NEWS

Enhanced Automation Capability

Able have always been ready, willing and able to take on a challenge, bring our expertise to solve your design and manufacturing challenges and work with our partners to ensure delivery of high quality outcomes, on time and on budget.

Able has always invested in our processes and people to maintain a facility and team that is capable, reliable and available when you need it.

We are proud to announce this investment continues having recently enhanced our capability with significant investment is machines and accreditations to meet your needs including a new servo drive CNC 30T turret punch (2m x 5m x 6.35mm), 3KW IPG CNC tube fiber Laser (10m x 410 Diameter x 12mm), 6KW IPG CNC flat bed fiber laser(4m x 2m x 25mm), Multiple CNC ABB & OTC robotic welding systems (10m x 4200 Diameter x 4T), a 160 cubic metre blast booth and multiple spray booths.

With a long resume of successful outcomes working with our customers, look to Able to solve your challenges and together we can succeed.

New Accreditation for Able

Defence Industry Security Program
Able has now obtained Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) membership. Work with Able in the knowledge that we are ‘defence ready’, with a secure operating environment, appropriate clearances and always working to stay upto date with the latest security trends and threats to protect our business, and yours.


ISO 45001
Able is a trusted business partner to many corporates. We work hand in hand with our partners to produce successful outcomes. This capability is underpinned by our ISO 45001 compliant processes to maximise our performance and the outcomes for our clients. Our management systems and operations are focused on being efficient, with minimal operating disruptions and incidents, so we can work with you to meet your goals and deadlines efficiently and safely.

SME brings welding capabilities to Boxer CRV program

Melbourne-based Able Industries Engineering announced it has received a major international standard for welding practices that enhances opportunities for new contracts in the Australian defence sector, with LAND 400 Phase 2 firmly in its sights.

Able, which employs 45 team members at its Melbourne manufacturing site, has secured the DIN 2303 Q2/BK1 certification from the German governing body, GSI SLV, after completing a rigorous audit process confirming its welding procedures are to international standard.

The highly sought-after German military welding standard officially recognises Able’s compliance and commitment to superior welding skills, quality processes, and procedures.

The internationally recognised qualification is a critical step towards working on Australian Defence programs including the LAND 400 Phase 2 Boxer program and confirms Able’s ability to fabricate and weld specialised metal components to military standard.

Able, has 45 years’ experience supporting defence and industry, and is the first company in Victoria and the third in Australia to achieve this international certification for its welding practices. The audit process requires significant resources including company investment in employees and capability.
Able managing director Stephen Martyn said, "The accreditation enabled the company to bid for contracts offered by global prime military contractors delivering major platforms for the Commonwealth of Australia and markets overseas.

"This is a significant step for our family owned and operated company that will strengthen our proven capability and also enhance opportunities to be part of international supply chains."

Able will fabricate and weld components for the ADF’s fleet of combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRV) now being delivered by Rheinmetall Defence Australia. RDA is working with industry partners across Australia to deliver 211 Boxer CRVs and establish a sovereign military vehicle industry capability.

Able is also accredited with welding standard certification ISO 3834–2. To have both qualifications underscores Able’s commitment to operating at the highest standard for welding processes, quality procedures and industry best practice.

The $5.2 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 program will have Rheinmetall deliver 211 8x8 Boxer CRVs to the Australian Army.

Under the company's offering to the Commonwealth, Rheinmetall will build a majority of the vehicles at the company's specialised Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Queensland.
The first 25 vehicles will be built in Germany as part of the technology transfer process, with the remaining vehicles to be built in Australia. Boxer will replace the ageing ASLAV vehicles that have served with the Australian Army in East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Army will accept 133 reconnaissance variants of the Boxer, which will be equipped with Rheinmetall’s cutting-edge Lance 30mm automatic cannon turret system, amounts a number of other variants.

Quality Management Systems Critical for Defence

For an organisation with a 40-year track record as a trusted supplier to Australia’s defence forces, holding the latest quality management system certification is non-negotiable.

Not only is securing international quality management certifications critical to Able’s current business, but new certifications have the potential to open up whole new industries and business opportunities, according to Able Industries’ Managing Director, Stephen Martyn.

“Quality assurance matters a lot in our business, particularly with the clients we partner with and supply. We’re very pleased to be ahead of the game and to have successfully transitioned from the 2008 version of the ISO9001 Quality Management Standard to the 2015 version well ahead of the September deadline.”

Stephen Martyn said holding the ISO9001 standard was compulsory for organisations supplying the Australian defence forces and the biggest changes in the new standard focused on risk management processes.

“Under the new standard, our risk register and active management of risk plays an even bigger role in driving continuous improvement across our operations, including business continuity.”

A heavy job to deliver safer, smoother rail and road traffic

Sixty tonnes of structural steel, produced and delivered in a highly choreographed logistical exercise, has seen Able Industries contribute to safer, smoother traffic flows at Victoria’s Rosanna Station.

“Traffic flows in and around Rosanna Station, particularly the level rail crossings, have become a nightmare for the area,” said Able Industries’ Managaing Director, Stephen Martyn.

“As part of removing 50 levels crossings to enable traffic to flow more safely and smoothly, Able Industries has demonstrated its capability for large-scale heavy engineering, producing structural steel platform frames for the Lower Plenty Road rail station.

“This was a big piece of work that required absolute precision in both manufacturing and timing.

“As one of four suppliers, Able constructed four 14-metre-long welded steel platform frames, each weighing 15 tonnes and requiring two 10 tonne gantry cranes to move them inside our engineering factory.”

Stephen Martyn said Able committed a team of 10 full-time welders in the construction of the framing.

“We were doing 400 hours of full-strength butt welding per week on this project, with all welds reviewed both visually and with ultrasonic testing to assure integrity.

“Once each frame was completed they were craned onto a heavy truck and, under pilot vehicle, delivered to site. The timing of completion and the delivery of the frames had to be very carefully planned at every stage to minimise traffic disruption.

“We’re really pleased to have been able to contribute to this really important project. The new station is now open and is resulting in smoother, safer traffic flows.

“The project again shows Able’s flexibility and breadth of capability. From finely fabricated public art installations to literally constructing part of a railway station, we take huge pride in seeing our work installed and in use by the public.”

Lifting the bar with space-age Australian Open seats

In a demonstration of its flexibility and breath of capability, Able Industries literally worked through last Christmas in the fabrication of 21 new umpire seats for the Australian Open Tennis.

Observers of one of the world’s greatest tennis tournaments this year couldn’t have helped but notice the brand-new, space-age umpires’ seating. Using pneumatic technology in a world-first, the seats smoothly lift the umpires into position and down again – see picture.

“Fabricating 21 of these seats based off the conceptual drawings called on the flexibility and professionalism of the Able team,” said Able Industries’ Managing Director, Stephen Martyn.

“This project represented a huge commitment to the customer, with a really challenging timeline. Starting in October, our team pulled all the stops, working through the Christmas holidays to get these seats built, tested and functioning to the highest standard in order to get them literally on the world stage in time.”

Stephen Martyn said the steel and aluminium seats required extensive testing to overcome multiple teething obstacles.

“As this was a world first, we started from scratch. We worked in partnership with the software developers and other contractors to ensure all of the wiring, control modules, safety systems and pneumatics flowed through the structure of the chair and worked safely.

“The feedback we received on this fabrication has been overwhelmingly positive, which is heartening given we had a few moments where the deadline was looking very tough indeed!”

Stephen Martyn said the project demonstrated the wide range of capabilities of the team at Able Industries as well as their commitment.

“From heavy fabrication for civil construction to critical components for armed forces to projects for sporting venues like the Aussie Open, our people have demonstrated our commitment to delivering, on-time and to the highest standard.

“These seats at the Melbourne Tennis Centre will see much more use over the years. Every time the team now see an umpire effortlessly float up into position, we reflect with pride on a fantastic project and the commitment of our team in delivering a slightly different project for another satisfied customer.”

More than 70 guests overlooked some of city’s most iconic landmarks built by Able Industries Engineering, at an event which celebrated their 40th birthday.

The Eureka 89 function room is where the celebration took place last month, as guests enjoyed views across to the MCG Southern Stand, Crown Towers and Federation Square - just three of many landmark projects this humble metal fabrication business can proudly put its name to.
Able, which employs over 60 experienced tradespeople, technical, project management, design and administrative staff - at its two facilities located in South Kingsville and Spotswood - is locally owned by the Martyn family.

Stephen Martyn, Managing Director said, “The company was founded by Charles Spiteri and Ray Hunter back in February 1976. My late father, Bryan Martyn joined Charlie and Ray shortly after.”

Today the company can say it has fabricated metal parts for everything ranging from the Lethal Weapon ride at Movie World on the Gold Coast, to solar farms, defence vehicles and ships, building facade work, to public transport signage and planter boxes you see around the city.

Able clients include Thales, Mercedes Benz, BAE, Land Rover, RAAF – and was recently awarded the contract to build components for Tasmania’s newest standout building – Parliament Square in Hobart.

Mr Martyn said “Our 40th anniversary celebration provides our family the opportunity to sincerely thank our employees, customers and suppliers.”

“Able and the Martyn family, have been part of the local Hobsons Bay community for more than 40 years, and have a proud tradition and heritage based upon the core values and culture from our father, Bryan Martyn.”

“My late father Bryan Martyn would generally open a meeting or conversation with, ‘How can we help you,’ which is generally how we like to do business.”

“I’m very proud of what has been achieved by our family business. Long term sustainability of any business is difficult, but to build a successful manufacturing business is even more difficult.”
“More importantly there has been a core group of people that have contributed to the success and I sincerely thank them for their hard work.” he said.

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