Company News

Communicating in a post-Covid world

By Jack Mallen-Cooper, Senior Consultant, Whyte Public Relations. Jack joined Whyte PR in 2012 as a media and communications graduate, and has since honed his skills in strategic planning, account management, and communicating to a highly technical, B2B, industrial audience. In the post-Covid era, as Australian industry is being rapidly reshaped (whether it wants to or not), the best communicators will come out on top. Under the guidance of Whyte PR Founder and Managing Director, Brent Whyte, Jack has embodied the company’s self-starting and results-driven attitude that focusses on providing visibility, publicity, and outstanding value for companies in Australasia, South Asia, Europe, America and across the globe. In the post-Covid era, as Australian industry is being rapidly reshaped (whether it wants to or not), the best communicators will come out on top. Companies that can communicate their benefits (particularly hygiene, safety and environmental ones, but others, too) will be the ones that will find they not only achieve greater client retention, but expand to take on new business, where others have gone quiet. So how should you communicate, to stand out from the crowd? And how do you build trust and credibility so that a new customer already knows you’re the real deal before they walk in the door (or join the Zoom meeting)? In our company’s local and global experience – extending for more than 25 years across a diverse base of B2B industries – times of change are times of opportunity. Top 3 post-Covid communication tips Don’t go quiet. The temptation may be to wait and see what happens before committing to any public communication – you don’t want to have to change this later. In reality, wouldn’t it be better to keep a constant line of communication open with your customers, and potential customers? If the situation […]

Golden run continues for Oz Minerals

Strong gold prices matched by higher volumes has helped Adelaide-based miner Oz Minerals record a net profit after tax of $80 million for the six months to June 30. The profit was up 82 per cent on the same period last year. The company, which operates the Prominent Hill and Carrapateena copper and gold mines in South Australia, increased its net revenue by $156.5 million to $575.7 million, as a result of higher gold volumes and price. Gold sales increased by 53,800 ounces and the net A$ gold price was 36 per cent higher. The Carrapateena mine is expected to reach full production of 4.25Mtpa by the end of the year, further strengthening cash flows. The company also announced a fully franked interim dividend of 8 cents per share to the ASX this morning. OZ Minerals Chief Executive Andrew Cole said the strong first-half performance enabled it to last year increase its copper and gold guidance for 2020. “All our sites and has benefited from higher gold production and favourable gold pricing through the period,” he said. “The ramp-up at Carrapateena during the half year has exceeded expectations with a strong performance from the underground materials handling system, production system and plant allowing an increase to production guidance. “The Prominent Hill underground is performing well, and we have seen annualised ore mining rates of ~4.5Mtpa achieved through July.” Oz Minerals shares increased more than 2 per cent in early trade this morning to $14.42 following the announcement. The positive result was no surprise, following five months of strong growth for Oz Minerals. The company’s share price started the year at $10.55 but slumped due to weak copper prices and coronavirus uncertainty, bottoming out at $5.99 on March 23. Since then, Oz Minerals share price has more than doubled as its […]

RS Components collaborates with Jude Pullen to design a global radio receiver like no other

RS Components (RS), a trading brand of Electrocomponents plc, a global omni-channel solutions partner for industrial customers and suppliers with operations in Australia and New Zealand, has released RadioGlobe, an open-source DesignSpark engineering project that features a real globe as its user interface. By turning the globe, users can tune into internet radio stations from around the world. RadioGlobe has been designed and released in collaboration with well-known British technologist and inventor, Jude Pullen. The project was commissioned to celebrate the 10th anniversary of DesignSpark and the release of the latest DesignSpark Mechanical Version 5.0 software, with the goal of enabling human connection through technology. DesignSpark is an online design community and resource centre for makers, students and design engineers. It was launched in 2010 to provide design engineers and students around the globe with a comprehensive range of free-of-charge software design tools, technical data and development resources. Jude commented: “The idea behind RadioGlobe came from RS Components’ roots in supplying spare parts to radio repair shops, which led me to think about how we could make the radio experience more modern in a hyper-connected world using both physical components and digital technology. I think that DesignSpark and other maker communities will love this project, as it is open source and will therefore evolve with a truly global input of creativity and talent.” Jude and his extended engineering team designed RadioGlobe using RS’ free-to-download DesignSpark Mechanical and DesignSpark PCB software and used 3D printing technology for the construction. A Raspberry Pi 4 module interfacing to two high-precision rotary encoders track the longitude and latitude of locators positioned over the globe. This enables the Raspberry Pi to tune into an internet radio station transmitting from any global position. Music fans simply hover on a location to select any of the thousands […]

ASM JV produces high purity titanium metal with significant benefits

Highlights: High purity titanium (Ti) metal 20.8 kg produced assaying 99.83 % Innovative metals process confirms 70 % lower energy consumption ZionTech optimisation increase metal efficiency by 50% Significant environmental benefits of innovative metal process confirmed Australian Strategic Materials’ (ASM) joint venture partner has produced 20.8 kg of high purity titanium metal (99.83 %) confirming the energy usage at approximately 30% of the standard titanium industry processes. This innovative metal technology energy usage is 35 kW per kg compared to the industry standard Kroll process that uses 117 kW per kg of metal, and shows significant environmental benefits. ASM Managing Director, David Woodall said: “Being able to successfully produce high purity metal without incurring the traditional environmental impact is a very significant result for ASM. Our JV team has achieved this result using 70% less energy, with none of the environmental contaminants of comparable titanium industry methods.” “We are focussed at ensuring these high purity permanent magnet metals and titanium metals do not cause the environmental impacts of traditional methods. With our exclusive worldwide licence to commercialise this clean and environmentally responsible metal-refining technology, ASM is well positioned in its strategy to add value to all Dubbo products.” “ASM’s focus is now at commencing a metal plant feasibility which will confirm the optimal size of a plant in Korea, with the opportunity to build additional plants in key manufacturing areas in Australia, North America, and Europe”

The Millennium Droughts and Australian Agriculture

Climate change has its effects on countries all over the world. For Australia, its effects begin at the depletion of the ozone layer which in turn is making ground and soil dryer over time. The 2019-2020 deadly wildfires were fueled by extreme heat and prolonged drought. This lead to over 2 million acres falling victim to the brush fires. But what other ways will agriculture feel the effects of droughts? In the new article “The Millennium Droughts and Australian Agricultural Productivity Performance: A Nonparametric Analysis” in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, authors, Yu Sheng from CCAP-PKU, Robert Chambers from the University of Maryland, and Simone Pieralli from Massey University New Zealand, dive in deeper on what role climatic factors played in affecting the observed slowdown in Australian agricultural total factor productivity growth at the turn of the 21st century. The results show that the productivity slowdown was not associated with a slowdown in technological innovation but with possibly climate-related changes in the diffusion of technological advances. Sheng says, “Our analysis incorporates climate-related factors directly into the productivity accounting exercise that allows us to decompose productivity growth changes into four components: technological advance, scale effects, efficiency (diffusion) effects, and weather-related effects… Successful adaptation to climate change will require improved diffusion of available technological advances and innovations. The drought-relief policies should focus more on improving farmers’ ability to adopt technological innovations in the regions struggling the most to adapt to.”

4 things government can do to help small business

So much for the v-shaped recovery. Australia is set to record its biggest quarterly fall in GDP in history this week. The federal government will extend its JobKeeper wage subsidy program by six months. About 1.75 million workers, including about 1 million Victorians, are expected to rely on it till March. But there’s more to be done, particularly to help the small and medium-sized businesses taking the brunt of the COVID-19 economic impacts. Small and medium enterprises employ about two-thirds of the workforce. They are crucial to the prosperity of local communities. A full third are pessimistic about making it through the next three months, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ most recent survey of COVID-19 business impacts. By comparison only 18% of large companies (those employing more than 200 employees) expect difficulties in meeting their financial obligations. Even at the best of times many small businesses struggle. Yet our research on 223 Australian business owners highlights failure (or success) isn’t just the result of individual entrepreneurs’ personal resources and capabilities. The local business environment plays a significant role. As Malcolm Gladwell puts it in his book Outliers: The Story of Success: The tallest oak in the forest is the tallest not just because it grew from the hardiest acorn, it is the tallest also because no other trees blocked its sunlight, the soil around it was deep and rich, no rabbit chewed through its bark as a sapling, and no lumberjack cut it down before it matured. The same is true for businesses. Even the most resourceful business owners struggle to get ahead when the environment stifles their efforts. This is a thorny problem for governments as they turn from emergency measures to chart longer-term recovery policies. There will, no doubt, be much debate over the usual areas – of subsidies and grants, tax breaks, red tape […]

What manufacturers can do to prepare for the upturn

By Rob Stummer, Asia Pacific CEO, SYSPRO This is an incredibly difficult time for everyone and manufacturing companies have had to lay off staff or shutdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. Coronavirus has already caused shifts and a reduction in “wants” goods and an increase in “needs” goods as this crisis evolves, and consumers batten down the hatches into a conservative mode, and some businesses have been agile enough to switch production quickly to high demand products like ventilators, masks, hand sanitiser or home consumables. As we stem the spread of the virus, what is certain is that there will be an upturn and demand will recover, we just don’t know when. When the inevitable recovery does happen though, the manufacturing companies that have maintained a level of business continuity and are ready to jump back into full production are the ones that will survive this Covid-19 crisis. The real question is how quickly will that demand come back and how will manufacturers be able to respond to their biggest challenge to date? Increasing operational efficiencies In an increasingly interconnected world, maintaining the efficiency of supply chains is of the utmost importance to the Australasian economy if we are to jump back into action once the constraints of the coronavirus crisis have reduced. The good news is technology is allowing manufacturers to minimise disruptions by using real-time reporting to manage their inventory to ensure there are no issues with under or oversupply of goods. A frictionless, real-time, data-driven and interconnected supply chain can only benefit the economy in the short and the long-term. Manufacturing businesses should be doing everything they can to survive this by preserving cash and by optimising their operational efficiencies using real-time process feedback. Their Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) will ensure that quality and efficiency are built into […]

D-Link adds two new intelligent AI-based camera solutions to mydlink portfolio

D-Link A/NZ has launched two new mydlink cameras, the DCS-8526LH Full HD Pan/Tilt Pro Wi-Fi Camera and the DCS-8630LH Full HD Outdoor Wi-Fi Spotlight Camera. Both feature edge-based person detection with AI technology, allowing for more intelligent surveillance capabilities and personal automation options for every smart home. The DCS-8630LH also has an integrated spotlight to literally help you see in the dark. Not only are the cameras interoperable with other devices in the mydlink ecosystem, but they also work with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, as well as conform to the ONVIF standard, allowing seamless recording to external devices such as a NAS or NVR. Additionally, both cameras feature built-in Bluetooth for fast and easy setup, both cloud and local recording options, and support remote viewing and management via the free mydlink app. The enhanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) used by the cameras cleverly identifies human motion, ensuring they will not be triggered by the likes of a pet, bird or passing car that may come into the viewing area. Edge-based technology also processes information on the device locally so there’s no need to send video to the cloud for processing, speeding up alert response times and ensuring you receive alerts only when a real person is detected. A passive infrared (PIR) sensor further reduces false triggers so you only see what you want and need to see. One of the biggest concerns with IoT devices and Wi-Fi networks these days is privacy. To combat those concerns both these new mydlink cameras feature the latest and most secure industry-standard 128-bit encryption ensuring greater privacy throughout users’ devices and networks. Another clever and useful feature involves the camera’s built-in microphone and speaker, providing a 2-way audio service for you to both speak and listen to delivery drivers, children and other people and pets that are within earshot […]

Signet modernises warehouse operations with Zebra’s wearable technology

Zebra Technologies Corporation, an innovator at the front line of business with solutions and partners that deliver a performance edge, has announced Signet’s deployment of Zebra’s WT6000 wearable computer and RS4000 1D corded ring scanner to help modernise its warehouse operations. Signet is one of Australia’s leading distributors of warehouse consumables, packaging, safety and cleaning supplies, with six distribution centres across the country. Signet dispatches over 6,000 orders for businesses every day. Its customers benefit from low prices, bulk buy discounts and the convenience of products always being in stock and delivered on time. Signet’s warehouse workers were previously using handheld mobile computers to pick and scan cartons, which at times resulted in picking errors and manual handling strain through repetitive tasks and the picking of heavy items. After deploying Zebra’s easy-to-use wearables, Signet’s warehouse workers’ productivity increased by up to 40% through reducing their overall picking time, thereby resulting in significant operational cost savings. “Zebra’s wearable devices have significantly improved our warehouse staff’s efficiency, time spent on picking orders and overall accuracy. The solution has allowed our staff to free up both their hands while picking orders, which reduces the risk of manual handling incidents. Ultimately, Zebra’s solution helped our operations save a significant amount of time and cost,” said Allen Notley, Warehouse Manager (QLD), Signet. “Further, thanks to the familiar Android user interface, our warehouse staff have quickly adapted to using Zebra’s wearable computers, greatly reducing training time and maximising our return on investment.” As Signet’s previous handheld mobile computers were running on the Windows Operating System (OS), their previous devices were exposed to potential data security risks because the extended support of Windows Embedded and Mobile OS is no longer available. The switch to the Android-powered Zebra mobile computers has helped to mitigate these risks. “According to […]

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 […]

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