Results of the first survey by South-East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance to assess the impact of COVID-19 are in, and they are “sobering”, according to CEO Vonda Fenwick. A recent survey by South-East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) has revealed the impact of the coronavirus on the Victorian manufacturing sector. The survey, conducted in March, titled SEMMA … Continue reading Finding a path during sobering times →

Bearings in the recycling industry are subject to varying levels of temperature and moisture. While conventional bearings use grease or oil to keep the rotating elements running smoothly, solid lubricant bearings, such as the NSK Molded-Oil bearings, use solid lubricants that do not require any re-lubrication. NSK’s Molded-Oil bearings are filled with a solid, porous … Continue reading A set-and-forget solution with Molded-Oil bearings →

It is a common belief that you can make almost anything you want when it comes to 3D printing. Bits and pieces ranging from a splint for a broken arm, a bulldozer part that has split or cracked, to a malfunctioning part on a navy ship patrolling high seas in the Middle East, can be … Continue reading 3D printing to thrive during COVID-19 and beyond →

Opal Australian Paper, a major manufacturer of packaging papers and boards and Australia’s only manufacturer of inkjet, printing and office papers including the Reflex brand, has been working with BSC as a trusted supplier for nearly 20 years. BSC supplies a wide range of parts and products to the company’s Maryvale paper mill in Victoria’s … Continue reading Why the BSC and Timken relationship works for Opal Australian Paper →

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged all sectors of the economy, and governments around the world have taken unprecedented actions to curtail its spread. Despite these efforts, there have been many more than 4 million confirmed cases at the time of writing. The virus is believed to be more contagious than the seasonal flu and can … Continue reading Manufacturers should consider their internal air environment in a post COVID-19 return to work →

One question that operators and maintenance personnel in recycling plants often have to deal with is ‘how do you know which lubricant is the best fit for a given application?’ The answer is not always simple. While each piece of machinery usually comes with a maintenance manual containing a qualified product list, Christopher Bright, National … Continue reading Improved efficiency with GWO Syn-Gear industrial oil →

From the moment the wheel came into existence, people have been faced with the seemingly simple task of mounting their inventions to a shaft so that something useful could be accomplished. Within an industrial scenario, such as in a recycling plant, components such as couplings, pulleys, sprockets and flywheels need to be effectively connected to … Continue reading The key to better machine design is no key at all →

Food and beverage is an important part of manufacturing, itself an important sector in rebuilding the Australian economy post-pandemic. Food is the biggest part of the local manufacturing industry. 35 of the top 100 Australian manufacturers (by revenue) are in food and beverage, and it makes up over a quarter of all manufacturing jobs and … Continue reading Motoring a manufacturing revival for the food and beverage industry, with linear motors →

The Irish manufacturer Combilift, best known for its range of space-saving forklifts and other handling solutions, has drawn on its expertise in engineering and software design to develop the Combi-Ventilate, a splitter device which turns one ventilator into multiple ventilation stations. Designed to address the requirements of medical professionals in the current Covid-19 emergency the … Continue reading Turning one ventilator into multiple engineered ventilation stations →

Rust protection is an important concern when it comes to storing or shipping metal parts and equipment. As Steve Keown, BSC‘s National Product Manager for Lubricants points out, not all manufacturers assume that the metal equipment or spare parts they have supplied is going to be stored for a long time. As the parts are not … Continue reading When corrosion’s a threat, CRC Soft Seal offers protection →

Proline Australia Director Richard Bills spoke with Manufacturers’ Monthly about the importance of state-of-the-art air purification systems that may assist in preventing the spread of viruses including the common cold and COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged all sectors of the economy, and governments around the world have taken unprecedented actions to curtail its spread. … Continue reading Considering internal air environment post COVID-19 →

Speaking over a video call with Grant Gray, one gets the feeling that there has never been a better time to be an Australian manufacturer. While the once in a generation disruptions that have occurred because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) should not be minimised, this moment of crisis has contributed to manufacturers leading the nation … Continue reading Rewarding Australian innovation →

Weld Australia’s mission is to facilitate the growth of a world-class welding industry in Australia. For this reason, we strongly support the Advanced Robotics Manufacturing (ARM) Hub, which is due to open in Brisbane in the coming months. A not-for-profit company, the ARM Hub has the potential to be a catalyst for Australia’s uptake of … Continue reading A way towards the future for welding: robotics →

Australia has a long, proud history of manufacturing throughout the 20th century. With the federation of Australia in 1901, customs barriers were eliminated between the states, so they could more easily trade with another. This saw the first wave of manufacturing expansion, particularly in Victoria and New South Wales. By 1913, manufacturing employment totalled at … Continue reading The demise of Australian manufacturing →

Weld Australia has taken responsibility for maintaining Australian Standards and managing the adoption of International Standards related to welding. The purpose of both Australian and International Standards is to ensure that welded structures are safe. Standards have been developed, reviewed and revised over many years by volunteer engineers and tradesmen who are enormously experienced in … Continue reading Australian Standards: Ensuring welded structures and the general public are safe →

Welding is one of the most ubiquitous processes on the planet. It is fundamental to the construction of bridges, high-rise buildings, mining equipment, ships, and even household appliances, such as fridges and washing machines. Next time you’re driving down the road, take a look around you – crash barriers, light poles, road signs, the re-bar … Continue reading The essential nature of welding →

Australia’s product safety laws are poor in comparison to some other developed nations around the world, and unfortunately this means that there are 6.6 million unsafe products currently under voluntary recall that have been allowed to remain in Australian homes according the ACCC. There are around 780 deaths and around 52,000 injuries annually in Australia … Continue reading Australian consumers need better product safety laws →

Last month, I wrote of the importance of leadership in manufacturing during the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring five imperatives: recognising and protecting value drivers, prioritising breakthroughs, collaborating on shared problems, mitigating risk through co-funding programs and building resiliency through local supply chains. Where to now as we start emerging from the worst of this crisis? “Never … Continue reading Australia’s manufacturing future – the industrial shift needed →

Regional manager Lisa Bremmell spoke with Manufacturers’ Monthly about her unconventional path to becoming a leader at Atlas Copco. Lisa Bremmell didn’t follow the conventional path to become an engineer, and neither does she profess to be formally trained. Twenty-four years ago, after gaining some exposure to the profession while serving in the Royal Australian … Continue reading Atlas Copco’s Bremmell calls on young engineers to push boundaries →

Simple and passive storage solutions are the way to go to benefit businesses in the long run, BAC Systems director Robert Griffin tells Manufacturers’ Monthly. For more than 40 years, BAC Systems has helped businesses and homes around Australia save space with high-density drawers. Its drawers can be found in places like factories, universities, and … Continue reading Simple, passive storage solutions key to longevity →