Product News

Small businesses in remote and isolated areas in Australia encounter unique challenges when sourcing specialised materials and components for their manufacturing operations. One obstacle is the difficulty in accurately cutting steel plates that exceed a certain thickness. These robust metal plates are crucial for various industrial applications, such as mining equipment, construction projects, and heavy machinery repairs. BEZ Engineering connected with Headland Technology at AMTIL’s Australian Manufacturing Week, and their experts understood the challenges and presented the OMAX Maxiem 1530 water jet machine as a technology solution. Andrew Smith, Managing Director of BEZ Engineering, oversees all business operations and financial aspects. Bez Engineering is a family-owned and operated business in the Pilbara since 2000. The company was initially opened to service the Oil & Gas, Mining and Marine industries in the Pilbara region. The business has undergone many transitions, with a change of directors in 2023. The vision of the business follows Henry Ford’s saying, “Quality means doing the right thing when no one is looking”. This mindset allowed Bez Engineering to be a leader in manufacturing quality products for…

A second-generation family business based in Narangba, Queensland, Steelrod Pty Ltd is a leading specialist engineering supplier to rail authorities and mining companies throughout Australasia and selected export regions. Founded in 1974 by Doug Veneris and celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the company continues to expand and is now run by sons Damian and Shawn Veneris as joint Managing Directors. Damian is a qualified boiler maker, and Shawn specialises in the commercial side of the business. Today, the company employs a highly skilled team of more than 55 experienced personnel. Based on the strongest foundations built on quality engineering excellence and delivery performance across a diverse range of engineering capabilities and complex industrial projects, Steelrod has continued to invest in modern state-of-the-art high-end machining centres and has kept abreast of cutting-edge technological developments. In 2008, Steelrod commissioned its first Okuma Double Column machining centre, replacing an older alternate machine. In June this year, it commissioned a second Okuma Double Column machining centre, MCR-A5CII 20x40 with OSP P300MA Control, based on the earlier machine's performance and reliability,…

In the pipe welding industry, advancements in automation continue to provide solutions to the labour gap caused by an acute shortage of skilled welders. Novarc Technologies Inc., a full-stack robotics company specialising in designing and manufacturing cobots and computer vision AI for automated welding applications, has been a pioneer in welding automation since 2013, providing a solution to the welding labour shortage. Weld Australia predicts a shortage of nearly 70,000 skilled welding operators in Australia by 2030. With an aging welder workforce and a need for uptake of the welder trade, there are no simple solutions to the welder demographic. According to Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia), a member survey conducted in 2023 found that “labour shortages, and the rising cost of materials, energy and labour remain high on the agenda for the welding industry. Without funding and support from governments at all levels, these challenges will make it nearly impossible for industry to deliver the necessary manufacturing capability required for the Federal Government’s ambitious renewable energy revolution.” Novarc Technologies Inc.'s flagship product is the Spool…

Hazelwood North Solar Farm has been granted planning permit approval for a 450-megawatt solar farm that will power approximately 150,000 homes and prevent 700,000 tons of emissions. The $651m project will create about 500 construction jobs and be more extensive than any solar farm currently operating in the state. As part of the construction plan, the site will be bordered by native vegetation landscaping to screen the facility from the surrounding land visually. The project also includes provision for a large 450-megawatt, four-hour battery energy storage facility that will store cheap solar power during the day and feed it into the grid when needed. Renewable energy made up 39% of energy capacity last year because of the 78 new large-scale projects commissioned to date, delivering 5.34 gigawatts of energy. These projects support Victoria’s nation-leading renewable energy generation targets of 65% by 2030 and 95% by 2035. These renewable energy targets are supported by energy storage targets of at least 2.6 giga-watts by 2030 and 6.3 gigawatts by 2035. “The Latrobe Valley has been the home of Victoria’s energy generation…

As Australia’s Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme reaches its ten-year milestone, Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) has reported unprecedented growth in rubber product recycling opportunities across the country. Industry case studies show rubber product users and recyclers in metro, regional, rural, and remote areas are defying challenging economic times to gain value from tyre recycling. “As Australia’s tyre product steward, we provide focused and practical pathways for government, business, and consumers to take action. And they are. They are putting in the hard yards to take us into the future,” Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) CEO Lina Goodman says. “We’re seeing more innovation than ever before, and it’s all down to the stamina, staying power and will to do the right thing of those who have invested dollars, time and energy into building Australia’s circular tyre economy,” says Goodman. Currently, 16 tyre and auto brands are investing in circular tyre economy outcomes for Australia by supporting TSA. Eight tyre brands—Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear Dunlop, Kumho, Michelin, Pirelli, Toyo, and Yokohama—have been doing so since…

Plant managers often have a deep understanding of all the critical operational challenges facing their facility and a broad knowledge of the instrumentation that can help solve them. However, they might only sometimes be aware of the latest innovations that can make their lives easier. For instance, multifunctional monitoring instrumentation simplifies all plant measurement and control processes. Ian Loudon is an international sales and marketing manager at Omniflex, a remote monitoring specialist. Streamlining technology is one of the most effective ways to innovate. In almost every industry, a business will likely opt for a single solution with multiple functionalities over a selection of specialised products—provided it doesn’t compromise on quality. Signal conditioning is no different. Signal conditioning converts physical qualities into readable data that computer systems can process. Often, applications are complex, with multiple specialised components configured to measure an individual physical property, such as line linearisation in tanks. This method quickly becomes impractical across all industries with signal conditioning applications because multiple physical processes require 24/7 monitoring. In an industrial plant environment, physical processes…

According to one of the country's leading geologists and immersive technology experts, a virtual and robotic revolution in Australia’s mining industry could end fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workers within decades. Virtual and augmented reality, along with automation, are transforming the mining sector, says UniSA Professor Tom Raimondo, allowing more work to be done remotely, saving time, money and removing many of the risks and travel for workers. Professor Raimondo, Dean of Programs for Information Technology and Mathematics at the University of South Australia, is developing VR and AR platforms to enhance core logging with machine learning, create fully digital reconstructions of mining operations, and even simulate the drilling process. MinEx CRC, the world’s largest mineral exploration collaboration, has facilitated this innovative work. It includes projects such as the RoXplorer digital twin, an ultra-realistic simulation of the drill site of the future, and the Exploration Metaverse, a collection of immersive AR and VR platforms for collaboratively viewing and analysing complex mining data with colleagues and experts from across the world in real time. “Globally, it is becoming more difficult and more…

The Federal and South Australian governments have selected CIMIC Group CPB Contractors to deliver the Tram Grade Separation Projects in an Alliance with McConnell Dowell, Mott MacDonald, ARUP, and Aurecon. Designed to improve transport safety, efficiency, and reliability, the Tram Grade Separation Projects will also enhance amenity, connectivity, and liveability along the existing tram line from Adelaide’s CBD to Glenelg. Modifications to the existing overpass at South Road are key to this project and are required to facilitate the construction of the highly anticipated River Torrens to Darlington Project. CIMIC said in a news release that the Tram Grade Separation Project will generate revenue of approximately $212.8m for CPB Contractors. “These upgrades will be critical to supporting economic growth in South Australia and reducing travel times for motorists, buses, freight, and airport traffic while promoting sustainable urban growth and low-emission, healthy transport choices for commuters,” said CIMIC Group Chairman Juan Santamaria. “On completion, these works will foster a stronger sense of community between the suburbs of Adelaide, providing better, safer, and more accessible tram stops with improved…

TROAX offers innovative products designed to optimise safety and efficiency in warehouse environments. TROAX's mesh panel partitions represent a leap forward in material handling safety. Crafted from durable wire mesh, these partitions provide excellent visibility and ventilation, crucial for maintaining optimal operational conditions. The design allows light penetration and facilitates sprinkler systems, enhancing fire safety measures. By integrating these partitions, warehouses can create safer and more productive environments. From expansive distribution centres to sensitive areas like data centres, Troax offers tailored solutions to meet diverse logistical needs. The mesh panels are not only functional but also versatile. They can be configured in numerous ways to suit specific requirements, providing an affordable and future-proof solution. With standard heights of 2,200 and 3,000mm and free-standing wall heights of up to 6,600 mm, these partitions offer both flexibility and scalability. TROAX's commitment to safety and innovation ensures that each installation is unique and perfectly aligned with the needs of the facility. Whether integrating mesh panel systems or steel sheet alternatives, Troax ensures a seamless fit with smart…

Customer Relationship Management systems (CRMs) are making an impact in Australia’s construction scene and not in the way you might think. Software traditionally used by sales and marketing teams to store data and track interactions, CRMs have now evolved to help with project management, product forecasting and compliance. Speedpanel, a leading Australian manufacturer of lightweight, user-friendly, fire-rated acoustic systems, has relied on SugarCRM for traditional sales and marketing needs for years. Now, the company is expanding its CRM use as part of an internal technology transformation. Their company use case shows how CRMs can be leveraged to improve business processes outside sales and marketing. Data in one place Bringing data into one place was Speedpanel’s biggest priority when upgrading to SugarCRM. Before SugarCRM the company used different systems to track building projects, leading to inconsistent and, at times, unreliable data. Now, all building project information is stored in SugarCRM. “Sugar is our project information oracle,” says Peter Lorenc, National Sales and Marketing Manager at Speedpanel. “With SugarCRM, everyone can see what stage a project is in and view related documents, meetings, call notes,…

New modelling reveals that low-carbon concrete developed at RMIT University can recycle double the amount of coal ash compared to current standards, halve the amount of cement required and perform exceptionally well over time. In 2022, more than 1.2 billion tonnes of coal ash were produced by coal-fired power plants. In Australia, it accounts for nearly a fifth of all waste and will remain abundant for decades to come, even as we shift to renewables. Meanwhile, cement production accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions, and demand for concrete—which uses cement as a key ingredient—is growing rapidly. Addressing both challenges head-on, engineers at RMIT have partnered with AGL's Loy Yang Power Station and the Ash Development Association of Australia to substitute 80% of the cement in concrete with coal fly ash. RMIT project lead Dr Chamila Gunasekara said this represents a significant advance as existing low-carbon concretes typically have at most 40% of their cement replaced with fly ash. "Our addition of nano additives to modify the concrete’s chemistry allows more fly ash to be added without compromising…

Water and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are going to have to work harder as Australia’s weather patterns turn drier with the arrival of the El Nino forecast by the Weather Bureau to be with us by the end of this year. One of their first lines of defence against process disruption, blockages and environmental spills will be WWTP headworks comprising mechanical screens, screening compactors, grit removal systems and grit washing systems installed in municipal and industrial plants. The challenges for WWTPs during El Nino may include widely variable flow patterns, including extended lower flow rates bringing with them greater concentrations of solids, debris, and grit carried in the reduced volumes of inlet water. Headworks will be asked to efficiently process throughputs without clogging and environmental spills – and continue to do it with less on-site maintenance because many local authorities today can afford fewer specialist operations and engineering staff on call or on-site. Prevention is better than downtime Prevention is better than expensive downtime. Damage or weakness is…

Markforged has unveiled the FX10 Metal Kit, a print engine that makes the FX10 capable of metal printing. With this kit, the FX10 becomes the world’s first industrial 3D printer to print metal filaments and composites with continuous fibre reinforcement. The new metal printing capability for the FX10 will accelerate adoption on the factory floor. “Customers no longer have to choose between a metal and a composite printer. Years of R&D investment and field experience have come together to provide an all-in-one solution for 3D printing to provide immediate return on investment once installed on a factory floor,” said Shai Terem, CEO of Markforged. “The FX10 supercharges other equipment on the factory floor to be better utilised and run more efficiently, increasing productivity and reducing potential line down events.” The FX10, released in November 2023 as a composite-only printer, was designed to be the most versatile tool on the factory floor and has received tremendous feedback from early customers. With its modular architecture, upgrades like the Metal Kit enable FX10 customers to gain additional value from the machine…