Manufacturers' Monthly March 2013

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ANALYSIS >> TECHNOLOGY >> SOLUTIONS

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NORD DRIVESYSTEMS GROUP INSIDE Compressors & Pneumatics >> Laser Technologies & Applications >> Exporting Combet and Mirabella: Head to Head >> Manufacturing Software >> Safety In Action Preview

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Inside MARCH 2013

06

4 Editorial Q A change in the air?

6 Comment Q Growth: The best kind of problem

to have

34

8 Analysis News Q What’s happening

12 IT@MM Q Manufacturing software Q From big ideas to the big product

15

16 Management Q Exporting: Manufacturing sporting

success

18 The election Q Industry ministers, Labor’s Greg

Combet and Liberal’s Sophie Mirabella, in an MM exclusive.

20 Compressors & Pneumatics

24 What’s New

30 Onsite

Q Automotive semiconductors Q Motor CAD models

Q Driving innovation

Q Uninterruptible power supply Q Kink-free bends

32 Laser technology & applications

Q Torque testers

Q High intensity precision

26 Adhesives & Fasteners

34 Additive manufacturing

Q Targeting pneumatic inefficiency Q Optimising air systems

Q Greener gluing

Q Is 3D printing the future?

Q Hydraulic hand pumps Q Compressors

28 Bearings, Lubrication & Oil

36 Materials Handling

Q Synthetic oils Q Mechanical grease

Q Compact space lifting Q Slim line pallets

Q Blow off valves

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ANALYSIS >> TECHNOLOGY >> SOLUTIONS

Est. 1961

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MARCH 2013

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INSIDE Compressors & Pneumatics >> Laser Technologies & Applications >> Exporting Combet and Mirabella: Head to Head >> Manufacturing Software >> Safety In Action Preview

Behind the cover NORD Drivesystems AU is a 100% owned subsidiary of Getriebebau NORD GmbH & Co. KG, Bargteheide, Germany. NORD are the pioneers of the modern Helical geared motor design and specification, which in 1981 was released as the ground breaking “Unicase “ series and remains relatively unchanged after 30 years.

Getriebebau NORD has 100% owned assembly and sales facilities in 35 countries outside Germany. There are another 60

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countries where NORD products are assembled or distributed by service agents and distributor networks. NORD also design and manufacture cabinet mount and de-centralised frequency inverters, and all NORD electric motors.

Nord 1300 00 NORD au-sales@nord.com www.nord.com.au

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Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2013 3

Editorial

COLE LATIMER – Managing Editor

editor@manmonthly.com.au

A change in the air?

The upcoming election will hold many benefits for the manufacturing industry.

I

t’s a surprise an election was called.

As the general feeling for the current incumbent government is so low that it seems more like an act of desperation than a well thought out move.

Ahead of the election a lot of promises will be made and the world will be offered, and the manufacturing industry is likely to become a battleground as both the Labor and Liberal parties promote their policies to what has up to this point been a neglected industry.

It is already beginning to happen, and we are seeing Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard don the hi-vis and make their way to the factory floor to show they are in touch with the common man and the workers.

Although a tad patronising, at least they are making an effort and

seeing the people face to face who they have pledged to help.

But promising a change will come and actually putting those plans into action, well these are two completely different things.

In a Manufacturers’ Monthly exclusive we have the Labour minister for industry, Greg Combet, and Liberal minister for industry, Sophie Mirabella, outline what their two parties will actually do for the manufacturing industry.

Combet outlines what his government has done and the benefits they have provided.

“Last April the Government announced significant changes to strengthen Australian industry participation in major resources projects. These changes are improving opportunities for local manufacturers, construction firms and serv-

ice providers to win new contracts on these huge projects. We’ve also boosted support to the Buy Australia at Home and Abroad initiative which directly helps firms improve their capabilities to be able to access more work,” he told Manufacturers’ Monthly.

Mirabella describes how the government has failed in its policies to support Australia’s manufacturing industry.

“If elected, we will provide the stability and certainty that our manufacturers need to be able to get on with what they do best. We will abolish the carbon tax, reduce red tape by $1 billion a year, get government spending under control and create the right economic environment within which manufacturing can grow,” Mirabella told Manufacturers’ Monthly.

As always, the promises of change and more support for the manufacturing industry abound. But we will have to wait until September to see who will be the new government of Australia, and what may be the future for the nation’s manufacturing industry. We will be waiting with bated breath for the outcome, and hope that which ever party is elected, they do the right thing and help it out of its current slump.

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IndustrialCOMMENT Growth: The best kind of problem to have There are still upsides to the apparent downturn, Stuart Anderson* writes.

T

he Australian manufacturing industry remains challenging amid weakness in the global economy. Many Australian businesses are bucking the trend, becoming increasingly specialised and are able to offer high-value and innovative products and services which is driving their growth.

Businesses experiencing rapid growth in manufacturing operations have to navigate through some challenges.

Medicines manufacturing is one industry which poses some good growth opportunities over the next 10 to 20 years. The medicines export industry in Australia is substantial and is currently worth $3.8 billion, employing over 13,000 people. While the growth of the industry in general has been slowing over the last few years, there are certain key areas like biopharmaceuticals and complex delivery systems in which we expect to see significant growth into the future.

This growth in production is largely in response to a thriving Chinese market, where demand for the product is rapidly rising as the country seeks to open up access to medicines. For businesses like ours which experience sharp increases in demand, requiring a manufacturing unit to rapidly escalate production rates almost overnight,

Growth can bring unexpected challenges. there are some barriers to overcome.

Understanding how to prepare your business to cope with them will ensure a much smoother path to expansion.

One of the biggest challenges is recruiting capable executives and technically skilled workers. In the absence of an immediate solution to this challenge, you may need to think about growing your own talent.

Manufacturers need to support the industry at a tertiary level and works closely with associations in a bid to stay involved in the professional and technical development of the

industry’s young talent. It is also worth considering if talent can be attracted from outside your immediate industry.

AstraZeneca has attracted staff from the food and FMCG industries, given that individuals trained in these industries can have the general skills and capability required to excel in the pharmaceutical industry if they are given the technical know-how and specific skills. Bringing in staff on overseas contracts and secondments is another option.

Growth can bring a number of operational changes such as dealing

with new suppliers or materials, which needs to be managed carefully.

As AstraZeneca’s production has grown, our pool of suppliers has reduced as the pharmaceutical industry itself has shrunk, making the sourcing of some of our key raw materials from within Australia difficult.

Working closely with local suppliers to build their capability and limit risk for the production of specific materials, can enable them to produce the materials we need.

Exporting to China has meant additional freight costs and increased production of a complex, expensive product in a relatively high cost labour market.

Quality is often a key reason for a business winning a contract initially, so it cannot be compromised by the rapid growth necessitated by delivering on the contract.

Change can always be challenging, even when the end result is positive for the business. Ensuring that your business navigates the potential problems associated with growth, such as a lack of skilled staff, new risks and a ‘no compromise on quality’ attitude are key to leveraging opportunities. *Stuart Anderson is the director of manufacturing and supply at AstraZeneca Australia

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6 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

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AnalysisNEWS Struggling manufacturer restarts production Aussie dollar too Administrators for Queensland manufacturer PPI Corporation have restarted production at the company’s Brisbane facility, with 40 employees returning to work on site.

PPB Advisory were appointed voluntary administrators at the end of January and at the time of the company’s initial collapse all production was halted.

Some workers have since returned to operate six production lines that will make pipe products for the domestic and mining markets.

Administrators said demand was still strong for PPI products and recommencing production would

Some firms won’t survive: Weatherill South Australian premier Jay Weatherill has told the AWU national conference that manufacturing is facing huge challenges, and the industry needed to focus on making high-value products.

Weatherill spoke to the conference yesterday about the sector, particularly in his state, being under strain from a combination of issues. 73,000 jobs and the “cornerstone” of SA’s economy - manufacturing - were at risk, he said.

“Right now manufacturing is facing one of its biggest challenges in history.

“In SA, the challenge is acute. Our manufacturing base is narrow, with a predominance of small to mediumsized enterprises.

“It has suffered from low productivity growth and exposure to the high Australian dollar.”

Weatherill, speaking the day after the federal government released its Plan For Australian Jobsand announced its intention to establish a network of innovation precincts, said that the focus should be on advanced, high-value manufacturing.

8 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

high: HSBC

Workers are returning to site. help deliver an immediate cash flow for the business.

PPB said it would look at recommencing other parts of the business as the sale process continued.

However it went on to state that any step to increase production

would need to generate a positive cash flow.

Administrators said 36 parties had registered an interest in buying PPI. Around 300 staff were stood down when the company collapsed earlier this year.

Amcor cuts 300, sees jump in profit Packaging company Amcor will cut 300 jobs at three sites in Victoria and Queensland, with the high Australian dollar and high costs blamed.

“Amcor would take steps to realign its Australian operations to the challenging conditions facing all Australian manufacturers, resulting in approximately 300 redundancies,” said Amcor’s Australasian managing director Nigel Garrod.

“The continued strength of the Australian dollar, significantly increasing cost pressures, including in areas such as energy costs, have made it impossible for these sites to remain competitive.”

The company’s Petrie cartonboard mill in Queensland and Thomastown beverage closures facility would shut before the year’s

Amcor make make acquisitions. end. Thomastown’s factory’s output would be outsourced elsewhere, and 17 jobs would be cut at a Laverton North factory.

Meanwhile, Amcor has said that it expects to deliver a record profit for the financial year, and has not ruled out making acquisitions.

Arrium posts loss, flags job cuts Steel maker Arrium has posted a $445.4 million loss for the first half of the financial year, a large drop from the $70.7m loss posted a year earlier.

The bulk of the company’s loss stemmed from its steel tube unit, which is up for sale, and the company said it was also looking at selling other “non-integrated” parts of the business.

The Australian dollar is the world’s most overvalued, according to research by HSBC. The bank made its conclusion after comparing data from the OECD, The Economist’s Big Mac Index and the Current Real Effective Exchange Rate.

The impact of the Australian dollar’s persistent strength has been felt by the manufacturing industry.

The REER - “The weighted average of a country’s currency relative to an index or basket of other major currencies adjusted for the effects of inflation” - suggests the dollar is overvalued by 12 per cent. The Economist’s Index draws a similar conclusion, stating that the dollar is 12.2 per cent overvalued.

Australia’s lack of intervention in the “currency war” means the dollar ‘’will likely see further upside should it worsen’’, stated HSBC’s report New manufacturing innovation precinct Cuts to R&D tax credits to some of Australia’s biggest companies will fund a network of innovation precincts, the first of which will be dedicated to manufacturing.

Prime minister Julia Gillard and members of her government made the announcement yesterday during a visit to Boeing Australia’s headquarters in Melbourne.

Industry minister Greg Combet said that a three-point plan to boost manufacturing -focussing on local content, growing SMEs and establishing innovation precincts would be funded through an end to research tax breaks for companies with revenues of $20 billion or more.

The tax break is equivalent to a 133 per cent tax deducation.

This would affect 15-20 companies and save an estimated $1 billion over four years.

“We think it’s a prudent saving that targets the resources that are available in the most effective way to achieve jobs growth,” Combet said. manmonthly.com.au

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AnalysisNEWS The way of the future Despite automation becoming more prevalent many manufacturers are still wary of the costs.

A

utomation and automated processes are the way of the future for the manufacturing industry.

Not only do they ensure that manufacturers are able to keep the quality of their product at the same level for their output, most importantly it makes the factory floor safer, by removing the worker from potentially dangerous situations.

More manufacturers are turning to these processes to streamline their operations and to battle the constant threat of rising costs on the factory floor and along the supply chain.

These cost concerns, if not addressed through automated and robotic measures, often result in manufacturers looking to outsourcing instead, often moving jobs, and the revenue streams they create, offshore.

But with this drive towards greater automation, many companies have been found difficulty in sourcing the right products and the high initial cost for the right automation technology.

The local offshoot of successful German manufacturer Turck, Turck Australia, incorporated in August 2007 and has been operating as a factory and process automation “one-stop shop” since.

With a 25-year history in the industry – including at enduring German electronics companies Sick and Siemens – managing director Cameron Dwyer sees his company’s strength as being able to compete on cost as well as service.

“We’ve noticed the trend is that people are getting very, very frugal with their purchasing requirements,” Dwyer told Manufacturers’ Monthly.

He’s seen customers in his market – and this will hardly be a revelation to readers – demanding more for less and wanting to find it all in the one spot.

“We find that as the marketplace has evolved, purchasing is a lot smarter than it used to be,” he said.

“If you went back a lot of years

10 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Manufacturers are demanding more for less.

Turck MD Cameron Dwyer. people were there to spend budgets whether they needed it or not, or they’d lose it, but those days are gone.

Product R&D at Turck is something taken care of at its United States and Germany branches. The Australian business focuses on operating as a hardware sales outlet.

“People don’t buy spare parts any now. They expect you to carry it on the shelf. What we’ve done is make sure we have stock to suit what our customers’ demands are.

We have quite an inventory in our Melbourne store to cater exactly to that market.”

Dwyer mentioned the company’s

“We’ve noticed the trend is that people are getting very, very frugal with their purchasing requirements, wanting it all in the one spot.””

recently-released like of commodity cables, cord sets and inductive sensors, adding again that whatever was offered had to be affordable to a market that isn’t as buoyant as it used to be.

“So Turck’s tried to cater to that market. There’s many others, I guess.

But we believe the one thing that sets us aside is our ability to listen to customers’ needs and desires.

And then to find a product to fit that jigsaw puzzle.”

Another strength of the business, and another jigsaw piece in the set, believes Dwyer, is the expansion of its photoelectric sensors and optical sensing products offerings.

“What it’s done is it’s really rounded out our portfolio,” he said. “There was little bit of a gap in the product portfolio of Turck and the addition of those means that customers now see us as more of a one-stop shop, where we have the complete product offering, so they don’t have to go off to our competitors to source those products.”

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TechnologyIT@MM

From big ideas to the big product G From the concept to the product stage, SolidWorks’ new offering aims to keep everyone connected along the way

12 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

etting your big idea a) onto a napkin and b) out to market usually involves a lot of time and effort. One of SolidWorks’ big announcements from its annual conference aims to cut as much as possible out between a and b.

Built onto parent company Dassault Systemes’ 3DExperience program - a platform linking stakeholders to the innovation process - SolidWorks’ Mechanical Conceptual aims to tap into the growing need for collaboration between all those involved in a project, as well as the shift to the cloud.

MC will begin beta testing in May, with SolidWorks aiming for an October general release.

“An engineer spends about 30 per cent of their time doing conceptual ideas,” Sharon Toh, general manager of South Asia for SolidWorks,

told Manufacturers’ Monthly. “For this part there aren’t many tools out there now that enable them to capture those things. They are captured on napkins, papers, things like that. And then once it’s finalised they have to recreate this thing in a CAD model. So we are trying to capture as much of this as possible and put it in the software.”

According to the company, MC allows an idea to be sketched and captured digitally, quickly created as a 3D model, have its performance simulated, and be evaluated by stakeholders in real-time throughout the whole process through a private online community.

Also being spruiked are the instinctive and intuitive properties of the tool, which learns from prior changes made and suggests possible design flaws, with potential

time savings from cutting down on re-works. Being that the trial of a prototype version of the software hasn’t begun, there are no opinions from users yet on what it offers, but the company insists that it’ll be simple to adopt into workflows.

“What you’ve probably noticed with SolidWorks is it’s all about the approachability of the software and bringing that kind of functionality to a design engineer and a designer means that they can iterate their designs much faster,” Shane Preston, CEO of SolidTech Solutions, told Manufacturers’ Monthly.

“This kind of software really makes that a lot easier, because it helps facilitate innovation,” he pointed out, adding that, with the high cost of doing business in Australia, being quick and intelligent at work are absolutely vital.

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“There’s an old engineering adage: good, fast, cheap: Choose any two.

Cheap’s gone.

We want fast. And responsive.”

Besides Mechanical Conceptual’s announcement, SolidWorks World also featured the announcement of the My.SolidWorks.com, another product community-oriented product, and a service that collects the company’s and users’ knowledge of SolidWorks from social platforms (Twitter, YouTube and elsewhere) and arranges it depending on a user’s chosen industry.

“My.SolidWorks will help our users better leverage the energy and knowledge of community,” SolidWorks’ CEO Bertrand Sicot told SWW13’s attendees during the announcement.

The site’s and Mechanical Conceptual’s promise to link those involved in design is part of a trend towards and a demand for connection by users of CAD programs.

“That is what industry is demanding because with an increasingly disparate workforce that is decentralised where people are able to work and be productive wherever they are, the availability to have a mechanism whereby you can exchange these large models and huge amounts of data seamlessly and across all those different parties,” Jeff Brzycki, chief information officer at rival CAD company Autodesk, told Manufacturers’ Monthly.

Autodesk adds, as competitors often will, that his company has responded first and their rivals are merely trying to catch up.

“We do see things moving to the cloud and we have seen that for some time now, so we’re seeing some of our competitors like SolidWorks follow suit,” said Piya Choudhury, the manufacturing marketing manager for Autodesk Australia.

“We have cloud solutions for product lifecycle management, we’ve got the first comprehensive streamline solution to the cloud, that’s Autodesk 360, we announced that this year. So we’re really quite far down the path and we’re just starting to see some others get on board and realise the importance of the cloud.”

Whoever is leading or following, SolidWorks users will be keeping tabs on comments from Mechanical Conceptual’s users during the trial period, and hoping that the general release of the product lives up to its promised benefits.

SolidWorks sees MC as a gamechanger, and one that neatly matches modern demands made by CAD users. Preston said the Mechanical Conceptual tool lent itself perfectly to advanced manufacturing methods such as 3D printing, with both removing traditional limits on design.

“Additive manufacturing’s going to take that constraint away,” said Preston.

The tool lends itself to advanced manufacturing methods such as 3D printing.

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Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2013 13

TechnologyIT@MM Get on board the digital revo Manufacturers urged to adopt digital technology, both internally and externally, to stay ahead of the game.

Alan Johnson reports.

A

RECENT world-wide survey on the use of digital technologies examined key benefits across different sectors and geographies (including Australia) reveals that while there are different maturity levels by sector, there are digital leaders in all of them who are currently outperforming their peers.

The comprehensive survey, The Digital Advantage: How digital leaders outperform their peers in every industry, classifies manufacturing companies as “Digital Beginners”; as one of the industries in the early stages of digital transformation, with some companies starting to take notice but few making any significant progress.

The survey says while manufacturing companies may be mature, with traditional applications such as ERP or electronic commerce, many are

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14 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

unaware of the opportunities available.

According to the two-year survey, conducted by Capgemini Consulting, most manufacturing efforts in digital technology remain focused on operational efficiencies and worker enablement, with the B2B nature of many companies limiting their attention to digital customer engagement.

Ben Gilchriest, Digital Transformation Lead with Capgemini Consulting, says manufacturers see less opportunity and threat in digital transformation than other industries.

“To mature, manufacturers need a transformative digital vision, plus the engagement and governance to develop impetus for digital investments,” he told Manufacturers’ Monthly.

Digital transformation By digital transformation, Gilchriest is talking about the use of digital technologies such as social media, mobile apps, data analytics, on-line and embedded devices to improve business performance and reach both the customer and operational domains.

“Most manufacturers understand digital technologies for customers, but for operational levels, where we include data analytics, enterprise collaboration, and process management, it’s important to get these two together,” he said.

Gilchriest believes companies that have a high level of digital intensity also manage the transformation management, “how they stitch all these things together”.

“But because the barrier to entry with digital technology is comparatively low, compared to implementing ERP for example, it is easy to get involved. However many manufacturers do not have a clear plan to drive excellence and what their transformation to digital actually is.

“We see a lot of initiatives that don’t actually drive value. Digital maturity matters, and matters on

both domains; what you do and how you do it.”

He says manufacturers can approach digital transformation from the direction of the customer, or from the direction of the operation.

“Where you start depends on where your strength lies. For manufacturers operational processes are probably the most logical starting point. But they have to connect with their customers digitally whether they are businesses or consumers.”

Gilchriest says an increasing number of manufacturers are using tablets and smart phones in their production areas with mobility solutions gaining popularity, “but they need to tie that in with supply chain visibility”.

He points to the iconic British luxury brand Burberry as an example of successful digital transformation: “Burberry started with its operational processes, with back-end ERP and supply chain systems to create more consistency and visibility, and eventually connecting it to the customer.

“Now they are able to create bespoke products because they have all the processes in place to enable them to produce one-off products completely tailored to the customer through interactive website on-line without going to a tailor.”

Burberry’s CEO Angela Ahrendts, with one eye on the future possibilities of digital technologies, says consumer data will be the biggest differeniator in the next two to three years: “Whoever unlocks the reams of data and uses it strategically will win,” Ahrendts said.

Digital technology Gilchriest says manufacturers who don’t get on board the digital technology train are going to fall behind the curve.

“The survey shows that companies who have invested in digital technology in a holistic way, the early adopters, are getting a strong ROI with

manmonthly.com.au

lution

Mobile computers Intermec has released the CK3 Next Generation Series of rugged mobile computers, for use in manufacturing, warehousing and retail operations.

The CK3 Next Generation Series comprised of two models – the CK3X and CK3R – which utilise a 1GHZ OMAP architecture to optimise workforce performance through longer battery life, enhanced barcode scanning, and broad compliance for emerging industry standards such as HTML5.

strong profitability compared with non-adopters,” Gilchriest said.

Dave White from Capgemini’s Supply Chain & Logistics team says digital transformation is not just about implementing digital technology, “it’s about transforming the business”.

“Manufacturers need to look at the dimensions of their business; how they can improve their interaction with their customers by using e-commerce, on-line and social media; how they can reduce product development times using 3D CAD and virtual testing environments; and using some of the new technologies to ‘link’ disparate systems across their supply chain,” White said.

He believes Australia is feeling the pressure now that US and European manufacturers felt four or five years ago when globalisation started to accelerate, with considerable pressure in their markets.

“These pressures are being felt here now, especially with the present exchange rate, and new entrants in the market.Australian manufacturers need to think about what type of manufacturer they want to be in five years time.

The rugged mobile computers are designed for manufacturing, warehousing and retail operations.

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Maintaining the current CK3B form factor, legacy applications and backwards-compatible accessories allows customers to seamlessly migrate to the latest technology without an additional investment in chargers, docking stations or scan handles.

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Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2013 15

Management Manufacturing sporting success Despite last year’s disappointments at the Olympics, several local manufacturers made it to the podium for their exporting prowess. Alan Johnson reports.

W

hile our tally of medals was below expectations in London, two Australian manufacturers are still enjoying exporting success following their Olympics exposure, despite the ‘un-competitive’ Australian dollar.

Advanced Polymer Technology (APT) Australasia, manufacturer of synthetic turf, acrylic, and polyurethane-based products, used the Olympics to promote its flagship products, such as its Poligras Olympia hockey surface.

Jim Tritt, APT’s technical manager, says having its products used at the Olympics certainly assists with securing contracts, before and after the events.

“Once the decision was made to use our synthetic surfaces at the Olympics, and it became common knowledge, the national hockey centres from various nations around the world were in contact to put in that surface prior to Olympics,” Tritt told Manufacturers’ Monthly.

While it is too early for Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Tritt says there is already a high level of interest in the company’s products for the next Olympics.

He explained that the company hs been exporting since it started in the early 90s.

“At the moment around 25 per cent of our production is going to

16 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Comment manmonthly.com.au

Australian made goods made an impact on the hockey field. overseas markets, with most of our products going to the Asia Pacific region and to some parts of the Middle East.

“But we also export some of our speciality products globally, such as our hockey fields into Europe, cricket products into UK and some tennis products into the US,” he said.

Tritt says the company mainly goes through distributors, who actually lay the products, but says it depends on the market.

“If they don’t have the expertise

we use our STI construction company,” he said.

Based in Melbourne, with about 50 employees, the company makes a wide range of synthetic turf and liquid coating materials that are mostly supplied into sport surface markets.

“We can manufacture synthetic turf for almost any sport including footy, soccer, rugby union, cricket, tennis, as well as synthetic landscaping and liquid applied coatings for sport surfaces.

“While Australia is geographically huge, we only have 22 million people, so we have to take every possible opportunity seriously and try to capitalise wherever possible,” Tritt explained.

However he says the high Australian dollar is having a huge impact on the company.

“It certainly impacts us on the commodity side of things, especially on some of our products, such as our tennis court products, where we don’t have brand equity.

manmonthly.com.au

“It forces us to come up with some smart solutions in order to be competitive and profitable.

“But in our other markets, like field hockey where we have supplied fields to three of the last four Olympic Games, and is among the world’s best, we do have brand equity which enables us to compete globally.

“Basically we have to be innovative to compete, because the other elephant in the room is China which has a big presence in our market.

“While they are not at the same stage as us at the moment, they are getting better and better,” Tritt said.

“The key to our exporting success is our systematic approach to the design of our products, and incorporate all the technology we have from the chemical manufacturing process including adhesives and secondary backing materials to come up with the best overall system.

“We have a very harsh climate here, and our locally manufactured sports fields are viewed as amongst the most durable available, with no concerns re UV. We ironed those problems out many years ago. So being Australian made is very positive for us, which we capitalise on,” he said.

Tritt advises other manufacturers looking to export to look at what assistance is available from a state and national level.

“We are part of the AustralianMade made program and we believe that assists us with certain products.

Plus Austrade and ICN has assisted us a lot over the years,” he said.

Oar-some job When the winning rowers flashed over the line at the London Olympics many of them where using an Australian-made Croker oar.

Croker Oars, a NSW based manufacturer, is a small family company with fewer than 20 employees, but with a huge following globally.

manmonthly.com.au

Oars from a small family owned business are in demand globally.

Croker’s advice for other budding SME exporters is to work hard, and if they do use distributors overseas, to make sure they believe in them and can trust them.”

Rowers from around the world, including the medal winning teams of New Zealand, Ukraine, Croatia, and the US took advantage of the highly-advanced Croker oar.

Darren Croker, owner of Croker Oars, based on Oxley Island in Northern NSW, said the Olympics was a big success for the company.

“We went very well, but not with the Australian rowers. For some reason, more overseas rowers use our oars than Australian.

“So international is our market,

with 75 per cent to 80 per cent of our product exported worldwide,” Croker told Manufacturers’ Monthly.

He pointed to Asia as the company’s most important market at the moment.

“We have some direct customers, but we also use distributors. It varies country to country and much depends on the tariffs etc.

“Our key to exporting success is building personal relationships and being at all the rowing regattas and events around the world including school regattas up to the Olympics and world championships. We have to be there.

“Our market is really niche, I could go and spend a million dollars on advertising, but it would not make a difference.

“We have to go and shake their hands and discuss the technical details of our oars,” he said.

But it’s not all good news for the oar maker, like most manufacturers the high Aussie dollar is having a huge impact of the business.

“It’s just not possible to grow a business with the dollar so high it’s horrendous.

“You can’t compete, you just hope like hell that people believe in your product and you produce the best product in the world. Keep pushing that and keep producing the best,” Croker said.

“Other issues is the amount of regulations we have to comply with,

and then to bring in a carbon tax, makes it very difficult.

“Every dollar we have to pay is a huge cost to a business. The carbon tax makes Australia totally un-competitive.

“Maybe it wouldn’t have mattered so much a decade ago, but today with electricity costs going up, all of our suppliers are adding a one or two percent here and there. It all adds up.

“We have to cut our costs wherever we can to remain competitive,” he said.

Croker’s advice for other budding SME exporters is to work hard, and if they do use distributors overseas, to make sure they believe in them and can trust them.

“If you get a bad one it can taint you for the next ten years or so.

“And also make sure you will get paid. We have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years in unpaid invoices.

“Some companies simply go into receivership, then open up a similar business.”

The key he says is to be ruthless with who you sell to.

“Start with payments up front until you can trust them, then move to letters of credit where the bank guarantees payment, but we still get caught even now.

“Getting paid is often the hardest part, and the most important,” Croker said.

Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2013 17

AnalysisELECTION Head to Head: How the parties size up Labour and Liberal ministers for manufacturing, Greg Combet and Sophie Mirabella, write exclusively for Manufacturers’ Monthly on what they will do for the sector, ahead of the election.

Greg Combet

K

nowing the date for this year’s Federal election is significant for a number of reasons. One of them is the future of our manufacturing sector and the one million-odd hard working Australians and their families it supports.

There is no doubt this year’s Federal election will be a referendum of sorts on the future of Australian manufacturing. Should the Government work with the industry on the challenges it confronts as it undergoes major structural changes? Or should the Government withdraw support and allow manufacturing, and the employees, local economies and communities it supports to wither?

Labor has always been an advocate for manufacturing. We recognise the significance a strong manufacturing sector plays in creating and supporting jobs - and the integral role it plays in our broader economy.

When major economic reforms of the past where heavily criticised or deemed “too hard”, Labor Governments stood up to the sceptics and argued that floating the Australian dollar and becoming an open trading nation underpinned our long term prosperity.

These were reforms that improved our competitiveness and helped to boost our productivity.

Years later, with the unprecedented growth of the global economy, and in particular the Asian economy, we find ourselves being confronted by new challenges and a need to undergo structural changes or face being left behind.

This is why the Gillard Labor Government has been working with industry and workers to address the pressures impacting heavily on manufacturing, such as heightened

18 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

cap1 cap2 international competition and the high value of the Australian dollar.

It is important to recognise that these pressures, including the high dollar, will be with us for some time.

That is why it is crucial that manufacturers reassess their business models to accommodate the new economic reality.

I’ve had the opportunity to gain a large amount of experience in the real economy, particularly in the heavy industrial sectors currently under so much pressure.

I know their value, resilience and the potential they have to make changes and adjust to these challenges.

This Government has already implemented a range of policies and programs to support industry and to help it adjust.

Last April the Government announced significant changes to strengthen Australian industry’s participation in major resources projects.

These changes are improving opportunities for local manufacturers, construction firms and service providers to win new contracts on these huge projects.

We’ve also boosted support to the Buy Australia at Home and

Our workforce building initiatives are delivering access to training and opening up more training places.”

Abroad initiative which directly helps firms improve their capabilities to be able to access more work.

The Government’s $1 billion Clean Technology Investment Programs, which are funded by carbon price revenue, are helping many manufacturers Australia wide to reduce their energy costs, boost competitiveness and make the transition to a low pollution economy.

In addition we’re reforming our training system, including co-investing with industry, to improve the skills of the manufacturing workforce. Our workforce building initiatives are delivering greater access to quality training and opening up more training places.

The Gillard Government has also significantly reformed the antidumping system.

We are establishing a new Anti-Dumping Commission, with increased resources and powers to deliver stronger protection for industry, including manufacturers, against unfair competition from overseas.

One important response to the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Manufacturing Taskforce has been the establishment of the Manufacturing Leaders Group – a high level industry lead group to

help build a future for the industry. Its role is to provide strategic advice to government on ways to best take advantage of opportunities in Asia and other markets, as well as shape productivity growth.

The Group comprises 22 leaders from business, unions, the research sector and government, led by Chair Dr Ian Thomas, President of Boeing Australia and South Pacific.

The initiatives I’ve just outlined are delivering change throughout the manufacturing sector but they face an enormously unedifying threat – the Coalition. Despite gallivanting north to south and east to west in hard hats and high-vis vests claiming to be manufacturing’s mate, the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and his Coalition colleagues are on the record spruiking otherwise.

Last year the Coalition voted in Parliament against the Government’s $300 million Steel Transformation Plan, which is helping our major steel manufacturers to improve their competitiveness.

If elected, Mr Abbott would strip $1.5 billion of government support away from the automotive manufacturing sector because he doesn’t believe in the merits of co-investments or the jobs they support.

And Mr Abbott would scrap the $1 billion Clean Technology Investment Programs which are providing grants to manufacturers for new plant and equipment to cut energy costs and reduce carbon pollution.

The Gillard Government is committed to the future of Australian manufacturing and the jobs it creates. I believe there is a competitive, prosperous and dynamic future for manufacturing in Australia and I will continue to work hard to ensure this future becomes reality.

manmonthly.com.au

Sophie Mirabella

T

he outcome of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Federal election will be vital in determining whether manufacturing with grow and flourish in Australia. As part of our policy approach, the Coalition has identified manufacturing as one of the five key pillars of our economy. We believe a vibrant manufacturing sector is essential to a diversified economy, job creation, and driving innovation and economic growth.

The Howard Coalition Government presided over the longest industrial expansion in our modern history, including an expansion in manufacturing activity for 13 of its last 14 months in office. Between 1996 and 2007, manufacturing employment remained stable at over one million jobs and real wages for Australian workers rose by an astonishing 21 per cent. This contrasts with downturns for almost 65 per cent of the Rudd and Gillard Governmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tenures - including a decline for every one of the past 11 months.

If elected, we will provide the stability and certainty that our manufacturers need to be able to get on with what they do best. We will abolish the carbon tax, reduce red tape by $1 billion a year, get government spending under control and create the right economic environment within which manufacturing can grow.

Since the announcement of the carbon tax, over 27,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost. For the first time in decades, the number of Australians employed in manufacturing has fallen below one million.

And even the Government itself has failed to deny that the rate of manufacturing job losses in recent years has been unprecedented in Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history.

We understand that, for our manufacturing businesses to prosper, they must be able to compete on a level playing field. Abolishing the carbon tax is an important first step as it will remove a tax that increases the cost of manufacturing in Australia whilst imports get a free ride.

We have developed a world class

manmonthly.com.au

We will provide the stability and certainty manufacturers need to get on with what they do best.â&#x20AC;? anti-dumping policy that will cut the time and cost of anti-dumping applications and better ensure that foreign products are not dumped into the Australian market at below cost price.

We have also signalled our intention to change Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standards regime so that imported products comply with the costly mandatory standards imposed on locally-made goods.

A vibrant culture of innovation is essential to growing and diversifying our manufacturing base. The Coalition understands the importance of innovation in a highly competitive global economy.

The weakening by the current government of R&D tax incentives for manufacturing will therefore be reversed. Like many manufacturers, the Coalition was bewildered at the abolition of the very successful Commercial Ready programme and its replacement with the inferior Commercialisation Australia model.

We need practical and effective commercialisation programmes, particularly for small business.

The Coalition will abolish the Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flawed Industry Innovation Councils. We will work, through genuine consultation with Australian businesspeople, to deliver better future plans for individual industries. In the wake of regular Labor cuts, we will also ensure that Cooperative Research Centres are appropriately funded to continue their work in creating greater collaboration between researchers and

industry. We will also encourage much closer collaboration between academic researchers and business.

Most importantly, it will be a fundamental priority of the next Coalition Government to make sure our economy grows strongly again. We want to create genuine incentives and opportunities for

industry to grow, invest in Australia and employ Australians.

For too long, manufacturing in Australia has languished under the economic torpor and policy ineptitude of a divided, dysfunctional and chaotic Labor Government. If we are to regain our competitive edge in an increasingly global marketplace, we must take immediate action to address the inequalities that have been created through the unwelcome introduction of excessive red-tape and new taxes. We must take immediate action to address the uncertainty that has been created through the constant moving of the goalposts and chopping and changing of policy.

Australia can have a diverse economy which includes a 21st Century manufacturing base. The Coalition recognises that our national prosperity depends on removing the shackles and burdens on Australian industry.

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Compressors& PNEUMATICS Targeting pneumatic inefficiency New pneumatic standard cylinders are tackling inefficincies.

T

he multitude of pneumatic cylinder issues, particularly during manual handling, make work on site harder than it needs to be.

Automation equipment supplier, Festo has released the pneumatic standard cylinder DSBC with innovative PPS self-adjusting air cushioning.

With most cylinders cushioning is set manually, prior to installation.

In itself, this is a simple task and doesn’t cause any headaches.

The problem is that when the setting is done manually it is difficult to take air pressure, speed and load into account. These factors all affect performance.

The result is that many cylinders are incorrectly set.

This can lead to, noise, vibration, and accuracy issues. It can also increase down time and lead to safety issues.

The standard DSBC cylinder is designed to overcome these problems.

It requires no manual adjustment and adjusts automatically to changes in load and speed.

As such, efficiency is increased and wear is minimised.

So just how is self adjustment achieved?

The cylinder features profiled longitudinal slots in the cushioning boss.

These slots channel the exhausting air and enable dynamic yet gentle travel to the end position.

So the design is intended to optimise performance and allow the machine to run as smoothly as possible.

Noise, vibration, and wear are minimised.

The work environment is not harmed by unnecessary noise and the work life of the machinery is maximised.

And maintenance and cleaning are 20 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

No manual adjustment needed.

The problem is that when the setting is done manually it is difficult to take air pressure, speed and load into account. These factors all affect performance. kept to a minimum.

For a start, there is no need for any manual adjustment and, because there are no cushioning screws, there are fewer dust and dirt traps and cleaning is minimised.

Once it is up and running, the DSBC cylinder will require less planning to operate. There is no need for management to spend time co-ordinating the re-adjustment of multiple cylinders. They can run in parallel and will self adjust according to load.

There are three types of

cushioning available: • PPS cushioning: pneumatic cushioning, which is self-adjusting at both ends. (This is the standard) • PPV cushioning: pneumatic cushioning, which is adjustable at both ends • P cushioning: elastic cushioning rings/pads at both ends Because of Festo’s modular product system these variants may be configured individually.

The cylinder can be specified with a large number of variants and can be used flexibly.

And all connections are done on one side of the unit, so adjustments are easy to carry out.

For example, in applications where lubricants would be expected to bind with abrasive dust or be washed away, there is sealing for totally dry running.

Or hard scrapers can be specified in applications involving food, batter, and so forth.

There are seals available which can accommodate temperatures down to -40°C or heat resistance up to 150°C. And acid resistant seals are also available. The cylinder is available in six diameters up to 100mm and with strokes up to two metre lengths. The unit is also light weight, making handling easier. manmonthly.com.au

Hydraulic power packer

Turbo blower

Heavy lifting requires heavy duty equipment with the pneumatic capabilities to safely do the job.

For more than 40 years Norden power packers have been lifting and tilting machinery used for on and off road applications, and other equipment that requires products for lifting, leveling, stabilising, tilting and latching in mobile applications.

A complete range of cab tilts and hood tilt products for any system, whilc includes hydraulic latches, DC pumps, and hand pumps with a huge range of tilt cylinders to cater for most requirements.

Norden also stocks Power Packer stabilisation systems with 12 volt, 24 volt, single or three-phase system control boxes plus a huge range of stabilisation legs with mounting plates.

Load ratings for products range between 7 and 31 tonnes, and provide secure lifting, lowering, and levelling of large equipment.

GE has released its new Roots Turbo Blower into Australia.

Distributed by Hurll Nu-Way, the low-maintenance Roots Turbo Blower compressor offers an efficient aeration solution for various applications.

Available in units ranging from 22.5 kilowatts through to 300 kilowatts, as well as featuring oil-free bearing technology, the compressors produce low noise emissions of only around 75dBA. Its oil free lubrication means it can utilise a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor with next generation, bump type air bearings It also has free air delivery up to 31 000 m3/h; and working pressure from 0.3 bar to 1.8 bar to allow it to accurately meet compressed air demand.

The compressor is a fully integrated system that is air cooled up to 112.5kW and closed loop liquid cooled from 150 kW and up.

It is also maintenance free apart from filter media requiring scheduled replacement.

Norden Hydraulic Connections 03 9793 2515 grega@norden.com.au www.norden.com.au

Hurll Nu-way 1300 556 380

Manufacturers who care, all choose Atlas Copco Oil-Free Class 0 air compressors to eliminate oil contamination...do you?

Oil-free air is used in all kinds of industries including food and beverage processing, chemical and petrochemical processing, electronics manufacturing, medical sector, automotive paint spraying, textile manufacturing and many more. Call us for more information about our Class 0 air compressors.

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Manufacturersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Monthly MARCH 2013 21

Compressors & PNEUMATICS

Optimise your air system Energy waste accounts for up to a third of compressor usage.

R

educing energy usage is a significant issue for manufacturers who utilise compressed air.

In fact, energy is estimated to account for 75 per cent of the lifetime costs of compressed air systems.

Up to 30 per cent of that energy is wasted, so there is plenty of scope for manufacturers to optimise their compressed air systems, improve their bottom lines, and reduce their carbon footprints.

Energy savings can be made by achieving an operating balance that takes into account the capabilities of the compressors, production targets, and cost minimisation.

Overall energy bills can be reduced by looking at the overall compressed air system. In order to optimise energy usage, it is necessary to consider the compressed air generation units as well as the distribution network.

Atlas Copco undertakes audits, reports, and recommendations. Any optimised final solution will take into account plant changes, changing demand for compressed air over time, and the strengths and limitations of the individual pieces of machinery and distribution systems.

The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Airscan tool works in two steps.

Audits identify inefficiencies.

First it logs and analyses all the relevant parameters - flow delivered, power consumption, pressure and quality required. This process is flexible.

Customers can specify its depth and the amount they would like to spend on it.

Once logged, these figures are used to prepare a report, including a cost analysis, graphs, and recommendations for optimising the system and reducing energy use. Several possible strategies are put forward.

A typical completed audit may first reveal that there are a number of air leaks within the distribution system. Repairs would be recommended.

Further, it may reveal that the number of unloaded running hours is high and recommend a reduction in order to cut energy usage. And it may recommend fine-tuning of settings and so on.

The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ES Central controllers are also useful tools for those looking to minimise energy bills.

Reduction in overall working pressure reduces energy use. Each 1 bar (14.5 psi) reduction in working pressure results in 7% direct energy savings and a further three per cent saving through leak reduction.

With Central controllers it is possible to link all compressors and dryers, lower overall pressure band, eliminate the need for higher working pressure and optimise the compressor mix.

When air compressors are in operation energy is lost as radiation. It is possible to recover this rejected heat and re-use it in the production cycle.

Atlas Copcoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Energy Recovery systems are able to extract an amount of energy from the compressed air that is equivalent to the amount of energy that the electric motor uses.

The most common uses for the recovered energy include process heating, extra space heating, heating water or preheating boiler make-up water.

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Hydraulic hand pump A new series of pumps are providing greater portability on site.

N

ew cordless hydraulic hand pumps are providing powerful performance with more portability.

Enerpac has released its new XC-Series of cordless pumps that are designed to operate as either an electric of pneumatic powered pump with the convenience of a hand pump.

The all-new line of cordless powered pumps provides a portable, cost-effective solution for remote locations that delivers the speed, power and longevity of a corded pump.

They are designed to satisfy the need for a long-lasting pump that can be used in hard-to-access areas, are constructed of lightweight materials and are equipped with a powerful, one-half horsepower motor and feature 28-volt, Lithium-Ion battery technology.

With its bladder reservoir, Enerpacâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cordless pumps eliminate venting and offer leak-free operation in any orientation.

Additionally its overall body, handle and trigger have been ergonomically engineered to maximise ease-of-use and portability.

XC-Series cordless pumps deliver oil flow of 2.05 litres (125 cubic inches) per minute at its low-pressure setting and .25 litres (15 cubic inches) per minute when operating at full pressure, up to 700bar (10,000 psi).

The lithium-ion technology ensures XC-Series pumps provide end users with the battery runtime necessary to accommodate demanding application requirements.

The XC-Series promotes operator safety by removing trip hazards associated with traditional powered pumps.

Safety features include overload protection circuitry, which safeguards both the pump and the operator from excessive amp draw or temperatures, and a trigger lock-off mechanism that protects against unintended operation during transport. The XC-Series features one-litre and two-litre

Delivers flows of 2 litres/minute.

reservoir models, making these cordless pumps the ideal solution for operating small to medium tools and cylinders.

Ideal for a wide range of industries, such as mining, construction, industrial, power generation and

more, the XC-Series solves diverse and demanding applications requirements, including lifting, pushing, pulling and cutting; mobilising heavy equipment; gear pulling; servicing machinery; moving paper rolls; and lifting rail cars and rail alignment.

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Manufacturersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Monthly MARCH 2013 23

What’sNew See more new products at manmonthly.com.au

Powerful drives After 40 years and 25 million hectoliters of beer, European brewer Forst needed something new to get up to date with modern energy requirements and emissions considerations.

It designed an entirely new brewery, and cut costs while doing it.

The new brew house, powered by NORD Drivesystems, aided the brewer in reducing primary energy consumption by 30 per cent.

Five large vats, a newly designed water supply, and a malting plant with twelve silos (and three separate storage vats) needed to be built in a space of just 16 months at the 154-year-old brewery in Algund, in the Germanic region of Italy.

NORD Drivesystems assembled the geared motors for all the vessels according to the specific requirements of the various applications, from the grinding mill, which gently grinds the malt at the start of the brewing process, to the screw conveyor removing the spent grain.

Mixing malt and spring water in mash tuns and heating involves thermally optimised conducting surfaces at the bottom and the frames of the tun.

Uninterruptible power supply.

The drives cut energy usage by 30%.

A frequency-controlled NORD helical bevel gear motor, equipped with a temperature sensor, drives the agitator inside the vessel.

To check whether the system is running smoothly, speeds, current consumption, and the motor temperature are centrally monitored continuously a custom-tailored NORD drive unit, a combination of a motor, industrial gear unit, and a helical bevel gear unit, with a maximum torque of 96,000 Nm. NORD Drivesystems www2.nord.com

Automotive semiconductors STMicroelectronics has released the next generation of automotive semiconductors - the M0-7 Series.

This latest generation of switch ICs is designed for vehicle electronics such as lights and body modules.

The new devices provide enhanced intelligent features, improve protection and reliability, and are up to 40 per cent smaller than competing alternatives.

Pioneered by ST, intelligent high-side switches provide a more reliable and efficient replacement for conventional

relays. ST’s VIPower has a common package style for many devices in the range. This allows tier-one suppliers to build several module variants using the same basic hardware and software so car makers can address differing requirements in international markets and offer various model specifications and options costeffectively. The common-package

approach has become widely adopted among high-side switch vendors.

According to the company 75 per cent of the M0-7 Series are available in a 5 x 4mm package, which is 40 per cent smaller than the smallest competing devices.

This allows car electronics designers to save pc-board space and aim for smaller module sizes.

STMicroelectronics www.st.com

Has an average rating of 96.5% even at low loads.

The Eltek 48V Flatpack2 HE rectifier has been awarded the ENERGY STAR for compliance with new high energy-efficiency standards that became effective in late 2012, making it the first of its kind in the DC UPS product category to earn this accolade.

The Flatpack2 provides superior efficiency with an average rating of 96.5% (even at low load). It has high power density and can be adapted to any industrial application from 2-192 kW; alternatively it can also act as a DC-DC converter.

Designed with horizontal front-toback airflow and chassis-integrated heat sinks, Flatpack2 HE rectifier units can be stacked directly on top of one another.

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pH and conductivity meters

Motor CAD models PITTMAN Motors, a unit of AMETEK Precision Motion Control, has introduced configurable 3D CAD model downloads for its entire offering of brushless DC motors.

The 3D model system is an online system through the PITTMAN website that allows an engineer to fully configure a motor with a wide variety of optional components, such as planetary and spur gearboxes, brakes and encoders.

The online 3D model system makes it very easy for an engineer to evaluate different part configurations in a virtual environment.

A customer can configure a part by choosing such parameters as motor voltage, torque rating, gearbox ratio, and encoder resolution.

After configuring a part as many times as necessary, the file can then be downloaded in the most commonly used CAD software file formats including Solid Works, CATIA, and Pro/E. The file also can be downloaded in a vendor-neutral format, such as an .IGS or .STP file. The system allows the creation of a fully dimensioned outline drawing generated directly from the configured CAD model.

After a virtual configuration is created using the online 3D model system, a product engineer can work closely with PITTMAN applications engineers to create a more customized application-specific solution.

Options include optimised motor windings, unique shaft configurations, various bearing systems, output devices such as pinions and pulleys, special lead wire assemblies, and various other features.

Pittman Motors www.pittman-motors.com

Mettler Toledo has introduced a new range of SevenExcellence benchtop meters designed for precise measurements of pH, conductivity, ion concentration or ORP (oxidation reduction potential).

The new benchtop pH and conductivity meters are designed as modular instruments that measure 1, 2 or 3 channels in parallel, with a unique 7-inch touch screen and guided interface designed to ensure intuitive operation.

They are available as individually configured single, dual and triple channel instruments depending on the number of modules included.

All pre-configured versions are sold as instrument-only versions or kit versions with a choice of Intelligent Sensor Management (ISM) technology sensors.

The methods used by the meters ensure reproducibility and increase repeatability of the analysis within strictly defined settings and measurement sequences. Further, the methods

effectively manage complex applications and stringent requirements in regulated markets.

The meters are available in various useful and ready-to-use kits: USP/EP pH and conductivity kit, Biopharm pH kit or conductivity trace analysis kits.

Mettler Toledo 1300 659 761 www.au.mt.com

Kink-free bends Evolve Composites has introduced the Polybender to the HVAC market as an internal copper tube bending tool designed to offer the installer fast, easy and quality â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;kink-freeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bends. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Polybenderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique physical properties, including superior tube wall support, ensure bend stress is evenly dispersed to prevent kinking, and the low friction properties allow for easy extraction, even with tight bends,â&#x20AC;? said Evolveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national business development manager Phil Hermans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are also perfect for rough-in installations where interference from other trade or site visitors can damage copper tube beyond repair, costing significant time, money and frustration.â&#x20AC;?

Polybenders are sold in individual packs that

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Disperses cable bend stress. contain a durable re-sealable bag, two Velcro holding straps to keep the product neatly stored as a coil and a cleaning cloth and mineral oil to keep the Polybender contaminant-free.

Each Polybender is three metres in length and is available in 3/8â&#x20AC;?, 1/2â&#x20AC;?, 5/8â&#x20AC;? diameters from HVAC wholesalers.

Evolve Composites www.evolvegroup.com

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Manufacturersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Monthly MARCH 2013 25

Adhesives& FASTENERS Greener gluing In going green, an adhesives maker has released its first spray adhesives in 40 years.

E

ven the adhesive industry cannot shield itself from the forces of environmentalism and an uncertain economy.

Manufacturers’ Monthly spoke to Matthew Rola-Stezycki 3M’s senior product manager for Australia and New Zealand’s industrial adhesives and tapes division, and he said the forces of the GFC and green trends have had lasting affects on its clientele.

“Customers are looking for more efficient solutions that will allow them to reduce overall production costs, customers are more cautious of the cost factor now then they were prior to the GFC,” he said.

The green movement is slowly taking over the world; there is nowhere to hide and certainly nowhere to run.

And when it comes to the sticky business of adhesives, the type of adhesive used in manufacturing processes not only affects the quality of the end product but also the environmental footprint of the manufacturing company.

3M have recognised that environmentally friendly and cost effective adhesives are increasingly important to both their New Zealand and Australian market base, prompting them to develop a new range of low volatile organic compound (VOC)

aerosol adhesives to help manufacturers reduce their overall footprint..

“One of the trends right now is for green products, we are seeing increased demand for products that are environmentally friendly,” he said.

Introducing its first spray adhesive over forty years ago, 3M has continued to develop its range of industrial grade adhesives for bonding a wide range of materials, including fabric, foam, rubber, wood laminates, metal and plastics, with the latest range due out mid 2013.

Delivered in pressurised cylinders these aerosol adhesives eliminate the need for intensive spray equipment, instead offering finger-touch targeted control to ensure minimal overspray, waste and clean up.

The new range of low VOC aerosols are not only greener they are also safer to use Rola-Stezycki stated.

In particular 3M’s Hi-Strenth 94 ET Cylinder Spray Adhesive is a high performance, industrial grade spray adhesive with a unique low telegraphing pebble spray pattern.

The 94 ET has an extended tack, meaning bonding can occur up to one hour after the adhesive has been sprayed and it is able to bond a range of substrates including plastics and carbon fibre.

Rola-Stezycki stated that the new 94 ET is an improved formula which

The spray has lower VOC.

combines the properties of the popular 76 and 90 adhesives currently available on the market.

It also has a higher tack for easier bonding, 3M adding that it has “more versatility in substrate bonding,such as soft foams, lighter weight materials and more porous surfaces”.

Adhesive products have come a long way in recent years, especially in terms of greening and efficiency levels.

“Transforming all spray adhesives

to become low VOC” is a goal 3M is working towards Rola-Stezycki said.

He added that continuing to grow environmentally friendly lines and invest in research and development were also important objectives for the company’s adhesive department.

One area of opportunity identified by Rola-Stezycki was the improvement of water based adhesives especially because of their non flammable and environmentally friendly nature.

“Water based adhesives will be developed and improved to become more efficient,” Rola-Stezycki said.

But 3M’s adhesives do face some challenges as it forges its way ahead through the adhesive business.

Adhesives are currently confronting stiff competition from double sided tapes and mechanical solutions like screws, nails or rivets, Rola-Stezycki told Manufacturers’ Monthly.

But adhesives will always of being able to efficiently bond two different substrates together without intrusion, whereas screws, nails,and rivets, while still joining materials together can cause undue stress during movement or twisting of the object, potentially damaging the two substrates.

sales Comment at manmonthly.com.au

26 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

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Better.

Enough said

New products Loctite速 401 406 454 When it comes to instant bonding, Loctite is the industry leader and has the most comprehensive range. Our next-generation 401, 406 and 454 have been enhanced to consistently withstand higher temperatures and ensure fast and superior adhesion.

To view our complete range of products and receive your FREE Loctite Wallchart, visit loctite.com.au/MM

STRENGTH IN BRAND

STRENGTH IN SUPPORT

STRENGTH IN PRODUCT

STRENGTH IN INNOVATION

Product

BEARINGS, GEARS, OIL & LUBRICATION

Synthetic oil gains OEM approval

B

el-Ray Synthetic Gear Oil 680 has received OEM (original equipment manufacturer) approval from Komatsu, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of construction and mining equipment.

The fully synthetic hydrocarbon and ester combination oil is authorised for use in General Electric GDY85, GDY106 and GDY108 electric wheel motors and is suited to mobile equipment electric wheel motors and planetary transmissions found on electric mining shovels. The enclosed gear lubricant also carries General Electric OEM approval for general wheel motor usage with both AC and DC units.

Bel-Ray Synthetic Gear Oil 680 also has extreme pressure capabilities, providing a high level of gear and bearing protection under both normal and high load conditions; micropitting prevention; thermal stability for elevated operating temperatures; and is highly filterable to the 10-micron level recommended by Komatsu, promoting maximum lubricant effectiveness by eliminating contamination-related wear.

Don Howard, new product innovation (mining)

The oil is used for both AC and DC units. at Bel-Ray said “the superior thermal stability and filterability of this gear oil results in drain interval extensions of up to three times that of other synthetic oils.

“This maximises the cost effectiveness of this premium quality, enclosed gear lubricant for our customers.”

The BOGE brand: First-Class-Engineering made in Germany.

Mechanical grease Klüber Lubrication offers Klübersynth RA 44-702, a fully synthetic grease of high viscosity that has been developed for the lubrication of plastic parts inside cars.

It is intended to mechanically dampen and the reduce noise of slowly moving parts.

The grease, which does not contain any silicone and has no odour, can be used for both plastic/plastic and plastic/ metal material pairings.

Oils or bonded coatings are applied to hundreds of points in every car, including brakes, engine components, gear shift, clutch and gears, or in seemingly minor components like door modules.

The grease is designed to help reduce oscillation and noise, even at low temperatures. For example, it is intended to improve the feel of operating switches or adjusting seat rails.

Other applications include mechanical switches and rotary controls, ventilation flaps, sun visors, ashtrays, cup holders, storage boxes and sunroofs.

Said to offer good resistance to abrasion, it has been tested on more than 100 standard and customised rigs.

Bel-Ray www.belray.com

Klüber Lubrication Australia 03 9464 7577 www.klueber.com

Synthetic lubricant CRC Industries offers Syntex synthetic lubricant, a multi-purpose product formulated to lubricate and protect surfaces that is suitable for both light and heavy commercial use.

The lubricant contains no acid, silicone or petroleum distillates, making it safe for use on rubber, metals, painted surfaces, fibreglass and most hard surfaces.

A clean, odourless and clear formulation, it will not wash off or dry out and since it is silicone free surfaces

treated with the lubricant can be repainted after application.

It has an extreme temperature range of -40 to +350ºC, in addition to an extremely high flash point of 250ºC and fire point of 300ºC. CRC Industries 1300 870 833 www.crcindustries.com.au

Industrial gearboxes Discover the BOGE edge: www.boge.net.au

FOR YOUR NEAREST DISTRIBUTOR PLEASE CONTACT BOGE HEAD OFFICE: (03) 5940 3266

28 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Motordrives Australia presents two gearboxes designed for use in industrial and washdown equipment. Part of the Car-WashTecno product line dedicated to wash systems, the two gearboxes are the worm gearbox CWT050/CWTS050 and the small helical gearbox CMG002.

The CWT050/CWTS050 worm gearbox has been designed to move the brushes horizontally and vertically in an industrial wash while the helical gearbox CMG002 is used to move the brushes that clean a

vehicle’s wheels. Key features common to the two gearbox ranges include stainless steel or galvanised steel hollow output shaft, anti-oxidant paint on the housing, high performance, robust construction and compact size.

Both are also available in many ranges and have a waterproof gasket between the input flange and motor.

Motordrives Australia 1300 903 805 www.motordrives.com.au manmonthly.com.au

CALLING ALL

INNOVATIVE AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURERS Tickets are now available for the 10th annual Manufacturers’ Monthly Endeavour Awards, the national awards program which provides the industry with an opportunity to recognise and reward manufacturing excellence. Join us in celebrating the best of Australian manufacturing!

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OnSITE Driving innovation Staying innovative in the face of change has been the key to an Australian companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success.

Brent Balinski writes.

K

eeping their business efficient and innovative has been crucial to the Larabased Air Radiators, which supplies cooling and heat exchange solutions to a variety of customers in the mining industry and elsewhere. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We supply 100 per cent of Kenworth Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engine cooling modules,â&#x20AC;? ARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s general manager, Jamie Baensch, told Manufacturersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Monthly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We supply them in-full just in time in-sequence deliveryâ&#x20AC;Ś We build in the same sequence as theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re building their trucks.â&#x20AC;?

Air Radiatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work is so linked to Kenworthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Australian operations that AR is practically part of the

Tailoring designs to customer needs has allowed it to remain competitive in a slowed sector. trucking companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production line. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had their business for over 30 years and have been a key supplier for Kenworth throughout that time,â&#x20AC;? he explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the key reason that we maintain that business is the fact that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re integrated into that supply chain. Wheareas if you were to import that, obviously the supply chain is a significantly different thing.â&#x20AC;? The Victorian company (and a member of the

stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Manufacturing Hall of Fame since 2006) has, through the custommade nature of what it makes and its constant efforts to keep its costs down, remained competitive where many businesses have floundered. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The volume of the products that we make is low, and we need to be responsive to our customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs,â&#x20AC;? said Baensch. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In doing that we maintain a good relationship with them, they know that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also

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ANALYSIS >> TECHNOLOGY >> SOLUTIONS

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Keeping Manufacturing Local >> Materials Handling >> Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New

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Australian Manufacturers

INSIDE Automation & Robotics >> Motors & Drives >> IT@MM Protecting Your IP >> Welding >> Import Tariffs >> Food & Beverage Manufacturing >> Keeping Australian Manufacturing Local

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10 MINUTES WITH MIKE DEVEREUX >> Does Holden have a future in Australia?

Holden's MD talks.

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committed to the manufacturing process in Australia.

“Rather than putting prices up – we’ve focused on reducing cost. And I use the word ‘price’ and ‘cost’ very carefully, because if we can reduce cost, we can reduce price. If we’re just giving away price without reducing cost, that’s where many manufacturing businesses go broke.”

Besides Kenworth, Air Radiators also counts enterprises such as Hitachi Construction Machinery in Japan, to whom AR recently shipped their 150th unit, as customers. Ditto for mining companies like Sandvik and Caterpillar, whose vehicles operate in particularly demanding conditions.

“We are a globally-approved Caterpillar supplier,” proudly notes Baensch, whose company has been a provider of cooling solutions for Caterpillar for over two decades.

“The product that we do for Caterpillar is for their underground loaders and diggers and is designed to work in the very arduous underground mining environment, which is quite

manmonthly.com.au

corrosive and is also fairly abrasive in terms of the soot and dirt and dust that gets caught up in the radiators.

“We continue to develop our products in conjunction with Caterpillar and it’s good business for us. But we are, again, exposed internationally to keep our costs and our prices low to compete with the imported product.”

Keeping costs down is assisted by lean manufacturing techniques, influenced by the Toyota Production System in Japan.

“We’re training everyone in the business in lean manufacturing philosophies. Over a period of one-and-a-half years, which is the full engagement – we have three 12-month slots of training going through; the first slot is running for six months, the second one will start up after Christmas and we’ll have two lots of training going through and then the third one will start in another one.

“That training is very, very handson. The trainers use minimal class work and it’s mostly on the shop floor through practical training.

“We’re a brownfields site.

“We’ve been on the site for around 25 years. The site was old when we got to it and we’ve been going through and doing all the lean processes starting with the 5S process but also introducing all the lean characteristics and looking at introducing standard work and creating standard processes.”

In line with the just-in-time approach mentioned above for delivering their product to Kenworth, AR also employs the Kanban or “pull” scheduling system, which has been modified to suit their purpose.

“We’re a low-volume manufacturer, so you do need to change some of the philosophies of the Toyota production systems to suit the lowvolume manufacture, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”

Along with keeping their manufacturing efficient, constant product improvements are an important part of the company’s success. Baensch estimates that some 15 per cent of their workforce, including in sales,

are involved in product development from a design perspective.

R & D laboratory equipment includes a computer-controlled wind tunnel, durability testing equipment, and proprietary thermal analysis/ simulation software.

“We’re what you’d call a fullcompliance manufacturer: everything is fully-designed in 3D CAD using SolidWorks,” said Baensch. “We’re using advanced, computer-aided engineering tools such as finite element analysis to optimise the structure of our heat exchanger units.”

Baensch added that recent simulation technology has helped the company to move with their customers’ needs.

“I guess we’ve only really embraced this over the last two years. But we’re actually very proficient in doing a lot of the work that you’d call prototype work. We’re doing this work in a virtual computer environment with a much higher confidence level that the products are going to be right first time.”

Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2013 31

LaserTECHNOLOGIES

Laser cutting provide precision.

High intensity precision Lower energy laser and plasma cutting without sacrificing power.

M

anufacturing is an industry that requires precision and speed.

The more you can produce, with high levels of accuracy and quality, the more your business will prosper.

What slows a business down and creates unnecessary costs is double handling, potentially having workers do the same task twice to ensure quality.

Added to this is the continual cost of time, as well as energy costs associated with repeating tasks. Whilst traditional welding and metal cutting

gets the cutting job done, is it good enough?

Laser and plasma cutting also gets the job done, but it provides a quicker, cleaner, more precise cut within millimeters, not only ensuring accuracy but cutting the potential of double handling.

Hypertherm, a U.S. based manufacturer of advanced cutting systems, have announced the release of a new 3 kW fibre laser system for increased accuracy and lower energy costs.

The HyIntensity Fiber Laser HFL030 has been designed with a

PC & PLC Programming Video Image Processing Cost Effective Solutions for your automation technology needs Australia wide.

We specialise in Systems Integration and Projects Big and Small.

Industrial Software & Electronics Tel: (07) 3856 2232 Fax: (07) 3355 1012 Email: info@industrialsoftware.com.au 32 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

recommended cut capacity of 20 millimetres for mild steel, 12 millimetres for stainless steel, and 10 millimetres for aluminium.

The HFL030 is specifically optimised for cutting applications.

It comes with pre-developed cutting processes, and all the components needed for simplifying table integration and operation. As a result, the company says the system can cut thicker materials faster than many higher powered competitive systems.

In other words, Hypertherm’s 3 kW system has the cut capacity of other 4 kW fiber laser system, using less energy than 4KW systems but without sacrificing cut quality.

The system uses a low maintenance solid-state laser source to generate a laser beam which is then delivered through a fibre optic cable to the laser head. The glass fibre transfers the beam with a focus quality tailored for cutting metal.

When compared with CO2 laser systems, the fibre laser cutting process simplifies table design requirements and integration. Operating costs, thanks in part to the high ener-

gy efficiency of the fibre laser and maintenance requirements which are virtually nonexistent, are also much lower than with current CO2 lasers.

“HyIntensity Fibre Laser system are easily integrated into a wide range of cutting machine types, allowing service centres and fabricators to expand their business by adding high precision fine feature cutting to their operations,” Doug Shuda, product marketing manager for Hypertherm’s fibre laser products, explained.

With the ability to pre-set cutting parameters with a full range of materials including steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, the new system is tightly integrated for ease of operation that ensures consistent automatic cutting processes.

Additionally, the system is able to cut and mark with the same consumables, which makes for easy process changeover and more efficient operations.

The laser cut technology can also be combined with plasma cut technology to deliver higher productivity for most plate and metal working applications. manmonthly.com.au

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3DPrinting The future of manufacturing?

3D printing and manufacturing is making its mark in the heart of mining country. Brent Balinski reports.

“M

ackay is the services hub of the Queensland mining industry; it’s also got a vibrant engineering and business community, complemented by investment infrastructure in a range of industries,” said Lila Clarke, coordinator of an event billed as the country’s first dedicated 3D printing expo.

Mackay might seem like an odd choice at first for the June 13 event, with every single presenter at the event representing an organisation based in Victoria, and most of the talent dealing with the technology residing in or near Melbourne.

“Melbourne is certainly close the the action,” agreed Clarke when Manufacturers’ Monthly spoke to her shortly after the expo was announced. “Though Mackay is an ideal location to have some of that action as well.

“Mackay also hosts another big expo related to the mining industry, QME So we’re wanting to bring the expo to complement that side of the industry as well,” she explained.

3D printing (also known by names like additive manufacturing and a few others) has been in Australia since Vipac Engineering bought a SLA 250 Stereolithography machine in 1990, aiming but failing to create a local market for the technology.

It’s been used for three decades for prototyping, though the buzz around additive manufacturing has been growing lately, with exciting possibilities in fields such as metal parts fabrication and medical industries.

3D printing is of interest for a number of reasons, one of which is 34 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Despite promise, 3D printing is minimal in Australia.

Image courtesy of TU Vienna. its fit with Australia’s place as an innovation-driven, though expensive, manufacturing nation. “We are a high-cost nation,” said Bruce Grey, the managing director the Advanced Manufacturing CRC and a presenter at the expo. “We need to concentrate on creative, high-value manufacturing.”

Another presenter at the expo, Simon Bartlett, director at Rapid Pro, has been involved with 3D printing for two decades, and seen it used as an essential part of the development process for many companies.

RapidPro, a prototyping bureau, has been providing additive manufacturing since 2005. “Back then it was kind of a dark art; your CAD files, your computer files would disappear into the ether and the next thing these parts would come back, and it’d cost a fortune,” Bartlett, who had been involved in in-house prototyping operations in the automotive industry prior to RapidPro, told Manufacturers’ Monthly.

Bartlett’s company provides outsourced prototyping solutions through additive manufacturing techniques including Objet and ZCorp. Selective Laser Sintering which uses a laser to fuse materials, layer-by-layer on a powder bed - and Fused Deposition Modeling - a process where thermoplastic layers are built up by an extrusion nozzle.

“SLS and FDM are two which we see control the majority of the market share in terms of manufacturing these parts,” he explained.

“Both those technologies have got their own pros and cons as well.”

At the moment, despite the prevalence of 3D printing used for prototyping (even back in 2010, a Wohlers Associates report estimated there were 390 systems installed in Australia for that purpose), its use in the country to make end products is, to date, minimal.

ResMed produces plastic parts through 3D printing, and Ferra Engineering announced plans last

year to make titanium parts for Lockheed Martin’s Joint Strike Fighter. Aside from these, and despite its potential, there are limited examples of 3D printing being used for making end products.

“When we talk about digital manufacturing and things like that, it’s never really going to overtake things like injection moulding,” said Bartlett. The role of creating high volumes of generic parts, say those made by injection moulding, is not going to be occupied by 3D printing any time soon.

“You’re never going to make your little plastic widgets for one or two cents. The machines aren’t that fast,” said Bartlett. “And not that cheap.

“But some applications, when you start thinking about something which is maybe very intricate, or your production run may only be a few hundred parts; that’s when looking at this sort of technology starts to make sense.” manmonthly.com.au

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James Stevens, CEO, Roses Only

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Materials x

Displacement sensors

Pedestrian stacker truck MITSUBISHI’S AXIA ES Pedestrian Stacker is compact, easy to use and highly versatile.

These newly-designed stackers come with an ergonomic tiller arm and extremely compact powerhead and outstanding visibility. The AXIA ES ensures easy manoeuvrability in tight spaces.

Advanced and added value features include a sealed chassis to offer protection against dirt, dust and other particles; a water-resistant design which diverts splashed moisture away from key electrical components; low centre of gravity which aids stability and safety; an AC drive motor which gives effective traction and ramp performance, as well as smooth, quiet operation and extended shift length; extra ground clearance for driving on ramps and loading docks; and a foldable driver platform which offers a comfortable ride over longer distances.

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Strain Gauges

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Load Cells

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Torque sensors

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Pressure sensors

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Inclinometers

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Tilt sensors & switches

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Accelerometers

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Signal condiƟoners

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Digital panel meters

Stable confined space lifting

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Package leak tester

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UTMs

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Thermal Analyser

With wide view mast and wet brakes in all models, LOWRY forklifts are now being distributed by Lencrow.

Lowry forklifts are build to work in confined spaces offering lifting capacities of 11000 to 23000kgs all less than 1500mm wide. owry units all come with electronically controlled Dana three speed transmissions and have option of LPG and diesel engines. The units are all fitted with cushion tyres to ensure maximum stability.

Mark Aldrovandi, international sales manager of lifting, said, “We are very happy that Lencrow will be offering both Lowry and Liftking products in

MLA Holdings 131 652 www.mlaholdings.com.au

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Wireless sensors

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Colour sensors

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InerƟal gyros

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Data loggers & DAQ

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Technical Trainers

U14, 44 Garden Blvd

MEL.: 03 9540 5100

Dingley VIC 3172

SYD.: 02 9624 4233

Enquiry@bestech.com.au

36 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Lencrow 1300 536 276 www.lencrowgroup.com.au

Australian conveyor company recognised

Bestech Australia

www.bestech.com.au

Australia. We have put a lot of effort into making these units driver friendly while still offering robust design.”

Lowry units are suited in many manufacturing situations where both size and large capacity lift is required.

An Australian conveyor and materials handling company has been internationally recognised for its standards.

Kinder has been awarded AS and ISO standard certifications from Bureau Veritas.

According to the company it has achieved AS/NZS ISO 9001, AS/NZS 4801, OHSAS 18001 and AS/NZS ISO 14001 certifications for the provision of tailored, engineered solutions for bulk materials handling and standard and customised conveyor hardware

components, flow and anti-wear products, screening products, conveyor skirting and belt transfer products, belt cleaning systems, bucket elevator components, conveyor process equipment and associated safety and environment products for a number of different industries, including the manufacturing and smelting industries.

Kinder www.kinder.com.au

manmonthly.com.au

HANDLING

Slim line plastic export pallets Nesting pallets designed to free up factory floor space.

B

ulk Handling Australia Group (BHA) has released its new slim line plastic export pallet for Bulk Bags onto the Australian and New Zealand Markets.

BHA have been developing the BHA Bag Pallet for over two years and said the innovation provides a low-cost alternative to wooden or traditional plastic pallets.

Injection moulded from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), it features a four way entry design, is stackable to save space, and is fully recyclable. Weighing in at just 4.7 kg, the new patented design ticks all the boxes from an OH&S perspective.

The BHA Bag Pallet has also been laboratory and field tested to determine the design weight load performance for different bulk bag base dimensions and through extensive fill and logistics trials amongst

manmonthly.com.au

bulk bag exporting companies. BHA managing director Ian Shaw says the BHA Bag Pallet will provide innovation in the bulk bag export market for the food, agriculture, mining, chemical, and other export industries.: “The slim line design allows for a lower profile, which provides the opportunity to design greater efficiency in the total container payload by reviewing the existing bulk bag dimensions,” he said.

“The ‘stack-ability’ of the product offers huge space savings in the storage of pallets compared to standard wooden or plastic pallets, with a 10 stack only measuring 280 mm in height.”

With more than 30 companies already trialling the new pallet over the last 18 months, Shaw said the response from customers had been good.

“Customer feedback has been very positive with regards to the recyclable nature of the material, the fact that it is light weight and stackable, and because it can be reused in a closed loop system,” he said.

“The new pallet is a very unique design and while it may not be suitable in all instances due to the specific fill systems or handling processes of individual customers, in the majority of instances the BHA Bag Pallet has been trialled successfully across a number of industry segments.”

Shaw said the Pallet was an important design development for BHA. “The new pallet complements our

Can be reused in a closed loop system, Shaw said. existing product range and further strengthens our leadership position in the supply of Bulk Bags in Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

“The extensive trial work we have completed both in the lab and with our customers over the past 18 months has provided the feedback to justify the significant investment in the injection mould required to manufacture the product.”

Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2013 37

ENPAC

flexible portable containment solutions

STINGER YELLOW JACKET™ - CHEMICAL Lightweight portable pallet Unique snap-up support stays create a sturdy sidewall when unit is opened Convenient temporary material storage

STINGER SNAP-UP BERM™ - HYDROCARBON Large scale immediate spill response Easy to assemble snap-up design permits immediate response Fuel/chemical resistant containment

STINGER SPILLPAL™ REMOVABLE FOAM SIDEWALLS

Instant containment berm High chemical resistance allows for easy, reliable spill containment Removable logs Sturdy construction with drive-in/out capability

STINGER SNAP-FOAM BERM™ - HYDROCARBON True drive-in/drive-out capability Foam end caps form 2-way air-relief system to snap end sidewalls back automatically Fuel/chemical resistant containment

1300 369 273 or visit WWW.ENWARE.COM.AU/ENPAC

Preview SAFETY IN ACTION: 19-21 MARCH 2013

Materials handling Safety in Action is a breeding ground for pioneering safety products and this year is to be no different.

Following the recent devastating floods in Queensland HAZIBAG will launch the brand new Barrier Sack, a self inflating sand-less “sand bag”.

The Barrier Sack enables quick preparation for flash flooding and water burst incidents.

It stores flat and when it is needed can be inflated using water, expanding in just a few minutes to weigh more than 23 kilograms.

Made from 100 per cent biodegradable materials the Barrier Sack is a safe and

affordable way to protect property, people and businesses from damaging water.

Hazibag 0404 453 579 www.barriersack.com.au

Electrical safety

Water safety

Electricity proves to be a unique danger in many workplaces; Energy Safe Victoria will be educating the industry providing information and advice at the show, while DRC Switchboards will be showcasing their new ISOLECT switchboards.

ISOLECT electrical switchboards are built to meet Australian regulations and don’t require isolation from power when being worked on, meaning no downtime when maintenance is taking place.

Australia’s harsh climate can mean extreme weather conditions, including strong and variant currents.

AQUAPROGEAR’s Norsea survival suits are made for the comfort and safety of maritime workers. They don’t require an additional life jacket to be worn and are quick and easy to put on in both daylight and darkness.

The survival suit “allows the wearer to be comfortable after 6 hours in immersion in water at a temperature of 0 degrees” Celsius.

DRC Switchboards 03 9587 4499 www.drcswitchboards.com.au

Aqua ProGear 03 9429 3521 www.aquaprogear.com

High visibility LED vests

One of the easiest ways to stay safe on in dark or high traffic areas is to remain highly visible, Australian company ROOBUCK have caught onto this idea and will be releasing an Australian certified LED safety vest.

The new design incorporates LED lights which are embedded within the vest to act as a highly visible warning and to allow the wearer to remain seen at all times no matter the ambient light conditions on site.

Battery powered, the vest is easy to operate and can be seen even in complete darkness for up to 300 metres.

Roobuck 02 9938 1550 www.roobuck.com.au

38 MARCH 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

manmonthly.com.au

See serious Safety In Action S afety above profit is what every single employer and company needs to have emblazoned across their boardrooms, desks, arms, walls, windows, everywhere.

Over three days in March 2013, the Melbourne Exhibition Centre will play host to hundreds of businesses working to keep Australians safe.

Experts from all over the country will converge to talk about the latest technology and know-how at this year’s Safety in Action.

Event director Tony Francis said there is no other show in Australia that is this committed to safety; encompassing seminars, state of the art technology, and the chance to network with people and businesses who are leading the field in safety.

“If you’re looking for answers or to develop a network you can rely on for safety you should definitely register and book into some of the seminars that suit you,” Francis said.

The event will also include members of the SIA National Safety Convention who will be adding a global perspective to health and safety legislation, issues and practices.

This year’s Safety in Action incorporates both product and procedure innovation through

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live demonstrations, interactive experiences and a series of free seminars, all in the interest of helping make Australia a safer place to work.

Running for three days there is a lot to absorb, including a wide range of seminars covering topics such as safety software and conflict management.

There will be a strong line-up of thought-provoking speakers from a number of different bacgrounds including manufacturing, construction, and mining.

Levasque Peterson, who has worked in workplace health and safety for over 15 years and is now a key member at legal firm Lander and Rogers, will be walking delegates through the essential steps for conducting an internal review; while

Norton Rose’s Barry Sherriff will be exploring effective techniques within HR strategy in Dealing Effectively with Others in OHS. When it comes to safety management systems those with a more technical palate shouldn’t miss NCS International environmental practitioner and engineer Ian Ackland who will be discussing the ABCs of Safety Management Systems, and Machine Safety By Design’s Frank Schrever’s talk on Machine Safety – Australian Standards Development and Directions which will focus on the latest updates to the AS 4024.1-2006 and how it will change the future of safety management in Australia.

Murphy’s law is a good ethos to remember when tackling safety, because no matter what processes or equipment are implemented if it can

go wrong it will, so having a disaster or worse case scenario plan is a must.

Melbourne based lawyer Melissa Kirby from Sharpe and Abel calls on her legal experience to discuss the stressful situation of disaster management.

In her talk What to do When Disaster Hits: When Safety Products Fail, Kirby will go through real-life case studies and practical steps to manage both difficult and dangerous situations in the best possible way.

Learning from experience is one of the best things you can do when formulating a safer work environment, workplace disaster survivor himself, James Wood will be on hand to tell his first-hand account of his experience with workplace accidents in his talk Choices.

Manufacturers’ Monthly MARCH 2013 39

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