Developments

Kanyana Engineering has followed a policy of providing unique sheet metal services at its Greenfields, Western Australia manufacturing facility since its formation in 1997. Graham Dawe, Managing Director says, “We started this process with a 100 ton press capable of bending 6mm material when our competitors could only bend 3mm material.”  This policy is continuing and now the company has progressed from high tolerance plasma cutting to fibre laser cutting with a 15kW 1.5m x 3m Bystronic Bystar and the first Bystronic 20kW Penta laser with 2.5m x 6m bed in Western Australia. This machine can cut 50mm mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium, giving the company the largest job shop capacity in the region. The capabilities of the company make it sought after for supplying civil, mining, industrial, construction and creative arts projects. The variety is huge and includes balustrades for the Kalbarri Skywalk which soars 100m above the Murchison River Gorge and mining refuge chambers which are designed to protect miners in an emergency. As part of its pursuit of excellence, Managing Director, Graham Dawe understood that software and the integration of the company’s systems was crucial to his plan. “I had experience from a previous computer business and wanted a fully integrated CAD/CAM and ERP system. With Lantek, this was all possible and we went for the full suite of Lantek Expert, Flex 3D and Integra straight away. “We can take DXF files and 3D models directly from the customer and use the system to nest parts, program the lasers and calculate a consistent and accurate price for the job, irrespective of who creates the quotation, always offering our best price in a matter of a few minutes.” Stock material is stored within the system as are remnants from previous jobs so the company knows what is […]

ADELAIDE – Cisgenics, a global leader in intelligent irrigation solutions, has been awarded the prestigious Smart Approved WaterMark certification for its flagship product, CisgenX. This recognition highlights CisgenX’s commitment to sustainability, precision, and efficiency in water management. CisgenX is transforming irrigation water requirements with a smart solution to provide the optimal amount of water for plants — which reduces water and energy costs. By utilising real-time data from Internet of Things sensors, the solution determines what the optimal requirements are to ensure efficient and effective water usage, contributing to healthier plants and sustainable landscapes. “CisgenX offers a solution that not only conserves water but also supports businesses in meeting their sustainability goals,” said Sam Rebera, Managing Director of Cisgenics. “This certification validates our efforts to revolutionise water management with precision and innovation.” Designed for ease of use, CisgenX’s technology is versatile and impactful, serving sectors such as agriculture, landscaping, sports fields, and urban green spaces. It reduces water consumption by 40% to 70% compared to traditional methods, making it a go-to solution for efficient water management. Cisgenics is dedicated to revolutionising the irrigation industry through innovative, AI-powered solutions that optimise water and energy use, promote sustainability, and ensure the health and longevity of green assets worldwide. With more than 45 years of experience, Cisgenics combines deep industry knowledge with the latest technological advancements to offer precision, efficiency, and sustainability in water management. cisgenics.com  

  Researchers at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, have successfully developed a next-generation uniform prototype that employs nanofibres to safeguard Australian troops from chemical and biological threats. The innovative material is a lightweight fabric that effectively filters out harmful particles while remaining light-weight and breathable, keeping the wearer comfortable in extreme temperatures. CSIRO Manufacturing Research Unit Director, Dr Marcus Zipper said this textile innovation was the result of collaboration with industry and research partners, including DMTC. “Our nanofibre technology, pioneered by CSIRO scientists, has the potential to significantly improve the level of protection soldiers’ uniforms provide and can also be used for non-military applications, including protecting emergency responders and hazmat crews,” Dr Zipper said. “CSIRO research and development in materials science looks to improve how a particular material functions – we work across a broad range of advanced materials including metals, composites, polymers, adsorbents and nanofibres,” Dr Zipper said. The initial phase of this project was funded by the Department of Defence. The successful nanofibre suit prototype was coordinated by DMTC Limited. Also involved in supporting the project are Bruck Textiles, Defence Science and Technology Group and RMIT University. Head of Program Management at DMTC, Deepak Ganga, said the new prototype uniform could deliver a significant leap forward in soldier protection, ensuring better comfort and mobility in harsh environments. “This project demonstrates the power of collaboration. CSIRO’s scientific excellence in nanofibre research has been matched with the expertise of our partners in textiles, defence science, and manufacturing,” Mr Ganga said. “This has resulted in a groundbreaking solution that offers benefits for Australian troops, for the first responder community and, potentially for Australia’s alliance partners,” he said. CSIRO project lead Dr Yen Truong said key to the prototype’s success lies in its innovative nanofibre technology, developed by CSIRO scientists. “We harnessed […]

Article by Leon Poggioli, ANZ Regional Director at Claroty Traditional manufacturing plants and OT (Operational Technology) networks had no internet connectivity. They could run in a semi-isolated fashion, and there was little risk of a cyberattack. As the modern OT network becomes more digitised and technology-enabled to leverage AI and increased automation, they are now experiencing a much higher level of cyber risk. Traditional plants were operated very much onsite, with access controlled by strong physical mechanisms like site inductions and physical security methods permitting people to attend the site, make changes and operate the facility. The digital transformation now underway in OT networks has resulted in far more digital connectivity, with a greater focus on safety and productivity meaning more work is completed via digital methods – either by operators onsite, remote workers and 3rd party contractors, or remote machine-to-machine connectivity, with things like cloud-based AI analytics which optimise plant infrastructure. Traditional methods of access to these networks have not kept up with the digital transformation underway in OT. Password-sharing continues as a common practice, and many devices remain configured with default credentials. One recent example where this occurred was the cyberattack on Unitronics devices used by Water Authorities in the United States, which were directly exposed to the internet with default credentials configured. Some more mature organisations use a complex web of jump-boxes and VPNs to broker access to key systems in a zoned OT network, making it difficult to administer and maintain strict zero trust access to critical systems, not to mention the impact to useability as users need to log in via multiple hops to perform the work they need to perform. The digital transformation underway in cyber-physical networks demands a better approach to broker access securely to critical production systems, without compromising useability or adding unnecessary complexity.  Users […]

Aramid textile-coated reusable Pronal CLT lifting cushions in capacities up to 65 tons per unit Mining, construction, energy exploration, and infrastructure groups are becoming ever nimbler in moving plant, people, and resources over major distances as opportunities decline at one site and open up in more profitable areas. This has led to a new generation of transportable technologies and plant, including portable buildings and transportable facilities that need to be safely lifted for trucking to new destinations. “Such vital facilities can include accommodation, maintenance, engineering, testing, and medical facilities, extending through to containerised energy management and electronic technologies associated with electrification and automation of sites,” says Pronal elastomer engineering specialist Vinh Lam, of Pronal exclusive Australian national distributor Air Springs Supply Pty Ltd. A problem associated with such lift and shifts is creating access gaps under loads for safe lifts onto transport, particularly where space around the load may be limited, or site conditions may involve soft or variable substrates that preclude the initial use of  hydraulic or mechanical lifts with high point loads. Even on hard surfaces, using crane or forklifting techniques to create the initial lifting gap may damage hard concrete or tarmac surfaces, unless a working gap is first created for optimally safe access beneath heavy structures, or structures that may have been in place for some time. Pronal lifting cushions gently and safely lift multiple structures and fixed and mobile plant, including containerised plant. “Heavy processing equipment and portable structures often need to be raised to a low height to enable safe clear access so forklift tynes, crane strops, or standard lifting equipment or vehicles can do their work of loading onto transport,” says Vinh Lam. “The lifting gap is important, because it enables heavy lifting equipment to get through beneath the base of the load […]