Advancing Manufacturing

Pyne promotes Australian Defence exports to the UAE

MINISTER for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne has delivered a keynote address at the 2017 International Defence Exhibition (IDEX), in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the strengths of Australia’s defence industry and the cutting edge technology Australia produces, referencing the 21 Australian companies exhibiting.

During the address Mr Pyne focussed on disruptive emerging technology and innovation, praising Australia’s response to these opportunities and challenges. He also met with international partners to advocate for Australia’s defence industry and reaffirm the government’s strong support for Australian companies and their important role supporting the Australian Defence Force. 

Under the lead of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) President and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the IDEX Conference and Exhibition brought together international government, military and industry representatives to demonstrate the latest defence technologies across air, land and sea.

The conference is one of the largest in the world. The last IDEX conference in 2015 saw more than 1,200 exhibitors and 101,000 visitors from across the globe participating, with signed deals amounting to well over A$6.5 billion. This year’s Exhibition is expected to exceed those numbers.

Throughout the conference and during bilateral meetings Mr Pyner reinforced the importance of developing long term industry partnerships to collaboratively develop defence capability.

Mr Pyne stressed industry’s role to enhance the strong bilateral relationships Australia has with our regional partners.

“Witnessing first hand the quality and ingenuity of the capabilities that our 21 Australian companies have on display here is an exceptional example of what Australian industry can offer to our international partners,” Mr Pyne said.

“Australia has had great success countering disruptive technology such as the threat posted by improvised explosive devices.

“The Defence Science and Technology Group’s REDWING program developed critical equipment for ADF personnel as well as the Afghan National Army.

“This remarkable technology, developed in collaboration between government and industry, is now saving lives and has enormous potential to be exported across the globe creating jobs in Australia,” he said.

During his visit, Mr Pyne also met with HE Homaid Al Shemmari, Emirates Defence Industries Company chairman and HE Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri, Tawazun Economic Council CEO, to discuss opportunities for Australian Defence exports. 

www.defence.gov.au

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At least Whyalla steel back on the rails

TRAINS carrying steel rail for a major upgrade to South Australia’s rail network began departing Arrium’s steelworks in Whyalla in September, on a contract to supply tens of thousands of tonnes of rail over the next three years.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester said the steel leaving Whyalla would be used to replace old rail on the railway line from Adelaide to Tarcoola with heavier, stronger steel. The contract between the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and the administrators of Arrium, KordaMentha, for about 73,000 tonnes of steel was officially handed over in Whyalla on September 8. 

“We are boosting the economy and saving money for freight companies by upgrading this 1,200km of rail to move more freight, faster between Adelaide and Tarcoola,” Mr Chester said.

Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Greg Hunt said the Turnbull Government was committed to supporting South Australia’s steel sector and the workers at Arrium.

“In addition to using Arrium’s steel for the railway, we are supporting the industry by using Australian steel across our naval shipbuilding program and by strengthening Australia’s anti-dumping system," Mr Hunt said.

"And earlier this year the government approved a $49.2 million loan to Arrium which will be used to purchase equipment for the company’s iron ore operations near Whyalla. We want to set the right business environment to ensure Australian firms like Arrium can grow, prosper and be globally competitive.”

ARTC Chief Executive John Fullerton said ARTC had been busily finalising a careful, staged roll-out plan for the project, but had a focus on delivering early orders of steel.

“The existing rail between Adelaide and Tarcoola has been nearing its end of life and the new rail delivered by this contract will allow rail operators to carry heavier wagons of freight at faster speeds," Mr Fullerton said. “This means ongoing benefits from this project for Australian businesses and ultimately, consumers.”

The Australian Government is fully funding the re-railing of Adelaide to Tarcoola.

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Local innovation boosts aircon efficiency 21pc

INNOVATIVE mini-cell evaporative cooling pad technology developed by Seeley International is said to improve its ducted air conditioning cooling capacity by 21 percent.

Seeley International founder and executive chairman, Frank Seeley, said the enhanced small cell design of the “revolutionary mini cell structure” – known as Chillcel – was the culmination of years of development and rigorous testing, achieving 21 percent greater cooling capacity than previous evaporative air conditioner models. 

Seeley is using the Chillcel pad technology, for which it has a patent pending, across its entire Breezair range of ducted air conditioners, making it the only manufacturer able to offer evaporative cooling pads fully manufactured in Australia and specifically designed to maximise cooling in the harsh local climate.

“Australia experiences some of the harshest weather extremes found anywhere in the world, so it has been important for Seeley International to design and develop evaporative cooling pads that deliver the best performance outcomes from some of the worst conditions in the world,” Mr Seeley said.

“The new pads, which are manufactured at Seeley International’s Lonsdale-based factory in Adelaide, offer 25 percent  more surface area and a new 4mm flute to dramatically improve cooling efficiency.

“Sourcing only the best quality paper and then manufacturing the pads locally means we have complete quality control over the saturation efficiencies of our coolers – and we can accurately assess the performance of this and other innovative breakthroughs at our onsite NATA-accredited testing facility.”

Mr Seeley said that another new feature introduced across the Breezair range was the external air sensor, which conveniently displays the outside temperature on an intuitive touch screen wall controller.

“Not only does this technology intuitively optimise water and energy use based on outside surrounding conditions, the life of the air conditioner will be extended because it also automatically drains the water tank when temperatures are near freezing point,” Mr Seeley said.

“These new features ensure Breezair customers are provided with market-leading products made from the best quality materials. Our customers can buy with confidence and know that they are supporting the creation and sustainment of Australian jobs and our local, but world-leading, manufacturing industry.”

To coincide with Seeley International’s newly-launched Breezair product features, the company has also unveiled a new-look Breezair website, reflecting feedback received from in-depth consumer market research.

The new easy-to-navigate website helps consumers to better understand the advantages of choosing a Breezair evaporative air conditioner and includes a video showing how the touch screen MagIQtouch wall controller works.

In addition to an animated description of how an evaporative air conditioner works, the website also contains a handy visual energy efficiency tool to help consumers compare the running costs of a Breezair evaporative air conditioner to reverse cycle air conditioning.

“One of the stand-out features of the updated Breezair website is the ‘help me choose’ feature. This helpful tool assists the consumer in choosing a Breezair model that is right for them,” Mr Seeley said.

http://www.breezair.com.au

 

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Research builds stronger Australian fibre industry

DEAKIN University has launched a research hub to work with industry on the future of high-performance and high-value fibre products, including carbon- and nano-fibres.

The Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub for a World-class Future Fibre Industry will undertake research into developing novel fibre technologies for more sustainable, advanced manufacturing of fibre materials and products, according to acting ARC chief executive officer, Leanne Harvey. 

Researchers based at Deakin University will work with business partners including HEIQ Australia Pty Ltd, Carbon Revolution, Quickstep Automotive, Ear Science Institute Australia Inc, and Draggin Jeans.

Other organisations utilising the hub include Swinburne University of Technology, CSIRO, Tufts University USA, University of Oxford UK, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,  University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, and the University of Southern Mississippi.

Ms Harvey said the ARC Research Hub for a World-class Future Fibre Industry would capitalise on the research team’s combined strength in fibre science and technology to come up with new innovative materials and techniques.

“Working directly with small and medium enterprises and international research leaders, this Hub will work to develop advanced carbon fibres, nanofibres and high-performance novel fibres, as well as value-added applications of fibre materials,” she said.

“Development of these new materials will be able help to reduce energy costs, minimise the environmental footprint of manufacturing processes, and improve public health and safety in the fibre industry, as well as also train the next generation of industry-savvy fibre research leaders.”

The ARC Research Hub Research Hub for a World-class Future Fibre Industry is receiving $4.7 million over five years through the Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme, a key component of the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Programme (ITRP).

www.arc.gov.au

www.futurefibreshub.com.au

 

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Printing industries fight for Aussie books

THE PRINTING Industries Association of Australia (PIAA) has joined the battle to protect the local book manufacturing industry, said to be threatened by the proposed removal of parallel import restrictions (PIRs) on overseas book editions.

The Federal Government is considering the removal of PIRs in the sector on the advice of the Harper Review and the Productivity Commission – an organisation that is the most recent iteration of what was once called the Australian Tariff Board and before that the Industries Assistance Commission. 

But there has been a public outcry from Australian publishers and authors who believe the move will overrun Australian intellectual property rights which protect authors and publishers from overseas imports – often of their own works. The Harper Review described the benefits of the move as providing cheaper books for Australians, but the publishing industry believes it would see Australian industry overrun and financially unsustainable.

Industry news source ProPrint reported the PIAA warned that Australia's authors – whose creative earnings are estimated at an average of less than $13,000 per year – would  lose the support of a currently healthy Australian publishing industry, as well as see declines in royalties and career-supporting income from overseas rights sales.

PIAA has combined with the Australian Publishers Association, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Australian Society of Authors – with prominent authors Peter Carey and Thomas Keneally and deputy Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese in support – in a lobbying push to help protect the Aussie book industry.

www.piaa.org.au

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The Manufacturing Toolbox showcases Australian manufacturing to the world

THE Manufacturing Toolbox offers Australian manufacturers one of the most comprehensive business resources ever developed, through the collaboration of its formation partners - the Australian science and research agency CSIRO, QMI Solutions, the Manufacturing On The Move network, Regional Development Australia Brisbane, the Australian Computer Society (ACS), State Library of Queensland, Outsource Institute of Technology, Trade and Investment Queensland, and integrated national media partner, Business Acumen magazine. 

The Manufacturing Toolbox operates as a knowledge resource hub – where business leaders can gather information and inspiration to set their businesses off in new directions. Here they can find experts and best-of-breed services to help achieve their goals.

The Manufacturing Toolbox has been developed over the last 18 months, based on over 15 years of research by Australian company Digital Business insights (DBi) and directly informed and shaped by its collaborative partnerships.

Why the Manufacturing Toolbox?

“Manufacturing is probably the sector most able to understand what the Toolbox offers and derive benefits from it in a short time frame,” DBi chief executive John Sheridan said. “Our work over many years in researching digital disruption and technology adoption has shown us that manufacturers are early adopters of new technologies and they are among the most innovative people in this country. Now we need to showcase our manufacturers to the world, and that is what the Toolbox is designed to do.”

“We hear in the general media all the time that ‘manufacturing is dead’ in this country,” he said. “Well, our partners in the Manufacturing Toolbox beg to differ.

“Manufacturing in Australia faces great challenges, for certain, but Australian manufacturers bring enormous creativity, resilience and determination to succeeding in their fields. They are among the world’s best innovators – and we believe all they need is some help. John Sheridan.

“What the Manufacturing Toolbox does is give manufacturing business leaders information, knowledge, advice – in some cases inspiration – and support networks to help them succeed.

“And beyond that, through our communication and media channels, we offer a great catalyst for success and outreach: targeted information sharing and publicity.”

The networks being brought to the Manufacturing Toolbox by its collaborative partners are extraordinary. CSIRO’s own research and commercialisation is world-leading, and it also provides a conduit to university research.

The Outsource Institute of Technology is recognised as a national leader in technology and engineering qualifications, already offering world-leading courses in robotics and 3D printing, among other cutting edge areas of education.

QMI Solutions is probably Australia’s leading technology diffusion organisation and manufacturing educator. QMI Solutions was the first organisation in Australia to use a 3D printer for component prototyping – 20 years ago – and it also pioneered such programs as Lean Manufacturing and Core Value assessments in Australia. Through its Australian Institute for Commercialisation it has also assisted some of Australia’s most successful manufacturers to develop.

The State Library of Queensland offers regional reach to manufacturers and is a learning resource network in its own right. For example, many manufacturers are learning 3D printing techniques through local library courses.

“The Manufacturing Toolbox is a hub where business leaders can learn from people like them who are at the cutting edge,” Mr Sheridan said.

“More importantly, they can then get on and do something about improving their organisation and actively seek out new markets and potential customers. This is the start of something unique. It is the result of an extraordinary collaboration among organisations offering knowledge and their networks with a view to energising manufacturing.

“We hope the Manufacturing Toolbox will help create an unfair advantage for Australian manufacturers – and that’s got to be good for everybody.”

http://manufacturing.digitaltoolbox.org/index.php/uncategorised-publisher/112

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Welcome to Australia’s Manufacturing Toolbox. We are on the move.

THIS IS THE THIRD e-Newsletter from the Manufacturing Toolbox – http://manufacturing.digitaltoolbox.org/index.php/uncategorised-publisher/112

The Toolbox is a new and unique digital platform, designed to help Australia’s manufacturing business leaders develop, build capability and showcase their products and services to new markets, both local and overseas.

The Manufacturing Toolbox is free to join. You can then upload introductory information on your business into the Manufacturing Showcase – an online catalogue where Australia’s manufacturers can present their products nationally and to the world. 

The Toolbox includes a resource centre featuring partner programs, plus video workshops, news, events, insightful blogs from industry experts, and – uniquely – a Showcase of Australian manufacturers.

The showcase is already getting visits from over 30 countries across the world, with visitors from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan spending an average of 20 minutes looking at manufacturers on the site.

In response to this interest, we are now creating specific showcases for those three countries, working with the business councils to showcase the manufacturing sectors of most interest to them – food, biotech, ‘green’, smart machinery, circular economy, ICT and so on.

And you can subscribe to receive 10 Business Acumen magazines with features from partners, news and events, plus be able to showcase your products or services to markets within Australia and overseas - $199 per annum.

So, give yourself an unfair advantage and join the Manufacturing Toolbox today.

For more information, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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