Family is an important matter at Ronson Gears. Founded by Ronald New in 1954 Gavin New, Ronald's grandson now steers the marketing side of the family owned business. According to Gavin the team at Ronson's gear manufacturing business is an integral part of the extended family; Stock Sales manager Michele Kranzbuhler who has been with the company 15 years considers her desk at Ronson as home away from home. And this was where her very excited son Luke came this morning to show off a most valuable trophy!

If you are thinking about gear cutting and gear grinding as a career, it is all in a day's work at Ronson Gears. At our plant in Highett Melbourne our team provides world-class gear grinding services up to 700mm (27.56") in diameter. An asset to our business, we are proud of our investment in 'cutting edge' superior CNC technology and world renowned Hoefler Helix 700 CNC gear grinding machines.

China isn't going away as a sourcing destination, but sourcing teams in the US particularly are being encouraged  to look elsewhere for very good reason. As the US economy is showing definite signs of recovery - which is no doubt a huge relief for the Obama team - renewed focus on good business practice is also coming to the fore. Ronson Gears already manufactures precision gearing for the export market, with the US, and also Chile, being important players. Businesses need to look further than China for very good reason.

As we head into 2012, Ronson Gears is preparing for a busy year and all that goes with this looming scenario. Employing new staff, strengthening relationships with our existing staff, customers and suppliers, maintaining a strong and vibrant apprenticeship program, building on our strengths and reducing any weaknesses in our systems and processes, and manufacturing the country's most precise gearing! (best precision gears in the country!) All reasons why Ronson Gears is regarded as an employer of choice in the gear manufacturing industry.

Local manufacturing is experiencing a very big shift in Australia and Ronson Gears is geared up to take advantage of this transition. Some elements of Australian manufacturing is experiencing an investment boom, as they transition from producing goods manufactured in the era of high protection to manufacturing products consistent with an economy more heavily oriented to Australia's comparative advantage in resources. The key element of that boom is re-tooling manufacturing for such new areas.

Still enjoying a home away from home considering a blog for today, I took a moment to look up from my computer. Waves and white caps scudding across the bay directly in front of the window, a huge white breasted sea eagle floating above and not a soul for miles.

Applications are open for two positions at one of Australia's leading gear manufacturers, Ronson Gears: 1. A Fitter and Turner; 2. Fitter and Turner - CNC Setter/Operator.

We are working in interesting times, with international news of manufacturing bringing some surprises. Reports from the US show that the resurgence of manufacturing following the crash of 2008 is unprecedented, with manufacturing technology orders to last October surpassing the total value of orders amassed through all of 2007!

From all indicators Ronson Gears is cautiously optimistic about growth in the gear manufacturing industry in 2012, although Australian updates on the status of the Manufacturing industry reveal a wide disparity between industry sectors. Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Heather Ridout, said: "Manufacturing conditions clearly remain tough and have been so for much of the past year raising critical issues for policy-makers and businesses alike. While the Australian PMI(r) shows signs of an easing in the pace of decline in current activity and new orders, employment levels fell sharply in November suggesting an ongoing loss of manufacturing capability. This highlights the importance of the Federal Government's manufacturing taskforce in developing a long-term strategy for the industry. At the same time, it is encouraging that the just released ABS capital expenditure data indicates a solid upturn in manufacturing investment suggesting that underneath the data there is a strong vein of confidence in the prospects for the industry".

For a number of us it is now business as usual as we gear up for a big year ahead. The Ronson Gears team is looking forward to an eventful 2012 although we agree it would take more than a crystal ball to predict how the year will unfold for the Gear Manufacturing Industry in particular, and  also the Global economy.

An interesting feature to read over morning coffee during the well earned holiday break is the latest evaluation of the status of the Gear Manufacturing Industry.The respondents considered in the article all work at locations where gears, splines, sprockets, worms and similar products are manufactured.

Now that Christmas is over, we have a little time to reflect on the year that was ... 2011!

And on the subject of Christmas gifts for Gear aficionado's we have come up with another special idea. While it may test the patience of even the most dedicated it is guaranteed to engross, could even become an obsession, but whatever the response the results will be worth every painstaking minute.

When your world is largely made up of gears, in all their guises, "All I want for Christmas..." takes on a whole different meaning.

Read up on the latest news at Ronson Gears. In this latest issue of Gear Whispers, our focus is on education - from different perspectives. Stories also include regular features such as the Director's Cut, Hitting the Road and Employee News.

This time next week we will all be looking forward to our 2011 Christmas break! Whether it is to spend family time, lazy days just chilling out or a hectic party time we hope you enjoy. Relax, revitalise and get ready for a busy year in 2012!

To meet customers' demands for shorter lead times and surpass their expectations of quality, Ronson Gears, manufacturers of gears and associated power transmissions components, invests in state-of-the-art technology such as the Fellows FS630-200 CNC Hydrostroke Internal Gear Shaping machine.

The value of attracting more women to the manufacturing industry seems to be finally gaining traction here in Australia. In the US meanwhile 'Women in Manufacturing' has been given a whole different meaning.

Last week we discussed the growing number of women accepting apprenticeships and entering the world of manufacturing. Ronson Gears' own apprentice 'Woman in Gear Manufacturing' Vicky Elain Yu is passionate about the latest gear manufacturing technology, machinery, gears and gear cutting.

The resource sector plays a significant role in our domestic economy and as a gear manufacturer for the mining industry, Ronson Gears is proud to have contributed a number of gears over the years including rack & pinions, ground pump gears, ground spur gears and ground helical gears – to name a few – to this ever growing sector.