designed to be thicker and made from a more durable material.” SP Tools has become the industry leader in standards for both large and small fasteners. SP impact sockets are constructed from chrome molybdenum steel, a ductile material that adds additional elasticity to the socket and tends to bend or stretch rather than shatter. SP Tools premium range of impact sockets and accessories have been designed to withstand the rigors of industrial use, according to Tom. He describes of the scope of SP impact sockets by the breadth of their application. “Impact sockets are used on a wide and varied range of heavy industry applications like cars and trucks, mining equipment, maritime equipment, ocean liners, largescale plumbing and piping, and installation of power generators, primarily because of its higher breaking strain.” “A normal hand socket is made from chrome which works well for small spaces where a component can be easily removed,” he says. “It’s easier to manufacture a small standard socket, but with larger impact sockets, you need a better quality, more flexible material,” says Tom. To put the importance of an impact socket’s quality in perspective, Tom explains with a safety example. “If you apply several thousand pounds of torque through an inferior tool, the part

will explode doing grave damage to its surroundings. Therefore, the quality of an impact socket is also paramount to the safety of workers.” The material difference between a standard chrome hand socket and impact socket is that an impact socket is made from chrome molybdenum steel. Molybdenum is a strong mineral, graphite coloured in appearance and the impact socket endcast is constructed from this compound, resulting in a more solid tool through and through. “BSC is one of the exclusive distributors of our impact sockets,” says Tom. “Their business is all about heavy-duty bearings, and heavy-duty bearings go into heavy duty machinery. To do that type of work with rolling assemblies, you need effective tools such as impact sockets to mount and dismount bearings of that strength, size, and calibre.” BSC’s National Product Manager – Tools, Lifting and Rigging, Wheels and Castors, Engineering Consumables – David Malthouse weighs in on the usage and performance of the product. “Every workshop and engineering space will have an impact socket,” he says. “Impact sockets have a lot of presence in on-site maintenance practices. Anywhere where something is being fitted or cannot physically be removed by hand.” In application, David explains, “When bolting a tire in, the fastener needs to be very tight, and typically a rattle gun or a torque wrench will be used which will leave some steel etching in the thread of the bolt. This becomes very difficult to get out after a while, which is where an impact socket comes in.” Dave notes importantly that BSC has seen the sale of impact sockets increase significantly in the renewable energy market. “Renewable energy is one of our fastest growing markets right now, especially in tooling,” says Dave. “One of the biggest growth areas for

SP Tools Impact Tool Options: • 6 point Hex Metric 7mm-200mm • 6 point Hex AF ¼” – 8” • 6 point Deep Hex Metric 7mm120mm • 6 point Deep Hex AF ¼” – 4-3/4” • 6 point Stubby Hex Metric 10mm24mm • 6 point Inhex Metric 4mm-32mm • 6 point Inhex AF 3/16” – 1” • Torx T20-T70 • Spline, Double Square M12-M18

the use of impact socket tools is for offshore wind turbines and tidal power generators. As well, the fitting of solar panels requires the use of what is known as an impact hex key.” The SP tools impact socket category covers a very large range of drive sizes. The drive sizes include connection point sizes ranging from as small as 3/8”, 1/2”, 3/4”, up to 1”, 1-1/2”, 2-1/2”. In addition to this, SP Tools manufactures a large range of specialty impact sockets and accessories such as wheel-nut sockets for both cars and trucks, extension bars, wobble drives and many adaptors to get the right size socket onto job. As an exclusive distributor of SP Tools products, an SP Tools shelf can be found front and centre in most BSC locations.

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 13

ABRASIVES

HOW THE BEST GET BETTER: Introducing 3M™ Cubitron™ II Fibre Disc 982CX Pro The 3M Cubitron II

he 3M™ Cubitron™ II Fibre Disc 982CX Pro features 3M’s pioneered microreplication grain technology with pyramid-shaped precision fibre discs that cut through metal like a hot knife through butter – except without the heat.

The engineers at 3M were the first to develop precision-shaped grain technology with the 3M Cubitron 982C series model, and now they’ve reinvented it by reengineering their original precision-shaped grain to create a fibre disc that cuts 33% faster than the original grade disc, according to Nathan Bamford, Application Engineer from 3M’s Abrasive Systems Division. “Conventional ceramic abrasive grains tend to plow through metal, causing heat to build up between the workpiece and the abrasive, resulting in a slower cut and shorter abrasive life,” says Nathan. “With the new 3M Cubitron II Fibre Disc 982CX Pro, we’ve taken the legendary

Fibre Disc 982CX Pro features, benefits and applications include:

• Faster cutting and longer lasting compared to Cubitron II Fibre Discs 982C • Cuts with less pressure — helps reduce operator fatigue • Ideal for medium and highpressure applications like weld removal, beveling, heavy deburring and other aggressive grinding applications • Optimised for use on carbon steel cutting speed and life of 3M Cubitron II Abrasives to a new level. 3M engineers were the first to develop microreplication technology that form consistent, sharp peaks and easily slice through metal— cutting cooler, faster and lasting longer than conventional abrasive grain.” The new discs are available in 36+ grade, in a range of sizes, designed to speed up production through faster cutting, longer disc life, and improved performance. Importantly, this also means that operators will be less fatigued after use. “One of the ways they achieve this is by cutting with less force and pressure which reduces operator efforts, and the overall heat build-up between the application and the abrasive,” explains Michael Rowe, BSC’s National Product Manager for Abrasives. “This makes the 982CX Pro well-suited to high-pressure applications like weld removal, beveling, heavy deburring and other aggressive grinding applications,” he says, adding that it also makes it ideal for cutting carbon steel.

3M Cubitron II 982CX Pro slices through metal using microreplication technology.

“The 982CX Pro is a must-have for any workshop where steelwork is required,” Michael enthuses. “When working with stainless steel, some abrasives can have impurities in them that cause oxidisation

PAGE 14 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04

and corrosion. So, this product can withstand the rigors of steelwork, while also producing a workpiece that is clean and free from impurities.”

The iteration of this the new model speaks to the dedication and work on the 3M research and development side, according to Michael. “This is an evolution in the abrasive side of their business. The precision peak technology with its consistent tiny cutting pyramids is a significant leap ahead from traditional abrasive grain technology from other manufacturers, which can often feel like cutting with a handful of rocks.” BSC are dedicated to offering quality abrasive solutions and are excited to announce that this has landed in Australia and is stocked throughout the BSC network of locations. The 3M Abrasives Team work closely with BSC and Motion Asia Pacific’s businesses to provide training and joint calls aimed at improving their customers’ processes. “We share a joint cause in promoting on-site demonstrations because we feel nothing is as effective as a live demonstration when it comes to understanding how a new product works,” says Michael. Customers are sure to notice a difference when they make the switch to the 982CX Pro, with its re-engineered grain design, but Michael advises customers to try it for themselves against their current grinding wheel and then enjoy the extra time and energy it will afford in the workshop. “Along with 3M, we are offering welders and steelworkers the opportunity to focus on other matters of production beyond getting that perfect clean cut,” he concludes.

BEARINGS

RAISING A GLASS

Lockelec Rolling Stock was appointed to help upgrade the door mechanisms for Melbourne’s Comeng trains.

to a historic Dandenong manufacturer

ceania Glass™ is Australia’s Architectural Glassmaker with a proud heritage serving Australia, having sold their very first glass in 1856. Oceania Glass offers a comprehensive range of value-add glass solutions through an extensive customer supply network across Australia and New Zealand. Their glass is featured in many of Australia’s most iconic buildings, including the Australian Parliament House. They operate a float line in Dandenong South, Melbourne, producing around 165,000 tonnes of flat glass each year and are certified by ISO 9001 Environmental Management System and ISO 140001 Quality Management Systems. “Oceania Glass specialises in value-add

glass that improves natural light to make people’s lives better, such as energy saving Low E glass used in homes and commercial buildings to make them more comfortable,” says Parvinder Singh, Reliability Engineer for Oceania Glass. “We also present a unique offering to the local architecture and design community who share our love of glass.” A few doors down the street from Oceania, nestled in the same industrial pocket, is CBC Dandenong — which conveniently allows Oceania to source and procure parts for repairs and maintenance on short notice. On one such occasion, Parvinder was experiencing trouble with the keyways of the laminate oven rollers in the glass plant, so he decided to reach out to the CBC engineering team for a consult. The OEM of the laminate oven had supplied a design with a keyway in the roller journal and a floating grub screw to allow thermal expansion in the oven rollers. But according to Parvinder, the drawback of this design was that the bearing housing was too static to accommodate thermal growth on such a high-heat application.

Timken SNT Split Plummer Block 507 Features and Benefits • Iron-clad protection for enhanced reliability • Cast-Iron Housings: Durable design protects the bearing while resisting the harshest environments • Works with signature Timken Spherical Roller Bearings • Premium performance with lower operating temperatures • Increased load carrying capacity for prolonged bearing life • Four types of seals are available to meet your application needs: double-lip, labyrinth, V-ring or taconite designs

“Due to a very small surface of contact between the grub screw and the keyway wall the grub screw had been slowly digging a cavity in to the side wall of the keyway,” explains Parvinder. “Eventually this caused the bearing to lose its ability to float in the keyway and was breaking the grub screw. Once the grub screw breaks, the roller shaft used to spin on the inner raceway of the bearing eventually wearing down the bearing journal.” Technical Sales Representative Chula Jayawardene and an engineer from Timken, made a joint call to Oceania Glass to examine the problem area and assess the application requirements. “We determined that the bearing needed space to move around during thermal expansion without pushing against the other components of the roller oven,” explains Chula. “We recommended the Timken® SNT Split Plummer Block 507 bearing unit as it would allow the bearing to expand and free float while remaining inside its housing — eliminating the wear being caused by metal-

A cross section of a Timken SNT Split Plummer Block.

on-metal contact.” Parvinder agreed to undergo a trial of the bearing solution and six Timken SNT Split Plummer Block bearing units were installed based on the suggested improvement. After careful observation, the units proved to be reliable, and the trial was deemed a success. Subsequently the modification was rolled out to all the bearings on the laminate roller oven. The team at Oceania Glass were satisfied with the solution CBC supplied because less wear on the bearing journals would mean less overhaul cost. “The biggest challenge we face in the glass manufacturing industry is to minimise the unplanned downtime of the machines,” says Parvinder. “The costs associated with repairs drives us to look for innovative, costeffective, solutions to implement a strategy that will maximise the availability of the equipment we use.” He concludes, “Our neighbours at CBC Dandenong can understand and appreciate these engineering challenges. We walked down the street to visit our local CBC supplier, and we walked away as happy customers.”

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 15

LUBRICANTS

SUPPLYING FOOD-SAFE solutions to a Melbourne Brewery

ounded in 2012, the Deeds Brewing facility in Glen Iris is a relatively fresh addition to the Melbourne craft beer scene. From humble beginnings brewing from home, the decision to open a brewing facility was born of a very simple ethos the team at Deeds adhere to: they brew beer that they would want to drink. This modus operandi is well-suited to Deeds Head Brewer Justin Corbitt, as his and his team’s palette for a well-brewed beer is as extensive as the range of meticulously crafted beers the team create in house. “Our Senior Brewer, Packaging Manager, and their teams, the shift brewers, owners Pat and Dave, warehousing, admin, sales, marketing, and logistics all work together to make this happen,” says Justin. In his role, Justin oversees the production and packaging of each of their beers including such popular core brews as Juice Train; Deed’s signature hazy, tropical IPA and Half Time; a hoppy pale ale with notes of pineapple. Deeds releases four new and limited-edition beers every month, in addition to the five core brews that stay on brew year-round. “Our focus is on barrel-aged beers, some of which take years to ferment and all of which call for expert-level cicerone experience,” says Justin. The technical and machined equipment of a brewery is particularly sensitive to the elements and incidental contamination of the product. Therefore, ensuring careful considerations are made when selecting food-safe oils for brewing equipment is paramount for Justin and his team. CBC State Sales Manager Leon Stefanec, is attuned to the needs of new businesses stepping up to contend with the highly competitive and world-renowned food and beverage sector in Melbourne.

“From an industrial standpoint, the brewing industry presents some unique challenges for CBC staff to address,” says Leon. “A highly specialised environment requires specialised solutions.” Which is what lead Leon to suggest the INOX NSF-H1 certified food-graded range to Justin and the team at Deeds Brewery. “INOX is an Australian business that has developed formulas that cater to the needs and challenges of the food and beverage segment,” explains Leon. “Their MX3 FG, MX5 and MX6 products are all formulated from base-oils and additives that are foodgrade and meet the USDA Code of Federal Regulations item: 21 CFR 178.3750.” When it comes to building a strong business relationship with Deeds Brewery, Justin confirms that the deed has been done, so to speak. As his business has evolved, so too has

PAGE 16 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04

his confidence in CBC customer care; reinforced by consistent delivery of highquality products and services that enhance the performance of his brewing equipment. “CBC has supplied various INOX lubricants and greases to keep our equipment operating smoothly,” says Justin. “We primarily use them in our packaging department where all of our moving parts are located. This is the stage of the brewing process where the product gets canned by our fillers and is run along conveyor belts.” “We have various augers on site that are required for moving malt and grist from the mill area to the grist casings and then onto the mash mixer vessel,” he explains. “Being a bearings company, we also look to CBC to supply bearings for our augers and then we treat and maintain them with lubricants and greases. It’s important that we prioritise a food safety strategy to protect the quality of our brewing process, but we also need

to keep an eye on our machines because a breakdown could compromise the quality of our product.” When a beer is ready to be sold, there is a window of time when it is optimal for the best flavour for drinking, and the Deeds team like to nail that down as precisely as possible. “It helps that CBC is very responsive and timely with their deliveries,” adds Justin. He concludes, “In my line of work, if everything is running smoothly and there are no issues, then our relationship with a supplier will be very solid.”

From an industrial standpoint, the brewing industry presents some unique challenges for CBC staff to address.

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 17

COMPRESSORS

A TALE OF TWO compressors F inding the right compressor for the job is easier said than done. That is why Motion Industrial Centre Technical Experts like Jamie Robertson are there — to relieve that pressure. Jamie is the Branch Manager at Motion Industrial Centre Traralgon, serving Gippsland and the surrounding regions. The knowledge and expertise contained within each Motion Industrial Centre often leads to on-the-spot solutions which help customers who drop by the store overcome major challenges with their applications. This story begins with a typical day at the branch, when Jamie noticed a customer enter the store and head over to the Peerless compressors. Striking up a conversation with the customer, Jamie discovered that the

customer was in the market for a couple of new compressors, after determining that the current compressors he was using were too small for his application. The two compressors were being used to open and close the gates keeping hundreds of cattle, morning, noon, and night. “The gates were being pumped with high volumes of air to open and close, so the demand for air was great,” explains Jamie. “Firstly, we discussed what the customer’s application was so that I could get an idea of the volume and pressure he would require to outperform the original compressors,” says Jamie. “The smaller compressors were becoming easily overworked and routinely overheating on the job,” he adds. To achieve the best solution, Jamie decided to call his guy from Peerless and discuss the range of options available for the application. All three of them got on a call to go over the Peerless equivalents to the customer’s current machines, how to upgrade to the next size up in compressors, and what the most efficient options to fit the requirements would be. “The solution we arrived at was the Peerless HQD10 Variable Speed Rotary Screw Compressor,” says Jamie. “This would reduce the number of compressor units required from two to one with the same amount of power and a tankless design so it could fit in with the existing tanks which were still in good shape.” The HQD10 Variable Speed Rotary Screw Compressor reduces power consumption by allowing users to pre-set energy use through an 8-bar system. It has the capacity to release 1000 litres of air per minute but can be adjusted by a user to regulate the speed as required.

Jamie Robertson, Branch Manager at Motion Industrial Centre Traralgon.

“Each bar of the 8-bar setting is equal to 5% of the total energy usage,” explains Jamie. “Lowering the bar level saves the user money. A variable speed compressor has the potential to provide up to 35% in direct energy savings on a single application.”

PAGE 18 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04

Engineer

Eddie’s Hot Tip

HQD10 Variable Speed Features and Benefits • Genuine 10HP Variable speed motor • Lockable service panels • Control panel with intelligent touch screen display • Automatic fault finding and recording • Super quiet running noise at 66dB(a) • Power saving motor - only works as hard as you need it • High quality electrical components • Power consumption will match the air being used • Ability to start and stop under load • Stable pressure without fluctuations • Avoid peak currents during start up • Australian owned and local manufacturer

The cattle gate solution was a custom order so Peerless provided a quote, the order was placed, and the Motion Industrial Centre took care of the rest. The compressor arrived two days later and was delivered immediately to the customer’s site, resulting in a very satisfied customer, according to Jamie. “This is a great example of how streamlined our processes are at the ground level,” he says. “We have such excellent relationships with our suppliers, which allow us to work quickly on making recommendations. From there, we can deliver solutions that provide permanent fixes to customers who are facing nagging issues like a failing air compressor on a cattle gate.” “In the Gippsland area, there are a lot of similar applications to this customer’s,” he continues. “I would encourage more customers to come into our store and have a conversation with us. We aren’t just all about sales, we are about solutions; and we are meticulous about finding the right solution for every application.”

INDUSTRY PROFILE

for longevity and quality in a product for procurement management officers when planning stock orders. “As a direct result of this drive to secure products locally, the Australian market has been bouncing back from the threat of an economic crisis with a great degree of aggression,” says Grant. “This shift in demand; from international product to local, has positioned Motion Asia Pacific’s businesses to better accommodate customers across a raft of segments.”

A FORECAST FOR the post-pandemic industrial landscape

s an island nation with some of the harshest environmental conditions on the globe; Australia has always had be to be nimble in terms of sourcing innovations and solutions. In the past few years, Australian industry has experienced a significant disruption in supply chain and logistics processes — with overseas sourced components contending with shipping delays as prolonged as six months.

“One of the silver linings to the global economic challenges has been an uptick in engineering innovation in locally manufactured products,” he says. “We are starting to see a stronger sense of nationalism surrounding Australian-made goods — people want to know where their products are coming from, but more importantly, performance is starting to outstrip price.”

Grant Gray, General Manager of National Sales for Motion Asia Pacific, maintains that it is the Australian way to be adaptable and resilient during trying times. “Australians are industrious by nature due to our history, our extremes in weather, and our remoteness,” he says. “But we still have a diverse manufacturing landscape that is particularly well-based.”

To reduce lead times on parts and components and mitigate the risk of downtime on operations, Grant highlights that there has been a greater demand

Ongoing issues with supply disruptions have presented unique solution opportunities, according to Grant. A particular interest in environmental products that output less waste and utilise less fuel adds to the list of growing concerns amidst manufacturers. The response to these concerns, suggests Grant, has been a mix of ingenuity and an increased demand for domestic products across the nation.

One of the silver linings to the global economic challenges has been an uptick in engineering innovation in locally manufactured products.

“Motion Asia Pacific’s businesses; CBC, BSC and, WebsterBSC; have broad reach in the areas of fluid power, power transmission, industrial consumable and engineering,” Grant continues. “Now amounting to over 100 locations Australiawide, we are the largest company in the industrial solutions space,” he says; adding, “At Motion Asia Pacific we are always looking to localise best practices for manufacturing and that includes championing diverse levels of engagement with customers, with attention to responsible manufacturing practices and respect to the history of our land.” Offering a range of technical competencies in house and a deep knowledge of supply chain and procurement processes, the Motion Asia Pacific team is always ready to assist with product selection on an application and with improving the endproduct of a production process. “When a manufacturer gets to the end of their design, we want their product to be the very best that it can be,” says Grant earnestly. “In the face of these ongoing supply chain disruptions which are sure to continue through to next year, my advice to customers would be to get in contact with us as soon as possible so that we can assist in securing parts and components as efficiently as possible.” “Customers need to establish strong relationships with their trusted advisors and partners in times like this,” he emphasises; concluding, “It all starts with a conversation. We are not just a ring and bring organisation. We truly understand the challenges that industrial manufacturers are encountering right now, and we want to use our expertise to create better outcomes for the Australian market as we move into a new era of industry.”

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 19

SEALANTS

BETWEEN A SHOCK AND A HARD PLACE:

silicone for electrical applications

hile silicone-based life may be the subject of what many consider to be science fiction, the role that silicone has played in life on our planet is of significant interest to the scientific community. Scottish chemist and molecular biologist Alexander Graham Cairns-Smith advocated in his 1987 book Clay Minerals and the Origin of Life that early life on earth could have evolved from a type of silicate. The material sciences company Dow was among the first in industrial business to invest in silicone chemistry for the manufacturing sector in the late 1940s, and presently accounts for about 50% of the world’s production of silicone products. As they continue to invest in silicone technologies, Duncan Rankin, Customer Manager at Dow, believes that silicone chemistries are relatively unchallenged when it comes to potential solutions for electrical product developments. “Silicone rubber compounds have characteristics of both organic and inorganic materials, and offer a number of advantages not found in organic rubbers,” says Duncan. “Silicone rubbers have fine electrical properties, good chemical stability, flame retardancy and superior resistance to heat and cold.” The Dow SILASTIC™ 9161 RTV Silicone is one example of a product that is highly geared toward specialised electrical applications. With a rubber-based curing agent, it seals and protects heavy duty cords and cables for up to 25 years without requiring further maintenance. “The 9161 is for niche applications,” says Duncan. “It is often used in large, highvoltage junction boxes for sealing cable connections. These junction boxes can hold around a gallon of liquid and the silicone is poured inside of the box around the cables. Then a rubber-based catalyst is poured in to cure the liquid.” BSC National Product Manager for Adhesives and Sealants Michael Rowe, explains that the volume of silicone for

Providing silicone solutions in the electrical space is something Dow has been doing for over 50 years. In recent years, Duncan says that Dow has been investing more and more in the testing of silicone technologies for electrical products. “Electrical products are a big focus right now at Dow, in particular in EV car componentry and thermal heat management of batteries,” says Duncan. “As one of the biggest producers of silicone products, we have solutions for Electric Vehicle development, thermal management of batteries, and electrical equipment.” Dow SILASTIC™ 9161 is a rubber based compound that is geared toward use on electrical applications.

Customers know they can trust our products to do what they say they will do because our testing methods are extensive for every product we develop. these kinds of applications is large, but it also requires very little maintenance once implemented. “In application, we are talking about fairly large cables that run underground to generators, with several connection points that meet at these junctions,” explains Michael. “The Dow 9161 silicone product was designed as an ideal solution for these heavy-duty industrial wiring applications because these boxes require a fire-proof material that can provide insulation and impact resistance over long periods of time.”

PAGE 20 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04

Dow’s substantial history in material science development gives them a particular edge on the market with their customer base. According to Duncan, Dow’s testing process is one of their greatest strengths against leading competitors. “Customers know they can trust our products to do what they say they will do because our testing methods are extensive for every product we develop,” says Duncan. “If you take the Dow SILASTIC™ 9161 RTV Silicone for example, it would have undergone arduous UV testing, temperature controls, and accelerated age testing to give an indication of what it’s going to look like in 20 years,” he explains. “If you have high voltage going through something for 20 years, you need to know what heat ranges it can withstand.” Speaking of longevity, BSC and Dow have a longstanding partnership spanning back decades. “We have had a very long and successful relationship with BSC,” Duncan enthuses. “They have always offered us excellence in service and a large sales support system. This has allowed us to maintain large stock of our silicones across their network of branches and eliminates the problem of logistics,” he concludes. To explore the full range of Dow silicone products, visit a BSC branch today and speak to one of our silicone and sealants experts.

JOINT VENTURE

A TRUE BEARING FOR BUSINESS,

50 years strong

his year marks the 50th anniversary of the joint venture between Japanese bearing manufacturer NTN Corporation and bearing supply and service business CBC Australia. The two companies have been working together in Australia since the late 1960s when the Japanese manufacturer began to grow its business abroad and shook hands with CBC founders to exclusively distribute NTN product in the country. The relationship forged back then paved the way to the long term–a 50/50 a joint venture company in Australia. The unique 50/50 joint venture has brought unique benefits to Australian industrial businesses – one of which is having a direct line of communication to the Japanese engineering teams. An example of this can be seen with Ennor Engineering, a family-owned and operated manufacturer of disc ploughs based out of Deniliquin, NSW. All original fitment bearings on the Ennor agricultural machinery are NTN and have been manufactured to meet specific requirements – the latter made possible by the joint venture. According to Managing Director Craig Ennor, one of the key reasons his company chooses NTN bearings is because of their high quality, reliability, and the fact that he can communicate his requirements via CBC to the NTN engineering team. “We have tested all the known bearing brand names over the last 40 years and have been sourcing the NTN bearings as the original fitment for the last 25 years,” says Craig. “We favour NTN because the bearings are manufactured to our requirements in Japan and we have access to communicate with NTN engineers as our requirements change.”

Through their local Motion Industrial Centre in Wodonga, Ennor Engineering began trialling NTN bearings some three decades ago.

“We have features on our bearings that are not found on other brands, such as high torque seals and case-hardened inner rings,” explains Craig. “NTN has even manufactured special batches to our specifications for us to test.” The arrangement Ennor has with NTN through the NTN-CBC joint venture exemplifies how other industrial businesses can stand to benefit. “Australian ingenuity coupled with Japanese product innovation has benefitted industrial business operations across the nation,” says Ross Lee, Technical Manager of Strategic Partnerships – Bearings at CBC. “At the heart of this, is consultation.” Ross points out that CBC are usually the first point of contact for customers when it comes to bearing matters. “Because of our national footprint, including branches out in regional areas, we’re usually the first port of call in determining if a business has a problem and where NTN can provide a solution,” says Ross. “No matter the location in Australia, we have a commercial and technical liaison between the branch, the customer, and directly with the manufacturer.” Ross reiterates the benefit of having access to the NTN Bearing Engineering department. “It’s all about uptime of machinery with our customers and being able to enhance or improve performance can make a significant difference to an operation,” explains Ross. “We can provide material enhancements or design enhancements on bearings through our access to the NTN

engineering and manufacturing divisions. Ennor is a great example of this.” Significantly, CBC plays an equally important role in ensuring customers feel supported. For example, Craig Ennor notes his relationship with the Motion Industrial Centre at Wodonga. “Any issues we have had over the years have been dealt with quickly and professionally. Something of benefit when dealing with CBC is the employees are loyal to the company, so the ongoing knowledge of our business and its evolving needs is not lost,” he points out. “The supply chain for an OEM is crucial and CBC monitor my stock levels and send reports to me every month, as well as follow ups in case changes need to be made.”

It’s all about uptime of machinery with our customers and being able to enhance or improve performance can make a significant difference to an operation.

Chris Lindner, Sales Representative at the Motion Industrial Centre in Wodonga, has worked with Craig for over 7 years, and has helped facilitate some of the design modifications required by Ennor on the bearings with NTN. “We’ve been able to work in conjunction with this customer to improve and develop the design of the bearings needed for the Ennor applications and it’s been a success,” says Chris. “That’s largely due to our partnership with NTN. We relayed the requirements to the design and engineering department in Japan and they came up with a successful solution.”

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 21

SOLVENTS

RID YOUR SITE of rust collectors W

hen it comes to rust removal, the science behind it is the key to developing right formula. Common rust removers are often highly acidic and can damage material on contact, points out Steve Keown, BSC Product Manager for Lubricants, Degreasers and Solvents. Research from the Worldwide Corrosion Authority (NACE) has shown that the

effect of corrosion contributes to an average 4 per cent of global gross domestic product. If deducted from Australia’s GDP, this indicated that an estimated $78 billion is being spent on remediating assets affected by corrosion every year in this country. 1

to CRC’s existing corrosion protection portfolio. It also builds on the company’s commitment to deliver eco-friendly solutions for rust treatment and corrosion prevention, according to David Bailey, National Business Development Manager for Mining.

CRC made a global acquisition of the EVAPO-RUST brand in April 2021 after evaluating it as a synergistic fit

EVAPO-RUST® uses pH neutral organic compounds to remove harsh corrosion through a process called ‘selective

PAGE 22 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04

chelation.’ Chelation means ‘to bind’ and works by using a sequestering agent to bind to metal molecules and remove them without doing damage to the hosting object. 2 “The active ingredient in EVAPO-RUST bonds exclusively to iron, explains David. “This makes it ideal for industrial manufacturing and steelwork. Once the chelating agent has removed the iron, a sulphur-bearing organic molecule pulls it away from the chelator and forms a ferric sulphate complex which remains water soluble for easy wash-off.” “Some of the most striking benefits about this product is that it has an long shelf-life, and it is also reusable,” David highlights. “A manufacturing plant can have a basin of the solution for de-rusting that can be used up until the point it is totally spent.” Globally, EVAPO-RUST has been successfully implemented across many industries including the production of automotive parts, engine cooling systems, agricultural equipment, and heavy equipment maintenance. The US military has adopted it in practice for cleaning tools, fleet engines and parts on their ground vehicles, seeing a significant reduction in maintenance times and costs. 3 According to Steve Keown, BSC is one of the early adopters of the EVAPO-RUST product in Australia, being among the first to introduce the product to a large customer base in the Australian market. “Up to this point in time, rust-removal has always been a cumbersome chore across the industrial segment,” says Steve. “But since this product has come onto the market, the feedback we are getting from customers is that EVAPO-RUST is very easy-to-use and takes the work out of rustremoval.” “In addition to ease of use, EVAPO-RUST® is also safe to use,” furthers Steve. “It is suitable on soft metals, plastic, rubber or painted surfaces. It has eliminated concerns about fumes by emitting none. Essentially, this is a highly effective rust removal formula that is non-flammable, acid-free, non-toxic and completely environmentally sound.” he adds. BSC have had a great partnership with CRC in launching new products, working closely with the senior management team at

EVAPO-RUST removes heavy corrosion through a process called ‘selective chelation’.

CRC often provide a platform for excellent customer service and product knowledge. CRC can participate in joint site calls with BSC staff and better connect with their end-users. “We work in collaboration with CRC to provide market feedback to customers and engage them on new product trends,” concludes Steve. References: 1. C ost of Corrosion Part 1 – Background and Methodology, The Australian Corrosion Association 2. Chelation Therapy, University of Michigan. 3. E vapo-Rust Case Studies, Flagship India. LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 23

BEARINGS

THE SECRET

is in the split C hanging out the bearing on a large-scale industrial application can be challenging in the best of times. Lead times on replacements can be prolonged in the logistics stage, not to mention removing the old one and fitting up the new one — it is rarely a oneperson job. CBC is part of the new wave of bearings solutions providers that work tirelessly to provide the latest in state-of-the-art bearings technologies to the industrial market, and one of the ways they achieve this is by partnering with worldleading bearings manufacturers like Schaeffler. From a manufacturing perspective, CBC Product Manager for Industrial Bearings, Tony Tormey defers to Schaeffler’s Split Spherical Roller Bearing range which allows for ease of changing out a unit in-situ. Spherical roller bearings units are constructed with solid outer rings with a concave raceway, a double row of caged barrel rollers, and a solid inner ring. Each barrel roller has the ability to move freely on the concave outer ring raceway which allows for torque, expansion or misalignment of the shaft that bearing is fitted onto. “Schaeffler’s Split Spherical Roller Bearings are German-engineered from high-quality steel compounds for extended bearing life which can save companies a lot of time and money on maintenance and downtime,” says Tony. “In split spherical roller bearings, the inner ring, outer ring and cage with the barrel rollers are all split in half. The advantage of the split feature is that they come apart on the shaft for easy replacement without having to dismantle the equipment to get to the bearing.” Common application for split spherical roller bearings is on shafts supported at several points and difficult to access

mounting locations. “A lot of plant conveyor and gearbox applications have difficult to reach bearings that require crane lifts to remove,” elaborates Tony. “What could take you a day or more to change, a split bearings takes a few hours because of the ease of access.” Typical areas of application for split spherical roller bearings in the manufacturing space are on conveying equipment at materials processing plants, rolling mills, crushers, wheeled excavators, winches and sheaves, fans, ventilators, and drive shafts, according to Tony. “Split spherical bearings eliminate the need to remove all of the gears or couplings, dismount drives or dismantle the shaft on an application,” explains Tony. “On new equipment designs, using split spherical roller bearings can provide cost savings by simplifying assembly work.”

PAGE 24 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04

For difficult to access bearings, Tony suggests a combination of a split bearing unit and a split housing. “Schaeffler’s FAG Split Plummer Block Housings ease the mounting and dismounting process considerably,” says Tony. “The seal design also allows for convenient ongoing lubrication of the bearing mounting, making the unit suitable for a wide range of requirements.” CBC is in the unique position of having a close working partnership with Schaeffler as a supplier while also being able to liaise with the Schaeffler engineering team for expertise. In order to ensure selection of the correct combination of housing and bearing when fitting and installing split bearings and housing units, Tony advises speaking with a CBC technical representative to arrange an on-site assessment and consultation.

ANTI-RUST

No metal is an island

o extend the life of a piece of a machined equipment, it is necessary to perform regular health checks on its metal components. Every machine needs ample protection against the harsh chemicals and airborne contaminants of an industrial environment, and likewise, every part, component, tool, frame, panel, and fastener requires its own special kind of protection.

Mitigating the risks of metal corrosion ranks high on the list of maintenance concerns for manufacturing facilities. BSC Product Manager for Lubricants, Steve Keown, suggests maintenance and repair workers take careful consideration when assessing whether a product is safe to use on a particular metal component before implementing it. “When selecting the right product for the right metal application, it’s important to consider its suitability for the requirements of certain metals,” says Steve. “The aim is to prevent ingress of moisture or chemical residue and protect the metal surface from etching, scratching, wear, thermal expansion, and undue chemical bonds which can occur — especially with softer metals such as aluminium or stainless steel.” Steve has been collaborating with the team at ITW Polymers and Fluids for more than 15 years to promote their Galmet range of metal protection products across the industrial sector. Galmet is an Australian owned and operated brand that had humble beginnings making metal protection products in 1960 from a small office in the Sydney CBD. The Galmet ColdGal anti-corrosion product was the first to see success in Australia, establishing them as a key player within their market. Galmet expanded their range over the next few decades to include rust paints, aerosols, and spray enamels. Today, the products are manufactured at ITW Polymers and Fluids’ facility in Wetherhill Park, New South Wales, while the Galmet brand continues to be synonymous with quality anti-corrosion compounds. Galmet’s three main categories of rust

Featured Galmet Products • Galmet ColdGal is the classic anti-rust, anti-corrosion, zinc paint for steel that first established Galmet as a key player in anti-rust and abrasives. • Galmet Ironize is a rust convertor that makes rust inert through the process of chelation and serves as a sealant. • Galmet DuraGal is aluminiumrich which forms a barrier against moisture ingress and corrosive agents with a bright silver finishing coat. • Galmet RustPaint is an epoxy-based enamel that is tough on abrasion and has adhesive properties. It is used for protecting and beautifying both new and old metal surfaces and comes in a range of colours. • Galmet SprayPaint is a generalpurpose high gloss steel and structural enamel that can be used on industrial applications as a finishing coat. It is also available in a range of colours inhibiting products are rust preventatives, anti-corrosion primers and protective coatings, each one serving a different specific purpose across industries. “The Galmet ColdGal is a zinc-rich coating that provides long term protection for steel by creating galvanic action between the zinc and steel compounds which prevents rust from forming,” explains Steve. “It’s corrosion testing to ASTM B117 salt spray is also unparalleled with over 2000+ hours, demonstrating that “It has self-healing properties that reseals the surface of damaged metals and offers excellent prevention of rust creepage under the pain film.” “This combined with it’s high zinc purity and content makes it ideal for welding applications on piping or tanks in plants, or any steel or iron application that has long-term corrosive properties,” he adds.

Galmet has been making metal protection products since 1960.

Galmet’s other bestseller is the Ironize rust converter that drys quickly to render rusted applications inert by converting the rust to a black chelate compound, according to Steve. “The Ironize does not require any primer and is appropriate to use on applications where it is not possible to remove rust before painting,” he explains. “Once applied, the conversion process makes it unnecessary to apply any future anti-rust compounds because the surface will have been stabilised.” From the Galmet range, The Galmet DuraGal® Silver, Galmet RustPaint, and Galmet SprayPaint are products that work as protective coatings on steel, offering versatile finishing options on industrial applications for a smooth, sleek, metallic, coated result. ITW Polymers and Fluids enjoy a synergistic partnership with BSC as distributors throughout their network. For further knowledge and expertise on the Galmet range of offerings, visit your local BSC branch.

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 25

MACADAMIA

FALK SCORES THE LEADING

performance in the production of grid couplings

erman Falk first started his machining workshop more than 125 years ago, and today the Falk name has become synonymous with grid couplings across the industrial landscape. Falk was one of the first to develop “cast welding” for reinforcing joint connections and has since gone on to champion the process of shot peening, which compresses the surface molecules of a component to increase strength and torsional ability. The Rexnord Falk Steelflex couplings house tapered grids that are constructed from high-strength alloy steel, and are quenched, and tempered to spring hardness. The grid surface is then precision shot peened. This precision technology was originally used in the production of sophisticated aircraft components, according to Steve Hittmann, CBC’s National Product Manager for Mechanical Drive Systems and Belt Drives. “The effect is a dramatic increase in strength and torque ratings, and a much longer life expectancy for the coupling,” he says.

Falk Steelflex Design Features: • Long life with alloy steel tapered grids • Extended maintenance periods with the use of Falk Long Term Grease • Easy maintenance with the replace-in-place design • Absorbs shock loads and offers vibration damping with the original Falk Steelflex T-Grid design • Reduced peak torque loads by as much as 30% • Reduced wear on connected equipment components • Grade 5 cap screws ensure the correct specified tightening torque can be applied to fasten the cover

Thong Phabmixay, Sales and Application Engineer for Rexnord, brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Prior to working for Rexnord, he worked as a Product Manager, specialising in Power Transmission products for over 29 years.

Replacement timeframes and costs are also significant factors in rating grid coupling performance. With that said, the Falk Steelflex “replace in place” design eliminates the need to move hubs or re-align shafts, thereby reducing element change-out time.

Today, Rexnord and CBC enjoy a longstanding partnership spanning more than 15 years and marked by excellent communication, custom in-house machining efforts, joint calls to customer sites and collaborative training initiatives.

The Steelflex couplings are also industry compliant with the ATEX II 2GD c T6 certified standard to ensure safe use.

Drawing on that knowledge and background, Thong explains the patented technology that sets Rexnord Falk Steelflex grid couplings apart from the other leading players in the market. “Third party testing revealed that Rexnord’s Falk Steelflex Grid couplings are 4.7 times more durable than a leading competitor’s grid couplings, and up to 16 times more durable than other brands,” explains Thong. “Competitors have marketed their grid elements as interchangeable with Rexnord’s Falk Steelflex grid coupling, and by outward appearances the couplings do look similar,” he says. “But customers really should be made aware that a significant gap in performance still remains between brands.”

In addition to these features, when lubricated with Rexnord Falk Long Term Grease (LTG), the Falk Steelflex coupling warranty period extends from an industry leading 3 years to 5 years. “Falk LTG was developed specifically for couplings. It resists the separation of the oil and thickening agent that occurs in typical greases,” says Thong. “If a customer uses the Falk LTG coupling grease on installation, it will eliminate the need for periodic maintenance for 5 years.” This makes the Falk Steelflex package a cost-effective and low-maintenance solution. “When you look at the overall savings in initial costs, spare parts costs, and labour costs for installation, alignment, and replacement – plus the 5-year warranty – it is easy to see what Steelflex Grid Couplings have over the competition,” enthuses Steve. Moreover, Rexnord offers full-service engineering and inventory teams, and together with CBC, they share a joint cause in providing premium products and services directly to customer’s doorsteps.

“Interchanging parts between on a Falk Steelflex grid coupling may succeed initially, but ultimately the durability and performance of the coupling will be compromised by interchanging components with other brands,” adds Thong. In manufacturing, reliability, longevity, and reduced maintenance is what measures a grid coupling application’s performance.

PAGE 26 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04

Rexnord’s Falk Steelflex couplings show a significant reduction in operating costs.

FANS

MAKING INDUSTRIAL

ventilation a breeze

roper ventilation in an industrial manufacturing environment is a critical factor to the health and safety of the workers and the quality of the final product, according to BSC Product Manager David Malthouse.

“Industrial facilities have a lot of airborne particles such as dust, dirt, and vapours from the chemicals being used in the manufacturing process,” says David. “These can pose a significant health risk and should be considered as a hazard in the workplace.” Being a major supplier to industrial manufacturing segment, BSC is well positioned for demonstrating and facilitating the implementation of proper ventilation on site to plant managers. “The technical team at BSC regularly make site visits, in order to assess and make recommendations on how to improve the overall quality of the air in manufacturing plants,” says David. “Automotive and mobile equipment parts manufacturing facilities, smelters and refineries, and even food processing plants each need to mitigate the risks of toxic air contamination,” he elaborates, “The best way to do this is by installing a good quality extraction fan system that will draw out contaminants and cycle in cleaner air.” David frequently sources extraction systems from Fanmaster and considers them to be his preferred choice. “Fanmaster extraction systems are specially designed to fit the purpose of ventilating industrial scale operations and their engineered systems have delivered excellent results for customers,” David enthuses. Australian family-owned and operated business, Fanmaster has been operating for over 21 years and has extensive knowledge of ventilation and extraction as an importer and manufacturer of heating, cooling, ventilation, and extraction equipment. Troy Lopez, General Manager at Fanmaster, explains how BSC has been helpful as a distributor in engaging more customers. “The BSC network and market reach is amazing,” says Troy. “The strength of their

communication channels and adept ability to really listen to suppliers has shown us that they really view our working relationship as a partnership.” Fanmaster offers a range of extraction system to suit industrial applications, available with different types of airflow and extraction methods such as axial flow fans, wall exhaust units and roof exhaust fans. According to Troy, Fanmaster offers several types of industrial extraction fans ranging from Filtering Systems, Portable Ventilators to Fixed Ventilation Systems. Filtering Systems Fume Extraction Units use HEPA filters that capture very close to 100% of particulate matter down to 3 microns in size. These systems make it easy for workshop managers to meet Safe Work guidelines for industrial processes. As these units are portable and can be moved for local area ventilation at the source. Air Scrubber Purifier Systems use a two-stage filtration process to remove contaminants. Ideal for the removal of dust and for drying out areas after wet weather, these units can eliminate odours and prevent mould spores from spreading. Portable ventilators Depending on the application, an extraction fan may need to be mobile to the source of a process. Compact Air Blasters can be used for dust and fume extraction as well as delivery of fresh air to confined spaces. Purging fans with ducting are suitable for harsh conditions as heavy duty compact units used for extraction and renewing air supply. These go hand-in-hand with Portable Exhaust Blowers which extract toxic fumes and replenish fresh air supply. In heavy industry such as mining and tunnelling, Mobile Mancoolers are compact units that can improve the comfort of confined workspaces by removing contaminants and cooling down the workers.

Fixed ventilation systems Unlike portable ventilators that can be moved from one location to another, fixed ventilation systems are installed in place in the workshop or factory. Axial Flow Fans are extractor fans bolted onto existing ducting and are sized to fit the ducts, while Industrial Wall Exhaust Fans can be fitted into double-brick wall cavities for a simple and cost-effective solution. A more heavy-duty fixed ventilation solution would be a Hooded Roof Fan, constructed from steel and aluminium, these units are weatherproof and designed for large industrial buildings. “Our extraction systems are ideal for warehouses, factories, and workshops,” says Troy. “They will remove that hot, stale air that contains fumes, dust and contaminants and then introduce a supply of fresh air. Ultimately, this creates a more comfortable working environment for staff and allows for greater productivity.” Fanmaster is an importer and a manufacturer of industrial-grade extraction fans, offering a range of imported and Australian-made units to the market. For technical consultation and install support for extraction fan systems in an industrial environment, visit a local BSC branch and connect with an expert today.

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 27

BRANCH

SERVING THE

South Australian outback

he heavy industrial landscape of underground mines and processing plants peppered across the outback can conjure up images that resemble something out of a Mad Max film. But the team at CBC Regency Park is used to contending with the common challenges faced across industries such as oil, gas, mining, and quarrying. Conveniently located in the urban centre of Adelaide, CBC Regency Park is the largest branch in the state, and a key supplier to the surrounding industrial regions and townships. Peter Dixon, Internal Sales, has a deep understanding of the needs and requirements of his customer base, having served at CBC Regency Park for more than 14 years.

Loctite product stand at CBC Regency Park.

Parlaying with customers who are on remote sites and liaising with suppliers to find solutions is all in a day’s work for the team at Regency Park. “Quite a few of our customers are mining contractors who either ring us up or actually drive down from the desert-hot outback towns, about 560km North-West of Adelaide,” says Peter. “Mining contractors often look to us as the premium supplier for their respective operations,” explains Peter. “They are seeking out products that can withstand the highheat, dry, dusty conditions of the industrial landscape in the outback, which can be particularly gruelling on heavy machinery and equipment in processing plants.” “When it comes to assisting these types of customers, we rely on our premium partnerships with suppliers like LOCTITE®, who provide us with an extensive range of product, as well as access to training programs and knowledge bases,” adds Peter. “We are a solutions-based organisation and that ensures a synergistic relationship with solutions-based suppliers like LOCTITE.” Peter was approached by a mining contractor last month that required large quantities of adhesive sealant that could be used on high-heat applications on site. In collaboration with his account and area managers, the solution Peter arrived at was the LOCTITE SI 596; a silicone paste sealant that forms a moisture-proof rubber bond; ideal for operating under high-heat conditions, up to 250 degrees Celsius.

PAGE 28 • LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04

The customer agreed and ordered a high volume of SI 596 to be shipped out to their receiving location near major mining destinations in South Australia. Peter speaks to why this product was the right solution for high-heat conditions. “After curing, the silicone compound forms a flexible yet tough rubber bond that can withstand the test of time and temperature fluctuations, without deformation or splitting,” explains Peter. “In application, the LOCTITE 596 is easy to recognise with its distinctive red color, which can be an indicator to operators as to what kind of conditions the bond can endure,” he elaborates. Since CBC has been enjoying a premium partnership with LOCTITE, this is not the first time they have supplied a premium quality industrial adhesive and sealant technology to some of CBC’s key market customers. LOCTITE’s vast range of products consist of everything from bonding agents and sealants to protective coatings, lubricants, and repair materials. The reliability of CBC’s supplied LOCTITE products and services is evident in the loyalty of their customers and the distance both parties are willing to go to keep outback processing plants rolling. If extremely harsh conditions call for extremely durable solutions, then the CBC Regency Park team is the bat to LOCTITE’s ball, and together they are hitting homeruns across South Australia.

LOCTITE® SI 596 Features and Benefits • 1-step to cure sealant • Red coloured acetoxy silicone paste • Tough but flexible • Waterproof and oil-resistant • Silicone rubber bonding agent • Operating range of -50°C to +250°C • Resists ageing, weathering and thermal cycling • No hardening, shrinking, or cracking • Ideal for use in industrial furnaces, ovens, boilers, exhaust stacks, high temperature ducting and heating elements in electrical appliances

COUPLINGS

Quick Tips on Installing Fenaflex Tyre Couplings • Always refer to the manual of each product for torque ratings • Ensure all mating surfaces of the assembly taper balls, flanges, taper lock bush, and bores are cleaned prior to assembly • Always take into consideration endfloat and misalignment

NOT ALL COUPLING

solutions are created equally

he Fenner name is synonymous with drive and power. With over 150 years of engineering drive systems and power transmission behind them, they were well-suited for acquisition by Motion Asia Pacific in 2011.

a significant component in the design and construction of automotive vehicles. But in a factory setting, they are also required on conveyor belts, pulleys, lifts and mobile plant equipment where machines are running under heavy vibrations.”

BSC Product Manager for Drive Systems and Power Transmission, Troy Markland, says with Fenner under his belt, the future of manufacturing is looking alive — and fast.

“The Fenaflex Tyre Couplings are unique in their design because they have a donutstyle rubber tire between the two flanges of the coupling arrangement that has vibration dampening properties and torquing ability that allow for shaft misalignment on operations,” he furthers.

“Technological advancements in the industrial landscape have come ahead in leaps and bounds,” says Troy. “More and more, factories are looking to increase the rate of their productivity through high-speed applications.” In the manufacturing segment; the greater the speed of an operation, the higher the productivity and the more profitable the gains. Fenner demonstrates an understanding of this concept through robust, versatile drive shaft solutions like Fenaflex Tyre Couplings that have high-torquing ability to accommodate the manufacturing industry’s need for speed. The main job of a coupling arrangement is aligning two drive shafts in order to transmit power between them. A standard coupling arrangement is constructed with two flanges, and a taper lock bush design that secures the connecting shafts in place. “Drive shafts are what give a machine higher rated horsepower,” explains Troy. “They are

Heavy vibrations can cause cracks and fractures on drive equipment which can lead to equipment failures. “The Fenaflex Tyre Couplings do a good job of softening the impact of heavy manufacturing through shock absorption,” Troy adds. Fenaflex Tyre Couplings can accommodate up to a 4-degree misalignment on an application, which is above a standard coupling. However, ensuring the flanges are parallel with the shafts still requires careful calculation of the gap between the shafts and any end-float required. “The most common cause of a coupling failure is improper installation,” says Troy. “There are times when maintenance and repair staff have not received proper training on how to install the couplings, or the instructions are overlooked” he elaborates. “The result is that a coupling will be implemented on a high-speed, high-impact, application incorrectly which can cause

• Measure the gap between the shaft to the appropriate distance • Lay a straight edge across the flanges in several areas to check that they are parallel to one another • Post-installation, run the couplings under load for a test period • Check the torque to ensure it is correct

cracks, fractures or breakdowns.” To avoid this outcome, Troy suggests referring to Fenner’s knowledge and training hubs online. “Fenner produces a lot of instructional videos and training resources,” says Troy. “My advice to operational managers would be to train up staff properly and ensure they have access to these channels. Alternatively, our team at BSC is always happy to make a site visit to assess the requirements for a drive system and assist in the installation process.” The most important step of installing Fenaflex Tyre Couplings, according to Troy, occurs after the installation when it is necessary to test run a coupling under load and monitor the performance to ensure the torque is correct for the application. He concludes, “End-users will get the best results from Fenaflex Couplings if care is taken on installation. It is important to keep installation resources close, make sure the Fenaflex tyre is seated correctly, check the gap, check the torque, and adjust the screws accordingly.”

LET’S ROLL AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ED 04 • PAGE 29

PRODUCT SHOWCASE