Features

SmartWasher
 Features

CRC SmartWasher technology: Tips and training from industry experts

The CRC SmartWasher® Bio-remediating part washer system has been making waves in the Australian mining industry in recent years with its environmentally friendly approach to breaking down oil, grease and contaminants on heavy machine components using an organic degreasing solution called OzzyJuice.  CRC Industries Technical Sales Executive, Ian Maguire, works on the front lines of the mining industry in Western Australia, specialising in Maintenance, Repairs and Operations (MRO) products and working out on mine site to train staff on the SmartWasher technology.  “My main goal is to get in front of the end users of our SmartWasher system to facilitate optimisation and the correct use in application of the products,” says Ian. “This is best achieved by doing onsite training, surveying, and evaluating the specific requirements of applications on site, alongside their MRO team.”  Ian notes that the CRC SmartWasher technology has been particularly successful on West Australian mine sites due to its ability to clean the region’s native red dirt from equipment.  “The red dirt in this part of the country is notoriously difficult to clean off of parts,” says Ian. “It cakes and clings onto surfaces stubbornly, often proving to be a challenge for MRO staff. However, the CRC SmartWasher Bio-remediating part washer has demonstrated excellent cleaning power in even the toughest of cleaning applications with its unique, high-performing OzzyJuice degreasers.  As part and parcel of the effectiveness of the system, SmartWasher accessories— the CRC OzzyJuice and the OzzyMat Filter— combine to create a premium cleaning solution that is completely safe for worker health and the environment, while eliminating concerns about hazardous waste disposal, according to Ian. “Our team of material scientists use their extensive knowledge of surface technology to develop the OzzyJuice SW-X1 formula specifically for the mining industry to remove soot, grime, diesel fluid, tacky grease on gears and drive shafts and burnt on carbon,” he explains.  “The CRC SmartWasher® system uses bio-mediation technology to essentially eat through oil, grease, and carbon-based contaminants,” he furthers. “The OzzyJuice formula is water-based, pH neutral, GHS non-hazardous, and meets the NSF A1 standard for health and safety. Additionally, the formula leaves behind no streaks or residue, is non-flammable and non-toxic. Motion Australia is an exclusive distributor of the CRC SmartWasher® Bio-remediating part washer system in Australia and working together the two companies have cemented their relationship through a common goal of providing excellent MRO products, services, and training to customers.  “Motion Australia Account Managers have great relationships with their customers which makes it easier for me to get onto these sites and present the SmartWasher products and applications,” says Ian. “Whenever possible, I try to get out to sites to provide Smartwasher demonstrations and work hands on with MRO teams to familiarise them with the system. These demonstrations speak a thousand words on the features and benefits of the SmartWasher products, which are easily realised by doing these on-site demonstrations,” he concludes. How to use your CRC SmartWasher • After removing the SmartWasher from its packaging, check over pins and hoses to ensure they are in place • Remove the false bottom of the sink and place an OzzyMat blue side (filter) down on the sink screen  • Add required OzzyJuice fluid • Plug the machine in to an outlet that is designated for the SmartWasher and switch on to heat it up • Turn on the Power Switch and adjust the pressure of the juice and the nozzle • Begin cleaning parts!  • Using the brush clean down components which includes a button to run OzzyJuice through the brush • Contaminants will be caught in the OzzyMat filter • The OzzyJuice never needs to be changed, it just needs to be topped up intermittently, usage dependant. • For maintaining the machine, once a month replace the OzzyMat, introducing a fresh dose of microbes, to ensure your cleaning efficacy remains constant day after day. Read More
procurement
 Features

Premium procurement strategies for OEMs in Western Australia

CBC heavy industry and mobile equipment expert, Sheree Munnik advises her OEM contracts that when it comes to procuring the right supplies at the right time, “Fail to plan, and you plan to fail.”  Her vested knowledge in the procurement side of the business has been amplified in recent years by her extensive involvement in the contract sales side of CBC’s Western Australian business arm, which frequently caters to the OEMs involved in the production of equipment for heavy industrial plants, ore mining, refineries, and quarrying processes.  “A fair few of my clients manufacture heavy mobile equipment like dump trucks, diggers and excavators that dominate the heavy industrial equipment market here in Perth,’ says Sheree.  Not surprisingly, many of Sheree’s clients are looking to invest in premium level products for their manufacturing processes — and that’s exactly where CBC comes in.  According to Sheree, with some of the more recent challenges procurement managers have been facing, this has created a kind of convergence of opportunity to showcase the different capabilities that Motion Australia’s business possesses in terms of inventory, supply and distribution.  ‘I recently had the procurement manager from a reputable OEM reach out to me,” says Sheree. “He wanted to discuss accessing hydraulic and gear oils for their batches of massive heavy earth moving loading trucks. Essentially, his hands were tied in terms of accessing supply due to difficulties with long lead times sourcing offshore products and he was looking for a premium quality onshore alternative that would be more readily available.” Sheree deferred to her multi-branded solutions basket of contacts to source lubricants from their range of available premium oils. She also suggested the OEM manager enter into a procurement contract with CBC to benefit from their massive network of stock facilities and distribution channels.  The client ended up ordering a range of Shell products from our supplier Viva Energy Australia, including items from the Tellus T2 hydraulic oils and the Omala industrial gear oil ranges. Since then, it has been full steam ahead with continuous ordering and supply.  “The client quickly made us their preferred onshore supplier,” says Sheree. “And the relationship has been ongoing for about a year now. We monitor it quarterly and regularly check in on the client’s needs to make assessments and offer oil samples for their team to trial.” 
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taking stock
 Features

Taking stock: Motion Australia’s best methods for planning ahead

The Australian manufacturing industry is looking ahead to restock for a new year, and part of this process is considering current and future challenges of warehousing and distribution, particularly when sourcing offshore product.  Mark Watson, group forecasting and planning manager for Motion Australia, weighs in on how to approach planning stock when the only thing certain is that nothing is for certain. He likens the forecasting and planning process to a Mike Tyson quote: “Everyone has a plan until they get smacked in the face.”  Watson furthers that forecasting and planning for procurement is more than managing demand and supply, more importantly, it is working with the variability of both.  “As many of our customers are small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs), who are unlikely to be looking many months ahead for their requirements, the Motion planning group takes on that responsibility to create sourcing plans that often result in POs being placed more than 1yr in advance of when we think it will be selling.”  “We don’t expect our customers to approach us with a concrete plan in place, but any guidance from them is welcome as that helps us protect their own operations,” he continued. “When I am assisting customers that operate day-to-day without a formal logistics plan or a broader awareness of what their maintenance cycles look like, first and foremost it helps to approach things as though we have a common supply chain, and we are working together to create the best solution.”   Watson reiterates that he is always happy to work with suppliers and SMEs on developing procurement plans that suit their business needs and considers their assets.  “Managing uncertainty means constant firefighting to aim for perfect stock availability,” he said. “Which means developing very close relationships with our key premium suppliers to put ourselves in a good position for supporting our customers future needs.” “As far as stock planning is concerned, our team at Motion Australia has quite a sophisticated method and system that works specifically on trying to manage the uncertainty of supply and demand,” he explained. “Our capabilities have been especially valuable in the last, say 10-12 months, where lead times and logistics have been incredibly variable.”  “In fact, some of our key suppliers now use the forecast and the flow that we provided them to try to get a better product allocation from their overseas plants,” he continued. “And that really demonstrates the credibility we have in the planning space.”  From a distribution perspective, Motion Australia has four major distribution centres across four states — Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia – with over 100 branches across the country.  The benefit of this to customers is that they always have access to stock from those centres due to the continuous flow of stock that moves through the distribution centres to continuously replenish the branch locations.  Mark Dixon, executive general manager for supply chain and logistics at Motion Australia has spent the last 25 years working in various roles across the supply chain, manufacturing, and business improvement.  Currently, Dixon heads up Motion Australia’s distribution channels, ensuring products are in the right place at the right time —preferably a customer’s doorstep.  He notes the importance of optimising distribution networks, framed by the challenges of being an industrial solutions provider.  Read More