New tech will help Murray Bridge’s Kennewell CNC Machining defend Australia
An advanced manufacturing firm in the Murraylands is using the world’s best technology to secure work in the defence and aerospace sectors.
This sponsored story is brought to you by Kennewell.
This Murray Bridge workshop is home to some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in Australia, and Adam Cooper and Mitchell Lavery get to be on the cutting edge of it.
Kennewell CNC Machining recently took delivery of an Okuma five-axis machining centre – the first in South Australia.
That gives the local firm the capability to produce more intricate and complex parts than ever before, for clients with incredibly specific technical requirements.
By integrating it with a robotic arm, Kennewell will be able to run it autonomously, day and night.
“We can make more complicated parts, and do parts with less setup, so it’s more efficient,” says Adam, a CNC machinist.
“The five-axis opens a whole new world of possibilities for what we can machine,” Mitchell says.
Kennewell was able to purchase the machine thanks to a $750,000 grant from the federal Defence Industry Development Grants program.
The program is intended to grow Australia’s sovereign capability and make the nation more secure by giving Australian businesses superior technical abilities while keeping them globally competitive.
Parts manufactured in Murray Bridge will be used in the Australian Army’s next-generation Redback infantry fighting vehicles, 129 of which are being manufactured by Adelaide firm Redarc for use by the 3rd Armoured Combat Brigade.
Director Brett Kennewell said he was proud to supply the Australian Defence Force with beautiful parts, and to show taxpayers how defence industry grants could benefit the wider community.
Kennewell had already created six full-time jobs in Murray Bridge as a result of its expansion into defence work, he said, and would soon hire a quality assurance technician who would help them explore more opportunities.
Adam will take the lead on the five-axis project, while Mitchell – a mechanical engineering student on a 20-week internship – will play a supporting role.
“It’s an amazing opportunity,” Mitchell says.
“A lot of my friends are doing placements where they’re confined to one small project and the scope’s very limited, but here I get to touch on CAD modelling, PLC (programmable logic controllers), reprogramming the human-machine interface, doing all the safety, fabrication work, planning and procurement.
“It’s pretty rare for an internship.”
New Zealand-based CNC technologist Scott Moyse has even come over to help the Kennewell team get right to work with their new, $500,000 bit of kit, configuring software and training local staff.
So if you think you have to leave the Murraylands to participate in the highest levels of advanced manufacturing, think again.
Firms like Kennewell CNC Machining are showing that we can do it as well as anyone, right here in our own backyard.
“It’s pretty much top of the line – there’s not much better out there,” Adam says.
“It’s pretty cool to have that in Murray Bridge.”
- More information: kennewell.com.
- Read more: Murray Bridge business gets funding for strengthening Australia’s defence
Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news.
Peri Strathearn
