One hundred and fifty years ago, Tennant Company founder George Tennant started his business on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Like many others, he chose the location to power his sawmill, milling and planing timber to help build the young and growing city. Over the years, Tennant’s business grew and … Continue reading Tennant celebrates 150th anniversary →

For Stefen Lausch, a mechanic working with Wagga Wagga City Council in New South Wales, no two machinery breakdowns are ever the same. The team he is a part of manages a large fleet of graders, rollers, semi-trucks, trailers, tractors and slashers used by the council to maintain the regional parklands and nature strips, among … Continue reading CBC, LOCTITE help meet MRO needs for council →

Bearings are one of the most commonly used machine parts in any industry. A sound knowledge of best practices in installing and maintaining bearings is therefore essential for those in charge of machinery maintenance to avoid unexpected downtimes. As a global bearing manufacturer, NSK offers accredited bearing training programs to interested parties, where experienced NSK … Continue reading Learning the science behind bearings →

When 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 Dean explains, were failing frequently in … Continue reading How a bearing upgrade saved valuable maintenance time for Tassal →

Lorch South Pacific managing director, David Wilton, speaks about Industry 4.0 Smart Welding Solutions and how it drives customer productivity. What do people think about when they hear the words “Welding Industry”? Many would think “old school”, “dirty job”, “uninspiring”, “slow to change”. But what if these were just perceptions standing in the way of … Continue reading Embrace the technology and leverage the possibilities to drive productivity and efficiency into our tired welding industry →

The domestic and international effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have had impacts on energy prices and emissions that look positive at first glance – a pre-existing decline in wholesale electricity prices has steepened; a global oil price crash and weak East Asian gas demand have pushed spot gas prices far down; and early signs are … Continue reading Reinvigorating Australia’s national climate policy →

Earlier in my career I worked with many “best in class” lean manufacturers and I was struck by how many of their employees could remember, even years later, where it all started. They openly shared their story, and often I would meet the team that had been the catalyst for their on-going lean deployment. Years … Continue reading Deciding where to start in the Industry 4.0 journey →

Manufacturers’ Monthly speaks with The Elastomers’ technical and quality assurance manager, Sam Brumale, about how local test machines from Test Machines Australia are critical to their rubber manufacturing business. Having a local agent service test machines is critical for Melbourne-based rubber manufacturer, The Elastomers. The company engages the services of Test Machines Australia, who has … Continue reading Providing reliable and timely service for local manufacturers →

Wholegrain Milling’s Craig and Renee Neale speak with Manufacturers’ Monthly about their family business and how it has grown with the Gunnedah Shire community. Craig and Renee Neale see flour milling as a family affair. More than 40 years ago, their family-owned and certified organic flour mill, Wholegrain Milling, was born out of a desire … Continue reading Sowing the seeds for a wholesome community →

Manufacturers’ Monthly speaks with Baird Technology and Backplane Systems Technology about the challenges involved in the business of robotics during COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for many businesses during the past six months. During this time, some manufacturers are riding out the storm by taking the opportunity to develop innovation. Baird Technology … Continue reading Germicidal robot manufacturing →

Manufacturers’ Monthly spoke with the team at industrial workwear supplier Blackwoods about their updated Workhorse range and due diligence program embedded within the company. Producing personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic has played a key part in Australia’s unprecedented manufacturing activity this year. While masks will continue to be an essential PPE item, protective … Continue reading Strength and safety at the core of updated iconic workwear range →

Bailey Ladders has been a trusted Australian brand for more than 60 years when it comes to safely working at heights. Bailey Ladders marketing and product manager John Chinn speaks with Manufacturers’ Monthly about this heritage of safety. Ensuring workers return home safely each day is the most important aspect of all modern-day workplaces. Sadly, however … Continue reading Improving safety, building trust →

Global manufacturing has been shaken by the pandemic. It’s not just the social distancing restrictions that have been placed on workplaces, which have forced them to operate in non-standard ways, the border closures and surge in demand for speciality goods (think toilet paper, hand sanitiser and PPE) laid bare just how vulnerable global supply chains … Continue reading Future-Proofing The Australian Manufacturing Industry Through Digital Transformation →

In a year that has been chaotic at best and crippling at worst for Australian SMEs, there was a large collective sigh-of-relief when the federal government announced more than $270 billion investment into the defence sector that would “support local jobs and small businesses”, according to the government. “The Morrison government’s investment in our Defence … Continue reading Tips on accessing defence business as an SME →

Manufacturers’ Monthly speaks with directors of Daintree Tools, Andrew and Kerry Rodgers, about the company’s specialised expertise in manufacturing live centres for Australian heavy industry. Daintree Tools is an Australian, family-owned business with more than 15 years of experience specialising in the production of live centres for lathes. Founded in the early 2000s, the company … Continue reading Tougher tools, longer life →

Chicago Pneumatic business line manager Sume Perera introduces the new oil-cooled interior permanent magnet motor compressor. According to the racecar engineering (www.racecar-engineering.com), motorsport reaches over 194 countries worldwide (based on a 2017 Nielson Sports survey). Aside from the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, there are few other sports with such global appeal. Efficiency and … Continue reading Efficiency and reliability are top concerns at speed car racing →

Over the past few months, the impact of the pandemic has forced many businesses to scale back operations or shut down completely. Other organisations have been fortunate to reinvent their business models to remain relevant. The key to survival however lies in the ability to change in order to create long-term, positive outcomes for the … Continue reading How manufacturers can pivot from response to re-conceptualisation →

Atlas Copco introduces CERADES, a solid desiccant created after years of R&D. MM (Manufacturers’ Monthly): What is CERADES (pronounced as “seradas”)?  AC (Atlas Copco): CERADES is the first-ever solid, ceramic desiccant. Until now, desiccant in air dryers has always consisted of loose beads made of activated alumina, molecular sieves or silica gel, being used in … Continue reading Atlas Copco introduces solid desiccant compressed air-drying technology →

Manufacturers’ Monthly speaks with Accurate Repetition Engineering design engineer Brett Turner about the long-term benefits of DECO Industrial’s hard anodising service. Raw aluminium is susceptible to corrosion if exposed to pollutants. However, aluminium tends to naturally oxidise, forming a hard skin, almost as hard as diamonds, which protects the aluminium beneath from corrosion. To enhance … Continue reading Hard anodising: strong coating, long life →

Lorch South Pacific managing director, David Wilton, speaks about Industry 4.0 Smart Welding Solutions and how it drives customer productivity. What do people think about when they hear the words “Welding Industry”? Many would think “old school”, “dirty job”, “uninspiring”, “slow to change”. But what if these were just perceptions standing in the way of … Continue reading Embrace the Technology and Leverage the Possibilities to Drive Productivity and Efficiency into our Tired Welding Industry →