Developments

Smart manufacturing starts with Plex

Rockwell Automation will be showcasing its Plex cloud-based manufacturing platform at this year’s Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) in Melbourne from May 6-9. Demonstrations will be held at stand MS210 (Manufacturing Solutions Zone). Plex Manufacturing Execution System (MES), integrated with Rockwell’s suite, offers comprehensive manufacturing software, providing real-time production management, enhancing compliance, quality, and efficiency. “Plex is a cloud-based platform, that enables future-focussed manufacturers to achieve real-time integration, high levels of availability and flexibility, cybersecurity, and scalability,” says Anthony Wong, vice president, enterprise software sales, Asia Pacific, Rockwell Automation Plex has been used by Australian and New Zealand companies to enhance operational efficiency, with examples including: STM Brands, a manufacturer of high-quality, award-winning accessories for tablets, laptops, and phones with a worldwide retail presence and offices in Sydney, San Diego, London, and Kuala Lumpur. As air freight costs began to rise, STM Brands realised its supply chain and spreadsheet-based planning was not accurately keeping up with demand volatility, and this was eating into the company’s margins. After implementing Plex, STM Brands increased gross profit margin by 5%, improved operating margin by 20%, reduced costly air freight by 50%, and decreased overall freight to sales ratio by 25% year-over-year. Importantly, Plex’s Supply Chain Planning (SCP) integrated into STM’s existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, allowing for seamless data transfer. Tasti Products Limited, New Zealand, a snack bar and wholefood ball manufacturer. Recognising their legacy ERP system could no longer support an expanding business, Tasti Products searched for a smart manufacturing solution that would allow the company to scale in size and improve the speed in which business analytics could be performed. Tasti sought a manufacturing solution that was cloud-based and could help drive its end-to-end digital transformation. With the ability to offer world-class food safety and its established presence in the food […]

NT gas industry welcomes crackdown on activist lawfare

The NT gas industry says the Territory Government’s moves to clamp down on lawfare will boost investment and energy security. Australian Energy Producers NT Director David Slama welcomed the Petroleum, Planning and Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, set to be introduced in Parliament this week, as an important step in stopping activist groups from vexatiously using the legal system to delay critical gas projects in the Territory. “We commend the Territory Government for moving decisively to stamp out activist lawfare putting at risk economic and energy security for Territorians,” Mr Slama said. “At a time when Australians are facing cost-of-living pressures, the Territory Government has recognised the need to remove barriers to new gas supply so Territorians continue to have reliable and affordable energy. “It is not in the public interest for activist lawyers to damage the Territory’s attractiveness as a place to do business and to invest, undermining our economic and energy security.” Mr Slama said activists exploiting the Merits Review process had deterred much-needed investment in the Territory. “A long list of vexatious cases has exposed the extreme tactics of activists who are more interested in delaying projects than genuinely representing the interests of Territory communities,” he said. “Removing the Merits Review process is a significant step towards streamlining approval processes to enable new gas supply to be brought online sooner. “We need to expedite project delivery and improve environmental outcomes.”

Master Lock launches key storage products

Master Lock has launched four new key storage products, highlighting their innovation in access sharing. Master Lock’s three new next-generation key storage units include permanent wall-mount, and both portable shackle and cable versions. With a sleek, modern ergonomic design that makes them easier to use, the new key safes also offer increased security through a solid metal body construction, as well as greater resilience against the elements with a durable weather resistant cover. All three units boast increased storage capacity to secure more than ten standard house keys, as well as larger modern RFID car keys and fobs, access cards and extra-large home, office and storage keys. Offering elevated convenience and security, the new Master Lock 5481EURD Wall Mounted Key Lock Box (RRP $59.95) provides permanently installed unrivalled storage capacity and usability. Whether it’s for an office, or a construction site, the lock box is designed to grant access to trusted individuals seamlessly and reliably. The Master Lock Portable 5480EURDAU Shackle (RRP $65.95) and 5482EURDAU Cable Key Safes (RRP $69.95) offer even more application and functionality. Each product’s respective shackle and cable is removable, allowing for easy placement in a wide range of locations. Ideal for using at work, on equipment, vehicles, fences or gates, these products provide unmatched installation flexibility and adaptability. For those with late night or early morning starts, the new Master Lock 5424DAU Portable Combination Light-up Key Safe (RRP $61.95) is a must-have. Perfect for securing keys, it features a light up combination panel, making it easy to use in low-light situations. The new Master Lock key storage products are available at Bunnings Warehouse (5480EURDAU, 5481EURDAU and 5482EURDAU) Mitre 10 and Home Timber and Hardware stock all four products.

$17m Laverton North liquid and hazardous waste management upgrade: World’s best

A $17 million dollar revamp of Evoro’s Laverton North liquid and hazardous waste management facility will transform the operation into one of the world’s best. Upgrade works are underway at the Melbourne site and scheduled for completion by late 2025, following a comprehensive planning and approvals process spanning five years. The improvements will enable Evoro to operate with better versatility across a spectrum of liquid and hazardous waste management services, including: Neutralising acids and alkaline materials for safe disposal or discharge as stormwater. An example is acids used in galvanising processes to manufacture corrosion resistant products; Processing wastewater for safe discharge as stormwater. An example is wastewater resulting from industrial plant wash-downs; Separating and purifying water from oil. An example is workshop ‘oily water’ (water mixed with oils and other lubricants). Recovered oil can be reused as an industrial fuel source; Purifying waste glycol (antifreeze) for reuse; Processing hard-to-treat liquids such as Hydrogen Fluoride and waters containing PFAS for safe disposal or reuse. The result will be improved efficiency, more flexibility for clients and better environmental outcomes. New weighbridges and enhanced truck unloading processes to improve customer experience will be central to the upgrades. Evoro Chief Executive Officer Susan McBurney said the investment would incorporate leading global technology and practice. “This is a sweeping site overhaul enabling us to modernise operations to world-class standard,” McBurney said. “Our clients from multiple industrial sectors will reap the benefits of better efficiency, cost effectiveness and service. “Much of what we’re doing is a response to client feedback, and in line with strict regulatory requirements.” Evoro Victorian General Manager Jenny Barnes emphasised the environmental benefits. “Our forte at Laverton North is handling difficult-to-treat industrial waste, giving it a second life through recycling or preparing it for safe disposal,” Barnes said. “It’s a […]

Breakthrough Victoria launches groundbreaking fellowship program to boost research entrepreneurship

Breakthrough Victoria is excited to announce the launch of the Breakthrough Fellowship Program, a pioneering initiative designed to ignite research entrepreneurship talent across Victoria. The Breakthrough Fellowship Program is a $7.5 million, multi-year initiative aimed at fostering research entrepreneurship in Victoria. It is projected to establish up to 50 new startup companies and create at least 50 jobs, thereby nurturing entrepreneurial talent and enhancing future investment pipelines. The program addresses critical market gaps and aims to cultivate the next generation of startup founders from Victorian universities and medical research institutes. Data from the U.S. National Science Board highlights the pivotal role of STEM founders in attracting investment and creating high-paying jobs. Despite this, internal analysis by University College London (UCL) revealed that the optimal time for starting companies is during the PhD level, particularly when multiple PhDs collaborate on varied research topics to uncover commercial possibilities. In Victoria, however, there is a notable lack of awareness about entrepreneurship and startup careers among students. A post program review of the University of Melbourne’s PhD Innovators program led by the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre’s Professor Colin McLeod found that 89 per cent of participants were interested in becoming venture founders yet faced a scarcity of investment opportunities. The Breakthrough Fellowship program is designed to bridge this gap. This unique fellowship program is the first in Australia to offer a tangible salary and research commercialisation funding, alongside mentoring and skills development. Under the Breakthrough Fellowship Program, Breakthrough Victoria will invest up to $150,000 per startup. Each startup must focus on commercialising research conducted by the founders or associated university professors. Fellows will have to draw a salary between $60,000 and $90,000 from the invested capital, ensuring financial stability during their entrepreneurial journey. The remaining funds will support additional hiring or product development. Applicants must […]

Convergence Medical secure $5 million from global investors for world-first surgical robot

Brisbane MedTech company Convergence Medical has secured AU$5 million from global investors, closing out its successful Series A funding round. US investor Avicella Capital has backed the company’s world-first arthroscopic surgical robot – named VO1 – which will support plans to commercialise the robot, expand into the US and disrupt the $6.1 billion global arthroscopic industry. The funding milestone elevates the company to a valuation of over AU$30 million, setting the stage for significant expansion and innovation in the global healthcare sector. It also delivers a significant return on investment to angel, pre-seed and seed investors who have backed the company since its inception three years ago. Arthroscopic surgery is used to treat over 50 million injured wrists, elbows, shoulders, spines, hips, knees and ankles each year globally. The V01 robot is designed to reduce the physical and cognitive burden on surgeons while enhancing operative precision and dexterity and is set to transform arthroscopic operations. The funding follows the VO1’s acceptance into the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Breakthrough Devices Program in December 2023, expediting its path to market. Less than 3% of devices submitted to the FDA are accepted into this program. Convergence Medical founder and CEO Chris Jeffery, a medical doctor with an extensive history of orthopaedic innovation, and seasoned entrepreneur behind other notable MedTech ventures including Field Orthopaedics and Audeara, said the investment would help accelerate growth. “We’re thrilled to achieve this important milestone in our journey to commercialisation and excited to be working with Avicella Capital, who are seasoned investors with a great track record in the global MedTech industry,” said Dr Jeffery. “This funding enables us to accelerate our growth and bring our transformative technology to hospitals and surgeons around the globe. “Our mission is to create more efficient, effective solutions that support medical professionals […]

State approval for North West Shelf extension a key step to energy security

Australian Energy Producers welcomes the Western Australian Government providing environmental approval for the North West Shelf Project Extension. “The North West Shelf project is critical to providing energy security and emissions reductions to the state and region – through long-term gas supply to Western Australian households and businesses and supporting WA’s key trading partners,” Australia Energy Producers WA Director Caroline Cherry said. “The North West Shelf Project continues to be a truly nation-building project. For more than four decades, it has been a major contributor to Australia, providing more than $40 billion in royalties and excise alongside significant employment and business opportunities in the region.” “The approval recognises the increasingly urgent need for new gas supply in Western Australia to ensure households and businesses continue to have reliable and affordable energy.” “More gas will be needed to serve rising demand supporting renewables in electricity generation as coal is phased out while underpinning the economic benefits produced by the mining sector as a key power source.” Ms Cherry said the state government approval now triggers recommencement of the Federal Government’s environmental approval process. “The Federal Government must recognise the need to bring on more gas supply sooner, while providing certainty to a project that delivers wide-ranging benefits to Australia, Western Australia and regional trading partners,” Ms Cherry said. A recent independent report by EnergyQuest found that without new gas investment, Western Australia would run out of gas for electricity – which accounts for 60 per cent of the state’s power – from the early-2030s and its mining and industrial sectors would be left without gas from mid-2030s.

MGA Thermal selected by Chevron for innovative clean steam solution study

Clean energy innovator to conduct Front-End Engineering Design study for global energy leader MGA Thermal, a leading innovator in clean energy solutions, today announced its selection by Chevron to conduct an initial engineering and design study for an innovative clean steam solution. This study marks a significant milestone for MGA Thermal and underscores the growing importance of decarbonisation technologies in the energy sector. The study focuses on the application of MGA Thermal’s clean steam solution on a 5MWh trial unit designed for a Chevron site. “Collaborating with Chevron represents a big milestone for MGA Thermal and advances our mission to decarbonise industrial heat on a global scale,” said Mark Croudace, CEO of MGA Thermal. MGA Thermal’s innovative technology uses input variable renewable energy to generate process-grade steam on demand, enabling a 24/7 supply of reliable industrial heat at scale. MGA Thermal’s TES system can deliver steam at temperatures ranging from 150°C to over 550°C. This effectively firms variable renewable generation without the need for cost-prohibitive batteries, aligning perfectly with the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions in heavy industries. The study will be concluded by the end of 2024, with Anacapa serving as the appointed owner’s engineer and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) partner. “This study with Chevron represents a significant opportunity to demonstrate the real-world impact of our technology,” said Dr. Alex Post, CTO of MGA Thermal. “We’re confident that our clean steam solution will play a crucial role in helping industry leaders meet their ambitious decarbonisation goals.” “At Chevron, we’re committed to delivering affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy. Our collaboration with MGA Thermal is just one example of the forward-thinking required to deliver on our strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our operations and advance new solutions for major industries,” commented Luc Huyse, Manager, Operations and Facilities […]

Australian businesses can learn about circularity from Europe’s new product eco-design rules

Ross Thompson, Greenbox In the face of climate change, governments and businesses are either pushing or being inevitably pulled to reset their strategies, practices and systems from linear to circular. Legislation and regulations, along with certifications, are a key lever for this mega trend. Mandatory climate-related financial disclosure for big business in Australia and other jurisdictions are just the start of changing times. Keeping household and business products and materials in use is one part of the circular picture, and countries at the forefront of circularity are creating regulatory frameworks that design waste and pollution out of the system. Europe is at the leading edge of this seismic shift. The region provides an indication of what Australian companies might expect ahead and indeed will soon be impacted by when exporting. Let’s consider some notable features and implications of Europe’s new product eco-design rules, which came into force in July 2024: Sustainable products becoming the rule, not the exception The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulations (ESPR) are a framework for setting ecodesign requirements on specific product groups (almost all physical products) – implemented gradually over time based on prioritisation. Priority products range from steel and textiles to tyres, detergents and ICT products and other electronics. These rules will be developed based on scientific evidence, economic analysis and stakeholder consultation. The aim is to improve circularity, energy performance and other sustainability aspects of products placed on the EU market. This regulation brings in rules for a broader range of products and more expansive rules as appropriate. Towards a circular economy, it’s about better durability, reusability, upgradability, reparability, recycling, resource efficiency, carbon footprint and information transparency. Scanning products for sustainability, stop destroying unsold products, and ‘Green Public Procurement’ Novel measures in the ESPR are a ‘Digital Product Passport’, rules to address the destruction […]

Ed Husic launches Propel-AIR: Australia’s First Robotics Sprint

Australia’s Federal Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, has launched Australia’s first-ever AI and Robotics Sprint, ‘Propel-AIR’ in Brisbane. Designed to fast-track innovation and empower Australian startups, businesses, researchers, and entrepreneurs, the Propel-AIR Initiative is part of the ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre programs and is focused on developing local talent across AI and robotics. “We need to build more skills and we need to build them here, and so having Propel-AIR and a program like that is why it’s a big deal,” said Minister Husic on Thursday December 12th to the ARM Hub audience. “The biggest thing we can do is we can make countries look at us and say what are the Australians doing? We make the world’s head turn towards Australia and you will all make it happen.” ARM Hub is Australia’s leading AI, robotics and design-for-manufacture industry hub. It is leading one of the Australian Government’s AI Adopt Centres. The goal of the program is to fast-track Australian robotics innovators developing essential solutions across multiple industries. ARM Hub CEO Dr Cori Stewart says it will also connect Australian robotics leaders internationally: “Propel AIR will support us to build a hard-wired connection to the world centre of Hardware Tech in Boston,” says Dr. Stewart. “Boston has borne many high-tech startups such as Boston Dynamics, Markforged, BAE Systems and more, and I look forward to announcing the Australian businesses that we launch and grow together.” Applications open in January and the top ten finalists will be announced in June. The winning team will travel to Boton’s MassRobotics for a month’s residency and participate in scheduled visits to key companies and institutions within the Boston tech community. Interested parties can register here for updates and more details.

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