The Victorian government has begun an interactive design process with local manufacturers to develop its next order of trains and trams. Currently, manufacturers are invited to develop proposals and participate in a collaborative design process, and workshops will be held over the next months to bring together manufacturers and government. The new trams will replace … Continue reading Interactive design process to ensure local content in new trams, trains →

To enable decision makers respond to uncertainty in global value chains, the World Economic Forum has released a Strategic Value Framework in partnership with the United Nations Develop Programme (UNDP). Taking a case-study approach to understanding the rapid changes affecting global trade and supply networks, the framework looks at the cotton industry, the electronics industry, … Continue reading Framework to plan for global uncertainty →

A new site for the training of electricians has opened in Chullora, NSW. Developed by the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), the Training and Apprenticeships Centre of Excellence, will provide training for first-year electrical apprentices. When fully operational, a maximum of 500 apprentices and post-trade learners will utilise the facilities at the centre. “The … Continue reading Electrician training facility seeks to stem skills shortage →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will investigate opportunities for the utilisation of renewables in process heating for manufacturing. ARENA will support the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) with $460,500 in funding to deliver the $900,500 project to replace fossil fuelled heat with heat generated from renewable power sources. Currently, process heating accounts for … Continue reading ARENA selects manufacturing sites for process heat alternatives trial →

Defence is working with research institutions to develop autonomous vehicles and improve human performance. A group of four universities, including the University of Melbourne, Macquarie University, the University of New South Wales, and Queensland University of Technology and two American institutions, Boston University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will apply research on animal perception … Continue reading Defence research to develop autonomous vehicles →

Work towards developing a hydrogen industry in Western Australia is now able to gain support from the $10 million Renewable Hydrogen Fund. Projects which range from feasibility studies, demonstration, or capital works are able to apply for grants for between $300,000 to $3m. “Renewable hydrogen could be the next big job-creating industry for Western Australia, … Continue reading Grants to develop hydrogen strategy in WA →

A blood incubator using laser technologies has been developed by scientists at Monash University, in partnership with medical manufacturer Haemokinesis. To safety transfer and transport blood, the liquid has to be heated to 37oC, which is done with current technology via heating blocks or hot-water baths. These methods can take up to 15 minutes to … Continue reading Laser technology speeds rapid blood incubation →

The Automotive Innovation Hub has launched in South Australia. A partnership between the Motor Trade Association of South Australia, along with Tradiebot Industries, the Hub will deliver Industry 4.0 automotive skills in training programs and provide a sandbox for the demonstration of R&D innovation in the service and repair sector. The Hub will, in part, … Continue reading Automotive Innovation Hub to inspire next generation of tradespeople →

The UR16e, from Universal Robots, is now available, and offers a payload capability of 16kg. With a reach of 900mm and pose repeatability of +/- 0.05mm, the UR16 is designed for heavy-duty material handling, heavy-part handling, and machine tending. President of Universal Robots, Jürgen von Hollen, said that economic uncertainty mean that flexibility was key … Continue reading Universal Robots launches strongest cobot to date →

Precision Buses and Bustech Pty Ltd have announced that they will merge, with the ownership of both being assumed by Fusion Capital Holdings. While each organisation will continue to operate independently, strategic management and direction will be the responsibility of Fusion. The two companies have been in partnership since 2016, and will draw upon their … Continue reading SA, QLD bus manufacturers announce merger →

Siemens has announced that Raphaelle Guerineau will be its new CEO for Siemens Mobility in Australia and New Zealand. Now leading the business’s transport operations, Guerineau was previously head of products and operations for ASEAN Pacific at Siemens Mobility. Siemens employs 650 people in Australia, with rail signalling a particular focus. “Siemens Mobility is working … Continue reading Siemens Mobility appoints new CEO for ANZ →

Queensland has announced that it will introduce a Code of Practice for the stone benchtop industry. The code attempts to reduce and eradicate silicosis in Queensland, caused by the fabrication and processing of engineered and natural stone benchtops. The code, Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in the stone benchtop industry code of practice 2019, … Continue reading Queensland releases code for engineered stone →

The Australian government has opened the opportunity for defence manufacturers to showcase their work to overseas buyers. The 2020 Australian Military Sales Catalogue will promote Australian-made goods and services to foreign governments. Launching the openings for the Catalogue, Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, noted that competition for defence contracts around the world is fierce. … Continue reading Catalogue to highlight defence manufacturers to overseas buyers →

Technology company Verton Australia is joining with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) to manufacture the first robot-controlled load-management system in the world. The new system will aim to eliminate the need for human-held taglines for crane operations, reducing the risk of human injury, and is a $4.4 … Continue reading Partnership to make robot-controlled load-management system →

The University of Sydney has launched the School of Biomedical Engineering, the sixth school within the Faculty of Engineering. The new school will focus on collaboration and teaching within the field of biomedical engineering, with contributions from disciplines including medicine, engineering, and life sciences. Leading the school will be professor Gregg Suaning, who hopes that … Continue reading Biomedical engineering school opens at USYD →

Collision avoidance in automated guided vehicle systems (AGV) and mobile platforms, and rear area monitoring in forklifts or heavy trucks are just two of the many mobile intralogistics tasks that can be handled simply and efficiently using the Visionary-T DT configurable 3D vision sensor from SICK, write Michael Dold, strategic industry manager of Industrial Vehicles, … Continue reading Load detection and 3D collision warning for mobile intralogistics →

Australian materials handling company Bomac Engineering, known for their Altrac rail system, has announced a partnership with US blast shields manufacturer Blast Control. The joint venture will result in Altrac USA, which will supply the North American market with the Australian-made Altrac system. The synergy between the two companies, operating in distinct fields, came from … Continue reading Australian-made lift system announces US partnership →

National Energy Resource Australia (NERA) and Innovation Central Perth have announced a new partnership to develop Australian supply chains for the digitisation of the energy resources sector. Utilising advanced sensors to identify problems and find cost savings, the partnership will utilise Innovation Central’s Wireless Industrial Sensor Environment (WISE) Program, which develops low cost, battery powered … Continue reading Digitisation of energy sector relies upon collaboration with local manufacturers →

A collaboration between RMIT and disability enterprise Brite Services, alongside regional network North Link, will manufacture a e-bike for wheelchair-bound cyclists. RMIT students designed the bicycle, and people with disabilities will build the device, after a $300,000 grant from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was awarded to the consortium. Brite will manufacture the bike, … Continue reading Building bicycles for all abilities →

Australians expect businesses to focus on more than just profits, a poll from the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) has found. Surveying both the general public and business leaders, the poll found that community views on ethical business behaviour have a significant impact on how people viewed companies. The poll found that more … Continue reading Survey shows community attitudes towards businesses activity →