Future of Manufacturing

World first – 3D printing of equipment parts for Aussie red meat processors

The Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) together with Markforged and Konica Minolta are working together to establish a world-first, industry-owned additive manufacturing (3D printing) service model to help red meat processors across Australia to print equipment parts, revolutionising equipment maintenance to help ensure continuous supply of meat products. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has been around for about a decade; however, new uses for the technology are constantly being discovered. This led AMPC to investigate its potential in meat processing facilities. In a high-volume environment like a processing plant, parts such as bolts and rollers can wear or break. As in any industry, time is money, and if a part fails the result is lost productivity and expensive down-time until the part is sourced and replaced. With 3D printing, the industry can benefit from part replacement, creation, and refinement. Chris Taylor, CEO, Australian Meat Processor Corporation, said, “Meat processors rely on a multitude of equipment, with multiple components. Even a small component failure can be a costly exercise. The ability to simply print a replacement part could drastically reduce downtime and minimise the need to wait for parts, reducing the chance of supply being at risk.” Matthew Hunter, Innovation Product Marketing Manager, Konica Minolta, said, “The need for sovereign capability for the Australian supply chain coupled with Australian government support for local food and beverage manufacturing has resulted organisations looking to adopt innovative practices. Konica Minolta Australia is proud to partner with AMPC in getting this world-first capability off the ground.” Richard Elving, Director of Sales Asia-Pacific, Markforged, said, “We are very excited about bringing Markforged’s Digital Forge to AMPC and AMPC’s members to support maintenance, repair and operation needs. Supply chain issues can be costly and time-sensitive, and with these tools in place, AMPC will provide a […]

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Pioneering technology to help NASA land the next person on the moon

A project led by The University of Western Australia in partnership with Fugro Australia and supported by the Australian Space Agency will expand optical communication technology to support international space exploration missions such as NASA’s artemis program. The Australian optical communications support for NASA Artemis and beyond project, funded by $199,634 via the Australian Space Agency’s Demonstrator program, will seek to establish a new optical communications ground station in Western Australia to enable more precise and clearer communication between Earth and the Moon. Dr Sascha Schediwy from the UWA node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), who has previously pioneered advanced atmopheric stabilisation technology for free-space optical communication, will play a lead role in the project. Dr Schediwy, leader of the ICRAR Astrophotoncs Group and member of the UWA International Space Centre, said that free-space optical communication would have huge benefits for space exploration. “During the Apollo era, all communication between Earth and the astronauts in space relied on radio communication, which given the large distance between Earth and the Moon, led to low data rates and poor transmitted live video quality,” Dr Schediwy said. “Optical communication on the other hand has been shown to support data rates hundreds of times greater than radio communications, enabling 4K live footage of the next crewed Moon-landing – it’s the communication technology of the future.” Associate Professor Danail Obreschkow, head of UWA’s International Space Centre, said the project would harness the expertise and resources of the newly established Centre. “The International Space Centre launched earlier this year includes more than 12 research nodes, 150 researchers and 20 PhD students who are working on advancements for optical communications and space exploration,” Professor Obreschkow said. “The scientists are also working on research to improve our daily lives such as communication technologies, new […]

New podcast for progressive Australian manufacturers

Newcastle-based manufacturing growth specialist Graeme Fitzgerald recently launched a new podcast aimed at progressive Australian manufacturers who want to be more profitable, more sustainable and drive future growth. The ‘Manufacturing Mastery’ podcast includes special guest speakers and will cover a wide range of industry-relevant topics. The content is intended to offer valuable insights and practical, real-world advice that manufacturers can apply to their business. Topics covered will include how to embed a planning framework into your business, marketing in Australian manufacturing, new approaches to innovation, the importance of culture, how to lead change, and navigating the new normal. “Manufacturing Mastery is my way of doing what I can to help create a forum where we educate and support manufacturers by sharing knowledge, experiences and lessons learnt in a format that’s in snack-sized bites for a busy world”, said Graeme. “The podcast offers a unique opportunity to hear, firsthand, from practitioners what’s happening in all other areas of manufacturing and to listen to new ideas that may apply to their business, including emerging technologies – all from an Australian perspective”. The idea behind the podcast is to challenge thinking. Some listeners may not agree with everything that’s said – but that’s the intention. It’s designed to disrupt the status quo and create a forum for discussion. The first series of Manufacturing Mastery is anticipated to be released fortnightly and will run for eight to ten episodes. Episodes will be available on the Graeme Fitzgerald website as well as via your favourite podcast channels. To listen to the latest episodes, including ‘The Pursuit of Excellence’ with John Costly and ‘Marketing and Australian Manufacturing’ with Jacqui Daley, visit https://www.graemefitzgerald.com.au/

Rio Tinto and ARENA to study using hydrogen to reduce carbon emissions in alumina refining

Rio Tinto has partnered with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to study whether hydrogen can replace natural gas in alumina refineries to reduce emissions. Rio Tinto will conduct a $1.2 million feasibility study, equally funded with ARENA through a $580,000 grant, into using clean hydrogen to replace natural gas in the calcination process of refining at the Yarwun aumina refinery in Gladstone. The study program includes work to be done at Rio Tinto’s Bundoora Technical Development Centre in Melbourne, where Rio Tinto’s in-house development capability has now been extended to hydrogen. ARENA CEO Darren Miller said “If we can replace fossil fuels with clean hydrogen in the refining process for alumina, this will reduce emissions in the energy and emissions intensive refining stage of the aluminium supply chain. Exploring these new clean energy technologies and methods is a crucial step towards producing green aluminium. “This study will investigate a potential technology that can contribute to the decarbonisation of the Australian alumina industry. If successful, the technical and commercial lessons from Rio Tinto’s study could lead to the implementation of hydrogen calcination technology, not only in Australia, but also internationally.” Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Operations acting managing director Daniel van der Westhuizen said “We see the ARENA and Rio Tinto-funded study as a step towards reducing refinery emissions and one that has the potential to play an important part in Rio Tinto’s commitment to decarbonisation. “We’re investing in work that needs to be done, not only to decarbonise one of our sites, but also to help provide a lower-emissions pathway for Rio Tinto and the global aluminium industry. “We recognise we are on a long road towards reducing emissions across our operations and there is clearly more work to be done. But projects such as this are an important part […]

Footy club canteens to be safer with $30,000 in grants from ESV

Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is offering Victorian grassroots football and netball clubs grants of up to $1,000 to upgrade old and potentially dangerous gas and electrical equipment in their canteens. ESV, in partnership with AFL Victoria, has handed out more than $90,000 over the past three years through its Safer Canteens grants program, helping 100 Victorian football/netball club canteens buy appliances that are safer and more efficient. Safer Canteens promotes broader energy safety and supports local, regional and suburban community sport – particularly following the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) during 2020. Grant applications open today. ESV Commissioner and Chair, Marnie Williams, said $30,000 was available through this year’s program with more than 30 clubs expected to receive a grant. An additional $1,000 Safer Canteen grant will be awarded through the Canteen Hero program, where ESV recognises the contribution of canteen volunteers, often the unsung heroes of footy clubs. Ms Williams also announced that ESV had this year become the sole sponsor of the Victorian Blind Football League, contributing $15,000 to support community sport and inclusion for the visually impaired. “After the disappointment of last year’s footy season being cancelled, it’s great to see our suburban, regional and rural athletes kicking and handballing again,” Ms Williams said. “ESV is proud to stand by community football and build on our long-standing partnership with AFL Victoria while also promoting awareness on important energy safety issues. “Safer Canteens also helps us ensure the safety of canteen volunteers and the community by helping them purchase safe new appliances. “We are so proud to get behind the Victorian Blind Football League, helping support this fantastic avenue for the visually impaired community to get out, have fun and enjoy some team camaraderie.” Head of AFL Victoria, Brad Scott, applauded ESV’s commitment to supporting inclusion and grassroots […]

Big Oil, Gas and Coal running out of places to hide

Three global fossil fuel giants have just suffered embarrassing rebukes over their inadequate action on climate change. Collectively, the developments show how courts, and frustrated investors, are increasingly willing to force companies to reduce their carbon dioxide pollution quickly. A Dutch court ordered Royal Dutch Shell to slash its greenhouse emissions, and 61% of Chevron shareholders backed a resolution to force that company to do the same. And in an upset at Exxon Mobil, an activist hedge fund won two seats on the company’s board. The string of wins was followed in Australia on Thursday by a court ruling that the federal environment minister, when deciding whether or not to approve a new coal mine, owes a duty of care to young people to avoid causing them personal injury from climate change. The court rulings are particularly significant. Courts have often been reluctant to interfere in what is viewed as an issue best left to policymakers. These recent judgements, and others, suggest courts are more prepared to scrutinise emissions reduction by businesses and – in the case of the Dutch court – order them to do more. Court warns of ‘irreversible consequences’ In a world-first ruling, a Hague court ordered oil and gas giant Shell to reduce CO₂ emissions by 45% by 2030, relative to 2019 levels. The court noted Shell had no emissions-reduction targets to 2030, and its policies to 2050 were “rather intangible, undefined and non-binding”. The case was brought by climate activist and human rights groups. The court found climate change due to CO₂ emissions “has serious and irreversible consequences” and threatened the human “right to life”. It also found Shell was responsible for so-called “Scope 3” emissions generated by its customers and suppliers. The Chevron upset involved an investor revolt. Some 61% of shareholders supported a resolution calling for Chevron to substantially reduce Scope 3 […]

CSIRO and partners launch $68M Hydrogen Industry Mission

A new Hydrogen Industry Mission launched today by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, will help support the world’s transition to clean energy, create new jobs and boost the economy. Hydrogen, when mixed with oxygen, can be used as an emissions-free fuel source to generate electricity, power or heat. But it is expensive to turn into a fuel. The research mission will help drive down the cost of hydrogen production to under $2 per kilogram, making the fuel more affordable and helping to position Australia to lead the world in exporting hydrogen by 2030. Over the next five years, more than 100 projects worth $68M have been planned by partners including: Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER), Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) , Fortescue Metals Group, Swinburne University, the Victorian Government, the Future Fuels CRC, National Energy Resources Australia (NERA), and the Australian Hydrogen Council, along with collaborators Toyota and Hyundai. CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said the unique mission-based partnership was the key to creating a new industry for the future energy needs of Australia and the world. “Australia can become a renewable energy leader through the production, use and export of hydrogen, but it will only become a reality if we breakthrough the $2/kg barrier. That needs Australia’s world class science working with CSIRO’s commercialisation expertise turning breakthrough science into real-world solutions,” Dr Marshall said. “Taking a Team Australia approach is essential to creating the 8,000 jobs and $11 billion a year in GDP that hydrogen can contribute to Australia’s economy as we build back better from the impacts of Covid-19.” CEO of the Australian Hydrogen Council Dr Fiona Simon said the Mission came at a critical time for the emerging Australian hydrogen industry. “We need a coordinated series of investments in industrial-scale research and demonstration activities, […]

Productivity growth has stalled since 2005 (and isn’t about to improve soon)

Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Not long ago it seemed as if the future was going to get better and better — not long ago at all.The high point was around 2005, fifteen years ago. I don’t know if you can remember how you felt at the time, but for me the surge in living standards, driven by an ever-building surge in output per working hour (“productivity”) suggested things were building on themselves: each new innovation was making use of the ones that had come before to the point where…. Ray Kurzweil, now the director of research at Google, summed it up in a book released in 2005 itself, titled The Singularity Is Near. Singularity was “a future period during which the pace of technological change will be so rapid, its impact so deep, that human life will be irreversibly transformed”. Changes would build on each other to the point where everything changed at once. Kurzweil dubbed it the “law of accelerating returns”. Year by year in the leadup to 2005, Australia’s productivity growth had accelerated to the point where in the 15 years to 2005 it had grown 37%. If it kept accelerating… In the 1930s economist John Maynard Keynes foresaw “ever larger and larger classes and groups of people from whom problems of economic necessity have been practically removed”. On average the working week might fall to 15 hours. In the 1970s, futurologist Alvin Toffler spoke of a four-hour working day. And then from 2005 on productivity growth collapsed. In the 15 years since, Australia’s output per working hour (productivity) has grown by just 17%. Thirty seven per cent turned out to be the high point. And not only here. In the United States and other developed economies productivity growth is divided into “before 2005” when it […]

Solar winners using savings to innovate and invest in manufacturing

Renewable energy may have been a loser in the Federal Budget, but businesses in the manufacturing sector are investing in solar to save on power bills and using the savings to innovate and increase production. These solar winners are demonstrating how to improve the bottom line, increase profit margins and become more sustainable at the same time. Thomas Bell, Sales Director of world-leading solar solutions provider Energus, commented that manufacturers are rapidly embracing solar which is the world’s cheapest form of energy. Energus is a world-leading solar-solutions provider which has helped over 200 businesses, schools and community organisations across NSW convert to solar and save big on their energy bills. Two of these businesses are Motion Asia Pacific based in Chullora and Cooks Confectionery in Shellharbour, both of which have been able to use the savings to innovate and invest in their operations. Cooks Confectionery is one of Australia’s leading confectionery companies, which supplies premium quality chocolate, toffee and nut products to wholesalers, supermarkets, convenience stores, service stations and other retail outlets Australia-wide. In July 2020, Cooks Confectionery engaged Energus to install a 70kw solar energy system on the roof of its 1000 M² property, which led to a huge reduction in energy costs, enabling the company to double its shifts. “We effectively doubled production without increasing our energy costs,“ said Cooks’ Managing Director, Daniel Lezcano. Bell said, “We were very pleased to see that the huge reduction in energy costs enabled the company to double its shifts. Even with the introduction of the second shift and operations spanning from 6 am to 10 pm, the company’s energy bill stayed the same, thereby saving them $10K/quarter.” Given that the production of chocolate is high in energy use with the need to refine it for 10-12 hours, motors on for the […]

First test of a 30% natural gas/hydrogen blend

The world’s first test of a 30% natural gas/hydrogen blend in the forging processes used in industrial steelmaking has been held in Rho (province of Milan), at the Forgiatura A. Vienna plant. The trial involved the use of the hydrogen/gas mix to heat the furnaces of the Forgiatura A. Vienna plant and was successfully carried out on site after a series of studies and laboratory tests lasting about a year. The companies involved in the initiative were: Snam, one of the world’s leading energy infrastructure companies and developer and promoter of the project; RINA, a multinational inspection, certification and engineering consultancy, which handled the engineering analyses and laboratory phase; and GIVA Group, a global leader in steelmaking, which made Forgiatura Vienna available for the field test. The blend of methane and hydrogen was supplied by Sapio, an Italian company specialising in the production and marketing of industrial and medical gases. Marco Alverà CEO of Snam said “In the medium to long term, hydrogen is in a position to become the solution for decarbonising steelmaking as well as all hard-to-abate industrial sectors that have a fundamental role in our economy. “This trial is a preparatory step to the gradual introduction of zero-emission hydrogen, initially blended with natural gas and then in pure form, in certain steelmaking production processes. “Snam intends to make its infrastructure, research and expertise available to contribute to the creation of a national hydrogen supply chain and to the achievement of domestic and European climate targets”.

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