Trade Shows/Events

Smart manufacturing starts with Plex

Rockwell Automation will be showcasing its Plex cloud-based manufacturing platform at this year’s Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) in Melbourne from May 6-9. Demonstrations will be held at stand MS210 (Manufacturing Solutions Zone). Plex Manufacturing Execution System (MES), integrated with Rockwell’s suite, offers comprehensive manufacturing software, providing real-time production management, enhancing compliance, quality, and efficiency. “Plex is a cloud-based platform, that enables future-focussed manufacturers to achieve real-time integration, high levels of availability and flexibility, cybersecurity, and scalability,” says Anthony Wong, vice president, enterprise software sales, Asia Pacific, Rockwell Automation Plex has been used by Australian and New Zealand companies to enhance operational efficiency, with examples including: STM Brands, a manufacturer of high-quality, award-winning accessories for tablets, laptops, and phones with a worldwide retail presence and offices in Sydney, San Diego, London, and Kuala Lumpur. As air freight costs began to rise, STM Brands realised its supply chain and spreadsheet-based planning was not accurately keeping up with demand volatility, and this was eating into the company’s margins. After implementing Plex, STM Brands increased gross profit margin by 5%, improved operating margin by 20%, reduced costly air freight by 50%, and decreased overall freight to sales ratio by 25% year-over-year. Importantly, Plex’s Supply Chain Planning (SCP) integrated into STM’s existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, allowing for seamless data transfer. Tasti Products Limited, New Zealand, a snack bar and wholefood ball manufacturer. Recognising their legacy ERP system could no longer support an expanding business, Tasti Products searched for a smart manufacturing solution that would allow the company to scale in size and improve the speed in which business analytics could be performed. Tasti sought a manufacturing solution that was cloud-based and could help drive its end-to-end digital transformation. With the ability to offer world-class food safety and its established presence in the food […]

Manufacturing finalists announced

2024 AUSTRALIAN TRADES AND WOMEN’S SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPION AWARDS From thousands of entrants from across the nation, 26 have made the Manufacturing Finalists Lists of 2024 Australian Trades Small Business Champion Awards and the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards – two major recognition awards programmes dedicated to spotlighting top-performing small business operators, nationwide. Spanning all capital cities as well as rural, regional and suburban towns, the Trades and Women’s Small Business Champion Awards pay tribute to the vital role of small businesses in Australia’s overall social and economic prosperity. Moreover, the Awards recognise small business owners’ invaluable contributions to their local communities and to their fields of specialty. The Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards is now in its third year and requires at least 50 per cent female ownership of an entrant business. Now in its second year, the 2024 Australian Trades Small Business Champion Awards features a total of more than 50 categories, across trades-based retail, services and manufacturing industries.PIC from 2023 Awards. Among this year’s most competitive categories, Manufacturing is proving exceptionally challenging to judge, says Steve Loe, Awards Founder and Managing Director of Precedent Productions, which coordinates the Australian Trades and Women’s Small Business Champion Awards. “The quality of Manufacturing category entrants is very impressive. The shortlisting of this year’s finalists was quite the challenge for our judges. “When the Champion Judges evaluate entries, they consider all aspects of a business: its strategies, growth, eco-friendliness, community contributions, innovation, customer service, and product and service quality – to name but some of the criteria. “The next rounds of judging will be intense as we continue to evaluate the achievements of this year’s 26 Manufacturing finalists to reach just one winner per programme,” says Mr Loe. The 16 Manufacturing finalists of the Australian Trades Small Business […]

Fine Food Australia returns in September

Visitor registration is now open for Australia’s largest food B2B event for the foodservice and hospitality industry, Fine Food Australia. Fine Food Australia will return to Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday 2nd of September, spanning over four days until Thursday the 5th of September, 2024. As the trade event celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024, the show is set to be more expansive than ever, already featuring more than 425+ Australian and international exhibitors representing the food industry, across categories including foodservice, hospitality, catering, bakery, retail, import, export, distribution, and manufacturing. With the show floor already 85% sold out, Fine Food is set to be sold out soon. Reflecting upon the event’s 40th Anniversary, Diversified Communications Managing Director, David Longman remarks “As we celebrate Fine Food Australia’s 40th year, we reflect on how it has evolved, embracing innovation, trends & challenges of the culinary industry here in Australia. From humble beginnings to a large-scale international trade event, this milestone symbolises not just longevity but resilience & adaptability of the Australian food industry. “Fine Food Australia is testament to the enduring spirit of culinary excellence and the platform’s role in shaping the future of food in Australia. With the unwavering commitment of the food industry, we look forward to honouring this journey and embracing the opportunities ahead as we continue to elevate the gastronomic experience for another 40 years and beyond.” Fine Food Australia Commercial Product Manager, Sinead Kavanagh, added “We are so excited to deliver Fine Food Australia 2024. With over 40 years of connections and stories to tell it’s going to be a huge edition where we celebrate the people and businesses in this incredible industry. We’re also excited to be launching two new features to the show that will enhance the experience for our visitors and help their businesses thrive, […]

The path to a successful career in manufacturing and making a positive impact

Australian Research Council (ARC) Laureate Professor Veena Sahajwalla is an internationally recognised materials scientist, engineer and inventor revolutionising recycling science. As a leading expert in the field of recycling science, and founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology at UNSW. Veena is producing a new generation of green materials, products and resources made entirely, or primarily, from waste. Veena also heads the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for ‘green manufacturing’ – a leading national research centre that works in collaboration with industry to ensure new science is translated into real world environmental and economic benefits. Veena has been extensively recognised for the innovation and significance of her work, including via election to be a Fellow of the esteemed Australian Academy of Science. At the Women in Manufacturing Summit 2023, Veena examined how to use sustainability and circular economy strategies to improve environmental, social, and financial bottom lines in manufacturing. CAN YOU BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF? I grew up Mumbai, which is such a fabulous city with so much going on. As a child, it was about understanding, first and foremost, how people actually made a living. It always impressed me that people would do this by fixing shoes, clothes and all kinds of electronic stuff that we had at home. To me, the creation of all these products out of things that were supposedly broken was really fascinating. I see my work not just as science and engineering, but as wider social reform. I have lived with my family in Australia for almost 30 years. WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? I’m the Director of the UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre where we are known for pioneering the high temperature transformation of waste in the production of a new generation of ‘green materials’. Our best […]

Connection and education at the centre of renewed ag innovation event

Registrations now open for AgSmart Connect in Tamworth in March, 2024 There’s a new name and a sharpened focus, but an event that has showcased agricultural technology for the past two years is returning with the same promise of highlighting to the industry the enormous potential and opportunity in the agricultural innovation sector. Organised by ACM Rural Events, AgSmart Connect is back in Tamworth from March 6 to 7 next year, where it was first staged in 2022, with exhibitor registrations and sponsorship opportunities now open. Lupe Prada, Commercial Manager ACM Rural Events, said the change from AgSmart Expo to AgSmart Connect was a reflection of the renewed emphasis on not only presenting new technology updates and developments, but also giving attendees the ideas and knowledge to put them into practice in their own agricultural businesses. “Three years on, we’re more than an expo now, so we wanted to make the information and education seminars the heart of the event. This event is about education and bringing people together. Connecting them through agri-innovation, AgSmart Connect will be a forum for agri-innovation providers to engage with farmers, investors and the agri-curious from across the industry,” Lupe said. “We want to show ag technology innovation is accessible to anyone who wants to grow the profitability and viability of their business. This is about demonstrating there’s no reason to be intimidated by the amazing level of innovation out there, it’s about giving attendees the tools and information they need to employ it practically in their operations.” AgSmart Connect will be held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC), with seminar rooms for speakers at the centre of the event space and the exhibitor stands wrapping around these speaker areas. A new feature next year is the addition of an outdoor networking […]

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Decarbonising our cities

The built environment accounts for 39 per cent of gross annual carbon emissions worldwide. How to account for embodied carbon emissions Operational emissions – for example from the electricity it takes to heat or cool buildings – account for some built environment emissions. But embodied carbon emissions also contribute a significant proportion. They are carbon emissions caused by construction as well as the extraction, manufacture and transportation of construction materials. Replacing an energy-inefficient old building could reduce operational emissions but add to embodied carbon emissions. And balancing that equation can be challenging, as calculating embodied carbon emissions involves uncertainties. Different databases give different values for embodied carbon coefficients, which represent the amount of carbon emitted per unit of material. But experts can help navigate this uncertainty. “We all have to commit to transparency in our approaches to embodied carbon calculations. We need to share data sources, and methodologies and assumptions used in our calculations. And only then can we foster trust and comparability so that we can ultimately reduce embodied carbon,” said Dr James Helal, Lecturer in Sustainable Structural Design and Assistant Dean (Sustainability) at the University of Melbourne. Designing new buildings to minimise carbon emissions “To reach our net zero emission goals, we must reshape the way we think about buildings. They’re not just shelters. They’re living, breathing entities that should be designed and operated with a clear understanding of their impact on our ecosystem,” said Dr Behzad Rismanchi, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Infrastructure Engineering at the University of Melbourne. Specifying carbon targets, including embodied carbon, and engaging with engineers or sustainability consultants early is crucial. “Optimisation [of building designs] can only take us so far,” said Environmental Designer Lucy Marsland from Atelier Ten. Applying circular economy principles to building design will inherently achieve decarbonisation. “Circular economy at its heart aims to keep […]

Powerhaus App Debuts at the 2023 Australian Architecture Conference: A Game-Changer in Sustainable Home Design

In a ground-breaking move towards sustainable housing, Powerhaus Engineering has unveiled Australia’s first energy efficiency home design app at the 2023 Australian Architecture Conference. This revolutionary app will allow architects and designers to configure the energy rating of their building plans with real-time performance feedback, making sustainable design for new houses more accessible and intuitive than ever before. Powerhaus hosted a masterclass at the conference on Monday 30th October and provided attendees with a firsthand look at the app’s capabilities and its potential to reshape the future of sustainable housing in Australia. As most states and territories around Australia delay the new mandatory increase in minimum house star ratings to 7 stars, with currently only New South Wales implementing the increase, there’s a palpable concern within the housing sector about readiness for such a transition. Many in the industry feel unprepared for this significant shift towards sustainability. In this context, tools such as the Powerhaus app become not just beneficial, but crucial. The app is poised to be a beacon, guiding architects, designers, and building professionals, to seamlessly and cost-effectively adapt to and embrace the heightened sustainability standards. Jenny Edwards, director of award-winning Light House Architecture & Science and a renowned thermal performance assessor with a deep passion for sustainable housing, shared her experience with the Powerhaus app: “For years, the true potential of the NatHERS software as a design tool was only accessible if paired with a trained thermal performance assessor. This often made the design process slower, more expensive, and limited the ability of architects to learn directly from the software.” She continued, “The Powerhaus dashboard is a game-changer. Its superbly designed interface allows designers to instantly test the impact of various critical parameters, giving them a clear understanding of the most effective levers for any particular design.” […]

Downer Group NSW General Manager Daniel Chaplin with Hi-Vis Group CEO Brett Watson and HMA Chair Jacqui Daley. Downer Group has been the HMA major sponsor for 16 years. jpg

Winners in the Hunter, for the World

A market leader in highly intelligent visual information systems and a telemetry products maker swept the pool at this year’s Hunter Manufacturing Awards, collecting their gongs at a gala presentation at NEX in Newcastle on Friday, 20 October. Carrington-headquartered Hi-Vis won the 2023 Manufacturer of the Year – 50 Employees or More Award, along with the Excellence in Sustainable Operations Award and the Excellence in Manufacturing Capability Award. As a market leader in highly intelligent visual information systems (HIVIS), its products have been keeping Australians safe for more than 40 years. Hi-Vis has made significant investments in manufacturing technology and enjoys a close relationship with the engineering department at the University of Newcastle. Hi-Vis CEO Brett Watson said the company was deeply honoured and felt very privileged to win three awards. “We were completely stunned on the night,” Mr Watson said. “All my gratitude goes to my fabulous team who ‘turn coffee into award-winning products’. To win Manufacturer of the Year is a huge achievement. Thank you to my team who worked tirelessly on the submissions to the HMA. We are proud to be a Hunter manufacturer.” In the picture: Downer Group NSW General Manager Daniel Chaplin with Hi-Vis CEO Bett Watson and HMA Chair Jacqui Daley. The other major award winner, for Manufacturer of the Year – Less than 50 Employees, was telemetry products maker Senquip. The Taylors Beach-based business manufactures telemetry equipment that monitors and controls remote machinery in harsh industrial environments. Senquip also picked up the Excellence in Product Design Award. Its patented telemetry products are highly adaptable and replace the need for bespoke solutions. Senquip sells globally with significant potential for growth in each of its international markets. Senquip CEO Norman Ballard said the company was honoured to be recognised as a manufacturing leader in the […]

Resourceful Living 2 Jess Hodge Hunter Awards

Made in the Hunter, for the world

HMA announces 2023 finalists and presentation night Mid-September put a spring in the step of Hunter manufacturing. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Varley Engineering at Carrington to make a significant announcement regarding the National Reconstruction Fund, and Hunter Manufacturing Awards announced its 2023 finalists. While Mr Albanese was suiting up in Newcastle’s traditional industrial heartland with safety glasses and a personalised rail safety vest to reboot manufacturing, selected HMA finalists were checking their black-tie arrangements and after-five options. HMA will announce the winners of its prestigious accolades at a gala event on Friday 20 October at NEX, in Newcastle. The awards inspire and encourage vibrant and enduring manufacturing and the event shines a light on the region’s leaders and innovators making a mark in their fields. The 2023 awards theme is “made in the Hunter, for the world” and HMA chair Jacqui Daley says it is important to recognise the growth of manufacturing in the region and to celebrate innovations and commitment as companies make a global push. “Hunter companies are transforming traditional manufacturing processes,” Ms Daley says. “Many are now increasing the levels of design for technologically complex, innovative, reliable, affordable, and available products, which are better, more sustainable, and solve a variety of society’s problems. It enables them to compete globally.” Many of this year’s finalists are first timers, such as Hey Zomi, Herb Urban, and new Hunter start-up No Thru, while others are “old hands”, such as Hedweld, Resourceful Living, Whiteley, and Tomago Aluminium. The No Thru interlocking security system is an innovative reimagining of the traditional temporary construction fence. Designed to address the shortcomings of current options, No Thru prioritises enhanced security, safety, and streamlined installation efficiency. “Our main target markets are construction, building, and hire companies,” says No Thru founder James Vadas. “This system eliminates […]

Capital expenditure investments at foodpro 23-26 July

The poll, run by leading food manufacturing event foodpro, also indicated that over a third of are looking to invest in processing and packaging in the same period (37 per cent of respondents).

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