The Australian Research Council (ARC) has launched Industry Fellowships, a $215 million program that would provide a boost for research aimed at addressing critical challenges in the industry. 

The program, which will officially roll out in September, will help industry-based researchers find a university or institution they can partner with and connect academia-based researchers with a company, government entity, or charity. 

The four-year program will support up to 83 industry fellows in early, mid, and senior roles annually to explore opportunities in both industry and academia for research collaboration, translation, and commercialisation. 

Judi Zielke, chief executive officer of ARC, said the initiative will increase the strategic engagement and alignment between universities and industry. 

According to Zielke, the scheme will streamline the translation of research skills and knowledge into real-world applications. 

“Australia can only benefit from a boost to the amount of research and development done in an industry setting, and that’s one of the aims of the Industry Fellowships,” Zielke said. 

The Industry Fellowships will also provide support for senior researchers that seek to nurture the next generation of research talent in an industry setting. 

“The ARC has worked hard to make these schemes accessible to researchers with an industry background, to break down the barriers that exist between research conducted in an industry setting, and that based in universities.”

Guidelines for the program have been published on GrantConnect, while key dates for the scheme are outlined on ARC’s Grant Calendar.

The post New ARC Fellowships program to boost industry research capabilities appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Media Release by Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC)

Territory-based manufacturers will soon gain access to a multi-million-dollar advanced manufacturing facility. The facility will house robotic and bespoke automation products and services to support the implementation of technology such as robotic welders, automated pick and pack systems and product inspection services.

The project will see Diverseco and Charles Darwin University (CDU) work closely to develop four new robotic and automation micro credential qualifications tailored to the region and boost local skills and knowledge in advanced processes and machinery for the industry.

The commitment also enables Diverseco to expand its support services to local manufacturers wishing to advance their operations and improve staff capability by supporting them with access to the latest technology, training programs, design services, equipment implementation, and operations and maintenance activities.

Diverseco and its project partners will provide on-site technical support and training services to local businesses seeking to adopt advanced technologies in their operations and support these businesses to upskill their staff. The facility will also be available to local businesses to demonstrate these technologies and develop tailored automated solutions for their individual business needs.

This announcement is the latest co-investment awarded under the Northern Territory’s Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund (AMEF), which is administered by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC). AMEF will provide almost half a million dollars towards this initiative, giving industry the ability to experience and test the latest in automation technology with the total project representing $4.45 million investment into the NT’s manufacturing ecosystem.

Diverseco will support the advancement of NT’s manufacturing industry by leveraging its and CDU’s manufacturing capabilities spanning defence, transport, logistics, agriculture, mining and waste disciplines, focusing on the areas of;

• automation solutions including industrial robots, collaborative robots (cobots), sortation systems, weighting solutions, dimension-weigh-scan systems, full packaging lines and industrial metal detectors
• bespoke, and advanced system integration solutions
• extensive after-sales services, including equipment servicing, maintenance and spare parts
• innovative and industry-tailored training to support for all the above capabilities

Chief Minister for the Northern Territory, Natasha Fyles said “Advanced manufacturing will be a major jobs driver of the future, and this new partnership will provide local manufacturers with the ability to turn their dreams into realities.

“By growing Territory capabilities in advanced manufacturing, we are expanding industries and export opportunities, creating new opportunities for investors and exciting job opportunities for Territorians,” said Fyles

Minister for Advanced Manufacturing, Nicole Manison said “This exciting collaboration will support the advancement of the NT’s manufacturing industry by leveraging its manufacturing capabilities in the defence, transport, logistics, agriculture, mining and waste industries.”

“Growing the Territory’s advanced manufacturing industry is a key part of our strategy to grow the economy to 40 billion by 2030 and create more jobs,” said Manison.

Northern Territory Major Projects Commissioner, Jason Schoolmeester said “This facility and the micro-credentials being developed will enable proactive local businesses to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of their business operations.

“It will also ensure that the NT workforce is gaining qualifications to meet industry needs. We look forward to seeing the many local business collaborations with Diverseco and CDU on this exciting new initiative”, said Schoolmeester.

AMGC’s Northern Territory Director, Charmaine Phillips said “Since the launch of the AMEF last year, AMGC and the Territory Government have built a solid understanding of the manufacturing capabilities that exist in the Territory and the needs of the industry allowing us to support industry growth,

“Diverseco’s presence in the NT will give local manufacturers direct access to leading technology and training resulting in skills, capability and jobs growth across the industry”, said Phillips.

Diverseco, Managing Director, Brenton Cunningham said “We are excited to work with the NT Government, AMGC, and CDU, for without their support we would not have a presence in the Territory.

“Diverseco looks forward to delivering this unique business solution into the Northern Territory and has every confidence that it will be well received by local industry and create further commercial opportunities for local manufacturers.  Diverseco seeks to create solutions at the edge of possibility and the more importance we give to skill development, the more competent will be our youth,” said Cunningham.

Charles Darwin University, Vice Chancellor, Professor Scott Bowman AO said, “This is an exciting partnership between CDU and Diverseco, and it will support course expansion into new robotic and automation qualifications tailored to the region, that will boost workforce capabilities in advanced processes and machinery,” Professor Bowman said.

“This investment into advanced manufacturing skills and technology is a welcome addition to the Northern Territory and offers new and exciting opportunities for our students.”

The post $4.45 million to be invested into developing advanced manufacturing skills and technology in the Northern Territory appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Media Release by UGG Since 1974

For many Aussies, the word UGG is synonymous with Australia: just like Vegemite and the Hills Hoist, our iconic sheepskin footwear is known the world over. But what most people don’t realise is that UGG is not in and of itself a brand, but a generic word for a sheepskin boot and more than 96% of the world’s UGG boots are now made in Asia.

Believe it or not, if you have a pair of UGG boots at home, chances are they weren’t made in Australia. But one Australian family-run business continues to stand strong against the tide of companies moving their operations offshore, by continuing to craft real Australian made UGGs here in Australia. 

Enter UGG Since 1974, a third generation, family-owned manufacturing business, handcrafting premium quality UGG boots at their workshop in South East Queensland for over 50 years. Run by Gold Coast locals Todd and Hannah Watts, UGG Since 1974 is one of the last genuine Australian made manufacturers of UGG boots, and they pride themselves on a completely Australian operation, transforming sheepskin hides into high quality footwear that we’ve come to love as a staple in our winter wardrobes. 

The brand itself is renowned for producing the world’s best quality UGG boots, and after a quick look around their workshop, it’s easy to see why. Using only the fluffiest, most luxurious Australian merino wool, coupled with a handcrafted manufacturing process that ensures each and every pair is nothing less than perfect, consumer confidence in the brand continues to skyrocket year on year, demonstrating a clear trend in the market: Australians have come full circle and are again favouring the ‘real deal’ – Australian made UGG boots. 

“The UGG story can be a confusing one for shoppers” explains Todd Watts, owner of UGG Since 1974, “because it has quite a convoluted history, and finding an Australian made pair of boots can be like finding a needle in a haystack since all of the logos look quite similar.” In fact, you could search your local shopping centre, large department stores and even massive online retailers like The Iconic or ASOS, and still not find an Australian made pair of UGG boots in sight. So how did this come to be? How did one of Australia’s most iconic innovations come to be, well, no longer strictly Australian? 

Put simply, the word ‘ugg’ is not able to be trademarked in Australia, so just like coffee (which can be made and sold by anyone), so too can UGG boots. This is why you may see so many different stores selling them throughout the country. What’s more, outside of Australia, an American owned company (with no connection to Australia) holds the trademark for the word “UGG”, meaning the original manufacturers of UGG boots here in Australia like UGG Since 1974 are unable to sell their boots outside our Australian shores.

There have been numerous “David and Goliath” news stories over the years of this American company suing ‘mum and dad’ UGG manufacturers in Australia, so you’d be forgiven for feeling a little confused about how to buy Australian made UGG boots and whether it’s possible to still find them here at all. 

The best way to find Australian made UGG boots is to of course look for the green and gold Australian made label, but also to look for the fabric sew in label within a seam of the product, which will distinctly tell you where the boots were made. “Whilst some companies bring their boots in partially made and complete a small step like gluing the soles on here in Australia, the sew in label will always give away the origins of the boots, and is the best place to check if you’re not sure whether your boots at home were made here,” says Mr Watts.

Australian made support in recent years has allowed UGG Since 1974 to keep its doors open in the face of pandemic conditions, ensuring the continuity of up to 30 jobs and that a future remains in Australia for manufacturing UGG boots. “With so much competition from imported products, and a great deal of confusion around which brands are genuinely Australian made, the renewed interest in consumers specifically seeking out Australian made products has truly changed the trajectory of our business,” says Mr Watts. “Thankfully, we’re looking well into the future as more and more customers continue to choose our Australian made products, and that puts a smile on the faces of my family, and all of our staff” 

UGG Since 1974 products are available strictly via their online store UGGSince1974.com.au or through their retail storefront at 23 Christine Avenue, Miami. 

Image Supplied: UGGSince1974.com

The post Not just an UGG boot: When Made in Australia is Best appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Media Release by Australian Defence Science, Technology and Research

Defence is inviting start-up companies to share their ideas with leaders in defence, academia, business and industry at the inaugural Australian Defence Science, Technology and Research (ADSTAR) Summit in Sydney and online from 20-22 July.

A unique opportunity exists for start-ups to participate and pitch your ready-to-go innovation to Defence and summit delegates at the ‘Start-Up Alley’.

‘We want to hear from startups that have an idea or innovation that could enhance our defence force’s capabilities or help to keep our defence personnel safe,’ says Professor Tanya Monro, Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist. ‘We are especially eager to build partnerships with those working with artificial intelligence and machine learning, biotechnology, cyber security, space, robotics, virtual and augmented reality, and hardware and software development.’

‘It’s a unique opportunity to connect your ideas with a range of potential defence applications,’ says Professor Monro. ‘You never know where your innovation might find a new application in support of defence.’

‘The central theme of the summit is ‘resilience’ in our defence forces,’ says Professor Monro. ‘Resilience is the ability and capacity for human-technical systems to quickly adapt and recover from unexpected interference, disruption, adversity, and threats. ADSTAR seeks to harness clever Australian science and technology and create new partnerships to build this resilience.’

Some of the areas being explored are:

• AI–human interactions and trust-building
• developing more-resilient people and teams in adverse conditions
• smarter sensor networks to monitor chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and other threats
• 3D printing in combat: is it practical to manufacture parts in contested environments?
• navigation without GPS and satellites
• protecting satellites from harm from space junk or enemy action
• and many other topics.

Australian and international speakers at the summit include:

• Chief Scientific Advisor UK Ministry of Defence, Professor Dame Angela McLean
• US Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Ms Heidi Shyu
• Director NZ Defence Technology Agency, Dr. David Galligan
• Director of STELaRLab at Lockheed Martin Corporation, Dr. Tony Lindsay
• Head of Defence and National Security, Executive Director Ai Group Defence Council. Ms Kate Louis
• First Assistant Secretary, Head Technology, Nuclear Powered Submarine Taskforce, Department of Defence, Dr Todd Mansell
• Chief Executive Officer, Trusted Autonomous Systems, Professor Jason Scholz
• US Director of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Dr. Stefanie Tompkins
• Director General Strategy and Planning – Air Force, Air Commodore Gretchen Fryar
• Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Cathy Foley
• Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro.

The ADSTAR Summit will be a hybrid event at the International Convention Centre, Sydney and online.

For more information, full program and to register for the ADSTAR Summit and Start-up Alley, visit www.adstarsummit.com.au

The post Start-ups: help us improve AI, robotics, biotech and cybersecurity for the defence of Australia appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Media Release by Central Coast Industry Connect

There is no denying that the past two years have been extremely tough for businesses on the Central Coast, manufacturers and agri-businesses being no exception. Local businesses have had to adapt their strategies and operations to deal with supply chain breakdowns, skills shortages, rising costs and other challenges stemming from catastrophic bushfires, floods and COVID-19.

To support local businesses to rebound from these significant challenges and help the local industry build resilience against future disruptions, Central Coast Industry Connect (CCIC) is proud to host the inaugural Central Coast Industry Festival and Expo. Jointly funded by the Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments under their Disaster Recovery funding arrangements, this major event will be the first of its kind for the region.

The festival is an initiative of CCIC, a not-for-profit, member-based organisation that helps Central Coast manufacturers and agri-businesses unlock growth opportunities through relationship building and collaboration. They secured the funding to host the festival not only to help future-proof businesses, but also to raise awareness about the extraordinary innovation capabilities of local businesses in these sectors and generate interest from Sydney-based business owners to relocate or start a new business here.

Festival organiser Alex Blow said, “By showcasing the diverse range of innovative products made right here on our doorstep, the festival will support the growth of our local manufacturing and agricultural production sectors, which employ thousands of Central Coast locals and contribute around $3.36 billion a year to our economy.”

Most people, even many locals, are unaware just how big an employer the Central Coast manufacturing sector is. Therefore, another key objective of the festival is to highlight the significant employment opportunities available to current and future generations. An entire day will be dedicated to bringing industry, schools and universities together to showcase the variety of interesting career paths on offer within the food, beverages, agriculture and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Held over two weeks from 22nd August 2022, the festival will deliver a program of free events for attendees, including industry-relevant capability building workshops and guest speaker sessions. It will culminate in a three-day Industry Expo bringing leading manufacturing and related businesses together to network, collaborate, learn new skills and showcase their products to businesses, students and the local community.

CCIC Executive Director Frank Sammut said, “The Central Coast Industry Festival is an important event for the region. When I look at the future of manufacturing, I see the importance of being able to engage parents and students to educate them on the opportunities manufacturing presents, the level of technology employed and the variety of jobs available. For the sectors involved, the festival will provide the opportunity to learn about each other, cultivate new business opportunities and learn about best practice activities to build business strength and resilience.”

The Central Coast Industry Festival and Expo will be held at Mingara Recreation Club, Tumbi Umbi from August 22 to September 3. The Expo will run from Thursday, September 1 to Saturday, September 3. It will be open to the public on the final day.

The post Major industry festival a first for the Central Coast appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Media Release by Camfil

Camfil’s Kaire® Unit has been named AIRAH 2021 Product of the Year – a prestigious, peer reviewed award recognising excellence in product manufacture within the Australian HVAC&R industry.

This Australian designed and manufactured multi-staged, combination filtration system was designed to control light to heavy kitchen exhaust emissions (smoke, grease and cooking odours) for all types of commercial cooking applications.

Kaire® Unit incorporates three stages of particulate filtration using custom designed mechanical filters to deliver effective filtration of kitchen exhaust emissions with increasing efficiency through each stage at a minimal cost. A final gaseous filtration stage uses activated carbon media to remove odours.

With restricted space in buildings, it is desired to horizontally discharge kitchen exhaust instead of vertically above the roof line. Horizontally discharged kitchen effluent requires an engineered solution to remove particulates and odour, as per Australian Standards (NCC, AS 1668.1:2012 and AS 1668.2:2012). The Kaire® unit achieves this with staged particulate filters and activated carbon media.

Designed to operate at 1.85m/s, the Kaire® Unit delivers a minimum 0.3 micron particulate removal efficiency of 95%+ (EN 1822- 5:2009) and an initial contact efficiency of 98%+ with odours.

The Kaire® Unit stands out from alternative HVAC industry offerings such as filter frames mounted in ductwork due to its build quality, customisability, range of sizes and purpose built filters for kitchen effluent – grease, smoke and odour. This system is a relatively low CAPEX expense and reduces OPEX. Maintenance costs and time is reduced as the filters can be quickly changed rather than spending a significant amount on labour and time cleaning ESP cells. An optional range of integrated inline fan systems that match perfectly with the Kaire® Unit also reduce installation time and eliminates the need for separate fan selections by clients.

Since its product launch in 2016, the Kaire® Unit has gone through several revisions and improvements to become the go-to, deemed to satisfy solution for the economical filtration of commercial kitchen exhaust to Australian standards.

Kaire® will be showcased on Camfil’s stand No 493 at ARBS 2022 – Melbourne MCEC, 16-18 August.

The post Australian designed and manufactured Camfil Kaire® Unit named AIRAH Product of the Year appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Media Release by Fitzroys

Epping’s emergence as Melbourne’s “CBD of the north” is continuing to attract manufacturing operators.

In the latest deal, Fitzroys’ Marco Sandrin and Brent Glassford have leased a 6,000sqm multipurpose facility at 6-8 Dream Haven Court to Creative Composites, who are specialised manufacturers of high-quality composites.

The property comprises the substantial factory, warehouse and office facility, as well has hardstand areas and secure and ample on-site parking.

Rents in the area for older style assets range from $60 to $70 per sqm, while newer facilities range from $85 to $95 per sqm.

“This multipurpose facility instantly appealed to a variety of users due to its functionality, as as did the property’s location close to the Epping Central precinct,” Sandrin said.

“The COVID period has clearly seen intensified demand from warehousing and logistics operators, and we’re particularly seeing a lot interest in the northern suburbs from occupiers in the manufacturing industries. We received huge interest in this facility and the deal was struck quickly so the landlord enjoyed no downtime between leases.

“Epping is undergoing a generational boom that has seen it become a commercial, retail and logistics hub, and emerge as Melbourne’s ‘CBD of the north’.”

A number of major infrastructure, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and large format retail projects have recently been completed in Epping, with many more planned. Sandhurst Retail and Logistics is planning a $500 million, 140-hectare industrial estate, and Mazda recently completed its 3.7-hectare national parts and distribution centre. Riverlee has started work on the $2 billion mixed-use development at the former Epping Quarry.

The suburb is also home to Pacific Epping regional shopping centre and the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit Vegetable & Flower Market, and has also attracted investment from ASX listed players Charter Hall, Centuria Industrial REIT and Aventus.

Glassford said the site offers excellent accessibility, an attribute that has become soughtafter amid the boom in demand for logistics and warehousing and which has also played a major role in the evolution of Epping.

He said the property is connected to the Hume Freeway, Metropolitan Ring Road, Western Ring Road and Tullamarine Freeway, opening up access to the rest of Melbourne as well as Melbourne Airport.

The post Manufacturers flock to Melbourne’s CBD of the north appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Advertorial Content. Written by Ben Gillies - A&I Coatings

New generation product technology in infrastructure is greatly reducing maintenance costs and the carbon footprint associated with maintenance and refurbishment of infrastructure, particularly in corrosive environments.

“Estimates are that corrosion may have cost Australia up to $32 billion per annum, that is more than $1,500 for every person in Australia each year.” (Dr Reza Javaherdashti – Curtin University)

One such project where new generation materials have been employed is the Pine Oaks Wetlands Boardwalk in Ocala, Florida.

This project is a prime example of innovative Australian manufacturing providing robust infrastructure solutions for projects all over the world

The substantial boardwalk structure built across these wetlands is constructed using Wagners composite fibre pultrusion, manufactured in Toowoomba and is painted with A&I’s Vitreflon 700HB fluoropolymer coating, manufactured in Moss Vale, New South Wales.

Composite fibre technology was the ideal solution for this significant project as it does not rust, rot, or corrode which provides substantial maintenance savings when compared to traditional building materials. When combined with A&I’s Vitreflon fluoropolymer coating, Wagners composite fibre structures have an expected lifespan in excess if 100 years.

Fluoropolymer paints take durability of substrates to the next level by displaying unsurpassed UV stability and being a more effective barrier to moisture and corrosion initiator penetration. When painting a steel bridge as an example, the use of a fluoropolymer paint can increase the time between recoats by 2 to 3 times when compared to traditional polyurethane or polysioxane coatings.

A&I has perfected the art of formulating and manufacturing fluoropolymer paint and now exports its paints to The United States, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Canada and China. Fluoropolymer paints are used in many scenarios with key applications including facades, bridges, offshore structures, stadiums and virtually any application where ongoing maintenance is risky and expensive.

The post A&I’s cost-effective infrastructure solutions for corrosive environment appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Davell’s current owner offers insights into the origins and recent history of the successful family business and how it reflects the journey of Australian manufacturing.

The right ingredients for early success

When an electrician, Ross Davies and a pastry chef, Thomas Bidewell joined forces to manufacture electric stovettes after the Second World War, the Sutherland Shire was a very different place. Brenton Gray, the present owner of Davell Products commented that in 1946 the Sutherland Shire was undeveloped and offered endless opportunities. Land was in plentiful supply and mainly used for market gardens, so there were great prospects for small local manufacturers to purchase land, build a factory and start a business.

Davies and Bidewell saw in the post-war housing boom a market for small electric stoves. Their fledgling company, then named Illawarra Manufacturing Co Pty Limited, began manufacturing electric stovettes. The popular stovette was a good match for the newly built Australian homes that ran on electricity and no longer required wood-burning stoves. Brenton points out that the new homes of the post-war era were relatively modest, “After the war people didn’t have much, so Australians weren’t living in large houses. The compact stove suited the small kitchens and were economical with electricity.”

The original Davell factory was housed in an old ‘army style’ shed called an American igloo. At times, 100 employees worked on-site assembling Davell’s products.

As time progressed, the name changed to Davell Products Pty Limited and the sons of both Davies (Alan and Esmond) and Bidewell (Stanley and Brian) entered the business to continue the legacy. They introduced upright ovens and bench top stoves to the market being the biggest seller to the then County Councils.

A popular slogan that was used to introduce the new range of ovens and stoves was “Cook Each Day the Davell Way”.

Other manufactured products included index card cabinets and drying cabinets.

A NSW Government contract for making card cabinets kept the business ticking over for three decades.

Times have certainly changed but in the pre-computer era, pull-out drawers for index cards filed alphabetically were critical to administration in most offices.

The stove business was sold in 1987 to St George Ranges when, at the same time, tooling was purchased from Wormald to make lockers, cabinets, adjustable steel shelving and mobile shelving (compactus) units.

The next phase of growth

In 1998 Brenton (son-in-law of Brian Bidewell) and the current manufacturing manager of Davell Scott Brew, purchased Davell with a vision to build the business and revamp operations.

Progress was slow but steady, Brenton recalls, “All of the old hard tooled machines were replaced with updated second hand machinery including a CNC turret punch which greatly improved the flow of work through the factory.

“When Scott and I took over we started to change a lot of products, says Brenton. “It used to be that you could have any colour you wanted as long as it was grey or beige! We introduced more colours.” They expanded their range to include Services Lockers, which were specifically designed for all emergency service organisations, laptop and mobile phone charging lockers, Z-Door lockers, lockers with clear doors, perforated lockers and various custom-made products.

In 2005 Scott sold his shareholding to Brenton but stayed on as manufacturing manager.

The GFC and the strength of the Davell team

The Global Financial Crisis of 2007–2008 impacted the local firm but Davell withstood it with a combination of flexibility and tenacity. For Brenton, employees are the heart of the business and keeping core employees, such as experienced machine operators, was essential. He says, “Without your core people you haven’t got a business.” Davell had to operate with a skeleton crew, sometimes just four days a week during the GFC. “We battled our way through, says Brenton, “but it wasn’t easy.”

At that time, everyone in Australia was primarily focused on purchasing low-cost solutions. However, long-term that led to issues with the quality of the cheaply made overseas goods.

Davell maintained its approach to advertising and marketing and made headway as business picked up after the GFC. Brenton recalls, “We never stopped marketing primarily to keep our name out there.”

Quality products for Australian schools, technology and innovation

Davell focused their marketing to the education sector as the company realised there was great potential for specialised products to suit individual school’s needs.

They have continually invested in the school locker range, adding features for durability and usability. After completing a job for Illawarra Grammar School, word of mouth helped them secure contracts for Ravenswood at Gordon, Brigidine College at St Ives and Abbotsleigh at Wahroonga, and many more schools followed.

Over the decades, Davell has ensured that new technology has been integrated into the business. Their machinery includes the latest CNC bending machines, turret punch and a brand new state of the art powder coating plant which was only commissioned this month.

Davell’s locker and storage range has also evolved to feature new devices which include charging options and many lock variations such as combination locks, electronic locks and now feature ‘Cloud-based’ locks.

Davell’s ongoing commitment to Australian manufacturing throughout Covid-19 and beyond

The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in tougher global conditions, but Davell was in an excellent position to ride out the period of adversity without drastic downsizing. “We never closed the doors and were open every day,” says Brenton. “We were pretty lucky in that we don’t rely on overseas raw materials, so we weren’t directly affected.”

A critical factor in avoiding pandemic supply issues was Davell’s longstanding policy of supporting Australian owned companies by sourcing raw materials in Australia. Brenton says, “We use local steel distributors who hold stock for us, as do our lock suppliers.”

This 75-year-old Kirrawee company, it turns out, is well equipped to meet challenges and to thrive. Brenton lists the significant factors in their success: “A great group of people who work for us. Always listening to customers and finding out what they want, and giving them what they want. A quality product. Offering products with a Lifetime Warranty and being Australian-made.

Willingness for private and government consumers to buy locally is giving the business greater assurance. “There seems to be more confidence in local manufacturers and buying Australian-made products”, says Brenton. In his opinion, the future outlook is encouraging. “I really do see things changing. Before, it was up and down, now, it is a lot more consistent. Davell will keep improving and keep coming up with new ideas for what the market wants including accreditation of both ISO: 9001 (Quality) and ISO:14001 (Environment) which the company has recently attained.”

75 years and the future is bright

Davell has reached its 75th year milestone in excellent condition, with 25 employees now working at the same location as when the company began in 1946.

Brenton’s advice to other local business owners is, “Do the right thing by the customer, make a quality product, be upfront with everybody and be innovative.”

For this proud Australian manufacturing company, the future looks bright.

The post Davell Products – An Australian manufacturing success story spanning 75 years appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.