December 2018

Ask any business owner or board-level executive involved in manufacturing about the demands of growing a business, and they would probably readily agree that it’s tough. Apart from juggling various elements to keep the business on a growth trajectory, there are the endless administration tasks. Regularly producing reports, quotes, estimates, proposals, plans and invoices can be daunting, and may even negatively impact on productivity. However, the challenge no longer needs to be overwhelming thanks to technology. Speech recognition is now more accurate, more powerful, and more usable than ever before, and it can help facilitate the growth of a business. Adopting a desktop speech recognition solution – like Nuance Dragon Professional Individual for the PC – can improve a business’s everyday performance and productivity. Save time producing documents Dragon does the typing for you as you speak and, as we talk three times faster than we can type, the productivity implications are considerable. Dragon quickly and accurately turns your spoken words into text. It lets you put your voice to work to easily dictate and edit documents, proposals, reports and more. With Dragon you spend less time producing documents, and more time on activities that boost the bottom line. Plus, as Dragon works with all Microsoft Office applications, you can also create spreadsheets and presentations by simply using your voice. The solution also lets you speak to send emails, and as it’s compatible with popular web browsers, you can also deploy Dragon to search the web and use social media with unparalleled speed, ease and comfort. Dragon rewards the user by helping you gain precious time. Work that may have taken hours – typing a large document or clearing your inbox – can now be achieved faster and without the need to type, and the time saved can be allocated […]

Global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon has announced the appointment of Managing Director Australia and New Zealand William Cox as its new Global Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation’s rapid growth and continuing diversification across Digital, Advisory and Asia. Effective from 1 February 2019, William will be based in Sydney. His appointment marks the end of current Aurecon CEO Giam Swiegers’ successful fixed four-year term, which saw the company more than double its profits since 2015. William said: “This is a terrific opportunity to steer Aurecon during a time of significant growth and change for our industry. Incredible technologies are helping us plan and build infrastructure in a way never seen before, truly changing the way we engineer, design and advise. “My focus areas for the immediate future are to consolidate and continue the growth trajectory in Digital, Advisory, and in Asia where we see immense potential in transport infrastructure, the built environment and fast-growing data centre sector.” As Aurecon Managing Director – Australia and New Zealand, William has a proven track record in building a financially successful, high performance culture with strong client engagement. William is a civil engineer with over 30 years’ experience in transport, aviation and infrastructure across Australia and the UK. William is also Aurecon’s Pay Equity Ambassador for the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) and Aurecon’s representative for the Consult Australia Male Champions of Change. Under William’s leadership, Aurecon implemented female representation targets in Australia. In 2016, there was 26 per cent female representation and a target of 30 per cent was set for 2020. That target was reached in early 2018 and now the aim is 40 per cent by 2020. As a member of Aurecon’s Executive Committee, William has contributed to the company’s strategic direction, reporting directly to Giam Swiegers.  

Leveraging HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology, GoProto will be able to meet industries needs for precise and functional prototyping or end-use production at its new facility in Melbourne.  GoProto, Inc., a leader in advanced 3D prototyping and short run manufacturing, today announced expansion into the Asia Pacific region, with the launch of a new 3D printing and additive manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Australia. The facility will house the HP Jet Fusion 4210 printer, which is 10-times faster than existing rapid prototyping and 3D printing systems. Jesse Lea, President, of US operations says, “current technologies like SLS or SLA lack the combined precision, speed and function that’s demanded to push printed parts into mainstream manufacturing.  HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology will accomplish high-end, functional prototyping and final part production to industries in search of short run manufacturing needs.”   Added Robert Mesaros, Vice President & Head of 3D Printing for Asia Pacific & Japan, HP Inc., “Our ambition is to reinvent the way the world designs and manufactures. This expansion is testament to how HP is working with partners like GoProto to accelerate this transformation, enabling them to shorten and localise the design and manufacturing cycle for their customers.” General Manager, Leon Gairns, will run GoProto’s (ANZ) extensive portfolio of prototyping and manufacturing services, including CNC machining, cast urethane, sheet metal and injection moulding.  For more information visit www.goproto.com.au