Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions

SGTech

A LEGACY OF ADVANCEMENT

Industry 4.0 has arrived in Australian manufacturing. We take a look at Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions (BAMS), and speak to General Manager Peter Hook about the company’s track record of streamlining production for companies across the country

Writer: Marcus Kääpä Project Manager: Ryan Gray 135 years of quality service and expertise - this is the legacy of Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions (BAMS), subsidiary of the internationally spanning Bosch Group (Bosch).

Across the Australian manufacturing sector, BAMS is deservedly a well-known, reputed and trusted brand, supported by expertise in the industry, a track record of proven results, and led by intrinsic customer-centric values that echo throughout its operations.

“At BAMS, we apply a ‘global/ local’ approach for our customers,” introduces Peter Hook, General Manager of the division. “We draw on

Peter Hook, General Manager

experience, knowledge, and resources of talent from across the globe for manufacturing solutions here in Australia. Simply put, this means our

customers receive manufacturing solutions that are innovative while delivering world class results.

“At BAMS, we are not only optimising our own worldwide manufacturing base, but we are also actively seeking to work with partners to turn advanced manufacturing into reality. BAMS offers the ability to understand the unique environments of each individual manufacturer.”

This sits at the core of the company’s overall mission; providing unique and tailored solutions to the needs of each and every customer. This, alongside the support to maintain these solutions, has been integral in the building of the BAMS business. “WE DRAW ON EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND RESOURCES OF TALENT FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS HERE IN AUSTRALIA”

– PETER HOOK, GENERAL MANAGER, BOSCH AUSTRALIA MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS

By offering custom machine building, engineering and manufacturing support, and consulting services for Australian manufacturing operations, BAMS is helping to elevate Australian manufacturing. Based in Clayton (Victoria), BAMS has over 100 engineers and support staff servicing Bosch plants locally and around the world.

WORKING WITH HEALTHCARE

BAMS has become one of the country’s leading factory automation companies, working with a diverse

array of blue-chip, mid-tier and start-up manufacturers to automate their manufacturing. In 2021, BAMS opened a new Manufacturing Automation Centre, a purposebuilt facility to boost strategic collaboration and innovation.

At present, the company is working with multiple medical clients following on from the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Automation technology was utilised to help combat the pandemic in the production of healthcare products and componentry.

“At the very beginning of COVID-19, BAMS was invited to be part of an industry consortium to build ventilators in Victoria,” Hook explains. “Grey Innovation, an Australian-based technology commercialisation company, led an initiative supported by the Victorian Government and Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, to supply life-saving ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic. At our Clayton headquarters, the BAMS team manufactured test equipment required to check the ventilators.”

Applied Automation & Engineering

Applied Automation & Engineering Pty Ltd was established in 1993 to provide a high quality service to the pharmaceutical, automotive, defence/ military, food and plastics industries.

Specialising in automation and high precision CNC machining, the company brings together the combined skills and experience of Australia’s leading CNC operators, automation specialists, and a team of highly skilled engineers, designers and machine builders to develop machinery from prototype stage all the way through to full turn key production machines.

Applied Automation & Engineering holds current ISO 9001:2015 certification and our quality management systems and processes ensure reliable high quality results.

www.appliedauto.com.au

Comtec

The power of partnership

Comtec’s philosophy is that the success of each project lies in the power of partnership. Supplying and supporting the world’s finest automation and robotic equipment to ensure your vision becomes a reality, is what we do best.

Being Australia’s exclusive distributor of Stäubli, Arburg and Flexibowl®, Comtec not only delivers the best equipment in the business, we supercharge our offering with in-house programming, service and engineering. We’re there when you need us with our experience and expertise. You don’t just do business with Comtec, you partner with Comtec.

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Australian Engineering, CNC & Automation Solutions

Applied Automation & Engineering is a leading engineering and automation solution provider. 100% Australian owned & operated.

Utilising in-house industry leading engineers and equipment our services include 3D mechanical design, mechanical fabrication, custom turn key automated machinery builds, electrical systems and high quality CNC machining.

Precision CNC Machining & Fabrication, backed by quality assurance procedures to ISO 9001:2015 standards.

In-house capabilities also include high level fabrication and welding to AWS D17.1 Class C. We manufacture highly accurate and extremely durable fabrications for your project.

Complete mechanical, electrical system & commissioning services.

With our in-house controls team we are uniquely positioned to provide a complete range of electrical systems, field wiring & programming services to compliment our mechanical capabilities.

Contact us to discuss your project:

sales@appliedauto.com.au +61 3 9545 5011

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Superb automation and robotics support

As technology continues to deliver incredibly exciting opportunities, Comtec sets new standards in the supply and support of stateof-the-art automation and robotic equipment. Being Australia’s exclusive distributor of Stäubli, Arburg and Flexibowl®, Comtec has the world’s finest machinery at its fingertips and backs it up with precisely-tuned servicing, programming and unrivalled in-house engineering. If your business needs the assurance of a partner who makes it their business to provide support and expertise every step of the way – please consider Comtec.

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Exclusive Australian Stäubli, Arburg and Flexibowl® distributor

Since then, BAMS has been supporting clients with an increased focus on the diagnosis of COVID19 and other pathogens. There has also been an additional focus on blood products which are related to vaccines and assisting clients with the associated support systems, delivery systems, and infrastructure required in the manufacturing process.

CHANGING THE FACE OF MANUFACTURING

The COVID-19 pandemic period saw BAMS collaborate with multiple companies in order to safeguard Australia. One such project was that of BAMS’ work alongside digital diagnostic and healthcare product

APAC OUTLOOK: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER TO DATE?

PETER HOOK, GENERAL MANAGER:

“I started my career as an electrician in the mining sector, and then progressed through service and then the sale of electronics for the industry.

“Over the next 20 years, I moved into General Manager roles in manufacturing across many industries, from electronics to the heavy industry, and during that time I was involved in factory automation and robotics. I was aware that Bosch was committed to manufacturing, and that they were transitioning from an inward facing technical support company, to a customer-facing solutions provider. It was a good opportunity to be a part of that transition. With over 280 plants worldwide, Bosch has unparalleled experience in manufacturing activities and first-class expertise in industrial IoT solutions.

“Now, after five years at Bosch, it’s all about supporting manufacturers. We work with businesses at all stages of the lifecycle, from startups to well-established publicly listed companies. Bosch brings a manufacturing expertise that is built into our DNA. This means that we work with many different applications and industries; it is certainly never boring.” “OUR CUSTOMERS RECEIVE MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE INNOVATIVE WHILE DELIVERING WORLD CLASS RESULTS”

– PETER HOOK, GENERAL MANAGER, BOSCH AUSTRALIA MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS

producer Ellume, a company that enlisted BAMS to automate manufacturing for high-performance COVID-19 tests.

Brisbane-based Ellume developed a suite of COVID-19 tests for use by laboratories, doctors and consumers that produced results in less than 15 minutes. The Ellume technology was developed to address the unprecedented global demand for rapid, accurate diagnostics during the period and into the present. The first batch of the product was shipped to the US, and Ellume’s manufacturing facility in Richlands (Brisbane) swiftly scaled-up its production capacity to meet necessity and demand.

“BAMS introduced technology to automate the high-volume production of the COVID-19 tests,” Hook says. “With extensive experience in precision assembly and production automation, BAMS worked closely with the client’s engineering team to build and install state-of-the-art automated assembly lines to increase production capacity. The assembly

APAC OUTLOOK: WHAT DOES THE COMPANY CULTURE LOOK LIKE AT BOSCH AUSTRALIA?

PETER HOOK, GENERAL MANAGER: “Our company slogan, “Invented for Life”, is testament to the value we place on human life by providing technology and services that improve the quality of lives.

“In 1886, Robert Bosch founded the ‘Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering’ in Stuttgart (Germany). This was the birth of today’s globally operating company. Right from the start, it was characterised by innovative strength and social commitment.

“Working at Bosch means sticking together: with a clear mission, a clear focus, and clear values to live and work by: We are Bosch. We work hard for our customers and for society, but we also work hard to create a thriving and warm culture. That takes brave and confident leadership, the latest technology and plenty of space for networking and learning.” lines included end of line functional testing to ensure reliable product quality. Overall, BAMS provided 18 fully automated assembly lines, whilst also manufacturing an additional nine lines to assist with assembly for another part of the product associated with the test.”

Around the same time, BAMS announced a contract for the production automation of manufactured hardwood.

Based in Melbourne and Adelaide, 3RT developed a world-first technology in collaboration with Flinders University, that converts wood waste into timber that looks and performs like 100-year-old tropical hardwood, called Designer Hardwood™. A leader in the design

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and development of special purpose machinery, BAMS delivered fully automated production cells to enable the production of Designer Hardwood™ around the world.

“Beyond healthcare, we also secured a global 3RT contract to transform wood waste into sustainable hardwood, where we automated the manufacturing of such hardwood,” Hook continues.

“The cooperation provided us with great opportunities to leverage BAMS’ know-how in manufacturing, sensor technology, and software around the Internet of Things (IoT) for the wood manufacturing industry,” Hook explains. “With a project value of over AUD$1 billion, BAMS’ expertise and automation supported the entire value stream of connected manufacturing, and this partnership ensured that multiple production cells of Designer Hardwood™ were underway to satisfy the increasing demand across the globe.”

AUTOMATING THE FUTURE

Bosch is a global leader in IoT technology. With a company-wide commitment to implement IoT technology into every product, Bosch aims to make everyday life easier in mobility, at home, and in manufacturing. For BAMS, this means engaging with businesses looking to expand their digital manufacturing.

“We’ve recently put together a Consulting Services team whose main priority is to provide services for lean assessment, design for manufacture and assembly, value stream mapping and lean line design. They will also provide Industry 4.0 capability assessments and collaboration on digital transformation,” Hook explains.

“BAMS has also recently been supporting clients in simulation of plant processes and layouts to assist in design and validation. This function allows us to virtually commission facilities, significantly reducing the time to engineer a system whilst also yielding a digital twin that can be used for ongoing plant support.”

Through the incorporation of BAMS’ automation solutions, companies across Australia and beyond have been able to make use of BAMS’ industry expertise, to better their production capabilities.

With advanced manufacturing at the fore of its operations, BAMS continues to be a proven leader of change in the sphere of Australian manufacturing, moving the country towards an efficient and automated future.