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The race is on to make space components more dependable, affordable, scalable, and producible using agile manufacturing techniques as the aerospace industry moves quickly towards additive manufacturing (AM) as a method to convert innovative, physics-based designs into higher-performing parts.

The talk around Industry 4.0 (the fourth industrial revolution) and smart factories has been dominating the Australian manufacturing sector for several years now. However, as recent reports show, adoption is largely still in its infancy, something which is holding us back.

Wheelchair-using employees must be able to manoeuvre around the manufacturing workspace without difficulty and be safe from hazards including stairwells, narrow entrances, and inadequate restrooms. Making modifications to increase access can make a significant impact on how a disabled employee performs and feels at work.

One of the "hottest" metals currently garnering interest in additive manufacturing is copper - largely because of its greater thermal conductivity, which is desired in industries like electronics and rocketry where heat exchange is essential.

Scheduling jobs in manufacturing is one of the most complex tasks in operating a shop floor as it involves a range of various details that must be accounted for, such as work orders, raw material availability, due dates, employee skill sets, and work centre capacity. 

Photo-chemical etching (PCE) has become a popular choice for component manufacturers in the aerospace, medical, and electronics industries as it enables the production of intricate shapes and patterns with high precision. 

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. 

For customers looking to embrace the possibilities that exist through the micro molding of parts or components, there is a given.

Over the past few decades, the world has witnessed the rise of Asia Pacific through its manufacturing capability, fueled by labor, economic and regulatory advantages. However, the world’s manufacturing powerhouse is now at a critical inflection point.