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A three dimensional panoramic view of the turquoise spring Kiikunlahde in Hollola, Finland in a mini planet panorama style.

Sustainable Technologies in 2022

At the core of sustainability are cost savings which has led economists and environmentalists to see eye-to-eye on the long-term benefits of sustainable practices in business. RS Components value both the environment and energy conscious design. In addition to their global support of the environment initiatives of Engineers Without Borders, the RS library of accessible consumer materials cover everything from tech-articles to product-selection guides on the most environmentally-economic products on the market. Their commitment to keeping their RS Components customers up-to-date on sustainable product trends compelled them to launch a webinar – Sustainable Technologies in 2022. A panel of experts from the leaders in industry include Schneider Electric, Fluke, Phoenix Contact, ABB and RS PRO who will discuss how business can become more sustainable in operations. Join the Sustainable Technologies in 2022 seminar by clicking on the link below to register: https://nz.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=sustainable-technology&cm_mmc=NZ-PR-_-NZMMAG-_-DTC_203_0322_APAC-_-Sustainability_banner And add this date in your diary: 12PM Thursday 7th April 2022 All attendees who stay until the end of the session will receive a FREE e-Gift Card valued at $20*.

Better environmental management of industrial chemicals

A national roadmap to deliver Australia’s new Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS) is now available. IChEMS will reduce the impacts of industrial chemicals on the environment, protect Australia’s people, and safeguard the value of our land and water. Deputy Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment James Tregurtha said when in place, IChEMS will deliver more consistent regulation of industrial chemicals and make it easier for industry to choose less harmful alternatives. “IChEMS was developed collaboratively by the Australian, state and territory governments working together as part of broader reforms to Australia’s chemicals and waste management,” Mr Tregurtha said. “The roadmap builds on Australia’s partnership approach to chemicals management and recognises that scientists, governments, industry and communities all have a role to play in better management.” “IChEMS will not only support informed choice about chemicals but will also function as a single consistent source of information on how industrial chemicals should be managed in Australia.” Australia’s states and territories are working to adopt and implement IChEMS into their own regulatory frameworks from the end of the year. For more information, and to contribute to this important national reform, go to https://www.awe.gov.au/environment/protection/chemicals-management/national-standard.

CES selects SYSPRO ERP to take its business to the next level

Caravan Electrical Solutions (CES) has selected Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) specialist, SYSPRO to address inefficiencies in its business as the forward looking Australian company experiences extraordinary growth due to Australians buying caravans and campers in record numbers instigated by the pandemic related travel restrictions. CES offers complete electrical systems for recreational vehicles, including the supply of materials, labour and a fully comprehensive warranty, with aftermarket support. After eleven years of experience in this field, CES has evolved with the key focus to provide quality labour-saving technologies to RV manufacturers and continued ongoing support for consumers who buy RVs with this technology. This diversity, focus and investment in state-of-the-art assembly machines, has enabled CES to claim its position as market leader. “The prolonged closure of international borders has merely been an accelerator for our business, which was what instigated the search for a professional ERP system to address inefficiencies in the business, so we can really take it to the next level for an unprecedented period of record growth,” said Jason Arter, Director, CES. CES is SYSPRO’s first sales deal in Asia Pacific for 2022 and took just eight weeks from an online enquiry to closing the deal. It was a competitive sales engagement process against Odoo and M1 Software, with comprehensive pre-sales engagement from discovery through to demonstration. CES has purchased SYSPRO ERP, SYSPRO MRP and SYSPRO MOM to integrate different parts of the business that are currently operated as silos. Somerton, Victoria based CES’ incredibly strong results in the past two years reflect a broader trend of increased adoption of travel via recreational vehicles (RVs) and caravans, largely due to the lack of international travel options during COVID-19. Data from The Caravan Industry Association shows record sales of campers and caravans in 2020 and 2021, up by at least […]

Highly detailed Earth. Australia and Tasmania

Strong interest from oil and gas sector in carbon capture acreage releases

Australia’s oil and gas industry says there has been strong interest in acreage releases for new carbon capture and storage (CCS) opportunities off Western Australia and the Northern Territory. As bidding closed, the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) welcomed the opportunity for members to bid for five areas in Commonwealth waters to explore greenhouse gas storage opportunities. APPEA Chief Executive Andrew McConville said the sector’s technological expertise and commitment to reducing emissions provided it with an advantage to deliver more as well as ultimately support a new hydrogen industry. “We understand members showed strong interest in this release, illustrating a solid backing of the pathway to a lower emissions, cleaner energy future,” Mr McConville said. “The oil and gas industry is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and some of our members are targeting earlier dates. “Billions have already been invested in cleaner technologies such as carbon capture and storage and hydrogen. “CCS has an important role in lowering the carbon intensity of gas production and in supporting the development of a blue hydrogen industry. “CCS is a viable and proven method and the oil and gas industry is well-positioned to deliver the technology.” The bidding under the Federal Government’s 2021 Offshore Greenhouse Gas Storage Acreage Release was the first opportunity since 2014.

Growth fuels relocation for Kemppi Australia

Kemppi Australia, part of Kemppi Oy, a leading international welding equipment manufacturer, has moved its head office into new purpose-designed premises located at Unit 2, 463 Victoria Street, Wetherill Park, NSW. The recent relocation is in response to the company’s continued growth. According to Kemppi Australia’s Managing Director, Paul McVicar, the old premises could no longer meet the company’s existing needs for additional space let alone accommodate any future growth. The new, large two-story building houses Kemppi Australia’s Sydney-based staff, warehousing facilities and service centre. The service centre features work bays with the capability to handle multiple equipment repairs and maintenance contracts simultaneously. The much larger warehouse can accommodate additional stock of equipment and consumables. The extra space will also help make shipping and tracking of Kemppi equipment and goods more efficient. The new office space has been fitted out with a bright, modern design to support staff collaboration and productivity. While the consolidation of office space across two floors allows the company to further streamline internal processes and enhance communications. According to Paul, the Kemppi Australia team are excited about the new facility. “It’s not only a more pleasant and efficient environment in which to work and grow, it will also allow us to better serve our dealers and customers.”

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Engineers encouraged to get dirty through grad program

Bowen Rail Company (BRC) civil engineer Nikita Nikiteev knows better than most the professional value of getting your hands dirty. “I played in the dirt a lot as a kid and had a love for the exact sciences, so civil engineering was always the job for me,” he said. “But it wasn’t until I saw the opportunity of a graduate position working on the Carmichael Rail Network and getting my hands on to something challenging and meaningful that I knew where it would take me. “It turned out that was working alongside thousands of people building a railway in the middle of nowhere, and I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my career.” Now the 26-year-old is encouraging his like-minded peers to seize their opportunity as part of Adani’s second Graduate Program intake with its Bravus Mining and Resources and Bowen Rail Company businesses. Six positions across Bravus’ Carmichael Mine and Bowen Rail Company’s rail freight services are on offer for graduates in the fields of mining, civil and mechanical engineering, and geology. “I’d strongly encourage anyone wanting an exciting and rewarding career to apply,” Nikita said. “It’s continued to open doors for me, and right now I’m working as part of the dynamic team building BRC’s provisioning yard in beautiful Bowen. It’s a lot of fun and I still get to get my hands dirty.” Bravus and BRC HR & IR Lead Rebecca Wells said the 2022 Graduate Program was open to engineers up to two years post-graduation. She said successful applicants would benefit from 18 months of on-site work with senior engineering team members, as well as off-site training with Central Queensland University. “This is the opportunity for the many talented people who want to work in our industry to kick-start a fulfilling career in a […]

Six tips for going circular (from manufacturers who are doing it)

-Jim Goddin, thinkstep-anz Every expert was once a beginner – and that includes the three New Zealand and Australian manufacturers who share their circular economy (CE) expertise here. Ged Finch, Jason Graham-Nye and David Bell run or work in manufacturing businesses based on CE principles. Ged is R&D Manager at XFrame, a business which designs and manufactures reusable prefabricated structural framing. Jason co-founded gDiapers which designs and makes compostable nappies. David is Manager Sustainability and Insight at steel recycler, manufacturer and distributor InfraBuild. Our three experts have learned a lot about CE since they started out. In a recent thinkstep-anz webinar, they shared their tips for taking a manufacturing business circular. Their advice is relevant for businesses that design and manufacture their own products and for contract manufacturers too. Before we hear from our experts, here’s a look at CE and how it can add value to your manufacturing business. Circular economy in a nutshell CE is often confused with recycling. It’s much (much!) more. CE is based on three principles. Here’s how they play out in the real world of product design and manufacturing at XFrame, gDiapers and InfraBuild. Principle 1: designing out waste and pollution XFrame estimates that their reusable framing can reduce construction waste from a single home by up to 5 tonnes. gDiapers’ products eliminate waste from disposable nappies. InfraBuild recycled 1.4 m tonnes of scrap metal in Australia in 2021. Principle 2: keeping products and materials in use More than 95% of the materials in an X-Frame building can be recovered and reused, many times. The materials in gDiapers’ nappies can be composted and put back into the soil. InfraBuild keep materials in use by feeding their electric arc furnaces with 100% scrap metal wherever possible. Principle 3: regenerating natural systems The timber XFrame use to manufacture […]

Study to research opportunity of carbon capture and storage in WA

A new study investigating opportunities in Western Australia for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a positive step in finding pathways to decarbonise the economy, according to Australia’s oil and gas industry. The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) today backed the study commissioned by the Western Australian LNG Jobs Taskforce, supported by APPEA members bp, Chevron, Eni, Santos, Shell, and Woodside. APPEA WA Director Claire Wilkinson said the research would provide critical intelligence on how best to deploy CCUS and CCS to decarbonise not just the state’s gas industry but many other sectors as well. “The oil and gas industry is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with several companies targeting even earlier timeframes,” Ms Wilkinson said. “Decarbonising our existing and future operations means there is a need to invest in renewable energy and lower emission technologies and this study will help inform the investment opportunities in this space. “CCUS and CCS have key roles in lowering the carbon intensity of gas production and in supporting the development of a blue hydrogen industry here in WA, a key enabler to a viable hydrogen industry. “The study will help us chart a way forward with natural gas set to be a key part of a cleaner energy mix.” The study will be conducted by the CSIRO and the Global Carbon Capture & Storage Institute and is expected be completed in the second half of this year. The Western Australian LNG Jobs Taskforce aims to maximise local jobs and establish WA as a global LNG hub. Originally established by the WA Premier in 2018, it comprises of the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade; heads of Woodside, Chevron, Shell, Santos, and INPEX, and representatives from APPEA and UnionsWA.

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The value of a digital parts library for manufacturers

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is transforming traditional manufacturing processes and supply chains thanks to digitalisation. Information regarding parts can now be digitised and this presents significant opportunities for many sectors within the Australian manufacturing market to leverage reduced parts lead times and product improvements using Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology to attain components virtually on demand. Digitalisation in the form of a secure, cloud-based parts library, plays an important role in implementing an effective AM system. It supports parts re-engineering and production turnaround speeds, client supply chain management and product quality continuity. Overcoming a key manufacturing challenge One of the more persistent challenges faced by manufacturing firms revolves around quick repair and turnaround of faulty equipment. This often requires rapid replacement of components, and advanced manufacturing methods such as AM can make this possible. AM facilitates significantly reduced lead times and unit costs for low volume components and obsolete parts, whilst offering re-engineering possibilities to enhance component durability and increase performance. The benefits of a digital parts library for manufacturers Reverse engineering and digitalising physical components to build comprehensive parts libraries can be used to simulate complex processes and equipment operations. This allows parts that are failing and replaced at a high frequency to be quickly identified, even to the smallest component level. Using this data, engineers can then embark on focused R&D projects including qualifying stronger materials and revising inefficient designs to improve the mean-time-to-failure rate for these parts. The performance of the new and improved parts can then be simulated to validate improvement even before the parts are manufactured. Therefore, a digital parts library allows for more accurate predictive maintenance methods to be put in place. A secured digital parts library also forms an essential link in any AM-ready process as it provides inherent time and cost saving benefits. […]

Probuild collapse – a tragedy that could have been avoided

Following the news that Australian construction industry giant Probuild has fallen into voluntary administration, leading credit reporting agency CreditorWatch assessed the warning signs that existed in advance of the collapse and how they could have been avoided. “This news comes as a devastating hit to the Australian construction industry,” says CreditorWatch CEO Patrick Coghlan “the demise of a business with the scale and reach of Probuild is bound to send shockwaves through the industry, as thousands of small businesses are impacted. Sadly, I fear this is the tip of the iceberg, and we could see many more going under, as an industry that was already under significant pressure is dealt another heavy blow.” Red flags in plain sight for industry partners The writing was on the wall for Probuild which, like the rest of the construction industry, struggled to survive a perfect COVID storm of supply chain disruptions, cost blowouts and increased worker absenteeism. CreditorWatch listed Probuild under a D1 or D2 RiskScore Rating from October 2021, with its risk of default or insolvency significantly higher than the average Australian business. This score was awarded based on a variety of factors, including the rapid increase in credit enquiries from August 2021 onwards. “The data underlines just how crucial it can be for small businesses to monitor the vital signs of their stakeholders and to identify those suppliers and debtors that could be at risk of default, in order to adequately assess their credit risk,” continues Coghlan. In the past five years, Probuild had 1,588 credit enquiries, of which 545 were lodged in the last 12 months alone. This increase is in line with the wider construction industry, which currently sits at the top of the ANZSIC Division for credit enquiries on 255, well above manufacturing on 75 and Professional, Scientific […]

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