Business

Quantum devices successfully built for qubit control

Archer Materials Limited has successfully built the quantum devices required for initial qubit control measurements as part of a significant phase in its technology development related to the operation of the 12CQ room-temperature quantum computing qubit processor. Commenting on the Company’s 12CQ chip development, Archer CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair said: “We commenced our technology development related to qubit control a few weeks ago and now the first devices have been built to perform the initial [qubit control] measurements related to Archer’s 12CQ chip operation. We have remained on track in our development since we first commenced the [12CQ chip] project in April 2019.” “Qubit control is explicitly our next big technological milestone. Over the coming months, Company shareholders will expect to see a series of results that will be released to ASX by Archer that relate to qubit control – a key requirement of quantum computing processors. When successful, the work would be major validation, at a relatively early-stage of the overall development of a quantum computing processor, of the commercial viability of the 12CQ chip”. The Archer team has built and begun testing prototype qubit control devices (“ESR devices”) in Sydney with collaborating institutes. The initial prototyped ESR device has the primary benefit of providing the magnetic ultra-sensitivity to establish quantitative measurements (i.e. characterisation) of the quantum information residing on very few qubit material components. The initial ESR device design is intended to allow for qubit control measurements only at low temperatures to maximise the Primary Benefit, with the associated operation temperatures unrelated to Archer’s qubits’ demonstrated potential to operate at room temperature. The ESR device assembly is unique and unoptimised, subject to changing functional configurations. Archer CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair concluded: “The control measurements on the qubit material related to the 12CQ chip fabrication are a world-first, in […]

Morrison warns against ‘solely transactional’ trade approach in address to US audience

Scott Morrison says the Covid-19 crisis has created new opportunities for “like-minded economies” to work together – but warned against “solely transactional” trade approaches undermining these relationships. In a Wednesday keynote speech to the US Aspen Security Forum, delivered virtually, Morrison says expanding the scope and scale of co-operation by like-minded economies must be done “thoughtfully”. “Security and trade policy approaches must be well integrated, not at odds with each other,” he says in the address, released ahead of delivery. Although Morrison is unspecific about which countries he has in mind on the trade front, his remarks will be read as a reference to the United States. President Trump’s America First policy, with its aggressive transactional approach and emphasis on “deals” has come with costs for a number of like-minded economies. Morrison says: “A solely transactional approach to trading relationships can undo some gains made in other parts of relationships with like-minded partners. Australia’s foreign policy is not simply transactional.” “As we build the network of like-minded economies, we need to build a greater sense of unity across all elements of our engagement. “That means taking a more pragmatic and rounded approach to our global and regional relationships,” he says. “The sense of unity necessary among like-minded partners can be undermined if positive political and security relationships are accompanied by abrasive or confrontational trade relationships. “We should avoid cases where we build closer strategic co-operation, only to see the cohesiveness of those relationships undermined by trade disputes.” Morrison says he is not suggesting seeking to constrain “the national instinct of our business people and exporters to compete in global markets”. Nor should we “turn a blind eye to unfair trading measures imposed by our friends”. Morrison’s speech continues his recent assertiveness about Australia’s foreign policy and defence stance. Saying that […]

Books: The Biggest Bluff: How I learned to pay attention, take control and master the odds

Is this the new Moneyball? Maria Konnikova had never actually played poker before and didn’t even know the rules when she approached Erik Seidel – Poker Hall of Fame inductee, winner of tens of millions of dollars in earnings – and asked him to be her mentor. She had faced a stretch of personal bad luck, and her reflections on the role of chance in her life had pointed her to poker as the ultimate master class in learning to distinguish what can be controlled and what can’t. Seidel was in, and soon Konnikova was down the rabbit hole with him, a journey that would lead her to the following year’s World Series of Poker. Then something extraordinary happened. Under Seidel’s guidance, Konnikova began to have many epiphanies about life that derived from her new pursuit, including how to better read not just her opponents but far more importantly herself. She found her way to making better decisions and to a place where she could accept luck for what it is, and what it isn’t. But she also began to win. She even learned to like Las Vegas. In the end, Konnikova is a student of human behaviour, and ultimately the point of her incredible adventure was to render it into a container for its invaluable lessons. The biggest bluff of all, she learned is that skill is enough. This is a book that will focus your mind and strengthen your hand.

Manufacturers must find new efficiencies

While Covid-19 has been disruptive across industries, the manufacturing industry is presented with an opportunity to come out the other side stronger than before. Manufacturers must re-examine their processes and even their entire business model to find new efficiencies and ways to compete with offshore firms. As the sector moves closer to Industry 4.0, it is essential for manufacturers to be aware of the technologies that are likely to shape strategies and priorities across the next five years, according to Epicor Software. Greg O’Loan, regional vice president, ANZ, Epicor Software Corporation, said, “Manufacturing is a sector ideally placed to benefit from emerging technologies. Industry 4.0 is a global concept that predicts the manufacturing sector will experience a fourth industrial revolution, this time based on digital technology. “With the right solutions in place, manufacturers will be able to make smarter decisions, optimise processes, deliver a better customer experience and, ultimately, outperform their overseas counterparts. To achieve this, decision-makers in manufacturing firms need to gain a thorough understanding of the solutions lining up to transform the industry in the next five years.” Epicor has identified the top four areas of technology that will drive digital transformation in the manufacturing sector: Artificial intelligence (AI) AI and data strategies are fundamental for all businesses, and organisations that do not already have a roadmap in place for AI could face an uphill battle to compete. Three-quarters of C-suite executives surveyed by Accenture said they believed if they did not scale AI in the next five years, they could go out of business entirely. (1) In manufacturing, AI can be used for everything from optimising production lines to automating defect checking, resulting in fewer costly defects and increasing overall productivity. Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G IoT solutions are continuing to gain rapid momentum in manufacturing […]

3M-Abrasives-Article-Shop-Talk-Webinar-Series-Thumbnail

3M launches webinar series on abrasives technology

The 3M Abrasives System Division are offering a webinar series to industry professionals providing unique insights into abrasive technology and best practices. This three-part ‘Shop Talk’ series commences Tuesday 21st July 2020 and focuses on how businesses can improve efficiencies by adopting innovativepractices and technologies while enhancing operational safety. 3M abrasive expert Nathan Bamford will guide attendees through a range of topics in the series, with the first session focusing on satin finishes on stainless steel, removing welds and deburring without risk of gouging or rounding corners. The webinar series has been developed to provide professionals with the opportunity to upskill and make smart choices for their businesses in the future. ‘At 3M we are aware of how big an impact COVID-19 has had on the industry locally, so we’re keen to share our knowledge on products and techniques to give local specialists and businesses an edge,’ said 3M Abrasives System Division Marketing Manager, Jonathan Small. ‘We hope that by engaging in our short, on-line learning sessions our customers can find solutions to current issues and learn improved methods to operate which may help with efficiencies and on-site safety in the future.’ To register for the 3M Abrasives Shop Talk Webinar series, please visit go.3m.com/ShopTalk_Webinar_AU 3M Abrasives Technology Webinar Series Session 1: Tuesday July 21st, 2020 12:00pm – 12:30pm EST Agenda ⦁ How to achieve a satin finish on stainless steel ⦁ How to remove a weld and take it to a number 4 finish ⦁ How to deburr without gouging or rounding of the corner plate Session 2: Tuesday August 25th, 2020 12:00pm – 12:30pm EST Agenda ⦁ How to save time on your mild steel processing projects ⦁ How to maximise the life of your belt ⦁ Safer alternatives to wire brushes Session 3: Tuesday September 22nd, 2020 […]

Let’s bring production onshore, but it might not ensure supplies

The pandemic has changed the way we think about supply chains, in particular the chains that feed our need for food, medical supplies, and defence equipment. It has led Prime Minister Scott Morrison to frame access to supplies in terms of economic sovereignty. Andrew Liveris, now an advisor to Morrison, and a former Dow Chemical Chief and advisor to both the Obama and Trump administrations, is pushing for re-shoring of critical supply chains. “Australia drank the free-trade juice and decided that off-shoring was okay,” he is quoted as saying. “Well, that era is gone.” But ensuring supplies can withstand shocks needn’t mean bringing production onshore. It might make it harder. Stockpiling isn’t that useful Firms usually talk about managing supply risk in terms of resilience or robustness. Robustness is the ability to continue supplying during a disruption (for a while we didn’t have this with toilet paper). Resilience is the ability to get supplies back to normal in an acceptable time frame (which we had with toilet paper). For critical supplies, robustness is the most important, but it hard to achieve for entire categories such as “medical equipment”. There, stockpiling is of limited use. The United States has a stockpile of oil, enough to fill half of its car tanks. Canada has a vault of maple syrup, called a “strategic reserve” – about 80,000 barrels worth. But when it comes to stockpiling “medical equipment” we might put a lot of effort into stockpiling ventilators, for example, only to find that the next emergency requires something different, or a different type of ventilator. And it’s hard to stockpile fresh food. We are exposed at choke points Face masks and food illustrate the risks. Half of global facemask production is concentrated in China. China’s factories closed during its lockdown at the time global demand simultaneously soared, resulting in a major shortages. Australia is one […]

If architecture is the canary in the coalmine, the outlook for construction is appalling

-Geoff Hanmer, Adjunct Professor of Architecture, University of Adelaide. Architecture suffers before building does. A survey of more than 450 architecture practices conducted by the Association of Consulting Architects finds that two thirds have lost more than 30% of their revenue, and eight in ten have had projects cancelled or put on hold. Six in ten are relying on JobKeeper. Half have cut pay or working hours. Three in ten have stood down or sacked staff. Only 15% believe they have enough work to see out the year. In total, the survey finds more than A$10 billion of projects have either been cancelled or put on hold, just among those responding to the survey. John Held, the National President of the Association of Consulting Architects says unless there is a more effective stimulus package for construction, the government will need to consider extending JobKeeper beyond its expiry in September to prevent the loss of many normally-viable architectural practices. Without a pipeline of projects, a substantial rise in unemployment across the whole construction sector will result Dr Peter Raisbeck, an expert in the building and construction industry at the University of Melbourne, says two thirds of architects in Australia are small businesses employing less than five people, operating on small profit margins. Widespread insolvencies amongst these vulnerable firms would be catastrophic The design professions – architecture and engineering – are the canary in the coalmine for the wider construction industry. If those professions are in a slump now, construction itself will most probably be in big trouble in three to six months. A window on the future The findings are reinforced by forecasts prepared by the Australian Construction Industry Forum. They show that while engineering construction on projects such as motorways and public transport is likely to hold up reasonably well, residential and non residential construction, […]

Unlocking the future of 4.0

Cicada Innovations is running a free online panel, ‘Unpacking the future of manufacturing 4.0’ with: Deputy Director General, Department of Innovations and Tourism Industry Development CEO, Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub CEO, SpeeDX What really is Manufacturing 4.0? How important is it to keep the manufacturing of crucial items on-shore so they are less affected by global events? What does the future of this changing space hold and how can Australia meet that challenge? https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/monthly-buzz-unpacking-the-future-of-advanced-manufacturing-registration-111083666236 Circada Innovations is a hub of science (particularly agricultural, medical and AI) startups at the National Innovation Centre in Sydney.

Investment in new Yawei sees Jmar expand capabilities and customer base

Shepparton based Jmar Engineering was founded by Mark and Janice Hooper and recently celebrated 25 years in business. Its ongoing success is based on a commitment to providing outstanding customer service, staying abreast of local trends and ongoing diversification. Through its precision turning and milling equipment, Jmar specialises in component manufacturing, repairs and maintenance across a broad range of industries including a considerable amount of ‘reverse engineering’; fabricating components and parts that customers may have previously bought from overseas suppliers, whom in many cases are now defunct or uncontactable due to COVID-19. In addition to component manufacturing, the company has been a supplier to the agricultural industry for almost twenty five years with a unique product called the Christopher Dairy Bails; a retrofit product suitable for herringbone dairies that allows the farmer to feed in the bail at milking time. Jmar have also heavily invested in 3D modeling which has been a great sales tool given they can now provide customers with an accurate representation of the concept design prior to actual full-scale production. Nearly all of Jmar’s business comes from around the Goulburn Valley area within a 50km radius of Shepparton. Expanding its sheetmetal and cutting capabilities with a view to obtaining more local work was what prompted Mark Hooper to originally invest in a fiber laser. “Our original laser proved a huge success in securing us heavier and more voluminous work and expanding our customer base – particularly those companies that had previously sent work to Melbourne or Sydney,” Mr Hooper said. “We ended up becoming a contract cutter and it was this that prompted us to invest in an additional Yawei fiber laser. We were struggling to keep up with the work and we couldn’t afford to let our customers down; this second machine ensured we could […]

Safe access with Euchner Electronic Key System EKS from Treotham

Treotham is showcasing its versatile Euchner product for electronic access control and management: the Electronic-Key-System EKS. This transponder-based read/write system has already proven its worth in the packaging machinery industry by preset parameters that provide protection against unauthorised access. The RFID-based EKS features the main advantage of being freely programmable and therefore highly versatile. The Electronic-Key stores the access rights for each employee. A reader scans the data and forwards this information to the control system. Additional uses for the EKS system include controlling specific functions and accessing encrypted process parameters for an installation. What’s more, one system variant is the perfect choice for hygienically sensitive areas in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Another application for the EKS system is functionally safe selection of operating mode, enabling users to select the required operating mode and activate the corresponding safety function. Maximum safety throughout the packaging processTreotham’s diverse safety solutions can be perfectly integrated into modular systems to protect people, machines and products in the packaging sector. The Euchner product range comprises guard locking devices and access management systems as well as products such as door detectors, door locking systems and pendant stations. For all of its products, Euchner guarantees exacting quality far exceeding the requirements in standards and laws. Customers can rely on Euchner with over 60 years of safety engineering expertise.

«‹ 45 46 47 48 ›»

News Ticker

Business