Feature

In an effort to address the need and demand for more sustainable manufacturing as well as more robust and flexible supply chains in a strategically, financially, and environmentally beneficial way, ongoing collaborations between additive manufacturing technology developers and practitioners are paving the way.

Australia needs to find new and better ways to store energy in order to meet the industry’s night-time heat requirements once coal and fossil gas have fully transitioned out of the system. 

Ash Barty is a former Young Australian of the Year, an Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon champion, and has excelled in other endeavours, including golf, cricket and as an author, role model and a proud Ngarigo woman. Now, she is serving one of her most patriotic points yet as the ambassador for Australian Made Week 2023 (15–21 May). 

Making automobiles lighter is one of several techniques to reduce the energy necessary for transportation. In particular, high-strength (HS) steels are ideal candidates for this application because their higher weight-to-strength ratio allows for the use of less metal to achieve comparable structural integrity. 

Manufacturers using welding techniques suffer from limitations in realising complex structures because of the limited process of building one layer at a time – this is because subsequent layers are laminated after complete solidification preventing the molten metal from flowing down. As a result, a cooling period is necessary, and the circumstances that can be laminated are restricted to certain examples.

Aerospace company Sidus Space has recognised additive manufacturing’s capability as a highly effective tool to optimise weight in systems designed to reach space, with the development of a 3D-printed satellite set to launch in 2023.

A series of partnerships between small business players and academia have received backing from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, to realise big research and development outcomes in various industries, including manufacturing. 

A widespread effort to limit and phase out the use of “forever” chemicals called Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is taking over the world, especially now that the chemicals have taken a foothold in almost every material in our everyday lives. 

Australia’s ability to make more world-class products is one step closer to a resurgence with the House Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources last month announcing an inquiry into developing a local advanced manufacturing industry, with submissions closing on 30 March. 

Among a great number of critical problems exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years, Australia is also looking at a future plagued by the lack of enough skilled workers across various industries, such as manufacturing.