January 2019

Marr Contracting awarded contract on world’s longest bridge

Australian-based heavy lifting tower crane specialists, Marr Contracting Pty Ltd (The Men From Marr’s), have been awarded the contract to deliver specialized heavy lifting crane services on the construction of the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge and Motorway Project in Turkey. Joint venture project leaders, DLSY Joint Venture awarded the contract to The Men From Marr’s after a competitive tender that saw some of the world’s leading craneage companies submit proposals to be part of the high-profile project. DLSY Joint Venture partners; Daelim (Korea), Limak (Turkey), SK E&C (Korea), and Yapi Merkezi (Turkey) – won the contract in January 2017 to design, construct and operate the EUR 3 billion project for a 16-year period, after which time ownership will be transferred to the Administration, General Directorate of Highways, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure of Turkey. The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge is part of the Malkara-Çanakkale Motorway Project. The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge which spans the Çanakkale Strait in Çanakkale Province, joins the towns of Gallipoli on the European side of Turkey to Lapseki on the Asian side and is part of the Malkara-Çanakkale Motorway Project – a 88-km segment of motorway planned between Kınalı and Savaştepe that will link several motorways arriving from Thrace and Anatolia at the Canakkale Strait. The bridge is named in honor and remembrance of the World War One that took place between Turkish and Allied forces. The ambitious Project will play a pivotal role in connecting Western Turkey, providing a new heavy transit alternative to the Istanbul Strait passage that will not only mean faster and more cost-effective freight transport to the region, but strengthened economic potential and social bonds for its population. On completion the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge will be the world’s longest span suspension bridge. With a total bridge length of 4,608 meters, a central span of […]

Wheels of generosity Aus Man News website

Wheels of generosity do local disadvantaged a good turn

Yahye Ali from Hand Brake Turn receives the car from Tom Rozsa, Branch Manager of Hydraulink Laverton. A man whose day job with Hydraulink Australia is keeping the wheels of industry turning, recently turned his mechanical knowledge to good use by donating his spare car to disadvantaged people in his locality. Tom Rozsa, Branch Sales Manager in Laverton for the Australasian Hydraulink Group, knew the veteran Mitsubishi Magna he had bought near-new for his wife could be given to a more worthwhile cause than simply being sent to the wreckers, even though it was just sitting in his driveway. “All three of our daughters learned to drive in that car after my wife was finished with it, so the vehicle was kept in good condition. But it was a bit of a boomerang, because when each of the kids got on their feet and bought their own cars, it kept being handed back to me. I thought it would be a waste to take it to a wrecking yard, so I was pleased when a friend of mine told me about Concern Australia’s Hand Brake Turn programme,” said Tom. This partly Government funded organisation aims to help turn around the lives of people who need a helping hand. It takes on young kids who have left school and want to try their hand at mechanical repairs. If a car is donated beyond repair, they use it to pull apart to find out how they work. Social recycling – fix and re-use “Or, in the case of a car in good condition, they restore it to roadworthy. Once done, it is re-registered and then sold to a disadvantaged family or a single parent at the same cost it took to bring it back to spec,” said Tom, who has been involved […]

Engineers discussing notes on factory stairway

Be at the cutting edge of global innovation

With changing consumer and business demands bringing greater competition to global markets, companies in New Zealand’s engineering and manufacturing sectors must consistently evolve in order to win new business and succeed. A term that has saturated global markets for the last decade is Industry 4.0 – the digitalisation of manufacturing. What we are in fact witnessing is an industrial renaissance that is changing the way we do business through the unification of real and virtual worlds, laying the foundation for the future of manufacturing with platforms that enable data and digital continuity to maximise innovation, collaboration with the extended enterprise, and improve profit margins. This Industry Renaissance has enabled global connectivity on an unprecedented scale, which Invenio has witnessed in its network of dynamic New Zealand businesses of all sizes that enjoy success locally as well as globally. Taking advantage of this opportunity requires the right tools to be implemented, such as the Dassault Systèmes 3DExperience platform and modelling, simulation and collaboration applications such as Catia, Delmia and Enovia. The 3DExperience platform enables organisations to move from siloed designs and a document-based approach to a unified platform that is data-driven and model-based. Combining multi-physics, behaviour-modelling, big data analytics and social collaboration on a single, digital innovative platform, New Zealand businesses can quickly respond to a fast-changing industry landscape. Designers can bring their ideas to life with Catia applications, the world’s leading product design and experience solution including world-class 3D modelling performance and simulation capabilities. Information is communicated through the Enovia application data management platform, allowing designers to efficiently collaborate across departments. Finished designs can be fast-tracked towards production with Delmia’s digital manufacturing solutions, enabling manufacturing efficiency through the digital planning, simulating and modelling of production processes. Invenio’s partnership with Dassault Systèmes has also enabled the success of a number of […]

Low GI sugar sweetens Malaysian tastebuds

Sunshine Sugar’s Low GI Sugar, which commenced production in the Northern Rivers in mid-2018, has now attracted international attention. Following initial enquiries made some eight months ago by Central Sugars Refinery based in Kuala Lumpur, significant tonnage of this all-Australian and Bonsucro certified sustainable product has already made its way to Malaysia, with ongoing supply arrangements in place. Central Sugars Refinery (CSR) is one of Malaysia’s most popular brands providing sugar and specialty sweetener ingredients for consumers, retailers, foodservice distributors, food manufacturers, culinary professionals and specialty markets across Malaysia. Sunshine Sugar’s Low GI sugar has helped to fulfil one of CSR Malaysia’s commitments to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that it has signed with the National Diabetes Institute of Malaysia (NADI). This MOA collaboration is focused on the promotion of a healthier lifestyle among Malaysians; with a commitment to spread awareness of consuming sugar responsibly, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and fighting diabetes. CSR Malaysia’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Hishammudin Hasan, commented “Low GI sugar, sourced from 100% Australian-owned Sunshine Sugar, will play an important role in our contribution to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, and in fighting diabetes and other associated diseases alongside NADI.” CSR Malaysia is packaging the Low GI sugar sourced from New South Wales as ‘Better Brown’, and has supported its introduction with a major advertising campaign pitching a wholesome and tasty sugar that is suitable for every Malaysian looking to lead a healthier lifestyle. It’s successful launch in the Malaysian market has led to ongoing orders of Low GI sugar into 2019. Sunshine Sugar’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chris Connors said; “The enthusiastic response we have had from CSR Malaysia is testament to the quality and innovation that our Low GI Sugar represents.” He went on to say; “Like many countries, Malaysia has increasing rates […]

Food production innovation to be adopted overseas

A Tasmanian engineering innovation in strawberry and other hydroponic food production is set to be adopted by major berry producers in the UK and Europe. Rod Marshall, Managing Director of Marshall Machinery in Launceston, has returned from meetings in the UK and Europe, in response to expressions of interest from international berry producers. At these meetings, Mr Marshall demonstrated and promoted the unique “COIR-RX” hydroponic substrate processing machine, which has been entirely researched, developed and manufactured by his company in Tasmania. Worldwide, crops such as strawberries, tomatoes and capsicums are planted within plastic substrate bags containing coir, rock-wool, or other materials, then disposed of at the end of each growing cycle. Until now, the process to separate the plastic from substrate and plant material, then package materials for recycling, has been a massive, mainly manual process for growers, or simply dumped into landfill. The COIR-RX processing machine replaces this manual process with a mobile platform that travels along the ends of strawberry rows to feed in the materials, separate them, then automatically capture, compress and wrap the plastic for recycling. The machine also ejects the organic material which becomes an effective mulch. A single COIR-RX machine can process up to 2000 one-metre long substrate bags per hour. This takes less than 5% of the time and half the cost of the current laborious process of removing, transporting, picking through materials, manually sorting and bagging. The system is also vastly more discriminating while sorting, ensuring a much purer separation result for both plants and plastic. Mr Marshall said, “After years of research and development, we now have a functional machine that is proving itself in actual field use.” “Marshall Machinery is now ready to respond to expressions of interest it has received from major berry producers in the UK, who have […]

Rio Tinto completes sale of Dunkerque aluminium smelter

Rio Tinto has completed the sale of its aluminium smelter at Dunkerque, France, to Liberty House for $500 million. Liberty House, which is part of the GFG Alliance (Gupta Family Group), has committed to continuing operations at the smelter and has announced plans for the development of additional activity around the site. As previously announced, the proceeds will be returned to shareholders, with the precise timing and form to be announced with Rio Tinto’s 2018 full year results. Rio Tinto estimates that there will be no material tax payable on this transaction.

Revolutionary power-efficient solution for network energy infrastructure

An exclusive Australian supplier of DC Power Converters and energy solutions, Powerbox Australia, recently released EnergyHub by Enatel Energy at Comms Connect Melbourne Exhibition and Conference. More than 1500 people from a broad range of industries attended the event seeking out the very latest communications information, technologies and solutions. EnergyHub is a complete lithium-ion power solution for providers of power utilities, telecommunications and security, as well as transport operators. These industry sectors have historically relied on lead-acid battery solutions and worn the associated operation costs. Incorporating both DC rectifier technology and integrated lithium-ion battery modules, EnergyHub from Enatel Energy offers a truly dynamic li-ion solution. EnergyHub offers significant financial benefits because solutions are more efficient and less maintenance is required over the long term, vastly reducing operational costs when compared to the conventional lead-acid type batteries still widely used. As organisations begin to work with brand new EnergyHub, they will notice that this revolutionary system allows for much greater energy density and depth of discharge. “EnergyHub, which utilises li-on batteries, leaves more room for revenue-generating network equipment. Tight cell management from Enatel’s proprietary BMS in combination with the new RM848HE Rectifiers allows for optimised charging/discharging to improve system functionality,” said James Rutty, Business Development Manager of Powerbox Australia. “In addition, the EnergyHub requires zero set-up cost, can be easily scaled up to meet changing load demands and it shares a hot pluggable interface with EnergyPak battery modules to maximise usability.” According to Mr Rutty, safety of the system is ensured with the use of ‘Cold Terminal Design’, which stops voltage from travelling through the battery’s power and control pins to cut off the supply of current when it’s not connected to the charger. EnergyHub offers complete transparency of all energy data including battery cycle life, depth of discharge information, cell […]

Ranger Lifting welcomes William Essey

William Essey (right), technical sales specialist, is welcomed to Ranger Lifting by Ashley Thacker, general manager. Ranger Lifting has named William Essey technical sales specialist, as the New South Wales, Australia-based company continues to expand its team at new Prestons headquarters nr. Sydney. Essey stepped into the role last month (December) but resumes in earnest as the New Year gathers pace. Essey brings a wealth of relevant experience to the lifting and rigging equipment supplier, derived from 13 years in the marketplace, including a decade at Gunnebo Industries, a chain and component manufacturer. Recent roles include internal sales and purchasing in addition to regional and operations management. He was most recently sales manager at a fellow Sydney-side lifting and height safety equipment supplier. Essey, who is extensively trained and boasts a degree in economics, said: “I was looking for a new challenge and have known Ashley [Thacker, general manager] and Steve [Thacker, managing director] since I started in the industry. I was passionate about staying at distributor level, dealing day-to-day with the end user market. Once I was aware of the opening, it was a speedy process. We share the same approach to business in terms of being customer focussed and I’m aware of the value they place on good staff, which further enhanced the appeal.” Ashley Thacker said: “Ranger are always on the look out for the best talent within the lifting industry. We are principally interested in whether a person fits the culture and with Will we could tell he did straight away. I have always been impressed with his approach to dealings with clients and ability to problem solve. When Will first left Gunnebo to move to distributor level I was keen on making the acquisition but the timing wasn’t right. I was delighted when discussions […]

CRC Australia celebrates 50 years

CRC Industries Australia celebrates 50 years of manufacturing in 2019, marking a very special milestone for the Australian division of the global CRC Industries company. CRC Industries is a leading supplier of speciality products for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) professionals across a wide array of industries including Automotive, Industrial, Mining, Food and Beverage, Utilities and Defence. While CRC was first established in 1958 in a small Pennsylvania garage, the company started manufacturing in Australia after being incorporated as a propriety Company of Australia on 13 October, 1969. What many don’t realise though is that CRC’s journey ‘Down Under’ actually began almost a decade earlier, with CRC product distributed within Australia from the United States throughout the 1960s by the Balfour Buzzacott Division of Email Limited; which also distributed the product of the well-known Dymo Labels. Following the incorporation of CRC Industries Australia as an Australian Company, the business model switched to a focus on manufacturing and facilities at North Ryde in Sydney were established. By 1974, the installation of aerosol and bulk filling lines were completed, allowing locally manufactured CRC product to be sold throughout Australia and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. The company enjoyed such growth that by 1980, a larger facility was needed and was opened in Castle Hill in Sydney’s north west region. Progress continued for the company and in 2004, CRC Industries Australia acquired iconic Australian auto care brand Kitten to join its growing stable of products. To this day, Kitten sits amongst a full range of CRC products which are produced and packaged in the Castle Hill factory including market-leading products such as CRC’s famous 5.56, Brakleen, Penetr8 and CO Contact Cleaner. CRC Australia has also been proud to establish export agreements with more than 15 countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region. “What an […]

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January 2019