Developments

Metso partners with RA to create IoT solutions for mining

Metso has selected Rockwell Automation to deliver a global industrial Internet of Things (IoT) platform that connects, monitors and performs analytics for Metso’s equipment and services, resulting in improved efficiency and profitability for its mining and aggregates customers.  The digital solution will securely collect and store data from Metso’s equipment around the globe, including new equipment and machines already in operation. The solution will provide predictive analytics and preventive maintenance, and facilitate remote asset monitoring by Metso and its customers. The industrial IoT solution is built on the FactoryTalk Cloud platform from Rockwell Automation, powered by Microsoft Azure. Rockwell Automation and Microsoft have long collaborated on solutions required for industrial digital transformation. The Metso solution is a direct result of these efforts.   “For our mining and aggregates customers, access to real-time data enables higher uptime, faster and safer shutdowns, and ultimately more tonnage processed at lower cost. Enabled by an industrial IoT platform from Rockwell Automation and global coverage with Microsoft Azure’s data centres, Metso can deliver analysed equipment data into the hands of its customers for advanced decision-making,” says Jani Puroranta, chief digital officer, Metso.   Metso began working with Rockwell Automation on a pilot program in 2015, remotely monitoring an African-based mining crusher from a location in Wisconsin. Metso was immediately able to use the data collected to identify opportunities for improvements in machine performance. The quality of the solution and support Rockwell Automation provided during the pilot gave Metso confidence that a broader implementation of the industrial IoT platform would drive the results it was seeking on a global scale. “Metso has an inspiring vision to deliver powerful analytics and information solutions in mining and aggregates that will drive business results for customers,” said Blake Moret, president […]

Comment on the Australian Budget

Dr. Alex Wonhas. The policy direction outlined in the 2017-2018 Australian Federal Budget marks a distinct move away from a long-standing and bipartisan market led approach to energy. According to Dr Alex Wonhas, Aurecon’s Managing Director, Energy, Resources & Manufacturing, the policy direction outlined in the 2017-2018 Australian Federal Budget marks a distinct move away from a long-standing and bipartisan market led approach to energy to one of targeted direct intervention and government investment in the energy sector. “The 2017 May Budget contains a number of measures aimed at improving the affordability and reliability of energy in form of investment in infrastructure and institutions,” he said. The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to invest in Snowy Hydro 2.0 and to potentially buy a greater share or even obtain outright ownership from NSW and Vic, who currently own 58% and 29% respectively. The Government has also made a promise to retain Snowy Hydro in public ownership. Mr Wonhas said that the 2017-2018 Australian Federal Budget foreshadows investments in other new generation such as a solar thermal plant at Port Augusta, transmission and storage infrastructure, as well as a $90m energy security plan. “It is true that the areas identified by Government are likely to require future investment. Further detail regarding the energy security plan will be eagerly anticipated by the industry,” said Dr Wonhas. “In order to improve its energy security, Australia will need to find cost effective ways to store or transport energy from where and when it is produced to where and when it is needed as energy supply will become increasingly variable through the expected uptake of renewable energy. “The growth of wind and solar will become less and less dependent on subsidies as these technologies have now reached the tipping point of becoming cost competitive with new […]

Australia’s first certified flame-retardant polyurea coating

The economic impact of corrosion is often exacerbated in harsh climatic environments and in workplaces with heavy traffic wear from operation of large vehicles and equipment. Excessive moisture, heat and abrasion can accelerate the deterioration of machinery, vehicles and assets. Applying a protective surface coating is one way of minimising or reducing the effect. One coating material for harsh conditions—including those in a combat zone—supplied by Rhino Linings Australia (RLA) is Rhino Extreme 11-50 FR. While the material has been available for several years, it was only late in 2016 that the fire resistant nature of the product received certification. RLA’s Technical Manager, Robert Idzes, said “The formal certification of Rhino Extreme 11-50 FR has opened up a range of new opportunities for industrial and commercial applications of the product.” The spray-applied pure polyurea is suitable for any application, such as a fuel bund—secondary containment area—that requires a fire resistant surface. Historically, bunds have been constructed of concrete or brick, but in recent years have been coated with a spray-applied pure polyurea or welded plastic liner to prevent leaks. Fire is a potential hazard if a leak does occur, especially where fuel, sodium hydroxide, sulphuric acid and other highly flammable materials are stored. The flame resistant properties of Rhino Extreme 11-50 FR significantly reduces the burn rate allowing safety officers and staff time to extinguish the flames before major damage is caused to the liner or catastrophic failure occurs. “The Rhino Extreme 11-50 FR is the latest Flame Retardant product to meet US Federal Aviation Regulation 25 (FAR 25) Flammability testing for aircraft,” said Denis Baker, Special Projects Engineer at RLA. “In addition, it also meets UL 94, which is another high standard at the moment for coatings.” The FAR 25.853 tests the self-extinguishing performance of materials under fire conditions. […]

Kaeser delivers high quality compressed air to Malabar WWTP

As part of the Malabar Waste Water Treatment Plant Process and Reliability / Renewal Improvement Project being delivered by 4Malabar, an ageing compressed air system at the plant was recently upgraded with three Kaeser CSDX series rotary screw compressors, along with a Sigma Air Manager 4.0 compressed air management system. Australia’s largest water and wastewater service provider, Sydney Water is a State Owned Corporation wholly owned by the New South Wales Government. Sydney Water collects and treats around 1.5 billion litres of wastewater each day through a network of over 25,000 kilometres of wastewater pipes, 677 pumping stations, 14 water recycling plants and 16 wastewater treatment plants. Malabar Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) is Sydney Water’s largest wastewater treatment plant. It has an average daily discharge of almost 500 ML. A significant project was initiated at Malabar WWTP to improve the reliability of the processes that treat wastewater, to ensure Malabar WWTP continues to comply with its environment protection license requirements, improve safety and working conditions and reduce operating costs. This will ensure that Sydney Water continues to deliver great value for their customers and better conditions for their staff. The Project is being delivered by 4Malabar, an alliance between Sydney Water, John Holland, UGL Engineering and GHD. Work on the Improvement Project started in 2014 and is expected to be completed by mid-2019. Since work has commenced, a number of improvements have been completed and include an upgrade of the ageing compressed air system. Compressed air is used for a number of plant site services across Malabar WWTP including valving, pneumatic actuation and sparging. A reliable and efficient supply of quality compressed air is critical to deliver these site services and was therefore a key criteria in selecting the new system. Following a successful tender process, three Kaeser CSDX […]

United supply forklifts and reach trucks to Bluestar Global Logistics

United Forklift and Access Solutions’ exceptional customer service and problem solving ingenuity have won them a major contract with nation-wide logistics leader Bluestar Global Logistics, which offer a one-stop shop for logistics service, including national door to door deliveries, international freight forwarding and 3PL warehousing. United supplied over 60 units to Bluestar’s depots nationally. A combination of heavy duty and high performance CAT 2.5t LPG forklifts, CAT 3.0t LPG forklifts and CAT 1.6t electric reach trucks were chosen for the task, which are ideally suited to heavy-use industries like logistics, warehousing and transport. “In a competitive tender, United were the standout company, because their service truly went above and beyond,” said Mr Peter James, Asset & Compliance Manager, Bluestar Global Logistics. Before submitting their tender, United visited each of Bluestar’s national offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to assess areas where they could provide cost-saving solutions that optimised efficiency and productivity. United’s National Major Accounts Manager, Mr Mark Pemberton, and his team identified two major problem areas where United could provide innovative solutions. “We discovered that the hosing and hydraulic cylinders in their old fleet were left too exposed, and they were having to replace them frequently due to damage. Our CAT forklifts have been fitted with a low profile hose which is positioned further back, along with a custom designed and manufactured cylinder protector. “Both of these features reduce damage to these otherwise vulnerable parts and enhance the overall safety of the machines, ultimately reducing the cost of life to our customer” says Mr Pemberton. “The other wear issue we identified was that the heel of the forklift tynes was wearing out over time, and once it’s worn past a certain point, the forklift is no longer standards or safety compliant. “We added a lift cylinder spacer, […]

Accelerating carbon reduction to cure climate

The City of Sydney has taken a major step in what is fast becoming a defining year for sustainability, with the adoption of an action plan to make our city net zero emissions by 2050. Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Environmental Action 2016-2021 sets targets for net zero emissions and 50 per cent renewable power by 2050. “The C40 Mayor’s Summit in Mexico reinforced the scale of the challenge, and the urgent need for world leaders to redouble efforts on climate change,” the Lord Mayor said. “The research paints a grim picture if we don’t act now, so we’ve responded with the strongest possible plan to urgently reduce emissions. “The next four years are crucial – they will determine if we meet the Paris Agreement’s commitment to less than two degrees Celsius temperature rise. “Environmental Action 2016–2021 sets out a plan to transform Sydney into a low-carbon city that diverts waste from landfill, saves potable water, is connected with green parklands and spaces, and buildings that feature outstanding environmental performance. “In December, Council supported my proposal to accelerate the implementation of the action plan, including in our own operations. Now the plan has been adopted, we can press ahead with this vital work.” The City will start a range of actions over the life of the plan, including: • initiate a net-zero emissions building challenge • invest $10 million to accelerate the uptake of renewable energy • facilitate large-scale water recycling project • develop sustainability plans for the commercial office, accommodation and entertainment sectors. “We’re looking at how we can improve the City’s environmental performance through our capital works projects, our property portfolio and our operational waste management,” the Lord Mayor said. “We’ve partnered with the C40 City Solutions platform to determine the most effective way to invest our […]

Air Springs boosts customer service

Australia’s leading supplier of air springs and associated technologies for heavy vehicle suspensions and industrial actuation and isolation, Air Springs Supply, has relocated to a new and customer-responsive facility at Unit 18, 38-46 South Street in Rydalmere, NSW, to better serve its customers. Air Springs Supply, which is the exclusive national distributor for Firestone Industrial products and Pronal Elastomer products, says the new facility is more centrally located for their customers, as well as providing efficient room for inventory and spare parts. The facility – which will also include the HQ of All-Air Suspension – is configured for speedy and efficient responses to OEM and spare parts, industrial and transport orders and to meet the needs of local manufacturing customers. “We wanted our new headquarters to have better access for all our customers and additional space for our products to improve availability and lead times. At Rydalmere we found a place that ticked all the boxes and looked bright and professional at the same time,” said Air Springs Sales and Marketing Manager, Mr James Maslin. “We spent more than a generation at our previous office, so it may take some getting used to, but the team is excited about the benefits this new place will offer to our valued customers,” said Mr Maslin. Air Springs’ products range from the tiny Airomatic polyactuator that stands just 11mm (.45in) high deflated for ultra-compact installation in light load applications through to heavy duty Marsh Mellow springs, which are fabric-reinforced solid rubber isolators used for quiet isolation of machinery vibration and for general shock absorption throughout industry. Versatile range: Air Springs products range from the tiny Polyactuator (left) to the heavy-duty Marsh Mellow rubber spring (right). Their core range of air springs (shown below) are used in heavy transport as well as a huge […]

Air quality: ACOEM Group merges with Indo-Australian company Ecotech

ACOEM Group (EUR 62 million revenue, 450 employees) announces its merger with Ecotech, Indo-Australian specialist in air quality monitoring (EUR 24 million revenue, 220 employees). ACOEM Group’s mission is to help companies and public authorities limit their environmental impact, offering products and services that enable them to prevent noise and vibration pollution, improve air quality, and increase the productivity and reliability of industrial machines. Leveraging this merger as well as its positioning in the high-growth market for monitoring environmental parameters, ACOEM Group seeks to double its sales revenue by 2020. “The extensive expertise Ecotech possesses in air quality complements our well-established know-how in acoustics and vibration, making the ACOEM Group the world’s first company to position itself in the measurement, analysis, and control of all types of environmental parameters,” says Fabien Condemine, CEO, ACOEM Group. “Our merger with Ecotech also enables us to speed up our international growth, notably by opening markets in Australia, India, and Southeast Asia.” “Joining the ACOEM Group is an opportunity for Ecotech to continue its growth, participating in the international success of a group that shares our vision and common values,” says Nicholas Dal Sasso, Managing Director at Ecotech. This external growth operation is consistent with the ACOEM Group’s strong growth over the past five years (from EUR 40 million revenue in 2011 to EUR 62 million in 2015), and it supports a development strategy that seeks to make ACOEM Group the worldwide leader in monitoring environmental parameters. This merger will enable both companies to leverage their expertise and positioning: – Ecotech will develop its expertise in air quality over all the zones covered by ACOEM Group, notably Europe, North America, and Brazil. – ACOEM Group will develop its expertise related to noise and vibration pollution in all the zones covered by Ecotech, notably Australia, […]

Plummer block technology extends life of key bearings by 50 per cent

New plummer block housings launched in Perth by Schaeffler Australia this month respond to industry demands for extended bearing life with reduced maintenance and total cost of ownership. The new generation of FAG Plummer Block Housings are large-size bearing housings, engineered to increase the service life of fitted spherical roller bearings by up to 50 percent compared to conventional plummer block housings. Their advances – including increased strength and shock resistance due to the use of (EN-GJS-400) spheroidal graphite cast iron as standard – make the SNS ideal for the broad diversity of applications where spherical roller bearings are widely used, including machinery operating in aggressive environments, says Schaeffler Australia Pty Ltd Industrial Heavy Industries Manager, Mr Jeff Gordon. Key applications include industries such as mining and minerals processing, quarrying, cement, manufacturing, oil and gas processing, bulk materials handling (including port loading facilities), manufacturing and steel, primary product and food and beverage processing, pulp, paper, packaging and forestry, and major infrastructure and water and waste water plants. The new plummer blocks – for shafts from 115mm to 530mm and from 4 7/16 inch to 19 1/2 inch diameter – are one of the latest global technology advances from the Schaeffler Group, which employs more than 80,000 people worldwide. Schaeffler’s research and development centres alone employ more than 6,000 people dedicated to high-performance, low-maintenance bearing technology that enhances sustainability by maximising machinery life and minimising energy demands. Such low-maintenance technologies are ideal for all industries that can’t afford breakdowns or production stoppages, Mr Gordon told the Perth launch, held after the arrival of stocks of the first of the new technology bearings in Australia and New Zealand. “Maintaining production is obviously vital in our energy and resources sectors – where even short interruptions and maintenance outages can be measured in millions […]

Resource employers launch 2017 campaign for workplace relations reform

Australia’s resource employers have launched a 2017 workplace relations campaign focusing on ‘Five Urgent Reforms’, and is first calling on the Turnbull Government to take action on Labor’s excessive and costly union workplace entry laws. “AMMA’s members across the national resource industry are deeply concerned that our parliament appears unable or unwilling to address fundamental problems in our workplace relations system,” Steve Knott, chief executive of AMMA, said. “Reform priorities identified in 2016 by more than 100 leading resource companies – a highly representative cross section of an industry directly and indirectly employing around 1.1 million Australians – are yet to be acted upon or even debated. “This is despite many of these reforms lining up with changes recommended by the Productivity Commission, and Australia’s deteriorating economic and employment conditions highlighting the urgent need for political action.” The five reform priorities identified by AMMA’s members and forming its 2017 campaign are: 1. Restore balance to union workplace entry laws; 2. Focus enterprise bargaining on employment matters; 3. Expand agreement making options for employers and employees; 4. Return to balanced termination of service laws, where a valid reason exists; and 5. Replace the Fair Work Commission with modern, balanced institutions. On the first priority, AMMA has released an animated video and written to key senators and members of parliament, highlighting the absurd costs, delays, productivity impacts and safety issues associated with the thousands of site entry requests resource employers now receive each year. “When Labor’s Fair Work Act gave union officials and recruiters almost unlimited rights to enter worksites, the number of visits sky-rocketed to thousands. One project received 17 visits in just 24 hours, while another received more than 300 in 90 days,” Mr Knott said. “We are even seeing union recruiters target employees in their lunchrooms and resource employers […]

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