News
Micro Factories are the Future of Recycling
UNSW’s Professor Sahajwalla is a rubbish innovator who sees used materials as resources. She is testing putting micro factories in businesses to take on their own recycling journey and remanufacture the waste on site.
Using Design Thinking Creates Successful Products
We live and work in a world of interlocking systems, where many of the problems we face are dynamic and multifaceted. Design thinking reframes the problem with a human focus to help solve the problem.
Why all Businesses Need Office Dogs
Pets are incredibly effective at boosting the moods of all of those around them. Studies have shown they reduce anxiety, lower stress levels and increase overall morale.
Supply Chain Shortage with Vaccination Syringes
This unforeseen supply chain disruption is frustrating for NSW health care advisors and workers, as the additional dose from each vial could significantly accelerate the number of people being vaccinated each day.
Woolies X Transforms Customers Shopping Experience
Woolies X implements new initiatives across Woolworths stores with a focus on better serving their customers and improving their shopping experiences to be safer, more efficient and more informed.
Rethinking Manufacturing in Australia
Companies and businesses need to rethink their automatic assumption that manufacturing offshore in Asia is the most suitable solution and rethink manufacturing in Australia. More often than not it pays off to keep your company based in Australia.
SafeWork NSW Urges Manufacturers to Put Safety as Their Top Priority
SafeWork NSW director of WHS Metro, Sarina Wise, said with more than seven per cent of the state’s workforce employed in manufacturing, the rise in safety incidents needs to be addressed. The Manufacturing Work Health and Safety Sector Plan provides strong leadership and direction for best practice in work health and safety.
Regional Australians Benefit from ARENA’s Future Fuels Project
Regional electric vehicle consumers need the reassurance that they can drive long distances with confidence that they can recharge their batteries when required.
Differences Between Hot Rolled Steel and Cold Rolled Steel
Prefabricated raw steel material commonly comes as either hot rolled steel or cold rolled steel. Understanding the differences in materials is important as the variables come with their own benefits and drawbacks.
Onshape: CAD Anywhere with the Cloud
Onshape’s cloud-native solution is a perfect fit for companies requiring the flexibility of remote design teams, enabling engineers to work together from anywhere, any time, and on any device.
No Women in Manufacturing? Think again
A long-term shift to a more female-oriented workforce in Australia has accelerated in recent years. Male-dominated industries are seeing women make impactful contributions.
Skilled Australians In High Demand
Industries such as farming and infrastructure rely heavily on international skilled workers and seasonal pickers. With the effects of COVID-19, Australians are either unskilled or unwilling to take on the work.
Grants Ensure Australian Defence Capabilities are Manufactured Onshore
Government grants ensure Sovereign Industrial Capability Priorities, which are the capabilities assessed as critical to Defence, can and will be developed or supported by Australian industry.
Matterport – the Industry Leaders in 3D Capture Technology
Virtual reality technology has sparked a different kind of fascination for both users and businessmen. As virtual tours have proven to provide an exceptional experience.
Investors Interest Turns to Manufacturing Sector
Manufacturing is arguably where the biggest technological innovations are occurring. As a result, it’s hard not to see the scalability of this market and investors are aiming to get on the front foot.
Fortescue’s Green Steel Production Plant Backed by Andrew Forrests Ambition
Chairman of Fortescue Metal Group, Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest is advocating his innovative green steel production plant, that will use hydrogen and 100% renewable energy to run.
Essential Laser Cutting Maintenances
For some, laser maintenance is a given. Any seasoned metal fabricator knows how important it is to keep the laser cutting machine at its top efficiency and productivity levels. Here are some things to watch.
A Guide to Creating a Bill of Materials (BOM)
A Bill of Materials (BOM) is a definitive guide for creating a finished good. Without one, a manufacturing company risks a host of problems that can be avoided with the production of an effective and well-crafted BOM.
7 Advantages of Digital Printing
The advantages of digital printing will continue to grow, especially when business’ need to budget while still marketing their products and services.
How Business Opportunities Arise in Organised Chaos
Organised chaos suggests that management should place more emphasis on adaptability, initiative and entrepreneurial creativity to cope with a future that is inherently unknowable.
Adidas’ Sustainability Efforts Impacting Marine Health
Adidas’ sustainability steps mean less virgin plastic, reduced CO2 emissions and more awareness of the issue – with every product made serves as a wearable symbol of change that sparks questions, discussions and ideas about creating even more progress.
AMP’s Recycling Robots Gain Traction in Waste Industry
AMP’s Recycling Robots uses AI to recognise objects for recycling based on their colours, shapes, textures and logos.
Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Expands To Meet International Demands
CEO John McLean said the development of the future brewery was a long-term project and a major financial investment for the family, in preparation for major long term growth.
Recycling Innovations Pushed by Offshore Waste Export Bans
Australia’s states and territories have agreed to ban the export of waste by 2024, meaning the country must find ways to recycle, repurpose and dispose of waste onshore.
Italian Glass Manufacturer Providing COVID-19 Vaccine Vials
The Stevanato Group began 71 years ago by crafting specialty bottles for perfume and wine. Now they are perfectly positioned to profit from packaging the COVID-19 vaccine.
Manufacturing Industry Faces Peaks and Troughs Throughout Pandemic
The manufacturing industry has suffered some of the deepest scars from the pandemic recession with job numbers still well short of their pre-virus levels.
Queensland Government Funds Onshoring PPE Manufacturing
Queensland’s $50 million Essential Goods and Supply Chain Program will fund 3 local companies to reprioritise their manufacturing to PPE highlighting the need for onshore manufacturing.
Prospect for Retired Coal Mine to be Given Renewable Re-Birth
The Australian Government is piloting Lake Macquarie’s retired coal mine in a $13 million trial to transform the site in a renewable re-birth.
Kmart Sells Dolls with Disabilities
Kmart Australia is being praised for launching a new range of Fashion Dolls that have a variety of physical and intellectual disabilities – a big win for disability representation.
Will Australia Embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, otherwise known as Industry 4.0 is an expansion of the third revolution, blurring the lines between the physical, biological and digital worlds.
Concourse Technologies Innovative ‘Smart Wheel’ Design Helps the Disabled Community
Forestville based Concourse Technology has developed light-weight, fully-integrated, powered smart wheels that replace standard wheels on a manual wheelchair. The wheels can be used manually, or easily switched over to power assistance when needed.
RM Williams Returns to Australian Ownership
Iconic international bootmaker RM Williams has been recently bought by Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, returning the brand to Australian ownership.
Arnotts Campbells Factory $8 million Upgrade
Campbell’s Australasia, part of The Arnott’s Group, has been a part of the Shepparton community for nearly 60 years, making high quality soups, stocks, broths and juices sourced from local and Australian food producers.
The Advantages of Powder Coating
Powder coating is a manufacturing process we use with nearly all products we produce at Black Lab. This more advanced painting approach improves durability, provides a higher quality finish and is environmentally friendly.
What We Learnt About Manufacturing in 2020
For us at Black Lab Design, 2020 highlighted our competitive edge of faster delivery times, lower transport costs and our clients having the ability to visit our production processes in person.
7 Reasons Why It’s Important to Buy Australian Made Products
Buying Australian made products is so important for our sustainability and supply chain security.
Australian Procurement and Supply Chain Management
In areas such as transport and health, where the federal government provides funding, a collaborative national approach is crucial to ensuring Australia can sustain itself through onshore supply chains and procurement.
The Woolworths Group Commitment to Sustainability
To make it easier for Woolworths customers to embrace a greener future, the Woolworths Group has introduced a number of initiatives to reduce unsustainable practices in their stores.
NSW’s Renewable Energy Plan Creates Onshore Steel Opportunities
The New South Wales Government is looking to increase steel production in New South Wales as part of the transition to renewable energy infrastructure.
“At Least I’ve Got a Job”: Employed but Overworked
Employees who’ve taken a pay cut or witnessed redundancies due to the pandemic are often overworked, as they were “lucky” to keep their job.
Pandemic Fatigue: Who Else Has Been Feeling It?
This year has largely been swallowed up by COVID-19, leading to the shutdown of economies, schools, businesses, arts and entertainment. People are experiencing pandemic fatigue, can you feel it too?
Rebuilding Australia’s Manufacturing Industry
Manufacturers importance in economic survival has been reconsidered since the pandemic. To ensure supply chain sovereignty we need to rebuild Australia’s manufacturing industry.
Metal Fabrication and Robotic Welding: Diversify or Die?
Technological innovations allow businesses to make better use of human effort, with machines taking over mundane tasks so that employees can focus on skills unique to humans such as critical thinking, creativity and emotional intelligence.
How Covid-19 Impacted Freight and International Supply Chains
As planes were grounded by COVID-19, a huge pressure was placed on freight planes to transport cargo internationally, impacting supply chains.
Australian Industries Under Threat From Trade Tensions with China
Following a series of policy disputes between Australia and China, the turbulent relationship continues to be tested.
Chinese Cultural Differences and the Impact on Offshore Business
Understanding China’s unique business practices and cultural differences is very important before embarking on a business relationship offshore.
The Importance of Design-Led Manufacturing
As an industry, we are wasting money and resources figuring out how we are going to manufacture our designs too late into the process.
Australian Made Pushes All Australians to ‘Buy Local’
Australia’s reliance on imported products has been highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many people turning to Aussie grown and made products.
Australian Government Funding Neglects Traditional Manufacturing Processes
CEO Daen Simmat weighs in on the Australian governments preference to invest funding into advanced manufacturing technologies.
Benefits of Prototyping Your Product
Industrial design is an iterative process. Having the ability to trial, test and tweak your design from your prototype is invaluable