AMGC connects with ever-growing Western Australia membership base
Manufacturing in Western Australia has been closely linked to the mining, oil and gas, and agriculture sectors. The demand for cutting-edge, technology-intensive products from these sectors has long facilitated the advancement of capabilities in research and development, technical and business services, and education and training.
However, the manufacturing industry in WA is growing and diversifying, ensuring that it is no longer reliant solely on the resources sector. For instance, AMGC’s 30+ WA members are involved in sectors as diverse as construction, gardening products, warehouse storage and logistics, additive manufacturing, Internet of Things services, health, drones, electric vehicles, and more.
This was witness recently during a visit by Jens Goennemann, Managing Director, AMGC, who visited Perth in late February to connect with AMGC’s ever-growing local membership base at a working lunch. While in Perth, Jens toured the facilities of Davies Wear Plate Systems —the company undertaking the first AMGC co-funded project in WA, and met with a variety of industry stakeholders, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia and several local manufacturing companies.
AMGC member events create amazing synergies
In conjunction with intellectual property specialists Wrays, AMGC recently hosted a working lunch in Perth that was attended by 40 people. With the theme of Commercialisation, the event focused on everything from streamlining the commercialisation process and capitalising on disruptive techniques, through to protecting intellectual property rights.
Associate Professor Brett Robertson, Managing Director, Australian Institute of Robotic Orthopedics, described his own commercialisation journey. Albert Ferraloro, Principal, Wrays, explained how vital it is to leverage intellectual property rights to facilitate successful commercialisation and mitigate volatility. Jens Goennemann provided an overview of the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Centre Initiative, and how Australian manufacturers can best utilise its resources to become more advanced.
The panelists were asked many questions from the audience, with attendees keen to discuss the opportunities currently available within Australian manufacturing.
According to Angela Doyle, AMGC’s State Director of Western Australia, “Our member events are designed to bring together people and organisations operating within the Western Australian manufacturing industry who may not otherwise get to meet each other and collaborate.”
“People are doing amazing things inside their own premises all across Perth but, oftentimes, they’re not aware of what other manufacturers and companies are working on that could related to their innovation needs. Amazing synergies occur as a result of AMGC’s events. AMGC members quickly realise that the products, services and knowledge of other members could help their own business succeed,” said Doyle.
The first AMGC co-funded project in WA
Davies Wear Plate Systems is a leading supplier of wear plate systems across the mining industry and the company responsible for the implementation of the first AMGC co-funded project in WA.
Wear plates are used to protect the mining assets from wear and degradation due to high volumes of ore flowing over their surface. Wear plate maintenance is a major element of the operating costs of all global mining operators, with up to $400 million per year spent in Australia alone.
Davies has developed a wear sensing system called WearSense that captures live measurement data, such as wear, temperature and vibration of wear plates. WearSense enables real-time, condition-based wear management that improves productivity, safety and profitability, and replaces manual procedures.
Davies is collaborating with the University of Queensland and major mining companies to trial WearSense in an operational environment. This will enable Davies to optimise the system and develop production-ready manufacturing processes and procedures. The project will also assess the potential for broadening the commercialisation of the Davies IP across global markets.
Further information
For further information about AMGC’s activities and upcoming events in Western Australia, please contact Angela Doyle, AMGC’s Sate Director of Western Australia on +61 405 390 059 or [email protected].
