Manufacturing
We are all makers at heart, and it is through the process of making that we are able to give life to abstract ideas, designs and concepts. Whether by machine or maker’s hand, our team works across a diverse range of workshop capabilities and departments to bring each distinctive design to life. Our broad range of expertise and enduring experience ensures that each project’s artistic vision and intent is maintained throughout the making process.
A walk across our workshop floor has become the most exciting activity of my week. The worries of the outside world fade quickly, as the creativity, talent and capability of our production team constantly break the mould. Instead of boundaries, these four walls create new horizons where anything becomes possible.
Jamie Reynolds, Managing Director North America
#Technical Assist
Design Development Support
Before a project lands on the workshop floor, our designers liaise with engineers to ensure its structural soundness. Based on the engineer's recommendations, our designers create the final technical drawing set required for fabrication.
Digital Sculpting & Modelling
Whether it is an idea or a sketch, our design team can take this information and create a 3D portrayal of the design. Once modelled, the work can be placed within a rendered environment or AR/VR landscape. This enables artists and partners to see the project in situ, explore placement, scale, and material options, and identify any issues. From here, our designers can create the file types needed to 3D print, rout, and mill the maquettes, prototypes, and patterns for casting.
#Project Management
Cost & Program Management
To ensure a project remains on budget and on time, our teams work together to create feasibility budgets, manage supply chains, and develop programs that reflect the project's needs and creative vision.
Installation Planning & Coordination
Overseen by our project managers, we can assist, manage, organise and explore the best possible methods for the installation of projects. Our team undertakes all aspects of the installation, including handling and packing the work, domestic or international transportation, and assembly.
Sub-consultant Management & Coordination
A project manager is attached at the beginning of a project's lifecycle. Responsible for the delivery of a project, our team of project managers communicates regularly with our partners, ensures that key project milestones are met, liaises with subcontractors, and works closely with our craftspeople to ensure a project is delivered on time and meets our partners' expectations.
#Production
Technical Drawings & Engineering Support
Before a project lands on the workshop floor, our designers liaise with engineers to ensure its structural soundness. Based on the engineer's recommendations, our designers create the final technical drawing set required for fabrication.
Advanced Robotics
We continue to invest in new technologies and manufacturing processes. Our Brisbane workshop is our Advanced Manufacturing base, with two state-of-the-art robotic arms, virtual and augmented reality vision systems that can be utilised by our design and workshop teams, and an ongoing research initiative between UAP, the IMCRC, QUT, and RMIT University.
Augmented Reality Fabrication Assist
Working with our craftspeople, our technical design team have developed processes to utilise Augmented Reality technology during the fabrication of a project. Whilst wearing the HoloLens, our craftspeople can accurately mark out, manipulate, and weld materials based on the overlaid design.
Robotic Milling
Our KUKA robotic arm assists our workshop by milling and shaping moulds and patterns. Operated by our craftspeople and technical designers, the robotic arm can mill timber, foam, wax and sand.
Pattern Making
Our team of pattern makers creates patterns for artwork for casting and prototyping. Depending on the project's needs and artistic intent, our pattern makers create patterns out of timber, Styrofoam, wax, silicone, plasticine, acrylic, resin, polycarbonate, thermoplastics, and thermosetting plastics. Our team's high level of craftsmanship ensures the work's artistic integrity is maintained throughout the casting process.
Mould Making
Whether casting a ten-meter sculpture or a tiny edition, our craftspeople explore and develop new processes to create moulds that maintain the creative vision of a work. Our foundry and pattern making teams work together to create moulds out of fiberglass, rubber & silicone, sand, and wax.
Lost Wax & Sand Casting
Our global team of foundry-people have decades of experience creating lost wax and sand castings. With the ability to pour and cast works in stainless steel, bronze, aluminium, brass, white brass, copper, ductile iron and precious metals, our teams work with our partners to explore the best materials and processes for each project.
Panel Beating
Panel beaters are part of our global fabrication team. These craftspeople have the skills and know-how to shape metals by panel-beating the sheets into the required sculptural form.
Welding & Fabrication
Our global team of fabricators has the experience and skills to weld any metal we cast. Using gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten metal arc welding, or flux core metal arc welding, our fabrication team's experience and advanced skillsets enable them to piece together the most complex designs and projects.
Finishing & Patina
Depending on an artwork's needs, our finishing department will work closely with our partners to find or develop the right finish, patina, or texture for the project. Our finishing teams are incredibly experienced in the application of patina, brush and texture finishing, wax, brush plating, enamel, and modern coatings and can mirror polish stainless steel, bronze, aluminium, brass, and copper.
Paint Shop
Our workshops are fitted out with paint booths that are able to accommodate projects, big and small. Our team of highly skilled painters works with our partners to explore different paint options suitable for their project’s needs. From durable U-POL RAPTOR to smooth matte and everything in between, our paint shops can accommodate any project's needs.
Installation
Overseen by our project managers, we can assist, manage, organise and explore the best possible methods for the installation of projects. Our team undertakes all aspects of the installation, including handling and packing the work, domestic or international transportation, and assembly.
#Projects
