November 2021

Kimberly-Clark Professional® & RS join forces to support Aussies getting back-to-work

As Australians head back to work, after another lock-down buying their own toilet paper… RS Components are excited to announce their partnership with Kimberly-Clark Professional®. Along with their own RS Pro maintenance products, they are making sure their expanded range supports Aussies getting back on-site or into the office. Kimberly-Clark Professional® is known for delivering leading-edge solutions for a safer, healthier, and more productive workplace. From office buildings, schools, hotels, healthcare facilities and food preparation areas to laboratories, processing plants and manufacturing environments, the RS- Kimberly-Clark Professional® partnership will benchmark safety and cleanliness in the workplace. “At Kimberly-Clark Professional® we value our strategic relationships with partners like RS Components who share our values and commitment to making a positive impact on people and how they work,” says Jamie Rivett of KCP. “RS Components has a rich history of connecting customer needs with best product supply solutions and by working closely with RS Components Australia, we are accelerating our efforts to create Exceptional Workplaces.” The partnership means 170 new products added to the RS range including well-known brands Kleenex®, Scott®, Wypall® and Kimtech®. “Our local partnership with Kimberly-Clark Professional® and the addition of 170 new Cleaning, Hygiene, and Safety products is a substantial boost to our local offer and underlines our commitment to provide our customers with the most comprehensive selection of products that suit the Australian market,” explained Scott Philbrook, MD, RS Components ANZ.

Fenn Foods makes Australian Financial Reviews Fast 100 List

Leading Australian producer and marketer of premium plant-based foods Fenn Foods, has been awarded position #55 on the prestigious AFR Fast 100 List for 2021. This latest achievement recognises the significant progress and growth of the company over the past few years, “Our focus on innovation has seen us become one of the 100 fastest growing companies in Australia,” says Fenn Foods CEO and Co-founder Alejandro Cancino. “The resulting capability to enter into new categories will help us build our brand awareness as leaders in premium plant-based food categories.” With Australia’s plant-based meat industry demonstrating strong upward trajectory towards its $3 billion potential by 20301, Fenn Foods’ growth trajectory is set to continue. The company’s dedicated plant-based foods production facility on the Sunshine Coast in QLD, in combination with its continued investment in market intelligence and R&D; provides the platform to validate and launch new products and formats, supporting the category’s growth in both retail and foodservice markets, through leading quality, taste and texture. 1 The Food Frontier, 2020 State of the Industry Report Fenn Foods is Australia’s leading plant-based protein producer with one of the largest locally produced food service range in the country as well as a consumer-favourite retail brand, vEEF®. Founded by renowned chef, Alejandro Cancino, the company has achieved massive growth. Fenn Foods distribute nationwide and are entering new categories every year. The company is dedicated to innovation with an experienced R&D team working on perfecting taste and texture profiles of existing items and crafting world-first products. This focus has enabled the company to champion plant-based foods, change Australia’s protein culture and position vEEF® as the consumer favourite.

Winners announced for Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2021

An impressive list of organisations, communities, and individuals have been announced as winners of this year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards. The awards, now in their 19th year, recognise Victorians across the state who have demonstrated leadership and innovation in sustainable practices. Winners were announced at an online ceremony on, presented by The Hon Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment, and Climate Change, with a program to improve farming practices in the Macedon Ranges and a volunteer-led initiative to restore oyster reefs in Corio Bay receiving the top awards selected by Premier Daniel Andrews. Sustainability Victoria Chief Executive Officer, Claire Ferres Miles congratulated the winners, recognising the outstanding calibre of entries received. “We received inspiring entries for this year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards across multiple sectors and industries, and our 2021 winners are role models for all Victorians and across Australia,” Ms Ferres Miles said. “Sustainability Victoria is proud to be showcasing the extraordinary achievements of Victoria’s innovators, as together we accelerate our transition to a circular, climate-resilient clean economy.” Winners of the 2021 Premier’s Sustainability Awards: Premier’s Recognition Award: The Nature Conservancy Australia for the Bringing Back Victoria’s Lost Oyster Reefs project to improve one of Victoria’s most prized assets – Port Phillip Bay. More than 40 volunteers from 16 different groups helped to restore one hectare of native oyster reef in Corio Bay and test a new method for reef restoration. Premier’s Regional Recognition Award: Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Healthy Landscapes for Healthy Livestock project, which aims to build the capacity of local farmers to implement regenerative agriculture techniques to improve soil health, enhance biodiversity and boost resilience to a changing climate, resulting in 100% of participants changing land management practices. Clean, affordable, and secure energy: • Community Champion: Black Stump Technologies • Industry leader: Allume Energy Climate action • Community […]

Royal Wolf lifts club’s spirits

The surprise donation of a shipping container has thrilled a Queensland-based sporting club recovering from theft, vandalism and the ravages of Covid-19. In June 2020, Wynnum Wolves Football Club on Brisbane’s bayside was left devastated after thieves stole soccer equipment and recycled cans worth thousands of dollars. In November, tragedy struck again when vandals ruined new facilities worth more than $50,000. On hearing of the century-old club’s struggles, national shipping container company Royal Wolf stepped in, surprising club members with the donation of a shipping container to store and secure equipment for its community teams. The gesture represented a meeting of wolf packs – two similarly named organisations that value the contribution made by community groups at a grassroots level. Wynnum Wolves Football Club president, Rabieh Krayem, says the club was humbled to be singled out for the donation. He says the theft of 5000 recycling cans as well as valuable club equipment and the subsequent vandalism had been heartbreaking for club members, who volunteered hours of their free time to raise funds to improve club facilities, and to lower fees so more children could enjoy the sport. “Even the kids couldn’t work it out,” says Mr Krayem. “Why would someone come and steal our cans? I think it shocked the kids, but I also think it united the club and brought our members together and other people into the club. “I think when you’re part of a community, people will come. When you see the amount of kids here and the numbers growing, you know that this club means a lot more than just a football team. “It’s part of the community, part of the fabric of Wynnum.” Like many community groups across Australia, the Wynnum Wolves faced an uphill battle to maintain morale during the Covid-19 lockdown. Games […]

ILME MIXO pneumatic: at full air!

Treotham provides the new improved ILME MIXO modular system by adding new metal contacts for pneumatic connections. A step up for the winning MIXO series that guarantees better mechanical resistance and increased airflow for transmitting dry, compressed air in pneumatic systems. The metal pneumatic contacts: can now withstand a constant pressure of 10 bar; are available in straight and angled versions for different size plastic tubing: 3, 4, 6 mm, for both inner and outer diameter – ID and OD designation; are fully reusable after the assembly, using the given removal tool: a performance guaranteed up to 10,000 matings with HNM enclosures and MIXO frames. In a single MIXO module, two different pneumatic fitting techniques find their place meeting the user’s needs: quick push-in fitting for OD tubing (straight and angled versions) hose barbs fitting for ID tubing (straight version only) If needed, the female contact can be ordered with a retaining valve to avoid any airflow losses with the uncoupled connector. The ILME pneumatic series can be used side to side to all the MIXO series modules and inside all the ILME enclosures, especially with the high construction versions.

Rob Stummer, CEO Asia Pacific, SYSPRO AUS MN

“MOM’s” the word for manufacturers getting a competitive edge

By Rob Stummer, Asia Pacific CEO at SYSPRO The manufacturing sector is incredible with how almost two years into a ‘new normal’, a pandemic is not letting the industry reduce the productions of goods that the world demands. What has remained constant is the expectation that costs and waste stay minimal while the business functions efficiently. Without a doubt, manufacturing is a globally competitive industry that’s often responding to market supply and demands. The unpredictability of some market conditions can make it challenging for domestic manufacturers to often operate efficiently but there are solutions that can help business gain a competitive edge through better operational efficiencies. Most factories have a myriad of data sources that are often neither connected nor integrated. To harness the power of big data analytics and operational optimisation in manufacturing, it is critical to ensure interoperability between data sources. The issue is that from a data collection perspective, every machine can in theory generate megabytes of data that is often not used to its full potential. But what is the best way to improve operational efficiency in a manufacturing environment? Manufacturers should fully embrace connected and automated manufacturing by digitally transforming their operational processes, because connecting with machines to read real-time data without manual inputs will drive efficiency and transparency to manage operational performance better. The best way to achieve this is to ensure the intelligent interconnectivity between automation, digitisation and data analytics, which will drive transformative change within their operations and help them realise the promise of Industry 4.0. The changes this industrial revolution promises are profound and over the next decade, forward-thinking manufacturers will transform themselves through digital interconnectivity. Industry 4.0 is heralding a transformation in the manufacturing sector by facilitating new ways for humans and machines to work together and empowering manufacturers to achieve greater insights, reduce the risk of error and make better decisions. It encompasses three technological trends driving this transformation: interconnectivity, intelligence and automation. It converges […]

Funding growth of nano satellite technology -$26.4m round

·Fleet Space Technologies has secured $26.4m (USD) in investment, valuing the company at $126 million (USD). This represents a major step forward for Fleet Space Technologies, which is committed to creating the world’s most advanced low-power satellite network, securing planet-wide coverage for millions of compatible Internet of Things (IoT) devices by using its in-house Nanosatellite technology. The funding will underpin significant expansion in Fleet Space’s manufacturing footprint and will expand the company’s highly skilled workforce. The investment, which exceeded the initially targeted $25m (USD) is a clear endorsement of Fleet Space’s vision. The Australian start-up, co-founded by Flavia Tata Nardini and Matt Pearson, has created the most advanced smallsat payload yet delivered to orbit. These smallsat devices, roughly the size of a shoebox, generate ten times more throughput per kilo than larger spacecraft and will support radical new efficiencies for hundreds of industries using IoT. This will transform the ability of companies and institutions to manage and control their remote assets across the world and in real time, 24 hours a day, even in remote areas, where cellular connectivity is not available and where operations are critical. The investment also represents a firm commitment to Australia’s rapidly emerging space industry, which the Federal Government plans to grow to a $12 billion, ranking the sector among the nation’s fastest growing industries. Its expansion in the region will also create 70 jobs, including many highly desirable science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) positions in the first phase of growth. These roles not only secure a bright future for the country’s technical innovators and critical thinkers, but will support in making Australia a home for innovative solutions that drive positive change on a global scale. The International Data Corporation predicts that there will be more than 14 billion connected, low-power devices by 2025. To unlock the […]

Tyre ban starts 1 December

Australia’s ban on the export of whole baled waste tyres begins on 1 December and exporters requiring a licence to continue to export tyres overseas are encouraged to apply now. The export of waste tyres is banned except for: tyres that have been processed into crumbs, buffings, granules or shreds tyres that have been processed into fuel tyres exported for re-treading tyres that will be re-used on vehicles overseas. Acting Deputy Secretary, Environment Reforms, James Tregurtha, said that these types of tyres can be exported, but only when exporters are able to satisfy the requirements of the new regulation. “The Department does have strict criteria that apply to every export licence. “When tyres are exported for re-treading or reuse, suppliers must have evidence of a commercial relationship with an importer or with a verified re-treading facility. “All exporters must also pass a fit and proper person test and declare each consignment to the Department and Australian Border Force,” Mr Tregurtha said. Australia’s waste export ban is world-leading with Australia the only country to have banned the export of its unprocessed waste. Australia has already banned the export of unprocessed glass and mixed plastics. Unprocessed single polymer plastics to be banned from 1 July 2022; and paper and cardboard banned from 1 July 2024.Exporters wishing to apply for a licence should go to https://rawr.awe.gov.au/

Australian Hydrogen Council welcomes CEFC funding for hydrogen vehicles

The Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) has welcomed the landmark investment by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) of up to $12.5 million to help Queensland-based AHC member Ark Energy Corporation to produce green hydrogen to power fuel cell electric trucks. Dr Fiona Simon, CEO of the Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) says “We are delighted to see this funding from the CEFC through the Advancing Hydrogen Fund to support hydrogen production, refuelling infrastructure and five zero emissions trucks. “Queensland has chased the hydrogen opportunity with gusto, and this is just another example of Queensland delivering on its ambition to develop a world-leading hydrogen industry. “In the AHC’s recent whitepaper, we called for a Net Zero Fund to assist specific applications that are more dependent on hydrogen for decarbonisation like heavy transport. “The Australian Hydrogen Council sees the trials of hydrogen fuel cell buses and trucks as an immediate priority, given the need to procure vehicles. “We have an enormous opportunity in Australia to create a vibrant hydrogen industry, both for domestic use and export but taking up hydrogen won’t happen without buy-in, funding, co-ordination and the right policy settings from governments. “An acceleration of government policy can get the nation to net zero faster, and it can leverage the incredible resources already being invested by other states and corporations. “ “In the AHC’s recent whitepaper, we called for a Net Zero Fund to assist specific applications that are more dependent on hydrogen for decarbonisation like heavy transport. “The Australian Hydrogen Council sees the trials of hydrogen fuel cell buses and trucks as an immediate priority, given the need to procure vehicles. “We have an enormous opportunity in Australia to create a vibrant hydrogen industry, both for domestic use and export but taking up hydrogen won’t happen without buy-in, funding, co-ordination and […]

SYSPRO delivers more with new ERP software

SYSPRO, a leading global provider of ERP software, has announced the release of SYSPRO R2 2021 which includes industry-built capabilities aimed at assisting manufacturers and distributors to improve control of internal operations, increase self-service and flexibility across the supply chain and provide better insights and intelligence for improved decision-making. “There is no doubt that the pandemic impacted the way that manufacturing and distribution businesses operate. It altered the way that the industry interacts with suppliers and customers, consumer preferences shifted and the workplace as we knew it forever changed. As a result, businesses have needed to re-align with the ‘new normal’,” said Paulo De Matos, Chief Product Officer at SYSPRO (pictured). “With those key considerations top of mind, we looked at incorporating solutions into our roadmap that would allow our customers to not only focus on improving efficiencies across internal operations, but also to help the industry to connect our customers to their suppliers and customers far more effectively and securely. “There is also an appreciation that businesses are expanding – into new geographies as well as into new territories and many are looking for consolidated systems, and central information and intelligence.” A few highlights of the latest release include: Improved control of internal operations A challenge faced by customers has been the growing demand for next-day deliveries. Especially during the pandemic, the industry needed efficient processes and logistical solutions to ship orders quickly to compete in the market. To address this, SYSPRO has introduced new inventory control capabilities for businesses to have accurate control over the stocking process. Warehouse operators will be able to leverage the functionality using a mobile device, which in turn saves time. Improving flexibility and connectivity across the supply chain Manufacturers and distributors have started to see the importance of continuous engagement with an ecosystem of suppliers and […]

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News Ticker

November 2021