A ustralia ' s largest circulating manufacturing maga z ine – C A B member
Industry Update
®
Issue 76 February 2014 $12.00
INC.GST
Manufacturing Magazine
BETTER, FASTER, SMARTER
A FORMULA THAT CAN SAVE AUSTRALIA’S MANUFACTURING SECTOR
Manufacturing – once the reliable workhorse of the Australian economy – is now facing more challenges than ever before.
3D MAPPING A 'PISA' CAKE FOR AUSSIE SCIENTISTS Page 14
The manufacturing sector employs almost one million Australians, yet it accounts for less than 10 percent of Australian GDP – down from 29 percent in the late 1950s. The sector’s vulnerability was highlighted by Holden’s recent announcement it will cease vehicle manufacturing in Australia. What’s the answer? How do we revitalise this key sector and build a future for Australian manufactures among the world’s most advanced nations? And critically, how can we compete with low-cost, regional manufacturers, particularly in Asia?
IU EXCLUSIVE GERMAN MANUFACTURING AT ITS BEST PAGE 16
HOW SAFE ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES? PAGE 26
The Australian Government is currently proposing that we transition from heavy industrial manufacturing – ships, cars and steel – to high valueadded production. The Government’s proactive policy is arguing for a focus on intense innovation in high- tech manufacturing, using advanced processes, materials and technologies. This way, so the argument goes, we can improve our competitiveness against Asian manufacturers, re-energise our entrepreneurial talent, and – hopefully – develop high-value, niche export markets.
MTI QUALOS OPENS NEW DOOR ON SAFETY
Overhead doors can present a potential safety hazard for customers, workers and workplace visitors. Faulty entrance and exit doors may not only cause serious injury, they can also result in hefty compensation payouts. Now industrial door specialist MTI Qualos has launched a new line of commercial and industrial Traffic Swing Doors with a strong focus on safety. The new swing doors are a safe alternative to overhead doors in industrial workplaces. To find out more see our special Industrial Doors feature on page 24.
Continued page 2
MANUFACTURING OFF-SHORE DOESN'T ALWAYS LET US MEET OUR CUSTOMERS NEEDS' PAGE 41
HYPERTENSION LINKED TO SHIFT WORK PAGE 43
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