Smart Manufacturing

Unpacking the channel’s role in securing Australia’s utilities

By Bryan Stibbard, Director – Channels and Alliances AN/Z at Palo Alto Networks The recent electricity market wobbles have unveiled a level of fragility among some of Australia’s largest utility operators that have surprised many, but this is nothing compared to the potential problems presented by the cyber threat landscape. Operators of utilities and other critical infrastructure around the world have increasingly been targeted by malicious actors, and Australia is not immune from this trend. As recently as April this year, the cybersecurity authorities of Australia, the US, Canada, New Zealand and the UK advised critical infrastructure organisations to implement immediate measures to protect against Russian state-sponsored and criminal cyber threats as the war in Ukraine raged. Not only have such threats demonstrated the rising role that so-called Industry 4.0 technology is playing in the lives of the country and its people, they have also opened a new door of opportunity for channel partners in the local market. It’s no secret that cyber security has quickly become a big ticket item for channel partners around the country. Over the past two years many managed service providers (MSPs) have found themselves building out managed security services in addition to their core offering in order to meet evolving customer demand in this area. With the emergence of Industry 4.0 – the fourth industrial revolution, marked by the incorporation of connected ‘smart’ equipment – even more opportunities are emerging for partners willing to embrace cyber security as a source of growth for their businesses. There are legitimate security challenges resulting from the rise of Industry 4.0 technology in industry. Industry 4.0 businesses are highly automated, digital first businesses. This means any disruption to their digital systems, especially from a cyber incident, can have a material impact to the organisation as a whole. Operational […]

Adelaide smart street furniture manufacturer eyes expansion

An Adelaide engineering company has further plans to tackle the global market with an export-friendly line of smart furniture and modular buildings. Since the COVID-19 lockdown, Specialised Solutions has seen strong demand for its line of off-grid park benches and shelters and its modular buildings. Worker and supply shortages in the building and construction industry and councils zeroing in on renewable energy projects are behind the demand for its cutting-edge products. Brad Riddle, the company’s national business development manager, said Specialised Solutions were now eyeing more opportunities on a global scale. Riddle said the company has distributors in the United States and New Zealand but said there is “strong interest” from European and Middle Eastern markets. “We are working on an export version of our products,” Riddle said. “We’re still working on that, but it will be a little more transportable and more modular. “A number of our products are larger and made of aluminum and steel and so we need to look at transport efficiencies to ensure that we can still be competitive in the international market.” Based out of the Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide, South Australia, the company has been manufacturing its Sedi line of smart furniture for the last three years. The original outdoor bench has since spawned bins, bike racks and heaters harnessing their power from the sun. Designed by JPE Design Studio, the furniture is made from steel and sustainable timber and, using a small battery, can provide Wi-FI, lighting and charging ports to people. Riddle said the company saw increased demand for the unique products during the COVID-19 lockdowns. “I think COVID-19 has put a new focus on public spaces and councils are looking for innovative ways to deliver in those spaces, and our products fit within that perfectly,” Riddle said. “We’ve also seen large public […]

NSW Export Award finalists celebrate economic diversity

New South Wales leading exporters from a range of industries are being celebrated as finalists in the 2022 Premier’s NSW Export Awards. Interim Investment NSW CEO Katie Knight said the diversity of the finalists showcases the growing number of NSW sectors and businesses expanding internationally. “I’m thrilled to see the rich diversity of exporters showcased in this year’s finalist list. From industrial robotic automation and high-tech medical devices to Australian native botanicals, all these businesses play a key role in contributing to our state’s $82 billion export economy,” Ms Knight said. “Exports support one in five jobs in Australia so it is vital we continue to support our state’s exporters to expand and thrive internationally. The breadth of this year’s finalists demonstrates the unwavering international demand for NSW’s world-class goods and services.” Now in its 60th year, the 2022 Premier’s NSW Export Awards are being delivered in partnership with the Export Council of Australia (ECA), recognising businesses across 13 national categories and 4 NSW categories. Chair of the ECA, Dianne Tipping said the Awards have received a significant number of nominations this year across all categories providing the opportunity to recognise the achievements of NSW exporters who have had to respond to on-going challenges associated with trade including global supply chain and logistics issues. “The calibre of entrants for this year’s Awards is outstanding. We are proud to provide a platform for these exporter success stories to be told and celebrated,” Ms Tipping said. One of the finalists in the Regional Exporter category, Lismore based Australian Native Products Company, is the largest grower and exporter of lemon myrtle in the world, and a first-time finalist. General Manager of the Australian Native Products, Ross Norris said being a finalist in the Awards will help boost the company profile and recognise the […]

Aussie manufacturers cracking US market

A growing number of South Australian manufacturers are expanding their footprint into the United States on the back of renewed interest in American and European markets. Global engineering companies, tech firms and manufacturing businesses based out of the Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide, South Australia are among those broadening their reach across the Pacific and opening offices in cities across the United States. XFrame managing director Carsten Dethlefsen said they launched in the US last year at NeoCon in Chicago, one of the country’s largest commercial furniture conferences. Without using a single nail or screw, the Tonsley-based business has invented a system of interlocking plywood that can be used to build shelters, office pods and studios. “Within two weeks of that conference we had projects on our books,” Dethlefsen said. “We delivered those projects within four weeks of that, so speed to market there. The type of clients I think caught us a little by surprise as well.” A phone booth made by XFrame, which can be easily disassembled and moved. Dethlefsen said there was a “big appetite” for their work post-COVID-19 because many offices needed reconfiguring. Their product allows companies to change their fit-out down the track without costly renovations. Dethlefsen said construction of trade show booths and retail display stands were in hot demand. As a result, the company now has manufacturing partners in Michigan, Oregon, and Grand Junction, Colorado. He said companies also wanted XFrame to build ancillary housing units to meet the huge demand for housing in the US. “The booth we did for that conference was all manufactured in the States, so we used local manufacturing, local supply chains and local labour. “We designed it up, sent it across the desert, they cut the components delivered to our team, they pre-assembled it and stood it up in the […]

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Keeping blackouts at bay

On June 15 this year, Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) suspended trading across the country’s east coast electricity power network as it faced an increasingly volatile situation. AEMO was set up in 2009 and this is the first time the operator took such drastic action across the entire network that it manages. There has been much debate and discussion on the causes ranging from the onset of winter to the war in Ukraine and maintenance shutdowns at power stations. While policy makers, regulators and power generators grapple with the situation, consumers are being asked to better manage their consumption. The conversation is evolving from generating more energy to better managing the energy we produce. With domestic consumption, energy transmission terminates at the premises of the end consumer. In the current situation, a lot is being asked of this often-neglected group. They are being requested to reduce consumption by shutting down appliances in certain times or use them outside peak periods. Customers have also been warned about potential blackouts. Current policies around demand management are focused on industrial plants and other large energy consumers, and these are governed by clear policies and processes. Consumers meanwhile are bracing themselves for energy price hikes and power cuts. Fortunately, technology has advanced and, when implemented, can give consumers more visibility and control over their energy usage. A good example is Sense, which has developed AI that runs on smart meters. Over two million Sense-enabled meters have been announced in the US and this technology is now coming to Australia. Their machine-learning algorithms can assess domestic electricity right down to the appliance level in real time. According to a directions paper released by the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), only 25 per cent of premises in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT […]

RS PRO launches energy efficiency products for manufacturers

RS is again expanding its Australasian RS PRO range with the addition of products that deliver improved energy saving and efficiency. Due to the popularity of these products they are being fast-tracked to market and will launch in September. The product range is tailored to reduce energy consumption from building facilities and the production line, from solar panel solutions, smart lighting options and high-efficiency power supplies. “We’re helping our customers embrace energy efficiency with the RS Pro brand,” says Scott Philbrook, Managing Director RS ANZ. “Both production line and facilities products are part of this launch. From energy meters, power supplies and lighting right down to PPE and Tool Kits that deliver improved energy savings and efficiency are included.” Each RS PRO product is backed by the RS Seal of Approval, which represents industry standards for audit, inspection, test, and certification. This, combined with longer than average warranties reflects RS Components confidence in the quality and longevity of their products. According to Scott, the expansion in the range is meeting demand in the market for affordable options for engineers looking for a choice. “Every corner of the manufacturing environment is being pressured by energy costs and this is an opportunity for our customers to have variety in their product selection,” he explained. RS has supreme confidence in the RS PRO brand and has invested heavily in expanding these product ranges and anticipates a favourable response and uptake in both the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Hydraulink franchise owner brings strong capabilities to Milperra businesses

A man who spent six months researching the hydraulic hose, fitting and service needs of Milperra’s businesses says he is delighted to have joined a Hydraulink national team dedicated to the same values he holds. Peter Tsekenis recently became the latest member of the Hydraulink family of franchise operators, which spans more than 400 services points across Australia and New Zealand. He says Hydraulink – which trades under the market signature “Best Under Pressure” – is an ideal fit for a person such as himself with a strong mechanical background and expert understanding of the importance of safety, precision, attention to detail and a can-do attitude that starts with first understanding customers’ needs. “We have a huge diversity of industries in Milperra – all dependent upon good hydraulic service to keep mobile and plant machinery functioning reliably without wasting downtime. The robust industry base here extends from distribution, transport and major import and export logistics, through to building, construction, diesel and civil machinery, metalworking, conveying and just about everything mechanical under the sun. Milperra really is a production powerhouse – and nearly all the machinery involved uses hydraulics in one way or another. “My research told me all of these could benefit from a door-to-door maintenance and breakdown service that gives them maximum uptime. As someone experienced in the civil engineering industry, I understand that breakdowns and ‘that’ll do’ maintenance cost big money, so I want to bring excellence and quality to the table.” Researching the market “When I as doing my research, driving around Milperra and talking to business for six months, I found that a lot of local industries were going outside the district to get their service needs. “So there seems to me to be a real gap in the market here for someone operating locally within […]

Freightlancer and Loadshift merge

Leading Australian heavy haulage marketplaces Freightlancer and Loadshift today announced an official merger. Both platforms will merge under the Loadshift banner, forming Australia’s largest transport marketplace which has delivered over 125 million kilometers of freight across Australia in the last 12 months. The merger will transform Loadshift from a simple membership-based bulletin board to a full marketplace for freight, and in the process of doing so introduces a 3% (for shippers) 10% (for carriers) commission-based model for non members. “Merging our freight division into one marketplace is a significant milestone for the business. Combining the two platforms will give our carriers more opportunities to find loads, while offering shippers access to more carriers across Australia. The new platform will also provide our users with new features which will enhance the shipper and carrier experience,” said Matt Barrie, Executive Chairman at Freightlancer. For carriers, the new marketplace platform will offer more access to freight, secure payment options, shipper transparency, invoice financing powered by Butn and an internal messaging platform which will offer direct quoting. As for shippers, the new features will provide enhanced carrier reviews which will improve the vetting process and managed services offerings including freight operations and project management. “Whilst the new platform will be a new experience for members, we have still kept the core principles of connecting shippers and carriers across the country. We have, however, introduced enhancements which will improve the overall user experience and offer carriers an additional level of safety and reliability when transporting loads. The added vetting features will be crucial to ensure shippers are finding quality, reliable carriers,“ said Drew Davis, General Manager at Loadshift. Founded in 2007, Loadshift was designed to solve the issue of trucks running with empty trailers by connecting shippers and carriers around Australia. According to a recent […]

Transforming Australia’s supply chains with knowledge graphs

By Dr. Maya Natarajan, Senior Director, Knowledge Graphs, Neo4j Since the onset of the pandemic, global supply chains have suffered unprecedented disruptions. Volatility in supply and demand, as well as route restrictions, have caused catastrophic breakdowns. Critical supply chains that should be resilient with ample redundancy built in have instead been revealed to be highly vulnerable. A Dun & Bradstreet study found that 163 Fortune 1000 companies had Tier 1 suppliers impacted and 938 had Tier 2 supplier impacted by the pandemic. According to Capgemini research, 74% of supply chain companies faced a shortage of critical parts and materials, and 68% had products held up in ports or across borders. Similarly in Australia, according the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), over a third (37 per cent) of all businesses experienced supply chain disruptions in February 2022. The survey found the most common supply chain issue facing businesses was domestic and international delivery delays (88 per cent), while 80 per cent had supply constraints and 75 per cent had seen increased prices (including transport costs). A key reason is the vast complexity of global supply chains. With so many different links in terms of sources, suppliers and routes they are highly multi-dimensional, making it extremely difficult to get visibility through traditional methods. Without visibility, it’s very hard to find redundancies in terms of alternate routes and suppliers. The need for supply chain visibility To be resilient, supply chains need to be visible. As McKinsey notes, one way to build long-term supply chain resilience is to construct a digital twin: “a virtual replica of a business’s operation that allows companies to simulate how a product, process, or service will perform before it is implemented in the real world.” Essentially, supply chains are all about understanding networks and dependencies. So, data that’s usually in different data stores, such as […]

Study paves way for architectural use of end-of-life tyres

A new study by The University of South Australia has tested and verified the structural integrity of walls constructed from tyres packed with earth, with the results potentially providing new opportunities for the reuse of end-of-life tyres in the construction industry. Tyre waste represents a major sustainability challenge globally, with Australia alone generating an average of 55 million (450,000 tonnes) end-of-life tyres each year. While earth-packed tyre walls have been used in niche construction scenarios for decades, there has previously been no strong empirical data available to support their use, a fact that has limited their wider uptake by architects and engineers. Supported by Tyre Stewardship Australia, a UniSA team consisting of Yachong Xu, Martin Freney, Reza Hassanli, Yan Zhuge, Mizanur Rahman and Rajibul Karim, has rigorously assessed the structural integrity of a test tyre wall to examine how the structure performed under various stressors. According to Dr Martin Freney, the wall proved to be as structurally sound as conventional walls used in residential applications. “The wall we tested was the first of its kind to be scientifically tested in this fashion, and all the data indicates tyre walls can be extremely strong and safe structures,” Dr Freney says. “While that structural integrity has been observed for many years in applications such as the retaining walls in earth-sheltered, Earthship homes, the lack of supporting data has prevented wider uptake of tyre walls by engineers and architects, and we’re hoping this study will change that and expand the range of projects in which these walls are used.” In considering expanded uses for tyre walls, Dr Freney suggests several unique characteristics of the structures may offer benefits over some traditional building approaches, particularly for retaining walls. “Not only are the tyre walls as structurally sound as concrete or wood sleeper retaining […]

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