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In this episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations, we hear from Neil Goodman, a 45-year veteran of the steel industry who helped pioneer Hi-smelt technology globally.

Neil explains how this direct smelting process works, its environmental advantages over traditional methods, and why it might be the perfect solution for Whyalla steelworks.

Episode guide

00:00 Introduction

2:06 What is Hi-smelt technology?

4:55 Environmental advantages

7:47 Limitations and challenges

8:58 Implementation costs and timeframe

10:14 Comparison with other green steel technologies

11:41 Specific challenges for Whyalla

12:28 Commercial opportunities

13:12 Energy costs in manufacturing

Further reading

Goodman's bio at HILT CRC

Bringing HIsmelt back

The HIsmelt Iron-Making Process

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Welcome to this special episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations, which is part of our annual Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers campaign.

It's been made possible through the support of Australia Wide Engineering Recruitment, TXM Lean Solutions, the Industry Capability Network, Bonfiglioli Australia, the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre and the SmartCrete CRC.

• Do you think you belong on @AuManufacturing’s list of Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers? Apply to be recognised in this exclusive group here. It’s completely free to enter, and we’ll be celebrating the announcement of the 50 Most Innovative list and the award winners at a special breakfast event on May 7 at Crown Melbourne, during Australian Manufacturing Week.

In this episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations, we speak to Dr Chris Jeffery, the founder and CEO of Convergence Medical, maker of the world's first arthroscopic surgical robot. He tells us about some of the things he's learned from founding three technology companies, the brisk pace his current company has moved at since getting started in 2022, and more.

Episode guide

1:20 - What Convergence does.

2:09 – Career path, beginning with an electronic and computer engineering degree.

3:10 – RAEME Corp. Deployment in 2008 and 2009 in Iraq and Afghanistan as an adjutant.

4:30 – Falling in love with medicine and starting study for the GAMSAT while overseas.

5:30 – Returning to study through a medical leadership program.

7:10 – A formative chapter while on rotation at an ENT surgery at Ipswich. How a simple “beep test” led Jeffery to start his first technology business, Audera.

10:57 – The reasons behind starting a second company, Field Orthopaedics, which Jeffery led for seven years.

12:10 – Field’s acquisition and a chance to step back and decide on something new.

13:10 – A sabbatical and a chance to stop chasing a bright, shiny ball for a little while.

15:08 – A fascination with problems and how it relates to starting Convergence. And what’s the problem?

16:30 – The three main markets within orthopaedic surgery that were considered, and why arthroscopy was the one.

18:16 – Developing a robot and what influenced how it was designed. What the surgeons’ problems are in all of this, “the world’s first arthroscopic surgical robot”.

19:30 – The moving parts of the VO1 robot.

21:35 – Supply chain issues and the reason for a high level of vertical integration. “Starting at motor level and building up” has helped keep costs down.

23:28 – The $US 5 million funding round this year, how it supports the company’s “go to market” plan, and what that involves.

24:15 – Third-generation robot scheduled for delivery in late-April for a simulated clinical demonstration.

27:10 – How to move fast and with purpose in this kind of company (or others.)

29:34 – So what makes up the right culture, and how do you try and select the right people to contribute to this?

32:10 – How to respond to inauthentic or incomplete responses from potential team members.

33:30 – Not every company needs to demonstrate product innovation, but competence and expertise are.

34:01 – How do you create the conditions that can produce innovation? What are the ingredients?

34:46 – What makes a company innovative: structure, process, reason.

35:34 – Wanting to hold back as late as possible before deciding on a solution.

35:50 – Risk and reward as it applies to Jeffery’s work.

37:38 – The world is changing incredibly quickly and it’s sort of impossible to keep up with it. Plus a few examples of where production has chan

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Welcome to this special episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations, which is part of our annual Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers campaign.

It's been made possible through the support of Australia Wide Engineering Recruitment, TXM Lean Solutions, the Industry Capability Network, Bonfiglioli Australia, the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre and the SmartCrete CRC.

• Do you think you belong on @AuManufacturing’s list of Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers? Apply to be recognised in this exclusive group here. It’s completely free to enter, and we’ll be celebrating the announcement of the 50 Most Innovative list and the award winners at a special breakfast event on May 7 at Crown Melbourne, during Australian Manufacturing Week.

In this episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations, we sat down with Ayrton Sue from Element Engineering to chat about everything from beach buggies to high-tech manufacturing. Starting as a teenager sweeping workshop floors, he's now helping transform Australia's manufacturing landscape.

Episode guide

1:00 -- Introduction

2:23 -- Early days in manufacturing

5:05 -- Formula Student World Championship

9:15 -- The ShockWiz journey

13:30 -- Innovation philosophy

17:45 -- Future of Australian manufacturing