Doug Green

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Australian manufacturer develops cutting edge tool for underwater recovery

The custom recovery jaws will assist HEART with underwater recovery missions. Blueprint Lab, an Australian robotics manufacturer, has developed custom jaws for their Alpha robotic arm which will allow for greater grip on fabric when resurfacing underwater drowning victims. This tool was developed for the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Rescue Team (HEART). HEART are a volunteer group of certified divers from Manitoba, Canada who specialise in emergency water search, rescue and recovery. Using a combination of highly-skilled human divers and specialised technology, they are able to recover victims of tragic drowning accidents from the waterways of their region, including arctic underwater environments. The HEART operators have been using Blueprint Lab’s Reach Alpha subsea robotic grabber to assist them in recovery missions but were having trouble with the intense grip stability required to resurface deceased victims. They got creative and temporarily installed a makeshift DIY nail modification to their grabber in the short term, and then approached Blueprint Lab for an engineered solution. Blueprint Lab’s engineering team began developing and testing a grabber upgrade that would fulfil these specific task requirements, resulting in a new tool specialised for Search and Recovery – the Reach Alpha Special Recovery Tool. As well as looking the part, the Special Recovery Tool is strong, sturdy, and sharp making it an effective solution for HEART’s requirements. The Blueprint Lab team are thrilled to have worked with HEART to ensure their continued mission success. Always keen to rise to the operational challenges faced by partners and customers no matter how unique or challenging. “Here at HEART Team we use the Blueprint Lab manipulator on our VideoRay Pro 5 ROV for body recoveries. We had an opportunity to speak with the folks from Blueprint Lab about our work and the need for a grabber that is more suitable […]

Time for change

Australia is the world’s largest producer of bauxite — the ore that is chemically processed to produce alumina — and has numerous aluminium refineries and smelters across the country. Australia’s dependence on aluminium is evident in all areas of infrastructure — even windows and doors. However, the high energy costs of aluminium smelters are driving the market towards new materials.. Since the first aluminium smelter opened in Tasmania in 1955, the aluminium industry has been a key contributor to the Australian economy. As of 2018, the industry produced 96 million tons of aluminium bauxite. While the volume of aluminium offers opportunities for a range of sectors and products, its production is carbon emitting. Reducing emissions from aluminium production is a challenge of its own but replacing some of its uses with composites can help create more sustainable buildings. Composites such as fibreglass are already used in building applications such as roof, wall and floor insulation — though composite windows and doors are still a rare sight in Australia. Thermal insulation Summer temperatures frequently reach 40 degrees Celsius, so air conditioning is a vital system to help keep buildings cool. In fact, it’s thought that 49 per cent of Australians have some form of air conditioning unit in their homes. However, air conditioning requires a lot of power to run. The average central air conditioning unit uses 3,000 to 5,000 watts of power for nine hours of cooling a day. According to Australian electricity provider Blue NRG, ten per cent of the world’s energy use is spent on air conditioning. A typical home loses around 40 per cent of its energy through windows and doors. If a building’s entry and exit points are not thermally efficient, all that cool air risks — quite literally — going out the door. Aluminium is a […]

A little ray of sunshine as 2021 economic survey points to brighter times ahead

Peter MartinVisiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Suddenly, economic forecasters are optimistic. Six months ago the forecasting team assembled by The Conversation was expecting Australia’s recession to continue into 2021, sending the economy backwards a further 4.6% throughout the year. This morning, in the survey prepared ahead of the Reserve Bank board’s first meeting for the year and an address by the Reserve Bank governor to the National Press Club on Wednesday, the same forecasting team is upbeat. It expects the recovery that began in the September quarter of last year to continue, propelling the economy forward by a larger than normal 3.2% throughout 2021, with growth slowing to more sedate 2.1% per year by the middle of the decade, still well above than dismal 1.7% per year expected six months ago. The unemployment rate is now expected to remain near its present 6.6% throughout 2021, instead of soaring to almost 10% as expected six months ago. But improvement in the unemployment rate is expected to be slow, and as house prices and share market prices climb, most of the panel expect the Reserve Bank to lose its patience and begin to lift interest rates from their emergency lows before the end of next year, ahead of its published schedule. The 21-person forecasting panel includes university-based macroeconomists, economic modellers, former Treasury, IMF, OECD, Reserve Bank and financial market economists, and a former member of the Reserve Bank board. Economic growth Only two of the panel expect the economy to shrink further in 2021. The rest expect the economy to grow, two of the panel by at least 5%, something that isn’t out of the question given that the economy shrank by 7% during the worst three months of the 2020 coronavirus restrictions and clawed back only 3.3% in the three months that followed. Panellist […]

Swisslog and Linfox automation solution recognised by SCLAA

Swisslog’s AutoStore is a space-saving storage and order picking system for small parts The outstanding efficiency and reliability of Swisslog’s AutoStore installation for logistics leader Linfox has been recognised by Australia’s peak supply chain management body, the Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA). Swisslog’s compact and secure AutoStore goods-to-person automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS), installed at Linfox’s new consumer products facility in western Sydney, received Highly Commended in the Best Supply Chain Management category of SCLAA’s annual awards. The ultra-high density AutoStore system accommodates more than 20,000 bins of high value product served by 45 robot wheeled bins in an automatic storage and rapid despatch system occupying a floor footprint of just 700 sq m. AutoStore fast facts Compared with conventional non-automated warehousing, AutoStore systems offer: A 50% increase in picking speed A 60% reduction in inventory storage footprint Inventory record accuracy of more than 99.9%. Faster turnaround times More secure storage (which is important for certain medical or surgical supplies) Easily expandable system Goods-to-person technology – eliminates opportunity for error Flexible design – fits into any existing warehouse Multi-tasking – goods can be simultaneously picked and stocked at the same time Self-optimising – high-frequency bins are automatically organised to expedite picking Controlled access – access to bins is only from ports, reducing product loss Built-in redundancy – each unit and robot operates independently

Cutting edge tool for underwater recovery developed

Blueprint Lab, an Australian robotics manufacturer, has developed custom jaws for their Alpha robotic arm which will allow for greater grip on fabric when resurfacing underwater drowning victims. This tool was developed for the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Rescue Team (HEART). HEART are a volunteer group of certified divers from Manitoba, Canada who specialise in emergency water search, rescue and recovery. Using a combination of highly-skilled human divers and specialised technology, they are able to recover victims of tragic drowning accidents from the waterways of their region, including arctic underwater environments. The HEART operators have been using Blueprint Lab’s Reach Alpha subsea robotic grabber to assist them in recovery missions but were having trouble with the intense grip stability required to resurface deceased victims. They got creative and temporarily installed a makeshift DIY nail modification to their grabber in the short term, and then approached Blueprint Lab for an engineered solution. Blueprint Lab’s engineering team began developing and testing a grabber upgrade that would fulfil these specific task requirements, resulting in a new tool specialised for Search and Recovery – the Reach Alpha Special Recovery Tool. As well as looking the part, the Special Recovery Tool is strong, sturdy, and sharp making it an effective solution for HEART’s requirements. The Blueprint Lab team are thrilled to have worked with HEART to ensure their continued mission success. Always keen to rise to the operational challenges faced by partners and customers no matter how unique or challenging. “Here at HEART Team we use the Blueprint Lab manipulator on our VideoRay Pro 5 ROV for body recoveries. We had an opportunity to speak with the folks from Blueprint Lab about our work and the need for a grabber that is more suitable for taking hold of fabric during recoveries without pulling free. They […]

Digilin celebrates 40 years

The Australian lighting and controls manufacturer is celebrating four decades since its founding with a refresh to its brand image and new website. Digilin has manufactured LED, lighting control and fibre optic products for some of the country’s most iconic landmarks, such as the Melbourne Arts Centre Spire, the Adelaide Convention Centre and Brisbane’s Kingsford Smith Drive. “As an engineering and technology focused company, we’ve generally let our product’s performance do the talking for us, however, moving forward we feel it’s also important that our image reflects well on our work and supports our partners”, said Tremaine Wrigley, Digilin’s GM, in a statement. Tremaine says that by stating that “despite the visual changes to our brand, our core values and commitment to manufacturing world-class lighting and control technologies right here in Australia remains the same.” Digilin has always embraced the benefits and challenges of onshore manufacturing, opting to support its client base with Australian made innovations and local support. Digilin expresses confidence in its approach and continues to invest in the latest engineering and production equipment for the new facility it moved to in 2019. The company is optimistic about the future of Australian manufacturing and has several new products scheduled for release this year. Digilin is an Australian designer and manufacturer of innovative lighting and control products that deliver superior performance, reliability and efficiency. Founded in 1980, the company’s first lighting systems were signalling systems designed for Queensland Rail. It went on to develop some of the first LED and fibre optic lighting products made in Australia and has continued at the forefront of the industry ever since. Digilin’s website is available at www.digilin.com.au.

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Coal is passé in much of China

Australian coal exports to China plummeted last year. While this is due in part to recent trade tensions between Australia and China, our research suggests coal plant closures are a bigger threat to Australia’s export coal in the long term. China unofficially banned Australian coal in mid-2020. Some 70 ships carrying Australian coal have reportedly been unable to unload in China since October. This is obviously bad news for Australia’s coal exporters. But even if the ban is lifted, there’s no guarantee China will start buying Australian coal again – at least not in huge volumes. China is changing. It’s announced a firm date to reach net-zero emissions, and governments in eastern provinces don’t want polluting coal plants taking up prime real estate. It’s time Australia faced reality, and reconsidered its coal export future. First, the coal ban In May last year, China’s government effectively banned the import of Australian coal, by applying stringent import quotas. As of last month coal exports to China from Newcastle, Australia’s busiest coal exporting port, had ceased. In 2019, Australia exported A$13.7 billion worth of coal to China. This comprised A$9.7 billion in metallurgical coal for steel making and A$4 billion in thermal coal for electricity generation. The latest official Australian data shows these export levels fell dramatically between November 2019 and November 2020. Comparing the two months, metallurgical and thermal coal exports to China were down 85% and 83% respectively. Several Chinese provinces experienced power blackouts in late 2020. China’s state-backed media said the shortages were unrelated to the ban on Australian coal. Instead, they blamed cold weather and the recovery in industrial activity after the pandemic. We dispute this claim. While Australian coal accounts for only about 2% of coal consumption in China, it helps maintain reliable supply for many power stations in China’s southeast coastal provinces. Coal mining in China mostly occurs in the western […]

Mulcahy signs with Epicor to build digital manufacturing platform and turbocharge growth

One of New Zealand’s leading metal manufacturers, has signed a $1 million dollar deal with Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth. The deal will see Epicor deliver a modern end-to-end digital manufacturing platform, allowing Mulcahy to further its digital transformation and be a leading adopter of Industry 4.0 technologies. Mulcahy is one of the country’s largest fabricated metals manufacturing company, partnering with clients in the food and dairy, materials handling, original equipment manufacturing, agriculture, horticulture, and architecture industries. From design to production, Mulcahy partners with product leadership companies helping turn their ideas and intellectual property into a reality, acting as a one-stop manufacturing partner. Innovative technologies from Epicor, which are already helping manufacturers around the world streamline their business processes and break down barriers to growth, will deliver an end-to-end manufacturing platform for Mulcahy to automate its business processes and truly embrace the benefits of the fourth industrial revolution. The solution will provide much greater visibility and traceability – from organisation wide capacity planning and scheduling, job tracking throughout the facility to scheduling machine total productive maintenance (TPM) – helping the organisation gain efficiencies. The Auckland-based, family-owned business, which celebrates 40 years this year, has grown from a small facility with five employees in Gleneden, to a 6,000 square metre plant in Avondale and a team of 140. Ongoing investment in technology is a key part of Mulcahy’s strategy, having invested in state-of-the-art machinery and boosted data capabilities to optimise business operations over the years. However, disparate legacy systems to manage finance, payroll and CAD capabilities developed over the past 20 years are limiting Mulcahy’s ability to gather consolidated data into its SQL database and draw actionable analytics from its connected machinery. With ambitious plans to double […]

Indigenous WA business a formidable force in PPE supply chain

In the picture: Tim Bray (Nextsite) Matt Rear (Spinifex Protect) Jonathan Shih (Nextsite) Adam Barnard (Spinifex Protect). Spinifex Protect is a majority Aboriginal owned business established as part of the response to the Prime Ministers “Call to Arms” for Australian manufacturing with relevant capabilities to join the fight against COVID 19. During the peak COVID 19 period, Spinifex Protect was formed as a joint venture between Spinifex Brewing Company (Majority owned by Rivergum Aboriginal Corporation) and Limestone Coast Brewing. Pivoting immediately Spinifex Protect was able to supply significant quantities of Hand Sanitiser and in July 2020 completed what has now become the largest ethanol manufacturing plant in Western Australia with capacity approaching 50,000 litres per week. “Following months of negotiations Spinifex Protect are pleased to announce today the launch of our latest project entering the supply chain for the provision of the full range of PPE for the Resources, Hospitality and Medical/Aged Care sectors says Rivergum Aboriginal Corporation Chairman and Yamatji man Mick Little” Powered by Nextsite, Spinifex Protect PPE has partnered with major brands such as Mongrel Boots (Aussie born and Bred) Blundstone, FXD, CAT, Bisley Workwear and Typhoon Tools. For further information including launch capability statement for the resources sector visit www.spinifexprotect.com.au

AUSPACK 2021 postponed, relocating to Melbourne May 2022

After careful consideration, the APPMA Board has made the difficult decision to postpone AUSPACK 2021 in Sydney, and re-schedule the next event for Melbourne 2022. Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) Chairman Mark Dingley said, “With an event of this scale and significance, the most important factors in our decision were if we held the event in 2021, the uncertainty around protecting the health and safety of our industry community when it comes together, and preserving the experience and value that exhibitors and visitors alike receive from attending an event the calibre of AUSPACK. “This exhibition is known for the depth of products and services on the show floor, and the unique networking opportunities available from the many events held around the show. With the continuing uncertainty around domestic state-border openings, and the very likely reality that international flights will not be allowed until the second half of 2021, we felt we could not deliver this experience to the same high standards as previously. Moving the event to 2022 was, therefore, the right thing to do from the perspective of human health and the financial and marketing value that exhibiting businesses would receive.” Mr Dingley said the APPMA Board did not want to add to the congestion created by other commercially focused exhibitions moving dates from 2020 to mid-2021. “It’s not really ideal for the industry to have a slew of shows held so closely together, and we believe the value to exhibitors and visitors will be vastly reduced. As an industry-based association, the APPMA believes moving AUSPACK to a later ‘quieter’ date provides the best outcome for industry, including the best financial ROI for exhibitors and visitors.” Jon Perry, Event Director with organiser Exhibitions & Trade Fairs, said, “The last edition of AUSPACK in 2019 at the Melbourne […]

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Doug Green

About Doug Green

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