THE latest industry survey shows growth in Australia’s manufacturing activity continued to slow in April, largely due to a stalling in production growth.

The finalists of the 2007 Endeavour awards can now be revealed. Alan Johnson reports.

NEWS of companies closing plants or cutting staff to stay competitive regularly makes headlines and the fact there is currently a skills shortage across all sectors of industry in Australia is common knowledge.

ANYONE who has ever tried to make something without all the necessary components will know the project is deemed to fail even before it has begun.

THE ABILITY to access information anytime, anywhere is vital in today’s fast-paced world.

With climate change and global warming a concern, manufacturers are finding more efficient ways to operate compressors resulting in financial and environmental benefits.

“Device DNA” can protect your design and embedded code from cloning, overbuilding, and reverse-engineering while still using outsourced manufacturing and assembly facilities.

New developments in sheetmetal cutting technologies are giving manufactures faster, more efficient options when it comes to cutting materials, but how much accuracy do you really need and how much can you afford? Katherine Crichton looks at the key differences between plasma and laser cutting.

Electronic devices in automation are not only improving the reliability of safety systems, but are also enhancing production control. And now one network can be used to manage both. Katherine Crichton reports.

WITH the knowledge that energy consumed by appliances and equipment is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, improving energy efficiency and reducing the impacts of climate change are becoming key concerns for Australian manufacturing.

ACCORDING to Chinese reports, China has reduced the tax rebate applicable to a wide number of steel exports.

ELSEVIER has recently released a new Industrial Press book, entitled Machine Shop Trade Secrets, a guide to manufacturing machine shop practices by James A. Harvey.

THE LATEST in CNC turret punch press technology was launched by Applied Machinery earlier this year at Austech 2007.

THE days of unlimited supplies of water for industry are clearly over, and industry must be prepared as mandatory water saving requirements emerge in some areas.

2006 was a do or die year for many of Australia’s manufacturers. Read about the key issues, trends and predictions for 2007 by industry sector, including Food, Beverage & Tobacco; Metal Products and Petroleum, Coal & Chemical Products.

Mining related companies aside, Australia’s manufacturing industry has battled through 2006 counting on the relentless pressures on costs to somehow ease. But as Alan Johnson and Derek Parker report, the world of increased competition coupled with razor-edge margins look set to continue.

EXPOSURE to asbestos fibre and the huge political and economic cost to the community have been a major ongoing concern in Australia’s newspapers and in trade union staged marches on State Parliament in recent weeks.