MM Dec 2020

manmonthly.com.au

MANAGEMENT >> TECHNOLOGY >> SOLUTIONS

DECEMBER 2020

AIRCUBE: Your wish list delivered in one box

The AIRCUBE Containerised Compressor Room from Atlas Copco is the perfect plug-and-play solution for companies that are planning to build their own compressor rooms or for companies that don’t have space for a compressor room inside their factory.

First select your energy saving via your compressor type and size, then mix and match many of the other Atlas Copco compressed air equipment and we will assemble all of these products for you!

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your business in 2020 and to wish you a Merry Christmas and a healthy and productive 2021!

1800 023 469 www.atlascopco.com

AIRCUBE Wish List for my personalised utility room Air Compressor: Volume

Little

Dryer:

Dry Air

Filter:

Clean

(Free Air Delivery):

Fixed Speed Lots

Variable Speed

Heaps

Really Dry Air

Super Clean

Super Dry Air

No Oil Vapour

Thank You Santa!

manmonthly.com.au

MANAGEMENT >> TECHNOLOGY >> SOLUTIONS

DECEMBER 2020

IMAGE CREDIT: Dominic Loneragan

COVID-19 PUTS R&D ON THE FAST TRACK

Official Industry Partners

INSIDE >>

Print Post Approved PP100007882

>>

25 Plug-and-play industrial air solution in a room

30 Welding goes digital in Australia

35 Safe lubrication for food manufacturers

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

Inside­­

For daily news visit manmonthly.com.au

DECEMBER 2020

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: Danilo Cortucci Ph: 0434 419 663 danilo.cortucci@primecreative.com.au Subscriptions Published 11 times a year Subscriptions $140.00 per annum (inc GST)

20

Overseas prices apply Ph: (03) 9690 8766

30

Manufacturers’ Monthly Contents Copyright

6 Editor’s Note

25 Compressors

35 Food lubrication

8 Comment

30 Advanced Welding

37 What’s New

13 News@MM

32 Manufacturing Strategies

40 The Last Word

20 Issues & Insights

34 Bearings

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, 2019

PACE Contents 3 News

10 Instruments Market

13 Products

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 P: +61 3 9690 8766

Behind the cover manmonthly.com.au

enquiries@primecreative.com.au

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 Ph: (03) 9794 8337

4 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

MANAGEMENT >> TECHNOLOGY >> SOLUTIONS

DECEMBER 2020

COVID-19 PUTS R&D ON THE FAST TRACK

IMAGE CREDIT: Dominic Loneragan

Sydney Office

Issues & Insights on page 20.

Lorch South Pacific managing director and co-owner David Wilton spoke with MM about next-level digitised welding, where welders, equipment and processes are connected through 4.0 Big Data.

Find out more on page 30.

Finally, we hope you enjoy the final edition of the year with PACE, where we interviewed IICA NSW chair Peter Veron for an article featuring the Jowett Car Club.

Official Industry Partners

INSIDE >> >>

Print Post Approved PP100007882

www.primecreative.com.au

The NSW Treasury launched the Innovation Districts Challenges to connect researchers with industry in research and development collaborations. As the judging gets underway, we spoke with academics from The University of New South Wales and the University of Wollongong to find out the types of emerging businesses that could make our lives healthier and safer during the COVID19 pandemic. Find out in

25 Plug-and-play industrial air solution in a room

30 Welding goes digital in Australia

35 Safe lubrication for food manufacturers

manmonthly.com.au

X5 FASTMIG Extraordinary arc welding productivity

www.kemppi.com Call (02) 8785 2000

Comment

SYED SHAH – Managing Editor, Manufacturers’ Monthly

Getting back to work – how and when

I

N October, as part of a bigger Economic Recovery Plan for Australia, the federal government launched the new Modern Manufacturing Strategy as part of its JobMaker plan to stimulate the Australian economy. With this plan, there will be $1.5 billion invested into Australian manufacturing over the next five years. The Prime Minister has targeted six National Manufacturing Priorities, or key areas, which the government believes have substantial competitive strength or is in alignment with strategic national priority.

Back in 2019, the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund was launched to give SMEs a chance to upscale their manufacturing processes with new technologies and grow organically. According to the federal government, that fund was considered successful and has been renewed for a second round with an additional $52.8 million of funding. Round two will be looking to support about 150 firms that align with the National Manufacturing Priorities. This includes investments to create new positions, upskilling of existing workforce and adopting new technology – to support the COVID-19 recovery. Very similar in agenda to round one.

6 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

This is all good willed, no doubt, and supports the economic recovery of the country. But while we demand the return/creation of manufacturingbased jobs (rightfully), we demand it with the accompanying high wage.

Even pre-COVID-19, there has been constant talk about how to bring back manufacturing jobs to Australia that have been lost to off-shoring.

Worse, international companies (the automotive industry for example) that used to manufacture end-ofline products here, no longer see the viability to do so – because of the wage demands. To further complicate it, protectionist trading measures have eased over the decades for imports. For sure, companies will see the feasibility of manufacturing overseas and this issue has been perpetuating for years – right up until COVID-19 hit the world economy.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis like none other and very few were geared to cushion the blow.

All around the globe in the past months, economies have recorded historic contractions across their manufacturing indexes. Supply chains were disrupted and because so many countries are co-dependent on exports and imports of certain necessities, there were shortages

overnight. Soon, onshoring and reshoring of manufacturing capabilities were back on the table.

Of course, according to our governments, Australia stands out among its first-world peers for its low infection rates and economic reactions to the pandemic. However, despite that, the reality is that the uncertainty still hovers. Border restrictions within the country have hampered trading and business movements but still, somehow, the local businesses here manage to find a way around it. More than ever, what the industrial organisations and associations like the AMGC, Weld Australia and IMCRC (among the many) have been pressing for years now, is how innovation and the open-mindedness to advanced technologies is becoming really relevant and needed – urgently.

As announced recently, the Australian economy is currently in recession as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic – the first recession in 30 years. GDP fell by approximately seven per cent, there were contractions across industry indexes month on month – just like the rest of the world. But most importantly, what hit home were the job losses and although over three-quarters of a million people who lost their jobs

locally are back at work, what is the key to getting back on track?

Minister for Industry, Karen Andrews said the government and industry had learned lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. She mentioned that manufacturers have risen to the challenge during COVID-19. With the existing budget for manufacturing geared towards research and development across those six strategic areas, the available jobs made available, logically, would be centred around those. Surely, the concept of upskilling and retraining would make sense to suit the potential job market? The next fact and question to follow would be – reshoring or onshoring would probably not bring back Australia’s manufacturing heydays where everyone could get back on to the shop floor. Most likely, even those jobs that come with it would require a certain set of advanced capabilities. Is there a market for end-of-line manufacturing? Probably, but not much by human hands anymore.

Automation and the skills to manage automation are more likely needed if Australia is going to stay relevant and abreast with the rest of the global economy as it continues to recover. manmonthly.com.au

proudly sponsored by 23 -25 February 2021

SUPPLY CHAIN VISION IN THE DECADE FOR ACTION

EARLY BIRD TICKETS

NOW ON SALE www.asci-2021.com.au/tickets/

TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO BOOK YOUR TICKET TO THE

MUST ATTEND SUPPLY CHAIN EDUCATION EVENT OF THE YEAR

SAVE UP TO $200 ON STANDARD REGISTRATION PRICING UNTIL 12 FEBRUARY 2021

23-25 FEBRUARY

2021

William Inglis Hotel, Sydney Contact: Ben Griffiths ben.griffiths@primecreative.com.au

Comment

GEOFF CRITTENDEN – CEO, Weld Australia

Industry 4.0 production processes are proven to deliver superior quality outcomes and higher repeatability.

Welding 4.0: The Future of Industry

T

HE trade of welding conjures up images of dirty, dark workshops full to the brim with traditional tools and machinery prone to throwing off sparks and fumes.

But, with the advent of automation, robots, co-bots and a range of other advanced welding technologies, this perception is becoming more and more outdated. Welding is a far less dangerous, arduous job than ever before. Increasingly, Australia’s worldclass welding workshops are light and bright, and fitted-out with some of the most advanced technology available.

This change is being driven, in part, by the adoption of Industry 4.0 production processes – the intelligent and productivity-boosting networking of man and machine for an automatic flow of data within the production chain.

Welding 4.0 is rapidly gaining traction in Australia, for good reason.

The benefits of Industry 4.0 for welding and fabrication Industry 4.0, as well as concepts such as the smart factory and digital transformation, present myriad opportunities for welders and fabricators.

8 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Industry 4.0 encompasses the rapid technological change that is disrupting businesses across all industries. Advances in communication technologies, devices connected to the internet and data analytics are occurring at a much faster pace than at any other time in history. With the proliferation of smart sensors and the resultant data, welders and fabricators are now able to access insights that have helped to optimise operations and improve efficiencies.

Improvements in efficiency and productivity Industry 4.0 and advanced welding technology is already helping welders and fabricators improve their efficiency and productivity. More and more, to ensure their global competitiveness, businesses are investigating ways to save money and reduce their overheads. The best way to do so is by undertaking operational efficiency improvements that help reduce or eliminate redundancies, errors, bottlenecks and waste.

Welding 4.0 and advanced welding technology play an essential role in creating lean manufacturing processes. The right

type of technology can help eliminate workflow delays and duplications and accelerate entire processes through the automation of individual tasks.

Superior quality and repeatability Industry 4.0 production processes are proven to deliver superior quality outcomes and higher repeatability. Any process that improves weld quality and repeatability is worthwhile. Welding is not just a commodity, or a simple, straightforward process. When welds fail, the results can be disastrous.

A poor-quality weld can be hugely expensive, and can cause massive damage, injuries, and even fatalities.

Bolstered competitiveness Industry 4.0 has the potential to enhance the economic competitiveness of Australia’s welding fabrication sector. The adoption of Industry 4.0 methods in welding helps to offset costs associated with labour, inspection and rework, placing fabricators in a better position to bid, and deliver on, projects. With access to detailed data on factors such as production, planning, quality management,

welders can deliver more accurate costing information and have greater confidence in their ability to comply with strict international and Australian standards.

Better conditions for welders Technological innovations allow businesses to make better use of human skill and innovation, with machines taking over mundane tasks so that employees can focus on critical thinking, quality and creativity. This opens up new opportunities for businesses to improve and optimise their operations.

It can also result in other, more indirect, payoffs. For instance, using a plasma welding machine or a Microsoft HoloLens, or programming a robot, can be more interesting than traditional MIG or TIG welding.

Several Weld Australia members that have invested in advanced technology have reported marked improvements in recruiting, training and retaining staff long-term as a direct result.

In addition, advanced technology is helping to make welding a far safer profession. For instance, the use of robots and co-bots (particularly in confined spaces) helps to remove manmonthly.com.au

welders from immediate exposure to welding fumes, ultraviolent radiation, heat and sparks.

With advancements in robotics technology, and the likelihood of increased industry uptake, the issue of welder employment rates is inevitably raised. Media frequently reports that the more robots we use, the less jobs there are available.

This is rubbish. Robots automate processes, making these processes more efficient, thereby generating even more work.

Real-world examples SSS Manufacturing Weld Australia member, SSS Manufacturing was established with the objective of fabricating structural steel in the most cost-competitive way using ‘artificially intelligent’ robotic technology. Their Brisbane plant is staffed entirely by robots and directed by IR4, an artificially intelligent software platform that analyses 3D plans to plot the most cost-effective way to fabricate custommade structural steel sections.

According to SSS Manufacturing’s CEO, Chris Brugeaud, their technology has reduced error rates, slashed their costs and more than halved the number of hours required to produce a ton of fabricated structural steel. Their task-based automation system is able to review a 3D drawing, decipher the tasks required, and calculate how to complete a task in the most efficient way possible, in real time.

Since installing the welding robot, SMW has reduced its welding time by between 70 per cent and 90 per cent.

It has also reduced overall production costs, improved safety, quality and reporting, and broadened its scope of work capabilities. SMW can access live detailed reports on temperature, gas flow, voltage and amps at any point in the welding process – all by logging in from a mobile device. The robot has also eliminated the risks of fatigue, heat stress and working height restrictions, minimising risk of human injury and the need for ergonomic access planning.

ASC Shipbuilding The recently completed $500 million upgrade of the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia included major investments in digital technology. This technology will provide ASC Shipbuilding with real-time insights into shipyard and supply chain performance, leading to enhanced productivity, safety and quality outcomes for the Hunter Class Frigates.

One of the sheds within the Shipyard houses a fully automated panel line, complete with the latest in automatic welding, cutting and plasma machines. Steel enters the highly automated fabrication hall at one end, is cut and welded into the

75-odd units that make up each of the frigates, and semi-blocks come out at the other end of the hall.

This digitalisation will enable project partners to see plans in real time, identify and resolve issues faster, improve risk management and optimise production. It will also result in the production of a highly accurate digital twin, which can be utilised for purposes such as routine maintenance plans.

Welding 4.0 training Advanced technology is even having an impact on welder training.

Increasingly, old-school training techniques are being complemented by innovative teaching methods that rely on augmented and virtual reality systems.

Augmented and virtual reality training systems are studentfocused, allowing individual students to progress at their own pace. Welding apprentices learn and understand welding procedures and techniques through a more interactive training method, gaining hands-on experience in a controlled, safe environment. With zero risks involved, apprentices can respond to realistic scenarios without pressure or fear of injury. Augmented and virtual reality training is enabling future welders to acquire the

skills and the self-confidence they need before moving into realworld workshops.

This type of technology is a key feature of Weld Australia’s national network of Advanced Welder Training Centres, which rely on Seabery’s Soldamatic augmented reality welding simulators. The Soldamatic simulators are able to certify 34 per cent more welders in 56 per cent less time, saving up to 68 per cent on the overall cost of welder training. In addition, Soldamatic increases the time on arc by three to five times, and enables training institutes to educate four times more students while maintaining their existing lab infrastructure.

The future of welding Increasingly, Industry 4.0 methodologies, automation, robotics, co-bots and a raft of other advanced welding technology is becoming a critical factor in the success of globally competitive welders and fabricators.

A failure to invest in advanced welding technology could quickly become a failure to invest in the future of your business. After all, as the saying goes, “You can’t do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and expect to be in business tomorrow”.

Industry 4.0 has the potential to enhance the economic competitiveness of Australia’s welding fabrication sector.

SMW Group Another Weld Australia member, SMW Group in Queensland, has automated their welding repair processes in recent years. The automation of welding repairs for mining industry dragline buckets had been dubbed impossible due to the size and geometry of the equipment, as well as the damage, distortion and uneven wear of components. However, utilising advanced laser seam tracking, adaptive welding software, a new generation welding system and a modular robot configuration, BOC and RTA built and installed a highly successful robot welding package for SMW. manmonthly.com.au

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 9

Comment

DAVID CHUTER – CEO and managing director, IMCRC

Accelerating Industry 4.0 uptake: five messages for SMEs

D

ESPITE the challenges of 2020 and the undeniable negative impact of COVID-19, the world has seen a rapid adoption of digital technologies over the past six months.

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, noted in April that due to the pandemic the business saw two years’ worth of digital transformation in just two months. More recently, McKinsey reported the findings of a poll which stated C-suite executives believe COVID-19 has triggered a decade of digitalisation.

This shift was a key topic of discussion at the 2020 virtual Industry 4.0 Advanced Manufacturing Forum (I4AMF) conference at the end of October.

In my role leading the combined Technology Applications and Digital Business Models workstream of the I4AMF, it was a privilege to lead a webinar panel with five manufacturing experts who provided insights and advice for those looking to accelerate the uptake of Industry 4.0 technology applications and digital business models in Australia.

A questions that I, as well as my colleague and webinar co-host Simon Dawson, IMCRC’s director of industrial transformation, often get asked, particularly by SMEs, are “How do I start? How, where and when should I begin to integrate the technologies of Industry 4.0?” – this theme provided the spark for a fascinating discussion.

Below are five key outtakes.

1. I ndustry 4.0 is a journey to both capture and create value The panel unanimously agreed that Industry 4.0 is not a moment in time.

Nor does it represent a fixed set of technologies.

In fact, investing in technologies of the time may be futile unless you are clear on why and how they will set your business up to adapt and thrive in a changing world.

10 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

improve productivity.

For SMEs looking to take their first step, Jamie’s advice was to, “Start small. Find something that’s really annoying someone – a system problem – and then look at it from the perspective of how technology can help solve this problem”.

3. T he right partners are important

The first step to begin the Industry 4.0 journey does not need to be a big one.

David Kaplan, co-founder and managing director of Sleep Corp, noted that although Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and the Internet of Things are being adopted by many, technology on its own is not always the answer. Sleep Corp was aware of the need to transform its existing factory into a modern one to stay competitive in a global marketplace but was surprised to discover that digital transformation can be as much about upskilling an existing workforce or improving process flows as implementing advanced technology.

With the help of graduates from Swinburne University, and partners such as the Fraunhofer and IMCRC, Sleep Corp was able to redesign the layout for the factory, identify potential stress points and select the right technology and processes. By taking the company on the Industry 4.0 journey, Sleep Corp transformed itself into one that compete well into the future.

2. The first step can be small For some, beginning the Industry 4.0 journey seems overwhelming. But our webinar panel demonstrated that

the first step doesn’t need to be a huge leap.

Jamie Baensch, general manager of Air Radiators, spoke of how the company started its journey by looking at the way information flowed between its many systems. Air Radiators was finding that the complexity of its information infrastructure meant that its shop floor team members were not receiving the live data they required to serve customers effectively. To solve this problem, they introduced touch screens into the customer-facing environment and connected these to its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system via an IBM Cognos business intelligence tool. The touch screens reduced the need for keyboards and paper systems and allowed the shop floor team to receive live data from the ERP system.

Baensch explained that Air Radiators didn’t set out to begin an Industry 4.0 project. But they ended up with one - a digitalised shop floor - setting in motion a culture of continuous improvement and adopting new ways of working to

There are many collaborators open to working with manufacturers across the country, but crucially businesses need to find the right fit. Each member of the webinar panel spoke about the importance of effective collaboration to evolve successfully with Industry 4.0 and create a long-term sustainable business.

Teaming up with the right partner(s) at the outset of a transformation journey will help you actualise your ideas. In Cori Stewart’s experience as CEO of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub, SME owners tended to be technology leaders in their field with great business ideas but sometimes lacked the resources and broader know-how to adopt advance manufacturing.

Part of the ARM Hub’s role is to help businesses identify and access the right information and people to solve whatever challenge they are up against, often connecting owners with owners and encouraging leaders to bring in experts and allow them the freedom to have their own conversations.

Dr Greg Whiteley, chairman of Whiteley Corporation, concurred and emphasised the importance of investing in and building the right partnerships. When setting out to advance Whiteley’s research and development (R&D) and build a new Industry 4.0 enabled human therapeutics plant in the Hunter Valley, Dr Whiteley observed that communicating openly with partners, manmonthly.com.au

understanding their relative strengths and weaknesses and having the right mix of skills was essential to the collaboration process. He also stressed the value of having aligned goals and performance objectives in place to ensure accountability and keep the project focused on achieving sustainable profitability.

4. W illing and ambitious business leadership is the catalyst Throughout the discussion all panellists pointed out how important leadership is to the Industry 4.0 journey.

Business leaders and owners who are willing and ambitious to adopt new technologies and embrace new business models are well on the journey and reaping rewards. As Dawson highlighted at the onset of the webinar, Industry 4.0 is about being clear on the “why”, embracing change and strategically ‘having a go’. While being smart on how investments are made – the “how” and the “what” – not just in terms of cost, but also in terms of other critical resources such as people, skills, systems and collaborative partners are critical to successfully transforming a business.

A comment that Herve Harvard, founding director of the University Technology Sydney (UTS) Rapido, made during the webinar stuck with me. He encouraged SMEs to consider the impact of doing nothing and ignoring Industry 4.0, stating, “If you say you’re too small to do this, you’ll probably end up being smaller. You can’t afford to wait a year, two years or three years because someone will move faster”. This reminded me of another quote, “There are only two times in life, there’s now and there’s too late”.

5. The time to start is now Before the pandemic, Industry 4.0 and the associated technological advancements were starting to transform Australian businesses, creating opportunities for new digital business models and circular economies.

We have, collectively, made solid manmonthly.com.au

progress over the last year. When asking this year’s webinar attendees where they thought Australia was on the Industry 4.0 journey , 40 per cent said that Australian manufacturers were currently “adopting” Industry 4.0, whereas at last year’s conference, 90 per cent responded to the same question with “exploring” or “accepting”.

Hearing the stories of our panelists, as well as insights and comments from leaders across industry and government throughout

the I4AMF conference, I can’t help but be excited and motivated about the future for manufacturing in our country, and for industry more generally in Australia.

However, the message at this year’s conference was also clear: the future is predicated on all of us taking advantage and moving quickly to embrace and invest in technology, digital skills, business models, innovation, research and collaboration. As a country, we must help accelerate our small

and medium businesses and their participation on this journey.

Ultimately, the question of how to accelerate towards applying technology and implementing digital business models that create value is down to ambitious leadership, collaborating with the right people, and following a well-considered and agile strategy. Our conference webinar panel agreed that starting the journey requires confidence to embrace change and foresight to realise the necessity of adoption.

The ARM Hub helps businesses identify information and people to solve challenges.

What is your Industry 4.0 experience?

If you have invested in and implemented Industry 4.0 technologies within your organisation, we would like to hear from you. Share your Industry 4.0 story at www.imcrc. org/shareyourstory, outlining your approach, the challenges you faced, and where you see the benefits now. Help us inspire other manufacturing businesses to follow in your footsteps and start their Industry 4.0 journey.

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 11

RESILIENCE MEANS NOT WORRYING ABOUT “WHAT NOW?” AND INSTEAD, FOCUSING ON “WHAT’S NEXT?” The choice to be resilient has never been more important for a business to make. Today, resilience means choosing a different approach to insuring your commercial property. Above all, it’s choosing to navigate the business, personal and risk complexities you face to ensure you move your business forward. Which is why Resilience is a Choice.

RESILIENCE IS A CHOICE.

© 2020 FM Global. All rights reserved.

News @MM $900m submarine supply program attracts over 100 applications from Australian companies

With the supply program, the work packages will support hundreds of Australian jobs and create new opportunities for Australian businesses.

Over 100 companies in Australia have applied to Naval Group to manufacture 23 specialised items of submarine equipment for the federal government’s Attack Class Submarine Program.

This follows the call for expressions of interest from Australian industry for hundreds of millions of dollars in work packages for the program.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the work packages will support hundreds of Australian jobs and create new opportunities for Australian businesses.

“These Australian companies will compete for work that has been assessed by Naval Group as being worth up to $900 million,” Reynolds said.

“They have formally lodged

interest to become part of the Attack Class Submarine Program as tier one suppliers for equipment, ranging from the submarine’s main shaft line to the weapons handling system.

“Already, almost 2,000 Australian businesses have registered their interest in broader supply chain opportunities through the Industry Capability Network portal.

“This demonstrates the Morrison Government’s commitment to working with Naval Group to maximise opportunities for Australians in the Attack class program.”

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the level of interest expressed by Australian businesses confirmed Australian industry was ready to play a vital role in the delivery of Australia’s worldclass submarines.

“Australian industry is ready to be part of the Attack Class program and the Morrison Government is looking for more opportunities right across the program to maximise industry involvement,” Price said.

“We are securing opportunities for Australian companies to manufacture equipment designed

by Naval Group which is generally manufactured overseas.

“As design of the Attack class submarine progresses, there will be more opportunities for Australian industry to register interest for the supply of major equipment throughout the Program.

“We will continue to see opportunities for Australian industry to be involved in the delivery of this core capability, which underpins the Morrison Government’s goal of a truly sovereign defence industry.”

Quickstep to acquire Boeing Australia’s component repairs Quickstep has announced that it has agreed terms for the purchase of Boeing Defence Australia’s aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capability based in Tullamarine, Victoria.

Under the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, Quickstep (through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Quickstep Aerospace Services Pty Ltd) will acquire operating assets plus inventories and certain customer contracts from Boeing Australia Component Repairs Pty Ltd (BACR).

Quickstep will also make offers to certain BACR employees and will take on employee liabilities for transferring employees and certain other business liabilities.

The press statement from Quickstep also said that an Australian bank has committed to funding the purchase as part of a refinancing package for Quickstep’s existing long-term loan, offering a reduced margin. manmonthly.com.au

Completion is expected around the end of 2020 and is subject to Quickstep obtaining certain necessary regulatory approvals related to the operation of the facility. It is anticipated that the acquisition will be EPS accretive by year two.

BACR manages a wide range of composite, bonded and conventional metal aircraft structures for both commercial and military operators using leading edge equipment and state-of-the-art MRO know-how. The team has recent experience working with Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier aircraft, F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, C-130J Hercules and CH-47 Chinooks.

Quickstep intends to leverage its existing relationships and capabilities to broaden the scope of MRO work offered to include F-35 and other military and commercial work. Key approvals include all major regulatory bodies – CASA, FAA, EASA and DASR

and Quickstep is working towards obtaining these certifications.

Separate to the Asset Purchase Agreement, Boeing Defence Australia and Quickstep have agreed to commence discussions on a longterm agreement that, if entered into, would develop a broader, ongoing collaboration in both the military and commercial aerospace segments, covering new production and sustainment of existing aircraft types.

“We are delighted to soon be welcoming highly capable aerospace employees from the BACR business to Quickstep. The acquisition of this important national capability aligns well to our business strategy, positions us to grow our defence sustainment business and opens up new opportunities in the high value commercial aftermarket as we move toward post-pandemic recovery,” Mark Burgess, CEO of Quickstep said.

“We’re pleased that this

agreement will offer Quickstep – a well-established and highly capable Australian company – the ability to grow its unique sovereign capability to the benefit of regional commercial and defence customers,” said Scott Carpendale, vice president and managing director of Boeing Defence Australia.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Quickstep on new opportunities to increase their support of Boeing customers locally and globally.”

Quickstep intends to leverage its existing relationships and capabilities to broaden the scope of MRO work offered.

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 13

News @MM New Prefab Innovation Hub to boost jobs and economy A new Innovation Hub is set to supercharge Australia’s prefabricated building industry, potentially creating thousands of new jobs and adding up to $30 billion to the economy, according to an AMGC press statement.

The federal government has provided $2 million to the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) to fund and manage the new hub, following a feasibility study.

Minister for Industry, Science and

Technology Karen Andrews said the Prefab Innovation Hub forms part of a coordinated national network of Innovation Labs, which will harness existing research and business capability across Australia.

“The establishment of this hub couldn’t be timelier for the sector as it looks to rebuild after COVID-19 and assists in the bushfire recovery,” Andrews said.

“The hub will work to increase collaboration between industry

The hub will connect builders with manufacturers.

and researchers, and support new technologies and innovations that provide smarter, cheaper, faster and more sustainable construction solutions.”

“This is about meeting the needs of our local building and construction industry and driving innovation that will see Australia greatly increase our exports and become a key player on the global stage.”

AMGC Managing Director Dr Jens Goennemann said that the Prefab Innovation Hub will build new capabilities in the manufacturing industry and construction sector.

“This Prefab Hub will connect recognised research institutions and industry bodies that have experience in this area to form a network of Prefab Innovation Labs across Australia,” Goennemann said.

“The purpose of these labs is to help drive skills, accelerate adoption of

new technology, formulate regulatory proposals, identify new procurement pathways, and recommend new funding mechanisms – all to support a burgeoning prefab construction industry.”

PrefabAUS chair Damian Crough said there was enormous potential for prefabricated construction to support “shovel ready” projects.

“More than at any other time, prefabrication offers viable, necessary and relevant alternative construction options delivering significant gains in quality, productivity and affordability,” Crough said.

Prefabrication covers a wide range of buildings, including tiny houses, larger homes and offices.

The hub will build on the government’s $28 million commitment to establish the Building 4.0 Cooperative Research Centre.

New round of small business cash grants as $4 billion in COVID-19 stimulus extends to sole traders in SA Thousands of SA small businesses and not-for-profit organisations that continue to be impacted by COVID-19 will be eligible for a second $10,000 cash grant.

The cash grants are part of the SA government’s $4 billion in economic stimulus to help protect thousands of local jobs.

And, for the first time, the state government has introduced a $3,000 cash grant for eligible businesses that do not employ staff, including sole traders and partnerships, operating from a commercial premise and suffering financial hardship* as a result of the pandemic.

The major measures, included in the State Budget 2020-21, will assist an estimated 10,000 small business and not-for-profits including eligible sporting and community organisations

14 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

across the state, from travel agents and restaurants to hotels and hairdressers.

The cash grants will be available to help cover a business’ ongoing or outstanding operating costs, such as rent, power bills, supplier and raw materials costs and other fees.

Premier Steven Marshall said already more than $186 million in cash grants had been paid to over 18,700 recipients in the first round of stimulus – supporting more than 100,000 jobs.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our state’s economy and we are determined to do everything in our power to help keep their lights on, their doors open and their hardworking people in jobs,” said Marshall.

“While many local businesses

have started the recovery process as COVID-19 restrictions have started to ease, we know there are still many others who continue to be negatively impacted by the pandemic.

“That’s why we’re introducing a second round of $10,000 cash grants to support those small businesses and not-for-profits who continue to do it tough – which brings to $20,000 the total direct and targeted cash support for employers.

“This is all part of our plan to keep SA safe and strong throughout the greatest economic challenge of our time, by creating jobs, backing business and building what matters.

“We are pleased to be able to extend further support to businesses that do not employ staff, including sole traders and partnerships, operating from commercial premises,

in recognition of their value in the economy.

“This money will help ease the cash flow burden on businesses, to help cover ongoing or outstanding operating costs, such as rent, power bills, supplier and raw materials costs and other fees.”

Premier Marshall said this package was in addition to economic stimulus measures already announced to support local jobs, including payroll tax and land tax relief and the waiving of liquor licence fees for 2020-21.

For more information and to apply for a grant, businesses are urged to visit the website.

Applications for the grant have been opened this week and will be available until midnight 14 December 2020 according to the state government’s website.

manmonthly.com.au

News @MM AMGC backs Aussie manufacturers creating electricity from air The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) has co-funded two Australian manufacturers to assist with the development of technology to generate power from air.

Capricorn Power and Cool Mine have been awarded co-funding to advance their ground-breaking heat-to-electricity generator and thermoelectric generator (TEG) technology, respectively.

Both projects take an existing resource, compressed air, hot air or gas, and convert it into usable electricity. Capricorn Power use waste exhaust or biogas and convert it into electricity via a patent-pending Barton engine system. This power can then feed energy back into the local grid providing power for local

manmonthly.com.au

industry or up to 120 homes.

Cool Mine’s AIR2VOLTS system leverages TEG technology, whereby temperate differences produce a ‘Seebeck’ effect to generate electricity between two conductors. This technology has been used to power deep space probes and is ideally suited for use in underground mines where access to reticulated electrical power can be both difficult and dangerous, however, access to compressed air is not.

Managing director of AMGC, Jens Goennemann, said that both technologies demonstrate the critical role manufacturing plays across the entire value chain, from design to research and development, and then onto sales, service, and support.

“Capricorn Power and Cool Mine are stunning examples of the manufacturing multiplier effect, with jobs generated across the entire manufacturing value chain. Both technologies benefit from highly skilled design and engineering staff, and now, as the businesses move to the production, sales, and service phase, more jobs will follow,” said Goennemann.

“Both technologies take an available resource, air, to generate emission-free power that in the case of Capricorn Power can be fed back into the grid or, in the case of Coolmine, power communications and monitoring equipment in underground mines in a safe and emission-free manner.”

Waste exhaust or biogas can be turned into electricity.

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 15

News @MM $1bn agreement for new vaccine manufacturing facility in Melbourne A new high-tech vaccine manufacturing facility will be developed in Melbourne to secure Australia’s long-term supply of critical health products including pandemic influenza vaccines and life-saving antivenoms.

The $1 billion agreement between the federal government and Seqirus also provides the ability to rapidly manufacture vaccines when responding to health pandemics in the future.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new complex would be the largest influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in the southern hemisphere.

“Keeping Australians safe is my number one priority and while we are rightly focused on both the health and economic challenges of COVID-19, we must also guard against future threats,” he said.

“This agreement cements Australia’s long-term sovereign medical capabilities, giving us the ability to develop vaccines when we need them.

“Just as major defence equipment must be ordered well in advance; this is an investment in our national health security against future pandemics.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt said under the agreement, Seqirus would invest $800 million in the development of the facility project, creating 520 construction jobs, commencing in 2021.

“This new facility will guarantee Australian health security against pandemic influenza for the next two decades.”

“Our government’s strategy to protect the health and wellbeing of Australians and the Australian economy, as well as having access to a world class health system.”

“This is a major milestone, ensuring that Australia can mass produce vaccines against future flu pandemics, as well as continuing onshore production of seasonal 16 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Seqirus would invest $800 million in the development of the facility project, creating 520 construction jobs, commencing in 2021. flu vaccines, Q fever vaccines and antivenoms.

Without this historic agreement, the nation would need to source these critical medical products from overseas.

Seqirus is currently the only company making influenza and Q fever vaccine in Australia, and the only company in the world making life saving antivenom products against 11 poisonous Australian creatures (snakes, marine creatures and spiders).

The current agreement between the Australian Government and Seqirus – a subsidiary of CSL – is due to end in 2024-25. To continue onshore manufacturing in Australia, Seqirus will now invest in a major new vaccine manufacturing facility close to Melbourne airport to replace its existing, ageing production facilities in Parkville, Melbourne.

The highly specialised

production facility is expected to be operational by 2026 with the contract for supply of these critical products extending to 2036.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, said Australia’s manufacturing capability had been a huge asset during the COVID-19 pandemic and this agreement will keep us in a strong position.

“The Morrison Government knows just how important it is for Australia to be able to stand up for itself when it really matters,” Minister Andrews said.

“This investment will not only allow us to continue to manufacture the essentials we need well into the future, but it will also create and secure high paying manufacturing jobs across a range of skills.

“This agreement is just one in a range of investments we’re making to drive Australian manufacturing

forward and create jobs. We’re also investing a further $1.3 billion through our Modern Manufacturing Initiative into projects across six priority areas, including medical products.”

The federal government acted quickly and decisively to address the consequences of COVID-19 and as a result, Australia has achieved some of the best health and economic outcomes in the world.

More than $18.5 billion has committed to support the emergency COVID-19 health response to the pandemic, including $3.2 billion to secure access to over 134.8 million doses of potential COVID-19 vaccine candidates developed by the University of Oxford-Astra Zeneca and the University of Queensland, PfizerBioNTech and Novavax.

The Victorian Government has also supported the procurement of suitable land for Seqirus. manmonthly.com.au

News @MM Manufacturing renewables taskforce to boost regional jobs and local industry The New South Wales state government has announced a new Manufacturing Renewables Taskforce to find ways to drive the use of NSW materials in building the state’s Renewable Energy Zones.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said we need to support our NSW manufacturers by putting the policies in place that create local jobs and support local industry.

“We currently import the more than 86,500 tonnes of steel that form the foundations for critical energy infrastructure – including some finished manufactured goods,” Barilaro said.

“As we come out of this recession, we need to lead by example by backing our local supply chains, local manufacturers and local jobs.

“This Taskforce will make

sure we have the knowledge we need to do just that, and unlock regional NSW’s renewable energy manufacturing potential.”

Energy Minister Matt Kean said the Taskforce will look at everything from material sourcing and supply to contracting arrangements, and explore ways to give NSW manufacturers a competitive advantage in emerging “green” supply industries.

“Industry tells us we will need more than 650,000 tonnes of steel to deliver our three Renewable Energy Zones – my priority is finding ways to make sure that the steel and other products that power NSW, are made in NSW by NSW manufacturers,” Kean said.

“The Taskforce will look at terms we can put in our electricity infrastructure contracts and tender

New renewable energy zones will create more jobs in local communities. rules which will drive the use of NSW products, where they are cost competitive.”

The Manufacturing Renewables Taskforce will include representatives from the steel, aluminium, cement, concrete and manufacturing industries,

the workers unions, renewable development stakeholder groups and the NSW state government.

A Jobs in Renewable Energy Zones Taskforce will also be established to ensure jobs created in local communities hosting the new infrastructure, go to local people.

REDEFINING ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH SULLAIR’S VX160 Equipped with the latest 23 series air-end, the VX160’s Variable Speed Drive (VSD) ensures supply of air is responsive to demand, providing an extremely versatile and efficient solution.

VX1601120

Designed in Australia, the VX Series are rated to operate in hot and humid 50°C ambient temperatures and have a proven track record in the most severe of Australian conditions.

For more information Call 1300 266 773 or visit sullair.com.au

manmonthly.com.au

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 17

News @MM Doftek Australia develops next-gen vehicle dynamic system Victorian-based company Doftek has developed a world-first Active Wheel Alignment System (AWAS) for passenger vehicles.

This system allows the vehicle’s wheel alignment settings, such as camber (longitudinal angle), caster (longitudinal tilt) and toe (latitudinal angle), to be adjusted on-the-fly to maximise handling performance, improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and minimise tyre wear.

The system is the brainchild of Doftek’s inventor, Geoff Rogers.

A vehicle enthusiast at heart and engineer by profession, Geoff took his passion for motorsport and channelled it to the development of a system to enhance driving enjoyment and reduce running costs of production vehicles by optimising a tyre’s contact with the road.

Designed and engineered over two years, Doftek’s AWAS addresses many shortfalls of previous attempts that were heavy, expensive, and incompatible with existing production vehicle suspension geometries. Doftek’s AWAS addresses these issues and can be fitted to the front or rear of the vehicle. It is lightweight, compact, and suitable for fitment to MacPherson strut, double-wishbone and multi-link suspensions systems.

Version one of Doftek’s AWAS allows for on-the-fly adjustment of wheel alignment via a threemode selector switch, offering Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes with the corresponding 0-degree, -1.5-degree and -3-degree camber to suit different driving conditions.

This system has been extensively developed and tested, and provides at least: 15 per cent increase in handling performance; 10 per cent reduction in rolling resistance; and 10 per cent reduction in peak tyre temperatures. With support from AMGC, Doftek is now working on the second version of its system, which will offer next-generation dynamic 18 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

The system is a world first for the automotive industry.

(semi-active) and adaptive (realtime) capabilities. This system will also achieve an improvement of up-to 29 per cent in handling performance observed during initial testing with differential camber settings.

Geoff Rogers, Co-Founder of Doftek, said that funding and assistance from AMGC has been critical in enabling Doftek to progress to the next step of commercialisation.

“Our real-world testing demonstrates that this technology can provide next-generation performance gains to vehicle manufacturers. The funding and assistance provided by the AMGC has allowed us to accelerate our development and commercialisation efforts into global markets, including Europe and Japan”.

Priscilla Rogers, co-founder of Doftek said; “AMGC has an executive team and staff, who have the industry-specific experience, networks and thought leadership needed to be successful in bringing new technologies to market. We feel extremely fortunate to be able

to work alongside an exceptional team at the AMGC and build a strong partnership.”

The initial targets for AWAS are luxury and performance vehicles, followed by electric vehicles (for extended battery life) and driverless cars (for novel steering solutions).

Managing director of AMGC, Dr Jens Goennemann said Doftek is evidence of the impact Australia’s automotive component sector can have on a global scale.

“Doftek is proof that Australia has a strong and innovative automotive component sector exporting hundreds and thousands of components yearly for inclusion into global supply chains,” Goennemann said.

“Doftek has designed, engineered, tested and, with our assistance, will now commercialise an innovative automotive solution with global relevance and impact. In the fullness of time, Doftek expects to support 40 highly-skilled Australian manufacturing jobs,” said Goennemann.

While conversations and

international interest are ongoing, Doftek aim to have OEMs test a prototype unit fitted to their test vehicles once business conditions improve, positioning Doftek as a supplier for future vehicle releases.

It is estimated that the completed project will lead to an additional five jobs at Doftek, five at its suppliers, and 30 across domestic project partners.

The prototype is co-funded by AMGC as part of the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Centre Initiative and will assist with commercialisation of the technology and manufacture of a commercialgrade prototype. Doftek and AMGC will contribute matched funding of $196,425 each to the program.

Doftek’s project partners include On Point Engineering to contribute knowledge gained through years in the Supercars Australia competition, Erntek to supply and commission electric motors, Flexicut Engineering to manufacture purpose-built parts, and 3D Systems to rapid prototype parts and contribute 3D printing know-how. manmonthly.com.au

News @MM

Research by the UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre has found a way that could start a new “green aluminium” manufacturing revolution and bolster government 2020 Budget and industry efforts to advance Australian manufacturing and be more sustainable and create new jobs.

The new technique to recover aluminium from complex, multilayered packaging is based on the microrecycling science pioneered by the SMaRT Centre under the leadership of its director, Professor Veena Sahajwalla, and builds on their waste materials innovations including Green steel and Microfactorie technologies.

Green aluminium The research, published across two international scientific journals, demonstrates there is now a way to sustainably recycle polymer-laminated aluminium packaging (PLAP) materials, such as post-consumer food and coffee packaging, into high-quality aluminium and be a potential source of high-energy hydrocarbon products.

“We developed green steel technology where we extract hydrogen and carbon from old rubber tyres and plastic as an innovative and green pathway in steel making, and we now can develop new ‘green aluminium’ with our novel technique called Thermal Disengagement Technology (TDT),” said Sahajwalla, whose SMaRT Centre is part of the UNSW Science Faculty.

“Recycling using new technologies can be a foundation for the manufacturing of high-quality materials from our waste resources, as we seek to develop greater sovereign capability along with economic prosperity.”

Thermal disengagement technology The new Thermal Disengagement Technology, described in scientific publications Springer Nature and the manmonthly.com.au

Journal of Cleaner Production, offers an innovative, efficient, and sustainable microrecycling technique to separate the materials in complex polymerlaminated metal packaging waste.

TDT can transform the aluminium into a clean and green metal, allowing it to be extracted in a way that means it can be used as a high-quality material for manufacturing, while minimising residual waste.

“Green Steel and green manufacturing are capabilities we have been pioneering for over a decade,” Sahajwalla said.

“The jobs and sustainability revolution our government wants to create as announced in its 2020 Budget can get a boost from some of these sorts of existing innovations where industry and researchers are already successfully partnering.

“Using waste-reforming technology can create new supply chains and jobs, especially in regional locations, because it doesn’t have to be large scale nor expensive. That is why I see a future where recycling and manufacturing are aligned, where waste and recycling become part of the manufacturing supply chain, and that is important in this new COVID era where we now highly value sovereign capability.”

In one demonstration of how SMaRT is helping to create these new supply chains and aligning these sectors, it has connected an e-waste recycler directly with a steel maker enabling undervalued metals and plastics destined for overseas, landfill or incineration, can be used as feedstock.

Key research findings Waste polymer laminated aluminium packaging (PLAP) material were analysed by Thermal Disengagement Technology (TDT) to explore the prospect of recycling the metal-polymer multilayer materials with minimum contamination and zero waste of metal (aluminium). Laminated polymers on the metallic surface essentially demand some extra effort and energy to recycle

Image credit: UNSW

Breakthrough can help drive manufacturing prosperity

The new technique to recover aluminium from complex, multilayered packaging is based on the microrecycling science pioneered by the SMaRT Centre under the leadership of its director, Professor Veena Sahajwalla. the metal in its original form. In these studies, the effect of the laminated polymers of the aluminium surface to protect the surface contamination by means of oxidation was explored.

The rate of the transformation of the polymers in the air atmosphere is higher than the rate can be achieved in an inert atmosphere.

TDT to recycle the polymer laminated Aluminium packaging with and without an inert gas supply has been developed to produce specifically high-quality aluminium.

The oxidation of the aluminium surface in air media was higher and non-uniform compared to the inert media. At 550 degrees centigrade, the complete degradation of the polymers was observed within 20 min and the recovery of the aluminium was achieved without any metal loss with a very high purity.

The surface analysis of the laminated and non-laminated TD aluminium confirms that the rate of oxidation in oxygen-rich atmosphere for disengaged aluminium from PLAP is 80-90 per cent lower and the polymers can act as the protection against the oxidation of the aluminium surfaces even after the complete degradation of the polymers by leaving the carbonaceous residues behind onto the surfaces.

The level of purity of recovered

Aluminium is achieved about 96-99 per cent with minor impurity/alloying elements of C, Si, Fe, etc. Oxidation of the recovered aluminium was controlled and detected less than 1 per cent by our new and innovative TDT. The cleaner aluminium produced by this process has the desired scalability which is required for taking laboratory batch reactions towards industrial production.

The recycling of PLAP materials demands a process where whole materials can be processed and recycled with a minimum waste of energy and materials. TDT overcomes these constraints. Several recycling techniques including traditional smelting have been practiced by the researchers and professionals. But the major problems associated with the traditional smelting of PLAP materials are excessive material loss and lack of controlling aids during the smelting.

In many countries, waste polymer laminated metal packaging materials along with other municipal solid waste going to landfills or incineration and some of the materials are recycled in metallic forms from the bottom ash components by industrial separation. The low value packaging materials containing polymers and aluminium found in the MSW draw no interest from recyclers.

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 19

Issues & Insights Helping innovative small businesses fast-track Caroline Tung finds out how the NSW government’s Innovation Districts Challenge is boosting commercialisation for products such as IoT-enabled technologies.

T

HE New South Wales state government’s first Innovation Districts Challenge is now underway and is designed to assist small-to-medium-sized businesses accelerate the commercialisation of products to counter the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Eleven universities across New South Wales and the CSIRO are the major anchor tenants of districts around the state and will help businesses prototype and test products and services.

The University of New South Wales is one university administering Stage 1 of the challenge on behalf of NSW Treasury. The university’s Faculty

The kinds of products and services that the government is particularly interested in are those that can improve the health and wellbeing of NSW residents. of Engineering works with more than 500 industry partners to assist with complex product and service development.

Universities assist the shortlisted applicants with developing their business model, market strategy, their pitch and presentation of their concept.

UNSW Entrepreneur in Residence, Danielle Neale, said the challenge presented valuable coaching opportunities for businesses.

“The kinds of products and services that the government is particularly interested in are those that can improve the health

University of Wollongong deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation, Jennifer L Martin.

20 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

and wellbeing of NSW residents, and specifically around reducing the outcomes and impacts of COVID-19,” she said.

“If a business has been working on the development of personal products, and they have pivoted towards hand sanitiser or a special application of a hand sanitiser that makes it more competitive, or better suits the specific health problems that COVID-19 creates, then that product is eligible for this grant.”

The challenge ranks selected businesses that have been registered in NSW and have been operating for at least 12 months. Businesses must also be able to demonstrate generating revenue of at least $75,000 during that time to be considered for funding.

Participating universities act as a partner for businesses seeking to commercialise their research, while using their presence and networks to spread the word.

“We have increasingly welldeveloped entrepreneurial training facilities and program development managers, as well, who can assist with things like pitching and planning the business commercialisation process,” Neale said.

“Something that I think is very interesting about this challenge is the speed at which the initiative is moving, which is unusual for governments and universities.

Stage 2 of the Innovation Challenge involves the top three businesses from each district going through a process of developing their pitch and plan. One applicant from every district will receive $10,000 of funding towards commercialising the research associated with its product and service, with 15 out of 36 businesses in the state pool to receive funding.

From the time a business is selected for funding, they are given 12 months to commercialise and manmonthly.com.au

Issues & Insights

New South Wales Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, at the official launch of the Illawarra Innovation Quest at the University of Wollongong. start generating outcomes.

“I think the speed and accountability that is part of this grant is very unique,” Neale said. “What will be interesting is when we get to the other side and have a look at the outcomes, and particularly, how successful we were in helping people across the state in the community. The top funding More funding from government has connected researchers with industry to form valuable partnerships.

awarded will be $250,000, which is quite valuable if you want to commercialise in the period of time requested.”

Creating more opportunities for SMEs Zahra Shahbazian from the University of Wollongong (UOW) manages strategic business

development for the Illawarra district. The Illawarra Innovation Quest program not only assists businesses in their journey with this particular challenge, but also organises follow up meetings for other matched funding opportunities.

“My involves wearing multiple hats. My main role is strategic business development. Another part

of my job is looking after IP and commercialisation as well,” she said.

“As part of the challenge, we offer coaching in pitch training. In the application, businesses need to submit a two-minute video, so we are offering coaching, how to pitch better, and we also assist them in writing their final applications to make sure they’re hitting the target and increasing their chances of winning as well.”

UOW’s message to all their industry partners is clear: they are all winners.

Some COVID-19 related issues addressed by emerging businesses • social issues. e.g.

domestic violence • h ealth products and services. e.g. nutraceuticals, immune health, mental health • IoT-enabled technology to reduce contact services • air conditioning industry • emotional fitness training for COVID-19 frontline staff • safety zoning app for social distancing

manmonthly.com.au

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 21

Issues & Insights

Left to right: University of Wollongong deputy vice-chancellor for Research and Innovation Jennifer L Martin; NSW Member for Wollongong Paul Scully; NSW Member for Kiama Gareth Ward; UOW innovation and commercial research marketing manager Julia Frith; UOW industry research manager Zahra Shahbazian.

“We follow up with the businesses who weren’t shortlisted to understand their needs and see what else we can do for them. I think it’s a win-win situation for everyone. It actually increases our exposure, businesses know they are very active in these sorts of collaborations and industry engagements,” Shahbazian said.

She believes regional centres like Wollongong are becoming

increasingly popular for manufacturing R&D, and also sees the Innovation Challenge as a springboard for further partnerships.

“For universities, it is a matter of pride that we’re a part of this, because the funding doesn’t directly come to the unis, it actually goes to the businesses to assist them with marketing and commercialising their products

and services,” Shahbazian said.

“UOW has state-of-the-art research capabilities. We see that a lot of people are choosing to move here and live in this region because of COVID-19.

As people don’t have to travel to work anymore, I think this region will attract a lot of businesses, and UOW will be at the centre of that.”

A clearer pathway for innovation

Innovation district partners • Australian Catholic University • University of Newcastle • Charles Sturt University • University of New South Wales • University of Sydney • Macquarie University • University of Technology Sydney • Southern Cross University • University of Wollongong • University of New England

According to Shahbazian, the extra

• Western Sydney University

government investment has created a

• CSIRO

clear pathway that previously did not exist for researchers to collaborate with industry.

has provided that pathway for the

She believes the funding will give

businesses and researchers to identify

academics the opportunity to make

each other. From the researcher point

their research impactful by helping to

of view, they get the chance to trial

solve real world problems. It also allows

their invention and technology and try

businesses to think critically about

to work to solve a real-world solution.

how they can diversify and open up

That’s very important.

options for growth.

UNSW is part of a group of universities administering funding for research and development on behalf of the NSW state government.

22 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

“From the business point of view,

“If you think of it as a bridge, it’s

this pathway is very important as well.

already built. Academics are very

We have seen a shift in attitude in

busy with research, teaching and

terms of working with universities.

publication, and industry partners, on

They can see their business may

the other hand, come from a business

be profitable now, what about in

background and time is worth a lot

five years’ time, what about in ten

of money to them,” Shahbazian said.

years’ time? It’s future proofing their

“Previously, there wasn’t anyone

businesses by tapping into research

to connect these two.

expertise and making sure that their

“Over the last five years, UOW

business’ future is secure.” 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

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

MANAGEMEN

T >> TECHNO

> TECHNOLO

T> MANAGEMEN

.com.au manmonthly

LOGY >> SO

LUTIONS

TIONS

GY >> SOLU

DECEMBER 202

0

COVID-19 P ON THE FAS UTS R&D T TRACK 0

BRINGING URERS MANUFACTHEIR ROOTS BACK TO T

IMAGE CRED IT: Dominic Loner agan

OCTOBER 202

agan IT: Dominic Loner IMAGE CRED

INSIDE >>

Official Ind

ustry Partne

rs

rs

ustry Partne Print Post Appro ved PP10000788 2

Official Ind

INSIDE >>

>>

25 Plug-and-pl ay industria l air solution>> in a room

30 Welding goe

s digital in Au

stralia

35 Safe lubricati

on for food ma

32

ved Print Post Appro

2 PP10000788

22 18

g hard anodisin The value of cesses industrial pro

for

sol A first-ever Atlas Copco

from id desiccant

solution for A renewable ls machine too

worn-out

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

To book contact DANILO CORTUCCI now danilo.cortucci@primecreative.com.au | 0434 419 663

nufacturers

Compressors Atlas Copco to introduce plug-and-play compressed air solution Atlas Copco is launching the AIRCUBE Containerised Compressor Room in December.

Manufacturers’ Monthly speaks to specialist projects engineer, Pasquale Masi, about this all-in-one solution for manufacturers.

T

HE AIRCUBE Containerised Compressor Room from Atlas Copco is a plugand-play solution for companies that are planning to build their own compressor rooms or for companies that don’t have space for a compressor room inside their factory premises.

The AIRCUBE allows companies that don’t have the time or space to add an indoor compressor room to quickly add or extend their compressed air capacity. It also solves a challenge many resource sector operations face: How do you get a dependable, high-quality air supply to some of the most remote places on this planet?

For specialist projects engineer Pasquale Masi, the end result is about finding a new way to meet unexpected demands and provide convenience for customers.

“For this sort of package concept, it really isn’t limited to one industry,” he said.

“It would be applicable to anyone who needs to put a compressed air solution in place, and they’re trying to work out where to put the pipework in, where they’re going to place the equipment, how they’re going to connect everything together and get it functional. The beauty about the AIRCUBE is that it’s a complete package.”

The AIRCUBE is primarily targeted at small-to-medium-sized industrial market, where it saves manufacturers the cost of engaging contractors by instead providing a single compact and energy efficient solution.

The AIRCUBE offers a modular solution that lets customers choose from a wide range of compressors, dryers and other compressed air equipment. In short, the customer

manmonthly.com.au

The AIRCUBE Containerised Compressor Room is a compact and energy efficient solution.

can assemble the compressor room that best meets their needs.

Atlas Copco has made a wide range of options available, ranging from environmental add-ons to smart connectivity and control add-ons, ISO 8573-1:2010 filtration class add-ons, and safety add-ons to manage customer expectations and needs across different market segments.

Customising the solution The containerised compressor rooms come completely fitted and installed with selected Atlas Copco equipment, interconnecting piping between all equipment, cabling between all equipment, internal power distribution, ventilation, and lighting.

It means that the containerised compressor rooms are a turnkey solution, where operators are only expected to connect the power and tie-in points for the compressed air and drain connections, and the whole compressed air system can be

started within a short time frame.

The set-up allows flexibility and diversity beyond a one-sizefits-all approach. AIRCUBE offers a modular solution that lets the customer choose from a wide range of Atlas Copco’s compressors, dryers and other compressed air equipment.

Customers can then assemble the compressor room that best suits their needs.

Adapting to unique environments One of the most challenging aspects of AIRCUBE is adapting it for the challenging Australian climate, said Masi.

Containerised compressor rooms often have to operate in some of the toughest conditions.

The AIRCUBE, however, can be deployed in remote locations, repairs or procuring spare parts can be a challenge if there is a problem with the air system.

“Reliability is one of the most

important characteristics of our containerised compressor rooms.

You want to make sure that they work well in any weather and temperature,” Masi said.

The room is designed to function reliably in temperatures ranging from 0°C to 45°C. “We’ve got a unique climate in that places like Tasmania can get extremely cold, whereas when you get into the northern parts of Western Australia you’re looking at over 45 degrees.”

While containerised, the AIRCUBE package is by no means fixed. The solution can be tailored to meet specific requirements.

“If it’s extremely hot climate, we can do air conditioning or insulation to keep the room at an optimum temperature with extra fans. If it’s cold, we can look at insulating the container and keeping it as warm as possible,” Masi said. “There’s multiple things we can do to present an ideal solution for that specific requirement.”

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 25

Compressors Sullair’s flexible managed air power solution for a COVID-impacted Australian food packaging manufacturer Australian owned and operated packaging manufacturer, Confoil, offers a range of food packaging products – both standard and customised – across a broad range of sectors.

C

ONFOIL produces over 350 kinds of foil food-packaging items, supplies across a range of industries including food manufacturers, retail and commercial foodservice, defence, and healthcare.

It also offers an eco-range of food packaging products made from materials such as paperboard, pulp, and eco-parchment The company’s need arose when it became apparent that their an old compressor was starting to approach its end-of-life period. A third party who was engaged for service and repairs flagged the issues and felt there might be an issue with the air end. They suggested Sullair be brought in for more comprehensive technical advice. Knowing the compressor needed replacing and could fail at any time, our client found themselves considering whether repair or replacement was the solution and sought a second opinion with Sullair’s sales engineer, Eric Low. In addition to the main compressor, Confoil also has multiple machines on site that need regular attention for servicing and repairs. With this in mind, there was an opportunity to rethink their current strategy and implement a new, cost-effective solution that would manage their need for new equipment and provide ongoing technical and professional support for their existing equipment.

The solution Confoil needed something urgently as a replacement for their failing compressor – within a couple of weeks.

They had an old VOC110 compressor on site and wanted something likefor-like, however long lead times due to COVID import delays on that unit 26 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

meant it was not a viable solution.

Low applied some creative thinking to the issue and on discussion with the Sullair team, offered a solution that above and beyond the client’s needs and set them up for future growth.

The conversations with Confoil began in June 2020, coinciding with the impending launch of Sullair’s new MAP – Managed Air Power – solution. Low provided an initial quote, recognising that a MAP solution over a traditional solution would be of greater benefit to Confoil’s situation.

The quote was considered, discussed and then customised to accommodate for the client’s needs and budget.

“We didn’t have a VOC110, but we did have a new model VX160 on site that we had been testing. It was a Variable Speed Drive (VSD) machine so would deliver some great energy savings to the client,” Low explained.

The VSD machines ensure the supply will match the demand, rather than work above the required capacity.

The compressor varies the flow of air needed, making it an extremely versatile and efficient solution for a manufacturer like Confoil.

“We’ve been involved with Champion/Sullair for almost three decades and find them very innovative and supportive,” explained Confoil’s projects manager, Wayne Rogers. “The agreement of MAP shows a whole new way to approach air use in our facility.”

The result Confoil’s new Managed Air Power installation has been a great success at their Bayswater location. With comprehensive reporting and realtime data available, Confoil’s MAP

The key benefit of a VSD compressor, like the VX160 installed with Confoil, are the opportunities for scalability. solution has made their compressed air easier than ever.

“The visualisation in real time that we have of our compressor performance is something we haven’t had in the past. We can observe the compressor performance on our remote dashboard and look at real-time data and historical performance. This monitoring and combined service reports will enable Confoil to truly evaluate the success of the MAP program going forward,” Rogers said.

We’re very happy with this new way of doing air. It takes the responsibility of the service and unexpected costs and worry for the asset away. It’s simple.”

The key benefit of a VSD compressor, like the VX160 installed with Confoil, are the opportunities for scalability. Confoil has experienced increased production demand due to COVID’s effect on the industry, and in fact exceeded their goal base figure per calendar month. The new compressor then became more than fit to purpose – it has been the ideal solution to keep up with the busy production schedule.

The VX160 is five to seven per cent more efficient than the current

model (VOC160). The versatility of the solution allowed our client to accommodate for future extra business with the more powerful and energy efficient VX160. Should their demand grow above their current demand of 110Kw, the VX160 will allow for that without having to bring in a second compressor, as they would’ve with the VOC110, meaning there is only one machine to maintain.

Paired with the support and security of Sullair technicians on standby for any issues or repairs that may arise means that Confoil’s air supply through Managed Air Power is hassle free and entirely taken care of by Sullair Australia’s experts. MAP has been the ideal solution for the company, in what has been an unpredictable environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Confoil’s Wayne Rogers says “I look forward to continuing a long-term partnership with Sullair. The level of professionalism across all areas of their business, sales, and service is extraordinary. This level of service is what people expect, but it’s not always what you get. You get that from Sullair.” manmonthly.com.au

Australasia’s largest dedicated bulk handling conference & exhibition

Exhibition space

NOW ON SALE MELBOURNE

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

14-16 APRIL 2021 Scan the code to get more details about exhibiting opportunities.

Platinum Sponsor

Supporting Sponsor

Media Partners AUSTRALIA

MHD REVIEW

AUSTRALIA

Supply Chain Solutions REVIEW

Association Partner

Conference Sponsors & INFRASTRUCTURE

bulkhandlingexpo.com.au

Compressors Forty years in the making: A glimpse into CAPS’ journey through three generations Three generations of the McIntyre family have contributed to making CAPS Australia’s largest independent compressed air and power generation provider in a span of 40 years.

Manufacturers’ Monthly takes a look at the company’s journey.

B

OB McIntyre’s decision to go solo and start his own air compressor supply business could not have happened at a better time. The year was 1980 and the place was Perth, Western Australia.

The state was going through its fourth major mining boom at the time and Bob, having spent 10 years working for the worldrenowned Ingersoll-Rand brand of air compressors, had already gained a deep understanding of what the Australian market was looking for.

Still, the journey from

starting a one-man business to building a company that has today become Australia’s largest independent compressed air and power generation provider with an Australia-wide network of nine branch locations and over 200 employees did not happen overnight.

Bob retired from the active running of the business in 2011, but remains today on the Board of Directors. Approximately 23 years ago, Bob’s son, Glenn McIntyre, joined the business, eventually

taking on the leadership of the company as the current executive general manager. Glenn’s son, Rhys, recently joined the business as national rental coordinator, continuing the family’s journey for the third generation.

Growing flexibly Looking back at the 40-year journey, Glenn believes being flexible and evolving with the market’s needs has been key to the company’s growth.

“Nothing ever stays the same in the market. The technology

is changing, our customer’s requirements are changing and energy efficiency is critical. So, we need to make sure we keep changing, and that’s why we’ve continually adjusted our product portfolio over time.

“We have added many products and services over time to complement our core offerings, or to take the opportunity to enter new segments. That’s just the nature of the market,” said Glenn.

Ingersoll-Rand compressors were the cornerstone products that

National rental coordinator Rhys McIntrye, CAPS founder Bob McIntyre and general manager Glenn McIntyre (left-right).

28 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

manmonthly.com.au

Compressors CAPS began by supplying in the Western Australian market, a brand for which CAPS remains the sole distributor across Australia.

Over the years, the company diversified its portfolio to serve not just mining, but multiple industries, with manufacturing now being a primary segment.

CAPS gives its customers access to reliable equipment from rotary screw air compressors, portable air compressors, blowers, power generators, gas generators and air treatment from world-renowned brands such as Ingersoll-Rand, Kohler, AIRMAN, Sauer, Pedro Gil and many more, particularly catering to the true ‘clean air’ requirements that some manufacturing mandates.

“As an independent company, we have the advantage of being able to offer a broad range of brands. We have the flexibility to search globally for the best products and technologies that best serve our customer’s needs.

Apart from expanding the portfolio of the products we supply; we also work closely with our customers and our suppliers to develop or customise products that specifically meet the Australian market’s needs,” said Glenn.

Building it in-house Early into its establishment, CAPS also quickly developed in-house ISO accredited engineering capabilities, which gave the company the ability to design and build equipment that suited Australia’s hot, dusty and harsh conditions as well being able to create bespoke installations for manufacturers.

“One of the key success factors for CAPS was that we took a standard product from manufacturers, we looked at the customer requirements and then we modified it and engineered it to suit the Australian conditions. This engineering capability was also critical to tailoring our products for our customers’ exact specifications. It has also enabled us to improve the safety features for many existing products to make them site-compliant for our customers,” said Glenn.

On the services side, the company manmonthly.com.au

Rhys McIntyre is continuing his grandfather’s business into the third generation.

focussed extensively on growing its after-sale services capabilities.

These services included fully trained technicians able to service all major brands of equipment Australia-wide and a vast range of spare parts across the network.

“The aftermarket support is a critical part of our business and something that our customers look for with our products,” says Glenn. “We have over 60 service technicians in the field and all of CAPS’ branches have workshops and service departments that can service the full range of our products. Spare parts are also a critical part of our offer to our customers, which is why we have implemented our CAPS Shop, a convenient online platform for our customers to purchase parts from.”

CAPS has increased focus in their rental equipment offering to meet demands from their customers.

The addition of the ‘CAPS Rental’ brand gives their customers choice other than capital investment. An increase in demand for power or air

may be an immediate or projectbased requirement only, so CAPS Rental is a great way of solving customer’s needs and reducing capital outlay. CAPS Rental offers both short-term, long-term and Rent-to-Own options.

Relationships are key With three generations of the McIntyre family actively involved in the business at some point in time, CAPS has prioritised forging strong partnerships with its suppliers and maintained long-term relationships its customers.

Glenn said, “We’ve maintained continuity in our relationship with our suppliers, at times investing jointly with them on research and development to develop products specifically suited to the Australian market. These relationships have endured decades as we have been very careful to align ourselves with manufacturers who share the common values of; customer service, innovation, technology, safety and quality. We have partnered with

Ingersoll-Rand for 40 years, Kohler Power Generation for over 25 years and AIRMAN for over 18 years. We are very proud of these relationships which result in better service for our customers.”

“In all aspects of our business, whether it is sales, parts, service or rental, we are very much driven by the feedback that we receive from our customers. It is this approach that has helped us keep pace with industry and adapt to the constantly changing market. We are committed to deepening that relationship with our customers and, in this way, ensuring that as they grow, we grow along with them.”

“Our safety journey over the years is a great example of how we have developed our own culture and beliefs which mirror our customer’s requirements.” Glenn said.

CAPS’s innovations and developments over the past 40 years, combined with their customercentric approach, has resulted in the growth of a truly great Australian business.

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 29

Smart Welding Understanding the welding equation in the age of Industry 4.0 Lorch South Pacific managing director, David Wilton, speaks about the benefits of using advanced technology to improve commercial outcomes in the Australian welding industry.

D

AVID Wilton is determined to help every manufacturer in Australia gain big data access for their welding business. A career welding industry professional with more than three decades of experience working in markets around the world, he has seen and used the best in the world today.

The culmination of his journey led to a partnership with Lorch Schweißtechnik, a leading German manufacturer of premium-quality welding solutions for industrial applications. The South Pacific subsidiary of the company, with Wilton as managing director and co-owner, was recently launched in Australia.

The company’s engineering depth and capability is leading to new approaches to welding, the latest of which is Lorch Connect.

Lorch Connect is a platform that offers simple, entry level access to big data, with information on arc times, duty cycles, consumption of wire, gas and power. All information is

displayed on an easy-to-use dashboard with useful functions to help businesses evaluate and analyse their welding production.

“The Lorch advanced engineering team are absolute visionaries. They are so far in front with welding technology and on a whole other level, with PhD-standard expertise and 60 years of experience in the design and development of smart, premium welding solutions,” Wilton said.

“Australia has never seen many of the new Lorch technologies before, and if you look on the world scale, the advanced manufacturing in places like Europe and Germany, they’re so modern and automated in so many of their processes and technologies, and we’re not. We’re so far behind.

“The welding industry is an example of where we’ve been left so far behind. We think in a different way. Many manufacturers would rather buy a cheap, low-cost piece of equipment made in Asia than invest in technology that can be game

Lorch Connect offers simple, entry level access to Big Data, with information on arc times, duty cycles, consumption of wire, gas and power.

30 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

All Lorch equipment and processes are linked with Lorch Connect. changing and drive productivity and efficiency.”

Building on the welding foundations gained during his time as an apprentice in Adelaide in the 80s, Wilton has seen the industry evolve over the past three decades.

“When I started, the most advanced product features and performance were things like one or two extra switch settings on a machine,” he said.

“Today, we’re in a digital world.

We’re talking about welding machines that are like computers, resonant frequency inverter technologies with micro controllers monitoring current and voltage 1.5 million times per second.”

Wilton believes the starting point for companies entering Industry 4.0 is to have an advanced, energy efficient,

digitalised welding machine. The Lorch Connect then simply plugs and plays delivering information with big data management and showing factory floor managers information that was previously unseen.

Managing productivity efficiency and cost Lorch Connect enables high-level visibility on individual machines with individual operators, as well as the ability to compare performance trends over set time periods – all with remote access afforded by secure cloud-based technology.

Operations managers can then use the data to understand their welding operations and drive shop floor efficiency and productivity improvements.

“Lorch is always looking at the manmonthly.com.au

Smart Welding application and looking at the problems that the end-user customer has. How do we do it better, smarter, faster, and more cost effectively and efficiently?” Wilton said. “That’s what Smart Welding is about. It’s about looking at the application and then making it easier for that enduser customer do his job faster, with less defects, to ultimately reduce the cost of the finished product.

“We could be doing this anywhere in the world and have exact visibility,” Wilton said.

The Lorch Connect Gateway acts as the interface between the user and the welding system plus Lorch Connect.

Aside from the welding data, which is transmitted directly from the system, the gateway can also receive production-relevant data such as order numbers or information on components via a scanner.

Wilton said although there has been much discussion around digitalisation and Industry 4.0, he believed that Australian manufacturers are still at the beginning of understanding the advantages of digitalisation to improve business operations.

“The saying ‘What gets measured gets managed’ is so true. Now, consider if you have real facts and data of your shop floor welding activities with things like arc on times, operating duty cycles, welding processes and parameters being used etc you can manage it. You can say, ‘What do I have to do to get my arc on time over the next six months from 25 per cent to 35 per cent?’” he said. “On the Lorch system, this is cloud-based, with the best data security protection possible, and Lorch is responsible for maintaining the updates. The customer gets those as part of the ongoing fees for the connection.”

Keeping the costs low For competitive industries such as structural steel, one of the key advantages of Lorch Connect is that it allows the end-user to accurately measure and manage costs.

The cost controlling tool automatically adds up all manmonthly.com.au

consumption figures and monetises them. Calculations are formed by individual master data, which includes different welding wires and gases, cost of energy and labour.

The end result is a comprehensive and dependable calculation on the profitability of an order or specific component.

“If they quote the same job next time, they know exactly how much it would cost them to do,” Wilton said. “Costing analysis is a really important benefit for the customer, to understand their costs on a whole new level going forward.”

“Lorch Connect is simply about delivering new information in an Industry 4.0 world with big data management and showing you information that you could not easily see before,” he said.

In summary: Firstly, now is the time to upgrade welding equipment to energy efficient, digitalised inverterbased technologies that are capable of advanced new welding processes that can deliver more than 30 per cent productivity improvements with welding speeds.

As technology continues to improve at an exponential rate, many of these newer welding systems are “future proof” meaning they can be continuously upgraded as digital technologies continue to improve. This makes good business sense today.

Then, Lorch Connect that is supplied standard at no cost with Lorch S platform machines or at a small one-time cost on other platforms gets you into an Industry 4.0 world with the first-year access to big data included.

Wilton sees people struggling to really understand what is possible and how to use this new data information to improve their businesses.

To answer the question of what 4.0 Big Data can do for end-user customers: 1. It gives you total shop floor production visibility of all welding activity with all machines and operators with drill down ability to an individual

Lorch Connect links the office, the welder and the machine via the Lorch Connect Gateway. machine or specific welds.

2. A ccurate cost tracking on a project, sub assembly or a single weld.

3. QA documentation, where every weld created has a unique digital number and permanent record of parameters, time and consumed materials.

Wilton believes there are two levels of users: Level 1 – Basic user looking at simple data • Shop floor arc on time; • shop floor operating duty cycle; • comparisons between operators doing the same job; and • accurate costing.

End customer examples: structural steel fabricators, general industry

Level 2 – Advanced user – using extra processes with bar codes and scanners • Tracking of orders, parts; • tracking welders; • welding procedures; and • QA documentation.

End customer examples: higher end where tight process controls are needed: Defence projects, marine industry, etc.

“We want this to work for all companies. This, to me, is a really valuable tool for the whole welding industry to adopt,” Wilton said.

Don’t hesitate, to see more and discuss the possibilities for your own production please contact Lorch at LSP@lorch.eu Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 31

Manufacturing Strategies Companies need to reflect on how their risk profiles will change when implementing automation.

Balancing robotic risks and rewards in manufacturing Paul May, operations engineering manager at FM Global speaks about why the adoption of automation is good and how to navigate with it in a business.

I

T’S been a rollercoaster couple of months for manufacturing in Australia, with the Australian Government promising over $1.5 billion to modernise the sector and create new markets and industries to accelerate the COVID-19 recovery, with many organisations already retooling their operations to produce new products.

This is an exciting time for Australia’s manufacturing future.

It’s also one which we expect to further accelerate the automation of existing manufacturing outfits and the establishment of new, more highly automated production lines.

A recent study by Pitney Bowes reports that automation can assist in freeing up capital to invest in creating new and better-paying jobs.

Another report by Bain & Company entitled Labour 2030: The Collision

32 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

of Demographics, Automation and Inequality, forecast automation as one of the key drivers of change that will create an economic boost for Australia over the next decade and offset a slowing in labour force growth.

At FM Global, we’ve certainly seen an increase in policyholders who are looking to integrate automation into their production lines. This tracks the evolution and advancement of robotic technology. Twenty years ago, you could get a robot to pick up a pallet. Now automation has become more dextrous and nimble, performing more challenging jobs that previously only humans were capable of doing. There’s an opportunity to remove repetitive manual tasks from the remit of people and to utilise advanced

artificial intelligence to ensure quality control is maintained at a level that the human eye alone cannot support.

But with all new opportunities, come new risks – as we dive headfirst into a manufacturing future, companies should take pause to reflect on how their risk profiles may change when implementing automation. There is a need to balance business interests in greater efficiency and increased profitability with minimising new risks.

This is particularly important given the tough environment manufacturers have found themselves in in recent years, with a growing trend of large losses. This is highlighted by the fact that the combined ratio for the Industrial Special Risk sector, which includes

manufacturing, has been higher than 100 per cent over the last three years – paying out more in losses than it recoups in premiums.

Fire It’s critical to upgrade your fire detection system if automation becomes a larger part of your production lines. But perhaps not for the reason you might expect. With automation, you will lose a crucial but perhaps underplayed component of your fire protection system: people. In a factory full of people, a small fire in the area is likely to quickly be detected and acted upon. Without people in the mix, fires may turn into much larger events before they are detected.

Automation also brings with it a shift in value density on manmonthly.com.au

Manufacturing Strategies Cyber threats

the manufacturing floor. With the introduction of high-value automated production machines, building footprints can decrease, as less space is commonly needed.

Simply put, businesses end up with more value – in terms of equipment and the value of that equipment and what it can produce – associated with a particular square metre of floor space.

While this may save on property costs, higher value density brings with it a greater chance of increased fire, smoke and water damage if you do have a fire.

For any manufacturer implementing greater automation on their manufacturing lines, strengthening fire detection and protection systems – including more sensitive detection and improved sprinkler systems – will be critical. Additional separations between production lines can also help to mitigate the spread of fire should it occur. manmonthly.com.au

The introduction of more automation technology will significantly increase the risk faced by manufacturers from cyber threats. This is against a backdrop in which manufacturing companies are increasingly being targeted by cyber attackers. When the Petya malware attack struck in 2016, FM Global’s loss data shows that two-thirds of those affected were in manufacturing.

Since automation brings with it a larger array of opportunities for hackers to infiltrate your operational technology, additional defences must be put in place. FM Global advises its clients to consider cyber threats from the point of view of prevention, mitigation and recovery.

Prevention includes everything from physical security – who can access your building and machinery and how easily – to assessing your information security systems. This is an evaluation of your inherent cyber risk, your people, programs and technology, as well as your ability to detect, respond and recover from a cyber attack.

Due to greater internet connectivity, there has been efficiency and convenience benefits by having online access to automated manufacturing systems from anywhere in the world, but this has also led to an increased cyber risk. With the growing trend for remote working, this risk is heightened as more and more equipment, systems and processes can be monitored, interrogated and adjusted from a remote location.

Ensuring that access to such systems is secure and that solid network safeguard practices are in place is critical. During our evaluation of various industrial control systems, our engineers often find that critical production equipment have service agreements with the original equipment manufacturers who offer “dial-in support” and they have full access to the site networks, often using default passwords. We have also come across industrial control systems that are arranged such that they unintentionally bypass

the firewalls in place.

At stake is the possibility that automated equipment is infiltrated by a cyber attacker, leading to either a malfunction, a stoppage or even initiating a fire event. In all cases, business interruption can result – leading to major losses.

Plan B Each of these threats points to another key priority in a more automated environment: the importance of considered change management and adequate contingency plans. In the case of the former, we advise that organisations must take a thorough, policy-based and consistent approach to deciding when to introduce new technology into their environment, as each decision can have a knock-on effect for your risk profile.

Who gets to decide when a change is needed, when it can be made, and what risk management steps need to be taken as a result?

These are important questions to answer in advance.

With greater reliance on technology comes a need for adequate contingency plans in the case of an equipment malfunction or breakdown. This should consider the business impact of a particular piece of equipment being out of service and might also address whether your business has adequate

Paul May, operations engineering manager, FM Global. stockpiles of materials or products to get by until it can be repaired.

Without such plans, any financial benefits that might be obtained through automation can quickly evaporate if an incident results in prolonged business interruption.

With a renaissance in Australian manufacturing under way, automation is bound to play a key role in keeping businesses competitive. Managing evolving risks, from fire to cyber, will be critical to making sure manufacturers get the most out of the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

With a renaissance in Australian manufacturing going on, automation is bound to play a key role in it.

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 33

Bearings How a bearing upgrade saved valuable maintenance time for Tassal Conveyor belt roller bearings at Tassal’s salmon processing facility were failing rapidly under water washdowns. WebsterBSC’s solution was switching to the NSK Molded-Oil bearings.

NSK Molded-Oil bearings offer high performance in applications with frequent water washdowns.

W

HEN the operators at Tassal Group’s Huonville salmon processing facility in Tasmania were frustrated with having to replace their conveyor belt roller bearings every few weeks, it was WebsterBSC’s sales service representative, Dean Nomikos, who first suggested switching to the NSK Molded-Oil bearings.

The existing stainless steel bearings, as Nomikos explains, were failing frequently in the harsh working conditions, keeping the maintenance team busy with bearing replacements and frequent greasing.

“The processing facility uses lots of water and chemical cleaners to keep the conveyor systems sanitised.

As a result, the bearings were in a very corrosive environment,” said Nomikos. “In addition to being highly resistant to corrosion, Molded-Oil roller bearings also eliminate the need for daily greasing, which makes them an environmentally-friendly bearing solution for the plant.”

Clinton O’Neil, a mechanical fitter who has been working with Tassal for nearly 20 years, said switching to Molded-Oil roller bearings has saved the maintenance team significant time in bearing replacement and lubrication.

34 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

“Before switching to Molded-Oil, we had to change out the bearings every 2-3 weeks. But not anymore. The new bearings easily last six months or more and the best thing is that they don’t need any lubrication. You just put them in and forget about them. Before switching to Molded-Oil, we had to grease the bearings daily,” he said.

Clinton said the Tassal maintenance team has since decided to replace most of the bearings used in conveyors at the Tassal Huonville facility and other processing facilities with Molded-Oil bearings.

“We prefer using high-quality bearings that last longer rather than using cheap bearings. We had already been using the NSK tapered roller bearings in our salmon smoker kilns successfully, therefore NSK was a preferred bearing brand for us,” he said.

“The Huonville facility receives fresh salmon from Tassal’s Dover processing facility. We process around 20 tonnes of fresh fish per day to produce approximately 5-6 tonnes of finished products. The conveyors take the fish through all stages of processing, from the raw fish to the finished product and we now use the NSK Molded-Oil in most of those conveyors.”

The secret behind the NSK Molded-OilTM bearings’ resistance to corrosion can be found in their unique features.

Molded-Oil bearings are lubricated with NSK’s own oil-impregnated material – Molded-Oil – which consists of lubricating oil and polyolefin resin that has an affinity for oil. Lubricant slowly seeping from this material provides ample lubrication to the bearing for extended periods.

Because the bearings can be lubricated with minute quantities of oil that exudes from Molded-Oil, the bearings are able to minimise oil leakage. Packing with Molded-Oil

after providing the bearing surface with special treatment realises smooth rotation of rolling elements.

As Dave Healey, NSK Australia sales engineer explains, Molded-Oil bearings are ideal for use in water or dust contaminated environments.

“In washdown applications in the food and beverage industry, it’s important to protect the rolling elements inside the bearing from getting corroded. That’s where the Molded-Oil bearing comes into the picture to provide a corrosion-free solution,” he said.

“There are other applications where we generally recommend Molded-Oil. For example, if you have an application that is difficult to grease, perhaps due to the remote location or any access restrictions, you might want to switch to a maintenance-free bearing. Another application is in vertical shafts.

Because of the gravity, the lubricants tend to leak out of the bearing.

That is where having solid lubricant eliminates any risk of oil leakage,” he explains.

As the largest producer of Tasmanian grown Atlantic salmon, Tassal has three direct hatcheries with capacity to produce over 10m smolts per year. The smolt are majority reared at the company’s land-based Rookwood Road RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System) in Ranelagh, Tasmania. After eight to twelve months, the smolt are transferred to Tassal’s four marine zones in the sea, where our sanctuary pens have a volume over 20,000 cubic metres and holds enough salmon to produce at least 300 tonnes once harvested.

Processing the fish into final products ready to dispatch to the consumer market occurs at Tassal’s five processing facilities, of which three – Huonville, Dover and Margate – are in Tasmania. Dean says WebsterBSC has been working with

all three facilities over the years as a trusted supplier.

“As a supplier of bearings and engineering supplies in Tasmania, we work closely with fisheries and marine farms to make sure they have access to the latest solutions and products. For the past 11-12 years, I’ve been personally checking on Tassal’s processing facilities, keeping in touch with the maintenance personnel every week to see if there’s anything I can help them with,” Nomiko said.

Clint says he is happy to be working with WebsterBSC, particularly praising the team’s knowledge of maintenance requirements.

“The team at WebsterBSC are very easy to work with. They all have very good maintenance knowledge and help us with any information we need. Even when we don’t exactly know what solution we are looking for, they go out and source something for us from their suppliers. So, the collaboration is an absolute win-win,” he concludes.

NSK Molded-Oil Bearings Key Product Features: • Clean environment with greasefree property and no oil refilling.

• Operating life more than twice that of grease-lubricated bearings.

• Excellent in water or dust contaminated environments.

• Environmentally friendly with very minimal oil leakage.

• Ideal for vertical shaft applications.

• High integrity contact-seal type available in standard inventory for ball bearings.

• Available in ball bearing, wide inner ring bearings and spherical roller bearings.

• Available in the ball bearing type is high grade stainless steel.

manmonthly.com.au

Food lubricants What a cracker! Biscuit manufacturer benefits from food safety compliance solution An iconic Australian biscuit manufacturer was looking for a food grade lubrication program. A BSC expert recommended the CRC GREENLIGHT.

F

OOD suppliers in Australia are under increased pressure and scrutiny to ensure they are compliant with food safety standards. To prepare for auditing, companies not only need to make sure their maintenance products are NSF H1 compliant, but that they have acceptable food safety identification and risk reduction programs, as well as adequate documentation of onsite chemical and cleaning processes, in place.

Such was the situation with an Australian biscuit manufacturer, who was looking for a holistic solution that would combine food grade lubrication and cleaning products with an audit compliance program that would also align with their existing onsite processes.

As a long-standing customer of BSC, and one who already used CRC food grade lubrication products, BSC sales representative Fady Elchab noted the customer might benefit from the CRC GREENLIGHT Food Safety Program.

He collaborated with CRC national business development manager, Peter Oudomvilay, and Iain Faber, national industrial and food grade MRO chemicals and lubrication channel manager, to propose a solution. It

proved to be an excellent fit.

“The customer was looking for food grade lubricants and chemicals for their workshop, but as a well-known manufacturer, were also under a lot of scrutiny regarding food safety.

Every food safety audit, they needed to ensure all their lubricants were compliant,” explains Oudomvilay.

“Fady identified that the customer needed a better food safety program for their chemicals and cleaning. As the CRC GREENLIGHT encapsulates both the right products for hygienic measures, as well as the processes required to deliver a compliant food safety program, we engaged with the manufacturer to take up this program.”

Initially, the manufacturer trialled the program and products to see if they were compatible with their existing onsite processes, as well as effective for their particular use and application.

“When they identified the program was suited to their application and had no issues aligning with their onsite processes, they rolled it out to the rest of the plant,” says Oudomvilay.

Moreover, the CRC products that were in use – which included chain lube, machine oil, penetrating oil and a bio-degreaser – were covered The CRC GREENLIGHT program aligns with global regulation on 25 allergens.

manmonthly.com.au

by the GREENLIGHT program, making the adoption of the program a seamless one. The customer further embraced the bio-remediating technology and maintenance compliant CRC SmartWasher into their process as well.

“The CRC GREENLIGHT program makes identification of compliant products easy and ensures proper product usage through detailed training and extensive documentation,” he explains. “This system will not only aim to reduce cost, inventory duplication and invoicing but will also maximise regulatory compliance.

Other safety measures include aerosol labels with QR codes as well as cap and nozzle materials which are designed to be picked up by x ray and visual systems if dislodged during food production and on processing lines.”

The CRC GREENLIGHT program involves the following steps: • Inventory assessment on site for compatibility to applications and environment • dentification, offering of CRC range of NSF H1 compliant maintenance products • Visual food safety identification program through wall/cupboard signage, posters, printed materials and storage cabinet for food grade lubricants/ chemicals only • Onsite staff training on the risk reduction program • Ongoing updates to ensure customers remain at the highest level of regulatory compliance Iain notes that the CRC GREENLIGHT program meets global standards, not just Food Standard Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ). The program aligns with global regulation on 25 allergens, including the more recently added lupin allergen.

“This means we are not only able to service the Australian markets, but able to open ourselves up and provide that supporting documentation to a lot

The CRC GREENLIGHT Food Safety Program offers a complete food grade compliant MRO lubricant management solution. of export businesses,” he enthuses.

Back in context to the biscuit manufacturer, Oudomvilay says the CRC GREENLIGHT program has gone “beyond customer expectations.”

This is a result of CRC’s commitment to due diligence with its allergen testing and certification, alongside the relationship that the customer has with BSC. It is through this partnership that an effective solution was implemented to enhance the safety standards at their manufacturing facility.

“The reason we are at the forefront of this program is because we take it so seriously,” Oudomvilay concludes.

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 35

MARCH 2021 – COMPRESSORS, PUMPS & HYDRAULICS At the core of any manufacturing operation, are the working parts that keep the plant running.

In March 2021, we will look at the latest advancements in compressors, pumps, and hydraulics that are limiting downtime, and ensuring efficient operations.

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: 27 January 2021

To book contact DANILO CORTUCCI now danilo.cortucci@primecreative.com.au | 0434 419 663

Brought to you by

What’sNew

Lorch Connect Gateway: The future for welding production connectivity Industry 4.0 connectivity & big data management Everyone talks about digitisation. Production is becoming smart. Processes are monitored, documented and visualised in real time. The reason is simple: embedded in this data is a huge untapped potential - especially for welding processes.

With mounting cost pressures and the need to calculate projects to the dollar, without cutting corners on quality, welding process work has been waiting for the innovation that is Lorch Connect.

With Lorch Connect you have the option to analyse and optimise every detail of your production processes with real time data. This will help save unnecessary cost but also improve quality and most importantly productivity, giving you the decisive edge over your competition.

All data is fed quickly and directly to the Lorch Connect Portal via a WLAN (wireless local area network) connection. If WLAN coverage is poor or the production environment is prone to faults, a hard-wired network connection via cable can be used instead. The Lorch Connect Portal can be accessed via all standard web browsers and is where all the data gathered from your connected systems is stored and available to view whenever required.

Lorch Connect can be used with the following Lorch welding systems: S-series, MicorMIG series and MicorMIG pulse series.

Company: Lorch South Pacific Pty Ltd Phone: +1 314 609 6203 Web: lorch.eu

Lorch makes digitisation easy – and risk-free!

Lorch took a significant step towards smart welding when the innovative Speed processes were introduced. The next logical step was to network these processes digitally while keeping it simple and practical. The result is Lorch Connect – your easy – and risk-free – entry into the world of digitally connected welding!

The Lorch Connect Gateway acts as the interface between the user and the welding system with Lorch Connect. Aside from the welding data, which is transmitted directly from the system, the gateway can also receive productionrelevant data such as order number or information on components via a scanner that can be connected as an option.

Embedded box computer with 8th generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7 Processor Interworld Electronics has released the BOXER-6641 multi-core embedded controller from Aaeon. The BOXER-6641 is designed to provide users with unmatched flexibility and performance and features eighth generation Intel Core i socket type processor, fanless operation, extensive I/O, compact size and robust construction.

The BOXER-6641 is based on the Intel H310 or C246 chipset to provide a state-of-the-art multi-core embedded platform. Supported processor options include: 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8700T, i5-8500T, i3-8100T and Intel Xeon E-2125G. The BOXER-6641 is equipped with two SODIMM sockets supporting up to 32GB ECC or non-ECC of DDR4-2666 system memory, four Gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet connectors and six RSRS-232/422/485 ports. The H310 chipset BOXER-6641-A1 features four USB 3.2 ports, four USB 2.0 ports while C246 chipset BOXER-6641-A2 features eight USB 3.2 ports.

A 2.5” SATA hard drive or a mSATA SSD can be internally mounted for operating system and data storage. An optional second hard drive can be installed for data intensive applications or RAID support.

System expansion is possible via two full size Mini-Card slots capable of supporting AI applications with hardware solutions such as AAEON’s AI Core X neural network card with on-board Intel Movidius Myriad X VPU. The BOXER-6641 features an Intel HD graphics engine which supports high resolution displays and provides two HDMI outputs.

Other features include support for Audio Line-out and Mic-in, a power button and reset button as well as a remote power switch connector.

The unique heat sink and fanless design of the BOXER-6641 coupled with an operating

manmonthly.com.au

temperature range of -20°C to 55°C ensures long-term reliable operation in industrial and embedded environments.

The BOXER-6641 can be powered from a 10~35V DC source. An optional 240VAC power pack is also available.

Features include: • extreme computing power and graphic display capability; • d esktop grade socket type core - i3/i5/i7/Xeon (max. TDP up to 71W) processor; • up to 32GB DDR4 ECC or Non-ECC SODIMM; • optional dual hard drives; • 4x Intel GbE LAN (i211 x 3 + i219 x 1), support iAMT; • 2x HDMI dual display; • 8x USB 3.2 (C246) or 4x USB 3.2, 4x USB 2.0 (H310); • 6x BIOS Selectable RS-232/422/485 com ports; • wide range DC 10~35V input.

Company: Interworld Electronics Phone: (03) 9593 7555 Email: ieci@ieci.com.au

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 37

What’sNew Kemppi releases new X5 FastMig industrial welder, packed with capability for outstanding arc-welding productivity Leading international welding equipment manufacturer, Kemppi, has released its new X5 FastMig multi-process welding system for MIG, DC TIG and stick welding (MMA) as well as gouging. Designed in conjunction with professional welders specifically for steel welding, the X5 FastMig delivers a range of features to help significantly enhance arc welding productivity.

Built using energy-efficient inverter technology, the X5 FastMig offers faster welding and quality welds thanks to Touch Sense Ignition, effortless operation, excellent welding ergonomics and flexible equipment setup.

Faster welding, better quality welds Built to perform, the X5 FastMig features the latest in ignition technology – Touch Sense Ignition – as standard in all available models. When combined with WiseSteel software, which also comes as standard with every model, the X5 delivers precise ignition capability and stable arc control.

It tackles the challenges of globular arc by alternating between short arc and spray transfer. In short-circuit transfer, it improves the arc stability adaptively, provding better out-of-position steel welding capabilities. In spray transfer mode, micropulsing of the current and voltage increases travel speed significantly. In doing so, the X5 helps to minimise the spatter produced by a traditional globular arc, as well as the need for post weld cleaning, saving the welder both valuable time and cost, while helping to deliver better quality welds.

For more challenging applications, the arc control can be further optimised with optional welding programs and Wise special processes.

Effortless operation Designed to be hassle-free, the X5 FastMig is very easy to operate. It features a large, graphical and impact-resistant TFT display panel that illustrates all the required information clearly and without the use of abbreviations.

Welding parameters are set automatically when the user adjusts the wire feed speed. And memory channels are also available to customise and save personal settings.

Easy to use, the operating basics of the X5 can be grasped in just 10 minutes.

Plus, the wire feeder’s sturdy rotate-and-push buttons can be operated with gloves on or off, helping to save time and improve productivity.

Excellent welding ergonomics Created with the welder in mind, the ergonomically-designed top-loading wire feeder improves occupational safety when changing the wire spool as it places less strain on the user’s back. The wire feeder can also be hung up and adjusted to multiple different angles for quick and easy access, even in a dual setup.

Designed for use with the X5, the Flexlite GX guns also deliver comfort in spades and help reduce welder fatigue thanks to their ergonomic design. Each gun is lightweight and features a flexible cable set and innovative ball-jointed cable protection that reduces the load on the welder’s wrist.

Plus, the pistol grip handle has been designed so that it feels like an extension of the welder’s hand. Providing excellent balance, it allows for a natural wrist position, which makes the work at hand easier and more effortless, particularly when doing long welds. The on-torch GXR10 remote control allows parameter adjustment at the weld joint, even while welding.

Flexible equipment setup The X5’s modular system allows the user to choose from a range of excellent accessories to ensure the optimal solution for every application. These include transport units, interconnection cables of various lengths and wired remote controls.

Also, users can build their own machine with the help of the X5 FastMig Selector, an online configurator tool that lets welders easily choose the equipment best suited to make the most out of their investment.

Quality range Made in Finland, and strong and robust, the X5 range has been built to last. The X5 FastMig features an injectionmolded plastic casing that absorbs knocks, and together with the impact- resistant display panel, ensure the machine can withstand challenging environments.

The new Kemppi X5 FastMig is available in Manual and Synergic 400A and 500A models.

Visit: The Kemppi X5 Family For more information on the new X5 FastMig welder call Kemppi Australia on (02) 8785 2000 or email sales.au@ kemppi.com Company: Kemppi Australia Phone: (02) 8785 2000 Email: sales.au@kemppi.com

38 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

manmonthly.com.au

Brought to you by

New managed air power service by Sullair Australia, a Hitachi Group company Sullair Australia has launched a new service that revolutionises the compressed air industry.

Sullair’s Managed Air Power (MAP) is a comprehensive solution to all your compressed air needs, without the significant upfront capital outlay.

The acquisition of a significant piece of equipment represents substantial capital outlay for any company. MAP makes compressed air easy, and can provide a pressure relief valve for your company if it’s under stress in these challenging times. MAP service begins with an assessment and analysis of the company’s compressed air needs (including future growth). This is followed by Sullair’s experts specifying, customising, and installing the appropriate compressor tailored to your specific requirements for air flow, pressure and air quality. Sullair then takes over all the maintenance and servicing of your compressed air 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, over 5 years By outsourcing the management of your air compressor system to the experts, Sullair’s new service gives you total control of your compressed air needs, without the significant upfront cost. Other benefits include: • Maximised reliability and uptime. Thanks to MAP, your compressed air operations will be monitored 24/7/365, meaning maximum uptime to keep your business operations continually up and running. We’ll know if there’s a problem with your compressor before you do.

• Improved productivity. Outsourcing the management of your air compressor system to an expert means that you can focus your resources solely on your core business.

• Full monthly reporting. MAP brings transparency, giving you peace of mind

both financially and operationally by delivering full reports on your compressed air system, including usage, servicing, and performance.

• Easy budget management. Enjoy the convenience of one monthly invoice for a flat monthly fee. The fee is based off your projected annual consumption and includes equipment, parts, maintenance, monitoring, and management of your entire compressed air system. No more unexpected expenses or hidden costs!

• Expedite purchasing of new or replacement equipment. MAP allows you to treat purchases as an operating expense rather than a Capex budget item.

Managed Air Power makes compressed air easy.

Company: Sullair Australia Phone: 1300 266 773 Web: sullair.com.au

New igus SLS material for electrostatically conductive wear-resistant parts from the 3D printer Lubrication-free tribo-polymer iglidur I8-ESD enables the cost-effective manufacture of durable special parts.

For safe and reliable production in the electronics and semiconductor industry, components are required that have electrostatically conductive properties. This is because even a small electric shock can destroy expensive production lines. igus has now developed a new stable material for the SLS method so that users can make their wearing parts with ESD properties flexibly and cost-effectively. The lubrication-free special parts made of iglidur I8-ESD can be ordered from Treotham.

Wear-resistant parts in the electronics and semiconductor industry are not only required to have a long service life but must also be electrostatically conductive, because a surge of electrostatic charge that is not dissipated by an insulating material can easily destroy the product. For the fast additive manufacture of electrostatically conductive special parts, igus has now developed a new iglidur tribo-polymer. iglidur I8-ESD is the third igus material that Treotham offers for the SLS method. The advantages of this method are evident: the user has a great deal of design freedom and can make the component without any tool costs. Moreover, no plastic waste is produced as the excess powder can be used several times and printed parts can be recycled. The parts made of the new SLS powder - like all igus materials - need no additional lubrication and are very structurally stable. “With iglidur I8-ESD, we now include a tribo-polymer in our product range that has a resistance of 3x107 Ω x cm.

In addition, the material is inherently black. As a result, subsequent colouring is not necessary, whereby costs are lowered and the delivery time is improved”, explains

manmonthly.com.au

Tom Krause, Head of Business Unit Additive Manufacturing at igus GmbH. “The user receives a very durable component that comes with all the desirable ESD properties.” iglidur I8-ESD convinces with high wear resistance The igus tribo-polymers undergo numerous tests in the igus 3,800 square-metre test laboratory. Here a pivoting test showed that the abrasion resistance of a sintered iglidur I8-ESD wear-resistant part is twice as great as that of a PA12 sintered component. iglidur I8-ESD was also convincing in a linear wear test. Treotham currently offers iglidur I8-ESD as SLS powder for processing in the customer’s own facility or for manufacture of a component in the igus 3D printing service.

Company: Treotham Automation Pty Ltd Phone: 1300 65 75 64 Web: www.treotham.com.au

Manufacturers’ Monthly DECEMBER 2020 39

The Last Word

ANDREW BRIDGER – Senior Economist

Manufacturing jobs in Australia: long-term trends and the impact of COVID-19

T

HE government’s response to the pandemic has highlighted the central role of manufacturing in recovering from this event and its importance in bolstering Australia’s economic resilience. What are the long-term trends in manufacturing and the impact of COVID-19 on the industry?

Manufacturing employment: long-term trends in Australia Australian manufacturing employment peaked at 1.46 million in 1973. It accounted for a quarter of the workforce throughout the 1950s and the 1960s. Since the 1970s, changes in manufacturing technologies, products, regulatory environments, and global supply chains – together with the rise of various services sectors as key drivers of local employment growth – have seen manufacturing’s share of Australia’s workforce decline. This long-term evolution has been part of a global trend that has been evident across all “advanced” manufacturing economies, as technologies have changed and as more of the ‘developing’ world has become involved in global manufacturing supply chains.

Despite the declining number and share of Australian workers employed in manufacturing since the 1970s, the sector’s output volumes have continued to grow, as local manufacturing technologies and businesses have become progressively more advanced and capital-intensive.

Since the 1970s, the decline in local manufacturing employment has tended to happen in waves, with particularly large declines in textiles, clothing, and footwear employment during the last recession from 1991 and then smaller declines in other manufacturing sectors after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) from 2008 and the subsequent period of exchange rate disruptions, in which the Australian dollar rose above

40 DECEMBER 2020 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Australia’s economic and social strength go hand in hand. The fundamental requirements include building a more dynamic and higher productivity economy, achieving a more inclusive economy and society, and ensuring that Australia moves decisively to net zero emissions by 2050. parity against the US dollar over a very extended period (roughly 2010 to 2013).

Between 1990 and 2010, the decline in Australian manufacturing employment was mainly felt in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. These states were home to Australia’s textile clothing and footwear industries (that declined steeply in the 1990s) and passenger car assembly, which declined over this period and ended in 2017. In contrast, manufacturing in Western Australia and Queensland has always been more closely aligned with food and beverages, machinery and equipment, and other manufacturing and so manufacturing employment in these states held relatively steady over this period. Manufacturers in these two states also benefited from a rise in demand from their local construction, mining, and agricultural industries.

The impact of COVID-19 The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Labour Account data series and the Ai Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index both indicate that the total number of manufacturing jobs in Australia stabilised and then began to rebuild between 2015 and early 2020, despite the loss of local passenger car assembly as a major anchor of local manufacturing activity during this period. In 2020, however, this

recovery is being severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manufacturing lost 56,600 jobs in the second quarter of 2020. Despite this sudden decline, timelier payroll jobs data from the ABS and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) suggest that as of October of 2020, the manufacturing industry is faring better than most industries during 2020. This experience is different from previous Australian recessions and reflects the very unusual circumstances of the current COVID-19 recession. In previous Australian recessions, employment in industrial sectors such as manufacturing and construction have fallen the hardest. In contrast, the COVID-19 recession has impacted the service industries such as travel, hospitality, and the arts the earliest and the hardest due to rapid activity restrictions.

As of October 2020, however, there are signs that the COVID-19 recession may be transitioning into a more traditional recession, with construction jobs declining in recent months and the initial recovery in manufacturing jobs stalling.

The ABS-ATO payroll data suggest that from 14 March to 19 September, the hardest-hit manufacturing sectors in terms of job losses were “beverage products”, in which payroll jobs fell by 10.2 per cent, followed by “pulp, paper and converted paper products”, in which payroll jobs fell

by 8.1 per cent. The fall in beverage manufacturing jobs probably reflects large declines in consumption due to restaurants and hospitality venues closing nation-wide in Q2, while the drop-in paper manufacturing jobs might reflect a decline in demand for paper-based office products due to fewer people working in offices.

In contrast, chemicals production was the only manufacturing sector that increased the number of jobs over this period, reflecting the continuing strong demand for personal care items (e.g., hand sanitizer), pharmaceuticals, cleaning products, toiletries, and health supplements, much of which is made locally by this sector.

Many Australian manufacturers in this sector (and others) have reported to Ai Group a stronger interest in Australian-made products due to overseas stock shortages, freight delays, and disruptions.

Some manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors say their suppliers are thinking about “reshoring” their production activities back to Australia due to ongoing disruptions to global supply chains and freight services. This is particularly evident in traditional “heavy industrial” manufacturing sectors such as metal products and machinery manufacturing, but also in chemicals, building materials, wood, furniture and other sectors.

Growing Australia’s manufacturing jobs for the future Australia’s economic and social strength go hand in hand. The fundamental requirements include building a more dynamic and higher productivity economy, achieving a more inclusive economy and society, and ensuring that Australia moves decisively to net zero emissions by 2050. Australian manufacturing will play a central role in securing all these objectives.

manmonthly.com.au