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Carbon Drawdown Initiative monitors ground data related to CO2 sequestration

The Carbon Drawdown Initiative GmbH was founded in January 2020 and is focused on promoting research, public discourse, and impact investment in the field of “negative emissions”. This involves the removal of carbon from the atmosphere with subsequent long-term storage of that carbon. This CO2 removal is crucial to counteracting climate change by achieving “net zero”. This is especially important considering that certain emissions are difficult to avoid and will continue to occur in the future. The next step would then be to reverse the impact of historical emissions to bring current temperatures back down. If this does not happen, the excessively warm climate will continue for millennia. In addition to public discourse, political work, and early investment in start-ups with innovative concepts for CO2 removal, the Carbon Drawdown Initiative also launched its own Enhanced Weathering project. “Project Carbdown” is being implemented by a network of technology companies in the Nuremberg metropolitan region and renowned scientists from various international universities, including the Alfred Wegener Institute and the universities of Hamburg and Wageningen. Enhanced Weathering Project, “Project Carbdown” The focus of the collaboration is research into accelerated weathering on arable land – a method of generating negative emissions. This involves adding ground rocks (such as basalt), which react with CO2 in the air upon contact, to arable soil. Since natural weathering would take thousands of years – too slow to have the rapid impact needed to reduce global warming – methods to significantly accelerate this chemical reaction will be explored. These include, for example, the use of different grain sizes, various crop types, or other soil additives such as biochar. The aim is to develop a measurement method that records the amount of CO2 collected per hectare of arable soil. On this basis, farmers could be enabled to participate in emissions […]

Streamlining supply chains – with data

By Erich Gerber, SVP EMEA & APJ – TIBCO Supply chains are essential to everyday life and are made up of important links. Those links are people, processes, and facilities; everything that’s needed to deliver goods from one location to the other, and technology plays a critical role in enabling and maintaining those links. If you are simply the recipient of those goods, chances are you don’t think too much about supply chains, until one of those links breaks – just like when the toilet paper supply chain broke in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite no inherent weakness in the toilet paper supply chain, undue stress was placed on production companies due to ‘panic buying’ during the pandemic, a completely unpredictable situation. However, the pandemic also resulted in a number of expected and very justifiable demands on supply chains, for example the enormous surge in online shopping, for everything from groceries to fitness equipment. The challenge for all players in the supply chain — manufacturers, importers, warehouses, shippers and retailers — is to meet demand and keep customers happy without any noticeable disruption. The key to this is accurate data and the technology behind it at different touch points throughout the supply chain, which can help businesses analyse the demand and supply so they can plan and execute accordingly. Analytics and data-driven insights allow manufacturers and operators to optimise production and distribution capacity. And signals generated from market changes like seasonality and social events can be used to escalate production or even reallocate distribution. Using data to manage supply chains For more ambitious supply chain enhancements, the solution is to leverage the same digital technology that is disrupting supply chains and re-invent them for optimal performance. In this digital world, ‘chain’ itself becomes something of a misnomer. […]

Australian manufacturers: Intelligent automation boosts growth and competitiveness

By Leigh Pullen, CEO, CiGen Manufacturers have long embraced automation. Typically, this has been in the factory where physical tasks performed by people have been replicated by machines. For example, General Motors started using robots in factories over 60 years ago. And we’ve seen similar stories ever since the first steam driven looms were used during the Industrial Revolution. But, when it comes to business processes, there are substantial opportunities to automate tasks in order to boost productivity and reduce workplace boredom. Factories represent just one element of successful manufacturing operations. For the business to succeed it needs a number of other crucial functions to work at their best. When we look at business processes, ranging from customer service through to financial reporting, managing equipment maintenance and back office operations, we find that many tasks are repeated each day, week or month by people executing the same steps over and over. Intelligent automation, using tools such as robotic process automation (RPA), can support people in key business functions and free them from restrictive, time consuming and monotonous tasks allowing them to focus on higher value activities and empowering them to deliver new innovations that can supercharge growth and competitiveness. No more rekeying For most Australian manufacturers there are tasks that rely on information stored in one system being rekeyed into another. A machine may record how long it’s been operating or how many widgets it has turned out. At the end of a day, that information might be collected by a person and re-entered into a spreadsheet. The data might then be copied into a maintenance log or some other application. Everything from initial data collection through to the entry into other applications can be automated. A piece of software code can read the information from the machine, reformat or […]

Q & A:Craig Charlton, CEO, SugarCRM

How are you finding current business conditions? The lockdowns across Australia may have stunted the growth of the manufacturing industry, but manufacturers have also pivoted their businesses to ride out the challenging environment. They have also responded to rapid change by shortening their supply chain, placing emphasis on JIT (Just In Time), and creating value for their customers. In general, the pandemic has fundamentally changed how we work and live, and has driven accelerated adoption of digital channels, such as eCommerce and social commerce, across multiple industries. In fact, in the most recent report from Essence Global, 71 percent of Australian consumers surveyed are highly likely to buy from social channels in future and 50 percent have already participated in live shopping and conversational commerce. At SugarCRM, we see more effort from our customers in making the (personalised) customer experience their mandate. CRM is now businesses’ primary source of customer data and information; they can manage their goals, workflows, and processes, as well as continuous communications with customers no matter where they are. With the rise of the digital economy, sales, marketing, and service teams are swimming in copious amounts of customer data to interpret and inform personalised, empathic communications. They need capabilities to help them sift through and find customer insights through that data. Capabilities such as AI-driven sentiment analysis are supercharging CRM functions such as sales, marketing, and service interactions with the insight into each customer’s and prospect’s emotional state and intent. And these AI-driven solutions are doing so seamlessly in the background, sifting through massive data sets across customer channels to help teams on the customer front lines identify the next-best actions and opportunities. More businesses are also starting to understand the criticality of sales and marketing to be in lock-step to win business and support growth. […]

How the budget can deliver economic recovery and cleaner, secure energy

Australia’s oil and gas industry has urged the Federal Government to use the 2022-23 Budget to encourage continued investment in secure, cleaner energy. In a plan to bolster the investment environment, the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) said development of both the natural gas industry and new technology could drive economic recovery, create jobs and reduce emissions. APPEA’s 2022-23 Federal Budget submission, released today, calls for economy-wide investment allowances for large projects and new technology initiatives cutting carbon emissions; the immediate deductibility of wages and salaries; as well as the removal of barriers to oil and gas project restructuring. The blueprint also includes expanding the Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive (JMEI) for junior oil and gas explorers to secure additional local supply for the future. New net zero initiatives include amending the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to allow for reservoir testing for the examination of CCUS use as well as supporting carbon capture opportunities through acreage releases.  APPEA Chief Executive Officer Andrew McConville said the industry was key to securing Australia’s competitive advantage through its work ensuring energy supply and decarbonising for a cleaner energy future. “This is a plan that delivers cleaner, secure energy supplies while lifting us out of the tough times of the pandemic,” he said. “Australia and its government have a massive, once-in-a-generation opportunity to make policy decisions to provide foundations for the future growth of our economy. “A recent Ernst & Young report found national economic output could rise over $350 billion and create over 220,000 jobs in the next 20 years – but only if the settings are right. “And, of course, our industry will continue to deliver taxation revenue that helps to build the nation’s roads, schools and hospitals.” The full suite of APPEA recommendations to be […]

AMW 2022 – Where technology meets innovation

Preparations are well underway for the inaugural Australian Manufacturing Week exhibition, taking place in Sydney in June 2022. Owned and operated by AMTIL, AMW is Australia’s premier manufacturing solutions event. Under the theme ‘Where technology meets innovation’, AMW 2022 will take place at the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) in Darling Harbour from 7-10 June 2022. “We’re getting very excited about the way the work on AMW has been going,” says Kim Banks, Head of Events at AMTIL. “The response from industry has been incredibly positive, with the exhibition space already fully booked apart from a handful of stands. This is a really big, important new venture for AMTIL, so we’re really thrilled with the enthusiasm for it that we’ve seen out there.” AMW will occupy more than 9,000 square metres of exhibition space at the ICC Sydney, with more than 140 organisations taking stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes and support services. Six dedicated zones will cover a range of specialised aspects of the modern manufacturing landscape: Additive Manufacturing. Australian Manufacturers Pavillion. Machine Tools & Ancillary Equipment. Manufacturing Solutions. Robotics & Automation. Weld Solutions. While AMW is a brand new event, AMTIL can bring plenty of experience in staging industry exhibitions to ensure the 2022 show will be a success. Since 2000, AMTIL has operated Austech, Australia’s premier advanced manufacturing and machine tool exhibition. The last Austech exhibition – held in Melbourne in May 2019 – was attended by industry professionals from across Australia and around the world, with more than 170 organisations showcasing state-of-the-art manufacturing hardware, software and support services. Going forward, Austech has now been incorporated into AMW, an exhibition encompassing all aspects of the manufacturing industry in Australia. AMTIL took the decision to launch AMW after Reed Exhibitions announced in mid-2020 that it […]

ERP delivers tangible ROI to CEOs of manufacturing and distribution companies

By Jaco Maritz, Chief Operating Officer, SYSPRO As the world continues to adapt, manufacturers and distributors have had to cope with new complexities of doing business. Driven by emerging customer preferences and demanding supplier requirements, the industry has had to shift gear rapidly to enable it to prosper. Customers have become increasingly drawn to eCommerce platforms as global lockdowns opened the opportunity for new digital channels. And while supply chain disruptions impacted business operations, it also opened the door for a new competitive market underpinned by the expansion of product ranges, and the rise of techniques such as additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies. As a result, CEOs have had to think about new routes to market, new products and even new processes altogether. Within this zeitgeist, manufacturing and distribution leaders still have three crucial business priorities top of mind. The business must cut costs while remaining globally competitive, organisational efficiency needs to be improved, and ongoing risks need to be reduced. Many businesses have looked at the benefits of digitalisation in addressing these priorities. ERP has been shown to improve operational efficiency, productivity, and time to value, but there ae still businesses that remain hesitant in making the investment. The key is to understand what sort of ROI ERP brings to the business. Using ERP to gain competitive advantage According to recent SYSPRO research, 29% of businesses felt that their business systems did not provide them with the availability and accessibility to manage the changes that the pandemic introduced. Many businesses still relied heavily on manual processes and spreadsheets. Those who had real time access to data could connect directly with customers and suppliers and address immediate needs and build their business. Real-time access to data is a central factor for manufacturing and distribution businesses to remain competitive. […]

Registrations for AUSPACK 2022 now open

Registrations for AUSPACK 2022, the southern hemisphere’s leading processing and packaging trade event, are now open. The globally recognised, long-running biennial event, which is part of Packaging and Processing Week, is heading back to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 17-20 May, 2022. It brings expanded business sessions and improved online searchable directories to enhance visitors’ ability to tailor and plan their visit. Mark Dingley, Chairman of the Australian Packaging & Processing Machinery Association (APPMA), which owns AUSPACK, said, “AUSPACK 2022 will showcase a host of global mega trends in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical processing and packaging industries. “As the first industry expo since 2019, it will be the perfect place for people across the packaging and processing sectors to find solutions to increase efficiencies across their business.” This year, more than 250 suppliers representing hundreds of global brands will be on the show floor, offering visitors solutions that address a range of industry trends and themes. AUSPACK 2022 will allow attendees to see first hand, products that offer enhanced safety, security, automation and cost-saving benefits. The AUSPACK Leaders Forum, from 18-19 May, will offer business owners the opportunity to benchmark as an organisation of the future, gain knowledge and inspiration, and network with like-minded, forward-thinking leaders. Key themes include: future supply chain adapting and diversifying for commercial success future technology sustainability and the circular economy investment and collaboration future workforce The expanded Solutions Theatres at AUSPACK 2022 will give visitors in-depth overviews of technology, solutions and strategies, with sessions covering: supply chain and procurement education preventative maintenance materials and packaging design network security the circular economy the future of manufacturing and warehousing … and more The exhibition floor will also feature an array of new zones: IT & Services, Processing Equipment, Packaging and Packaging Materials, and Packaging […]

Overcoming the security challenges of Industry 4.0

Lani Refiti, ANZ Regional Director at Claroty The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted every industry in very different ways. The need to maximise remote working has been universal, but certain industries have seen demand for their products and services surge; while for others, demand has diminished to virtually zero in some cases. Manufacturers with heavily digitised and sophisticated operations were well-placed to manage both the transition to remote working and the demand fluctuation for their products and services. They were able to rapidly pivot from in-person to remote working, and to spin up production of high-demand goods such as hand sanitisers, personal protection equipment and ventilators. Meanwhile, manufacturers with less sophisticated operations found themselves scrambling to react. The technological capabilities that enabled manufacturers to successfully adapt their operations during Covid-19 can be summed up in one phrase: Industry 4.0, the next generation of manufacturing technology. The concept was conceived in Germany as Industrie 4.0 and made its debut at the 2011 Hannover Fair. It has come a long way since then and means different things in different countries. The Australian Government says, “Industry 4.0 is transforming how businesses operate by connecting the physical with the digital world.” It gives as examples, “Artificial intelligence, advanced automation and robotics.” Industry 4.0 embraces machine-to-machine communication, human-to-machine communication and the idea of a connected ecosystem that links customers, supply chains and production facilities. It enables real-time communication to ensure smooth operation of supply chains, the tailoring of supply to meet demand and, in more advanced versions, the concept of direct control of production according to demand. Industry 4.0 has increased manufacturers’ flexibility, competitiveness and their ability to exploit new market opportunities. Industry 4.0: where IT meets OT However, there is a major hurdle to realising the vision of Industry 4.0, one that manufacturers have struggled […]

Rio Tinto purchases first battery-electric trains for the Pilbara

Rio Tinto has agreed to purchase four battery-electric trains for use in the Pilbara region of Western Australia as part of the company’s strategy to reduce its carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030. Rio Tinto purchased the four 7MWh FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives from Wabtec Corporation with production due to commence in the United States in 2023 ahead of initial trials in the Pilbara in early 2024. The locomotives, used to carry ore from the company’s mines to its ports, will be recharged at purpose-built charging stations at the port or mine. They will also be capable of generating additional energy while in transit through a regenerative braking system which takes energy from the train and uses it to recharge the onboard batteries. A full transition to net zero emissions technology of its entire fleet of rail locomotives would reduce Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s diesel-related carbon emissions in the Pilbara by around 30 per cent annually. Rio Tinto Managing Director of Port, Rail and Core Services Richard Cohen said delivery of the prototype locomotives will be an important early step for the company on the path toward a decarbonised Pilbara. “Our partnership with Wabtec is an investment in innovation and an acknowledgement of the need to increase the pace of our decarbonisation efforts. “Battery-electric locomotives offer significant potential for emissions reduction in the near term as we seek to reduce our Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions in the Pilbara by 50 per cent by 2030.” Rogerio Mendonca, President of Freight Equipment for Wabtec, said the FLXdrive is ideally suited to support Rio Tinto’s decarbonisation targets. “This locomotive provides the power, fuel savings and emissions reductions to cost-effectively run rail networks in the mining industry. The rapid adoption of the FLXdrive by Rio Tinto and other mining operators demonstrates […]

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