When Mark Ellis, a warehouse operations clerk for Atlas Steels, suffered a serious leg injury that resulted from an incident at its Ingleburn service centre, the business vowed it wanted to prevent this type of incident from reoccurring. “It shook the business,” said regional director, John Pearson. “It was a terrible thing for Mark, his … Continue reading Having a clear safety approach is important. Atlas Steels explains →

Opinion: Implementing Industry 4.0 technology can help manufacturers save on electricity costs while using renewable energy, according to one expert in the energy sector. Luke Menzel, the CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council, explains what role Industry 4.0 plays in energy management.   Industry 4.0 has been around long enough now that “thought leaders” are … Continue reading Energy management, the stealth enabler of Industry 4.0 →

ifm shows that it can offer full solutions for all factory automation, 24 hours a day. Whether a company is an OEM, a packaging or process factory, there are constant needs to produce high quality products at reduced costs, while effectively managing the high amount of workflow in a factory. Smart factory solutions allows companies … Continue reading ifm’s smart factory solutions for small, medium and large sized factories →

As local industry looks to build on recent momentum, how do manufacturers plan to meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities awaiting them in 2019? Mark Goodsell, head of the Australian Industry Group in NSW, explains. Manufacturing entered 2019 with a lot of momentum built up over the past 2-3 years. With 85,000 … Continue reading Priorities for Australian manufacturing in 2019 →

Opinion: Weld Australia CEO Geoff Crittenden discusses the welding industry in Australia.  The trend of some state governments in relation to the procurement of fabricated steel in Australia is encouraging. For instance, in August 2018, the Victorian state government passed the Victorian Industry Participation Policy (Local Jobs First) Amendment Bill. This bill mandates minimum local … Continue reading Lowest common denominator procurement decisions put Australians at risk →

Australia is competing in an international market where a company from Germany can easily and quickly transport its products to France or any other neighbouring nation. So finding a niche in the market, or focusing on Australian-made branding can give companies down-under an advantage. But some manufacturers that successfully export products overseas explain that it’s … Continue reading Taking a collaborative approach improves exporting capabilities →

The circular economy encompasses many aspects of a businesses that can be changed to improve environmental impacts and create a more profitable business. While creating and highlighting change by promoting that a company uses renewable energy and environmentally friendly materials is one way to show a company cares about sustainability, ensuring the longevity of equipment … Continue reading Product longevity keeps facilities sustainable →

Manufacturing could go full circle as individualisation starts to creep into the process engineering equation. Henry Ford takes most of the credit for introducing mass production practices to industrialised nations. Starting out in the late 1910s, Ford realised that setting up a production line provided an efficient mechanism to produce high-quality, in-demand products. In his case, … Continue reading Radio-frequency identification plays vital role in manufacturing →

3D printers are able to produce parts more accurately and at a faster rate than ever before. A plastic acoustic guitar, 3D printed medical models, lightweight parts for aircrafts and cellphone cases are just some of the things this technology has helped create. The options of what can be created are constantly being challenged by … Continue reading Research and development key to 3D printing growth →

“All manufacturing processes are different and bring their own unique challenges.” This is what MHE-Demag managing director Vince Di Costanzo has discovered while working at a company that puts safety first and helps other manufacturers implement thorough safety processes in their facilities. As a finalist of for the Safety Solution of the Year award at … Continue reading Safety-first approach paramount in manufacturing industry →

When Marie Fowler finished high school she never imagined she would become an engineer. But more than 20 years on, having studied in her late-30s, her engineering degree has proven to be a leap in the right direction. “When I graduated high school I was in South Africa and university wasn’t an option for me. … Continue reading Benefits of entering engineering later in life →

Atlas Copco national warehouse supervisor Grace Lennox works in a role she enjoys and for a company that allows her to grow personally and professionally. While this may seem like a small feat, Lennox is bucking a trend followed by millennials and Gen Zs worldwide. Many anticipate staying with one employer for less than two … Continue reading Keeping employees interested beyond the average tenure →

Weld Australia CEO Geoff Crittenden discusses the role welding plays in public safety.  The lack of regulation covering steel manufacturing, fabrication, and erection is a national disgrace that has reduced our industry to the lowest common denominator: cost. In a misguided commercial experiment, Australia eradicated the regulations that mandated compliance to Australian Standards. The aim … Continue reading Weld Australia: Welding compliance is an issue of public safety →

Living in a global marketplace can make it difficult for Australian manufacturers to stand out in a crowd. But integrating new technologies can give them an advantage that will boost them to the top of the podium. Unfortunately, competing with international leaders such as China, Germany and the US can have its drawbacks as others … Continue reading Implementing new technologies to succeed on a global scale →

The Australian government is backing small businesses by increasing the instant asset write-off threshold from $20,000 to $25,000. This came into effect on January 30, 2019, along with the extension of the initiative for another year beyond its existing June 2019 end-date. The continued support for small businesses will enable more than three million small … Continue reading Small businesses rising up in Industry 4.0 space →

ifm Australia is putting ifm’s products through some tough tests. Find out more in the video below.

Large businesses can allocate funding to introduce the latest robotics, to automate factories and implement cloud computing solutions by parting with a small percentage of their annual revenue. But for small businesses, the risk of committing money to Industry 4.0 technologies can be greater. This is what industry experts anticipate as a sticking point for … Continue reading Industry 4.0 possible for all manufacturers with collaborative approach →

Silica dust is a contaminant that many manufacturers cannot get away from. It can cause respiratory damage and cancer, yet it remains around as long as materials such as some bricks, concrete and metals are used to make products. The Cancer Council Australia explained that silica dust is harmful when inhaled and it can lead … Continue reading Industrial cleaning plays an important role in keeping employees safe →

Manufacturing facilities come small and large. Miri Schroeter talks to watchmaker Josh Hacko about a quaint business that reaches far beyond a clock face. Nicholas Hacko came to Australia in 1991 as a refugee from Croatia during the Yugoslav Wars. A watchmaker by trade, he had expertise in the design, repair and assembly of watches. … Continue reading Family business takes Australian-made to watch industry →

Electricity prices have more than doubled since 2014, in Australia, and gas prices have followed closely with a 50 per cent increase since 2011. These evaluations, from a Grattan Institute 2018 report – Mostly Working: Australia’s Wholesale Electricity Market, show the stark increase in energy costs that Australian manufacturers have experienced, and continue to experience. … Continue reading Top tips for energy saving solutions for manufacturers →