The Victorian Prospect Special Edition - Manufacturing in the East by ICN Victoria

The Victorian

Prospect October 2019

SPECIAL EDITION MANUFACTURING IN THE EAST

Photos Courtesy of Department Jobs, Precincts & Regions

Industry Capability Network - Victoria (ICN) presents our second Special Edition of the Victorian Prospect

"Manufacturing in the East"

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A message from

Grant Anderson In celebration of the rich manufacturing industry in Melbourne’s East we have partnered with the Melbourne East Regional Economic Development Group (MEREDG), headline sponsors of the Victorian Manufacturing Showcase, to bring you our second special edition of the Victorian Prospect – “Manufacturing in the East”. Innovation is hugely important to the manufacturing industry and in the pages that follow you will read about many examples of innovation in action, from family owned businesses growing and diversifying to building strong and successful businesses with a focus on sustainability to technology advances and investment in the right people for the right jobs. Whilst innovation is essential to growth, so too is collaboration, the Tech Tours initiative between Yarra Ranges Tech School, Yarra Ranges Council, Outer Eastern Local Learning and Employment Network (OELLEN), South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA), Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), Mobile Automation, ANCA and Cummins is a wonderful example. All working together to inspire young people into choosing a career in manufacturing. To ensure Victoria maintains its status at the centre of Australian manufacturing we need to attract the next generations into the industry. You will also learn about some of the Bayswater Business Precinct (BBP) tenants. With over 4,800 businesses that support more than 30,000 local jobs the BBP generates in excess of $14 billion in revenue which represents approximately 11% of the total revenue generated in Melbourne’s East. These are hugely impressive numbers and a testament to the businesses that have chosen to call the BBP home and the efforts from Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges Councils to attract investment, create employment and supplier opportunities for Precinct businesses. A special thanks to MEREDG, a partnership between six councils in Melbourne’s East Region for your enthusiasm to bring this edition to life. Finally, we were excited to have once again partnered with the Victorian Government to host the Victorian Manufacturing Showcase. From humble beginnings VMS has grown each year, and 2019 was the biggest yet with over 1000 delegates, exhibitors and sponsors at the State Basketball Centre on the 22 October 2019, all there to celebrate our great state's manufacturing community. Thanks to all who attended. Regards

Grant Anderson Executive Director Industry Capability Network (Victoria) Please visit bit.ly/VicProspectTheEast for a digital version.

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Inspiring the Next Gen with Tech Tours A collaboration of Industry & Education to inspire young people into manufacturing Yarra Ranges Council Tech Schools encourage students to explore their interests, and discover how far their passions can take them in education and life. The Tech Tours are a collaborative coordination of “Tech Tours & Tech Talks” within the South East VIC region (Bayswater Business Precinct initially). Designed specifically to broaden industry understanding for students (Year 8/ 9/10) regarding future career pathways within manufacturing and technology-based environments. The aim is to assist in bridging the gap between education, industry technology and industry application through Yarra Ranges Tech School (YRTS). This makes natural sense to showcase various types of technologies utilized within industry and the link back to YRTS simulated learning projects. Also a great opportunity for all stakeholders to reinforce a dedicated approach in relation to Corporate Social Responsibility. The collaboration is actively contributing towards future proofing industry and manufacturing. We have 4 tech tours coming up with a variety of Yarra Ranges Schools and a tech talk event for parents and students later in the year. Stay tuned for a new promotional video to be released by Yarra Ranges Council soon.

“We are very proud to be working with Yarra Ranges Council; Outer Eastern Local Learning and Employment Network (OELLEN); South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA), Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), Mobile Automation, ANCA and Cummins on the Tech Tours. These tours complement the learning programs offered by Yarra Ranges Tech School where students are presented with real-world challenges and in teams use a human centred design thinking process to develop solutions using leading-edge technologies. Through the tours students get to see and hear first-hand how the skills and processes they are learning are applied and used in the real-world complementing the skills and experiences they receive at the Tech School.” - Ashley Van Krieken, Director Yarra Ranges Tech School

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Our Tech Tour Success by Mobile Automation The “Tech Tour” is a program coordinated to bridge the gap for students learning about technology, industry and manufacturing in a simulated environment to an actual working environment. This tour will assist in providing understanding around how some of the technologies utilised within the project briefs are applied within a manufacturing or industrial environment. The tour provides students an opportunity to not only see how manufacturing takes place locally, but also gain an understanding of the unique roles that support the environments. A great opportunity to be inspired to consider industry and manufacturing as future career paths that help grow and keep manufacturing/ industry in Australia.

ANCA A highly awarded company, ANCA is the market leader of high-quality CNC tool and cutter grinders, currently exporting 99% of their product. ANCA was inducted into the 2016 Australian Export Awards Hall of Fame – joining the ‘best of the best’ exporting enterprises in Australia. Operating from Bayswater for over 40 years, ANCA are only the 11th company Australia-side to receive this accolade.

This collaborative effort of coordinating the tour is bringing together education, local government, youth employment network, industry and industry associations: BHIG’s Yarra Ranges Tech School, Yarra Ranges Council, OELLEN, ANCA CNC, Cummins Filtration and Mobile Automation, SEMMA and Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute (AMTIL). To date there have been two Tech Tours, which have both been successful! The participating schools have been Lilydale High School and Mater Christi College, where both schools have had year 9 students participate in the tour. mobileautomation.com.au/tech-tour-success/

ANCA has now expanded across the globe, with sites in the UK, Germany, US, China, Brazil, Italy, Japan, India and Thailand. With over 900 staff world-wide, the company has aligned their location decisions around growth markets, thereby enhancing the customer experience within each country. Whilst ANCA is a global leader in advanced manufacturing, they offered a number of key learnings for local SME’s: •

Seek out the ‘best’ within your industry, learn, adapt and make improvements that enable your business to ‘stay at least 2 years ahead of competitors’ within your industry.

•

Wherever possible invest in the newest equipment – this not only ensures that projects are completed efficiently and with great precision, but also excites and engages staff by providing access to new technology.

•

Support and make connections with community groups or education providers that are well-aligned with the culture of your organisation.

Impressively, the founders - Pat Boland and Pat McCluskey - have remained as Directors of the company since its inception in 1974. ANCA is another great example of a world-class, innovative business operating inbayswater the heart of BBP, supporting over 450 business staff within Bayswater!precinct machines.anca.com

Stay tuned for the upcoming launch of BBP Connect an exciting digital B2B Precinct network and jobs hub which will amplify connectivity between businesses and people withinbayswater the Precinct. business precinctBBP Connect will stimulate regional economic activity and create demand for local jobs by streamlining the way businesses connect to the local knowledge, network and opportunities they need to succeed. More of the BBP businesses are profiled in pages 11-13 bayswater business precinct

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All in the Family

Family businesses employ fifty percent of the Australian workforce helping to strengthen the economy and local community, the following are shining examples

Headland Australia

To see this clip visit: bit.ly/VicProspectTheEast

Enabling innovation Enable the growth of your manufacturing business, with Headland as your independent advisor. Machinery, technology, and automation are our focus. Headland’s goal is to improve your bottom line, through improved efficiencies and expanded capabilities. Headland's vision is to help you embrace innovation, leading software and machine technology. The future includes IoT, Industry 4.0, automation, additive manufacturing, and smart factories. Headland envisages people, machines, automation, and software interacting together in networked production. This scenario will soon become commonplace.

Defining manufacturing excellence Headland can help you become more successful. Headland has helped manufacturers access innovative, world-class machine tools for 70 years. Founded in 1949 and acquired by the Kloé family in 1979, its machinery brands are the world’s most reputable. Headland is proud to be an Australian owned, operated, multi-generational, family company.

Headland is driven by entrepreneurial spirit, so we invest in our people and systems, to foster strong long-term relationships internally, and to our wider customer base. headland.com.au R: Our offering includes automated storage solutions from Hanel as well as bar storage solutions from KASTO

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Headland Company History

Maton Guitars Maton Guitars, founded by Bill May in 1946, builds high quality acoustic guitars, electric guitars and custom built guitars. From a small backyard workshop set up over 70 years ago, Maton Guitars has grown into a truly great Australian success story. Currently, Maton employs more than 70 people and remains 100 percent family owned and operated. From the initial selection and grading of rough sawn timber to the careful levelling and polishing of the frets, every step of the guitar making process is overseen by Maton's luthiers in Melbourne Australia. It is their attention to detail that ensures that every guitar produced deserves to bear the name Maton. Firmly established now as Australia’s favourite and most successful guitar, Maton is gaining acceptance on the world stage as an instrument of the highest quality. It is following Bill May’s vision of making handcrafted guitars at an affordable price. His philosophy still rings true today: “If you make a good guitar, the right guitar, people will want it.” Some artists include: Tommy Emmanuel, Neil Finn, Paul Kelly, Ben Lee.

maton.com.au

To see this clip visit: bit.ly/VicProspectTheEast

Handmade: Maton Guitars L-R: The Brand New All Acoustic 808 from Maton Guitars and Made in Australia: My Maton Collection by Wadih Hannah

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Sustainability Focus

Vision, passion and innovation has helped a small Oakleigh company, Flinders + Co lay claim to becoming the world’s first fully carbon neutral meat supplier. Flinders + Co has smashed the Australian meat industry’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2030, It’s a huge achievement for a company that started with a rundown lamb abattoir on Flinders Island in 2011 and now supplies gourmet lamb, beef, pork and poultry to some of the country’s most exclusive restaurants. Managing Director James Madden, 28, who runs the company with his father David, said their meat now had a real marketing edge, allowing chefs to spruik its environmental credentials to discerning diners. The achievement marks a milestone in James’ ongoing commitment to lead meaningful change in an industry under increasing scrutiny. “I want to be able to look back on my career and say I achieved something more than just how many tonnes of meat we processed through a factory,” he said. Flinders + Co demands high standards from its network of producers to fulfil its bold vision: to cultivate a better food world. James, whose family has a proud farming background, began researching consumer habits, attending industry innovation programs and engaging experts to bring that vision to life. He hired consultants to study the company’s carbon footprint and implemented suggested changes like switching operations to 100 percent renewable energy. The company also invested in carbon offsets including a project in Kenya where poor families receive water purification units so they don’t have to boil water to drink. Consultants then began to analyse the entire supply chain to calculate how to offset suppliers’ emissions and inspire other companies, including a major pork producer, to To see this clip visit: bit.ly/VicProspectTheEast

examine and reduce their own carbon footprints. A beef producer which converted its coal-fired boiler to one that uses pyrethrum briquettes (a byproduct from daisies farmed to produce pyrethrum insecticide) contributed with carbon offset credits.. Now James is looking to implement more environmentally sustainable practices, including a trial to eliminate cleaning chemicals and ways to reduce the industry’s reliance on plastic. Monash Council has nominated the company to enter the FIAL Innovations Book for 2019, which recognises leaders in the food and agribusiness sector. Mayor Cr Shane McCluskey said the city was proud to have such a visionary company within the Monash National Employment and Innovation Cluster area. “Flinders + Co exemplifies forward-thinking businesses in this Cluster who contribute billions every year to the Victorian economy,” Cr McCluskey said. flinders.co

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Natures Organics Embraces the 'Least Impact'

To see this clip visit: bit.ly/VicProspectTheEast

Whether it’s water, power, waste, ingredients, containers and even toilet paper, Natures Organics takes the ‘least impact’ path.

Grants of Australia Winner of the 2018/19 Monash Business Awards – Business of the Year Innovation and CSR focus Grants of Australia is a family business that begun in a garage in 1984 by a mum and dad who were seeking a natural toothpaste alternative for their young children. Now some 35 years later the company employs 20 employees, including daughter Tammy Seligmann, and are proudly certified as ‘Australian Made, Australian Owned’, ensuring that their products are manufactured in Australia with locally sourced ingredients. Grants of Australia was established over 30 years ago when founders, Michael and Michelle Aronson, noticed their daughter Tammy, who was around 4 or 5 at the time, swallowing her toothpaste. Concerned about the amount of fluoride and chemicals she may be ingesting, and unable to source a pleasant tasting fluoride-free alternative for the family, they set out to create their own.

At the time the Aronson’s were selling cosmetics and later health food products at the South Melbourne market, and in 1983 established ‘Prahran Health Foods’ retail shop. Now, with Tammy as General Manager, Grants of Australia is known for producing affordable, natural products for the next generation of health conscious families, and their foundational toothpaste product has pride of place amongst mainstream brands. Export demand has grown steadily in line with increasing desire for natural and Australian made products, and Grants now have markets in USA, China, Canada, Turkey, New Zealand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore.

From its Ferntree Gully facility, Natures Organics manufactures more than 42 million litres of product per year, producing over 130 different products across personal care and home care. Brands include Earth Choice, Organic Care, Natures Organics, Purity, Turning Point and Australian Pure and all are Australian made and owned. Natures Organics makes up to 85 per cent of its own bottles on site. This equates to approximately 43 million bottles per year, 100 per cent of which are made using recycled PET plastic (food and drink containers) and recycled HDPE plastic (milk containers). When this waste is recycled via the kerbside pickup, it is cleaned, processed and melted down into pellets that Natures Organics buys to make into the bottles it uses every day. Natures Organics belives in the Endless Bottle Concept, when containers are correctly recylced they can be used again and again! naturesorganics.com.au

As a small, family-run business, Grants also believe it’s important to give back to their community and support those in need. Each year they donate toothpaste to organisations that support people in our community who wouldn’t otherwise have access to a basic commodity like toothpaste. In 2018, Grants donated just over 6,000 tubes of toothpaste and 7,500 toothpaste sachets through various community support agencies. grantsofaustralia.com.au

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Four Pillars

From Healesville to the world with minimal waste in less than 10 years Four Pillars Distillery was established with a clear purpose in mind, to elevate the craft of distilling in Australia and celebrate the art of cocktail making. "We thought, if we can do that we can help people drink better, not more. If the drinks we created evoked the diverse and cosmopolitan spirit of the Australia we love, we would have the makings of a modern classic Australian brand. Gin was our first spirit of focus," said founders Stu, Matt and Cam (three bald pillars) Stu, Matt and Cam have always loved gin and cocktails. And Cam and Stu have worked in wine for more years than theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d care to remember. Their drive to create Four Pillars can be summed up as follows: We just love great drinks, we love cocktails, and we love craft. Then followed years of research, test-distilling, importing and commissioning a bespoke copper pot still, filing forms with the government, sourcing the best botanicals from across Australia and around the world, and custom-making an amazing bottle to finally bring you Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin in December 2013. Crafted in a truly modern Australian style our first release gin captures the flavours of both Asia and the Mediterranean. Four Pillars Distillery uses a copper pot still from CARL Artisan Stills in Germany, and produces in small batches of just 460 bottles which are then individually numbered and labeled. On World Gin Day, 14 June 2014, Four Pillars released its first Barrel Aged Gin. This very limited release gin was rested in a solera of French oak barriques for between three and six months to create a complex, delicious and entirely too sippable gin. And it also sold out within weeks.

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They launched their third 'baby' later in 2014 - a Navy Strength Gin which, at 58.8% ABV, is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;gunpowder proofâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Bars and at-home bartenders alike love this overproof gin carrying big flavour, with fresh finger-limes, turmeric and ginger. Plus it's won the 'Master' medal at the Global Gin Masters in London in both 2015 and 2016. And they're now making some 'non-gin' products (the very decadent Orange Marmalade and Breakfast Negroni, made from the oranges used in their distillations), and have plans for a bitters (among other things) Four Pillars is looking to grow and expand further locally in Healesville with a development application at Council now. fourpillarsgin.com.au

The BBP is home to over 4,800 businesses that support more than

bayswater 30,000 local jobs. Businesses in the precinct generate in excess of business precinct $14 billion in revenue which represents approximately 11% of the

total revenue generated in Melbourne’s East. In recognition of the important role that this precinct plays in both the regional and state economies, Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges Councils have partnered to attract investment, create employment and supplier opportunities for Precinct businesses, some of which are featured here, in their own words.

CSD Packaging

Who we want to connect with: Effectively, anyone or any business that has exposure to the Refinish sector.

Our capabilities: We provide packagingbayswater materials and warehouse supplies business precinct to manufactures, warehousing, retail and the general public at affordable prices. We are local so delivery is fast. Who we want to connect with: Anyone in the need for packaging materials. Our service and ability to deliver is our competitive advantage. bayswater business precinct

Craig Doyle Director csdpackaging.com.au

Our service and ability to deliver is our competitive advantage. Mark Somers Director autopaints.com.au

Rae-Line

Our capabilities:

Eastern Auto Paints

Our capabilities:

EAP currently deal with a very broad spectrum of businesses, across many industry sectors, our product platform is substantial – so if you are looking to improve the finished product that you present to your customers give the team at EAP a call and we will be happy to offer some cost effective solutions.

bayswater business precinct

Eastern Auto Paints (EAP) is Melbourne’s leading supplier of Auto, Truck and Industrial paint and re-finish related products. As a Protec “Select Distributor” we have access to some of Australia’s best known refinish brands. EAP are leading the industry in supplying premium products and services in a cost effective and timely bayswater business EAP is truly your one stop manner to our customers. precinct supplier for all refinish requirements.

With over 40 years in business, Rae-Line is the Australian market leader and specialist in the design and manufacture of commercial upholstery for some of the biggest names in the automotive, heavy transport and sports leisure industries. We have earned a trusted reputation for producing the highest quality products, on time every time, at value for money. RaeLine’s 70 employees pride themselves on in-country design, manufacture and sub-assembly from our two modern and automated facilities in Victoria and Queensland. Products are backed by in-house technical assurance and 100% quality inspection. Who we want to connect with: Furniture manufacturers; businesses that require commercial upholstery, cutting & sewing, value-added assembly, and foam cutting & supply; sports activity centres; tarp cover suppliers. Christian Carthew Business Development Manager rae-line.com.au

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bayswater business precinct

Compli-Rite

Who we want to connect with: Businesses who are looking to fit-out an office, retail space or showroom, attend an exhibition or produce displays of their products or services and want a worry-free job undertaken from start to finish. Jason Laity

Our capabilities: We are experts and specialists in OH&S compliance. Our services include fire equipment services, emergency lighting maintenance, testing and tagging as well as customised OH&S management systems. We specialise is small to medium businesses with risks that need simple, cost effective methods of effective management. Ideal clients are business owners or responsible managers who want to manage their risks better and take the headache out of mandatory OH&S compliance. Who we want to connect with: 1. Accountants who can suggest to their clients they should protect themselves from risks associated with OH&S fines and prosecution. 2. Insurance brokers because they can reduce their clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; overall exposure and reduce their risks. Mischa Eichinski Director compli-rite.mymonit.com.au

Synthesis Design + Build

Director synthesis.com.au

Radiator Direct

Our capabilities: We are a specialist importer, wholesale distributor and product designer of quality automotive and industrial radiators and associated thermal control components. Founded in Bayswater in 2008, Radiator Direct offers an extensive range of quality radiators and associated components from leading brands such as Nissens, Rapid Cool Radiators and Alliance Thermal Products. Key product lines offered are radiators, condensers, inter coolers, heaters, compressors, coolant, hose clamps and overflow bottles. We continue to grow because we genuinely want to help our customers and offer excellent product knowledge. Who we want to connect with: As well as vehicle owners, we would like to connect with radiator and air conditioning repair workshops and automotive parts resellers throughout Australasia. Michael Cotton Managing Director

Our capabilities: We are specialist designers and custom builders of displays, exhibitions and retail/showroom interiors to suit any budget for small businesses, retailers, large manufacturers and multi-site outlets. Our 30 years of experience and thousands of completed projects provide reassurance and confidence that Synthesis has the capability to deliver a project of any size offering all aspects of design, development, production and installation.

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radiatordirect.com.au

Profile Glass Pty Ltd

Our capabilities: We are a local family business established 20 years ago, which supplies a variety of slumped glass to numerous industries for a range of applications including shower screens, splashbacks, door inserts, balustrades, dividing panels, windows and even art features.

Profile Glass can also toughen and laminate glass and we have a specialised glass tempering furnace that can temper small pieces of glass along with a waterjet cutting machine that allows us to supply custom shaped glass. Who we want to connect with: Glass being a durable material, any business looking for a decorative or practical application in both the domestic and commercial markets including project managers, interior designers and shop fitout suppliers. Frank Kos Director

Anything from oil, grease, fittings, pumps, freeze driers, glove boxes, ovens, gauges, thin film, semiconductor, helium leak detectors, valves â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we do the lot! We represent and have access to all leading brands and carry differing quality levels of products to suit all applications and budgets. Our experienced staff offer the best expertise available in Australia. We can custom build systems to your requirements so call us to discuss your requirements. Who we want to connect with:

profileglass.com.au

Anyone who has an application using vacuum or works with companies who use vacuum and cryogenic products.

Balluff Pty Ltd

Ian Gardner State Manager

Our capabilities:

avtservices.com.au

Acumat Australia

Balluff is a global player that offers more than 60 years of experience in sensor technology. Its products range from electronic and mechanical sensors, rotary and linear transducers and identification systems all the way through to high-performance network and connection technology. With a local presence and fully qualified sales engineers and applications engineers, Balluff can investigate applications, advise on solutions, make tests if necessary and supply from its local stores in Bayswater. Its sensors, connectivity systems and ID systems help customers to automate, improve quality and reliability of processes. Who we want to connect with: Anyone looking to automate processes, improve product and production traceability, or improve machine reliability. Jim Wallace Marketing Manager balluff.com.au

AVT Services Pty Ltd

Our capabilities: We are machine tool engineers and offer the manufacturing sector a complete turnkey service, from breakdown and programmed maintenance, total machine tool reconditioning, slideway grinding and in-situ spindlenose regrinding through to CNC retrofitting, machine re-engineering, factory automation and special purpose machine design and build. Established 25 years ago, Acumat is perhaps the only company in Australia that has the skills and equipment to perform complete machine tool reconditions. Who we want to connect with: Any manufacturers who utilise machine tools or special purpose machines for machining metals, timbers and plastics so they can benefit from increased productivity and efficiency, reduced power consumption and a decrease in production down-time. Steve Donald Managing Director acumat.com

Our capabilities: We stock, sell, service and build vacuum and cryogenic related products to research, academia and industry.

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Innovation & Technology These companies, leaders in their fields are stacked with high-end talent that allows them to offer innovative solutions Trajan Scientific and Medical • • • •

Major operations in Australia, Europe, the US and Asia. Global corporate headquarters located on a 17,000 m2 site in Melbourne, Australia. Around 400 employees worldwide. Customers in more than 100 countries

Trajan’s focus is to develop and commercialise technologies that enable analytical systems to be more selective, sensitive and specific for biological, environmental or food related measurements especially those that can lead to portability, miniaturization and affordability. Trajan’s core capability is collaboration. Alignment with industry, research, academia and government throughout Australia and the world drive new capabilities and product development. Trajan has identified and worked with a number of large organisations - including the Universities of Melbourne, Monash, La Trobe University, Tasmania, Adelaide and South Australia - as well as many institutions overseas. Trajan also actively supports and collaborates with businesses as part of its ‘Trajan Accelerator’, which provides partnership businesses with access to their full suite of partnerships to accelerate their commercialisation. Trajan exports more than 95% of its manufactured products to the northern hemisphere. In 2017, Trajan was identified in the top 20 ‘Businesses of Tomorrow’ study commissioned by Westpac and conducted by Deloitte - this study identified companies that are shaping Australia’s future.

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Photo: Mr Robert Lyon, Head of Corporate Development, Trajan Scientific and Medical, The Hon. Martin Pakula, Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade, Victorian Government, Mr Stephen Tomisich, Chief Executive Officer, Trajan Scientific and Medical, Dr Andrew Gooley, Chief Scientific Officer, Trajan Scientific and Medical, at Trajan’s global corporate headquarters in Melbourne, Australia.

Versalux Versalux provides an integrated approach to lighting design, by assembling a world-class collective of lighting designers, sales engineers and product managers, who are essential in delivering the Versalux expertise directly to the customer. Their professional team epitomise the spirit of the company, where their experience in the field allows for a meticulous understanding of customer requirements. This synergy translates to the application of the most effective lighting solution to satisfy even the most arduous of projects. versalux.com.au

Micron21 Micron21 began as the subsidiary of a larger print business that specialised in creating Australian currency. Due to the technology and confidentiality requirements of the parent business, the facility maintained dark-fibre connections and high levels of physical security.

There was a clear opportunity to evolve and Micron21 began utilising the capacity on the dark-fibre network to provide specialised managed IT services within the printing business.

AEV Robotics

The evolution of the internet has forced data centres to change rapidly. Micron21 is at the forefront.

Australia is the place where WiFi and Google Maps came from. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the home of AEV Robotics global team who have been secretly working on the modular vehicle system for three years.

Whilst it transformed in scale of operations, Micron21 retained its commitment to the highest standards of personalised support and the latest technology. In addition to local businesses, clients now include global medium and enterprise-level corporations, government departments, Internet Service Provides and wholesale resellers. Armed with a growing team of specialist engineers, Micron21â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capability encompasses solution architecture, managed IT cloud services, data security and disaster recovery, and a far more complex suite of offerings, dealing in security and customisable solutions, using the latest technology and data centre infrastructure. These principles are captured in the 'Micron21 dial'. Born from the image of a safe's turn-combination lock, the dial is both configurable and impenetrable. It represents security and complexity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; multiple interconnected elements synchronised together in precise coordination.

AEV Robotics is privately funded and independently owned company.

Lead by Julian Broadbent, the team are highly qualified, senior professionals who back themselves to dream big, take risks and deliver. AEV Robotics has built a modular vehicle system for cities. The system allows businesses to configure solutions for a multitude of applications. Functional pods are engineered to meet the needs of businesses, city planners and fleet managers. The pods can move people, deliver goods and perform tasks in urban environments. aevrobotics.com

With the elements in place, the next evolutionary step became clear: the move towards world-class hosting, network security and data centre solutions as certified by the uncompromising global standards of the Uptime Institute. micron21.com

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How Business Process Modelling can Prepare you for Digital Transformation Whether you've planned for it or not, your business is heading for digital transformation The level of manual work to execute any processes in this scenario can be time consuming and error prone. It is heavily reliant on operator knowledge and attention to ensure routine tasks are carried out.

To respond to changes in consumer demand and to remain competitive, companies need to explore the digitisation of their business processes. This stage of identifying where a business needs to start in planning their digital transformation, is often one of the most complex. Ahead of the Victorian Manufacturing Showcase, the team at Nukon want to help more companies to identify what is needed to prepare for digital operations.

Identifying the starting point for digital operations Reaching full digital operations can start with small, isolated processes being implemented. Through gradual changes, the business can grow and

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scale in a sustainable and risk-free way. For some businesses, this might mean transitioning from analogue to wholly digital processes. The crucial step of moving from paper to systems is often underestimated. Without access to a robust and reliable data source, the investment in these digital technologies and solutions might not deliver the return that business stakeholders expect after all the hype. A typical scenario still seen in many companies is having a set of fit-forpurpose applications, but they are part of disconnected and often siloed architecture (or group of systems) that requires accessing multiple programs in order to complete an end-to-end process.

In addition, data captured through paper forms is generally low quality because of manual entry, handwriting, data formats and limits cannot be enforced, and paper is prone to damage. Any data captured cannot be easily searched, trended or analysed over time, which leads to further long-term inefficiencies. This is often coupled with any number of Excel spreadsheets or Access databases built internally that are tough to support by the business, in particular if the author leaves the business. Integrating systems and machines has been possible for a long time. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not new that companies are starting to integrate their disparate Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems such as ERP, MES and business finance systems. This is where business process modelling and notation (BPMN) comes in. BPMN is a method to setup a system to execute a work flow, assign tasks, automate system integration, all based on a human readable diagram. BPMN is great to orchestrate systems, machines and people to achieve a

To respond to changes in consumer demand and to remain competitive, companies need to explore the digitisation of their business processes. better outcome for the business. Key processes can be automated while keeping the people who execute the tasks connected and empowered. A streamlined and efficient workforce helps businesses to better respond to increasing consumer demand for transparency and improved services. By automating part of the repetitive tasks, staff have the ability to focus on improvements and value-adding tasks.

Implementing process automation provides the ability to: •

Streamline processes by bringing together different information systems

•

Gain insight based on combining disparate sources of data

•

Add transparency to your operations and improve data integrity

•

Increase process execution adherence (the difference between what people do and what they are supposed to do)

•

Reduce costs by only doing what is necessary.

Achieving the right building blocks for efficient digital operations Starting your digital transformation with small improvements is an approach that provides a solid framework for your journey, and fundamental digitisation steps such as business process modelling can take less time to execute than you might think. Tasks such as drawing the workflow diagram can be done quite quickly, providing a strong foundation for a business to further their workflow journey. If the end goal is to achieve a higher degree of automation, working with a digital transformation specialist such as Nukon helps companies develop the strategy needed to drive a successful transformation. Head to our website to read the full version of this blog on preparing for digital transformation. Nukon is an Internet of Things (IoT) and digital transformation consultancy, combining strategy, analysis and best-of-breed technologies to give organisations full visibility into their business and industrial processes.

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More than an Accountant Partnering clients to success the Matthews Steer way

When Barker Trailers engaged Matthews Steer as their accountancy firm in July 2016, the family-run business was seeking a better grasp of their financial forecasting, and to implement strategies that would build on their strong financial foundation and promote the longevity of their business in a changing economic environment. Led by Partner, Adrian Misiano, Matthews Steer initially provided standard accountancy services, but the relationship between firm and client soon evolved to encompass advisory services, forecasting and budgets. “Much of our work with Barker Trailers has been providing focus in key areas,” said Misiano. “We’ve provided support around financial management, improving profitability and asset protection.” “Our approach is always to partner with our clients to success, rather than working in isolation from

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them. Our role as trusted Business Advisor is to empower our clients to have the confidence to make sound financial and business decisions. Our experience in diverse industries, which include manufacturing, professional services, transport, caravaning and retail ensure we provide expert, accurate advice to enhance businesses in achieving their goals.” To this end, Matthews Steer works closely with the in-house CFO to take care of day-to-day forecasting and budgeting. Misiano’s advisory role focuses on trends and strategies for strengthening their business with collaborative catch ups and open discussions with the Barker Trailers’ Finance team & CEO. “My role is more about verifying their direction and strategy, and guiding their decision making,” said Misiano. “It’s my responsibility to be ahead of the game and proactively seeking opportunities for Barker Trailers to

improve their business. We are not the type of firm that says: ‘here are your results, we’ll see you in 12 months and see what happens’.” Misiano believes an external advisor is the secret to success for entrepreneurial businesses looking to secure their future, expand, and evolve. “A second opinion and some outside perspective is invaluable,” he said. “ The business you have today is not the same entity that was set up 20 years ago and, in a state of constant legal and economic changes, businesses shouldn’t be using the same set up and governance as when they were first established.”

“Our approach is always to partner with our clients to success, rather than working in isolation from them." Barker Trailers’ CEO Simon Meadows agrees that Matthews Steer’s advisory role has played an integral part in the evolution of his 45-year-old business. “We don’t see Matthews Steer as an accountant, we see them as an extension of our business,” said Meadows. “They seek to understand our business, the people within it, and the direction it’s heading, and they apply their insights and knowledge, along with their connections and networks, to maximise our opportunities to achieve our goals. “They don’t just do what you’d expect them to do as accountants. They think more broadly, and go above and beyond to ensure they’re maximising our opportunities through all the channels and advisory options they offer. They’re a partner and they’re great people to work with; all the while developing and growing together.”

said Meadows. “It enables those relationships to develop faster and it enhances the alignment between the strategic channel and the partnership channel.” Meadows acknowledges that change is the only constant in business, and says Matthews Steer has helped Barker Trailers to overcome challenges that may otherwise have scuppered them. “The team at Matthews Steer has shown great depth and flexibility in adapting to the needs we’ve had from time to time,” said Meadows.

“They’ve helped us to bridge staff gaps and skill gaps, and they’ve also enhanced our networks, helping us to build relationships with other partners – including the Victorian Transport Association and other customer channels – that potentially we wouldn’t have been exposed to if they hadn’t taken that initiative and introduced us. “I’m sure we’ve only tapped into a small portion of what they can offer, but we’ve been really pleased with the advisory services we’ve accessed, and I’m sure they have much more depth which can help many others.”

Meadows says Matthews Steer’s approach to networking differs from many other advisory firms, helping Barker Trailers to form productive strategic alliances with financial institutions, industry bodies and customers. “The key is that they don’t just connect us with the right people and partners to help our business evolve; they work with us in the relationships we build with those connections,”

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