Manufacturing Technology

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Elastic Wearlon sheaves take stress out of wire rope applications

Wire ropes used in a broad range of equipment – including lifting, winching and conveying applications – can benefit from durable sheaves and rollers (bottom right) made from engineered plastics, which protect against metal-to-metal contact and harsh abrasion from metal alternatives. Wire rope is integral to lifting, shifting and power transmission across a host of industries, starting with mining in the 1830s and extending since across wide swathes of industry. Uses today encompass cranes and lifting, cargo handling, elevators, construction, primary and food product harvesting, power generation technology (such as tendons in windmills), winching and conveying in manufacturing, minerals processing and materials handling and fixed and mobile plant used in paper and timber processing. Wire rope’s big initial advantage over the chains it originally replaced was that it would not snap catastrophically where there were flaws in chain links or solid bars, but rather individual strands could fail while others around them would take up the load safely and flexibly without shock. However, even the best quality wire rope will ultimately wear and potentially fail if it is subjected to constant abrasion, such as that induced by uneven metal-to-metal contact across sheaves and where lubricants attract grime to gradually compromise strength while attracting impurities into industrial processes. To help protect against such issues, Cut To Size Plastics custom-engineers sheaves and rollers for wire ropes using some of the world’s hardest-wearing engineering plastics, formulated to reduce wear and maintenance and enhance safety in a wide range of machinery and materials handling equipment. Examples of such sheaves are fabricated from Cut To Size’s internationally proven Wearlon range of hard-wearing cast polyamide engineering plastics, such as the LiNNOTAM products of the globally respected Licharz organisation. These products are formulated both for OEM use and metal replacement in applications involving transmission of mechanical force […]

Australian rocket launch site given major project status

The South Australian government has granted major project status to a venture which aims to become Australia’s first commercial rocket launch site. Southern Launch is aiming for its Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex “to get off the ground in 2020”. The declaration takes the South Australian company to the next stage that will allow it to undertake a comprehensive assessment and submit a formal development application. Southern Launch announced in December it had found a site at Whalers Way on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula for its launch pad, just days before the new Australian Space Agency declared it would establish headquarters in the state’s capital Adelaide. The multi-user rocket launch facility will allow micro- and small-lift rocket manufacturers to launch satellites into polar orbits using cutting edge technology, further reinforcing South Australia’s contribution to the nation’s space sector. The 1190-hectare site sits at the bottom of Eyre Peninsula, about 35 minutes’ drive from the regional centre of Port Lincoln. The complex is 250km west of Adelaide and 500km south of Woomera, the historic rocket launch site that is restricted to military use. A taskforce, headed up by state government agency Defence SA has been established to help Southern Launch through the development process, which includes detailed plans of site operations, potential customers, economic benefit and environmental impact. Southern Launch founder and CEO Lloyd Damp said the major project declaration was a fantastic step forward and would allow more information to be released and public consultation to begin. He said major project status was usually reserved for huge infrastructure projects that ran into the billions of dollars. “Our project is a fraction of that size but the potential benefit to the South Australian economy is of great importance to the state,” Damp said. “The creation of something like a launch facility operates […]

Queensland waste-to-energy project receives international accolades

CST Wastewater Solutions’ major waste-to-energy project with NH Foods in Queensland has received international recognition this month through finalist nominations in both the energy and sustainability categories of the prestigious 2019 Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Global Awards. The technology involved in the double IChemE finalist nomination is a far-sighted green energy initiative by leading meat processor NH Foods Australia at their Oakey Beef Exports facility, and is already paying handsome dividends in terms of cleaner wastewater effluent, as well as a reduced fossil fuel environmental footprint and lower energy costs. The Global Water & Energy (GWE) COHRAL(Covered High-Rate Anerobic Lagoon) plant extracts green energy (biogas) from Oakey Beef Export’s wastewater streams to replace millions of dollars’ worth of natural gas over its operating life, in Queensland’s Darling Downs region. The plant – which occupies half the space of comparable technologies and stores biogas extracted from wastewater in a robust 6000m3 polyester balloon – was installed at Oakey by Australian environmental engineering and green energy authority CST Wastewater Solutions, which recently inspected the plant as it reaches its landmark fifth year of service in southern Queensland. In addition to food and beverage processors, the technology can be applied to agribusiness operations including all forms of meat, livestock, poultry, fish and agribusiness, including fruit, sugar, vegetable, grains and other crops. “It’s outstanding to receive this kind of international recognition, and we credit NH Foods Australia for their forward-thinking and innovative attitude to sustainability. They are leading the way in environmental and sustainable outcomes in the meat industry in Australia,” said Mr Michael Bambridge, Managing Director, CST Wastewater Solutions. “By transforming a wastewater effluent treatment and disposal problem into an ongoing productive asset, the plant has achieved a rare business and environmental ideal of cleaner, greener performance with stable, predictable and profitable […]

Adaptalift Group forklifts – HysterUT and Yale UX ranges

Australian materials handling leader Adaptalift Group is backing the new Hyster UT and Yale UX Series lift trucks to satisfy a strong need in the Australian market for quality-engineered, cost-effective forklifts suited to lower frequency applications typically limited to 1,000 hours a year. The new Hyster UT Series and Yale UX Series diesel or dual-fuel counterbalance forklifts, pallet trucks and stackers, in six different capacities from 1.5-3.5 tonnes, deliver an attractive, affordable and uncomplicated range for enhanced user choice across many industries. The new ranges provide an attractive option for customers who require quality materials handling equipment – backed by service provided by the dealer network and support of the globally leading Hyster-Yale Group – but don’t need advanced functionalities for their tasks. Adaptalift Group is a major dealer for both Hyster and Yale in Australia, and is demonstrating its full support for the launches of the reliable new forklift ranges through strong local stock levels. Adaptalift Group, which has more than 38 years’ experience in the materials handling industry, is uniquely positioned to offer both the new Hyster and Yale lift trucks, which will add to their fleet of approximately 10,500 units across Australia, backed by a workforce of more than 400. Customer benefits Hyster and Yale’s new ranges provide a simple approach to materials handling – backed by 24/7 service – which is particularly attractive to customers whose materials handling equipment is required to work intermittently over a working week, on an as-required basis, typically up to 1,000 hours a year. Not only do the new ranges fill a gap in the market for a high quality, low usage forklift backed by reliable service, they also have outstanding features for the user. For example, the 3-piece overhead guard, comfortable seat and access step. The new Hyster UT and […]

Australia’s first electric motorbike launched in Adelaide

The Fonzarelli NKD electric motorbike and its charging stations will be manufactured in Adelaide, South Australia. Michelle Nazzari and Simon Modra met at a wedding several years ago in Sydney and spent the evening engrossed in conversation about motorbikes. The pair of entrepreneurs stayed in touch as each went their separate ways, Simon back to Adelaide and various startups in the sustainability sector, and Michelle into her own electric vehicle company called Fonzarelli. “I had been working in automotive manufacturing with electric and hybrid buses,” said Nazzari. “That’s where it all started, but I looked at the powertrain and it’s very simple and thought, ‘yeah, I might give this a go,’ and so set up the company and started tinkering.” Nazzari launched her first electric scooter in 2012-13 under the brand Fonzarelli and has grown the business from there. Always with the push to increase mileage and with a dedication to motorcycles still in her heart, Nazzari reconnected with Modra to tackle the issue of charging stations for her NKD electric motorbike. The electric dual-sport mini motorcycle has a range of up to 120kms and can produce 6000 RPM and a top speed of 100 km/h. Modra, who is also an architect and Future Submarine design researcher at the University of South Australia, jumped at the chance to collaborate with Nazzari on the NKD project and convinced her to manufacture the charging stations and bike in South Australia. “It’s a legitimate form of transport – there are many motorcyclists out there who don’t have a car and we’re lucky battery power has become so reliable now and Peter [Coombs – Chapter president of Design Institute of Australia] did give the hat-tip to Tesla,” Modra said. “Now we’ve got this incredible range with the vehicle and we’re getting further and further out.” […]

Kemppi releases MasterTig range

Kemppi, has launched the new Kemppi MasterTig family which is designed to withstand demanding welding environments and high temperatures; the next generation of MasterTig welding machines is impressive. It sets new standards in usability, welding quality capability and power efficiency. The MasterTig range has been redesigned with the professional welder very much in mind. The machine’s Weld Assist feature lets welders setup 60% faster to help increase productivity. Welders simply select the material, thickness, joint type and welding position. Weld Assist then determines the best parameters for the welding task. It also provides recommendations for the electrode size, filler wire, gas flow, groove type, pass profile and travel speed. Welders can also weld up to 30% faster, thanks to the MasterTig’s Double Pulse function. Double pulse accelerates the travel speed in DC hand welding and mechanised applications. This not only allows welders to power through work, it reduces distortion levels and delivers excellent weld appearance. Double Pulse also reduces heat input by 20%, helping to minimise welding costs. The range is also packed with high-technology features that enhance TIG welding. The MicroTack function lets you complete multiple, repetitive tacking on thin sheet applications quickly and without forgoing quality or the visual appearance of the weld. iTEC is engineered ignition technology. It ensures a reliable arc start every time and is particularly useful with long torch extensions for site welding or precise thin materials and low current applications. The Optima AC feature is a customised waveform that combines the best of the traditional sine and square forms. It improves welding quality while reducing the noise level in AC TIG welding by 20%. Other advanced features of the range include 99 memory channels, a weld time clock that lets you measure and record job data, and Auto Pulse. The MasterTig range is […]

Konecranes’ MAINMAN planned maintenance technology earns top safety award

Australian cranes and lifting technology and service leader Konecranes has won the ‘Best Practice in Safety’ award at the 2019 Bulk Handling Awards for its advanced planned maintenance technology, MAINMAN. Konecranes’ MAINMAN technology is used in major infrastructure, industrial, logistics and materials handling projects where equipment must be cost-efficiently maintained in peak condition to optimise uptime and ensure critical work proceeds without breakdowns. “The bulk handling industry is critically dependent on cranes and lifting equipment, and for operations and maintenance managers, safety and uptime are always top priorities,” said Mr James Dowe, Managing Director, Konecranes Australia. “For a company that’s been focusing on optimising safety and uptime for Australian industry for more than 30 years, it’s truly an honour to receive this recognition in the prestigious Bulk Handling Awards. It’s a credit to the entire Konecranes team,” said Mr Dowe. “MAINMAN technology – like any preventative maintenance programme – is designed to help safety-conscious Australian companies ensure they are totally standards compliant. The difference with MAINMAN is that we use all available data to customise the programme to the customer’s equipment, application and duty cycle to make it as efficient as possible,” he said. Konecranes is the world’s crane service organisation, with more than 600,000 pieces of lifting equipment of all makes and models under service contract worldwide. With 22 service centres in Australia and 24/7 availability, Konecranes is dedicated to optimising uptime and safety for local industry. MAINMAN advanced planned maintenance technology MAINMAN provides an in-depth picture of the condition of lifting equipment, as well as routine maintenance work such as adjusting and lubricating. The service includes a preventive maintenance inspection, visual checks, routine maintenance, and operational and functional testing of cranes and lifting equipment. The latest Konecranes MAINMAN technology includes: Paperless service and installation reports Integrated business and […]

AI is here to stay. Now we need to ensure everyone benefits.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already in use in many sectors. Its contribution is expected to rise steadily, driven by advances in data storage, computer processing power and connectivity. Following the report on AI by the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA), the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi has launches a report that focuses on the opportunities and risks the “fourth industrial revolution” might bring to Aotearoa New Zealand. AI, in all its applications, is predicted to contribute some US$15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. This represents roughly the combined GDP of China and India in 2018. Australia and New Zealand are yet to develop national AI strategies. The reports look 20 years ahead, which is a useful period for policy development. The explicit focus on well-being provides a helpful frame to start national conversations about how to embrace these new technologies, leading rather than passively accepting advances from offshore. AI in New Zealand New Zealand has started to adopt AI in the government sector, with most government agencies employing some form of it. There are advantages in New Zealand’s small size and strong legal frameworks to develop protocols for data ethics and security, and intellectual property, and to nurture a diverse AI-savvy workforce. Placing equity at the centre of the conversation means that we can choose to adopt AI technologies across education, government and industry in the context of public good. This would mitigate the risk of importing biases from offshore algorithms and allow us to identify areas where AI can benefit all New Zealanders, rather than a small international elite. Within the reports’ 20-year horizon, specialist machine learning and narrow AI (a specific type of AI that outperforms humans in a very narrowly defined task) will help us to start removing the “four Ds” – dirty, dull, difficult, dangerous – from our daily work. Instead, we […]

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Cemintel’s Territory range secures AS5113 EW classification

Light weight building innovator, Cemintel, has secured the first AS5113 EW classification for a fibre cement system. Cemintel’s Territory range acquired the additional rating to its existing CodeMark certificate following recent testing; demonstrating conformance to the rigorous Standard. Cemintel’s intelligently engineered, flexible systems and prefinished fibre cement cladding solutions aim to set new standards for design, performance and safety in Australia. Securing the AS5113 EW classification for the Territory range is a natural extension of the organisation’s commitment to developing quality, locally engineered building solutions. “Derived from the Japanese values of simplicity, nature and quality, the Territory range draws on traditional building materials like stone, timber, concrete and metal for inspiration; providing builders, designers and architects with a flexible, high performance, palette for iconic external designs,” says Paul Manks, General Manager of CSR Cemintel. “With the Territory range now meeting all of the criteria of the AS5113 EW, the most comprehensive fire safety rating for external walls available in Australia, designers and property owners can be even more confident that they are making a safe and aesthetically striking choice.” Standards Australia introduced AS5113 in March 2016. The Standard sets out procedures for a large-scale test that provides a reliable indication of the facade system’s resistance to the spread of fire. “While organisations in Australia may have tested to the AS5113 Standard, attaining EW certification is challenging; many systems have failed to pass the debris requirements. Following the Territory test, no debris was apparent and the wall was deemed to be in good condition.” “The classification has been added to the CodeMark certification to give the industry increased confidence in the compliance of the products and systems. The prefinished Territory range met all of the requirements, with no concessions required for any of the Pass criteria needed to receive the EW […]

Schaeffler-supported UNSW Hyperloop engineers excel in SpaceX high-speed pod competition

A competition highlight: UNSW undergraduate engineers – who recently competed in the SpaceX Hyperloop pod competition – got to meet technology entrepreneur, Elon Musk Schaeffler Australia – part of the global digitalisation and Industry 4.0 leading Schaeffler Group – is taking a further step to enhance ‘mobility for tomorrow’ through its support of the UNSW Hyperloop engineering team. UNSW Hyperloop – which comprises a team of undergraduate engineering students aspiring to innovate the future of high speed travel – recently competed in the SpaceX Hyperloop pod competition, where they placed 7th overall – the best result for a newcomer to the competition. “As a company at the forefront of Industry 4.0 technologies, we are proud to partner with these bright young engineers, who have excelled in their first official Hyperloop pod competition,” said Mr Andre Kluge, Managing Director, Schaeffler Australia. The SpaceX Hyperloop pod competition’s goal is “to support the development of functional prototypes and encourage innovation by challenging student teams to design and build the best high-speed pod.” “In addition to placing 7th out of 21 teams, the UNSW Hyperloop team were the first ever team to successfully complete a self-propelled test run at a first appearance at competition level. However, I think the highlight for many students was getting to meet Elon Musk in person!” said Mr Kluge. SpaceX Hyperloop 2019 The SpaceX Hyperloop 2019 competition was judged on the entrant’s pod’s maximum speed reached, with successful deceleration (i.e. without crashing). All pods were self-propelled and had to use their own communication system. Previous winners of the competition have reached speeds of 284 mph (approx. 457 km/h) in SpaceX’s specially designed tunnel. 2019’s winner – Technical University of Munich – was also supported by Schaeffler, and managed to break that record and achieved 288 mph (463 km/h). UNSW […]

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