Looking at industrial robotic systems alone, research firm McKinsey predicted in its 2018 Industrial robotics report that global industrial robot sales would reach 421,000 for that year – a 10.5 per cent increase from the 381,000 sold in 2017. In late 2019, the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) reported that 422,000 were shipped in 2018 … Continue reading The role of wireless technologies in modern production →

By Ryan Pollett, National Leader, Manufacturing & Wholesale Partner, Audit & Assurance, BDO There’s no doubt that the past few months posed challenges for Australia’s manufacturing sector. As the economic, health and social effects of COVID-19 disrupted the operations and supply chains, it also highlighted manufacturers’ ingenuity and ability to innovate and collaborate to overcome … Continue reading The top 7 learnings from COVID-19 for manufacturers →

Collaborative robots, fondly known as cobots, have come a long way since their inception more than 10 years ago. First viewed as a ‘lab experiment’, these were initially bought, sent off to innovation centres for testing and were never to be seen or used on the production floor. Today however, cobots are the fastest-growing segment … Continue reading Introducing cobots into the workplace: here’s what you need to know →

It’s no secret that sustainability is a hot topic, with the rapidly increasing awareness from consumers of the impact of the waste generated through the products they purchase. Flowing on from this, there is a growing expectation for brands to introduce sustainability into their manufacturing, material sourcing and packaging processes. For a long time, consumers … Continue reading Coding technology protecting traceability and the environment →

The most common cause of bearing failure in an industrial plant is improper lubrication. Which is why a multipoint lubrication system is recommended, particularly for large operations such as those typical in the building material manufacturing sector, says lubrication expert Mandar Shivalkar. “The key point to understand is that over-lubrication can be just as damaging … Continue reading Keeping plant operations slick with multipoint solution →

Industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) serves a variety of key applications across industries. It is widely used in the food and beverage industries for carbonation of liquid drinks. It can also be used as a shielding gas in welding processes or as a refrigerant with a lower global warming potential than traditional HFCs. There is an … Continue reading Fuelling the industry with a clean gas →

Industrial robots are commonplace in factories because they provide an effective alternative to manual workers for repetitive, high-volume assembly line tasks. The machines can continuously repeat high-precision tasks for many years with only the occasional interruption for routine maintenance. Boosted productivity ensures a return on the initial high capital investment. But relatively low-cost human workers … Continue reading Collaborative robots: designing for productivity and safety →

The impact of recalls within the automotive parts sector are far-reaching and not only do they affect the manufacturer themselves, but there is an impact on the automotive brands that use them too. From drops in sales, to reputational damage and not to mention customer safety, it has become vital to track and trace an … Continue reading Do not let an unchecked fault drive off with your credibility →

Standing at one of the platforms of Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, it’s hard not to admire the massive dune-like roof structure that makes the train station feel like a modern airport. When the landmark station – formerly known as the Spencer Street station – was revamped ahead of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006, … Continue reading Efficiency at its peak with the right drill and tap solutions →

Anthony Wong, Regional Director – South Pacific Region, Rockwell Automation Automation and remote operations are on the move. Nowhere was this more clear than at our recent Rockwell Automation On The Move – a unique event where from 3-4 March we saw 119 customers attend 15 breakout sessions in Auckland, New Zealand, engaging with new … Continue reading An intuitive shift towards greater automation →

By Rob Stummer, Asia Pacific CEO, SYSPRO In Australia, two people die, and 145 people are injured every day by unsafe consumer products, according to the ACCC. This amounts to a cost of at least $5 billion to the economy, including medical costs, lost wages, and lost productivity, not least to say the hidden costs … Continue reading The Ten Most Famous Product Recalls of the Last 5 Years →

Traditionally, end users look at their operations holistically. They are not concerned with the day-to-day operations of just one machine but rather with how the factory operates – as a whole. Compressed air is typically consumed in these factories in large amounts, across various applications and machinery. When looking to deploy efficient air management systems, … Continue reading A little saving can go a long way – efficient air management for end users →

Melbourne chocolate makers, Chocolatier Australia improved traceability and productivity through automating their manual traceability process with insignia. In 1985, David Grisold opened a small chocolate-making operation in an old suburban post office in Melbourne, Australia. He had a humble wish and a bold vision – to manufacture premium chocolates using the world’s finest ingredients. Almost … Continue reading Chocolatier Australia automated manual traceability process with insignia →

Rotating Bearings tend to be the ‘star’ components of production machinery, with the importance of their role discussed often. However, industry expert John Tawadros points out that linear bearing guidance systems are just as essential, particularly in production environments where high dynamic loads and contamination can impact production efficiency. “The linear bearing systems function in … Continue reading The quiet achievers in production machinery →

By Paulo de Matos, SYSPRO Chief Product Officer  According  to the Australian Food Safety Information Council, there are an estimated 5,400,000 cases of food poisoning in Australia every year and 120 deaths. 1.2 million people need to visit their doctor, with 300,000 prescriptions for antibiotics provided and 2.1 million days of work lost each year. … Continue reading Food and beverage traceability should not be taken with a pinch of salt →

National Manufacturing Week has closed the doors on one of its largest conference and exhibition programs to date, with early reports recording more than 10,000 attendees for the event. Exhibition Director Robby Clark said the team had already received positive feedback, which paired with the strong 2017 results, signalled an optimistic outlook for visiting industry, … Continue reading NMW closes its doors for 2017 →