Business

Manufacturing needs to embrace the tech revolution to hire the next best talent

-Zac Duff, JigSpace Australian manufacturers are scrambling to sure-up their most precious resource: their people. With historically low unemployment rates and a competitive labour market, 90% of CEOs across all industries expect to be affected by staff shortages in 2023[1], and manufacturing is a sector particularly impacted by people pressures. While other sectors such as technology, retail, professional services and engineering remain appealing to a younger demographic, manufacturing is sometimes seen as a less attractive proposition. That fear largely revolves around machine-heavy roles, out of date processes and “we’ve always done it this way” mentalities. Zac Duff, Jig Space But with Millennials now the largest generational workforce group in the country, the onus is on manufacturers to embrace change and build an innovation-led culture where digital natives see a clear pathway for development, opportunities and progression. A recent report from PWC said millennials are set to make up 75% of the workforce by 2025, and are a crucial lynchpin to a business’ future success[2]. Gen Y and Gen Z embrace the idea of applying technology as a solution to problems and being open to adaptation, and they’re put off by old school tools and approaches. Getting comfortable with discomfort The truth is, new technologies can be intimidating. When you’re operating large-scale facilities, rolling out changes company-wide can be daunting, and getting buy-in from senior decision makers isn’t always easy. But if we want to make our manufacturing facilities fit for purpose and futureproof, we need to get more comfortable with stepping into the unknown. Rather than thinking of technology implementation as a looming headache, look for solutions that are user-friendly, solve a smaller problem, and are easy to implement. Tools such as Zoom were unheard of just a few years ago, but now they’re widely embedded, with very little friction […]

Energy network must evolve to incorporate renewables more effectively

Australia faces an energy paradox as the country pursues its net zero targets. The Federal Government has enshrined into law an emissions reduction target of 43 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. This is a significant target, one that industry estimates will require 6 GW of new renewable energy and storage each year. However, the current network is struggling to handle renewable energy fed to the grid, especially from wind and solar farms. A recent study by Australian National University found that solar is the worst affected, with almost double the curtailments compared to wind energy, despite having a smaller installed capacity. This puts the country’s net zero targets under pressure as network congestion is causing large volumes of cheap renewable energy to be curtailed, meaning Australia has an “overgeneration” problem when it comes to renewables, particularly solar. This may lead to financial losses for clean energy generators and make investment in future projects a risky prospect. Regulators face a myriad of challenges in managing a centralised grid – challenges ranging from power outages, modernisation, cybersecurity, demand management and transmission losses. Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) estimates that around 10% of the electricity leaving an Australian power station never reaches consumers, which adds to the end consumers’ costs as this lost energy must still be paid for. Grid tariffs are also a concern as they may slow down the country’s path to net zero as renewable energy generators are saddled with legacy grid costs. Grid tariffs are currently based on amortising 25-year investments in national transmission cost. However, renewable energy sources can function cost effectively at the local level using microgrids, which are being implemented across Australia. Kalbarri in WA is now powered by a 100% renewable energy-intelligent microgrid with wind energy, solar […]

SmartSat unveils terminal for faster, safer military communications

SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), Australia’s leading space research centre, has unveiled the Compact Hybrid Optical-RF User Segment (CHORUS) prototype terminal to create more stable and secured military satellite communications at the 15th Australian Space Forum. Funded by SmartSat CRC, the world-leading technology embedded in this prototype has been entirely developed in Australia by the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), and industry and academic partners, EOS Space Systems and EM Solutions, Lyrebird Antenna Research, Shoal Group, Australian National University and University of South Australia, following three years of research. Satellite optical communications links offer significantly higher data rates and a lower interception probability than standard civilian and military radio frequency (RF) satellite communications, which are vulnerable to electronic warfare, such as jamming, geo-location and interception. CHORUS aims to address the several limitations of satellite-based optical communications technology and open viable commercialisation pathways for new SATCOM capabilities. The new CHORUS Terminal is a hybrid optical/RF system, integrating an RF antenna and an optical telescope into a system called the AntennaScope™. This ensures users have reliable communications all the time and much higher data rates when optical communication is possible. A recent VIP demonstration day at the Department of Defence Edinburgh base showcased the successful completion of testing and marked the practical conclusion of the two phases of the SmartSat CRC co-funded project. The unveiling of the CHORUS Terminal at the Australian Space Forum is the first opportunity for the space community to see the prototype and discuss its capabilities and potential commercial pathways with members of the R&D project team. The project drew on impressive efforts by DSTG to support testing at their LASER range, including designing and building a ‘pseudo-satellite’ to prove the hybrid RF-Optical aperture worked as designed. The availability of an EM Solutions provided Cobra maritime SATCOM terminal* […]

New CSIRO research explores influence of coal seam gas activity on human health

New research has been released into the potential for coal seam gas (CSG) activity in Queensland to affect human health. A 2,150 square kilometres study site in the Surat Basin, Queensland, was selected and factors that could lead to potential hazards such as chemicals, air emissions, noise, light and dust associated with CSG activities were identified and appraised. Existing data related to these factors was screened to determine whether any factors would require in-depth assessment. While the study found that for the majority of factors there was no plausible pathway to impact human health, it determined further in-depth assessment of a small number of identified factors was required. As a result, two new CSIRO research projects are now underway and will conduct further in-depth studies focussing on eight groups of chemical factors. The research, undertaken by CSIRO and The University of Queensland, was governed through CSIRO’s Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA). GISERA is an alliance led by CSIRO and is a collaboration between CSIRO, commonwealth, state and territory governments and industry with the purpose of working with the community to undertake research about the potential or actual impacts of gas development, across major environmental and socio-economic topics. The study was funded primarily by the Queensland (59 per cent) and Federal Governments (21 per cent) and CSIRO (18 per cent). GISERA industry partners APLNG and QGC each provided one per cent in funding and also made available operational data. CSIRO Energy Resources Research Director and GISERA Director Dr Damian Barrett said the study provided forensic information about the potential hazards to affect human health from CSG activities in the Surat Basin. “The value of this exhaustive study is that it provides certainty about where we need to focus further research,” Dr Barrett said. “By ruling out factors of […]

Rockwell Automation partner for OZ West Musgrave Project

Sustainably mining the in-demand minerals for Electric Vehicle (EV) and battery production Rockwell Automation will be the automation partner for OZ Minerals’ West Musgrave copper-nickel project. The company will supply control systems including its PlantPAx distributed control system, and advanced control and information management systems. OZ Minerals specialises in extracting minerals important for a low carbon future. The West Musgrave Project is a greenfield copper and nickel project located in the remote Ngaanyatjarra Aboriginal Lands of central Western Australia near the intersection of the borders of Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. Production is expected to commence in the second half of 2025. Energy transition minerals like copper and nickel are in high demand globally as the world moves into the de-carbonisation and electrification era. Once operational, West Musgrave is expected to be one of the world’s largest copper and nickel projects. It will also be one of the largest fully off-grid, hybrid renewable powered mines in the world. Initially 80% of its energy will be sourced from renewable wind and solar and there are plans to transition to an electric haulage fleet in the future. Rockwell Automation’s Control Systems will be installed throughout the West Musgrave Minerals Processing Plant to provide an integrated solution for the control and monitoring of the processing plant’s equipment and processes. The systems will be used to control and monitor the mine’s ore processing plant. “Modern minerals producers like OZ Minerals are looking to minimise their carbon footprints by using renewable energy, electrifying their fleets, and working with technology providers like Rockwell Automation to be more productive and more sustainable. We are honored to be working with them on this globally important project,” said Rockwell Automation’s regional director for the South Pacific region, Anthony Wong. Rockwell Automation works with miners and manufacturers […]

Premier’s Sustainability Awards – call for sustainability success stories

Sustainability Victoria is calling on manufacturers to showcase their sustainability success stories by entering this year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards. The influential awards program has been celebrating sustainability for 21 years, unearthing remarkable advancements and achievements along the way. At last year’s awards, packaging made from mushroom mycelium and the revegetation of land in Euroa received the two Premier’s Recognition Awards, demonstrating the diversity of entries in this long-standing program. The Premier’s Sustainability Awards features six categories aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) – a globally accepted, robust and comprehensive sustainability framework. Two awards within each of the six categories will be presented: the Community Champion Award for individuals and small organisations, and the Industry Leader Award for medium and large organisations. In addition, the Premier will select two overall winners to be presented at the award ceremony: The Premier’s Recognition Award, a stand-out submission from the 12 award winners, and The Premier’s Regional Recognition Award, a stand-out regional organisation/project from all qualifying finalists. These two awards cannot be entered. Sustainability Victoria’s Interim CEO Matt Genever said: “Now more than ever is the time to showcase Victoria’s sustainability success stories so we can learn from each other, share this knowledge and bring about greater change collectively. “The Premier’s Sustainability Awards provides the platform to acknowledge the tremendous work going on right across the state and I look forward to celebrating the achievements of the many organisations, community groups and individuals leading the way to a sustainable future.” Entries for the Premier’s Sustainability Awards close on Friday 30 June 2023 at 5pm. The judging panel will include a broad range of independent environmental experts selected for their sustainability and industry expertise. Visit Premier’s Sustainability Awards – call for sustainability success stories http://www.sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au for further information.

PCI Pharma Services announces new sterile fill-finish capabilities

New equipment added to Melbourne and San Diego facilities will help with clinical scale and globa global capacity shortages PCI Pharma Services (PCI), a leading global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), has announced the operational launch of three new state-of-the-art automated sterile fill-finish machines at its Melbourne and San Diego facilities. “As the capacity for CDMOs worldwide to take on new projects shrinks, we’re excited to be able to offer integrated sterile fill-finish capabilities, alongside our clinical packaging facilities, to new and existing clients in Melbourne and San Diego,” said Brad Payne, Chief Operating Officer, PCI Pharma Services. “Our increased capacity, stockpile of standardised components, including glass, and technical expertise means we can start running batches as soon as needed. This will cut down on the wait times many local biotech and pharmaceutical companies are facing and begin to help alleviate the global capacity shortage for sterile drug product and downstream packaging.” The new innovative machinery from Cytiva can be used to fill various sterile medications into vials and syringes for small-to-mid scale client needs. The equipment, paired with PCI’s end-to-end services, accelerates company’s drug proof of concept studies, and drastically decreases the average turnaround time from proposal signing to the injectable product’s distribution. The Microcell Vial Filler at Melbourne further enhances the early-stage services offered and brings additional capacity to Australia—the world’s leading Phase I environment. These advanced machines expedite the filling process with automation and remove the need for human intervention in a sterile environment, creating compliance advantages over standard equipment. Additionally, the Microcell Vial Filler and SA25 Aseptic Filling Workcell at PCI’s San Diego facility ensures the delivery of medicines from phase I through phase III, supporting local and global Clinical client needs. “There are less barriers to entry to start a clinical trial in Australia, as […]