May 2020

Safe access with Euchner Electronic Key System EKS from Treotham

Treotham is showcasing its versatile Euchner product for electronic access control and management: the Electronic-Key-System EKS. This transponder-based read/write system has already proven its worth in the packaging machinery industry by preset parameters that provide protection against unauthorised access. The RFID-based EKS features the main advantage of being freely programmable and therefore highly versatile. The Electronic-Key stores the access rights for each employee. A reader scans the data and forwards this information to the control system. Additional uses for the EKS system include controlling specific functions and accessing encrypted process parameters for an installation. What’s more, one system variant is the perfect choice for hygienically sensitive areas in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Another application for the EKS system is functionally safe selection of operating mode, enabling users to select the required operating mode and activate the corresponding safety function. Maximum safety throughout the packaging processTreotham’s diverse safety solutions can be perfectly integrated into modular systems to protect people, machines and products in the packaging sector. The Euchner product range comprises guard locking devices and access management systems as well as products such as door detectors, door locking systems and pendant stations. For all of its products, Euchner guarantees exacting quality far exceeding the requirements in standards and laws. Customers can rely on Euchner with over 60 years of safety engineering expertise.

Proven and new at the same time: tribo-polymer iglidur E7 for energy-efficient plain bearings

With specifications such as low coefficient of friction and excellent vibration dampening, the tribo-polymer iglidur E7 has already proven its strengths in the sliding elements of the drylin linear technology from igus. Now the plastics specialist has also included the material in its plain bearings catalogue range. This also allows users to benefit from iglidur E7 mechanisms with rotating or pivoting movements. The low coefficient of friction of the material ensures smooth movements, reduces the required drive energy and saves additional costs. In times of advancing automation of the industry, durable, cost-effective and above all energy-efficient machine components are called for. Since 1983, the motion plastics specialist igus has been developing tribo-polymers for plain bearing technology that are free of lubricants and therefore free of maintenance. igus has a total of 57 iglidur materials in its product range for various applications. iglidur E7 is among them. The tribo-polymer has been used in the sliding elements of drylin linear systems since 2012 and has been available in dryspin lead screw nuts since 2018. iglidur E7 has already proven itself in many applications such as camera lenses, train doors and even 3D printers. Above all, the vibration-dampening specifications of the tribo-polymers convince the user. Therefore, igus has now further developed the material for its plain bearing range. The iglidur E7 is specifically designed for low to medium loads in pivoting movements and withstands surface pressures of up to 18 MPa in motion. Due to the very low coefficient of friction of the iglidur E7, the drive energy is reduced, saving costs for the user. The new plain bearing material is suitable for flap or sensor bearings. Further applications are found in packaging, textile machinery and furniture technology. Tried and tested in the field, proven in tests All iglidur materials are tested by […]

Swisslog Autostore webinar on June 11

Swisslog Autostore webinar on June 11. Swisslog will be holding a second webinar on June 11 on AutoStore (5 Key Considerations and Recommendations) on at 4:30pm-5:30pm (AEDST). This will be a live webinar and Q&A with Paul and Dickson (SEA) as our speakers the details are below: Webinar Topic: AutoStore for the future: 5 Key Considerations and Recommendations Event Outline: Guarantee your success with AutoStore empowered by Swisslog. Join our free webinar to learn how AutoStore can be the driving force behind your growth. Website Link: https://www.swisslog.com/en-au/newsroom/events-trade-shows-exhibition-conference/2020/06/autostore-webinar-apac Link to webinar registration: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2490715301465600016 LinkedIn Event: https://www.linkedin.com/events/6668773886097809408/?showShareByPost=true

DECO Australia achieves business-wide ISO 9001 accreditation

Metal finishing supplier and Building Products manufacturer DECO Australia successfully renewed its ISO 9001:2015 accreditation after a surveillance audit in May 2020. ISO 9001, which is an International Standard that sets out the criteria for a business wide Quality Management System and ensures quality management principles including process controls, compliance testing, customer focus, and continual improvement are consistently upheld. The audit, which is carried out annually by international certification body DNV-GL, was also DECO’s first business-wide ISO 9001 audit. Both divisions of DECO – Architectural, which produces non-combustible aluminium building products, and Industrial, which provides durable surface finishing solutions to a range of industries – were included in this audit. DECO’s audit report for 2020 highlighted its high level of control over all its operations, including internal continual improvement measures, and the auditor found no evidence of nonconformances with the requirements set out by the standard. All staff engaged with the audit and leaders demonstrated evidence of evidence-based decision making. “The glowing results of this audit show how efficiently DECO is meeting our customer’s needs and our business objectives,” said DECO Director Ross Doonan. “We have always shown dedication and commitment to quality, customers and innovation in all our processes. This ISO 9001 accreditation, which extends across all key aspects of our business, positions us as a certified supplier for key industries including defence, engineering and manufacturing, and allows us to confidently guarantee quality products and services that meet customer needs every time.” DECO Australia is a proud member of Australian Industry and Defence Network (AIDN) NSW, the Australian Institute of Surface Finishing and the Australian Corrosion Association.

Site Safety Alliance Toolbox Talk addresses the hidden mental minefield of COVID-19 impacts

Site Safety Alliance’s new HEADSPACE Covid-19 Toolbox Talk addresses the hidden impacts of Covid-19 – the effects it can have on the mental health and wellbeing of tradies who may be facing increased financial, family and home pressures during these unusual circumstances. As Australia emerges from isolation and lockdown measures, mental health impacts are shaping up to be the biggest issue facing the nation. Internationally recognised mathematical modelling by the University of Sydney has suggested 750 additional lives could be lost to suicide each year for the next five years*. One in four of these deaths will be in young people. And that’s just one statistic, with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues causing increased strain for so many Australians. Preliminary results from a Monash University study of 1,200 Australians found that the majority experienced at least mild levels of anxiety or depression, with approximately 30% experiencing moderate or high levels**. A company dedicated to providing engaging safety messages to construction sites Australia-wide, Site Safety Alliance, has introduced a special “HEADSPACE Covid-19” Toolbox Talk pack to help companies address the mental minefield of Covid-19 impacts on workers, including financial strain, family issues and increased pressures at home. The special ‘Headspace Covid-19’ Toolbox Talk packs are available immediately for building, construction and infrastructure companies looking to support the safety and mental wellbeing of their workers. They are designed to ensure that workers feel that support is available to them if they feel more stressed and distracted at this time. Site Safety Alliance, which typically supplies comprehensive monthly Toolbox Talk packs to the building and construction industry, has prepared and produced specific content for site managers and safety managers to support workers on site who might be finding it difficult to cope with increased pressure or a change in routine created […]

Suhner supports industry with components manufacturing service

Suhner Australia has launched a parts manufacturing service to help companies overcome issues with supply. The new service will run alongside Suhuner’s core business in providing tools, consumables and know-how in the surface finishing of all metals, and in particular, stainless steel, aluminium, brass and special alloys. With many firms now experiencing critical shortages of parts and products as a result of disruption to their supply chains, Suhner is using its own extensive CNC production facilities to produce PPE products, related equipment and manufactured parts. The new service is suitable for those who require small runs of manufactured metal, plastic and related parts. A cost-effective service that delivers high-quality parts, customers will welcome the reliable, on-time delivery. Suhner is also supporting industry with its provision of free, on-site assistance in finding the right finishing solution for an application. Free, at your door assistance with choosing the right solution Suhner has been supplying the Australian market with a comprehensive range of metal finishing tools and abrasives since 2004. To assist industry, users can access Suhner’s considerable expertise and technical know-how when it comes to choosing the right solution as well as implementing it. Regardless of whether the user is working with stainless steel, aluminium, brass or other metals; Suhner can advise and demonstrate the best procedure to achieve the desired finish. Its dedicated demonstration service also lets users try the tool to ensure they can attain the required result. Comprehensive tool and abrasives rangeManufactured in Germany and Switzerland, Suhner’s broad range of quality power tools for metal finishing include battery, electric, air and flexible drive. The extensive range of abrasives includes carbide burrs, abrasive belts, and heavy-duty grinding discs. With a comprehensive range of both tools and abrasives, Suhner is able to provide users with the right equipment for the job […]

Greater access regulation will become a new normal after coronavirus

Greater regulation of access to public and private buildings and visitor hot spots may figure among major impacts from the coronavirus affecting architects, builders, facility managers and site owners. “Certainly, there will be a new normal for people-intensive public and private facilities, where owners have a duty of care to protect staff and visitors,” says security and entrance specialist, Boon Edam Australia Managing Director Michael Fisher (Master security licence number: 000104487). The likely changes – including to Government-funded Covid recovery infrastructure spending in Australia and New Zealand – will be particularly relevant also to facilities such as hospitals, health care, schools, hotels, restaurants, tourism facilities and landmark structures and community and cultural assets. Accelerated safety and sustainability access control trends “Coronavirus may well accelerate changes that were already underway to promote greater safety and sustainability within our urban infrastructure. Such changes will be driven not only by the need to protect against health-related risks, but also in some cases to exclude threats such as urban pollution and to counter the rising incidence of physical violence against providers of public services.” “They are also highly relevant to and holders of valuable physical and electronic assets, including data and commercial information,” says Mr Fisher, whose parent Boon Edam organisation is a leading global manufacturer of energy-saving revolving doors and security entrances in 27 countries, including global names in data management and internet services. The 140-year-old family owned company’s top quality entrance control products are used by dozens of Fortune 500 companies as well as social infrastructure, transport terminals, public and private spaces where there are risks ranging from extreme physical intrusions – such as terrorism , violence and theft – to more subtle but sinister threats such as airborne pollution and infected carriers of contagious disease. Security technologies working in harmony Mr Fisher […]

Pyrosales operating at critical capacity during Covid-19 pandemic.

As Australia’s longest established manufacturers of precision temperature, level and flow measurement gauges, sensors and instrumentation, as well as calibration devices, they are helping out the essential services in need. When it comes to the Australian essential services, Pyrosales has always worked with them, even before the pandemic. Assisting with supply and manufacture for the Medical Industry, the most common products are the infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of individuals in a quick and accurate manner and thermal imaging devices that can detect variations in temperature of individuals. Hospitals and private medical businesses can rely on the team at Pyrosales to supplying refrigeration temperature equipment for medicines, blood and IVF storage as well as maintaining the equipment for sterilization, and of course food temperature control. They are also working to help our aged care facilities to control the temperature of their food and medicine. Pyrosales continue to help out the essential services by ensuring food plant manufacturers have adequate thermocouples, RKC temperature controllers, temperature and pressure gauges to maintain food production. “We have solutions for businesses to monitor their employees for fever temperature. Companies are investigating new ways to measure for the virus to reduce the spread into their workplace. Pyrosales has many products to suit any businesses requirements whether it is to meet the volume of employees, their price range or on-site technology. We not only supply to the medical and industrial market, we are also seeing an increase in demand for people to use in their homes,” said our CEO, John Shanahan. With many businesses in Australia struggling in the current climate, it is positive to see an Australian owned business working not only to help those who need it but are helping boost the economy and keep people in jobs.

Wearable devices to diagnose medical conditions

Transforming how common health conditions are diagnosed using point-of-care and wearable bio diagnostic devices is the goal of a new University of South Australia project, which has just secured nearly $2.2 million from the National Health, Medical and Research Council (NHRMC). Through an NHMRC Investigator Grant, UniSA biomedical engineer Professor Benjamin Thierry aims to develop a range of solid-state sensing and wearable technologies capable of diagnosing conditions including preeclampsia, epilepsy, fetal arrhythmias and heart attacks. Prof Thierry hopes these technologies will help address the significant health outcome disparities across the country, which sees Australians living in rural and remote areas experience higher levels of disease and reduced access to health services, compared with their metropolitan counterparts. “Wearable consumer products such as the Fitbit are already mainstream, yet the enormous transformative medical potential of wearable technologies is yet to be realised,” he says. “There is a huge opportunity for us to create wearable devices capable of better diagnosing and monitoring medical conditions, particularly in rural and remote settings where patients often do not have access to the testing and specialist care that is available in cities. “Some of the technologies I hope to develop include wearable devices able to continuously and accurately monitor the ECG, which could in turn predict epileptic seizures or detect preeclampsia and other related pregnancy complications. “These wearables use a cutting-edge solid-state sensing technology called Field Effect Transistors, which can measure bioelectric signals with extreme sensitivity when implemented at the nanoscale.” In addition, Prof Thierry will develop conformal devices based on Magnetic Tunneling Junction sensors to record and map magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the heart. He hopes this will enable more accurate non-invasive monitoring of fetal cardiac activity and rapid and point-of-care diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, including heart […]

Frigate build site ready to launch $35 billion naval project

Work is almost finished in the $500 million upgrade of Adelaide’s new high-tech frigate shipyard with five new structures rising from its Port River site. Shipbuilding in South Australia is proving a bright spark in the economy with the first new construction shed for the nation’s $35 billion Hunter Class Frigate program now ready for action. Building 20 is part of the $500 million upgrade of the state’s Osborne shipyard and its handover to ASC Shipbuilding is now underway, keeping plans well on track for work on the nation’s nine anti-submarine warfare frigates to start this year. ASC Shipbuilding director Jim Cuthill said five new sheds in the shipyard were being fitted with cutting-edge equipment and the site’s builders Australian Naval Infrastructure and Lend Lease are on track for a complete handover in July. Meanwhile, design-based engineering work for the frigates was continuing. “At the moment about 70 per cent of our workforce is still working from home and we haven’t really missed a beat with the work that we are doing,” Cuthill said. “This is a program of national importance but it’s one that’s going to play a key role in terms of stimulating economic activity post Covid.” Workers employed on the frigates project run by ASC Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of defence giant BAE Systems Australia, are now just over 600 with Cuthill saying this would be ramping up from July to hit about 1000 by the end of 2020. Cuthill said Building 20 is where construction work for the frigates will begin, as the program kicks off with five prototype blocks of the ships being made in the first two years. The planned build would see mainly Australian steel first enter the highly automated fabrication hall to be cut and welded into the 75 units that will make up each of the frigates. Work then moves […]

1 2

News Ticker

May 2020