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Last week, the Victorian State Government has announced that its Boosting Business Productivity program will now include large businesses thanks to an increase in funding. The announcement is the latest in a suite of programs to help businesses affected by rising energy costs. Victorian businesses will now benefit from additional funding of $2.5 million to help … Continue reading Vic Government funding to alleviate businesses’ electric bills →

Sydney will be home to a world leading startup and innovation hub, creating up to 6,500 new jobs, thanks to a $35 million investment from the NSW Government. A media release from the NSW Industry mentioned that the Sydney Startup Hub will be the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and will allow … Continue reading Sydney to “cement” its place as a global startup leader →

At the recent Paris airshow, it was reported that Boeing released a forecast for aerospace services demand, projecting the need for expansive services over the next 10 years, valued at US$2.6 trillion (A$3.4 trillion). The outlook is said to demonstrate “tremendous potential” for growth in the aerospace services markets Boeing serves, including: Maintenance, engineering and … Continue reading Boeing: Tremendous growth predicted in aerospace market →

South Korea’s JB Asset Management has put in its bid alongside private equity firm Newlake Alliance for the Arrium Australia assets which include the Whyalla steelworks, according to a report by the AFR. The report mentioned that the Korean consortium is also proposing a 200 megawatt gas-fired power plant be built as part of the proposal which would not … Continue reading JB Asset Management $5.3b backing of Newlake’s Arrium bid →

Victorian Manufacturing Awards 2017 was presented in the Crown Palladium and rewarded the best Manufacturers in small, medium and large businesses. The theme for the event was centred around Australia’s drive towards growing advanced manufacturing – a concept that is gaining traction among many Australian manufacturers, especially the SMEs. The opening keynote address by Jake … Continue reading Advanced manufacturing to be a focus: Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards 2017 →

CEVA has just moved into what it claims is one of the biggest sheds in the southern hemisphere, a half-kilometre-long storage and distribution facility equivalent to eight MCG playing fields in size – located in Truganina which is in proximity to Sydney and Adelaide’s highways, Melbourne’s port and the freeway into the city. The Truganina … Continue reading CEVA expands its Australian presence →

In light of the announcement of the Australian government’s pledge to offer support for auto workers affected by company closures, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) has accused Liberal Senator and Industry Minister Sinodinos of “misleading” auto workers who are likely to lose their jobs when Holden and Toyota close their production lines later this year. … Continue reading ALP claims Coalition is ‘misleading’ auto workers →

Researchers have developed a type of rechargeable battery called a flow cell that can be recharged with a water-based solution containing dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from fossil fuel power plants. The device works by taking advantage of the CO2 concentration difference between CO2 emissions and ambient air, which can ultimately be used to generate … Continue reading Battery recharging using carbon dioxide →

Over the past few decades, the manufacturing industry has undergone numerous major upheavals. Right now, we are witnessing the dawning of the next era with Industry 4.0, boosted in Asia by China’s recently announced China 2020 vision, in which they outlined plans to adopt new technologies and industries, marking a shift away from traditional manufacturing, … Continue reading The dawn of the new industrial era with the smart factory →

According to research by Curtin University, corrosion may be costing the Australian economy more than $30 billion each year. Within industrial environments, exposure to things like water, acid or salt causes corrosion of geared motors. This, in turn, reduces the strength of the corroded parts and inevitably means they have to be replaced. In corrosive … Continue reading Corrosion is eating away at Australian industry →

It may sound like science fiction, but wastewater treatment plants may one day turn ordinary sewage into biocrude oil, thanks to new research at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The technology, hydrothermal liquefaction, mimics the geological conditions the Earth uses to create crude oil, using high pressure and temperature to achieve in minutes … Continue reading Making fuel out of sewage →

Australian CEOs are cautiously optimistic about their business prospects in 2017 according to the latest Ai Group CEO Business Outlook survey. We are well short of exuberance with expectations tempered by the failure of 2016 to live up to expectations and by the wide array of local and global challenges on the horizon.  The survey … Continue reading Ai Group 2017 CEO Business Outlook Survey – Foundations for Growth →

The benefits of a lower dollar have helped see South Australia’s manufacturing sector add nearly 10,000 new jobs in the last 12 months, but a workforce expert believes the state needs to address employment problems, including Holden’s looming closure.

The new GEMÜ 4242 combi switchbox is suitable for secure and fast applications in most food and other types of process plants. It is small, compact and light, and is ideal for pneumatically operated linear actuators. With its integrated 3/2-way pilot valve made of anodized aluminium or stainless steel, the new combi switchbox 4242 from … Continue reading New switchbox for food processing plants →

Modern automated industrial processes rely heavily on the precise control of process conditions, making it critical to detect emerging deviations. A King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)-led research team has now developed a highly sensitive incipient anomaly detection method with the potential to dramatically improve industrial productivity, quality and safety. From oil and … Continue reading New method for early detection of industrial process problems →

Emerson Automation Solutions expands its vortex flow meter portfolio with the addition of the Rosemount 8600 Utility Vortex Flow Meter, designed specifically for utility applications. Its application-specific design reduces installation costs, provides accurate and reliable flow measurement, and extends vortex technology into a wider range of applications. The Rosemount 8600 Utility Vortex delivers the benefits … Continue reading New vortex flow meter for utility applications →

NHP has announced a partnership with local IoT experts, Switch Automation, to deliver InfoSyte, an exclusive energy management software solution from NHP tailored for the Australian and New Zealand markets. A powerful cloud hosted energy management platform, InfoSyte has the ability to integrate with energy, water and gas measuring devices along with other facility systems such as building management systems (BMS) and … Continue reading NHP partners with Switch Automation to deliver InfoSyte →

With the completion of the US$9.3 billion acquisition of ERP provider NetSuite earlier last month on November 7, Oracle outlined what customers should be expecting in the coming months. Co-CEO Mark Hurd made one point clear – NetSuite will continue as its own global business unit and that Oracle intends to invest in the product … Continue reading Oracle ‘s NetSuite acquisition won’t change a thing →

Company tax cuts are a key component of Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison’s plan to drive growth in jobs and wages, spurring on the Australian economy. There’s no question that tax cuts and lower energy prices will enable companies to keep more of the money they make. But it’s not more money per se, but what … Continue reading Management education, not just tax cuts, needed to create jobs and growth →

When we spoke to ANCA co-founder Pat Boland, shortly after the company won one its many export awards, the conversation began and ended on the same subject. Specifically: the needs of its customers and how these drive innovation. Concepts like “listening to the customer” and “understanding their problems” almost sound so obvious that they’re barely … Continue reading How an export champion maintains its innovation edge →