Business

Australia Post’s worst nightmare: Christine Holgate to head delivery rival Global Express

“This is the one thing we didn’t want to happen.” That line – from the satirical British current affairs television program BrassEye – could easily be reverberating through federal government offices this week. Yesterday the news dropped that Christine Holgate, the Australia Post chief executive pushed so roughly from her job by the Morrison government, has a new job with a rival delivery company. Holgate resigned last November, after Prime Mnister Scott Morrison told parliament she been told to stand aside over the “optics” of rewarding four senior managers with luxury watches, worth about $20,000 – and “if she doesn’t wish to do that, she can go”. Now Holgate has gone to a new role as chief executive of parcel-delivery competitor Global Express. Her appointment, just a week after the expiry of her non-compete clause with Australia Post, is a gift for the new owners of Global Express, a former division of well-known Australian transport company Toll Holdings that has been struggling to find profitability. If anyone can help turn around Global Express’s fortunes in Australia’s parcel-delivery market, Holgate can. Doing so will cost Australia Post, and Australian taxpayers. A direct competitor Until last month Global Express was one of three divisions of Toll Group, the Australian transport company that began in Newcastle in 1888. Its business has involved express parcel, freight delivery and domestic forwarding services in Australia, and transport and contract logistics services in New Zealand. Toll Group was taken over in 2015 by Japan Post Holdings, the publicly traded company that runs Japan’s postal service. The acquisition was part of Japan Post’s strategy to diversify into global parcel deliveries. It proved less successful than the owner hoped, however, and in April the sale of Global Express to Australian private equity company Allegro Funds was announced. Private equity firms have a reputation for quickly […]

New chainflex series saves 35% cable costs in top drives

From Treotham is the igus developed e-loop, especially for hanging installations in extremely challenging applications, such as deep drilling rigs. The robust energy chain system safely guides cables vertically and is already replacing more and more service loops worldwide. With the new CFSPECIAL.5 series, there is now also the matching igus cable range for the e-loop. A combination of seven chainflex cables makes cost savings of 35% possible. To guide cables safely in hanging applications and harsh environments, igus has developed the e-loop as an alternative to the frequently used service loop. This is because in a service loop the cables have no guide and no defined bend radius, they cannot move and break. When servicing or repairing, the complete system must be replaced. As an extremely resilient three-dimensional energy supply system, the e-loop combines the advantages of a polymer energy chain with a high-strength pull rope. The rope absorbs the tensile forces inside the chain and transmits them to the mounting brackets. The modular e-chain has a defined bend radius and withstands vibrations and shocks thanks to PU protectors – ideal for use in drilling rigs or bucket wheel excavators. To match the e-loop, igus now presents the CFSPECIAL.5 cable series. Chain, cable, guarantee, assembly: everything from one source The cable package for the e-loop is available from Treotham and consists of seven different types of cable: three single-core cables of different cross sections, a protective conductor, two data cables and a hybrid cable. The selection is based on the current Top Drive systems on the market and is continuously adapted. All chainflex cables are available without minimum order quantity. Due to the availability as a catalogue part, the usual lengthy and expensive individual production is no longer necessary. With the igus complete package consisting of chain, cable, harnessing […]

Space startup Quasar to revolutionise space communication

Australian space startup Quasar Satellite Technologies is set to revolutionise space communication, allowing ground stations to talk to hundreds of satellites at once using technology developed by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. Over the next decade, more than 57,000 satellites will be launched worldwide to support a surge in demand for space-derived data, from environmental monitoring such as bushfires and floods, to connecting to sensors on ‘Internet of Things’ networks. However, with present-day ground stations typically tracking one satellite at a time, heavy congestion is expected to limit the potential of satellites and the downstream industries they support. Launched today, Quasar is backed by $12 million in funding, technology and industry expertise from CSIRO, Main Sequence, the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, and Australian companies Vocus, Saber Astronautics, Fleet Space Technologies, and Clearbox Systems. Quasar will look to capitalise on the US$130 billion satellite ground communications market, using technology developed by CSIRO for radio telescopes like its own ASKAP telescope in Western Australia. CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said after helping receive images of humans on the Moon fifty years ago, the commercialisation of this breakthrough research would now help put more Australians into new jobs in the growing space industry. “CSIRO has been a leader in radio astronomy and spacecraft communications for more than 60 years, from supporting the Moon landing in 1969 to inventing and delivering the phased-array feeds in Australia’s newest radio telescope, ASKAP in Western Australia,” Dr Marshall said. “CSIRO’s technology breakthrough enabled the world to connect without wires using fast WiFi, and now our technology will help connect satellites using our breakthrough phased array technology.” Quasar CEO Phil Ridley, a telecommunications veteran behind some of Australia’s pioneering internet services like BigPond and Vividwireless, said the technology would enable new satellite-based business […]

Circular Economy Awards launched in Australia & New Zealand

A new awards program, The Circle Awards, will celebrate and unite the businesses, organisations, projects and people shaping the circular economy in Australia and New Zealand. Established by The World’s Most Rubbish (TWMR) in partnership with NSW Circular, TheBravery, and Urban List, The Circle Awards aims to spotlight products and services adopting circular practices that span all aspects of our day-to-day lives. It also aims to grow awareness of the sustainable options available to more people, not just the ones who are already looking for them. In contrast to our current ‘take-make-waste’ linear model, a circular economy is regenerative by design. It’s about rethinking the entire approach in order to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems. Keeping resources in use for longer, and in a perpetual loop, or circle, reduces environmental impact and protects precious natural resources. Nick Hoskin, Co-Founder of TWMR and The Circle Awards said, “Many consumers andbrands are already contributing towards a more circular world, sometimes without realising it. “While we’re hearing the term ‘circularity’ or the ‘circular economy’ more than ever, the understanding of what this means, both in theory and practice, is limited. “The Circle Awards showcases tangible examples of circularity in action, demonstrating to people that we can consume more consciously without compromising on quality, cost or experience. In fact, circular design thinking is behind some of the most interesting products and services on the market as a driving force for innovation. “The result can be a far superior experience because every aspect in the process has been carefully considered to deliver the best possible outcome,” explained Nick. Importantly, The Circle Awards is here to recognise and celebrate those making progress in this space, not just those doing it perfectly or on a large scale, […]

Fleet Space Technologies applies for a Federal MMI grant to build 50 nanosatellites a year

Adelaide satellite manufacturer Fleet Space Technologies has applied for a $5 Million Federal government Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) grant so that it can jump from building three hand-built nanosatellites a year to mass-producing 50. Additional support from the South Australian government will supplement nearly $4 Million the company is raising itself. If the grant application is successful, Fleet Space will become a major satellite manufacturing hub and increase its payroll from 31 staff today to 128 by 2024, says its CEO and co-founder Ms Flavia Tata Nardini. Most of the new employees will be engineers and specialist satellite assembly technicians. Fleet Space has spent $12 Million since 2015 on R&D to develop the world’s most advanced beam-steering antenna and to miniaturise its satellites’ communications payload. These make it possible to deliver its Nebula space-based data network using a 10kg nanosatellite where previously this level of connectivity was only possible with a 100kg satellite. The company, which has already launched four nanosatellites, has applied for a $5 million grant under the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources’ Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) to help it make the jump. Fleet Space plans to build a new factory with more than double the space for R&D and manufacturing and has partnered with the University of Adelaide’s Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing, local company Redarc Electronics, Hawker Richardson in Melbourne and NSW-based Lintek to build the industrial capability to manufacture these nanosatellites in Australia. The Nebula service for utilities, mining and energy companies uses satellites to connect sensors monitoring critical infrastructure such as remote mine sites, alternative energy sites, gas pipelines and rurally dispersed electricity pylons with central base stations, 24 hours a day. This also allows operators to conduct geological surveys and operate unmanned vehicles such as drones remotely from a proper […]

BusTech Group electric bus producer

BusTech Group is already running a number of its hybrid buses on the public transport network in Adelaide. Co-located with sister company Brabham Automotive in Adelaide, South Australia, BusTech Group is gearing up to produce at least 60 electric buses for the NSW Government over the next 18 months after its recent inclusion on a list of approved electric bus suppliers. It also has orders for electric buses in Queensland, which it aims to start delivering in the second half of this year. BusTech says it is the only Australian bus company locally manufacturing zero-emission buses for the NSW market. Its 12.5-metre ZDi electric bus has been designed, engineered and will be built in Australia. The all-electric buses aimed at the NSW market will use a Proterra battery pack and drivetrain following a partnership with the US company. Owned by South Australia-based Fusion Capital, which also owns Brabham Automotive, the company rebranded as BusTech Group in December following the purchase of Queensland-based Bustech by its Edinburgh-based Precision Buses in 2019. BusTech Group executive chairman Christian Reynolds said the two bus manufacturers first collaborated under a licensing agreement back in 2017. “We could see the opportunity to take more of a leading position within the bus space so we worked through a transaction to acquire Queensland-based business Bustech to look at more of a national manufacturing and supplier footprint,” he said. “Fusion Capital saw the opportunity from the closure of Holden to bring together Tier 1 supply capability to basically look at how we could create a business from the stalled capacity within the vehicle space and that’s what has allowed us to move quite quickly. “We went from four vehicles built in 2016 to a run rate now where we are building between 250 and 300 a year.” The company […]

Why choose local manufacturing?

The case for local manufacturing has never been stronger. While some SMEs do, of course, benefit from regular contracts outside of their own back yard, for many the income from local trade is what keeps them afloat. This holds as true for B2B as it does for B2C. In fact, for small and medium sized businesses, choosing local manufacturing options, while perhaps a little more expensive in the short term, brings about many advantages. The case for staying local The Australian manufacturing industry is experiencing its biggest shake-up in decades. After years of languishing in the doldrums, the government has finally put in place many financial incentives and grants to allow SMEs to innovate and expand. The needs of Aussie organisations are somewhat unique. This is in part due to the geographical location, but also because of the proximity and ease of cheap imports from nations, such as China. Local manufacturing can rarely, if ever, compete on price with commodities from outside the country. However, cost alone shouldn’t be the driving factor. Choosing a local manufacturer for your needs comes with multiple advantages: Better understanding between manufacturer and customer: This is crucial to ensure that the product is as you expect. Being local and able to meet up in person and throughout any process is hugely valuable – something that can’t be done if your items are being produced thousands of miles away No shipping or customs barriers: Local companies can usually turnaround orders in a far more timely manner than those that are shipped in from another country/continent The personal touch: Face to face conversations lead to better communication. It also enables easy tracking of orders or chasing up should any issues arise The strict adherence to national and international standards: When it comes to health and safety, it’s […]

Measured IR changes will stimulate investment, jobs

The industrial relations amendment bill introduced by the Morrison Government today contains measured, incremental improvements to Australia’s employment laws that will encourage businesses to invest and create jobs in the post-Covid-19 economic environment. Australian Resources and Energy Group CEO, Steve Knott AM, said key areas of the IR reform bill address longstanding concerns and priority reforms for mining, oil and gas, and service sector employers. “Improvements to enterprise bargaining, greenfields agreements and certainty around casual employment, are areas of huge value to Australia’s resources and energy employers,” Mr Knott said. “While the enterprise bargaining changes are modest and mostly administrative in nature, they do address a number of process issues that have led to significant delays and frustrations in getting enterprise agreements approved within a reasonable timeframe. “Allowing greenfields agreements for major resources and energy projects to run for up to eight years to match their typically longer construction timeframes, is a common-sense reform that will help Australia secure the enormous national opportunities within its major project investment pipeline. “It is pleasing the government has acted on the advice of senior executives from AMMA member companies, who stepped forward to highlight the significance this relatively simple change will have on influencing final investment decisions for multi-billion-dollar, nation-building projects. “The government has also struck an appropriate balance with its proposals for casual employment. Casual employees will have new rights to convert to permanency after 12 months with an employer, whilst businesses will be protected from ‘double dipping’ backpay claims which, if left unaddressed, would leave up to $39 billion in contingent liability looming over the economy. “Collectively these measures will reduce employment-related red tape and risk for resources and energy employers, which have been the lifeblood of the national economy and labour market during an extraordinarily difficult year for all Australians.” […]

Mint Innovation raises $20m to build gold biorefineries

Precious metals refiner Mint Innovation will start mining in Sydney next year. Then the New Zealand cleantech company has its sights on building a second biorefinery in North West England. Mint Innovation has raised NZ$20 million to help build those plants, which are based on its proprietary biometallurgical process and scalable platform. During successful trials at its first biorefinery in Auckland, Mint Innovation recovered significant amounts of gold and copper from crushed and powdered electronic waste. Dr Will Barker, Mint Innovation’s CEO, says the Series B capital raise was led by New Zealand technology investor Movac, with strong support from around the globe, including Blackbird Ventures and major long term investor Icehouse Ventures. “This raise gives us the capital we need to deploy our technology, starting with the Greater Sydney biorefinery in early 2021,” Dr Barker says. “Once commissioned, the plant will be able to process up to 3,500 tonnes of electronic waste each year. “That’s enough capacity to turn all the waste circuit boards in New South Wales into precious metals, including gold and copper. Ideally those metals will be sold back to local businesses, such as jewellers and manufacturers, creating a truly circular economy.” Movac partner David Beard says the future for Mint Innovation lies in its plant design and technology being licensed for biorefineries to be built in cities around the world. “With the disposal of e-waste a growing issue, as countries like Mainland China close their doors to importing waste, a disruptive cleantech company like Mint Innovation has the potential to establish a global footprint quite quickly,” he says. Dr Barker says the second plant is expected to start being built later next year. The North West of England has a heritage in chemical process innovation and Mint Innovation wants to bring clean tech to an […]

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Rockwell Automation at 29th Automation Fair At Home

The first hybrid live and virtual Automation Fair At Home saw over 40,000 participants registered from 146 countries and featured speakers include PartnerNetwork™ representatives from Cisco, Cytiva, ExxonMobil, Gartner, Microsoft, Thermo Fisher Scientific and more Rockwell Automation, Inc., along with its PartnerNetwork™, held its 29th signature industry showcase event, Automation Fair® At Home, November 16 – 20, 2020. Due to the pandemic, the event had been dynamically re-imagined as a primarily virtual experience to safeguard customer, partner, and employee health and safety, with all content from the event available on-demand now until June 2021. Automation Fair At Home showcases the newest products, solutions, and services in industrial automation and digital transformation. Due to the hybrid nature of this year’s event, attendees across different time zones and geographies had access to over 175 engaging educational opportunities and over 90 exhibits, through livestreams and on-demand video recordings. The agenda included engaging hands-on labs, training sessions focused on the newest hardware and software technologies, industry-focused forums, and more. Commenting on the event, Blake Moret, CEO and Chairman, Rockwell Automation, said, “The acquisition of ASEM S.r.l and Kalypso, as well as partnerships with Microsoft, PTC, and others, make our ecosystem the best in the industry. “This partner ecosystem, combined with our technology and domain expertise, allow us to say there is no one better positioned to add value at the convergence of IT, and operational OT technology for our customers. “We bring the Connected Enterprise to life for customers around the world and across a wide variety of industries. And during these times it’s especially important to look at the ways we increase the resilience, agility, and sustainability of our customers.” He added, “Sustainability is at the forefront of Rockwell Automation and our customers’ minds. We are committed to a carbon-neutral future, helping our customers […]

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