Business

Evan Thomas, Channel Director, ANZ, Armis AUS MN

Securing OT key to unlocking Australia’s manufacturing vision in an ever-growing threat landscape

Evan Thomas, Channels Director, Armis The recently unveiled ‘Future Made in Australia’ heralds an exciting new chapter for local manufacturing. The Australian government is committing to partnership with the private sector to build new industries to protect against unreliable foreign supply chains. However, one critical area for success is the concurrent commitment towards manufacturing’s cyber resilience. Managing the cyber threat landscape is crucial to realise the potential of the FMIA vision and the future success of Australia’s manufacturing sector, as cyber threats continue to escalate with the industry’s dependence on Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS). It is vital for businesses to deploy better cybersecurity, platforms and protocols if they are to mitigate the risk faced from cyber criminals. Securing OT and IT in ICS and Manufacturing environments The risk-based challenge with OT environments is that more recently, they are connecting to traditional enterprise IT and wireless networks. No longer being ‘air gapped’ or isolated, control systems are at higher risk of being compromised. This is because threat-actors now have the opportunity to breach OT systems through IT networks, particularly as OT typically lacks adequate security measures to protect from attack. To complicate matters further, OT devices in industrial and manufacturing environments have no built-in security. It is also not possible to install an agent on many of the legacy devices, as they were designed by manufacturers who were operating on the, now invalid, assumption that these devices wouldn’t be connected to any other networks. Unfortunately, the convergence of IT and OT means this is no longer the case, exposing OT devices to numerous threats. Without the right security capabilities designed with all types of assets (OT, IT, and IoT) in mind, practitioners are limited in their visibility into what devices are on their networks, what risks each device poses […]

Rio Tinto to develop BioIron R&D facility in WA to test low-carbon steelmaking

Rio Tinto will invest US$143 million (A$215 million) to develop a research and development facility in Western Australia to further assess the effectiveness of its low-carbon ironmaking process, BioIronTM, to support decarbonising the global steel value chain. The development of the BioIron Research and Development Facility in the Rockingham Strategic Industrial Area, south of Perth, follows successful trials of the innovative ironmaking process in a small-scale pilot plant in Germany. BioIron uses raw biomass and microwave energy instead of coal to convert Pilbara iron ore to metallic iron in the steelmaking process. When combined with the use of renewable energy and carbon-circulation by fast-growing biomass, BioIron has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 95% compared with the current blast furnace method. The BioIron facility will include a pilot plant that will be ten times bigger than its predecessor in Germany. It will also be the first time the innovative steelmaking process has been tested at a semi-industrial scale, capable of producing one tonne of direct reduced iron per hour. It will provide the required data to assess further scaling of the technology to a larger demonstration plant. The plant has been designed in collaboration with University of Nottingham, Metso Corporation and Western Australian engineering company Sedgman Onyx. Fabrication of the equipment will begin this year, with commissioning expected in 2026. These works are expected to support up to 60 construction jobs. The research and development facility will employ around 30 full-time employees and include space for equipment testing to support further scaling up of the BioIron technology, while developing a workforce highly skilled in steel decarbonisation and supporting WA universities and research organisations. Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott said, “The world needs low-carbon steel to reach net zero, and we are working to make […]

Kemppi launches all-in-one weld and clean machine – a new industry benchmark

Kemppi, has released a groundbreaking machine that delivers high-quality ACDC TIG welding and professional weld cleaning capability in the one unit, to set a new industry benchmark. The unique Kemppi Minarc T 223 ACDC GM features built-in electrolytic weld cleaning. Welders can quickly convert a TIG torch to cleaning mode, where the new MAX WeldClean cleaning process uses an efficient combination of electric current and phosphoric acid to remove oxidation and discoloration fast for perfectly clean high-quality welds. MAX WeldClean lets welders complete high-quality welds without using a separate weld cleaning machine. Just convert the TIG torch to cleaning mode and you are ready to go. “By combining weld cleaning with the ability to deliver quality welds in the one machine, the Minarc T 223 provides the welder with considerable convenience as they can perform both tasks in the one spot. This saves them precious time to help boost productivity and revenue,” explained Stuart Orr, Sales Director, Kemppi Australia. Powerful and versatile, the new Minarc T 223 is a 220 A single-phase AC/DC TIG welding machine. This multi-voltage machine provides precise and accurate welding thanks to its highly stable arc. The machine is also remarkably portable. Compact and lightweight, welders can easily carry the machine anywhere on site for fast, quality welding and cleaning. Other practical features of the Kemppi Minarc T223 include: Quality welding performance with AutoPulse The AutoPulse with frequency control feature helps deliver fast, high-quality, low spatter welds. This capability ensures welders consistently achieve great looking welds, saving them both time and money. Handy memory channels The Minarc T 223 is also equipped with memory channels to customise and save personal settings. Welders can quickly retrieve settings for faster set up and greater productivity. Easy to read display panel and control options for effortless operation The T […]

Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg to headline international space symposium in Brisbane

The first qualified astronaut under the Australian flag, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, will headline a major space symposium in Brisbane on 19-21 November 2024. The International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation in Space (i-SAIRAS) 2024 will bring its global delegates Down Under for the first time, with the event hosted by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. i-SAIRAS 2024 will convene agencies, researchers, and industry professionals engaged in advancing the science and technology of robotics, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to shape the future of space. Australian astronaut Ms Bennell-Pegg completed her training with the European Space Agency in Germany this year and will soon return to work at the Australian Space Agency. “I’m excited to come home to Australia and share the knowledge I’ve gained from my training with our growing space and tech sectors,” Ms Bennell-Pegg said. “Australia has an increasing number of cutting-edge AI and robotics projects contributing to global space missions – including Roo-ver, the Australian Space Agency’s rover that will head to the Moon later this decade. “i-SAIRAS coming to our shores will provide an opportunity to strengthen our international partnerships and learn from each other as we develop technologies that enable research in space and enhance life on Earth.” Ms Bennell-Pegg will be joined by a range of other distinguished speakers, panellists, and researchers, focused on the theme New Frontiers: Harnessing AI, Automation and Robotics for Space Exploration and Earth’s Challenges. CSIRO’s Dr Jonathon Ralston, i-SAIRAS 2024 Chair, said the symposium is a unique event in the international space calendar. “For 25 years, i-SAIRAS has brought together experts from the international space community to explore the latest advances in AI, robotics, and automation,” Dr Ralston said. “This year, we are enhancing the program with a special focus on the interconnection between advancements on Earth and […]

Lee Hawskley, President of Asia Pacific and Japan, UiPath AUS MN

How automation is paving the way for greener manufacturing in Australia

Lee Hawksley, President, Asia Pacific and Japan, UiPath Australia’s manufacturing industry is a key pillar of economic growth and innovation for the nation, and at the forefront of Industry 5.0. While technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G dominated Industry 4.0, the next industrial revolution is focused more on how humans and technology will work together to deliver broader societal benefits. According to McKinsey, automation and AI technologies present an enormous opportunity for national and personal income growth and could add up to $4 trillion to Australia’s economy. This substantial impact is driving the manufacturing industry to seize new opportunities with automation tools to reduce labour costs, achieve high levels of productivity, and with today’s context, help them comply with new regulatory obligations that include creating a more sustainable approach to manufacturing. Understanding going green The manufacturing industry is a leading consumer of natural resources and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. While modern industrial practices have allowed manufacturers to improve efficiencies in how they produce and deliver products to market, many current processes still heavily rely on resources that impact the environment. This is why state and federal government agencies are now investing in green manufacturing, which goes beyond compliance and being environmentally responsible to a whole new approach to manufacturing that aims to preserve the environment while, at the same time, delivering significant benefits to manufacturers in the form of cost savings, improved operational efficiencies, and enhanced brand reputation. By adopting green manufacturing practices, manufacturers can contribute to environmental conservation efforts while improving their bottom line. How AI-powered automation supports a greener future As society focuses its efforts on a greener future, automation is emerging as an invaluable tool in achieving sustainability goals. Some examples of how automation enables green manufacturing include: ESG […]

The Budget 2024: Comment and Feedback on Energy Policies

Attributed to Jack Curtis, co-founder of Neara Cost of living/bill relief p“The Albanese government’s $3.5 billion energy bill relief scheme will alleviate pressure on households and small business owners across Australia struggling to manage rising electricity prices. Yet despite the short-term financial support, concerns are rising around the growing cost of the energy transition. The clean energy transition is crucial to Australia’s future. But years of rising energy costs and reduced reliability as we transition from fossil generation to renewables are becoming harder to justify for many. The $300 energy bill relief package for home owners is a great initiative, but it’s not enough. The cost of the clean energy transition could easily blow out within the next six years and continue to increase financial pressure on consumers. Equal focus and investment must be applied to the underlying drivers of rising energy costs, particularly those related to the energy transition, and what can be done differently to mitigate them. To offset costs and stabilise energy prices, the government must source the most efficient, cost-effective pathway to 82% clean energy by 2030. This means embracing a holistic strategy encompassing all generation and network capacity sources whilst leveraging new technology that can optimise both. Put simply, more money needs to go further. Australia doesn’t have the same depth of funds as our overseas counterparts, specifically compared with the United States Inflation Reduction Act. Federal and state governments need to work closely on the strategic deployment of funds by stress-testing each proposed pillar of the energy transition and its potential cost before rolling out the initiative. The renewable energy infrastructure toolkit we’ve been relying on is essential, but it’s expensive, time-extensive, and continues to face increasing headwinds. Australia has alternative solutions to stress-test costs and bring renewable energy online faster. We must actively explore […]

The Budget: Skill funding welcomed

RSM Australia National Leader – Manufacturing Services, Jessica Olivier: Rather than the manufacturing sector as a whole, the Budget focused on Critical Minerals, Clean Energy and Green Technologies, however it was pleasing to see the announcement of $500m for the tertiary sector to increase skills in manufacturing and clean energy, as well as the announcement of various initiatives to lift private investment and workforce skills, and boost local supply chains. Beyond that announcement and as expected, we saw the Federal Government set out their agenda for the recently announced Future Made in Australia Act and highlight their priorities by focusing investment on transformational opportunities. Last year’s $15b National Reconstruction Fund has been rolled into the Future Made in Australia policy, which on a positive note saw a 51% increase in the overall funding allocated to Future Made in Australia totalling $22.7b. This also included “picking winners” such as the $1 billion for the Solar Sunshot production of solar panels in the Hunter Valley and $1 billion to build the world’s first fault-tolerant quantum computer in Brisbane, along with $840 million for Arafura’s rare earth metals production in the NT. WA will be the primary beneficiary of the $566m allocated to GeoScience Australia to map what is under Australia’s soil and seabed to uncover mineral deposits for critical mineral processing. We also saw the Government demonstrate their commitment towards a cleaner, greener future in Australia with funding towards green energy, critical minerals and renewables in Australia – in particular $13.7 billion in production tax incentives for green hydrogen and processed critical minerals. In terms of grants (both new and extended programs), it should have been a significant part of the new measures announced to bolster manufacturing, however there was little specifically targeted at this sector. In relation to other incentives and over 8 years […]

Xefco Q & A: Tom Hussey, CEO and Co-Founder

What is your role at Xefco and what does it involve? Xefco was born to transform the textile industry by tackling problems of functional performance and sustainability in fashion. Traditional wet dyeing and finishing is a huge part of the textile supply chain with the process making up about 36% of the industry’s carbon footprint and about 3% of all global carbon emissions. What’s more, it’s an extremely water and chemical-intensive process leading to about 20% of all industrial wastewater. With Xefco’s innovative technologies, Ausora and XReflex, we are creating advanced materials for a sustainable future. In my role as CEO and co-founder, I drive the business forward through innovation and as we commercialise our solutions. This means working with investors, building and leading a motivated team and ensuring we’re working efficiently with innovation at the forefront of everything we do. I’m currently focused on using our latest capital to grow the team and commercialising Ausora, which is a novel way of dyeing and finishing textiles without water. How is Ausora is benefitting the environment? Ausora is a waterless dyeing and finishing solution using a unique shower plasma process to produce the same look, feel and performance properties without the environmental footprint. Ausora’s solution not only eliminates the use of water but cuts energy, chemical consumption and cost compared to conventional wet dyeing and finishing. In removing the need for water, Ausora is also removing polluted water from being discharged back into waterways. The shower plasma process also consumes 97% less chemistry and uses 90% less energy compared to conventional wet dyeing and finishing processes. As such, Ausora has the potential to stop millions of tonnes of waste entering our waterways and CO2 from entering our planet. Reducing cost production of textiles. How does this work? Within textile production, the […]

The Pure Food Co. a winner

Nutrition technology company The Pure Food Co has taken out the Innovation of the Year category at the recent Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards in Singapore, recognising the best food and nutrition system on the market developed to improve the health of older people. Co-Founder Sam Bridgewater and Australian Director Chris Deed. The Pure Food Co, which was founded in 2013 to nourish the world’s seniors, was recognised for the development of a nutritional system to improve the health of aged care residents and hospital patients in Australia, New Zealand and now France. While improving the nutritional value of food, The Pure Food Co also provides wrap around support and training for staff. By providing a nutrition system, clinical benefits include maintenance of weight and muscle mass, resulting in reduction in falls and serious illness. The team also provides on-the-ground training and implementation support for staff, creating strong compliance and understanding of the system.

How automation is paving the way for greener manufacturing in Australia

By: Lee Hawksley, President, Asia Pacific and Japan, UiPath Australia’s manufacturing industry is a key pillar of economic growth and innovation for the nation, and at the forefront of Industry 5.0. While technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G dominated Industry 4.0, the next industrial revolution is focused more on how humans and technology will work together to deliver broader societal benefits. According to McKinsey, automation and AI technologies present an enormous opportunity for national and personal income growth and could add up to $4 trillion to Australia’s economy. This substantial impact is driving the manufacturing industry to seize new opportunities with automation tools to reduce labour costs, achieve high levels of productivity, and with today’s context, help them comply with new regulatory obligations that include creating a more sustainable approach to manufacturing. Understanding going green The manufacturing industry is a leading consumer of natural resources and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. While modern industrial practices have allowed manufacturers to improve efficiencies in how they produce and deliver products to market, many current processes still heavily rely on resources that impact the environment. This is why state and federal government agencies are now investing in green manufacturing, which goes beyond compliance and being environmentally responsible to a whole new approach to manufacturing that aims to preserve the environment while, at the same time, delivering significant benefits to manufacturers in the form of cost savings, improved operational efficiencies, and enhanced brand reputation. By adopting green manufacturing practices, manufacturers can contribute to environmental conservation efforts while improving their bottom line. How AI-powered automation supports a greener future As society focuses its efforts on a greener future, automation is emerging as an invaluable tool in achieving sustainability goals. Some examples of how automation enables green manufacturing include: ESG […]

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