Developments

Million kilometres daily

Picture: The Iveco Daily range of van, single-cab and dual-cab tray truck models. The award-winning design of the Iveco Daily light commercial road vehicle meets the challenges of operations in a variety of urban and rural areas across the globe, including Australia’s harsh climatic extremes and physical road conditions. As a consequence, more than two million vehicles from the Daily range have been sold worldwide. Built on a solid steel truck chassis, the Daily has a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) range from 3.8 to 7 tonnes, allowing it to carry a payload of up to 4.7 tonne. Standard configurations are Single or Dual-Cab chassis, tray-truck or van. An optional design that can be ordered is a 17-seat minibus. The durability of the design is shown by the fact that some Daily minibuses in South Africa have travelled more than one million kilometres. For the South African minibuses, a typical morning starts with a departure from Soweto at 6:00 a.m. with the vehicle’s first stop at 6:45 a.m. on the outskirts of Johannesburg, where it takes on passengers going to Namibia. Picture: The instrument console of the Iveco Daily minibus showing the odometer reading 1,000,000 Kms. From the city, the Daily proceeds onto difficult terrain, including stretches of desert and savannah filled with wild animals and fords to cross–with the vehicle’s odometer gradually inching higher. A journey of 1,000 kilometres, 365 days a year means this incredible milestone was achieved in just three years. Thirteen customers in South Africa have reported to Iveco that they have reached this same milestone figure: a number that is more than twice the distance between the Earth and the Moon (almost 400,000 kilometres) and 25 times around the Earth’s 40,000 kilometre circumference. Strength, reliability, and endurance have always been the hallmarks of Iveco vehicles: qualities that have […]

Beyond Great

–Arindam Bhattacharya, Nikolaus Lang, Jim Hemerling Great is no longer good enough. Beyond Great delivers a powerful new playbook of 9 core strategies to thrive in a post-COVID world where all the rules of the game are being re-written. Beyond Great answers to two fundamental questions which face business leaders today in a world shaped by daunting and disruptive technological, economic, and social change. First, what is outstanding performance in this new volatile era? Second, how do we build competitive advantage in a world with new and often uncertain rules? Supported by years of research and hands-on consulting practice, this book presents a comprehensive framework for building a high performing, resilient, adaptive, and socially responsible global company. The book begins by taking an incisive look at these disruptive forces transforming globalization, including economic nationalism; the boom in data flows and digital commerce; the rise of China; heightened public concerns about capitalism and the environment; and the emergence of borderless communities of digitally connected consumers. Distilled from the study of hundreds of companies and interviews with dozens of business leaders, the authors have distilled nine core strategies – the new winning playbook of the 21st century. Beyond Great argues that business leaders today must lead with a new kind of openness, flexibility and light-footedness, constantly layering in new strategies and operational norms atop existing ones to allow for “always-on” transformation. Leaders must master a whole new set of rules about what it takes to be “global,” becoming shapeshifters adept at handling contradiction, multiplicity, and nuance. This book will show them how.

Victorian construction industry utilising first Australian Bluetooth contact tracing solution

The Victorian construction industry is forging ahead on the road to recovery and taking advantage of the latest Bluetooth contact tracing technology, becoming the leaders in Australian safety. Despite a year of constant setbacks, The Commonwealth and Victorian governments have committed to supporting construction jobs across Victoria by jointly investing an additional $525 million to deliver infrastructure projects and urgent road safety upgrades. Within the past three months, Major Roads Projects Victoria (MRPV) and their construction partners Decmil, Fulton Hogan Industries Pty Ltd, John Holland Group Pty Ltd, McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd, Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd and Seymour Whyte Constructions Pty have all implemented a new contract tracing system as part of a rigorous COVID safe plan across their sites to keep these critical projects on track and Victorians in work. Over 8,700 Contact Harald cards have been distributed across these worksites, with more to follow. Contact Harald is a wearable contact tracing card that is given to all on site visitors including workers. The technology then records and stores interactions that last over two minutes and within a 1.5 metre radius. If a visitor declares symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19, only the recorded users in close proximity to the suspected or confirmed case will be sent an SMS and email via the secure Contact Harald database, owned and administered by the construction company – removing the need for external agencies and nullifying cyber security concerns. In the event of a suspected or confirmed case, this new contact tracing system will notify only those with recorded close contact – this advancement enables construction to continue with minimal disruption. Director of Health and Product at Contact Harald Elissa Reid, said: “Now is the time for key infrastructure to take shape as we ease back into day to day […]

Rio Tinto’s partnership with SM TAFE, WA Government wins global award

Rio Tinto’s partnership with South Metropolitan TAFE (SM TAFE) and the Western Australian State Government has been globally recognised at the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics 2020 Awards of Excellence. The partnership won Gold in the ‘Partnership with Industry’ category for its work in developing and deploying the first nationally recognised vocational qualifications in automation. The World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics is an international network of colleges and national and regional associations of colleges. A total of 113 nominations were received for the awards from organisations around the world. In 2017, Rio Tinto committed $2 million towards the development of automation qualifications to provide pathways to emerging jobs in the field of automation. Since then, pilots for a Certificate II in Autonomous Workplace Operations, as well as a Certificate IV in Remote Centre Operations, have been completed with broader enrolments planned for 2021. A pilot micro credential Course in Working Effectively in an Automated Environment qualification is ongoing with wider enrolment options planned for 2022. Scott Browne, Vice President of Human Resources from Rio Tinto said, “Our partnership with South Metropolitan TAFE has been vitally important in terms of providing workers in the resources sector, and others looking to join it, with new pathways to the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in an increasingly STEM-based world. “We are delighted to win this award which is a recognition of the bridge this partnership has built between STEM and formal education in the workplace and is a demonstration of what can be delivered when industry, government and education work together.” Terry Durant, Managing Director of South Metropolitan TAFE, said, “South Metropolitan TAFE is honoured to win this award. The workplace is rapidly changing and it is very exciting to be at the forefront together with industry; and to be […]

Energy Renaissance appoints Dr Bruce Gregory as new Chair

Energy Renaissance, Australia’s first lithium-ion battery manufacturer, announced today that it has appointed Dr Bruce Godfrey as its new Chair. Bruce takes over from Su McCluskey, following her appointment in July 2020 as a Commissioner to the National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board. Su will continue as a Director of the company. A Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, Bruce brings to Energy Renaissance over four decades of experience in business, innovation and technology investment. He has successfully helped advance and commercialise a range of renewable and non-renewable energy technologies and has played a strategic role in promoting the investment readiness of products, companies, innovation policies and programs. His background in working with distributed energy resources technologies, including energy storage, will prepare Energy Renaissance for its next phase of growth and expansion. Mark Chilcote, Managing Director of Energy Renaissance said, “Bruce’s appointment signals a new chapter for Energy Renaissance as we start to build our first battery manufacturing facility in Tomago, NSW and plan for significant growth including export of our superStorage products. The Board is delighted to have Bruce work alongside the Energy Renaissance leadership team.” “Energy Renaissance is taking the lead in Australia’s ambitions to be a battery nation and a trusted partner in the global energy storage industry. I look forward to working with both the Board and entire team as we deliver the company’s strategy and growth, including the completion of our first manufacturing facility in Tomago,” said Dr Godfrey. Bruce is currently Vice-President Diversity of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, a Director of Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre Limited (FBI CRC) and of Science in Australia Gender Equity Limited (SAGE). He is a Member of ARENA’s Advisory Panel and of the ANU’s Energy Change Institute and is Chair of the […]

Coffee shop workers standing at the counter

For a unique shopping world: igus low-cost robot in the design of your choice

Custom design robolink robot arm ensures fast automation and a new shopping experience. From industrial use, robots are increasingly finding their way into the retail trade. There they ensure rapid automation of processes and are also a real eye-catcher. Users place high demands on design and reliability at a cost-effective price. For this reason, igus is now offering its low-cost robot – robolink DP – consisting of high-performance polymers, in custom design. Shopping and ordering online has already become part of everyday life, be it for new trousers, an SLR camera for the holidays or the sushi for dinner. Within a few minutes or the next day, the delivery service or the parcel carrier is at the door with the order – convenient and simple. But the new buying behaviour is increasingly building up competitive pressure on the stationary retail trade. Intelligent automation systems for fast shopping are in demand, in the supermarket as well as in the furniture store. Solutions can be: automatic juice dispensers, bread slicers or self-service cash registers with weighing technology, in which igus motion plastics – such as lubrication-free iglidur plain bearings and maintenance-free drylin linear guides – ensure wear-resistant movements. At the same time, retailers such as fashion houses and restaurants can develop store and design concepts that offer customers a new experience. Robots are a popular tool of choice because they are not only a real eye-catcher, but also a practical automation solution. They can give out prizes from raffles, mix cocktails or even cover a pizza with toppings. So far, expensive fun that is rarely found in Australia. With its igus robolink DP, Treotham now offers a new cost-effective solution, which the customer can design individually. Low-cost robots in the desired outfit Last year, igus presented for the first time its robolink […]

Trial aims to help support more solar

Solar customers in South Australia and Victoria will soon be able to feed more energy into the grid thanks to a new project announced today by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). ARENA has announced $2.09 million in funding to a consortium led by SA Power Networks to trial a new approach to integrating rooftop solar with the grid, using smart inverters. Distributors SA Power Networks and Victorian-based AusNet Services have partnered with industry-leading inverter manufacturers, Fronius, SMA, and SolarEdge, and energy management software company SwitchDin to develop the technical capability needed to offer customers flexible rather than fixed export limits for solar. The $4.84 million project will develop and test end-to-end technical capability to enable flexible export limits for solar PV systems. The capability will be built into Australian products from market-leading inverter manufacturers and will be enabled in many other inverter brands through SwitchDin’s Droplet gateway device. Through a 12 month field trial involving about 600 customers in South Australia and Victoria, the project will test the viability of this kind of connection arrangement, and refine and develop the associated technologies and customer connection service to the point where it could be offered as a standard service to all customers installing solar. Australians are currently installing new PV systems at a rate of more than 200,000 per annum across the NEM. These systems provide many benefits but also present challenges for distribution networks in maintaining safety, quality and security of supply. Distribution networks such as South Australia’s are reaching the limit of their capacity to host rooftop solar in some areas without major investment in network upgrades. Alternatively, they may have to impose zero or very low export limits for new solar connections in congested areas. “We want more solar, not less,” said Paul Roberts, […]

Measured IR changes will stimulate investment, jobs

The industrial relations amendment bill introduced by the Morrison Government today contains measured, incremental improvements to Australia’s employment laws that will encourage businesses to invest and create jobs in the post-Covid-19 economic environment. Australian Resources and Energy Group CEO, Steve Knott AM, said key areas of the IR reform bill address longstanding concerns and priority reforms for mining, oil and gas, and service sector employers. “Improvements to enterprise bargaining, greenfields agreements and certainty around casual employment, are areas of huge value to Australia’s resources and energy employers,” Mr Knott said. “While the enterprise bargaining changes are modest and mostly administrative in nature, they do address a number of process issues that have led to significant delays and frustrations in getting enterprise agreements approved within a reasonable timeframe. “Allowing greenfields agreements for major resources and energy projects to run for up to eight years to match their typically longer construction timeframes, is a common-sense reform that will help Australia secure the enormous national opportunities within its major project investment pipeline. “It is pleasing the government has acted on the advice of senior executives from AMMA member companies, who stepped forward to highlight the significance this relatively simple change will have on influencing final investment decisions for multi-billion-dollar, nation-building projects. “The government has also struck an appropriate balance with its proposals for casual employment. Casual employees will have new rights to convert to permanency after 12 months with an employer, whilst businesses will be protected from ‘double dipping’ backpay claims which, if left unaddressed, would leave up to $39 billion in contingent liability looming over the economy. “Collectively these measures will reduce employment-related red tape and risk for resources and energy employers, which have been the lifeblood of the national economy and labour market during an extraordinarily difficult year for all Australians.” […]

Mint Innovation raises $20m to build gold biorefineries

Precious metals refiner Mint Innovation will start mining in Sydney next year. Then the New Zealand cleantech company has its sights on building a second biorefinery in North West England. Mint Innovation has raised NZ$20 million to help build those plants, which are based on its proprietary biometallurgical process and scalable platform. During successful trials at its first biorefinery in Auckland, Mint Innovation recovered significant amounts of gold and copper from crushed and powdered electronic waste. Dr Will Barker, Mint Innovation’s CEO, says the Series B capital raise was led by New Zealand technology investor Movac, with strong support from around the globe, including Blackbird Ventures and major long term investor Icehouse Ventures. “This raise gives us the capital we need to deploy our technology, starting with the Greater Sydney biorefinery in early 2021,” Dr Barker says. “Once commissioned, the plant will be able to process up to 3,500 tonnes of electronic waste each year. “That’s enough capacity to turn all the waste circuit boards in New South Wales into precious metals, including gold and copper. Ideally those metals will be sold back to local businesses, such as jewellers and manufacturers, creating a truly circular economy.” Movac partner David Beard says the future for Mint Innovation lies in its plant design and technology being licensed for biorefineries to be built in cities around the world. “With the disposal of e-waste a growing issue, as countries like Mainland China close their doors to importing waste, a disruptive cleantech company like Mint Innovation has the potential to establish a global footprint quite quickly,” he says. Dr Barker says the second plant is expected to start being built later next year. The North West of England has a heritage in chemical process innovation and Mint Innovation wants to bring clean tech to an […]

Anatomy of a data-driven supply chain

By Jonathan Attia, Managing Director, Wiise Data is what drives informed business decisions. It’s crucial to have key data points across your supply chain to get complete visibility, and maximise efficiency and resilience. As the COVID pandemic has shown, as soon as there’s an external environmental impact to Australia’s supply chain, every facet gets impacted. Businesses have not only had to throw out their forecasts but suddenly experienced major supply-demand issues. Either they had too much stock that was no longer in demand, or they had the right stock that was in demand, but couldn’t keep up with supply. Data is vital in such a situation. Being able to access inventory levels across different locations and warehouses enables business owners and staff to see exactly where they might have extra stock to help supply demand. If you can see exactly what stock is where, you can easily move it around as needed and get it out of the door sooner. Real-time optimisation of your distribution keep both customers and suppliers informed and happy. Data is also important to understand which customers have purchased in the past, and which customers are your top buyers. This enables you to specifically target them with promotions to help get stock out the door faster. For manufacturing businesses, understanding cost of sale is particularly critical to success. You need to be instantly account for changes in shipping fees, for example, so that you’re always selling your products or manufacturing your goods at a profitable level. Profit is key. This means knowing exactly what items you need to produce something, how much it costs to produce it (while taking into account all of the hidden costs such as labour and so on) and how much you should sell it for. To do this, you need the […]

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