Unique Manufacturing Equipment Available For General Access
24 Mar 11
The Federal Governments Enterprise Connect initiative are compiling a list of unique manufacturing equipment. All of the specialized manufacturing equipment on this equipment register has required a very large investment by the company that owns it and is generally not available in the market. Some of these pieces of equipment are the only ones of their type in Australia. This initiative is known as the Technology Partnerships Equipment Register.
A requirement to make this list is that the equipment be made available for other businesses to access. By promoting the existence of this unique equipment and making spare capacity available for general access, all of Australian industry benefits. The owners of the equipment benefit from increased utilization of their substantial investment, and other businesses benefit from gaining access to world class machines and testing equipment which they may have otherwise had to look off-shore for.
The technology partnerships initiative will also assist companies to access this equipment.
The list is growing all the time but below is a summary of the manufacturing equipment currently listed (at the time of writing). For more details on these pieces of equipment, photos, specifications, to access this equipment, or to register your own unique equipment, contact Enterprise Connect by clicking here>>
The register is broken into the following sections (click on the section name to be taken directly to it):
Metal Working and Metal Product Manufacturing Equipment
PLC Controlled, Very large Saw
Location: Thomastown, Victoria
The stripping and cutting of aerospace grade aluminium plate without heat degradation. This is the largest saw of its type in Australia and is capable of stripping a 4.5 metre long x 150mm thick plate lengthwise without heat damage.
Multi-Axis, Multi-Tasking CNC Machining Centre
Location: St Marys, NSW
There are only a small number of these machines installed in Australia and many are not available for general access. Capable of reducing the time required to machine complex parts - in one setup.
Automatic Plasma Circumferencial Seam Welder
Location: Shepparton, Victoria
This machine is the only one of its type in Australia and can automatically weld circumferential seams on stainless steel tanks and pressure vessels.
Dishing and Knuckling Machine
Location: Shepparton, Victoria
This machine can automatically produce dished heads and ends for pressure vessels and tanks up to very large diameters.
Large Plasma Cutter
Location: Campbellfield, Victoria
This plasma cutter has a much larger table size than regular machines enabling large sheet sizes to be cut.
Very Large Press Brake
Location: Campbellfield, Victoria
This press brake is the largest in the southern hemisphere. It has 2000 tonne capacity and can press plates 12m long meaning less welds required for fabricated assemblies.
Sealed Austempering Furnace
Location: Clayton, Victoria
The only one of its type available for general access, this furnace can provide sealed quench austempering of steel products.
Direct metal Laser Sintering Machine
Location: Ingleburn, NSW
This machine can build accurate, 3D metal parts direct from 3D CAD data in a range of materials.
Purpose Built, Deep Hole Drilling Machine
Location: Bayswater, Victoria
This machine was built specifically for drilling deep holes from 25mm to 93mm in diameter and up to 1752mm deep.
Back to the top>>
Composite Product Manufacturing
Autoclaves for Composite Curing
Location: Harlaxton, Queensland
3 x fully computer controlled autoclaves for automated curing cycles for composites.
Back to the top>>
Chemical and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
High Temperature Reactor
Location: Nowra, NSW
The reactor can be used to make products (compatible with stainless steel) that require high temperature and vacuum. Examples are industrial esters, soluble surfactants, food esters, high quality esters used in cosmetic applications and high temperature wax emulsions.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Area
Location: Nowra, NSW
Used for the manufacture of small run retail and pharmacy products, that are either listed or registered with the TGA.
High Speed Tablet Filling and Packaging Line
Location: Slacks Creek, Queensland
High speed tablet and capsule counting and packaging into bottles.
Continuous Flow, Small-Scale Chemical Reactor
Location: Gordon, NSW
The plant can been used for (i) waste destruction using hydrogen peroxide, (ii) biomasss conversion by hydrothermal upgrading, (iii) methanol leaching of lignite, (iv) esterification of fatty acids using cation exchange resin as well as (v) biodiesel conversion using alkaline catalysts.
Back to the top>>
Polymer Product Manufacturing
Linear Vibration Welding Machine
Location: Seven Hills, NSW
Used for friction welding and assembly of large, plastic parts.
Selective Laser Sintering Machine for Plastics
Location: Ingleburn, NSW
This machine is able to build 3 dimensional parts from a range of plastics directly from 3D CAD data. Parts have almost the same density as a molded part.
Back to the top>>
Micro and Electronic Manufacturing
Automatic Die Bonding and Wirebonding Machine
Location: Newstead, Queensland
This is the latest technology available for die & wire bonding and it is not available elsewhere for contract manufacturing in Australia (the majority of contract die and wire bonding is currently done in the US). The equipment is capable of a wide range of applications including fully automated dispensing of viscose material, flip chip assembly, eutectic die attach, chip on chip attachment, BGA underfill, blob globbing as well as deep access ball, wedge and ribbon bonding and pull and shear testing.
Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Automatic Cleaning Machine
Location: Newstead, Qld
Unique in Australia, this machine removes process residues and is a necessity prior to conformal coating. The machine is a closed loop, self monitoring system which removes residues and contamination from Printed Circuit Assemblies (PCAs). The machine achieves cleanliness levels of < 0.8 µg NaCl/cm2 which exceeds MIL -STD- 2000A.
CNC Controlled Multi Axis Nd:Yag Laser Tube-Cutting & Drilling System
Location: Murwillumbah, NSW
This machine is used to process complex designs in tubes as small as 0.6mm in diameter. Micro-drilling of holes as small as 0.015mm in diameter at rates of up to 1000 holes per second. The equipment is mainly used to laser cut tubing for cardiovascular surgery (catheters and stents) and laser drilling of micro-masks, micro-screens and micro-filters.
CNC Controlled Multi-Axis Nd:Yag Laser Cutting & Drilling System
Location: Murwillumbah, NSW
Very unique machine within Australia and more typicalyl found in the Swiss micro-manufacturing industry. Used for high precision laser cutting and drilling of metals (i.e. Titanium, Stainless, Tantalum, Beryllium Copper, Platinum, Iridium etc) and ultra hard materials such as carbides, PCD's Alumina, Silicone Nitride etc. Cutting and scribing of wafer materials for the Photovoltaic Industry. Micro drilling for medical, dental, food, automotive and aerospace industry.
Kira Micromill
Location: Mawson Lakes, SA
There are only 7 of these machine around the world and this is th eonly one outside of japan. The Kira SuperMill is designed specifically for single part and small series production milling of steel, non-ferrous, plastics and ceramics. The SuperMill-2M has a positional accuracy of 0.01 µm (or 10 nm) with double spindles, a 50,000 rpm main spindle and a 120,000 rpm finishing spindle. It offers tool makers and researchers alike an outstanding next generation high speed precision milling capability. This new technology was developed in collaboration with Tokyo University and was installed at the Ian Wark Research Institute early in 2009.
Microfabrication Facility
Location: Mawson Lakes, SA
This suite of equipment is leading edge in that it provides a one stop shop capability for fabrication of micro scale devices with features ranging from micrometers to nanometres in materials including metals, polymers and glasses. The tools include CAD design, thin film deposition, UV lithography, etching, embossing, and thermal bonding. A number of different etching processes can be used to produce features to the specified geometry. A suite of inspection and characterisation tools are also available to support the fabrication processes.
Lasertec Microlaser Milling Machine
Location: Hawthorn, Victoria
The DML40 Laser Machine is for the efficient machining of finely detailed, filigree cavities. The innovative laser technology shapes the finest contours and cavities, layer by layer, with the help of a pulsed and focused laser beam and is also used for materials that are difficult to machine such as ceramics, graphite and stellite. The Lasertec machine is programmed directly off 3D CAD data.
Dip Pen Nanolithography
Location: Hawthorn, Victoria
Dip Pen Nanolithography (DPN) is a direct write, tip based lithography technique that can be used to rapidly and easily create mask-free micro-and nanoscale structures. This AFM-based system enables the controllable direct deposition of different materials from the liquid phase, from a nanoscale tip to virtually any surface. DPN is flexible enough to print self-assembled monolayer molecules, polymers, biomolecules or nanoparticles using a range of user initiated CAD-based templates.
Back to the top>>
Wood Product Manufacturing
CNC process Joinery Router
Location: Davenport, Tasmania
Unique in the Tasmanian market, this machine does point to point routing (cutting and drilling) of specialised and customised products and designed in timber and plastics for fast, efficient joinery processing.
Computerised Beam Saw
Location: Davenport, Tasmania
Optimises sheets of decorative board for cutting. Cuts bulk quantities up to 5 sheets at a time and is used for high volume sheet processing.
Automatic Edge Bander
Location: Davenport, Tasmania
Automatic gluing and trimming of 1&2 mm PVC Edge tape to pre-finished board of varying thickness.
Back to the top>>
Food and Beverage Product Manufacturing
Stiavelli Vertical Form Fill And Seal Packaging Machine
Location: Maleny, Queensland
This machine is used to form, fill and seal bags of various sizes for contract packaging of goods in unique paper/poly rewind. This machine has a "four fin seal" forming tube which makes a stand-up pouch with sealed vertical edges. The bag looks and feels more structured and is used for improved presentation.
Back to the top>>
Testing and Analytical Equipment
ScienScope View X - Automated X-ray Inspection
Location: Newstead, Queensland
This machine is utilised to provide assurance of the correct fitting of obscured items such as BGAs, fine pitch devices and other concealed devices on printed circuit board assemblies and micro-electronics. It offers significant advantages in defect analysis such as cold solder joints, bridging, solder balls, voids and other anomalies that are not detectable with optical solutions or the naked eye.
Instron Materials Testing System
Location: Castle Hill, NSW
The materials testing system is used for the tensile, compressive and cyclic testing of materials and/or components. The Instron 5500 is capable of testing in tension and compress up to 100KN and is completeley computer controlled. The system is also capable of cycling loading tests to test fatigue strength.
Pump Performance Testing Facility
Location: Sunshine, Victoria
The only one of its kind in Australia and very expensive to develop. The machine is used to test centrifugal pumps for hydraulic and mechanical performance.
Brüel & Kjær Head and Torso Simulator (HATS) - Type 4128-D-002
Location: South Melbourne, Victoria
The developments in technology have changed the shape and size of telephone handsets and headsets. To ensure these latest handsets and headsets are tested to the appropriate standards according to the design principles used by the manufacturer, testing is performed in a Head and Torso Simulator (HATS) which incorporates Type 3.3 left and right artificial ears.
Air Cooled Heat Exchanger Test Unit
Location: Canning Vale, WA
Designed in Europe this piece of equipment allows the best combination of exchanger construction and fan performance to be determined. Testing typically involves making a heat exchanger matrix into a test piece size, placing it in a test unit, putting heat into a fluid (typically oil, water or gas) and removing that heat by moving cooling air over its surface. Information accurately gathered includes flows, velocities, pressure losses, temperature changes, heat loads, humidity and relative humidity with this data being entered into design software for analysis and extrapolation.
ISO-11092 Sweating Guarded Hotplate
Location: Moorabbin, Victoria
Moisture Vapour Resistance Determination - Textiles - Physiological Effects - Measurement of Thermal and Water Vapour Resistance under Steady-State Conditions (Sweating Guarded-Hotplate Test.) Measures the breathability of textiles and laminates, etc. (especially apparel) and also the insulating performance of textiles and laminates, etc. This test unit is housed inside an environmental chamber in order to comply with testing parameters compliance with ISO-11092.
High Voltage Testing Equipment
Location: South Melbourne, Victoria
This test equipment is used to test Telecommunications and for other resistability to lightning and other over-voltages and over-currents. The equipment is able to test to the requirements of ITU-T recommendations K.44 (including K.20, K21 and K.45). The equipment can provide the following:
- 6kV open circuit voltage with a wave shape of 1.2/50 ms and a short circuit 3 kA 8/20 ms combination wave.
- High current impulse of 30 kA with a 8/20 ms waveshape
- Impulse of up to 7 kV with a waveshape of 10/700 ms.
- Up to1,500 Vrms (200W @ 10 A2s) power induction and earth potential rise.
- Mains contact of 240 Vrms form 24 mA to 24 A.
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer
Location: Bulleen, Victoria
Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is a testing technique used to detect the presence of trace metals. It is a type of emission spectroscopy that uses the inductively coupled plasma to produce excited atoms and ions that emit electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths characteristic of a particular element. The intensity of this emission is indicative of the concentration of the element within the sample.
Accurate-Mass TOF LC/MS System
Location: Bulleen, Victoria
The Agilent Accurate-Mass TOF LC/MS system provides accurate-mass analyses for profiling, identifying, characterizing, and quantifying low molecular-weight compounds and biomolecules. These TOF systems deliver exceptional MS analyses that support demanding applications such as proteomics, metabolomics, impurity testing, product degradation studies, forensics, food safety, and environmental analyses.
- Typical mass accuracy – sub-3-ppm MS improves confidence and reduces false positives
- Enhanced mass resolution – greater than 10,000 resolving power distinguishes target compounds from interferences and contributes to outstanding mass accuracy
- Data acquisition rates – up to 40 spectra per second assures maximum data quality and compatibility with fast chromatography and high-throughput workflows, greater flexibility
- In-spectrum dynamic range – up to 5 orders reveal trace-level targets even in the presence of vastly more abundant compounds
- Time-of-flight mass range – m/z 20 – 20,000 enables analysis of anything from pesticides to intact proteins
- Automated tuning to ensure repeatable and reliable data
Mitutoyo DCC Co-ordinate Measuring Machine (CMM)
Location: Langwarrin, VIC
More accurate and a finer resolution that your average CMM machine, the Mitutoyo Crysta Apex DCC CMM running Mcosmos software for high accuracy dimensional metrology of components. Available for calibration, reverse engineering, dimensional measurement and Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing GD&T. DCC CMM provides the most accurate method of dimensional measurement.
Gas Gun
Location: Hawthorn, Victoria
This testing equipment is used to conduct ballistic tests at velocities up to 620 m/s.
500 MHz NMR Spectrometer
Location: Bulleen, Victoria
NMR spectroscopy affords simple to complex spectra with absorption peaks containing detailed information about the electronic environment of the atom being detected. The interpretation of peaks allows the structure of unknown organic and inorganic compounds to be determined. NMR is a fundamental and essential tool in the fields of pharmaceutical, organic, inorganic, analytical, forensic and biological chemistry. The Bruker AV500 is the most advanced NMR instrument in a private laboratory in Australia.
- Actively Shielded Superconducting Magnet with 5.4 cm bore, operation field at 11.744 Tesla (500.1MHz proton resonance frequency).
- Three RF Channels
- BCU-05, pre-cooling and stabilization accessory.
- BVT Low Temperature Accessory.
- Equipped with (GRASP ™ II) accessory for the generation of gradients with up to 50 Gauss/cm.
- Broad band inverse detection 5mm probe
- Proton/carbon LC-NMR probe with 60µL cell.
- Sixty position autosampler for automated operation.
Hydra Test VBT 20007
Location: Coffs Harbour, NSW
The Hydra Test VBT is a high pressure test bench for modern Automatic transmission Valve Body's Used in conjunction with a data acquisition software package it is used to test and calibrate the modern valve bodies in many European and American automatic transmissions.
Back to the top>>
Learn More
The list is growing all the time but below is a summary of the manufacturing equipment currently listed. For more details on these pieces of equipment, photos, specifications, to access this equipment, or to register your own unique equipment, contact Enterprise Connect by clicking here>>
Back to Knowledge Bank