TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF MODERN MANUFACTURING CENTRE FOR USERS

MELT ACCELERATOR PTY LTD (ABN 75 623 448) AND MELT HUNTER VALLEY OPERATIONS PTY LTD (ABN 75 646 764 070)

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR USERS

User

1. Under an exclusive agreement with the Muswellbrook Shire Council (MSC), Melt Hunter Valley Operations Pty Ltd (The Melt) operates the Modern Manufacturing Centre (MMC) within the Donald Horne Building for visitors, students, startups, scaleups, small and large businesses to access.
2. The MMC contains mechatronic, automation and robotic machinery and tools (Equipment) owned and maintained by MSC.
3. The Melt has an exclusive agreement to provide services within the MMC.
4. A person who wishes to engage the project services of The Melt and access the MMC to create projects requiring use of the MMC machines, equipment and tools for prototyping purposes are called Users.
5. Completion of a User Form is required for consideration as a User of the MMC.
6. MSC will assess the completed User Form and determine, in its sole discretion, whether to deny or grant User status. 
7. MSC may withdraw a User’s status at any time for any reason, including if a User breaches these Terms, and if so, that User must comply promptly with any instructions from MSC.
8. Users warrant that they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions (Terms).

General terms of use

1. Users may only enter the MMC and operate the Equipment at the sole discretion, and under supervision of The Melt, if they have completed and kept up to date with all induction, courses, training, safety and other requirements of The Melt and MSC.
2. Users must also comply with all policies and guidelines of The Melt and MSC that apply to their entry into the MMC and operation of the Equipment.   
3. Users agree that the MMC contains Equipment that carries risks.  Some Equipment is inherently hazardous, or may be operated in a dangerous manner, and may cause harm or injury, including severe and permanent injury, or even death. Users enter the MMC and use the Equipment at their own risk.
4. Users agree that the Equipment requires specific training, and that they may not use that Equipment without written permission and counter signed approval to do so from The Melt. Users may be granted approval by The Melt but must agree to undertake further training if The Melt asks them to do so.
5. If approved to do so, Users may only operate the Equipment in a safe manner and according to any specific directions of The Melt. Users must not tamper or modify any Equipment and must not remove any machine guards or safety equipment.    
6. Users must follow all directions given by The Melt. Users must read and follow all signs and safety information relating to the MMC and Equipment. 
7. Users must at all times use all safety and protective gear required by The Melt for entry into the MMC and for each item of Equipment. The Melt may require Users to leave the MMC if they do not follow The Melt’s directions about any aspect of safety. 
8. Users must not use Equipment improperly, or abuse or damage it or the MMC in any way.
9. If The Melt asks Users to cease using any Equipment, they must do so immediately. 
10. Users must be considerate of other people in the MMC. Users acknowledge that the MMC may be at capacity, and that specific items of Equipment may be being used by others. Users have no right of access to the MMC or to any Equipment at any particular time Users must fit in with others and take instruction from The Melt to make a suitable time to access the MMC. 
11. Users may not act in a way that The Melt considers objectionable, abusive, noisy or disruptive. Users may not use the MMC for any illegal, unsafe or objectionable purpose, or create any items which are illegal, objectionable or dangerous.
12. Users must not be under the influence of any substances at any time in the MMC or while operating Equipment which may adversely affect them, including alcohol, medication or any illegal substances. Users must not bring any illegal substances or items into the MMC.
13. Users must secure their own belongings. The Melt and MSC are not liable for any loss, theft or damage to Users’ belongings, or for any items that they might bring to or create in the MMC. Users are responsible for labelling, identifying and storing safely anything they are working on or anything they bring into the MMC. Users must not store anything at the MMC when they are not present. Users consent to The Melt removing or discarding any rubbish, any items that are not labelled adequately, or which The Melt reasonably considers have been abandoned. Users must remove items promptly if The Melt asks them to.
14. To the maximum extent permitted by law, The Melt and MSC excludes or limits all liability, including for negligence, direct or indirect, and loss or damage to User’s person or property, and Users indemnify The Melt and MSC, and its staff and contractors, from all claims, loss, damage, cost, expense, proceeding, suit, action or demand of any nature whatsoever, and howsoever arising, out of, relating to or connected with a breach of these Terms, access to the MMC or use of  the Equipment by the User.  
15. The Melt and MSC make no claim of ownership over any intellectual property created by the User at the MMC (including part creation). Users must not use the MMC or the Equipment in any way that infringes the rights of any other person, including any intellectual property rights.
16. Users must not use the MMC to produce any items for commercial sale, although they may use it to create prototypes of items leading to a commercial product.
17. Users agree that any activities or creations they might undertake in the MMC do not necessarily represent the views of The Melt or MSC.    
18. Users consent to The Melt and MSC taking and owning photographs or videos of anything Users might create, and using, copying, publishing or broadcasting those photographs or videos in any way The Melt or MSC chooses. If a User does not want to be included in a photograph or video, the User must inform The Melt in writing prior to the photograph or video being taken. 
19. Users consent to The Melt and MSC creating and owning a case study of any product that Users might create, and using, copying, publishing or broadcasting the case study in any way The Melt or MSC chooses. If a User does not want to be included in a case study, the User must inform The Melt in writing prior to the case study being undertaken.
20. The Melt may require Users to leave the MMC or withdraw their entry into the MMC at any time for any reason, including if Users breach these Terms, and if so, Users must comply promptly.

Safety and the rules

1. User safety is our first priority at the MMC and The Melt and MSC take it very seriously. A safety induction is required for Users to access the Donald Horne Building and the MMC. The Equipment has its own safety and training procedures that Users must undertake and adhere to before being permitted to use the Equipment. It is the Users responsibility to ensure they follow these measures to stay safe.
2. Enclosed shoes must be worn at all times in the Donald Horne Building. Entry will not be granted to any User who is wearing open-toed or inappropriate footwear.
3. Safety glasses are required for many activities within the MMC. They provide vital protection for Users from projectiles and significantly reduce the risk of serious injury. Obey signage and The Melt’s direction on safety glasses protocol. Users must provide their own safety glasses.
4. Hearing protection is required for many activities within the MMC. They provide vital protection for Users from noise and reduce the risk of serious injury. Obey signage and The Melt’s direction on hearing protection protocol. Users must provide their own hearing protection.
5. Long hair including beards must be tied back to ensure Users’ vision is unobstructed and to reduce the risk of hair becoming tangled in the moving parts of Equipment. Users must provide their own hair ties.
6. Loose clothing and jewellery are not permitted to be worn by Users within the MMC. They pose a serious safety risk as they may become tangled in the moving parts of Equipment.
7. Users must keep the MMC orderly and neat and must clean and tidy any Equipment or part of the MMC after use, if requested to do so by The Melt. Users must take away any unused consumables that they have brought into the MMC.
8. Hazardous materials must not be brought into the MMC by Users. Before bringing any potentially hazardous materials into the MMC, Users must seek permission from The Melt who will request from the User a Material Data Sheet to assess its suitability and decide whether access is granted.
9. Users must always ask for help from The Melt if unsure about any processes, protocols or procedures within the MMC. Users must not proceed with any task until they have been inducted and trained in accordance with these Terms.
10. At all times, Users must adhere to these Terms. 
11. The safety protocols are continually reviewed and revised to ensure maximum safety and handling of the Donald Horne Building, MMC and Equipment. When these Terms are updated, The Melt and MSC will advise Users and request they agree in writing to accept the updated version in order to maintain their User status. If the User does not agree to the updated Terms, their User status will automatically be cancelled and they will not be permitted to enter the MMC or use the Equipment.

In summary, the User agrees to the following essential terms:

• to follow all instructions of The Melt (which includes any executive, manager, supervisor, instructor or technician) and MSC so far as they relate to the MMC or the Equipment;
• assume full responsibility for their own personal safety and the safety of personal property while at the MMC;
• to only use those pieces of Equipment for which they have been authorised to use under supervision by The Melt representative and for which they have completed training;
• to follow all safety signs, warnings and instructions given by The Melt representative;
• not to enable unauthorised use of Equipment by others;
• to always be alert and consider the safety of all other persons while in the MMC;
• to report all injuries and near misses to The Melt representative immediately;
• to contact The Melt representative immediately in the case of Equipment problems or damage to Equipment and to cease using the Equipment immediately;
• Users may be held financially responsible for damage or loss to the MMC or the Equipment that are caused by actions, inactions or carelessness of Users;
• not to use the MMC or Equipment to produce items for profit, excluding prototypes; and
• not to use the MMC or Equipment to produce items that promote, highlight, or otherwise celebrate the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, profanity, violence, images that are sexually suggestive or derogatory to any person, group or community and that the determination of the Melt or MSC is final in this regard.

Last updated: July 2025