R&D

A research team lead by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has received $4.9 million from the Australian Research Council (ARC) for a new training centre for collaborative robots in manufacturing. The joint project between QUT, The University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Swinburne University of Technology, and the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub (ARM Hub), … Continue reading Funding announced for new ARC Training Centre at QUT for collaborative robots →

Last week, it was announced that a five-year, $5 million initiative to develop and sustain Electronic Warfare (EW) related skills in the defence sector is being established at Flinders University, enhancing South Australia as a Centre of Expertise in EW. The partnership between Defence and Flinders University will result in the establishment of a chair … Continue reading $5m national Electronic Warfare centre →

The search to find ways for autonomous devices to sense their surroundings has produced some novel projects, however a recent project from the University of Queensland has returned to the animal kingdom for a solution. Just as animals sense their surroundings with whiskers, Dr Pauline Pounds developed hairs that extend from a drone or robot … Continue reading New sensing technology for autonomous devices →

Lockheed Martin Australia has invited industry and academic organisations to submit quotes for research and development (R&D) into advanced technologies as part of the Attack Class Submarine program. With almost $1 billion in funding distributed after the first round of grants, the next round will focus on projects including, reliable communications on an unstable platform, … Continue reading Call for proposals for Attack Class Submarine technologies →

Strategic Elements, an Australian company developing printable nanotechnology, has received additional financial support from the federal government to supports its ongoing joint research and development program with the CSIRO. The Nanocube Memory Ink is an advanced nanotechnology material that can be printed or coated onto non-silicon transparent or flexible surfaces, such as glass or plastic, … Continue reading Strategic Elements receives funding for liquid printable memory project →

The Australian National University (ANU) has launched InSpace, a new institute for the co-ordination of space technology research and testing. InSpace is to bring together technology, science and law research to expand the potential of the Australian space industry. It will also help drive co-investment between industry and government partners in space projects to support … Continue reading ANU establishes new collaborative space industry institute →

The NSW government has officially launched the Defence Innovation Network (DIN), an initiative to foster greater collaboration between the state’s defence industry and its universities. The DIN brings the together the defence industry and seven leading NSW universities, including the University of Sydney, Macquarie University, University of Wollongong, University of Newcastle and University of Technology … Continue reading NSW Defence Innovation Network launched →

Swinburne University of Technology has launched a new research hub focused on advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 at its Factory of the Future facility. The Advanced Manufacturing Industry 4.0 Hub will work with local manufacturers to develop digitalisation strategies for their business, increase their digital maturity and provide training to help them use Industry 4.0 … Continue reading Swinburne University of Technology launches Industry 4.0 hub →

SMC has joined the list of companies that form part of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), in a move that the company says intends to help Australian manufacturers in their transition to advanced manufacturing. James McKew, sales and marketing director from SMC– Australia and New Zealand said that the collaboration is a natural fit. “The industry … Continue reading SMC forms part of the AMGC to advance innovation →

The Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), the global organisation transforming business and society by accelerating the adoption of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and oneM2M, the global IoT standards initiative, have announced they have agreed to work together to contribute to the creation and development of the industrial internet. Under this agreement, the organisations will promote the … Continue reading Industrial Internet Consortium and oneM2M partner on IIoT →

The Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello joined The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, at the official opening of a new state-of-the-art business innovation centre funded by the NSW Government at Macquarie University. The Deputy Premier and Minister for Small Business John Barilaro said the Macquarie University Incubator will bring university researchers together … Continue reading Macquarie University incubator launched →

The Australian government has announced the commissioning of the first Australian-built Air Warfare Destroyer, HMAS Hobart. According to the Department of Defence, the warship brings together the best of Australian and global technology to be one of the world’s most potent and lethal warships.  She will provide air defence for accompanying ships, in addition to land … Continue reading Australia commissions its first air warfare destroyer →

Andrew Donald Design Engineering (ADDE) has developed the first end-of-line automated palletising system for Australian standard pallets, which incorporates Universal Robots’ UR10 robot to create a collaborative and flexible palletiser.  With most packing operations still finishing with an operator loading a carton onto a pallet manually, ADDE saw an industry need to find a solution … Continue reading ADDE launches Australia’s first automated, collaborative palletising system →

Emerson is launching DeltaV Mobile, a new platform that leverages Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies to empower the manufacturing engineer of the future with the most complete access to real-time data, trends and insight to make better-informed, critical operations decisions – securely from anywhere in the world. The DeltaV is part of Emerson’s Plantweb digital … Continue reading IoT anywhere with Emerson’s DeltaV Mobile →

Victorian Manufacturing Awards 2017 was presented in the Crown Palladium and rewarded the best Manufacturers in small, medium and large businesses. The theme for the event was centred around Australia’s drive towards growing advanced manufacturing – a concept that is gaining traction among many Australian manufacturers, especially the SMEs. The opening keynote address by Jake … Continue reading Advanced manufacturing to be a focus: Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards 2017 →

Australian companies pay an “Australia tax” of 7 – 15 per cent and are best placed to compete on value differentiation and market leadership, according to a recent report.

Metal additive manufacturing is on the march, but despite growing interest, technologies remain slow, expensive, and limited in what they can produce. Brent Balinski spoke to Carnegie Mellon University Professor Jack Beuth about what’s being done to change this, and what to expect from 2017.

Start planning now to reap the many benefits of connected manufacturing. There’s been a lot of noise over the last two years around the “Internet of Things,” or IoT. However, more recently a subcategory of IoT, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), has been getting a lot of well-deserved attention. This brings together many key … Continue reading The Industrial Internet of Things: Why you need to get up to speed fast →

  According to a recent story in caradvice.com.au, the Nissan metalcasting plant is not only working but also thriving thanks to the move to electric vehicles. A new contract to supply vital EV engine castings for Nissan worldwide has seen it return to three shifts, seven days a week, with production at the plant increasing … Continue reading Nissan metalcasting expertise defies local car making downturn →

Westpac and the Group of Eight (Go8) have partnered to offer the first program in Australia for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) to undertake employment with the Westpac Group during their studies. The STEM PhD program was established in recognition of the importance of the … Continue reading Westpac launches Australia’s first employment program for STEM PhD students →