Technology News

All-Energy Australia, Australia’s largest clean energy event, is taking place this October in Melbourne to continue supporting the industry’s growth and to help accelerate Australia’s transition to a renewable energy future. This is a free-to-attend exhibition and conference from 26-27 October 2022 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. With energy being at the forefront of many discussions with the government’s ambitious climate change bill being pushed through at the moment and countries across the globe realising that they can no longer rely on fossil fuels for their energy needs, it will be a welcome return for All-Energy Australia. All-Energy Australia is the country's largest and most anticipated clean energy event in Australia, which opens up a world of opportunities for industry suppliers and experts as well as those involved in renewable energy and energy storage sectors to expand business networks. All Energy Australia is organised in partnership with the Clean Energy Council and is where renewable energy professionals can get exclusive access to the latest technologies and trends and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. As the industry’s largest all-encompassing clean…

Melbourne has another quiet achiever in nano-manufacturing. Researchers at Innofocus Photonics Technology have developed the world’s first 3D In-situ Refractive Index Characterisation System for Nano-fabrication, the world’s first Intelligent laser nano-manufacturing system, the world’s first fully encrypted nano-colourful digital ID tags system, and also the world’s first nano-printed cooling film which runs without power. Frank Yao is the CEO of Innofocus Photonics Technology. As a cutting-edge technology company, Innofocus is committed to creating greater value for scientific research, green energy alternative solutions, advanced manufacturing transformation, and new material applications. The typical application domains Innofocus is in, include ultrathin flat lenses, digital colourful ID tags, nano-photonic devices, miniature micro-optical components, graphene photothermal materials and solutions. Building an entirely new area of photonic laser creatives, Innofocus prints in 3D at the nanoscale. Fabricating with complete IP rights and independent manufacturing capabilities in the fields of optics, photonics, electromechanics, optoelectronics and automated software systems. AMT spoke to Yao at the AMW show in Sydney. A lot of manufacturing in Australia is either very…

Strange diamonds from an ancient dwarf planet in our solar system could lead to the production of ultra-hard machine parts, according to scientists. A team of researchers, including those from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has confirmed the existence of lonsdaleite in ureilite meteorites from the dwarf planet’s mantle. Lonsdaleite is a rare, hexagonal-shaped diamond believed to be much stronger and harder than its more typical cubic cousin. Research led by Monash University, in collaboration with CSIRO, RMIT University, the Australian Synchrotron, and Plymouth University, was published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study provides clear evidence of lonsdaleite’s formation in nature, offering clues to synthetic production that could make more durable machine parts. CSIRO scientist Mr Colin MacRae said the discovery could have enormous implications for industries like mining. “If something that’s harder than diamond can be manufactured readily, that’s something industry would want to know about,” Mr MacRae said. Lonsdaleite is named in honour of pioneering British crystallographer Dame Kathleen Lonsdale, though its existence has been a controversial topic. This study, using a range of…

An international leader in home intelligence and real-time smart electricity monitoring, Sense is setting up operations in Australia to help the country achieve Net Zero emissions sooner. Michael Jary, the International Managing Director for Sense, announced the establishment of a local operation in Australia within a year, where the company sees strong potential for its AI technology to be embedded with the next generation of smart energy meters. Sense will establish local electricity retailing and manufacturing partners for its AI technology that uses machine-learning algorithms to analyse high-resolution electricity data, providing a breakdown of individual domestic electricity consumption to an appliance level in real-time. “Whilst first generation smart meters have made huge strides in digitising the energy sector, they have not fulfilled their true potential. With an excessive focus on the unit cost of the meter alone, these first wave devices could have done much more,” says Jary. “But second wave meters can and must do so much more. They will be affixed to walls until 2040 so they need to be future-proofed.” Sense technology, which can be embedded into…

This major project will demonstrate how ocean energy can solve end-users’ energy challenges. The two-stage project will start with an online platform to help match markets to energy solutions. The second phase will see a pilot-scale, offshore integrated grid system developed near Albany. A visionary, WA-based project has been unveiled as part of a bold step-change to accelerate the adoption of integrated ocean energy. Launched in early May at the Australian Ocean Energy Group’s Market Summit in Hobart, the feasibility study will look into developing a two-stage Integrated Ocean Energy Marketplace (IOEM). The first stage will feature a digital platform and knowledge base, used to model various integrated renewable energy systems and to propose bespoke energy solutions for ’blue economy’ market users. The second stage will see the development of a physical, visitable marketplace situated near Albany, showcasing an integrated ocean energy microgrid, which will enable these market customers to see, interact with and gather real-time information about ocean energy solutions. Driven by the Australian Ocean Energy Group (AOEG) cluster, which was established with support from NERA (National Energy Resources Australia)…

Matthew Holloway has been Managing Director at the Holloway Group for over a decade now, working his way through the business from being a die setter on the factory floor to the organisation’s leading executive. Under his vision and guidance, the company has expanded from a single business entity, specialising in the manufacturing of plastic storage containers, to a portfolio of seven brands and now a major player in the recycled plastics, sustainability, and innovation arenas.   AMT: So, tell us the Matt Holloway story. Matt Holloway: The Holloway Group is effectively a family-owned organisation. My old man was a tool maker by trade, back in the eighties. And as tool maker, he bought an injection moulding machine and started to contract-mould stuff for a bunch of different clients, from swizzle sticks for cocktails, right through to thong straps. Straight out of school, I did civil engineering and hated it. Didn't know what I wanted to do for quite some time. And then, I jumped in the…

Energy’s centrality to Australia’s economic growth is well recognised, and the importance of securing an uninterrupted energy supply vital for numerous local businesses where hydrocarbon processing is part of their supply chain. Examples of hydrocarbon processing are found in the compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquified natural gas (LNG) sectors. Specialty gases as utilised in the hydrocarbon process for safety, process control and compliance, have historically been imported into Australia, however, global supply chain issues are now affecting Australian companies that have traditionally relied on overseas suppliers. Steps to safeguard supply security include generating awareness of domestic specialty gas production to ensure a more energy-secure future for Australian businesses. Coregas is the only Australian industrial gases company manufacturing locally and distributing specialty gases throughout Australia and New Zealand, including calibration gases, chemical gases, process gases, purging/inerting gases, electronic gases and instrumentation gases. “No other sector Coregas serves has such a diverse and precise range of requirements, and we have invested many years in developing our quality product range, certification, expertise and responsiveness to serve the needs…

RMIT University engineers collaborated with Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) to reveal a bitumen blend that is both UV-resistant and withstands traffic loads, with the potential to save governments millions on road maintenance annually. Unlike much outdoor infrastructure – such as playground equipment and outdoor furniture – roads are not designed with any sun protection, making them prone to cracking and potentially unsafe to drive on. Australian states and territories spent nearly $2.9bn on road maintenance in 2019–2020, according to the National Transport Commission. The invention also provides a promising sustainable solution to Australia’s used-tyre crisis. Used tyres in Australia have been subject to an export ban since December 2020, which means new methods for recycling and reprocessing them locally is increasingly important. While research efforts have focused on improving the durability of roads in terms of traffic load, thermal ageing and weather-related events, sun damage has received little attention – until now. The new study led by Associate Professor Filippo Giustozzi at RMIT University provides a sustainable solution to UV…

Space Machines Company (SMC), the Australian in-space transportation and logistics startup, has secured the support of SpaceX as a launch partner to carry its Optimus Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) to space as part of its April 2023 mission. SMC's Optimus OTV is one of the largest commercial spacecraft designed and manufactured in Australia. It is a testament to the innovation of Australia's space tech sector and the sovereign capability being built by SMC. The 2023 mission will demonstrate the 270kg Optimus OTV’s ability to deliver in-space logistics services and will reinforce SMC’s strategy as a last-mile delivery services provider. The 2023 mission will also see SMC deploy solutions for foundation customers. The Optimus spacecraft’s assembly and integration will occur at the Space Machines Company facility within the University of Technology Sydney’s (UTS) Tech Lab and will demonstrate Australian sovereign access to space capability. More than 6,000 active and inactive satellites are currently in orbit, and by 2030, there will be more than 100,000. Space will increasingly need infrastructure and logistics services to support and manage the exponential…

First came the use of energy sources—water then steam—to power manufacturing processes, which required a consolidation around these energy sources. Then came the great efficiency gains from the streamlining of manufacturing processes—the assembly line—followed by automation and control, thanks to the development and deployment of digital technologies. The latest revolution, industry 4.0, takes that one step further by turning the flow of digital information into a two-way street: data is used to control the manufacturing process, and is collected and analysed to improve efficiency and detect problems.   The challenge to anticipate malfunctions There is one common denominator to all four phases. The operators of manufacturing systems and processes strive to anticipate and if possible, prevent any malfunction of production machinery that will compromise product quality or interrupt production. It’s not good to discover a machine has been producing malformed widgets after it has created a few hundred. In industry 1.0 and 2.0, the ability to do this was limited and…

Onshore manufacturing of life-saving mRNA vaccines took a major step forward on Monday, with the Australian Government, Moderna and the Victorian Government finalising all arrangements for the ten-year partnership. Under these new agreements, an mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility will be built at Monash University, helping protect Australians against future pandemics, supporting local industry and creating highly skilled local jobs. Moderna will also establish its headquarters and a Regional Research Centre in Victoria. Once operational, the facility will be able to produce up to 100 million vaccine doses every year. Once this critical onshore mRNA capability is established, Australia will reduce its dependence on imported mRNA vaccines and our vulnerability to supply disruptions or delays. It will give Australians local and ongoing access to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine – Spikevax – and give us an onshore mRNA manufacturing capability in the event of a new pandemic, such as avian influenza or another new pathogen, vaccine-resistant COVID-19 variants or a global resurgence of infections. The partnership will lead to a world-class mRNA ecosystem based in Melbourne, attract highly skilled staff and expand local capability through joint…

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has opened a new $23.1m national lab in Melbourne that will bolster the nation’s ability to produce vaccines and drug treatments onshore. Researchers at CSIRO’s National Vaccine and Therapeutics Lab will turn vaccine and drug candidates into products that can be manufactured in large quantities for clinical trials. The ability to do this in Australia, rather than needing to go overseas, has been the ‘missing link’ in Australia’s biomedical science sector being able to produce vaccines and drugs here. The new lab follows a successful pilot facility in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when CSIRO scaled up vaccine candidates that had been developed onshore as part of a national strategy to combat this emerging threat. The facility was completed with funding from the Federal and Victorian Governments and was officially opened by Federal Minister for Industry and Science Hon Ed Husic. CSIRO’s Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said the new National Lab would lift Australia’s ability to protect its people and grow new industries. “We created the pilot facility in anticipation of disease “X” - an expected…

US automotive supplier H-P Products was experiencing high-stress readings due to a major job with tight bending radii of up to 1xD, short cycle times and compatibility with existing tools. The German tube bending machine manufacturer Schwarze-Robitec responded to the complex issue with a powerful CNC 160 E TB MR. The commissioning took place in the middle of the pandemic despite strict regulations. Thanks to short distances between the customer in Ohio and the Schwarze-Robitec branch in Michigan, the job was a success. Founded in 1945 and headquartered in Louisville, Ohio, H-P Products, Inc. manufactures a wide range of tubular products for large diesel engine, fire truck, construction equipment and agricultural equipment industries from air intake systems to exhaust and cooling components to structural components. To bend large tubes in particularly tight radii, the company now relies on a machine from Schwarze-Robitec. With the fully electric CNC 160 E TB MR, H-P Products is replacing another model from the German manufacturer after more than 20 years of continuous service. Schwarze-Robitec designed the CNC 160 E TB MR for two different tool sets, each…