Tony Hobbs, Malcolm McIntosh, Adam Saint, Henry Tochtermann and Artemis Kazangas from MAR

It has been a big week of networking for Machinery Automation and Robotics (MAR). With stands at both AUSPACK PLUS in Sydney and National Manufacturer’s Week (NMW) in Melbourne, MAR showcased some of our latest and innovative offerings to the packaging and manufacturing industries.

Tuesday, 7^th May, marked the beginning of both events.  AUSPACK PLUS 2013 at Sydney Olympic Park was a hive of activity with the Minister of Fair Trading, the Honourable Anthony Roberts MP officially opening the show.  MAR’s High Speed Singulator, Container Loading System and Compact Labelling machines drew in the crowds and potential clients.  Performing live demonstrations gave visitors a first-hand glimpse of what MAR can do.  The innovation of the High Speed Singulator was recognised by the APPMA Awards of Excellence, receiving the title of Best New Product.  The Singulator fulfils a strong need for a robust yet compact singulation solution within the packaging and processing industries.

Further down the coast, Paul and the team displayed The ReadyArc robotic welding range at National Manufacturer’s Week in the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.  NMW knows the welding industry is a significant part of Australia’s manufacturing industry, providing a dedicated area for welding products and services.

These events bring the industry together under one roof and proved to be a great opportunity for Machinery Automation and Robotics to liaise with current clients and also introduce these technologies and MAR’s capabilities to new clients hoping to gain a competitive advantage.

Troy Krogh, Sam Kekovich, Malcolm McIntosh, Adam Saint & Jamie Bailey accept the Award for Best New Product at the APPMA awards

MAR was awarded the Best New Product award at the APPMA Awards of Excellence at Auspack 2013 Sydney Olympic Park.  The award was presented by Sam Kekovich and received by Machinery Automation & Robotics General Manager Troy Krogh.

When accepting the award Troy thanked the entire MAR team for their commitment and perseverance in developing the Singulator system into a product that we can take to market.

The MAR High-Speed Singulator is designed for high-speed, gentle handling applications where it is necessary to singulate product from a group of individual products in random orientations, the High Speed Singulator can handle rates up to 500 pieces per minute/lane and easily integrates into your existing equipment.

The Best New Product award is designed to recognise the most innovative product or equipment in the packaging and processing industry that is launched in Australia for the first time during AUSPACK PLUS 2013. Key deliverables to be recognised as Best New Product includes the following criteria: the equipment or product must have proven efficiency and productivity gains, be innovative and have proven and improved cost of ownership.

For more information of the MAR High Speed Singulator contact MAR

About Machinery Automation & Robotics

MAR are a leading designer and manufacturer of complete industrial automation solutions servicing large and small scale production-critical companies seeking the competitive edge that high-tech automation and robotics provide.

MAR currently serves the Australian food production, meat, brewing and beverages, pharmaceutical, solar, white goods manufacturing, packaging, chemicals, water treatment and filtration, aluminium smelting, castings, and metals industries with flexible turnkey robotic solutions.

MAR are experts in providing total end-of-line automation solutions. We offer a complete service, from design, manufacture and project management through to implementation and ongoing support.

Our services include technical expertise in world-leading hardware, programming, systems integration, installation, consulting, fault-finding and 24-hour support. MAR’s network comprises a highly specialised team of dedicated personnel serving industrial companies with expertise in a wide range of leading automation and robotics products.

Integral to MAR’s overall long-term growth strategy is the incorporation of a broad range of innovative new solutions and services including a dedicated team of both automation and robotic sales and engineering professionals and strengthening of supplier channels.

The Commonwealth science body says new robotics and computer technologies have the potential to put manufacturing on a sustainable footing while at the same time securing the jobs of Australian workers.

The past five years have not been kind to Australia’s manufacturing sector. Official figures show more than 100,000 jobs were lost between 2008 and last year alone.

However, the CSIRO has today released a white paper it says may offer a solution, using robots and computer technology.

The Commonwealth science research body says it is not proposing complete automation that entirely replaces workers.

“The idea here is we’re looking to be able to support the current manufacturing workforce by improving their skills,” said one of the report’s authors, Peter Kambouris.

He says while robots have traditionally been used for mass production products like car manufacturing, new technology has broadened the opportunities.

“Robots do things, some things, quite well. People do other things quite well. We’re looking to exploit what a person does well, which is their ability to be flexible, identify small changes in orientation and then make the change for that. Whereas machines and robots are very good at say bringing things from A to B,” Dr Kambouris added.

He says computer applications currently used in other industries could also be adapted.

“With the technologies we had previously developed for the agriculture and mining sector, we saw an opportunity to put in assistive type robotic and augmented reality solutions that would help the worker improve their productivity by reducing product errors then by also improving product quality, but also improving safety,” Dr Kambouris said.

He says Australia is in a unique position to capitalise on the new technology, particularly through its small and medium-sized manufacturers.

“While other economies are looking to bring in automation to reduce costs in their mass production areas, Australia and a number of our SMEs [small and medium enterprises] are actually ideally set up to do mass customisation,” Dr Kambouris said.

“That is they’ll have very low runs, generally of higher value-added products, but because of the distribution of products they make it’s uneconomical for them to have any fixed automation in place.”

However, the fruits of this work are likely to be restricted to supplying areas such as mining, in the initial stages at least.

Dr Kambouris says, while the computer technologies could be at work in real factories within months, the robots are a longer-term prospect.

“Where we’re able to put not only a voice command but also project someone’s hand gestures through wireless communications, so you have an expert assisting a worker doing either a complex assembly or quality control or maintenance task,” he explained.

“Other thoughts that we’ll have in this initiative will take a little longer to develop. We’re only really at the start of this thought.”

Source:  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-08/rise-of-the-robots-could-save-manufacturing/4676774

Bandsaws are used extensively within the meat processing industry, but unfortunately are a major contributor to serious injuries, including amputations.  According to Meat & Livestock Australia there are approximately 1000 bandsaws in use in Australian meat works and butcher shops and evidence suggests 6 to 10 serious accidents occur per year.  Machinery Automation and Robotics’ innovative BladeStop™ system is designed to act fast enough to avoid major injury to the operator and reduce the frequency of amputations. Along with providing obvious social benefits BladeStop™ will also dramatically improve the overall sustainability of the meat processing industry.

BladeStop™ provides simple and safe operation that mechanically stops the blade when the control unit determines a person has come in contact.

BladeStop™ is an operator aid providing the following benefits

• Increases processing uptime whilst greatly reducing the risk of serious band saw injury
• Improves personnel morale
• Is simple to operate

BladeStop™ was developed by Machinery Automation and Robotics in collaboration with Meat & Livestock Australia for commercial bandsaws to reduce the risk of injury, robust enough to cope with the harsh environment in meat processing plants.

For more information on BladeStop™, contact Stuart Shaw at Machinery Automation & Robotics:

Email:   bladestop@machineryautomation.com.au

Phone: +61 2 9748 7001

Address: 1/101 Derby Road Silverwater NSW 2128

Robotic Palletising and Container Loading Systems

With only three weeks to go AUSPACK PLUS organisers have announced the trade show has officially sold out for the 2013 exhibition.

AUSPACK PLUS event manager Luke Kasprzak said visitors can expect to see over 1100 brands and 302 individual exhibitors, including 76 internationals; the largest amount the exhibition has had under one roof.

The four day show brings together buyers and sellers, who exhibit products and services vital to delivering production line solutions for packaging and processing industries in the Australasian region.

Machinery Automation & Robotics are unveiling a number of our most exciting technological innovations in the packaging arena at AUSPACK PLUS 2013, stand 246.  The Robotic Palletising and Container Loading Systems were developed in response to an industry wide need for improved flexibility and speed to handle the complex packaging configurations today’s products require.  Our high speed Singulator transforms a bulk flow of goods into a single, aligned properly gapped stream ready further processing, using only minimal floor space due to its unique 90 degree turning capabilities.

Automatic Labelling Machine

Last but not least, MAR will demonstrate the various capabilities of the Automatic Labelling Machine that provides accurate, consistent placement of labels with the versatility to label both square and cylindrical containers.

Come visit MAR and view our complete packaging solutions at Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney Olympic Park from 7 – 10^th May.

The exhibition is owned and presented by the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA).

High speed Singulator

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated, exceptional, self starter who has the ability to anticipate and address evolving customer and market needs and a proven track record in on line marketing within the industry.

The role has a strong on line marketing component but also requires a range of other skills including:

• Identification and development of new market opportunities
• Develop marketing strategy and campaigns with the management & sales team
• Advanced PC skills including Microsoft Office and MultiMedia software platforms

Key responsibilities will include:

• Manage the MAR web site, and social media – Youtube, Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter
• Working closely with Sales in Developing new marketing initiatives and campaigns
• Increasing online user engagement
• Responsible for planning and coordinating advertising & promotions
• Conduct market research on MAR products and services
• Develop & where necessary assist with sales presentations
• Co-ordinate and develop press releases
• Range of other marketing responsibilities.

You will bring to the position:

• Min 3 years experience in a similar role.
• Experience with implementing online marketing techniques
• Previous experience successfully increasing online presence

Machinery Automation and Robotics (MAR) designs, builds and integrates automated manufacturing solutions incorporating advanced robotics, providing major Australasian companies with a competitive edge.

To apply please email your CV  including a cover letter, or you can ring Troy Krogh General Manager, on 97487001 for a confidential chat.

Applicants must be an Australian resident

“We now live in a more globalised, more connected, more capable, and more competitive environment than the world has ever known. In such an environment, a strong and constantly improving culture of innovation is essential to our prosperity and our stability,” NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner said at Innovate NSW’s launch.

Read more about the NSW Innovation Initiative.

Our people are dedicated to providing the market with the technical help and support they require, along with continuous improvement and innovation.  Our highly skilled engineers can provide unmatched expertise on a range of high-end robotic and automation brands including but not limited to ABB, KUKA, Motoman, Panasonic and Fanuc.

MAR offer a variety of options covering design and installation, optimisation, modification, robotic programming, complete service and support, repairs and system audits.  With offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and ability to service across Australia MAR can provide your site with the benefits of prompt local support and national reach.  Our network of fully qualified automation engineers are available around the clock, providing local support 24 hours a day, every day – working with you for your business success.

‘Machinery Automation and Robotics realise the importance of providing continuous, top end automation and robotic support to production critical companies across Australia,” states Troy Krogh, General Manager at MAR, “unrivalled in skill and industry capability, MAR’s diligence reflects how dedicated we are to bringing our customer’s the highest level of support possible.”

When it comes to robotics and automation, what’s important to your business is equally important to MAR.  To find out how we can improve and support your robotic capabilities call MAR today.

24hr/7 days a week, call us on:

• NSW – (02) 9748 7001

• QLD – (07) 3348 9110

• VIC, SA, WA – (03) 9335 4344  

Over the studied three year period it was found the most common cause of work related injury was exposure to inanimate mechanical forces which accounted for 46% of work related hospitalisations with the most common bodily location being the wrist or hand (38%).  Furthermore 4.9% of wrist and hand injuries involved amputations with more than one in ten involving a manufacturing employee.  These figures should be a wakeup call for those in factories, operating plant and machinery that something needs to be done to improve Workplace Health and Safety.

Machinery Automation and Robotics are committed to providing all industries with innovative solutions specific to increasing safety and uptime.  The Safe Work Australia report clearly shows more needs to be done to reduce the risk of serious workplace related injuries.  MAR’s team of experienced engineers has already made advances in transforming safety in industries including food & beverage, foundry, manufacturing, meat & poultry, metals, mining,  solar, timber and a number of other industries providing automation of dangerous manual tasks.  MAR solutions eliminate the need to endanger employees, reducing the occurrence of work place injuries.

Manufacturing Solutions Engineer Jamie Bailey of Machinery Automation and Robotics highlighted “safety within the manufacturing workplace is top priority. Automation of dangerous manufacturing processes is a great contributor to reducing the number of work place related injuries, purely because people are removed from the danger zone.”

“MAR would like to make workplace injuries a thing of the past by providing better solutions to dangerous and physically challenging activities” continued Jamie.

For further information on MAR and how we can assist your workplace health and safety needs or to arrange a site visit, contact us today.