September 2021

Will we ever know the truth?

The origins of Covid-19 are shrouded in mystery. Scientists and government officials insisted, for a year and a half, that the virus had a natural origin, ridiculing anyone who dared contradict this view. Tech giants swept the internet, censoring and silencing debate in the most extreme fashion. Yet it is undeniable that a secretive facility in Wuhan was immersed in genetically manipulating bat-coronaviruses in perilous experiments. And as soon as the news of an outbreak in Wuhan leaked, the Chinese military took control and gagged all laboratory insiders. Part-thriller, part-expose, What Really Happened in Wuhan is a ground-breaking investigation from Walkley award winning journalist Sharri Markson into the origins of Covid-19, the cover-ups, the conspiracies and the classified research. It features never-before-seen primary documents exposing China’s concealment of the virus, fresh interviews with whistleblower doctors in Wuhan and crucial eyewitness accounts that dismantle what we thought we knew about when the outbreak hit. With unprecedented access to Washington insiders, Markson takes you inside the White House, with senior Trump lieutenants revealing first-hand accounts of fiery Oval Office clashes and new stories of compromised government advisors and censored scientists. Bravely reported and chillingly laid out, Markson brings to light the stories of the pandemic from the people on the ground: the scientists and national security officials who raised uncomfortable truths and were labelled conspiracy theorists, until government agencies began to suspect they might have been right all along. These brave individuals persisted through bruising battles and played a crucial role in investigating the origins of Covid-19 to finally, in this book, bring us closer to the truth of what really happened in Wuhan.

Groundbreaking welding helmets

Generation 5 is the latest collection of Speedglas welding helmets that showcase a truly groundbreaking array of never-before-seen features. Each helmet is designed from inception to be uniquely tailored to a specific application, from heavy-duty welding in hard-wearing environments to critical precision TIG work. However, this is not to say these helmets are rigid in their capabilities. On the contrary, the Generation 5 series has been built on the premise that any high-performance welding helmet should be fully customisable to the preferences of each individual welder. The result, after extensive input from professional welders, is an elite welding helmet range that manages to be both highly specialised and versatile in equal measure. Speedglas G5-02: a new world standard in precision viewing As with past 3M Speedglas designs, the concept for the Speedglas G5-02 Welding Helmet originated from consulting professional welders. When it came to creating a helmet specifically for TIG welding, the feedback from TIG welders was unanimous: a wide view rated significantly higher than a taller view. The only way to achieve these exponentially wider views without the compromise of making the helmet wider was to invent a curved welding lens: and now, after dedicating two decades to this goal, Speedglas have delivered the world’s first curved auto-darkening lens! This groundbreaking new arrival has been designed to follow the shape of your head and maximise your natural range of vision by 100% when compared to a conventional flat lens. The curved G5-02 lens also provides highly advanced electronics, with four arc sensors that will detect an arc down to an industry-leading 1 Amp. This in turn ensures the lens can reliably react to the extremely stable arcs offered by the latest high-end inverter based TIG machines. Bluetooth enabled, so you can securely pair your smartphone to your welding lens […]

RS Components launches RS PRO Facilities Maintenance Solutions

RS Components (RS), a trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE: ECM), a global omni-channel provider of product and service solutions, has launched the RS PRO Facilities Maintenance solutions portfolio, which comprises quality-tested products for a host of industries and working environments. Aimed at a broad selection of customers in Australia and New Zealand, the range supports maintenance requirements within the process manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, utilities and energy, engineering services, mining aggregates and construction, wholesale and distribution, transport and defence sectors, and design and development laboratories. The expanded range introduces over 1,000 products to offer a comprehensive choice of quality products including site safety and lighting solutions, tool kits, janitorial & cleaning, test & measurement, workwear & personal protective equipment (PPE) and more. All products in the RS PRO Facilities Maintenance range have high in-stock availability and have been through rigorous testing processes to ensure reliability to meet design and compliance specifications. They are covered by the RS PRO Seal of Approval and come with a three-year warranty. “The RS PRO range increases the breadth and depth of choice for customers seeking facilities maintenance products that meet design and compliance specifications, at a competitive price,” said Ian Macgregor, RS PRO Product Manager, for Australia & New Zealand (ANZ). “We offer a huge variety of products for different applications to keep facilities and buildings operating efficiently and safely and help keep businesses running smoothly.”

D-Link launches new, sleek and discreet home security cameras

D-Link has launched its new DCS-6500LH Compact Full HD Pan & Tilt and DCS-6100LH Compact Full HD Sleek and Discreet Wi-Fi Home Security Cameras. DCS-6100LH Compact Full HD Wi-Fi Camera Sleek and discreet, the Compact DCS-6100LH Full HD Wi-Fi Camera blends enhanced Smart Home Surveillance features with a stylish, subtle design. IR Night Vision together with Sound and Motion Detection alerts you instantly when something unexpected happens, giving you extra peace of mind with the latest in home security camera technology. The DCS-6100LH brings crystal clear surveillance as it allows you to monitor your home in Full HD 1080p resolution with a wide-angle 110-degree Field of View (FOV), day or night, making it the perfect 24/7 home security companion. Designed to be stylish, subtle and simple to use, it’s ideal for discreet placement anywhere throughout your home. The DCS-6100LH’s built-in Sound and Motion Detection enables you to trigger alerts that are automatically sent to your mobile device and the video clip recordings let you stay aware of what’s going on at all times in your home – and yes, it’s ideal as a baby monitor or office camera as well. If you’re worried that you’ll lose all your camera footage the DCS-6100LH Compact Full HD Wi-Fi Camera lets you record snapshots and video clips to the cloud for anytime access. You can also play back recordings from the cloud or download footage to your mobile device from anywhere, anytime through the Internet. DCS-6500LH Compact Full HD Pan & Tilt Wi-Fi Camera The DCS-6500LH Compact Full HD Pan & Tilt Wi-Fi Camera gives you 340° views as its Pan & Tilt technology allows you to see virtually every angle of any room. With Motion and Sound Detection as well as Night Vision that provides up to five metres of monitoring in complete […]

Fossil-free steel variants produced using hydrogen

Leading global steel manufacturer and supplier, SSAB, has announced its latest fossil-free steel variants produced using hydrogen breakthrough ironmaking technology (“Hybrit Technology”). As the world’s first fossil-free steel, the company aims to help Australian businesses achieve sustainable transportation and manufacturing processes with its green and sustainable technology. SSAB – World’s First Fossil-Free Steel This initiative comes at a time when Australian policymakers and companies are exploring “green steel” as an opportunity to support business growth, operational efficiency, and sustainable development. A report by the Grattan Institute found that if Australia captured about 6.5% of the global steel market, the country could generate more than AU $65 billion in annual export revenue and create over 25,000 domestic jobs. As demand grows for fossil-free iron- and steelmaking, SSAB is doubling down on its efforts to promote an eco-friendly future for the transportation, construction, and mining sector with the world’s first fossil-free steel. “Our creation represents a significant step forward in the transition to sustainable iron and steelmaking. With mounting pressure for Australian governments and industries to address the impending climate crisis, businesses and individuals are being enacted to force change and implement sustainable global value chains. Fossil-free steel represents a viable alternative, as it does not compromise on quality and can be used in all industries,” said Matthew Spiteri, Country manager for Australia and New Zealand. Green hydrogen technology: a new revolution for sustainable businesses Hybrit, a jointed initiative of SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall was created in 2016 with the aim of developing a technology for fossil-free iron- and steelmaking. The process replaces coking coal, traditionally needed for iron ore-based steelmaking, with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. In August 2021, SSAB was able to show the world´s first fossil-free steel plate made from hydrogen-reduced iron, produced at Hybrit’s pilot plant in Luleå, […]

Suhner equips TAFE NSW with metal finishing stations

Suhner Australia has progressively rolled out its Metal Finishing Stations to help TAFE NSW provide its students with access to quality professional tools as they learn to master metal finishing with a clear Industry involvement. Six Suhner Complete Metal Finishing Stations were recently delivered to TAFE NSW Newcastle. This is the latest instalment in a rollout that commenced in 2018 with Wetherill Park, and an enduring TAFE-industry partnership of over 20 years. The modular units consist of a free-standing, metal storage cabinet on wheels. Divided into draws for fast and easy access, the cabinet includes much of Suhner’s leading metal polishing tools and abrasives. The Rotomax 2 Flexible Drive machine forms the cornerstone of the unit. This tool allows apprentices to choose from 124 speed settings between 500Rpm and 13,000 Rpm, four different abrasive tool head options, and infinite power and flexibility with world class safety features. The popular Suhner UTC tube polishers and USK straight grinders as well as the complete range of Suhner Electric Power tools also form part of the station. “With the Suhner Metal Finishing Station, TAFE NSW apprentices have access to the highest quality tools and abrasives available that allow them to concentrate on learning the processes and skills involved with metal polishing and finishing,” explained Mr Robert Bartrum, General Manager, Suhner Australia Pty Ltd. “Suhner also helps ensure that our TAFE NSW apprentices are right up-to-date with current best practices,” he added. Teachers from the Advanced Manufacturing Trades section at TAFE NSW Wetherill Park; Lucas Archer and Jason Morgan, said the longstanding relationship between TAFE NSW and Suhner Australia meant graduates were getting the very best industry-aligned training using top of the line equipment. “TAFE NSW is proud to be working with Suhner Australia to give our students the very best hands-on training with […]

Next-generation manufacturing needs next-generation data

Matt Maw Head of Technology Strategy at Nutanix A/NZ Australia’s manufacturing sector has never been more important to the nation’s future than it is right now. Scenes of empty grocery store shelves and shortages of items we’d taken for granted – building supplies, cars, and bicycles – underscored the need for a sovereign supply chain and strong manufacturing industry. In addition, the increased demand for health services across the country has made the local manufacturing of vaccines, personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical oxygen more important than ever before. This newfound appreciation of the criticality of a local manufacturing capability led the Federal Government to launch a modern manufacturing strategy allocating $52.8 million to fast track digital investments, and $1.3 billion to modernising domestic infrastructure to make supply chains more resilient. As the local manufacturing sector transforms in response to the nation’s latest challenges, it is clear adopting a ‘smart’, digital-centric approach will be the driving force for enabling sovereign capability that meets the demands of the domestic market while also potentially setting up the sector as a major manufacturing player on the world’s stage. While the idea of ‘digital technology’ might conjure images of robotic assembly line workers and self-driving forklifts, the truth is that any innovation is pillared by applications and data. From the cloud to the edge, the data generated powers the delivery of technology solutions across the entire operation. Information enables innovation Access to accurate, real-time data from across the business is fundamental to any innovation. Simply collecting this information isn’t enough. It must also be easily accessible whenever its needed. Unlike other industries, the drive for IT modernisation is not being fuelled by the manufacturing workforce needing to adapt to remote or hybrid working environments. Cutting costs isn’t the major motivator, either. Rather, the industry […]

Rio Tinto and Caterpillar for zero-emissions trucks

Rio Tinto and Caterpillar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Caterpillar’s development of zero-emissions autonomous haul trucks for use at one of Rio Tinto’s Western Australian mining operations. The collaboration will see Rio Tinto work with Caterpillar to advance the development of the manufacturer’s future 220-tonne 793 zero-emissions autonomous haul truck including the validation of Caterpillar’s emerging zero-emissions technology. Rio Tinto and Caterpillar will progress a series of development milestones to include a 793 prototype pilot program, testing and pre-production trials. It is anticipated that the world’s first operational deployment of approximately 35 new Caterpillar 793 zero-emissions autonomous haul trucks will be at Gudai-Darri once development is complete. Gudai-Darri is Rio Tinto’s most technically advanced iron ore mine, in the Pilbara, Western Australia. Rio Tinto’s Chief Commercial Officer Alf Barrios said “Our ambition to reach net zero emissions across our operations is a priority. Reaching this ambition will require new and innovative solutions and partnerships with supplier partners like Caterpillar. This collaboration represents a small but important step on that journey. “We look forward to working together to validate these zero-emissions haul trucks in just a few years’ time. The advanced technology at Gudai-Darri puts it at the forefront of new mining operations globally and we look forward to adding Caterpillar zero-emissions haul trucks to the site.” Caterpillar Group President Denise Johnson said, “The integration of autonomy with a zero-emissions fleet demonstrates Rio Tinto’s commitment to reach net zero emissions. “By leveraging these technologies across their sites, Rio Tinto can more safely increase productivity, efficiency and be more sustainable. We are pleased to be part of Rio Tinto’s sustainability journey and look forward to building on our long-standing collaboration.” In June, Rio Tinto announced it would deploy the world’s first fully autonomous water truck at Gudai-Darri, which will […]

CSIRO team representing Australia at ‘Robot Olympics’

A Brisbane-based team of robotics experts will represent Australia – and the Southern Hemisphere – in the world’s leading robotics competition held in the United States this month. Experts from around the world have spent the past three years pushing the boundaries of autonomous robotic technology to map, navigate and search environments as part of the Subterranean challenge, run by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). With teams eliminated from the competition each year, only eight remain to contest the 2021 grand final. A fully autonomous drone from Emesent with a hovermap system during a CSIRO training session for the DARPA Subterranean Challenge final event. Breakthroughs discovered through the DARPA Challenge have helped push real-world applications forward, including improving safety and enhanced efficiency in local mining sectors, and promising significant potential in agriculture and manufacturing. Though based in Australia for the competition, CSIRO’s Australian team members will appear at the event via telepresence. US-based representatives and partners Emesent and Georgia Tech will be on the ground. CSIRO group leader Dr Navinda Kottege said they were thrilled to be one of the final eight teams to compete. “In the world of robotics, these challenges are like our Olympics,” Dr Kottege said. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time any Australian team has made it to a DARPA Challenge final, and we’re very proud to showcase Australia’s capabilities in this area on the world stage.” The six autonomous robots from CSIRO’s Data61 will need to locate and report back on items and environmental conditions throughout three underground courses built inside the Louisville Mega Cavern in Louisville, Kentucky. The challenges are designed to simulate real-world scenarios and involve locating models representing lost or injured humans, backpacks, or phones, as well as variable conditions such as pockets of […]

D-Link launches secure AC1200 and AC750 Mesh Wi-Fi Range Extenders

As the quality, reliability and security of Wi-Fi becomes increasingly important, D-Link A/NZ has launched their new DAP-1610 AC1200 Mesh Wi-Fi Range Extender and DAP-1530 AC750 Mesh Wi-Fi Range Extender, both encompassing the latest WPA3 wireless encryption. DAP-1610 The DAP-1610 is a portable plug-in wireless Extender that lets you extend an existing wireless network, giving you powerful Wi-Fi throughout your home and eliminating Wi-Fi dead zones. With high-speed, dual-band 802.11ac wireless speeds of up to 1200Mbps – that’s 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 900Mbps on the 5GHz band – the DAP-1610 ensures a fast and stable Wi-Fi experience for all of your connected devices. The DAP-1610’s dual-band technology also helps reduce interference from any nearby wireless transmitters and provides backwards compatibility with older connected devices that run on previous Wi-Fi standards. What’s more, if you wish, you can use its Gigabit Ethernet port and your home’s existing wired Ethernet cabling to extend wireless coverage without having to worry about signal strength. The DAP-1610 also provides you with flexible Mesh choices for your home network when you pair it with a compatible D-Link Wi-Fi 5 Mesh Router to create a seamless whole-home Mesh Network built on industry-standard Mesh technology. The DAP-1610 seamlessly picks up the same Wi-Fi name as your existing network and allows you to enjoy a Mesh connection throughout your entire home Meanwhile, Mesh Smart Roaming allows your devices to intelligently switch to a stronger Wi-Fi signal as you move around the house. You can also pair with other Routers or Extenders which support the 802.11k/v standard to enjoy Mesh Smart Roaming throughout your home at all times. Setup of the DAP-1610 is simple, either via the single-touch WPS button to join the Extender to the existing network, or alternatively, you can setup and manage the DAP-1610 just as […]

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News Ticker

September 2021