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A Message From Bruce Grey
As part of the Advanced Management CRC’s continued commitment to
the advanced manufacturing community in Australia and its participants
I present our first quarterly newsletter.
Within this issue we cover the importance and potential impacts to manufacturing organisations of rising energy costs over the coming years, up to a tenfold increase, with the need for manufacturing businesses to gain an understanding and control of energy usage while looking for opportunities to move to more renewable energy sources.
Highlighted are two case studies on emerging technologies being developed by AMCRC participants which demonstrate the results that the coupling
of industry and researchers can achieve, other exciting projects within
the CRC will continue to be highlighted over the coming editions.
I would also like to thank all who attended the recent participants forum
and for making it a successful event. |
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Energy costs TO increase tenfold |
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Rising energy prices are emerging as the greatest challenge now for manufacturers. This is to some extent driven by the rise of India and China but it has been going on for some time. Anyone with a sense of history will point to the mid 1970s when energy prices started creeping up. They have only been heading in one direction ever since.
Unfortunately, many companies fail to address energy issues and implement programs for one very good reason: most see energy as a fixed cost, rather than an investment. Energy efficiency programs tackling the rising cost of energy can only take off when they are seen as an investment that can give companies control over energy use and high rates of return.
Former Woolworths chief Roger Corbett has warned that energy
costs could increase up to tenfold over the next few years.
That will profoundly change the way business and society operate.
“Our lives in the Western world are absolutely dependent upon the
unit energy cost, whatever it may be, most of all the petroleum costs,”
Corbett said.
“And I don’t think it’s ill-conceived to think in the next few years that
energy cost may go up by a factor of five or 10 times – certainly five.
Inevitably, that will leave consumers paying higher prices.”
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Introducing:
HARD Technologies |
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HARD Technologies is a prime example of an advanced manufacturing company that has carved out a unique niche.
Based in Launching Place in Victoria, HARD Technologies is a metallurgical based research and development company specialising in the treatment of metal surfaces. Through its revolutionary Fluidised Bed Reactor Surface Modification Technology,
the tools and metal parts surfaces are treated and improved. While its competitors
coat the tool’s surface, HARD makes the change more durable by transforming the atomic structure.
Potentially, the technology can be used by a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, particularly for landing gear, metal works and mining with a particular focus on drill lots. There is even scope for Hard Technology to work with the automotive industry in developing fuel efficient cars. Applied to the piston ring of a car,
it can improve performance and use less energy. The result: less fuel and a car that lasts longer. Indeed, much of HARD’s work can be applied to green technology now becoming a boom industry. This could translate to significant new products developed, particularly in the area of sustainability.
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A successful partnership:
Marand Precision Engineering + CSIRO |
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The partnership between Marand Precision Engineering and the CSIRO through their Future Manufacturing National Research Flagship, is set to create new markets and opportunities for advanced manufacturing.
It’s a partnership that was made possible
by the Advanced Manufacturing CRC (AMCRC).
The CSIRO was approached by Aurora Solar to develop such a special motor for
solar power electric racing. It was a spectacular success.
Aurora won the Darwin to Adelaide world solar challenge in 1999,
came second in 2001 and had subsequent impressive results.
As a result, the CSIRO found itself in the unusual position where it was manufacturing smart electric motors for solar car racing teams around the world. However, the CSIRO is a research organisation, not a boutique manufacturer. It had to find an advanced manufacturer to commercialise its product.
Enter the Advanced Manufacturing CRC. About a year ago, it started providing the funding that facilitated the transfer of the expertise and technology across to Marand, a provider of high-quality precision tooling, machine tools and highly engineered automated production solutions across a range of industries including automotive, aerospace, rail,
robotics and automation. However, up until now, it had not been in
the business of manufacturing electric motors.
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Social Album: Participants forum |
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