■ Elbowroom Lands in Sydney

■ 3D Printing: A New Era for the Manufacturing Industry?

■ The Knock-on Effect of Supply Chain Disruptions

The Elbowroom you see today is the product of four decades worth of hard work, dedication and foresight.

Mark Althaus and Mick Blackwell have continued to grow and develop the company through changing industrial and economic climates, and 2013 sees the Elbowroom family expand even further as they move into NSW.

The second of Elbowroom’s Colby distributorships will support the growing success of Aus-Rack in NSW and fill the demand for a permanent Elbowroom presence in the Sydney industrial area. Aus-Rack Installations have run a successful labour force in Sydney since the late 90’s, consistently presenting excellent opportunities for after sales service and repairs. This success led to the decision to extend Elbowroom’s sales force and develop a standalone service center in Penrith. This service center will facilitate the design, sales and installation of pallet racking and associated warehouse systems.

The NSW team is headed up by Mark’s brother, Steven, who has exceptional leadership skills in challenging projects. The team of 3 trained sales engineers are collaborating with the existing labour force to give unparalleled support to a growing base of progressive businesses. The Elbowroom family is definitely growing and progressing into the future, but the core values of the business always remain unchanged; Bigger - Stronger - Safer.

“Your product, your people and your ideas are our priority. For over 37 years Elbowroom has assisted Australian and International businesses of all sizes create safe and efficient storage systems to suit their specific needs - no matter what the

3 AusPack Plus 2013

3 National Manufacturing Week 2013

4 3D Printing: A New Era for the Manufacturing Industry?

5 Can a Strong Dollar Lead to a Weak Economy?

6 The Knock-On Effect of Supply Chain Disruptions

7 Port of Melbourne – Expansion of Australia’s Largest Container Port Commences

8 Are You Taking Care of Your Team?

What’s onInside

A Word from Mark

Elbowroom Lands in Sydney

Elbowroom’s Penrith facility.

www.elbowroom.com.au

industry or budget. We’re excited to now be able to offer the full and comprehensive service to New South Wales that has made us who we are in Queensland.”

- Mark Althaus

www.elbowroom.com.au

AusPack Plus 2013Running concurrently with National Manufacturing Week, Sydney’s AusPack Plus event showcases Australia’s premier packaging, processing machinery, materials and associated technologies.

This four day trade show aims to “bring together buyers and sellers who provide products and services integral to delivering complete production line solutions for packaging and

processing industries in the Australasian region.”

AusPack Plus offers a fantastic opportunity network your business and get the ear of industry heavyweights. If you have a new idea or product to market it is imperative that you attend this event. AusPack Plus runs from the 7th to 10th of May at the Sydney Showgrounds. For more information visit http://www.auspackplus.com.au/.

National Manufacturing Week 2013National Manufacturing Week is coming, and timely to, with the manufacturing industry in Australia facing a lot of interesting challenges in 2013 it is the perfect time for industry standard bearers to come together to discuss manufacturing and remind the people of Australia just why it is Australia’s primary industry.

Australian PM Julia Gillard has identified the week as key showcase of Australia’s manufacturing strengths. In a statement the PM said “National Manufacturing Week 2013 will showcase Australian manufacturing industries to the world and encourage Australian manufacturers to develop innovative and internationally leading products.

“This is important because manufacturing makes a significant contribution to a broad-based and diversified economy, helping drive

innovation in industry.

“The manufacturing industry is currently facing some tough challenges including a high exchange rate, rapid technological change and increased global competition. However, the Asian Century also offers unique opportunities to renew Australia’s productivity drive and to become more competitive in providing high-quality manufacturing products. Australian manufacturers will be advantaged by a wider set of business opportunities as Asian incomes rise and global value chains expand. Through focusing on their areas of expertise, building niche markets and joining regional value chains, Australia’s manufacturers can build on their success.

“The Australian Government is committed to addressing critical challenges and leveraging the rich opportunities ahead for

manufacturing. Key directions from the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper and measures such as the NBN, Clean Energy Future Package and the Buy Australian at Home and Abroad initiative will help steer Australian manufacturing towards a brighter future.

“I wish this year’s National Manufacturing Week attendees and exhibitions every success and have confidence that the event will help showcase the strength of Australia’s manufacturing industry.”

Exhibition Director Paul Baker said that NMW has grown over the past 14 years into the largest integrated event of it’s kind in Australia.

“NMW is the event that brings industry together under one roof. As well as providing access to products and services from more than 300 exhibitors, NMW is the forum in which

manufacturers meet with suppliers, and each other, to seek out new solutions for growth.”

“NMW 2013 will be no exception. Alongside the product showcase, this year’s event offers a rolling program of product demonstrations, and opportunities for manufacturers to meet representatives from emerging industry sectors to discuss areas of potential synergy.”

“Overall, NMW 2013 will be an important event for industry - and we are extremely pleased to have the Prime Minister’s praise for it,” Baker said.

National Manufacturing Week runs from the 7th to 10th of May and the home base is the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. For more informa-tion visit

http://www.national manufacturingweek. com.au.

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The popularity of 3D printing has steadily risen over the last couple of years. The process itself is just what the title suggests: A person or company can design a product in 3D using a computer application, and a specialized printer takes the proper steps to convert raw materials into a finished good. The overall process is a far cry from the labor-intensive processes still seen throughout most of the manufacturing process. Although much of the public interest in it seems to be on its utility as a novelty, that has started to change as more people realize its value as a legitimate manufacturing tool.

As far as the positives of 3D printing are concerned, most of them are self-evident. The precision of a computer-driven manufacturing tool greatly reduces the error rate of anything being produced, and 3D printers also make it easier for companies to produce functioning prototypes of new products.

However, all of these benefits are marginal when compared to the current limitations of 3D printing as a mainstream approach to manufacturing. The cost of large-scale 3D printing systems is still very high, and the machines themselves require quite a bit of user input. The majority of people don’t have the expertise or the inclination to put in the effort required to get a 3D printer set up for their own standards.

Another major restriction of 3D printing is the products that it can produce. The process is still limited in the materials that can be used, and there’s not an easy way to produce colored products short of painting them in another process afterward. As the technology improves, the introduction of support for more materials or to produce colored products might drive 3D printing’s profile.

Given that these limitations will surely be overcome, and almost certainly within the next few years, the focus then turns to whether 3D printing will usher in a new era for the manufacturing industry. Specifically, the question boils down to whether it will level the playing field for manufacturing firms that are based in the United States and are struggling to compete with offshore manufacturing outfits. By removing so much of the labor portion from manufacturing, 3D printing

might very well be soon as the answer for domestic producers looking to stay competitive.

There is another side of the argument, though - one that sees 3D printing having a major impact on the manufacturing industry, but certainly not the one that today’s firms would hope for. In this scenario, 3D printing’s effect on the manufacturing industry would be more similar to the effect that Napster had on the music industry. Just like Napster made music accessible to anybody with a computer and forever altered the dynamics of the music industry, 3D printing could make specialized manufacturing available to anybody with a printer. Imagine a world in which there’s no need to order goods ranging from small furniture to specialized vehicle parts. In this scenario, the manufacturing industry would be seen as a middleman in hindsight and raw goods would become

something bought directly by the consumer.

For the manufacturing industry, the best way to prepare for 3D printing is to acknowledge it as a legitimate solution and then change the way they produce. By being willing to incorporate 3D printing into their business model, as well as changing the approach to education in manufacturing. The first part of this seems self-explanatory, but it happens time and time again in all industries where companies with a built-in market sector don’t react nimbly to change. They wait and dismiss new technology, allowing themselves to be run out of the marketplace. The second part of this, changing education, is something that will require a more long-run view of the industry. People entering into manufacturing now need to be more well-versed with computer applications so that they will be ready when and if 3D printing becomes more mainstream.

Whatever the end result is, there’s no denying that 3D printing is an interesting wildcard to manufacturing. Right now, it’s something that is more confined to use within niche production markets. As the technologies improve and it becomes more versatile, though, we certainly might see it force the manufacturing industry into a new era. Whether that is a good or bad thing depends entirely on current firms and how they prepare.

3D Printing: A New Era for the Manufacturing Industry? Can A Strong Dollar Lead to a Weak Economy?

www.elbowroom.com.au www.elbowroom.com.au

To the layman the high value of the Australian dollar indicates that we are a powerful and growing economy and while that may be true in some ways, and the factors that cause our dollar to be valued so high are generally positive things, the effect of our dollar value being so high negatively impacts a large number of Australian businesses. Many industries, some former powerhouses such as the Australian tourism industry, are being systematically ripped apart by the high dollar. The price of coming here is so extravagant that only the most wealthy few are able to afford a vacation here. Perhaps most concerning though is the effect that it’s having on Australian flagships such as manufacturing.

The comparative value of the Australian dollar means that our products

are more expensive than ever before in the global market. The effect of this is felt everywhere. There is the obvious effect of driving sales down and prices up. To make ends meet manufacturers are charging onshore wholesalers a premium for locally manufactured goods. To counteract this wholesalers are looking abroad for cheaper products, so importation of goods is at an all time high. Manufacturers are looking abroad for cheaper alternatives to labour to lower overheads and so employment takes a hit and when employment takes a hit so too does the average salary and the amount of money floating around the country, which causes all types of problems.

While this is happening the government has the pressure of the people on them when it comes

to environmentalism and are now taxing big manufacturing, even further pressuring an already tested sector. While it’s hard to dispute the need for drastic policy change when it comes to the environment, placing further pressure on the number one employment provider in the country that is already under strain from the high Australian dollar is playing with fire.

If the government needs to provide policy to help the environment and the only way they can do this is by penalising big polluters that’s fine. But when those big polluters are the foundation on which the Australian economy stands perhaps the reserve bank should be doing something to help drive down the price of the Australian dollar.

Bigger – Stronger – Safer

The Knock-On Effect of Supply Chain DisruptionsGlobal consulting firm, Accenture, have been working alongside the World Economic Forum to highlight the threat to business that supply chain disruptions pose. Together they have released a report which they describe as “a blueprint for resilience through actions involving public and private partnerships”.

The report, ‘Building Supply Chain Resilience’ was presented earlier this year at the WEF annual meeting in Switzerland and indicated that the negative impact on a company’s

share price, where the company suffered significant disruptions to its supply chain, could average

as much as 7%.

It seems many private sector companies do not have appropriate resilient

or risk-reducing protocols in place, especially those companies established in less turbulent times that haven’t developed in more cautious and dynamic business environments.

Advice from government bodies related to business and industry encourage companies to adopt an approach of ‘prevention is better than cure’.

Whilst almost impossible to avoid interruptions to supply chains caused by third parties or even natural disasters, it is possible to mitigate the loss by preparing and implementing business continuity or trade resumption plans.

Port of Melbourne – Expansion of Australia’s Largest Container Port Commences Construction has begun on a three-year $1.6 billion overhaul of the largest container port in Australia, with Victorian state government saying the work is necessary to avoid capacity constraints and adding that it will create around 1,100 jobs.

Last Thursday, Victorian Premier Denis Napthine and Minister for Ports David Hodgett were present for the breaking of ground on the Port Capacity Project at the Port of Melbourne.

Describing the project as being of ‘massive significance,’ Napthine says the development will create 1,100 new direct jobs in construction as well as 1,900 indirect jobs in the import, export and freight sectors.

“It will also protect thousands of existing jobs and cement the Port of Melbourne’s position as Australia’s busiest container

port, and ensure Victoria remains the nation’s freight and logistics capital,” Napthine says.

Work on the project will include:

• Reconfiguration and redevelopment of Webb Dock with the aiming of returning the dock to its original role as an international container handling facility and expanding its handling

capacity to at least one million containers each year.

• Creation of a state of the art automotive facility on the Western side of Webb Dock with capacity to handle 600,000 vehicles annually.

• Direct road connections from Webb Dock to the M1 Westgate Freeway.

• Reconfiguration of external road linkages at Swanston Dock.

Melbourne Port

On a wider scale, there are steps that government and industry groups are working towards, such as improved data sharing and a common risk assessment process. Supporting this movement towards an industry standard is something even SMEs should take an interest in, but it’s particularly important for this sector to ensure they have tried and tested procedures in place.

The short and long term effect suffered from disruption to the supply chain can be highly damaging to a business’s revenue stream. In some cases where the damage goes beyond the immediate impact of low stocks and supplies, and continues to result in customer dissatisfaction and damaged reputation, it can be difficult for a business to recover.

• Work on nearby parks and buffers, including minor modifications to Pearce White Reserve in Port Melbourne and Westgate Park adjoining the Webb Dock precinct, as well as improvements to other buffer zones, including those along Todd Road and the Webb Dock perimeter.

Bigger – Stronger – Safer

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Bigger – Stronger – Safer

Melbourne Port

Record and report every incident

If an accident occurs at your workplace you may be legally required to notify your local government body, such as Work, Health and Safety Queensland.

Read on if you’d like some help or advise to understand what’s required of you, or head to the resources section of our site to download an incident pack.

What Incidents Do I Have to Report?

Any incident that arises because of the conduct of a business or the undertakings of a business and results in serious illness, injury or death or could be considered a dangerous incident must be reported. Basically if you have any doubt that you should or should not report, then you should. A dangerous incident is one that could potentially cause

serious illness, injury or death. Things like chemical spills, fires, collapses etc.

Can Work Continue Where An Incident Has Occurred? Until a licensed inspector attends the scene to make a report then the site must not be disturbed other than to conduct necessary duties such as to assist injured, remove deceased, assist with police investigation or is necessary to make the area safe to inhabit.

Are You Taking Care of Your Team?Workers in the warehouse industry suffer more workplace injuries than almost any other profession in Australia. Many of these injuries are preventable by simply being armed with safety knowledge beforehand. As a warehouse manager it is imperative that you arm your employees and yourself with this knowledge or someone could get seriously hurt.

Who Should Notify?

Any person conducting business that is affected or could be affected by the incident should file an incident report immediately after being notified of the incident.

Notification must be immediate so make sure you have a plan in place to act immediately. Call your local government body or speak to an Aus-Rack consultant to make sure you and your team are protected.

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1800 010 409

enquiries@elbowroom.com.au

www.elbowroom.com.au