Okuma Australia puts the spotlight on three advanced hi-tech manufacturers successfully adjusting to a changing Western Australian economic climate.
Agmaster is a privately owned company dedicated to the manufacture and distribution of advanced ‘No-Till’ Seeding Systems, Presswheels and Rotary Harrows for larger scale crop production farming enterprises across Australia.
‘No Till’ was a new crop planting technology that gained momentum in the early 1990’s and brothers Geoff and Mike Glenn who started Agmaster in 1993, were instrumental in developing this cutting edge technology that revolutionised and brought significant changes to the industry.
With extensive farming backgrounds both Mike and Geoff embarked on an extensive education/seminar program, initially throughout Western Australia before expanding this to the cropping regions in the eastern states. From the initial ‘No Till’ concept there has been a continuous stream of agricultural innovations emanating from this company such as Star Harrows, Steel Coil Harrows, Slip and Clip Points, Presswheels, precision seed placement boots and more recently kwik fit systems.
Located in Welshpool, Perth, this family business is equipped with some of the latest manufacturing technology enabling the company to carry out advanced production processes with automated machinery including robot welding, CNC Plasma Cutting and other technology. Castings are predominant throughout the Agmaster’s range of products produced.
3D plastic printing is carried out in house and has been instrumental in the rapid development of prototypes. The expression “A picture is worth a thousand words” has proven itself time and again for the company with the printing of prototypes prior to committing to casting patterns and moulds. This process has also fast tracked developments enabling new products and modifications to existing components to be brought to market faster, providing a distinct edge over competitors.
“Okuma machines have played a significant part in the success of Agmaster,” says Geoff Glenn. “Their reliability along with outstanding consistent quality and precision of components over the last seventeen years has seen the company to now invest singularly in Okuma. We have just added a sixth machine with the recent commissioning of an Okuma Millac 800VH with OPS-P3000MA control,’ he said. “The machines, product support, service and training offered by Okuma are excellent and go well beyond reasonable commercial expectations” Geoff said. “There may be a lot of good machines out there, but for us, it is all about what stands behind the machines. It has been a fantastic experience, hence the loyalty to Okuma with Agmaster considering Okuma to be more a business partner than a supplier of machines,” he said.
Components produced or processed on the Okuma machines include Presswheel components and associated products, castings, ground engaging equipment, seeding points, seed placement tools plus fertiliser compound and liquid fertiliser componentry.
As market leaders Geoff commented that the new machines have enabled Agmaster to further redesign/refine components to meet market specific needs. Furthermore they have been able to develop more sophisticated products providing a distinct market advantage over competitors, particularly those trying to copy or imitate Agmaster’s developments. He went on to say that in their experience the Okuma machines have opened their manufacturing processes up to fast, extremely reliable and very complex machining capabilities.
Whilst the economy in Western Australia overall is making conditions tough for business, the agricultural market is very good for this progressive company. Heavy investment in sophisticated advanced equipment to gain a strong market advantage can be attributed to this company being recognised as a national leader in the agricultural industry.
Approximately 30% of sales for the company are achieved within WA and 70% across the southern parts of Australia. Whilst export sales have not been a focus for the company it has product in South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and New Zealand.
ALL-Go Engineering based at Naval Base, WA is a quality assured specialist in the supply and repair of a wide range of Mining and Oil and Gas components with more than 28 years’ experience.
Key services provided for the Oil and Gas industry include Drill Tool Refurbishment, Restriction Nozzles, Pump Parts and Frames, Heat Exchanges, Orifice Flanges. Spectacle Blinds/Spades, RTJ and custom made flanges and fittings and Manifolds and for the Mining Industry the company’s services include the repair and manufacture of Cone and Jaw Crusher components, Conveyor Pullies and Shafts.
The capacity and range of machinery, particularly large capacity machines, enables ALL-Go Engineering to complete jobs that competitors cannot undertake. This combined with highly skilled tradesmen, makes this a one stop shop for large and small mechanical engineering work.
Over the last ten years Okuma machines quality output have been fundamental to the development of the business and the commissioning of the latest CNC Double Column Machining Centre MCR-A5CII with OPS-P300M Control has resulted in machining times dropping by up to 30-40% along with drastically reduced set up times.
“Our 30 plus staff at ALL-Go consider it a privilege to work on the Okuma machines which are user friendly, easy to program and have unparalleled service back-up,” said Managing Director Phil Vergone. “Whilst the economy in WA has been negative there has been a marked turn around in business confidence due to increased Iron Ore prices and new Naval and Defence contracts,”
Such is the confidence within this company in servicing the West Australian market that a new building is underway that will further lift capacity by more than 50% with further investment in heavier and larger machines.
Future Engineering is another precision engineering company with confidence in the economy with relocation plans set to double the size of the plant and take on more staff.
Precision specialist Future Engineering has been servicing a wide range of industries for more than 26 years and has invested heavily over the years in up to the minute high performance CNC machinery to keep abreast of industry standards.
The diverse customer base for this company covers the Oil and Gas Industry, Railway Maintenance, Mining, Building Industry, Food Industry, Automotive and Defence Industry, all of which are reliant on accuracy and reliability, catered for with skilled operators and a range of Okuma machines. The company offers CNC Milling, CNC Turning, Wire Cutting, Welding and Fabrication, Engraving and Surface Grinding from one off prototypes to large production runs.
Future Engineering has achieved Quad Certification and is certified to the new ISO 9001:2015 Quality Assurance Standards. It has recently commissioned new computerised laser CMM inspection equipment to meet any inspection requirements and offers quality document packages for traceability. With the growing demand in 3D manufacturing Future Engineering is increasing investment in new technologies to ensure it meets and exceeds future manufacturing standards.
“Future Engineering has enjoyed a wonderful business relationship with Okuma over the last 20 years and new business has grown as a result once our customers know that we have invested in high precision plant Okuma machines,” said Managing Director, Alex Ardizzone. “I have visited the Okuma factory in Japan and the solid and rigid construction provides us with consistent precision results in fine tolerance outcomes. The technical expertise of the company flows down to Australia where service is excellent and modern advances in software programmes continually move ahead providing further advantages,” he said.
The latest Okuma machine installed by the company is the multitasking CNC Lathe Model Multus U4000-2SCx1500 with OSP-P300S control.
“There has been a noticeable improvement in the WA economy and we are experiencing increases in production and have a busy year ahead with upward trends requiring extra shifts and additional skilled staff,” said Alex. “Whilst the bulk of our business is in WA we are also enjoying indirect export business and new defence contracts as we head into the future on a very positive note,” he said.
The focus of these three examples featured above seems to mimic Okuma user experiences in other states where key businesses are casting aside the product analysis alone. The additional benefits drawn upon by very successful Australian manufacturing companies such as the strength of the machine builder and their continuous developments, the long term quality the equipment achieves, the local “partnership” support above and beyond any usual "buyer and seller” mechanism and the clarity of operation of the equipment, puts these owners in the prime position to build and grow their businesses.
Since 1991 Okuma Australia has followed a path of customer engagement, consultative support and attracting and keeping high level experienced engineers within its ranks, reinforcing the importance of the business partnership between supplier and customer.
