Manufacturing Technology

Perfect Synergy of planning delicately places 30m crane into vital WA power role

The new Konecranes Turbine Hall crane, with nearly 30m span, had to be installed in a tight space, and was delivered swiftly and safely, with outstanding cooperation between Synergy and Konecranes Western Australia’s largest electricity generator, Synergy, has installed a new Konecranes 50t CXT double-girder Turbine Hall crane at its Kwinana facility as part of a series of upgrades designed to provide ongoing reliable and affordable energy to its customers. As the world’s leading supplier of cranes to the power industry, Konecranes has designed its Turbine Hall cranes to require less maintenance, and perform reliably over a longer life cycle. Made from only the best quality steel, each crane has overload protection and fail-safe operator controls for optimum safety and reliability. Synergy is owned by the Government of Western Australian and is a major retailer of electricity, with more than one million residential, business and industry customers across the State. “We opted to engage with Konecranes due to their history, market share and reputation in the crane manufacturing and service industry. As a Government-owned power generation company, ensuring a competitive quote was key factor in our decision to select Konecranes,” said Mr Steve Owen, Mechanical Engineering Officer, Gas Turbines and Distributed Generation – Asset Support, Synergy. Konecranes’ Turbine Hall cranes are designed to set new benchmarks in safety and performance. “As WA’s leading energy generator and retailer, delivery of reliable, affordable energy is Synergy’s focus, and choosing reliable partners like Konecranes plays a major role in this service,” said Mr Owen. “Other key benefits Konecranes provided us with were local fabrication, a simple construction process and the ability to meet Synergy’s strict guidelines and demanding deadlines for the installation,” he said. “Additionally, due to Konecranes’ geographical proximity to Synergy’s sites, emergency breakdowns can be acted upon with minimal disturbance to […]

Unlocking the future of 4.0

Cicada Innovations is running a free online panel, ‘Unpacking the future of manufacturing 4.0’ with: Deputy Director General, Department of Innovations and Tourism Industry Development CEO, Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub CEO, SpeeDX What really is Manufacturing 4.0? How important is it to keep the manufacturing of crucial items on-shore so they are less affected by global events? What does the future of this changing space hold and how can Australia meet that challenge? https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/monthly-buzz-unpacking-the-future-of-advanced-manufacturing-registration-111083666236 Circada Innovations is a hub of science (particularly agricultural, medical and AI) startups at the National Innovation Centre in Sydney.

B360 rugged laptop engineered for 5G

Getac has unveiled its B360 fully rugged laptop, setting a powerful new benchmark for innovation in the rugged computing industry. Fully engineered for 5G, the B360 boasts best-in-class computing speed, brightness, and rugged reliability, resulting in a highly advanced mobile solution that excels in challenging working conditions in industries such as public safety, manufacturing, utilities and defence. The B360 runs on the 10th Generation Intel Core Processor, making it the fastest fully rugged laptop on the market, capable of running large numbers of applications simultaneously without any impact on performance. A 1,400 nits full HD display as standard, the brightest in Getac’s computer line-up, is also unrivalled in the fully rugged laptop class. The IP66 rating ensures it is completely protected from dust ingress, as well as high pressure water jets and spillages. The device can also withstand drops of up to six feet when in operation, while the latest MIL-STD 810H certification gives users complete confidence in its rugged reliability. The B360 is part of the Getac Select Program, which draws on Getac’s extensive industry experience to create comprehensive rugged computing solutions for specialised industry applications. As such, it is available in two distinct models at launch: The B360, ideally suited to the public safety, manufacturing, and utilities sectors and the B360 Pro, optimised for the defence sector. The B360: In addition to best-in-class speed, brightness, and ruggedness, the B360 is the thinnest and lightest fully rugged laptop in its class. At just 34.9mm thick and weighing 2.32kg, it can be carried and operated for extensive periods of time without causing user fatigue. Despite such a compact form factor, the B360 boasts an expansive 13.3” LumiBond 2.0 display for maximum usability in all situations and weather conditions. The latest 802.11ax Wi-Fi delivers wireless speeds up to three times faster […]

First US sale for AI petri dish scanner

The Australian manufacturer of an artificial intelligence instrument to scan the contents of petri dishes has made its first US sale.Andrew SpencePrint articleRepublishNotify me Based in Adelaide, health technology company LBT Innovations told investors it had completed the sale to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. The APAS Independence technology uses an algorithm to detect bacterial colonies and incorporates computer vision to hasten the time required to detect infections in samples from patients. The sale was made by LBT’s 50 per cent joint venture company Clever Culture Systems and follows its first European sale, made to German clinical laboratory Labor Dr Wisplinghoff in October 2019. The APAS instrument is based upon LBT’s intelligent imaging and machine learning software and remains the only US FDA-cleared artificial intelligence technology for automated imaging, analysis and interpretation of culture plates following incubation. In a global first, the technology has been connected to HCMC’s Lab Information System through Data Innovations middleware. Establishing this middleware platform will support future APAS installations with Data Innovations existing customer base. Data Innovations has installations in about 65 per cent of US laboratories. HCMC is a medium-sized clinical lab, processing about 500 specimens a day including 300 urine plates for analysis. Over the past two years it has been operating as a centre of excellence for APAS, supporting the development of new analysis modules. HCMC Director of Microbiology Dr Glen Hansen said the ability to automate the reading of culture plates with APAS had increased lab efficiency and motivated staff. “It has been a real pleasure to work with the teams from LBT and CCS over the past two years,” he said. “Their commitment and excitement towards the technology is obvious and I look forward to continuing the collaboration into the future.” LBT Innovations CEO Brett Barnes said HCMC’s status […]

Waterco buys Automated Pool Products

International water treatment and swimming pool equipment manufacturer and merchant, Waterco Ltd. continues to invest in Australian innovation by acquiring leading distributor of hardware for the domestic pool market, Automated Pool Products Pty Ltd (APP) – home of the iconic Kreepy Krauly. The move bolsters Waterco’s extensive range of filtration, sanitisation and heating equipment while consolidating its position as one of the industry’s last remaining Australian-owned and operated companies. “Purchasing APP, or Autopool as it’s known, is part of our strategy to strengthen Waterco’s market share, especially in Western Australia and Queensland,” explains CEO and Chairman, Soon Sinn Goh. “Autopool’s established brand name, excellent market reputation and digital transformation will enable us to offer comprehensive pool and spa solutions to customers throughout Australia.” General Manager Grant Craig, who will continue working for Autopool, says he’s excited to partner with Waterco. “It is pleasing that Autopool will continue on as normal,” he says. “We will maintain our existing locations and with our existing team of professional staff. It is an exciting time for Autopool to join with Waterco and we look forward to continuing to provide high-quality products and service that we have become known for.”

Australian steel wins deal to supply $35b frigate build

Australian steel is set to be used in a $35 billion project to build nine Hunter Class Frigates in South Australia after a deal was signed with BlueScope Steel AIS. More than 1500 tonnes of steel plate will be delivered to ASC Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia, under the $2.6 million contract. BlueScope chief executive Australian Steel Products John Nowlan said the steel would be supplied for the prototyping phase of the program, where five representative ship blocks are being built at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide. “The company has a long and proud history of supplying steel into defence projects – in the 1990s we supplied more than 20,000 tonnes of steel into the original ANZAC-Class Frigate fleet that the Hunter Class ships will replace,” Nowlan said. He said the contract was an important first step for BlueScope in potentially supplying steel into the build phase of the nine submarine hunting warships. “Manufacturing is a key part of Australia’s history and today BlueScope is not only a world class manufacturer but we are also internationally competitive,” Nowlan said. BlueScope now has more than 100 facilities in 18 countries, employing around 14,000 people globally. ASC Shipbuilding is designing and building nine Hunter Class ships, which will be among the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare frigates, for the Royal Australian Navy. The contract is the first awarded to Australian businesses in the lead up to the Hunter program beginning with the five representative ship blocks built at the Osborne shipyard over two years. It follows news of the first new construction shed Building 20 being finished in the $500 million upgrade of the shipyard and the handover to ASC Shipbuilding getting underway. Five new sheds in the shipyard are being fitted with cutting edge construction equipment, and ASC […]

Unique machine guarding with round corners

Axelent X-Guard Contour is a part of a larger range that is easily configurable to adapt to all possible machine guarding needs for any warehouse, factory or facility. The X-Guard Contour is a unique machine guard that has been designed by Axelent to offer a sleek and functional design,’ The X-Guard Contour was the market’s first machine guard with 90-degree corner angles that offer round corners on the guarding. This innovative feature ensures that the X-Guard Contour is an ideal solution for confined areas within a production environment or narrow warehouse and has grown to be one of the most popular in the series. The X-Guard range is intuitively designed to ensure that the guarding fits easily and quickly around all types of machines and safety areas. With endless combinations available the X-Guard range offers flexibility and the guards are available in mesh panel, sheet plate and plastics sections. Thanks to the X-Guard’s smart door solutions you do not need to pre-determine whether you need a left or right-hinged door. The sections are available in 13 widths and 4 heights and is quick to assemble. The unique X-Key is designed for quick panel release and ensures that you can re-configure your panels as your equipment and demands of the facilities grow and change. The X-Key allows the customer to change the hinge and lock with a simple operation which means you can easily and quickly change the configuration of the machine guarding as and when the need arises. Axelent is a global manufacturer of unique modular-designed X-Guard safety guarding and X-Tray cable tray systems and the McCue Pedestrian Barriers; all of which are designed to protect pedestrians, machines, forklifts, racking and your facilities. Axelent Australia offers a complete safety concept for the Australia and New Zealand markets that is guaranteed […]

Safe access with Euchner Electronic Key System EKS from Treotham

Treotham is showcasing its versatile Euchner product for electronic access control and management: the Electronic-Key-System EKS. This transponder-based read/write system has already proven its worth in the packaging machinery industry by preset parameters that provide protection against unauthorised access. The RFID-based EKS features the main advantage of being freely programmable and therefore highly versatile. The Electronic-Key stores the access rights for each employee. A reader scans the data and forwards this information to the control system. Additional uses for the EKS system include controlling specific functions and accessing encrypted process parameters for an installation. What’s more, one system variant is the perfect choice for hygienically sensitive areas in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Another application for the EKS system is functionally safe selection of operating mode, enabling users to select the required operating mode and activate the corresponding safety function. Maximum safety throughout the packaging processTreotham’s diverse safety solutions can be perfectly integrated into modular systems to protect people, machines and products in the packaging sector. The Euchner product range comprises guard locking devices and access management systems as well as products such as door detectors, door locking systems and pendant stations. For all of its products, Euchner guarantees exacting quality far exceeding the requirements in standards and laws. Customers can rely on Euchner with over 60 years of safety engineering expertise.

Suhner supports industry with components manufacturing service

Suhner Australia has launched a parts manufacturing service to help companies overcome issues with supply. The new service will run alongside Suhuner’s core business in providing tools, consumables and know-how in the surface finishing of all metals, and in particular, stainless steel, aluminium, brass and special alloys. With many firms now experiencing critical shortages of parts and products as a result of disruption to their supply chains, Suhner is using its own extensive CNC production facilities to produce PPE products, related equipment and manufactured parts. The new service is suitable for those who require small runs of manufactured metal, plastic and related parts. A cost-effective service that delivers high-quality parts, customers will welcome the reliable, on-time delivery. Suhner is also supporting industry with its provision of free, on-site assistance in finding the right finishing solution for an application. Free, at your door assistance with choosing the right solution Suhner has been supplying the Australian market with a comprehensive range of metal finishing tools and abrasives since 2004. To assist industry, users can access Suhner’s considerable expertise and technical know-how when it comes to choosing the right solution as well as implementing it. Regardless of whether the user is working with stainless steel, aluminium, brass or other metals; Suhner can advise and demonstrate the best procedure to achieve the desired finish. Its dedicated demonstration service also lets users try the tool to ensure they can attain the required result. Comprehensive tool and abrasives rangeManufactured in Germany and Switzerland, Suhner’s broad range of quality power tools for metal finishing include battery, electric, air and flexible drive. The extensive range of abrasives includes carbide burrs, abrasive belts, and heavy-duty grinding discs. With a comprehensive range of both tools and abrasives, Suhner is able to provide users with the right equipment for the job […]

Greater access regulation will become a new normal after coronavirus

Greater regulation of access to public and private buildings and visitor hot spots may figure among major impacts from the coronavirus affecting architects, builders, facility managers and site owners. “Certainly, there will be a new normal for people-intensive public and private facilities, where owners have a duty of care to protect staff and visitors,” says security and entrance specialist, Boon Edam Australia Managing Director Michael Fisher (Master security licence number: 000104487). The likely changes – including to Government-funded Covid recovery infrastructure spending in Australia and New Zealand – will be particularly relevant also to facilities such as hospitals, health care, schools, hotels, restaurants, tourism facilities and landmark structures and community and cultural assets. Accelerated safety and sustainability access control trends “Coronavirus may well accelerate changes that were already underway to promote greater safety and sustainability within our urban infrastructure. Such changes will be driven not only by the need to protect against health-related risks, but also in some cases to exclude threats such as urban pollution and to counter the rising incidence of physical violence against providers of public services.” “They are also highly relevant to and holders of valuable physical and electronic assets, including data and commercial information,” says Mr Fisher, whose parent Boon Edam organisation is a leading global manufacturer of energy-saving revolving doors and security entrances in 27 countries, including global names in data management and internet services. The 140-year-old family owned company’s top quality entrance control products are used by dozens of Fortune 500 companies as well as social infrastructure, transport terminals, public and private spaces where there are risks ranging from extreme physical intrusions – such as terrorism , violence and theft – to more subtle but sinister threats such as airborne pollution and infected carriers of contagious disease. Security technologies working in harmony Mr Fisher […]

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