News

AMTIL held its annual general meeting (AGM) on 27 October, with the event taking place online for the first time. The decision to hold the AGM online had been in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it also allowed the participation of members from much further afield, with around 90 AMTIL members logging in from …

One of the most successful FANUC robot series to date are the R-2000ic group of robots, designed as a great all-rounder for use in materials handling and spot-welding applications. These robots can handle almost any gripper or welding gun. We take a closer look at the 210R and 270F versions of this robot, which Automated …

Having been an integral part of the ASA team for almost a decade now, Andy Kirkham, a senior Process Engineer, has been involved in numerous plant installations involving robots used for paint, sealer, welding and materials handling applications in Australia and across the globe Andy, who re-established his base out of Thailand, joined ASA in …

Written by Michael Boonzaayer, Senior Automation Engineer Are robots taking our jobs? This is a question I get asked a lot. There seems to be a belief that as automation of manual tasks increases, robots are replacing people and there are less jobs for those previously employed in traditional manual labour roles. I would argue …

Laminex has been an iconic Australian brand for over 85 years. Growing from a small tin shed in suburban Melbourne fabricating insulating sheeting for electrical circuit boards, it has evolved to the large-scale operation it is today with multiple manufacturing plants right across Australia.  The company is known for its longstanding expertise as a leading …

Robots going where humans cannot go…. We can’t overstate the importance of selecting the right robot for the application to maximise immediate and the long-term gains for your business. In a previous article we considered environmental and ergonomic considerations when choosing the right robot. This article further explores how through careful selection, robots can be …

One size does not fit all…by Andy Kirkham, Senior Automation Engineer ASA The modern industrial robot has come a long way since 1961 when ‘Unimate #001’, the first industrial robot arm, appeared on the assembly line at the General Motors in Trenton, New Jersey. When entreprenuer Joseph Engelberger, the father of modern robotics, appeared on …

Cameron Holmes is a Sealer Process Engineer for Automated Solutions Australia based out of Texas in the USA. He personifies ASA’s ethos that its greatest point of differentiation is its people. Outstanding reviews from his peers, and feedback from our customers and end users regarding the work Cameron has done, show that he matches our …

Efficiency programs are commonplace in manufacturing and sustainment programs, particularly in the defence forces and supporting industries. The aim is to produce savings which could be redirected into other priority areas such as purchasing new equipment or supporting ongoing operations. Understandably, the endeavour to find and make infinitesimal gains outside the obvious areas where ‘low …

Revolution with Innovation…by Ben Illman, Automation Engineer ASA Growing from a small engineering start-up, to a world leader successfully manufacturing to OEM quality standards, Carbon Revolution is exactly the kind of high-tech innovation the Australian Manufacturing Industry needs more of. The Geelong-based company made its ASX debut on 29 November 2019 with its lightweight carbon fibre wheels …

In this Edition Meet the Team, we feature an in-depth look at Anoop Khanna, one of our Adelaide-based Paint Process Engineers. Anoop won the internal “Top Gun” award this Summer for his efforts to go over and above in delivering great customer experiences, measured across the 2019 calendar year. His successes include featuring strongly in …

The All New FANUC CRX Collaborative Robot Raises The Bar on Collaborative Technology The all new CRX Collaborative robot from FANUC made its debut in Tokyo on December 18th at the iREX show. The CRX co-bot has been designed around three very specific core values, ultimate reliability, quick and easy setup, and ease of programming. …

As manufacturers struggle to overcome an apparent skills shortage, material removal is rapidly growing application area of robotics. Once constrained to a few specialist tasks due to limitations in force sensing and machine vision, today’s manufacturing environment sees a broad range of applications, from trimming flashing from plastic and aluminum moldings, removing moulding flash and …

There is ever increasing value for Human Machine Interface tools that remove any perceived complexity for machine tool operators setting up and programming a robot cell for Machine Load and Unload tasks. The human machine interface provides a graphic representation that allows the operator to monitor the machine with simplicity and ease and minimal training.  ASA …

The race to produce quality cabinetry in a cost-effective manner has never been more competitive with cheap, low cost import solutions flooding the Australian market. As manufacturers attempt to combat this challenge, many are turning to flexible automation as a solution. Quite often, manufacturers assume robotics isn’t a viable solution for them, as they have …

Robotised surface preparation is synonymous with improved productivity and efficiency, but what does that really mean if you are a manufacturer in the Aerospace & Defence sector supply chain? Surface preparation, specifically shot peening, assists in the correct preparation of a surface to avoid premature fatigue, corrosion, wear, galling and fretting which is vital for …

About the project SQP Engineering is a highly regarded supplier of precision machined products in Bibra Lake, WA. SQP boasts a team of highly talented and experienced tradesmen led by the husband and wife team of David and Heidi Miller. SQP stands for Service, Quality and Products, as those are the principles and objectives the …

FANUC R-2000 robots, the most successful FANUC robot series in the world. The R-2000 series are one of the most versatile robot series on the market and are used in a vast range of industries from Aerospace, Logistics, Machine tooling, Food and Beverage, Automotive and General Industry and it’s the robot series that ASA chooses …

Michael Boonzaayer has 14 years experience working for ASA in the robotic automation industry as a process and installation engineer on a large number of projects across a wide variety of countries. Michael started his career as an installation engineer, installing and troubleshooting systems electrically, mechanically & pneumatically. This gave Michael the opportunity develop in …

Closer to home, this month the team from ASA attended the 2019 Victorian Manufacturing Showcase now in its sixth year hosted by a partnership of Victorian Government and the Industry Capability Network (Victoria) with Eastern Metropolitan councils. Victorian businesses exhibiting included a cross-section of industries from transportation, construction, defence, food and beverage, medical technologies and …

Since its inception, ASA has been applying this year’s EMO motto of “smart technology driving tomorrow’s production” for the solutions we design and deliver solutions for our customers. EMO 2019 certainly proved again to be the world’s premier trade fair for the manufacturing sector with a distinct focus this year on how digitisation and automation …

Alex Prez’s attitude to life is to ‘be bold, you will only regret not being bold’. This positive outlook started to develop at a very young age when he was faced with serious medical challenges. He learnt a very important lesson at the age of eight about not focusing on what’s going wrong in your …

Good things come in small packages…….. There is great flexibility and versatility in the functionality of the compact LR Mate series of FANUC robots. With a number of different reaches and wrist speeds, the accuracy and productivity that is achievable across an extensive range of tasks makes this multi-function robot the best and most reliable …

A precision transformation. 15 years ago, traditional production embraced cutting edge technology at Sutton Tools – and the internationally renowned cutting tool manufacturer has gone from strength to strength, in lock step with ASA. Walking in the factory floor at Sutton’s Thomastown headquarters defies what many would expect of a firm that each year produces …

Today’s paint finishing arena is extremely competitive. While the revenue received from painting a part has dropped considerably, the requirement for meeting colour and film build specifications has tightened dramatically. The world has become a far smaller operating environment, and customer’s demands have meant that manufacturers cannot afford to waste any paint, whether through rework …

Meet Victor Xu, our newest member of the ASA team. Victor is one of our Melbourne-based Engineers, having graduated in 2017 from RMIT University in Melbourne with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with First Class Honors. Victor has worked across several sites since joining ASA and is thriving in his post-graduate role. We stopped …

FANUC P-50iB Paint Robot The FANUC P-50iB is a compact painting robot with a large work envelope and small foot print, designed specifically for small booth applications such as EMI/RF shielding, wheel painting, furniture coating, and the processing of small hang-on components. The P-50iB is flexible in so far as it can be configured in …

Columbia Australia epitomises the innovative, visionary and entrepreneurial business and individuals driving the manufacturing industry now and into the future.  The company started in 1956 as a tool room and now supplies to a diverse range of industries including clean energy, electrical, cosmetics and consumer goods packaging. Like the myriad other Australian-based automotive suppliers impacted …

Chamberlain Group’s manufacturing facility in West Gosford is the Australian success story behind recognisable garage and commercial door opener brands Merlin (residential applications) and Grifco (industrial and commercial applications). The Grifco portfolio of automatic roller shutter drive systems for commercial and industrial applications is made in West Gosford, a brand synonymous with high quality and …

Joel won the internal “Top Gun” award this Summer for his efforts to go over and above in his workplace performance, measured across the 2018 calendar year. His success is consistently reflected in his peer reviews as a leader and someone who customers continually asks for by name. Joel has been a runner up to …

Robotising applications are synonymous with improved productivity and efficiency, but what does that really mean if you’re in the surface preparation and shot peening industry? It’s not unusual to hear reports of higher levels of output, product quality and flexibility amongst the benefits, but where are those real savings?  What is the cost to the …

The FANUC P-250iB robot is arguably the most flexible and advanced 6-axis robot available in the FANUC robot range for painting and fiberglass applications. The P250iB is adaptable in its mounting configuration, being able to be wall or ceiling hungor floor mounted, to meet the needs of differing applications. At the same time, it has …

The Concept of Intrinsic Safety & Purge Systems on Automation Flexible automation offers a fast and accurate means of performing repetitious tasks in the manufacturing sector, often under extreme conditions. In some extreme manufacturing environments, such as those experienced in the atmosphere of a paint spray booth, purpose built robots are required. These robots are …

FANUC’s M710iC series robot is one of ASA’s preferred choice of robot to install when moving medium payloads (payload range: 12 to 70kgs). The small footprint, slim wrist and versatile configuration of the M710iC robot series (floor, ceiling or angle mounted) means it is the perfect choice when floor space is scarce, equipment congestion is …

Located in Victoria, Brenco Surface Engineering is a global provider of surface coating and engineering processes. Their Aerospace division provides sustainment for defence and commercial aircraft operations including coatings for engine, undercarriage and structural components, produces solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) coatings for power generation. Their Surface Engineering divisions deliver the same engineering and coating …

Has your Robot had its Annual Service? Call ASA to Book. Just like a car needs regular servicing, the same applies for your robots. Your robots work hard for your business, sometimes operating 24 hours a day for long periods, so annual servicing of your robots will ensure your FANUC robots remain in optimal condition. …

Ben studied for four years at Adelaide’s Flinders University, undertaking a Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics) and graduating with Honours, where his focus of studies was on control system design and software. In his final year, Ben entered an Autonomous Robotics competition with three other students – designing, building and programming an autonomous robot to compete …

The compounding impact of increasing environmental regulations, rising material costs, and pressure to innovate are driving boat, swimming pool, and shower stall manufacturers to turn to robotic solutions for fibreglass and gel coat applications within the composite sector. The gains in product quality and reliability, material savings and wastage, labour savings, improved cycle times, increased …

ASA celebrates 15 years in the automation and robotics sector in Australia.

Australian Government announces package to support reskilling Australian workers (including supply chain) for the automotive sector. Read more here.

A great article on how robots can work alongside workers and keep them (and their jobs) safe. Read more here.

Federal government package to re-skill Australian workers. Read more here.

ASA celebrates 10 years in the automation and robotics sector in Australia!