Company News

Schneider Electric helps EastLink achieve top 5-star sustainability rating

The 2018 GRESB Infrastructure Assessment awarded EastLink the top 5 star sustainability rating for the third year in a row. EastLink ranked #5 globally of 280 infrastructure entities for environmental, social and governance (ESG) sustainability performance. Schneider Electric provided EastLink’s tunnel ventilation on demand project with solutions to help reduce energy usage by 70%  Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been reduced by an estimated 9,000 tonnes CO2-e annually. EastLink’s 40 km road network connects the Eastern, Monash, Frankston and Peninsula Link freeways with 250,000 vehicles using the motorway every day on average. With the growing usage of the motorway there was a need to find a solution to reduce the amount of power usage, GHG emissions and noise pollution. Technology solutions provided by Schneider Electric have driven significant improvements in energy efficiency, carbon emission reductions, noise reduction and sustainability. Following the implementation of Schneider Electric’s Ethernet Programmable Automation Controllers (ePACs), Variable Speed Drives and Citect SCADA, EastLink has achieved the following tangible improvements: Tunnel ventilation system electricity usage reduced by 70%, saving 6.2 GWh annually. Reduced electricity usage cut GHG emissions from power stations by 9,000 tonnes CO2-e per year. Audible noise from the tunnel ventilation stacks has halved, reducing noise for local residents. Savings in maintenance costs and longer lifespans for tunnel ventilation equipment are expected. In 2018, EastLink improved its GRESB (global ESG benchmark for real assets used by investors) sustainability score from 80/100 to 88/100, was awarded the top 5-star sustainability rating for the third year in a row, and has been ranked #5 globally of 280 infrastructure entities. EastLink also won the prestigious 2018 Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Australia National Industry Award, for its tunnel ventilation system improvements. The reason Schneider Electric was selected as a vendor to the EastLink project was its compelling offerings […]

Happy birthday, SA’s big battery, and many happy returns (of your recyclable parts)

Aleesha Rodriguez A year ago today, Tesla’s big battery in South Australia began dispatching power to the state’s grid, one day ahead of schedule. By most accounts, the world’s largest lithium-ion battery has been a remarkable success. But there are some concerns that have so far escaped scrutiny. The big battery (or the Hornsdale Power Reserve, to use its official name) was born of a Twitter wager between entrepreneurs Mike Cannon-Brookes and Elon Musk, with the latter offering to build a functioning battery in “100 days or it’s free”. Musk succeeded, and so too has the battery in smoothing the daily operation of South Australia’s energy grid and helping to avert blackouts. The battery has also been a financial success. It earned A$23.8 million in the first half of 2018, by selling stored electricity and other grid-stabilising services. These successes have spurred further big battery uptake in Australia, while the global industry is forecast to attract US$620 billion in investments by 2040. It’s clear that big batteries will play a big role in our energy future. But not every aspect of Tesla’s big battery earns a big tick. The battery’s own credentials aren’t particularly “green”, and by making people feel good about the energy they consume over summer, it arguably sustains an unhealthy appetite for energy consumption. The problem of lithium-ion batteries The Hornsdale Power Reserve is made up of hundreds of Tesla Powerpacks, each containing 16 “battery pods” similar to the ones in Tesla’s Model S vehicle. Each battery pod houses thousands of small lithium-ion cells – the same ones that you might find in a hand-held device like a torch. The growing demand for lithium-ion batteries has a range of environmental impacts. Not least of these is the issue of how best to recycle them, which presents significant opportunities and challenges. The Hornsdale Power Reserve claims that when the batteries stop working (in about 15 years), Tesla […]

McLanahan Corporation celebrate move to support global mining

Hunter Manufacturer of the Year, McLanahan Corporation, will host a private event to celebrate their recent move to larger premises. The newly refurbished 18,000 square metre manufacturing facility at Cameron Park more than doubles their previous inventory space, and significantly increases production capacity. The event is an opportunity for clients, suppliers, government, local industry and business representatives to tour the facility and view equipment being assembled on site. Austrade, NSW Minerals Council, NSW Department of Industry and Cabinet representatives, as well as local and national business and industry associations have been invited to attend. Managing Director Australia-Asia Pacific, Neil Hunt is delighted to announce that US-based Company Chairman, Mike McLanahan and CEO Sean McLanahan will be in Australia for the event. “Having our Chairman and CEO here from the US is a clear demonstration of the company’s long term commitment to Australia and our mining clients from the Hunter Region,” said Mr Hunt. “Mike will provide the audience with insights into the company’s more than 185 year history, its challenges, successes and future outlook.” With operations in Australia since 2003, McLanahan have been supporting the mining industry with local design and engineering for more than 15 years. Mr Hunt added, “We’re very proud to be part of the manufacturing community supporting mining operations throughout both regional Australia, as a well around the globe.” Designed and developed to meet current and future client needs across the mineral and mining industries, the facility is located closer to their Hunter Valley clients and offers better access to the M1 freeway, with more efficient transport options. “Newcastle and the Hunter are well recognised for high calibre subcontractors, suppliers and engineering firms. Together, they provide a strong foundation for high value manufacturing,” Mr Hunt explained. “Coming off the back of the most successful year in […]

Home battery factory opens in Australia

German energy storage company Sonnen has begun production of home battery storage systems at its new factory in Adelaide. The German manufacturer aims to produce more than 50,000 storage systems over the next five years at the former GM Holden factory in the northern suburbs of the South Australian capital. An A$100 million South Australian government scheme to subsidise solar energy in homes was pivotal to securing investment from Sonnen, which moved its headquarters from Sydney to Adelaide this year. The Home Battery Scheme gives 40,000 South Australian households access to up to $6000 of subsidies and low-interest loans to pay for the installation of home batteries and solar. South Australia Premier Steven Marshall said the battery manufacturing facility will see the revival of the former automobile factory as a national centre for solar energy technology. “Having Sonnen locate its manufacturing centre in Adelaide for the production of home batteries for Australia, Asia and the South Pacific is a significant step in the revitalisation of South Australia’s industrial base,” said Premier Marshall. “The assembly and manufacture of 50,000 energy storage systems in Adelaide over the next five years will create around 430 manufacturing and installation jobs in the state and locates South Australia at the centre of this developing industry.” Sonnen founder and CEO Christoph Ostermann said the company would manufacture more than 10, 000 batteries a year to meet the demand from Australian households for home battery storage systems. “We are excited at the prospect of manufacturing in South Australia for the Australian and export markets and to participating in making Australia the number one market globally for energy storage system,” said Ostermann. “Sonnen will bring great benefits to South Australia through jobs at its Australian head office and factory in Elizabeth, lower energy prices for households that take […]

AIB receives coveted AHRI accreditation for their MBA

The Australian Institute of Business (AIB) is proud to announce that their specialised MBA in Human Resource Management has been granted accreditation by the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) from January 2019. AHRI is the professional association for human resource practitioners in Australia and is tasked with ensuring HR professionals and people managers have the essential prerequisite skills and knowledge required to work in the HR profession. Regarded as the practical business school, AIB will be the first private higher education provider to receive the respected AHRI accreditation for a postgraduate HR qualification. Lyn Goodear, AHRI CEO and AIB Industry Guest Lecturer, says, “We’re delighted to welcome AIB as an AHRI accredited education provider. Accreditation is an important factor to consider when weighing up study options, and it is our job as an accrediting body to help instil confidence in the education choices of HR practitioners.” “AHRI goes through a highly rigorous process to ensure the academic integrity of the courses we accredit, which involves mapping course curriculums to AHRI’s respected Model of Excellence,” Lyn says. On the value of the accreditation for AIB, CEO Paul Wappett explains, “This AHRI accreditation will give our students greater professional recognition and enhanced credibility as managers in all fields.” “We are very proud of our MBA programme’s alignment with industry as it empowers our students in their workplaces, as well as prepares them for what the future of work may bring,” Paul says. AIB delivers its MBA 100 percent online to enable busy professionals to study while they work and apply the learning immediately in the workplace. All HR Academics at AIB are AHRI members and practitioners with industry experience. They facilitate AIB’s accredited HR specialist subjects which include Strategic Human Resource Development, Managing People in a Global Context and Managing Change. Graduates […]

Newcastle Service Rhomberg - Hydraulink 2 (002)

Rhomberg Rail cuts downtime through 24/7 partnership with Hydraulink

Hydraulink servicing Rhomberg facilities in the Newcastle-Hunter area, where Rhomberg customers include light and heavy rail, mining and energy, ports, logistics and bulk materials projects. A leading rail track design, construction and maintenance specialist dedicated to delivering on-time and on-budget projects for the public and private rail networks is curtailing downtime and improving the maintenance productivity of its resurfacing division through the 24/7 services of hydraulic service specialist Hydraulink. Rhomberg Rail Australia is part of the international Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group with 2000 employees globally involved in diverse light and heavy rail projects in Europe, Canada and Australia, where its activities extend from major mining, ports, logistics and bulk material loader projects on both the East and West Coasts, as well as public rail projects such as the Newcastle Light Rail, Freemantle Airport Link and bridge replacement projects in rural areas. Such projects – large and small – typically involve essential transport services that require quick response to the needs of clients employing Rhomberg’s innovative mechanised rail construction and maintenance machinery. Integral to the success of these projects – where time is money – are Rhomberg’s highly experienced local teams dedicated to service excellence and best-practice client relationships. This best-practice goal is why Rhomberg sought a hydraulic service partner with a can-do service ethos, coupled with local and national service capabilities, safety compliance and component traceability standards assured under the one brand. Rhomberg Rail’s General Manager, Mr. Scott Richardson, says the organisation chose to use Hydraulink because the company offered outstanding customer service and were willing to go beyond expectations to source supplies. Rhomberg has seen a measurable improvement in their operations, following their Resurfacing Division’s change to Hydraulink in early 2014. “Making the switch has certainly paid dividends to Rhomberg Rail. The hoses, fittings and service they supply […]

Rio Tinto Limited successfully completes A$2,871 million off-market buy-back

Rio Tinto has successfully completed its off-market buy-back, achieving its share purchase target of approximately 41.2 million Rio Tinto Limited shares, for a total consideration of A$2,871 million (US$2,081 million1). The Buy-Back Price was A$69.69 per Share which represented a discount of 14 per cent to the Market Price2. Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques said “We are delighted to be returning US$2.1 billion to our Rio Tinto Limited shareholders through this off-market buy-back. Strong demand has enabled us to return the maximum amount, and at a discount of 14 per cent. The remaining US$1.1 billion of funds will be returned through our ongoing buy-back of Rio Tinto plc shares. In 2018 we have announced cash returns to shareholders of US$6.4 billion. Our strategic focus, with disciplined allocation of capital, is ensuring that we continue to deliver superior returns to our shareholders in the short, medium and long term.” The Rio Tinto Limited Buy-Back was announced to the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”) on 20 September 2018 as part of a US$3.2 billion share buy-back programme (the “Programme”), returning the post-tax proceeds from the sale of coal assets in 2018 to Rio Tinto shareholders. Rio Tinto Limited bought back 41,198,134 Shares, at an aggregate cost of A$2,871 million (US$2,081 million). This represents 9.99 per cent of Rio Tinto Limited’s issued ordinary shares (or 2.41 per cent of the Rio Tinto Group’s issued ordinary shares3). Following completion, Rio Tinto Limited’s issued share capital will stand at 371,216,214 shares. The portion of the Programme relating to the on-market buy-back of Rio Tinto plc shares will now total a maximum amount of US$1,119 million and will commence on 28 February 2019 and will be completed no later than 28 February 2020. All shares purchased will be cancelled. Due to the significant oversubscription for the […]

Aurecon and Seequent lead on NZ’s largest transport infrastructure project

Global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon and Seequent, a developer of revolutionary visual data science software, are leading the way for digital engineering on New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project ever to be undertaken. Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) project is a 3.45km twin-tunnel underground rail link up to 42 metres below the city centre, transforming the downtown Britomart Transport Centre into a two-way through station that better connects the Auckland rail network. Infrastructure projects this size are challenging enough, without the added complexity of building them in a city located on a volcanic field. Embarking on a massive project like the CRL through an area of complex geology, including volcanoes, requires a very clear assessment of the ground conditions. This demanding task fell on the shoulders of Aurecon. To help attain and communicate this detailed technical analysis, Aurecon used Seequent’s 3D geological modelling solution, Leapfrog Works, which is specifically designed for the Civil Engineering and Environmental industries. Helping reduce risk on infrastructure projects Critical in any major infrastructure project, Aurecon needed to carry out detailed technical analysis of the ground conditions to identify the risks and then clearly communicate and mitigate these risks to the consortium of engineers and architects involved. Philip Kirk, Geotechnical Team Leader, Aurecon, says, “We didn’t want the construction team to encounter unexpected ground conditions that would compromise or delay the project. We had to get it right.” Seeing the complex volcanic geology To make informed decisions on structural design, services locations and construction methods, engineers and construction teams needed to ‘see’ how these ground conditions interacted. Using Leapfrog Works, Aurecon’s ground engineering and engineering design colleagues were able to readily visualise in 3D and were quickly surprised by how effective a communication tool Leapfrog Works was. A key feature in the development of […]

Aurecon appoints CSIRO leader to manufacturing practice

Will bring advanced technical capability and strategic thought leadership to Aurecon’s manufacturing business. Global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon has appointed Dr Ingrid Appelqvist as its new Client Director for Manufacturing. The appointment of Dr Appelqvist, effective September 17, comes as Aurecon grows its manufacturing work in response to Australia’s and New Zealand’s growing importance as a food supplier to Asia. The Australian Trade Commission says that by 2050, 60 per cent of the global demand for food will come from Asia.[1] Dr Appelqvist is a distinguished food scientist with a strong track record as a leader. She joins Aurecon from CSIRO, where she led the Food Structure group at the Agriculture and Food Business Unit – a position that saw her working on healthier foods that retain palatability and nutrition-uptake in the body. Her expertise in food design includes advanced food manufacturing processes and technologies, an expertise she will facilitate for Aurecon’s agri-food clients. Dr Alex Wonhas, Managing Director – Energy, Resources and Manufacturing at Aurecon, said the hiring of Dr Appelqvist will bring advanced technical capability and strategic thought-leadership to Aurecon’s manufacturing business at a time when Australia’s and New Zealand’s agri-business industries are gearing up for growth. “There is growing demand for high-quality and innovative food products from Asian markets. The ANZ agri-food-dairy industry has an opportunity to capture the most lucrative segments of these value-chains,” said Dr Wonhas. “Dr Appelqvist will help our clients implement leading-edge technologies and processes to give them an advantage in these growth markets.” Dr Wonhas said advanced manufacturing techniques – underpinned by new innovative process technologies, sensors, automation and machine learning – could enable higher quality and higher margin products. Aurecon’s food manufacturing practice takes a supply-chain view of the industry and focuses on quality of the product, food safety […]

Manufacture like a boss

Every part manufactured has a story – the story of how something is made, how much something costs, how much something can be sold for, and if you make it again. A good manufacturing story will be filled with precise detail, perfect accuracy, and guide your future based on a truthful history. And this means your customers will want more. Why? The answer is simple – if you are manufacturing you: Master the four key transactions: Purchasing Receipts, Issuing Material, WIP to FG, Shipping/Invoicing. Know your costs (freight, labour, outside services, overhead, other, material) with accurate precision. Price your parts competitively and profitably. Quote your jobs correctly with speed and accuracy. Reduce your risk by knowing and not guessing. When you are doing the above you are making parts faster, making parts better, watching it all in real time, and knowing exactly what everything costs – otherwise known as “manufacturing like a boss”. Prepare to win Manufacturing can be won or lost in how prepared your company is, not just a person. Employees must be well trained to accurately capture data. Garbage in, garbage out. Employees must hold each other accountable. If you see something, say something. Employees must understand daily processes and how each action impacts costing. If you do not know, ask first. Accurate bills and routers When a work order is generated to drive how much and how long it will take to make the parts, the accuracy of the bill of materials and routers impacts runtime, setup, lead times, and quantities. If the lead time is incorrect, it will tell purchasing to order material at the wrong times, leading to overstock of product or expedited fees to get product in. Realistic due dates If the due date on a work order (often driven by sales) is […]

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