Industry Update October 2020 Issue 116 Victorian Edition by Industry Update

AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST CIRCULATING MANUFACTURING MAGAZINE ®

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MANUFACTURING MAGAZINE Issue 116 October 2020 $12.00 CHIEF ECONOMIST'S $1.5B PACKAGE PUTS MANUFACTURERS IN THE BOX SEAT BUDGET ANALYSIS The package was largely endorsed by It is all systems go for the industry

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the sector, with BHP chief executive Ken Henry saying it was the role of big business to lead the recovery. He said that as major employer, BHP must take a major role.

sector after the release of the $1.5 billion manufacturing package this month, which the federal government believes will energise the sector in the wake of the recession precipitated by COVID-19.

“Anything that gives a greater degree of certainty around fiscal settings” would be welcomed by the private sector, he said.

Industry Minister Karen Andrews said this kind of investment would address the short-term recovery, as well as the future, creating jobs and boosting investment at a time when it is most wanted. “This is the kind of laser focus we need to create jobs and foster the successful environment for manufacturing to flourish more broadly. “Tinkering at the edges on manufacturing policy is not an option. It has not worked in the past.

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Industry Minister Karen Andrews

“Now, driven by both imperative and opportunity, we are adopting a whole-ofgovernment strategy that will see Australian manufacturers scale-up, become more competitive and more resilient.”

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“We’re not looking for any ask here. In fact, at this point in time we need to be looking at how we can support economic recovery because I agree with the PM that the recovery needs to be business-led.” The assistance package is made up of targeted co-investment that will enable businesses to build scale, as well as providing funds to transform ideas into commercial realities. Continued page 10

St.George Bank chief economist Besa Deda has conducted an analysis of what the federal budget means for manufacturing and the sector’s role in the economic recovery. For the full story see page 9

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CONTENTS PUBLISHER SCOTT FILBY

scott@industryupdate.com.au

FROM THE PUBLISHER............... 6 INDUSTRY NEWS.......................... 8 BUSINESS & FINANCE.................. 9 INDUSTRY POLITICS..................16

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER DOMINIC TUSA CIRCULATION ASSISTANT EMILY PRICKETT

EDITOR IAN MOORE

editor@industryupdate.com.au SUB EDITOR ANNAMARIE REYES

subeditor@industryupdate.com.au

ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR SCOTT FILBY

INDUSTRY POLITICS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR MATTHEW LAM PRODUCTION MANAGER JULIET NELSON

copy@industryupdate.com.au

ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION... 36 AUSTRALIAN MADE................... 38

TV SHOW

SOLAR & EMERGENCY LIGHTING..................................... 45 PRODUCTS.................................. 49 MACHINERY................................ 53 PACKAGING, WRAPPING & LABELLING.............................. 55 MOTORS & DRIVES.................... 56

ADVERTISING SALES REP GLYN SMITH

glyn@industryupdate.com.au

production@industryupdate.com.au

COVID-19...................................... 30

INDUSTRY UPDATE VIDEOS... 46

scott@industryupdate.com.au

VIDEO EDITOR & PRODUCER

video@industryupdate.com.au

OFFICE MANAGER NICOLE CHARLES

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ADVERTISING COORDINATOR copy@industryupdate.com.au WEB DEVELOPER JINI M R FINANCE & ACCOUNTS MICHELLE ALCOCK

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ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE LYN SLIGAR

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ROBOTIC AUTOMATION

AUSTRALIAN MADE

SUBSCRIPTION ASSISTANT MARK ZAKOSHANSKI info@industryupdate.com.au CIRCULATION ASSISTANT circ@industryupdate.com.au PRINTER OVATO

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EDITORIAL PUBLISHER SCOTT FILBY

ACTING EDITOR IAN MOORE

DOING THE RIGHT THING BY BUSINESS Prime Minister Scott Morrison has done the right thing by business and manufacturing with his $1.5 billion assistance package. It provides support when it is most needed as well as a financial incentive for businesses to invest in plant and create the jobs that have been lost through COVID-19 closures, particularly in Victoria. When taken in conjunction with the budget and the extension of JobKeeper, it provides a strategy to encourage consumer spending while providing capital for businesses to expand. The aim of the initiative is to make manufacturing the engine room of the economic revival, post COVID. As restrictions ease, one can almost feel the eagerness of manufacturers to get on with the job, with companies now facing the end of the year with renewed optimism.

READY TO FIGHT BACK There are still discussions between Treasury and the Business Council of Australia in the hope of expanding the instant write-off provision to include some multinationals that currently are excluded.

It is a long way back from the COVID recession, more so in Victoria than the rest of Australia because of the severity and length of the lockdowns ordered by Premier Daniel Andrews.

The budget restricted the write-off for new investment between now and June 2022 to companies with an “aggregate” turnover of $5 billion or less.

Mr Andrews did not lift the restrictions on retail and hospitality businesses as industry groups had hoped in October and intends to review this again in November.

The addition of “aggregate” means the overseas earnings of multinational companies is counted in the $5 billion cap. This results in the exclusion of around 100 major companies. The BCA sees the exclusion of such companies as counter-productive, because their scale allows them to make major investments.

There has been a torrent of criticism over the decision, particularly when the devastating second wave of COVID-19 was triggered by the state government’s inexplicable decision to ignore the recommendations of national cabinet and hire ill-trained security guards to manage hotel quarantine.

Let’s hope the talks can resolve it, because it would go a long way to making a good budget even better.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison estimates that Victoria is losing, on average, 1000 jobs each day of the

lockdown, which means there is every reason to lift the restrictions as soon as possible – even more so considering Victoria’s rate of new infections has been running lower than NSW. In the September employment figures, the national jobless rate was pushed up from 6.8 per cent to 6.9 per cent – with the gain of 6000 jobs in the other states swapped by the 36,500 jobs lost in Victoria. With the importance of manufacturing and the role of Victorian business in the recovery, I will be taking up a new position as Industry Update’s Victorian correspondent to bring you stories of individual companies and how they are fighting back. See you then.

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NEWS

MANAGING ONLINE PLATFORMS IN THE AGE OF MISINFORMATION AND FAKE NEWS The reward or punishment aspect is tied to the visibility and engagement of someone's profile or content,” Dr Lim said. “If users are credible, their content will be placed higher up on the page for more visibility and their Reddit votes will be worth more when they vote on other threads or comments. If a user is deemed untrustworthy, their post will be placed lower on the page or even in some cases hidden from the public altogether and their votes have less worth.”

Increasingly business and workplaces are having to include utilisation of the online platform in promoting their work and company profiles and products. As we move into more connectivity and the Internet of Things, especially with the goal towards advanced manufacturing capacity, the online platform becomes a crucial arm in our crm and personnel infrastructure.

spreading misinformation and fake news. The platform, developed by the School of Information Technology (IT), Monash University Malaysia, uses a combination of graph algorithms and machine learning technology to extract valuable tacit information from platforms like Reddit, StackExchange and Quora, to apply a score that estimates the reliability of someone's post.

Researchers from the Monash University Malaysia campus are developing a platform to moderate and verify content shared to popular online forums and discussion boards.

Project Lead, Dr Ian Lim Wern Han from the School of IT, says this score technique can offer users with insight into the content they’re consuming online.

Social media platforms and online discussion forums have given a voice to users without holding them accountable for the accuracy of what they say. As a result, these platforms have become a fertile ground for individuals intentionally

“By assigning numbers to users of various online discussion forums we’re able to reward those people who are sharing credible and trustworthy content, while punishing others who are pushing incorrect and misinformed content.

"There are an abundance of social media platforms with hundreds of thousands of threads and comments. Not only is it difficult but extremely costly to process these threads one by one, especially given their unstructured nature.” “So, I decided to review these threads from a user's point of view and identified trustworthy users. I measured the value of trust and reliability of other online profiles based on my profiling methods," said Dr Lim.

A recent study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, revealed that people who relied on social media for information were more likely to be misinformed about vaccines than those who relied on traditional media platforms.

Using measures of confidence and volatility on a complex network of interactions ensures the most credible sources of information or questions appear at the very top of a thread on online forums.

The dissemination of fake news related to issues like health and politics will remain a constant challenge unless there is an urgent application that can appropriately moderate and verify content online.

This methodology can also be applied to online social media influencers to ensure people with influence are not disseminating incorrect or misleading information or public service announcements.

Dr Lim’s research offers a possible solution. The accuracy of his approach is validated having collected more than 700,000 threads across a variety of online forums from almost two million users. His research profiled each individual with a rating and these numbers were then used to predict a user's contribution on a subsequent day. The figures were updated daily, and the process was repeated in the ensuing days.

"How can we classify the social media influence of a person who could potentially be spreading misinformation? Recently in the US, players in the National Basketball Association made headlines for their beliefs that the COVID-19 pandemic was being overblown and that there was a hidden agenda to it. “For this reason it’s essential that we prevent the spread of misinformation online,” Dr Lim says.

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OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

MANUFACTURING AND THE BUDGET: FILLING A HOLE IN DEMAND

CONVERT-A-TROLLEY “Converts From Upright Position to Lowered Position While Still Loaded”

St.George Bank chief economist Besa Deda has conducted an analysis of what the federal budget means for manufacturing and the sector’s role in the recovery from the COVID-19 recession. It is a budget Ms Deda describes as one for our times. “To do nothing or do little risks leaving future generations with a severely degraded economy and lower living standards,” she said. “The forecast for the budget deficit to widen to a record $213.7 billion in 2020-21 is consistent with this narrative. “The budget aims to fill the hole in demand, ripped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives tax relief to businesses, provides tax cuts for individuals and support for those employers hard hit by government-imposed restrictions. “There is a deep awareness within the budget that businesses create jobs, and creating more jobs is the best way to limit the scarring in the economy from the shock of this pandemic.” Ms Deda said assistance for businesses was one of the budget’s core themes. The main measures were the temporary full expensing measure and temporary loss carry-back tax provisions. “Businesses will be able to deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable assets of any value in the year they are installed,” she said. “The cost of improvements to existing eligible depreciable assets made during this period can also be fully deducted.” The temporary loss carry-back for businesses allows the write-off any losses incurred until 30 June 2022 against profits made on or before the 2018-19 financial year. Both measures are for non-mining businesses with turnover of less than $5 billion and are effective from October 6 this year until June 30 2022. There are also refundable R&D tax offset changes and help for small business operators to utilise technology. There is also hope by the federal government that it can shift the dial from savings to spending. The idea is that the extra money in the pockets for individuals from tax cuts will be spent, increasing demand for the goods and services that businesses produce. In the June quarter, the household savings ratio surged from 6 per cent to almost 20 per cent, reflecting caution among consumers. Recent surveys show consumer confidence is improving but the overwhelming feeling is still pessimism.

OCTOBER 2020

The idea is also that businesses spend to take advantage of the business measures in the budget, thereby creating more spending and jobs. More jobs help improve job security for individuals, which improves consumer sentiment and can encourage spending. However, the window for some of the key business measures runs until the end of June 2022. The risk is businesses remain cautious amid heightened uncertainty and wait to take advantage of these initiatives. It means the biggest boost from these business measures might be more likely felt in the second half of next year and in the first half of 2022 unless a vaccine materialises sooner, causing uncertainty to drop. Ms Deda said the focus on creating jobs was evident through the new initiatives involving JobMaker hiring credits and the JobMaker wages subsidies for apprentices and trainees.

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“The budget has laid a good foundation, but the path to economic recovery will be long and, in many cases, difficult,” she said. “The government forecast the economy to move out of recession and pick up from late this year, assuming COVID-19 is effectively contained. After a forecast contraction of 1.5 per cent in this financial year, the government estimates a return to growth of 4.75 per cent in the following financial year. “It is an ambitious growth forecast. The challenges and uncertainties for the economy from COVID-19 remain significant with no viable vaccine yet available”. Further, population growth is forecast to fall to 0.2 per cent in 202021, the lowest rate in more than 100 years, which will restrain the growth outlook, she added. In conclusion, Ms Deda said the emergence of a vaccine, a reopening of international borders, a full opening of interstate borders and a resumption of international immigration were key factors that would help determine the pace of economic activity over the next few years. See a video of Ms Deda’s budget analysis

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EDITORIAL

THE $1.5B MANUFACTURING PACKAGE – AN EXPLAINER funding rounds beginning in the first half of 2021. The Manufacturing Integration Stream will assist manufacturers integrate into local and international supply chains and markets. This also will have annual funding rounds beginning early next year. All of these investments will be targeted at projects within the prioritised sectors.

Supply Chain Resilience Initiative This $107.2 million initiative is aimed at building a comprehensive understanding of Australia’s critical goods and services, supply chain vulnerabilities and potential options to address them.

The Morrison government’s $1.5 billion manufacturing assistance package announced last week will energise the sector through targeted co-investment that will enable businesses to build scale, as well as providing funds to transform ideas into commercial realities. Its objective is to position Australia as a modern manufacturing leader, to create income for the nation and jobs for Australians – as part of the recovery from the recession brought about by COVID-19 – and for future decades. Applications for more than $50 million in grants will be open before the end of the year, while the remainder of the funds will be available over the next four years. Industry Minister Karen Andrews said the strategy reflected the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as extensive work with industry before that. “Our manufacturers have risen to the challenge to deliver during COVID-19 and now we’re unlocking their potential to deliver for our future,” she said. The package will play to established and emerging strengths – targeting six national manufacturing priorities. These are: •

Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing

•

Food and Beverage

•

Medical Products

•

Recycling and Clean Energy

•

Defence, and

•

Space.

The government identified these priorities through a range of evidence,

INDUSTRYUPDATE.COM.AU

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Continued from Page 1

Applications for more than $50 million in grants will be open before the end of the year, while the remainder of the funds will be available over the next four years.

Resilience Initiative and the $52.8 million Manufacturing Modernisation Fund round two. All represent new investment by the government.

The government has targeted six national manufacturing priorities: Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing; Food and Beverage, Medical Products, Recycling and Clean Energy; Defence; and Space.

The $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative is the centrepiece of the strategy, with a primary focus of building scale in Australian manufacturing and will be delivered over the next four years.

The strategy consists of three main planks: $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative, $107.2 million Supply Chain including analysis of Australia’s comparative advantages, drawing on material from the World Bank and OECD. The strategy consists of three main planks: •

A $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative

•

$107.2 million Supply Chain Resilience Initiative

•

$52.8 million Manufacturing Modernisation Fund round two.

The government will work in partnership with businesses, providing grants on a co-investment basis, and also will aim to stimulate private The government will work in partnership with businesses, providing grants on a co-investment basis, and also will aim to stimulate private sources of capital. First a road map for the six targeted sectors needs to be completed. This will be delivered in the first-half of 2021. It will set goals for the next two, five and 10 years, as well identify the roadblocks to growth and priorities for action and investment It is split into three streams:

Modern Manufacturing Initiative

The Manufacturing Collaboration Stream will provide funding for large projects that support business-to-business and business-to-research collaboration, to build economies of scale. Expressions of interest will open in the first half of 2021.

This is the $1.3 billion centrepiece of the strategy, with a primary focus of building scale in Australian manufacturing and will be delivered over the next four years.

The Manufacturing Translation Stream will help manufacturers turn ideas into commercial outcomes and invest in non-R&D innovation. This will have annual

All represent new investment by the government.

The government will work with industry to identify critical products, and map capabilities and vulnerabilities for normal times and periods of surge, continuing the close partnership on supply chains it developed throughout COVID-19. Early focus of the Initiative will be on medicines and medical equipment, followed by products such as food, chemicals and plastics. Funding will be available for businesses to establish or scale a capability that addresses an identified supply chain vulnerability and must result in a measurable strengthening of the supply chain. The government also will consider options to strengthen international supply chains and work with like-minded partners. Funding will be available from July 1 next year, once the capability mapping is complete.

Manufacturing Modernisation Fund round two This includes $52.8 million to expand the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund to provide immediate assistance to businesses in the priority sectors. It will aim to fast-track capital investment in technology upgrades to help transform businesses, and enable up to 150 additional local businesses to invest in shovel-ready projects. Applications will be open before the end of the year. Businesses can apply for grants of between $100,000 and $1 million. There is a co-funding requirement for businesses, with industry expected to match government funding on a three-to-one funding basis. The first round earlier this year saw the government invest $48.3 million. This supported about 200 projects valued at more than $215 million. These projects are expected to create about 2600 jobs.

OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

BUDGET 2020 – A ROUND UP OF REACTIONS The focus of the budget brought down this month by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was centred on recovery from the COVID-19 recession, with tax cut incentives and big spending initiatives. The majority of business and industry groups thought the budget was an appropriate response, providing assistance for companies and putting money in the pockets of taxpayers to promote consumer spending.

Stimulating spending and supporting low to middle income earners For taxpayers, Stage 2 of the legislated income tax cuts will see the 19 per cent threshold rise from $37,000 to $45,000, and the 32.5 per cent threshold go from $90,000 to $120,000. Eligible individuals will get $1080, while couples receive $2160; for the low and middle income tax offsets will continue for one more year. Those receiving government benefits, such as age pension, disability support, carer payments and family tax benefit, cash payments will continue with extra support due in December and March next year. For business and young people, incentives

will be provided to hire people between the ages of 16-35 years old. A $200 credit paid weekly for 12 months will be available to business hiring applicants under 30 years old, as part of the JobMaker hiring credit scheme. A 50 per cent wage subsidy will also be made available to business for every apprentice they hire. The government also will provide for 100,000 new apprenticeships and traineeship programs at a cost of $1.2billion.

Business incentives Businesses with a turnover of less than $5 billion needing new equipment or upgrades will be able to write off eligible assets they purchase until June, 2022. Losses will also be able to be offset against previous profits made in or after the 2018-19 financial year. Meanwhile up to 10 tax concessions, including FBT exemption on car parking and work-related items will be made available, for businesses with an annual turnover of between $10 million to $50 million.

Industry reaction AiGroup says that it is the right budget for the times and is “stimulatory, inclusive, confidencebuilding and forward-looking.” However, the employer group warned: “The budget anticipates a decline in GDP of 1.5 per cent in a domestic economy that will remain interrupted by the pandemic, constrained by the global downturn and starved of the inbound migration that traditionally plays such an important role both for demand and supply.” AiGroup saw merit in the new investment allowance. "This allows businesses with turnover below $5 billion to immediately expense the cost of capital equipment installed before July 2022, which will provide a critical boost to investment, productivity and job creation.” “Without this measure, the anticipated fall in non-mining business investment of 14.5 per cent in 2020-21 would be much greater. The measure also is a significant factor in the anticipated rise of 7.5 per cent in non-mining business investment in the 2021-22 year,” it said. AiGroup adds that these measures give important recognition to the dynamic role of business in powering productivity growth and the development of the domestic economy.

Australian Manufacturing Forum commentators welcomed the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative, Manufacturers Modernisation Fund, and the $107.2 million Supply Chain Resilience Initiative. However, the active professional linked-in network says it is a modest contribution for the sector to be able to move to advanced manufacturing status sooner. Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre is forward looking. The centre’s managing director, Dr Jens Goennemann, says the budget is a vote of confidence for manufacturing and underscores the important role the industry will play as we transition from a lucky country to a smart country. “Manufacturing is a capability, a nation must-have,” he said. “Australia’s highly-skilled manufacturers proved the nation could manufacture the critical medical equipment the nation needed in response to COVID. “Now, under continued support from AMGC, manufacturing will help lead the economic recovery of the nation post-pandemic.”

An Altrac jib crane will IMPROV E SA FE TY C REAT E BET T E R WOR K F LOW INCR EA SE PRO DU CT IVI TY But don't take our word for it - ask our satisfied customers . . . .

Foam Sealant were so pleased with their Altrac jib they bought another when their business expanded

According to Andave Cabinets this 5m jib can lift and move items that previously required 3-4 people

An inverted jib crane was able to offer Schinner maximum lift height for their reels in a restricted space.

OCTOBER 2020

www.bomac.com.au/get-a-quote

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BOMAC

IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY WITH AN ALTRAC JIB

There are currently many shifts happening in workforce from an emphasis on working from home, limited number of workers who can be in the same area, and a changing attitude toward ‘soldiering on’ and coming to work when unwell.

These all have many positive aspects, but for manufacturing there may be some negative aspects as well. When everyone in Australia, and particularly Victoria, is being encouraged to get tested for COVID

with even the mildest of symptoms, then asked to stay at home until their results are returned, it’s a good opportunity to review your productivity. When it comes to lifting and moving large, heavy or awkward items, an Altrac jib crane can not only improve productivity by requiring fewer people to do the heavy lifting, but also improve safety and reduce risk associated with heavy or repetitive lifting. One customer, Andave Cabinets, said that it took 3-4 workers to lift heavy sheets of MDF panels from where they were stored in order to load them into a CNC machine. Each time such a move was required, several people had to stop what they were doing to man-handle the panels into place. Once the jib was installed, they said, the panels could be easily lifted and manipulated by just one worker, leaving the others to get on with their own jobs. “Increasing productivity is always great,” says Bomac Engineering director Tate McFarlane, “and another, sometimes overlooked, outcome of installing a crane or other wellconsidered materials handling system, is the increase to worker safety. Many backs and necks have no

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doubt been saved from strain and damage by our systems.” “When you can increase your production capacity while also reducing risk of injury,” says McFarlane, “that is a win-win situation for everyone involved in the business.” If you would like to discuss how a jib or other crane system could benefit your manufacturing business,

Bomac Engineering 03 9796 5300 bomac.com.au

OCTOBER 2020

EDITORIAL

ADVANTAGES OF ISO 45001 ACCREDITATION and adapt to policies and procedures that naturally change over time. “It’s a constantly evolving safety management system, which is brilliant,” says Mark. “There’s this continual improvement to your system, meaning there’s no risk of resting on your laurels and letting your standards slip in any way. By always monitoring and updating your system you’re letting your staff know that you have their safety and well-being front-ofmind.” Despite the safety and wellbeing of employees being of paramount importance to organisations across a wide range of industries worldwide, the International Labour Organisation reports that a staggering 2.3 million people a year still die due to workrelated accidents, with a further 300 million sidelined due to non-fatal accidents. In an effort to significantly reduce this alarming number of workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has developed the International Standard ISO 45001, an occupational health and safety management system designed to create safer working conditions around the globe.

Laura Biddle, Mark also cites aligning with ISO 45001 as an important way to stay up to date with the latest safety standard developments.

taking a far more proactive approach to safety matters, says Mark.

“Doing it to grow our own knowledge in terms of safety for our employees was a big motivator,” says Mark. “It has meant we have been more safety conscious in the warehouse and on-site, and that is always going to create a happier work environment for everyone.”

“We’ve been getting a lot of feedback from employees about potential safety improvements,” he says. “They’ve been approaching us, which is fantastic. It means we are getting input from the ground up and it’s not just a set of changes being mandated by management.”

The knock-on effect of from taking such a serious approach and adhering to a globallyrecognised standard means that staff are now

This approach to safety is key to understanding the ISO 45001 International Standard, which has been designed to grow

Mark Collins, director of workplace safety company A-Safe Australasia, is a strong advocate for ISO 45001 and believes compliance with the standard brings with it a wide range of benefits for both employers and their employees. “Implementing the ISO 45001 safety management system has been crucial to insuring not only the safety of the employees of A-Safe Australasia, which is everyone from warehouse workers to those working on-site doing site surveys and installations, but also the safety of the many sub-contractors we use,” says Mark. The process of becoming 1SO 45001 certified is a rigorous process that stretches out over several months, but Mark is adamant that it is all worth the effort – especially when it comes to aligning yourself with other companies with which you may conduct business. “When two companies are compliant with the one internationally recognised standard it makes the process of them conducting business together a whole lot simpler,” says Mark. “It also sends a clear signal to other companies that you take your own company’s safety management system seriously and it can set you apart from competitors who haven’t yet complied.” Implemented over 12 months ago by A-Safe’s Health Safety Environment Advisor

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While not every company has yet to take the step toward becoming ISO 45001 certified, it is expected that the safety management system standard, first introduced in 2018, will soon become the norm for businesses all over the globe. “Although there are still a lot of people who haven’t transitioned over from the AS/NZS 4801 safety standard yet, it is becoming a lot more prevalent, especially with big businesses,” says Mark. “When we deal with a big company like Paccar Australia, Cushman and Wakefield, Hansen Yunken and Orora which adhere to ISO 4500, it becomes a form of mutual recognition since where you sit effects them, and vice versa. Ultimately you want to send a message that you’re on top of your safety management system and have all of your ducks lined up in a row, and more big companies are taking heed that it’s something they need to get on board with.” A-Safe Australasia Pty Ltd 02 9625 8927 www.asafe.com

HOW A-SAFE REVOLUTIONISED THE SAFETY BARRIER INDUSTRY Although A-Safe now has local subsidiaries in 15 countries around the world and is rightly regarded as leaders in the field of polymer safety barriers, it almost never came to pass.

Enter Mark Collins, a former local reseller of A-Safe’s products who jumped at the opportunity to become the director of A-Safe Australasia’s Sydney-based subsidiary in 2016.

A devastating flood in 1989 saw the UK business lose millions of pounds worth of state-of-the-art equipment and masses of inventory, the catastrophe causing the loss of jobs and the near total destruction of their factory building.

“Knowing the range as I do, I love working with A-Safe products,” says Mark. “They provide genuine, long-lasting safety solutions for health and safety focused companies.”

Thanks to a fighting spirit and a willingness to innovate the company bounced back in 1992, its Lazarus-like turn leading to the eventual development of polymer safety barriers and bollards, a move that revolutionised both A-Safe as a company and workplace protection and safety worldwide.

A little over four years later and A-Safe is now the Australian market leaders in safety barriers. “We’ve rapidly expanded around Australia in that time and have seen a remarkable amount of growth,” says Mark. “We’re always looking at bringing our safety systems up to the date with the latest

international standards and that effort has clearly paid off for us.” A-Safe has seen its products be implemented in a range of industries including manufacturing, warehousing and distributing, airports and car parks and servicing sectors that span from automotive to food and drink. The company’s range of products is just as diverse and includes pedestrian and traffic barriers, corridor and wall protection, cold storage protection and airport equipment and baggage conveyor protection. Not bad for a humble polythene manufacturing company that began life in the UK more than 35 years ago.

OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

DAVID MCNEIL APPOINTED NGTAG CO-CHAIR

InfraBuild Steel executive and Australian Logistics Council technology committee chairman David McNeil has been appointed co-chair of National GS1 Traceability Advisory Group (NGTAG). Mr McNeil, manager of customer experience at InfraBuild, joins Ram Akella from Woolworths as co-chair of the multisector group. NGTAG was established earlier this year by GS1 Australia, a global not-forprofit organisation and leading provider of standards and solutions. The group comprises more than 80 senior-level members from industry and government, addressing traceability linkages across supply chains to ensure Australia maintains and builds global competitiveness, sustainable economic growth and positive socio-economic outcomes and opportunities. Mr McNeil said he was honoured to be appointed to the position. “The group is uniquely placed to inform GS1 Australia on the requirements of industry and government for traceability standards, and to co-define a roadmap for implementing end-to-end traceability and trade modernisation in Australia in the most efficient and economic manner possible,” he said.

OCTOBER 2020

“I look forward to leveraging the knowledge and experience of the network of companies, associations and government departments that represent the NGTAG, as well as working closely with Ram Akella from Woolworths as my counterpart.” Mr McNeil’s recent focus has been on supply chain execution. In conjunction with the Australian Logistics Council and GS1, he has implemented the GS1 Transport Instruction and Transport Status messages to facilitate the efficient transfer of delivery information between InfraBuild and its logistics partners. He is also a member of GS1 Australia’s corporate board. As a co-chair of NGTAG, Mr McNeil will focus his representation on the transport and logistics sector, integrating traceability processes within transport, a critical part of end-to-end traceability that is required for all product types and sectors. While this appointment is effective immediately, prior commitments will mean that Mr McNeil will have limited participation until the new calendar year. To learn more visit https://www.gs1au.org/ngtag

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INDUSTRY POLITICS THE HON. KAREN ANDREWS MP – PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA, MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MAKE IT HAPPEN: THE MODERN MANUFACTURING MANTRA In a world that has been shaken and changed by COVID-19, Australians are understandably concerned about where to from here. However, history has shown that through adversity, greatness can be borne. As Australians, it’s something we know too well. And so it is with Australian manufacturing. Our manufacturers have risen to the challenge to deliver during COVID-19 and now, we are unlocking their potential to deliver for our future. There is no business as usual in the postCOVID-19 economy. Tinkering at the edges on manufacturing policy is not an option. It has not worked in the past. Despite our world-class skills and incredible natural assets, manufacturing struggled to compete for decades. Well before COVID-19, the Morrison government began actively working to change this.

Now, driven by both imperative and opportunity, we are adopting a whole-ofgovernment strategy that will see Australian manufacturers scale-up, become more competitive and more resilient.

The centrepiece is the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative which will see the government strategically invest in projects that help manufacturers to scale up and create jobs.

We are obviously concerned with the here and now, and have injected billions of dollars in this year’s budget to expand the instant asset write off, which will support thousands of businesses to invest – including our manufacturers.

This money will and must be targeted. Australia has to start playing to our strengths if we’re going to create lasting change – strategically investing in areas of manufacturing where we know we have an edge and that can deliver the secure jobs we need into the future.

This kind of investment will address the short-term recovery, creating jobs and boosting investment at a time that we need it. However, our $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy builds on that with a focus on creating a meaningful shift in the sector beyond just the recovery. The strategy outlines our plan for getting the economic conditions right, boosting the role of science and technology in industry and focusing on areas of advantage.

Our six National Manufacturing Priorities are Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing, Food and Beverage, Medical Products, Recycling and Clean Energy, Defence, and Space. Evidence has shown that Australia either has a comparative advantage, an emerging opportunity or strategic interest in those sectors. This is the kind of laser focus we need

to create jobs and foster the successful environment for manufacturing to flourish more broadly. We’re also addressing supply chain issues highlighted during COVID-19, with $107 million to determine the materials, equipment and services Australia needs – and then work with industry to deliver the solutions. Australians instinctively know that a strong, successful manufacturing sector makes for a stronger country. The world knows too, that when Australians promise, we deliver. We are recognised for our reliability, our ingenuity and our quality products. Now in a disrupted global economy we have the opportunity to grow that reputation. By playing to our strengths, strategically investing and harnessing our world-class science and research, we can open up new markets and take more of our quality products to the world. Making us more prosperous. By fundamentally addressing supply chain issues, not just plugging gaps, we can build resilience and enhance our ability to deal with challenges in the future. Making us more secure. And by doing it all in a targeted, strategic way, we can create high-paid, lasting jobs – not just for this recovery, but for generations to come. Making our future brighter.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF GAS-BASED MANUFACTURING As debate picks up on the use of gas for energy source, Chemistry Australia has joined the fray saying, “The use of natural gas by the manufacturing sector adds significant value to the Australian economy.” So significant that according to the Chemical Sector Economic Contribution Analysis report, “The business of chemistry contributes $38 billion annually to Australia’s GDP and supports the employment of hundreds of thousands of Australians thanks to its role as a critical enabler of almost every industry in Australia.” Chemistry Australia CEO Samantha Read says the sector uses approximately 3 per cent of Australia’s annual gas production to create a broad range of products that are crucial to critical supply chains underpinning our economy. These include, fertilizers and crop protection for farming, medical and industrial gases, PPE, hygiene and cleaning products, explosives and other chemicals used in mining, polymers for safe food storage, water storage, piping, irrigation and other

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infrastructure, water treatment and sanitation chemical, and various chemicals and polymers that are essential for building and construction The Australian chemistry sector is a major consumer of gas, which drives direct employment of 61,500 Australians in highly skilled full-time equivalent jobs and underpins employment of 212,000 people in related supply chains. According to Consultant Acil Allen, who compiled the report, the sector generates more than 1,600 full time equivalent jobs and $286 million of economic value for every petajoule of gas it uses. As a supplier to 108 of Australia’s 114 industry sectors, the chemistry industry is highly integrated in local supply chains within regional and metropolitan economies. This results in the transfer of investment and growth through upstream and downstream supply chains, creating an important multiplier effect for jobs in every state in Australia. The sector’s supply chain centrality also results in direct and indirect contributions

to the economy through value-adding, as it purchases goods and services including energy, raw materials, engineering and other contract services. The industry’s employees generate even further economic activity as they spend their income in local communities. Gas is used in three ways by small, medium and large chemistry sector companies – as non-substitutable raw material feedstock for larger firms; a source of process heat for steam and other energy needs; and through gas-powered electricity generation consumed for manufacturing. For these businesses, gas can represent between 35 to 50 per cent of input costs. Australia has an opportunity to add significantly more value to its abundant gas resources through access to reliable, affordable energy for consumers. CEO Samantha Read ads, “ Globally competitive input costs will be essential for Australia to retain its industrial base and underpin further investment in technologies that provide solutions to our future challenges

Samantha Read - Chemistry Australia CEO

such as emissions reduction and developing a more circular economy.” “Investment in gas-based manufacturing industries will also provide vital employment opportunities for Australia’s STEM graduates, ensuring Australia is equipped with the workforce and skills to respond to these challenges.”” “As Australia looks to rebuild its economy and society, it’s especially important we secure the local manufacture of essential products to strengthen our sovereign capability and ensure Australian is best placed to realize the benefits of these significant value-add activities” explains Ms. Samantha Read. OCTOBER 2020

INDUSTRY POLITICS THE HON: BRENDAN O'CONNOR - MP PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA, SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY

BUDGET A BACK TO THE FUTURE MOMENT It was touted as a major boon for Australian manufacturing, yet the 2020 Budget would appear to be nothing more than a back to the future moment, spruiking Labor’s plan for jobs first announced in 2012. A big ticket item was the announcement of six priority areas for investment. While we welcome the areas of investment, it must be noted that all six, plus more, were identified eight years ago in Labor’s 2012 PM’s Manufacturing Taskforce report and announced in the 2013 Plan for Australian Jobs. If the Morrison government stuck to Labor's plan rather than abolishing it in 2014, manufacturing in this country would have more thriving businesses, employing thousands more workers. Another announcement in the Budget was a claim of $2 billion in new spending for the Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI), when really the government is restoring $1.8 billion by reversing its own legislation which proposes to cut it.

Boasting of extra billions of dollars in funding for research and development, when it already exists in legislation proposing to cut it, is a misrepresentation of the truth. Research and Development is suffering, facing further contraction due to COVID-19 and falling R&D funding in the higher education sector. Federal Labor understands and supports the critical nature of research and development for an advanced manufacturing future. We will work with both private and public sectors to increase R&D as an economic necessity, and we will continue to make the case and fight for change in the parliament, as we successfully did with the government’s ultimate backflip on the RDTI. Federal Labor believes in active industry policy. We support Australian industry. If the government puts forward ideas that might provide opportunities for our manufacturers to grow we will be constructive, but we continue to prosecute our own agenda.

Australia has an opportunity to leverage our capabilities, better commercialise innovation and research and see greater support to our start-ups, cultivating the talent and efforts of local businesses. As outlined in the Leader of the Opposition’s Budget in Reply speech, an Albanese Labor government will have new policies and new direction that builds lasting benefit. Labor will train thousands of workers and our next generation of tradies through our Jobs and Skills Guarantee; we will cut child care fees and put more money into the pockets of working families; and we will create jobs in almost every town across Australia by investing to fast track urgent repairs to social housing. Importantly, we will build and manufacture in Australia through our national Rail Manufacturing Plan. By manufacturing trains here, Labor’s plan would create up to 659 full-time jobs, create a rolling stock export industry and boost Australia’s GDP by up to $5 billion. Liberal Governments have consistently said we cannot build trains here, yet the ones they have bought from overseas have been too long for our stations, or too narrow for our tracks, or too tall for our tunnels. Australia has always been a nation that makes things, and we must put all our effort behind a push to ensure this continues. We have an opportunity as a nation to beat this recession, recover and make this moment our own.

GOING MOBILE WITH OHS METRICS INSPECTIONS

By Karl Ahlgren, Pervidi Software Marketing Manager Occupational Health and Safety is a subject that every organisation wants and needs to master, but without proper OHS metrics inspection, it can become near impossible. Today many different organisations, operating in different industry sectors at different sizes, are choosing to move their inspection processes onto paperless systems. OHS metrics inspection is the premier way to ensuring that data from inspections is being utilised to make better strategic decisions and keeping staff safe at the workplace. According to the International Labour Organisation, around 2.78 million people die each year as the result of occupational accidents or work-related issues around the world. It is no doubt a frightening statistic that some industries have to pay particular attention to due to their workplace operations, but any forward-thinking contemporary organisation will take OHS extremely seriously. So how can OHS metrics inspection help

OCTOBER 2020

managers keep their staff protected at the workplace? With the help of regulations such as ISO/ TS 24179, published by the International Organisation for Standards (ISO), inspections can help make workplaces safer. Regulations such as ISO/TS 24179, Human Resource Management – Occupational Health and Safety Metrics, help companies to clearly manage their OHS metrics inspections. By utilising the technical specification and assistance documents in the standard to guide their OHS decisions, leadership in any organisation can be assured that they are making rigorous choices. The standard provides measures for both internal and external reporting of human resources management, as well as raising issues that should be considered when drawing up organisational safety operation plans. These reporting struggles can sometimes be made clear when organisations are carrying out checks using pen and paper inspection methods.

Data and observations get lost in various stages such as note-taking, handwriting legibility, double data entry, or simply the voluminous filing cabinets of inspection reports. To keep the process simple, many organisations in different sectors are therefore choosing to bring their OHS metrics inspections onto paperless solutions using mobile devices. This means that data cannot be lost, important observations being categorised against the asset/process/area inspected and likewise sent to necessary teams in a business.

with compliance checklists, such as those set up to comply with ISO/TS 24179. OHS metrics inspection relies on collecting actionable numbers and recording so that decisions can be taken in a strategic and informed manner. By giving inspection personnel the tools for this, such as: speech-to-text recording, standardised response checklists, camera integration and annotations or reference material attachment, inspectors are suitably empowered to make good recording. To learn more about ISO/TS 24179, visit: www.iso.org/standard/77993.html

Management also receives a notification indicating that the asset may be out of use, as well as inspection personnel or scheduled users of that machinery.

To learn more about how you can digitalise your OHS metrics inspection, or for more information about how to take your organisation paperless, visit

Inspection personnel carrying out OHS metrics inspections also benefit largely from the mobile device features, that can integrate

https://pervidi.com. au/solutions/inspectionmanagement/.

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INDUSTRY POLITICS THE HON. SENATOR KIM CARR, FORMER MINISTER AND SHADOW MINISTER FOR INNOVATION, INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

MISSED OPPORTUNITY WITH R&D TAX CHANGES In his Budget speech, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced that the federal government would introduce a new round of changes to the Research and Development Tax Incentive. Industry Update’s readers will know that I have long been concerned about a Morrison government bill aimed at cutting $1.8 billion from the value of the Incentive, the most important measure integrating the taxation and innovation systems. The Tax Incentive is especially important to manufacturers, who conduct the bulk of private-sector R&D in Australia. The good news from the budget announcement is that the bill is unlikely to go ahead. Instead of a $1.8 million cut, the government claims there will be a $2 billion increase. The government also has decided to drop a $4 million cap on refunds for firms with an annual turnover of less than $20 million The bad news is that the new changes retain an intensity scale for calculating the tax offsets of firms with a turnover of more than $20 million, which includes all of Australia’s large manufacturers.

John Fraser and then head of Innovation Australia, Bill Ferris. It is a change that would unleash Australia’s innovative capabilities by creating an alliance of blue collar and white coat.

the bulk of operating costs comprise wages, purchase of raw materials and equipment, and investments in the supply chain. Specific R&D activities will always be a small proportion of the total operating costs for manufacturers, but that is no indication of the inherent value of the R&D they undertake.

That is no longer the case, but it does not change the fact that intensity measures are a fundamentally flawed means of assessing the value of R&D activities. The intensity scale continues to discriminate against Australian companies that conduct both R&D and manufacturing in Australia. Multinationals that can manufacture offshore and conduct R&D here will be better placed to claim the highest rate of 16.5 per cent. The costs typically incurred by large manufacturers mean that they will also be unfairly disadvantaged by the $150 million cap on claims under the Incentive. The government could have lifted this cap in the measures announced in the budget but did not do so.

The manufacturing sector is the most

Under the impact of the severe recession brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, putting R&D activities and manufacturing jobs at risk is hardly a prescription for recovery.

The costs typically incurred by large manufacturers mean that they will also be unfairly disadvantaged by the $150 million cap

Nor is cutting the amount available to universities for research, which will be a consequence of the new system for funding student places. The $1 billion for university research included in the budget is a one-year top-up, but universities will need several times that amount over the next five years.

Our universities and science agencies are as vital a part of the innovation system

as industry itself, and a well-designed innovation system would ensure that the capabilities of industry and researchers are brought together as closely as possible.

And yet again, the government passed up an opportunity to introduce a premium rate of the Incentive for businesses that collaborate on R&D with universities and research agencies such as the CSIRO.

The Morrison government, however, does not seem to understand this. It shunned the proposed collaboration premium and instead adopted a less welcome Three Fs suggestion, the intensity scale for assessing the R&D activity of larger firms.

A collaboration premium was suggested in the so-called Three Fs review of the Tax Incentive in 2016, by Chief Scientist Alan Finkel, then Treasury chief

Intensity scales measure a firm’s commitment to R&D by expressing its R&D expenditure as a proportion of its total operating costs. For manufacturers,

innovation-intensive in the economy, and manufacturers spend four times the national average on R&D. In submissions and evidence to a Senate inquiry into the now superseded R&D bill, many of them warned that introduction of an intensity scale would force them to move either their R&D or their manufacturing offshore. It is less likely that they will be faced with that choice after the changes announced by the Treasurer, because the number of tiers in the proposed intensity scale has been reduced from three to two. Under the three-tier scale most manufacturers would have fallen into the bottom tier, cutting the offset they receive from 8.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent.

The changes to the Incentive announced in the budget were included in an omnibus bill introduced into parliament the next day. Labor did not oppose this bill, because it also included the cuts to income tax, which we support as a stimulus to the economy. We remain concerned, however, about the damage the intensity measure will do to innovative manufacturers in Australia. If the government is serious about its plans to rebuild Australia’s manufacturing capabilities, it needs to think again about how to make sure the Tax Incentive operates effectively, and about how to forge collaboration between industry and researchers.

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OCTOBER 2020

Industry Updateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NEW

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EDITORIAL

CSIRO AND AMAERO ADDRESS DIE CAST TOOLING PROBLEM WITH MODERN TECHNIQUES

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, is developing a solution to solve the issue of die cast tooling problems, using conformal cooling and additive manufacturing. And the process is being aided by virtual reality. Working with Melbourne small business, Amaero Engineering Pty Ltd, researchers at CSIRO’s Lab22 Innovation Centre, one of Australia’s leading centres for metallic additive manufacturing, developed the innovative solution using some clever simulations. Program Manager at Amaero, Mr Sam Tartaglia, said the company, which specialises in additively manufactured high performance parts, saw an opportunity to explore the use of conformal cooling in 3D printed die cast tooling, using computational modelling. “High pressure die casting (HPDC) is by far the most popular manufacturing route for mass-produced near-net-shape metal parts,” Mr Tartaglia said. “The process forces molten metal into a die cavity via a series of passages or ‘runners’, which include the ‘sprue area’, to produce a part in the shape of the cavity before the final solidified product is removed,” he said. “We were looking to find a solution to a stubborn problem that was challenging

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one of our clients - the sprue area running too hot. “The issue was causing prolonged cycle times, with the die taking longer to cool between shots, and frequent production line stoppages”. Using Finite Element Method computational modelling, the partners explored optimising the geometry of conformed cooling channels of the H13 die tools for the sprue area using additive manufacturing. Principal Research Engineer at CSIRO, Dr Dayalan Gunasegaram, said the team focused on coupled heat transfer and stress analysis.

“We used the modelling to assess the effectiveness of conformal cooling, compared to traditional tooling used in industry,” Dr Gunasegaram said. Apart from giving the casting and runners their shape, HPDC tools perform the task of removing heat from the molten metal via the water circulating through the cooling channels within the tools. The problem, however, is that traditional machining methods used to drill out these channels can only produce straight holes in limited locations, and this diminishes the effectiveness of the heat removal strategy. Conformal cooling, by contrast, uses coolant channels that follow the complex

contours of intricate part designs, offering much better cooling efficiency. Additive manufacturing makes it possible to build parts with highly optimised, complex geometries – perfect for creating conformal cooling channels in a tool. Mr Tartaglia said conformal cooling can translate to significant productivity improvements along with improved product quality. “This capability has potential applications in plastic injection moulding, metal die casting tools and other metal tooling used in manufacturing” he said. Dr Gunasegaram said the project, partly funded by an Innovation Connections grant through the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Program for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), is an example of how CSIRO can add commercial value to businesses working in the advanced manufacturing space. Amaero, who have diversified into additively manufactured tooling as a new business area, will have a virtual booth at the upcoming North American Die Casting Association’s Die Casting Congress & Tabletop in the month of October.

OCTOBER 2020

CASE STUDY - TENTE

HIGH SAFETY AND RELIABLE WHEELS AND CASTORS: KEY CLIENT'S VERDICT It goes without saying that the key to a company achieving high product satisfaction is about having a suc-cessful partnership with key suppliers. And this has been the kind of relationship that Wilson & Gilkes has had with its supplier of castors and wheels, Tente. Wilson & Gilkes is an Australian manufacturer which opened its doors in November 1945, just after the end of World War II and three years before the first Australian Holden rolled off the production line. A proud Australian company, Wilson & Gilkes strives for innovative design, engineering, and state-of-the-art manufacturing in all of its product output. Its specialty is in the design and manufacture of storage products for the Audio Visual, Education, Corpo-rate, IT and Manufacturing industries. Wilson & Gilkes says Australians still recognise the benefits of high-quality locally-manufactured products as Australian consumers are pragmatic in nature, and want the kind of products that stand the test of time. Wilson & Gilkes Design Manager Humberto Mesa, based at the company’s Moorebank NSW headquarters, believes simple, yet functional design is necessary to meet the basic requirements of customers. Mr Mesa says this form of design allows Wilson & Gilkes products to meet the needs of a competitive market when dealing with overseas influences. “So in terms of design principles it is important for us as a company that we deliver quality products that last and serve our customers well and that we have the ability to design freely, according to Australian needs.” Mr Mesa brought his years of previous experience in the sheet metal industry and commercial and industrial storage systems, into Wilson & Gilkes, working as the company’s Design Manager for a number of years. “I’ve been with Wilson & Gilkes for a little over six years now. I came over when Wilson & Gilkes acquired a company I used to work for and they brought me over as an industrial designer.” His skills at that point, were in 3D CAD applications like solid works, although he also had experience in the sheet metal industry. Mr Mesa says Wilson & Gilkes has developed the capacity to cover many products – from storage cabinets, industrial

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storage, also mobile touch-screen (or AV) stands and products like whiteboards and lecterns for education and brands in data storage, such as server racks, server cabinets and enclosures. The company relies on Tente castors and wheels for its heavy duty requirements, as well as other applica-tions. The Wilson and Gilke’s Boscotek range is a good example. “Some of the requirements in our industrial storage range can be pretty high. You are talking about cabinets that may weigh an excess of 500kg,” he says. The Boscotek Flight Line Cabinets are what Wilson and Gilke’s offer as an ideal solution to organised mass mobile tool storage. The cabinets are a feature within the aviation industry. The heavy duty cabinets are used for large volumes of precision tools and instruments, which may be re-quired to be stored together, and in a dust resistant environment. They also are used by the military and automotive industries as a flexible approach to tool storage. “ The heavy-duty Tente castors have served it very well. They are high quality with a very high load rating and that’s been a great product for these cabinets,” Mr Mesa says. He finds Tente’s safety and reliability as a breath of fresh air. The Boscotek Flight Line cabinets feature cas-tors that are heavy duty, large in diameter and feature total braking for improved mobility. Mr Mesa says that the strength and durability of the Tente Alpha castors highly complement the many high quality features of the Boscotek Flight Line cabinet range – a

modern appearance and counter-balanced door, polycarbonate/aluminum roller shutter that provides clearer vision of tools and instruments being stored. He also points out that when designing Wilson & Gilkes products, reliable mobility is an important consid-eration. “In design, you have to think that castors are very high consideration as they keep your device safe reliably while being mobile. “For example, say you have an AV stand or a touch screen stand in a school environment that might be moved constantly across the quadrangle, the park, the bitumen if you like, or the paths from classroom to classroom or hall to hall. The castors are usually the items that suffer the most wear and tear.” For Wilson & Gilkes’ Gilkon FP7 v3 automated heavy duty mobile mount for single monitors, the lockable heavy duty Levina castors under it, from TENTE, have helped all the way. The sturdy and robust mount that can be easily raised to heights of up to 1995mm holds most screens from 42” to 86” in measurement. The maximum weight capacity holds up to 120 kg and, using Tente’s lockable Levina castors, it does the job quite reliably. Mr Mesa says like in any business and product manufacture cycle, every project is different and there may be challenges at times. “Sometimes there may be challenges

in, for example, how to fit a particular castor to a certain frame or base. Our Tente representative will not hesitate to come to our headquarters to show samples or offer potential solutions to the challenges,” he said. “We might show or discuss a design solution using the Tente catalogue. Or it can be as basic as Wilson & Gilkes needs to meet a certain requirement, and it will be this heavy and needs to be loaded within a frame of a certain weight. “Tente has a very extensive line of products and wide capacity for its castors’ performance and I find its cata-logue and website quite intuitive. The best thing about Tente is that it has a vast range of everything, from tiny or small pedestal or chair castors and plastic castors, through to the heavy industrial castors and wheel solutions, which always in the end provides solutions for us. “You can also use its wheels for various different applications. You can usually find something within its range that’s going to meet our requirements.” Mr Mesa comes back to the strong client and business relationship Wilson & Gilkes has had with Tente and its products as the key for any project challenge solutions. “I guess dealing with good people that are going to serve your requirements and happy to talk to you and come in and see you, makes a big difference. It’s really good to work with a company like that,” he said. Mr Mesa says that the most important contribution has been Tente’s willingness to serve Wilson & Gilkes’ high and sometimes demanding requirements in terms of delivery. “Tente is always striving to get us what we need in a timely fashion. We’ve got complete confidence in the Tente product. We’ve got confidence that if we put a Tente castor in our products it will do the job correct-ly and for the foreseeable life of the product.” Tente Castors and Wheels 1300 836 831 www.tente.com.au

OCTOBER 2020

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CASE STUDY - PAC GROUP

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION: FOR PAC GROUP IT’S ALL IN THE BOOK documentation is a major activity within PAC Australia.” The automotive industry is a big part of the PAC portfolio - chances are the manual in your glovebox is a PAC product. PAC has worked with Toyota since 2005, when the automotive giant still manufactured cars locally.

to support the documentation. These can be created from sources such as CAD, photos or practical hands-on experience. PAC’s illustrators are experienced in creating exploded, cutaway and instructional illustrations as well as circuit diagrams, technical presentations and parts catalogues.

“Back then they did all the manuals and wiring diagrams for us,” says Kevin Dowling, Toyota’s senior publications coordinator.

These can either be as line-art or rendered colour illustrations, however photos can be used in lieu of illustrations as a costeffective alternative depending on the end use.

“When manuals would come from Japan they’d need a lot of changes to suit the Australian market, and they’d do that. There were never any issues, and they had a really old school work ethic.”

Benefits can be gained through reuse if the total package is considered from the start. For example, illustrations created for a user manual can be recycled for a parts catalogue or installation instructions.

When local automotive manufacturing came to an end, it meant big changes for PAC’s operations.

Another area rapidly becoming popular is the conversion of old paper-based documents and manuals into a usable digital format, which saves rows of storage space and are then easy to update.

“When we stopped building cars here,

“Just as many component suppliers have had to evolve, so too have we.” How often do you purchase a new product, flick through the instructions and then throw them away? If you’re like most people, it’s an all too common occurrence. Quality products are often let down by substandard supporting documents such as user or installation manuals. Poor grammar, untidy layout and unclear illustrations are repeat offenders. These documents reflect the quality of the product, so does a poor-quality user manual mean a poor-quality product? Maybe or maybe not, but if you want to reflect the quality of your product, why risk having it not used as intended or to its potential by having the manual thrown to one side? Documentation specialist PAC Group’s Gavin Ross says supporting documentation often gets short shrift in both local and imported goods. “It’s something we see all the time,” he says. “The message often gets lost in translation with imported products, and with local goods there may not be the budget.” The user or instruction manual is a

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company’s way to communicate and start a relationship with the user, an important step that’s often not considered. A car’s owner manual, for instance, often thanks or congratulates the purchaser before proceeding to inform them of all the benefits and years of enjoyment they’ll receive. This philosophy is often missed in other products. Ross says supporting documentation is often an afterthought in development processes, and by the time it comes to the fore there’s often no money left to produce documentation fit for purpose. “A common solution is to have someone just type something up,” he says. “Not an ideal outcome, and one that is potentially disastrous.” PAC Group has been in the technical documentation business for over 15 years, and most of its staff bring decades of industry experience to the table. “We came to PAC around 2005 to support their engineering and project management activities, which was PAC’s core at the time,” Ross says. “While PAC still works in the engineering and project management field, technical

the workload changed. PAC diversified seamlessly into technical manuals, proofing TMC files, warranty and service booklets and owner’s manual supplements. They didn’t miss a beat,” Dowling says. “The automotive industry has changed significantly over the last few years with the cessation of local manufacturing,” Ross says. “Just as many component suppliers – many who would be readers of Industry Update – have had to evolve, so too have we.” Today, PAC’s output is diverse and refined. PAC’s team of specialists create accurate technical documentation to meet client communication and product information needs in a variety of formats. They have years of hands-on experience in the automotive, manufacturing, infrastructure sectors, among many others. The team creates service repair and maintenance manuals, owner/operator handbooks, production process sheets, product assembly documentation, accessory installation booklets and technical brochures to name a few. They can also create the procedures, provide procedure validation and perform time and motion studies. Graphic illustrations are also developed

“Digitising our legacy manuals is a project Toyota has been working on with PAC for a while now,” Dowling says. “It’s a huge, ongoing project – we’re only three quarters of the way through – but they’ve handled it with enthusiasm and total professionalism.” As part of PAC’s diversification, it also provides many support roles in addition to documentation creation. Aftersales support is an important area for the company, which provides warranty administration and other specialists to several businesses. PAC also provides support in other ways, such as administering technical enquiry email boxes. With a large database of specialists on hand, PAC can provide engineering activities including project management, engineering support, supply chain services and process improvement. These specialists have a diverse range of expertise and experience. PAC Australia is part of a global group, but is a small, close-knit team that prides itself on providing a flexible service specific to the customer’s needs, regardless of their size. PAC Australia 0422 403 608 pac-aus@pacgroup.com http://pacgroup.com

OCTOBER 2020

Safety Product Update Sign Cap Sign Cap Sign Cap

Alarm Bar

Designed to protect overhead assets from accidental damage from moving vehicles.

Designed to protect overhead assets from accidental This ceiling-mounted barrier provides audible and visible damage moving vehicles. alarms tofrom prevent damage before it happens, averting vehicle impacts and changing driver behaviour over time. This ceiling-mounted barrier provides audible and visible alarms to prevent happens, averting Quick and easy todamage install, itbefore can beitused to safeguard vehicle impacts and changing driver behaviour over time. doorframes, loading docks, infrastructure and overhead walkways, as well as key safety assets such as sprinkler Quick and easy to install, it can be used to safeguard systems andloading ventilation pipes. doorframes, docks, infrastructure and overhead walkways, as well as key safety assets such as sprinkler systems and ventilation pipes.

Designed to support operational Designed to support operational requirements and traffic management needs. requirements and traffic management needs. Designed to support operational From Health & Safety notices to directing traffic, the From Health & Safety notices to directing traffic, the requirements and traffic management needs. sign cap supports your factory flow and processes. sign cap supports your factory flow and processes. From Health & Safety notices to directing Using universally-recognised signage, it it isis traffic, the Using universally-recognised signage, used extensively used in industrial, commercial and sign cap your factory flow and processes. positioned atsupports the optimum height to bebe visible positioned at the optimum height to visibletoto public environments. Using universally-recognised signage, it is both moving traffic and pedestrians. both moving traffic and pedestrians. positioned at structures the optimum height to beimpact visible to Designed to protect and equipment from damage, The fully-customisable product seamlessly and provide a robusttraffic physical presence toseamlessly prevent access or guide The fully-customisable product both moving and pedestrians. vehicles and pedestrians. integrates into thethe A-SAFE product range, integrates into A-SAFE product range, The fully-customisable product seamlessly providing youyou with a comprehensive providing with a comprehensive integrates into the A-SAFE product range, reinforce a&driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention to safe driving and can also act as Health & Safety solution. Health Safety solution. providing you with a comprehensive Health & Safety solution.

Bollard

A-Safe Australasia Pty Ltd

Sign Cap

Designed to support operational requirements and traffic management needs. From Health & Safety notices to directing traffic, the sign cap supports your factory flow and processes. Using universally-recognised signage, it is positioned at the optimum height to be visible to both moving traffic and pedestrians. The fully-customisable product seamlessly integrates into the A-SAFE product range, providing you with a comprehensive Health & Safety solution.

Freezer The A-SAFE Cold Storage range has been meticulously engineered to provide the highest levels of protection to pedestrians, assets and infrastructure. The range includes a full suite of high-performance safety products for applications within very low-temperature environments. Food-safe, robust and effective to -30Â°C, Cold Storage products from A-SAFE have been purpose-designed for use in frozen food storage facilities and other challenging sub-zero environments.

www.asafe.com (02) 9625 8927

EDITORIAL

QUEENSLAND HAS NATURAL RESOURCES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY A NEW REPORT from the Climate Council has revealed Queensland has the natural resources to become a world leader in renewable energy, as well as in industries such as clean manufacturing, minerals processing and renewable hydrogen - bringing with it tens of thousands of jobs. The report “Leaders and Legends: Thousands of Clean Jobs for Queenslanders” finds that accelerating the development of Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) will give Queensland a global competitive advantage in energy-intensive industries, create jobs for Queenslanders, and new export opportunities. “There are so many reasons to be optimistic about Queensland’s economic future as it rebuilds from COVID-19,” said the Climate Council’s CEO Amanda McKenzie. “The growth of renewable energy generation in the state is bringing down power prices, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, which will help protect Queensland’s natural tourism assets, like the Great Barrier Reef,” said Ms McKenzie. “Recent commitments from State and Federal governments to progress the Copperstring 2.0 project demonstrate that the time is right for Queensland to just get on with it and unlock new opportunities in

both renewables and clean manufacturing,” said Ms McKenzie. “The Queensland Government can seize this moment to create jobs that get people back to work now, and turn Queensland into a clean industry superpower. Generations of Queenslanders could work in these clean industries,” she said. “Regional cities like Townsville, Gladstone and Mackay have the skilled workforce, close proximity to excellent renewable resources, and established industrial infrastructure that makes them ideal to develop clean industries,” said Ms McKenzie

Key Findings • Queensland can accelerate the development of renewable energy zones (REZs) across the state. The proposed REZs in the Darling Downs and Far North Queensland could create up to 2,000 jobs in each region by 2025.

steel powerhouse, creating 15,000 local jobs by 2050. • CopperString 2.0 - a proposed transmission project connecting North West Queensland to the National Electricity Market (NEM) - will unlock exceptional wind and solar resources and new opportunities in mining and minerals processing. It is expected to reduce electricity prices across the region by 40%. • Construction of CopperString 2.0 is expected to create 750 direct jobs over three years, while downstream industrial opportunities unlocked by the project are expected to create an additional 3,560 full-time jobs. • Electricity prices in South East Queensland are projected to fall 20% from 2019 to 2022, due in part to the recent boom in renewable energy projects.

• In the immediate term, the Climate Council’s Clean Jobs Plan has found 15,000 - 20,000 jobs could be created in Queensland across 12 policy areas.

Climate Council’s Head of Research, Dr Martin Rice said North West Queensland could become a superpower in new economy mining, providing minerals required for solar panels, wind turbines and batteries.

• Townsville could become a hub for lithium-ion battery manufacturing and metals processing, and central Queensland could become a clean

• “The value of the ‘new economy minerals’ deposits in the region exceeds $500 billion,” said Dr Martin Rice.

“Expanding domestic mining and processing of critical minerals also increases Australia’s self-reliance by protecting our supply chains from potential disruption,” he said. Dr Rice said increasing renewable energy generation brings down power prices, creating a global competitive advantage for Queensland in energy-intensive industries. “Climate change is taking a devastating toll on Queensland. • This year saw another mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef – the third in five years, and bushfires scorched World Heritage rainforests previously considered too wet to burn. Queenslanders also suffered from flooding and drought,” said Dr Rice. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for governments to invest in programs that will deliver secure, skilled and long-term jobs now and into the future for Queenslanders. It’s a win-win-win, for the economy, for jobs and for our climate,” he said.

ROOFTOP SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN W.A. ENERGY TRANSITION

By Giles Parkinson - extract from his analysis on RenewEconomy Western Australia has unveiled its first 20-year blueprint into how the clean energy transition may evolve in its uniquely isolated grid, and it seems clear that rooftop solar PV and battery storage will take centre stage. The Whole of System Plan – an 18-month piece of work led by a specially formed task-force, with input from the Australian Energy Market Operator, the state government and the state’s main utilities – is similar to AEMO’s Integrated System Plan for Australia’s main grid, but it applies only to WA’s South West Interconnected System, possibly the world’s biggest isolated grid. That makes it both an interesting and challenging exercise, and there are a couple of key takeaways from the document: In all four scenarios modelled – confusingly given movie names such as

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Cast Away, Groundhog Day, Techtopia and Double Trouble – renewables account for at least 70 per cent of installed capacity and sixty per cent of generation.

role in the higher demand scenarios, where larger scale wind and solar assume a greater role and where new transmission and gas fired generation is also required.

But the WOSP does not include stretch “climate” targets that form a key part of the ISP. The emissions reductions over the next 20 years are comparatively modest – no more than 50 per cent in absolute terms. There are no scenarios that model the complete exit of coal, and two of the scenarios that represent low operational demand assume little or no new large scale wind and solar projects over the next decade.

The taskforce makes clear that it does not believe any of these scenarios described will be the actual outcome. Instead, it says they are the best bets that can be made for now on how the transition may evolve, and what actually happens is likely to be an amalgam, and the WOSP will be updated as the future becomes clear.

Instead, rooftop solar and battery storage, along with demand management, form the core of the two low demand scenarios, Cast Away and Groundhog Day. For reasons not entirely clear to this reader, rooftop solar plays only a minor

The key message from state energy minister Bill Johnston, who launched the WOSP on Monday, was that renewable generation is expected to triple by 2040, rooftop solar will continue to displace traditional forms of generation, particularly coal, and battery storage will also play a big part in the state’s future, not just

filling in the gaps in generation but also providing key grid services. “It’s the most comprehensive modelling study ever undertaken into the future of WA’s electricity system and it will support our transition to low-cost electricity,” Johnston said in a statement before a briefing on Monday. “Our state is embracing renewable generation, with one in three households having rooftop solar panels, this signifies that battery storage will play an important role in our future.”

OCTOBER 2020

EDITORIAL

LARGEST COBOT EXHIBITION IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC KICKS OFF Universal Robots largest virtual collaborative robot (cobot) exhibition in the Asia Pacific, WeAreCOBOTS was held in October offering 15 insightful keynote sessions. Collaborative robots or cobots were the main topic at the exhibition, led by Universal Robots to assist in application in areas such as with materials handling, machine tending, and finishing, within manufacturing and the larger industry. James McKew, Universal Robots’ Regional Director for the Asia Pacific says that the timing of the event focusing on how to streamline workplace using robots or cobots is important. “Our position right now is clear, people need to get back to work.” “With job losses taking place the world over, we understand the urgency to reaccelerate economies and get people back to employment.” Since their inception more than a decade ago, cobots have grown in popularity. Since the onset of COVID-19, collaborative robots have played an even greater role as they help to reaccelerate manufacturing processes and address challenges around physical distancing. “We’ve seen a real shift in what cobots are used for.” “Some automotive companies are now manufacturing ventilators while packaging companies are producing visors.” Manufacturers are deploying flexible technologies to pivot their business models, virtually overnight.

Local Trends In Australia, Universal Robots have had success with the use of cobots in prominent industries such as food and FMCG. “We have also seen an increased adoption of cobots in the pharmaceuticals and life sciences industries”. Locally, cobots have been commonly used for palletisation and carton erection applications - the areas of manufacturing where heavy lifting is required. There’s major pressure on local manufacturers to perform in an increasingly competitive world,” explains James.

OCTOBER 2020

James McKew - Universal Robots’ Regional Director for the Asia Pacific

“With operating costs being a considerable focus, companies are faced with a few challenges.” “Not only do they need to factor in high labour rates and expensive floor space, they also need to make sure that staff can operate within their current footprint while adhering to the new physical distancing requirements”. James says humans should not be doing boring, dangerous, repetitive or dirty manual jobs.

An Urgent Call for Reshoring James says that while many are happy to pay for high quality and to ‘support local’, reducing operating costs remain a priority for local manufacturers. “Until now, decisions around where to manufacture have been left to the procurement department.” “Today, we need to think outside the box to develop sustainable solutions for the long-term.” “These decisions should not purely be based on immediate cost which is short sighted, and will not align with a long term strategy to reshore and have a better handle on your own supply chain.” “More intelligence and creativity must be applied in the automation space to ensure that Australia can compete on a global scale.”

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TURCK

CONNECTIVITY DESIGN TIPS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR HARSH ENVIRONMENTS Once materials and chemical compatibility are taken into account, engineers can review the next layer of specifications: ingress protection, vibration, temperature and pull strength. These specs support a solution’s reliability.

Ingress protection

No matter if your application has extreme temperatures, high flex, washdown cleaning or other harsh conditions found in industrial applications, there are several important considerations to ensure a long service life for cables and connectors. This article discusses the key criteria to consider in choosing harsh-environment connectivity products, specific design considerations for mobile equipment and oil and gas applications, and best practices in choosing a robust and reliable solution. Moving industrial processing trailers to field locations places this specialised equipment in extreme environments, with exposure to wide temperature ranges, UV exposure and constant vibration during transit. In the face of these challenges, one oil and gas trailer manufacturer noticed its connectivity components were consistently breaking as part of routine transportation and installation. The company needed to upgrade to more robust cables and connectors. After surveying the market, the manufacturer chose overmolded Deutsch connectors and a new cable whose design withstands extreme heat and cold, the chemicals of operation and exposure to the elements. By doing so, the company was able to accelerate installation time of the trailers and provide a more dependable solution for its customers. This trend of replacing legacy connectivity components continues to rise across industries, as engineers, system designers and OEMs require increasingly rugged solutions to maintain reliable

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connectivity in harsh environments. In response, connector and cable designs have evolved as connectivity manufacturers keep pace with these user and application demands. From innovative overmolded solutions to stainless steel potted connector bodies, today’s products improve performance and are more convenient than traditional field-assembled connectors.

Factors that affect connectivity performance A number of factors influence how a connector or cable solution performs in an environment. Material selection and chemical compatibility are two leading criteria because they can directly affect the integrity of the solution for a specific application. Plastics are the primary material used to protect connectors and cables from the elements of harsh applications. The plastic material that is used has a critical impact on chemical compatibility, and variations have been developed for specific uses (*figure 1).

provide ease of installation and improved performance.

Ingress protection ratings, commonly referred to as IP ratings, demonstrate a product’s ability to resist environmental pollutants like dust and water. They are standard ratings set by IEC, NEMA, selfcertification and other industry standards. Engineers should look for a minimum of IP65 protection on cables and connectors used in harsh applications. This ensures no penetration of dust or jet water. IP69K is the highest level of ingress protection offered, ensuring protection against dust and water at high pressure. It is ideal for food and beverage applications, and washdown environments.

Vibration issues

With the different plastic material options available, there are overmolded connector solutions to withstand most chemicals in harsh applications. However, some applications can be so demanding that a plastic overmolded body may not offer enough protection.

Vibration can threaten to disconnect the coupling feature of a connector and disrupt data transfer

For these applications, there are connector options that utilise a stainless steel housing filled with potting material. This type of solution provides improved mechanical strength and can still hold up well in applications with highly caustic chemicals. There are also versions of this connector that allow for additional hazardous location approvals. With stainless steel connector bodies, grade 316 stainless steel offers the best option for durability in harsh industrial environments. Grades 303 and 304 can be more susceptible to corrosion with highly caustic chemicals.

To prevent a connector from coming loose, the connector design must have special features that

through the connector. To withstand this hazard, the design and quality of connectors, contacts and cable is critical.

maintain engagement even at high shock and vibration. The contact design must prevent the mating interface from intermittent connections or damage by vibration. The contact materials and plating are another critical element for strength, durability and electrical performance. Some criteria to look for in the most robust connector and cable products include: • Machined contacts, instead of stamped

For example, certain materials can withstand very cold temperatures without cracking, while others resist high temperatures that would compromise another plastic’s integrity. Overmolded connectors are recommended for demanding applications because of their reliability and robust construction. These solutions are more than simple plastic housings. Instead, they insulate and protect all the connection points between the cable and the connector against ingress. These fully assembled products are also factory tested and

OCTOBER 2020

TURCK specific obstacles include welding, metal forming and metal stamping. Advances over the past few years have transformed commonplace Deutsch connectors into robust overmolded solutions that stand up to vibration and ingress. These can be used outside the cab to improve connectivity where moisture and the elements have historically caused repeated failures.

Overmolded Deutsch solutions increase longevity and can provide superior performance over standard connectors

or formed, for better performance • Gold plating, instead of tin plating, for better electrical properties • High-stranded wires, instead of solid wires or minimal stranding, for best cable flex

Temperature challenges The temperature of an application can affect performance if the right material is not in place. Extremely cold temperatures can crack cable jackets or plastic connector bodies, and some materials will break down over time in very hot environments. For the best-fitting solutions, look for connectors and cables whose rated optimal temperature ranges meet those of the application. Don’t forget to take into account potential issues caused by fluctuating temperatures. Rapid temperature fluctuations can result in pressure changes, which can pull in moisture. This ingress can create electrical performance issues. If the application is susceptible to rapid temperature changes, be sure to choose a suitably rated product.

Pull strength Cables and connectors can experience a lot of force in industrial environments, from being bumped during operation to serving as improvised step ladders. A product’s pull strength indicates how well a connector will hold up to these forces. A good bond between the plug body and cable is one indicator that a product is likely to exhibit strong pull strength. An additional feature to look for is that the back of the coupling nut is extended over the connector’s plug body. This allows any angular forces to be absorbed between the plug body and coupling nut, and not directly on the wire to contact terminations. Improving connectivity for mobile equipment and oil and gas applications With exposure to temperature fluctuations, the outdoors and heavy duty use, mobile equipment and oil and gas industries offer unique harsh environment challenges. In machine tools applications,

OCTOBER 2020

They are also protected during cleanup and washing. Vibration issues can also be solved through correct installation. If connectors and cable are not mounted down properly, they can end up floating as machinery runs, leading to connection failures. Installation is another area where overmolded connectors excel. Companies have run timed studies to determine if overmolded or in-house, hard-wired assembled solutions work better for an application. While overmolded products may cost more from an upfront material standpoint, the companies found their overall cost of operation was reduced because these products required less time and effort to install. Oil and gas applications face similar outdoor environmental challenges as mobile equipment, but also involve caustic chemicals in drilling muds and the potential need for hazardous location approvals. Hazardous location approvals ensure a product is safe to use in hazardous locations. Oil and gas companies are increasingly looking for more international approvals to ensure global safety compliance and streamline product inventory. For example, a cordset with both ATEX and IECEx approvals can be specified for use not only in North America, but across Europe and other continents. Related to ATEX and IECEx connectivity products, field-assembled solutions are still most commonly found in process automation and oil and gas applications; however, some manufacturers now offer fully assembled cable solutions.

Because all elements come assembled and factory tested, the products reduce the risk of miswiring while also accelerating installation time and reducing labor. Robust solutions improve connectivity in harsh environments Harsh environments present some of the most challenging circumstances for connectivity, from water or caustic chemicals to vibration and temperature. It is critical to take into account key factors like materials and chemical compatibility, and understand how an environment interacts with a product. By relying on these best practices, engineers can choose a reliable and robust solution that resists harsh environments and solves their application challenges.

Conclusion When it comes to choosing a connectivity supplier to solve applications in harsh environments such as mobile equipment and oil and gas installation challenges, look for solutions that offer the rugged construction, approvals and flexible cable jacket required in these demanding environments.

Complete assembled connectivity packages can provide trusted solutions in demanding environments

All of these attributes combine to bring a connectivity solution that will result in less downtime and more cost savings in a fully compliant offering. Consult your local connectivity expert at Turck with all your harsh environment connectivity needs. Turck 1300 132 566 www.turck.com.au

TIPS FOR FINDING THE CORRECT CONNECTIVITY SOLUTION • Is vibration and shock a factor? What frequencies or G-forces will be seen on the connectors?

When sourcing a connectivity solution, a supplier will ask a series of questions like the ones below to better understand the application and how it may affect a connector or cable. Assembling details about your application in advance can accelerate this process.

• What chemicals are present, and at what percent dilution?

Depending on the complexity of the application and environmental factors, a supplier may travel to see the application in person or recommend a custom solution to provide the best performance.

• Are explosive or hazardous gases or vapors present? • What temperature or temperature range is typical?

• Is this an indoor or outdoor application? Are sunlight, UV and/or water exposure possible?

• How would you describe the application?

• Will the cable flex?

• What IP ratings are required?

• How exposed will the product be to these chemicals, and how often? Will the product be submerged, splashed or wiped down?

• Is there opportunity for impact on the cable or connectors? • What is the current and voltage?

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COVID- 19

GETTING BEHIND CLEANING AND DISINFECTING TO FUTURE PROOF SURFACES to five or under over a 14-day period before gradually lifting all restrictions. However there continues to be marked spikes of new cases through community spread or un-known sources, so Victoria remains diligent in its calls for stringent practices in mask-wearing, now calling for the use of properly-fitted masks, especially in areas where there are known COVID-19 cases.

Whiteley Corporation managing director Darran Leyden

After almost a year of being obligated to becoming COVID-19 sensitive, it is important to consider if we have developed a good understanding about the most effective way to keep surfaces free from the potential transmission of the virus. There is a clear difference between cleaning surfaces, as opposed to disinfecting them to reduce the risk of spreading infection. Most realise now that social distancing, the wearing of masks and good hygiene through hand washing, play such an important role in keeping the spread of coronavirus down. But so too is how thoroughly we clean and disinfect hi-touch areas, exposed to the easy spread of the virus. Industry Update delved deeper into the topic, catching up with Whiteley Corporation which has been leading the way in manufacturing infection control products for more than eight decades. It is a subject that cannot be taken lightly. Australia and the world may have lesser numbers of COVID-19 cases, but new infections are still emerging and fatalities are a persistent result. There are also places, like India, the US and Brazil, where new cases continue to be dangerously high, meaning it is vital countries share information and any new learnings about how we can keep the spread of the pandemic down. As we approach the hotter months, and at the time of reporting, Australia’s national COVID-19 cas-es were 27,317 while the global total of those that had contracted the virus stood at 38 million. The state of Victoria, which suffered the highest number of cases in the country, is recovering from a disastrous second wave through strict lockdowns, with cases down to about 10 each day. The target of the Victorian government is to keep the number of new cases per day

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This tells us that we are not quite out of the woods; the pandemic continues to spread although it may be in smaller numbers. Infection product experts, Whiteley Corporation says, the spikes and erratic number of cases may continue for a while yet. Whiteley managing director Darran Leyden says there are many things we can do in our homes and work environments to keep the spread of coronavirus down. He says good surface cleaning complemented by good disinfection process is an essential tool in keeping the infection spread of COVID-19 at its lowest. In an industrial workplace or warehousing environment, Mr Leyden says hand-hygiene is funda-mental in stopping the spread. “It is important of course that both employers and employees are conscious of the right preventive guidelines and as well as the legal guides to ensure they know what is good for their operations,” Mr Leyden said. “It is good for employers to make sure there are sufficient hand-hygiene products available for staff to wash their hands appropriately. And if there’s no hand soap available that staff can use alcohol-based hand sanitisers,” he says. More importantly, Mr Leyden says, employers should be increasing their cleaning and disinfecting frequency on their workspaces. There is significant difference between cleaning and disinfection. “Cleaning is about the removal of biological soil and disinfecting is about killing the micro-organisms. If you’re going to disinfect the surface, you need to clean it first.”

The general rule is that if its touched frequently then it should be cleaned and disinfected as fre-quently. Mr Leyden refers to his company’s research which shows that contaminated surfaces touched by a hand can actually transfer germs x19 to different surfaces. “Say for instance someone coughs on the surface and doesn’t clean, wipe it up and disinfect it and then someone puts their hand on that surface. That means that with the next 19 touches they can potentially spread infectious material.” As soon as the COVID-19 breakout was announced, Mr Leyden says his company increased its cleaning frequency substantially. It used both detergent to clean and appropriate disinfectant on workspaces and other surfaces. Whiteley Corporation believes many small- and medium-sized businesses which may have fewer resources are mostly doing a good job of future proofing their work environments against the spread of COVID-19.

“I think some have done a good job and maintaining a good work environment as best they can, and some people probably need to re-think where they are as far as risk is concerned for their staff.” Mr Leyden concludes that cleaning, disinfecting and hand hygiene and infection prevention against COVID-19 are of the most important business practices in the current climate. “It’s all about staff safety and trying to keep it that way as often as possible. If there is an outbreak in workplaces or factories, sometimes you just can’t prevent this. But by being diligent with your cleaning, sanitising and disinfection practices, you have minimised the risk for your staff and your business.”

HOW WHITELEY SET THE STANDARD Whiteley Corporation, a leader in research and innovative product development in the field of hy-giene, cleaning and infection control products, had its beginnings during World War II. Managing director Darran Leyden says Whiteley was already making disinfectants for cinemas and theatres, which extended over to the war effort, helping with disinfection needs. “We actually started in 1933 as the Australian General Disinfectant Company,” he said. “For the last 87 years we’ve been making surface disinfectants and we’ve been involved in infection prevention products since then.”

Whiteley Corporation recommends special attention be paid to surfaces which are going to be touched more often than others – such as door handles, kitchen benches, or what they call the high-touch areas.

The range of infection prevention products Whiteley manufactures includes hand hygiene products, surface disinfection, disinfectants and detergents, instrument detergents and disinfectants and steroids in the health care sector, as well as industrial cleaning products.

Whiteley recommends that the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting be based around risk and how often things are touched in those areas.

Mr Leyden is keen to see claims made about surface and instrument disinfectants to be evaluated by federal regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

“The TGA has a series of disinfectant tests and quite stringent tests that companies need to follow in order to make specific claims,” he said. “Unfortunately with the pandemic we’ve seen some in the industry making unregistered claims and then being fined by the TGA.” Mr Leyden says it is very important for companies providing products, and customers looking for them, that the products are registered the correct way. “Business and consumers will know what they are getting because it is listed in the publicly regulat-ed market.” Under the TGA guidelines, there are now about 45 products registered with claims on COVID-19 and the list is growing. “We’re very proud that we we’re the first to actually negotiate directly with TGA the pathway for test-ing to get a COVID-19 claim.” “Our product Viraclean was the very first one approved by the TGA under their new framework for COVID-19 testing,” says Mr Leyden.

OCTOBER 2020

COVID- 19

EARLY WARNING TOOL IN SEWAGE KEY TO ASYMPTOMATIC COVID-19 Scientists of a joint CSIRO-University of Queensland team have uncovered a method for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to be detected in sewage samples.

Dr Borsch says that while the wastewater sampling cannot fully replace individual sampling, it can provide unique information into people who are carrying the virus but are also asymptomatic.

The analysis is accurate enough to detect the presence of the virus days before positive cases are observed in public screening programs.

“Many experts say we’re a long way from having a vaccine.”

According to CSIRO member Dr Paul Bertsch, this virus detection within our pollution is a critical element of public health response. “We use filtration techniques to separate out the nano-scale viral and gene fragments from untreated wastewater, then ‘amplify’ the fragments, enabling us to isolate and confirm the virus’s fingerprint over any other genetic material present in the sample," Dr Bertsch said. The team began sampling wastewater from treatment plants in Brisbane earlier this year, amid the first wave of COVID-19 in Australia.

“So a national wastewater surveillance program or network could help Australian authorities detect and contain emerging COVID-19 clusters faster and more costeffectively.” The testing of wastewater could also be highly beneficial for people travelling on cruise ships, preventing any sick passengers from disembarking. “Scientists, disease ecologists, and epidemiologists have been predicting the emergence of other pandemics following the SARS and MERS outbreaks earlier this century.” “We need to prepare for future pandemics. The economics of permanent sewage surveillance stacks up.”

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OCTOBER 2020

He says it doesn’t take much to close down entire economies from a pandemic breakout. Meanwhile, with the latest update from the state of Victoria, 13 new coronavirus cases were recorded overnight with another four people losing their lives. Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that workers in high-risk industries will be asked to participate in a new Surveillance Testing Program in

a bid to stamp out any new coronavirus outbreaks. Starting with the food production sector, the new program will test 25 percent of staff in high-risk workplaces each week. Those among the supermarket, refrigerated, meat, poultry and seafood processing and distribution sectors will be asked to have a quarter of their staff tested on a week by week basis.

30/6/20 9:32 am

INDUSTRYUPDATE.COM.AU

COVID- 19

FACE MASKS UNMASKED: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO KEEP YOUR STAFF SAFE conducted through a swab sample that identifies the pres-ence of the virus within one’s body. Around the globe there is a race to find a vaccine, Australia included, but reportedly the earliest time antiCOVID-19 vaccines may become available, is in a year’s time. Hence, the donning of face masks has become almost non-negotiable during the pandemic, as even though there are lesser cases in some states, the virus continues to spread. Studies conducted by Larisa Labzin of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The Uni-versity of Queensland, indicates that the wearing of masks has strong impact on recovery capacity if you contract COVID-19. Not wearing masks can expose individuals to higher density of infection and hence potency of the virus. “ How we wear the mask matters, as touching it often and not completely covering the nose and mouth renders it ineffective,” Ms Labzin says.

As Australia and the world reaches the seventh month of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is growing business and consumer interest about maskwearing and its importance in preventing infection. Science has established that properlymade masks do work in reducing the risk of further transmission. The important role of masks is that it creates a barrier against the virus by minimising its spread through air droplets arising from when one sneezes, coughs, speaks or even breathes.

a short span of time, making it a virus difficult to contain. In enclosed environments or within areas where there is already a known spread of COVID-19, the wearing of masks provides an even more important physical barrier for users and those around them.

Key Signatures’ Australian-made Level 3 masks meet the toughest Therapeutic Goods Australia specifications, consisting of four layers of Australian made material and finished to the most rigid standards.

The other common way the virus is spread is when hands carrying the virus touch the face. The virus is then spread by entering the respiratory system.

The company believes that having safety and protective equipment such as Level 3 masks available to staff and communities readily, helps keeps business open during COVID-19.

Research into how the virus behaves indicates that it can travel up to 1.5 metres to further infect quickly within

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There is no way of knowing if you or people around you are carrying the virus at any one time unless a COVID test is

GETTING THE RIGHT MASK

If any of these droplets land on a surface there is a possibility that if the surface with the virus droplet is touched by another, it can spread up to nineteen times more each time it is touched.

The most effective method of minimising transmission is wearing of masks combined with diligent hand hygiene and maintaining 1.5metre social distance from others.

Ongoing global studies also indicate that the virus can be carried without showing any symptoms and this can last for a few days,up to months in some cases.

Owners Rebecca Michelini and Jodie King believe that as business gradually re-opens in Victoria, it is important for employers to reassure employees and customers that they are being protected with quality Australian made masks, while also supporting the local economy.

Ms Michelini suggests two simple tests when selecting masks – the breath test and the water droplet test. If you breathe into the mask and you can feel your breath through it, it is inefficient and unsafe. If droplets of water pass through it, it is in the same category. Key Signatures also has created specific education resources to assist in understanding, caring for and using masks and general protective equipment, such as anti-bacterial wipes, thermometers, and disposable gloves aprons. The business also is able to provide these products in bulk through its headquarters in Melbourne.

“Finally, even with asymptomatic infections, we don’t know yet what the long term effects of COVID-19 are. That’s why wearing a mask is a responsible thing to do, even if we feel fine.”

How do we know if we are using the right masks? There are three types of mask commonly used in the market. These include the N95 or P2 “respirator” masks worn by many health-care workers. Then there are the Level 2 and Level 3 masks most people in the community use, along with fabric or cloth masks. More states are building partnerships with scientific bodies like the CSIRO and business, to jointly seek NATA accreditation where applicants undergo stringent efficacy tests, to become registered in producing the right quality of masks for Australian use, rather than relying on imports. The federal government has made available joint funding to the manufacturing sector so businesses are able to pivot into mask making and massproduction quickly and efficient-ly. There are a handful of business in NSW, Melbourne and Queensland that have attempt-ed to join the pivot to manufacture masks locally.

OCTOBER 2020

COVID- 19

mask. This led Key Signatures to create videos and re-source content to fill the void. By manufacturing face masks, with independent testing on products on daily production runs, Key Signatures can ensure the quality of its masks.

An industry-led company based in Melbourne, Key Signatures, is one of them. It has been producing personal protection (PPE) equipment and masks for a year now, specifi-cally targeting the Australian workforce. Managing director Rebecca Michelini says the company had no choice but start to pro-duce masks and PPEs, because this allowed it the most security over the manufacturing process, as well return profits and jobs to the Australian economy.

Regular testing for safety Being a key supply provider for the health sector in Victoria, Key Signatures send its masks to local laboratories for regular testing to ensure their ongoing safety. “There are key points to consider when looking for the right type of Level 3 masks, which is what we test our masks on – the level of filtration and the fit, and fluid resistance to pre-vent droplets penetrating or escaping,” Ms Michelini says.

Along this journey, Ms Michelini, found that the quality of some masks were typically of low grade, including some not even passing the most basic tests. Many simply broke. To resolve this, Ms Michelini created Key Signatures, which now manufactures quality masks in Victoria and also educates businesses and local communities about the varia-tions of mask levels, how to correctly wear, care and dispose of masks and the importance of quality products. “I’m sure that like us, you want to keep your staff safe at work. It makes good moral and economic sense as well."

Key Signatures https://keysignatures.com. au/manufacturing-industry/

The wearer should always check to ensure the fit is right so it forms a seal around the face and businesses check with manufacturers over how long a worker can wear the same mask on a shift before replacing it. Ms Michelini is an advocate for keeping business open in Victoria and the implementa-tion of different safety strategies to make that happen within a pandemic environment. “COVID-19 will continue into the foreseeable future, and most Australians have never had to wear a mask or worry about buying them before – until now,” she says. Key Signatures also found there were very few educational resources on what consti-tutes an effective and appropriate

OCTOBER 2020

INDUSTRYUPDATE.COM.AU

EDITORIAL

ELON MUSK ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO MINE BATTERY METALS

MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH IN A CHANGING WORKPLACE

TESLA founder and Chief Executive Elon Musk has revealed that the company is planning to break into the battery metals mining industry. Standing alongside manufacturing industry executive Drew Baglino, TESLA had acquired the rights to a lithium clay deposit in Nevada. According to Baglino, TESLA will leverage its US resources for nickel and lithium mining. “Just doing that and localising our cathode supply chain and production we can reduce the miles travelled by all of the materials that end up in the cathode by 80 per cent." “Nobody has done this before to our knowledge and it’s a very sustainable way of obtaining lithium, all of the elements are reusable." Elon Musk said there was a massive amount of lithium in Nevada, enough to convert every car in the US to electric vehicles.

“There is enough lithium in the US to convert the entire United States fleet, the 300 million vehicles to lithium, using only lithium that is available in the United States that we already know exists.” The announcement is part of Tesla’s plan to be self-sufficient, significantly reducing costs and the hundreds of kilometres that need to be travelled before materials used in electric vehicles (EVs)

In theory, maintaining and growing a successful business is simple. Great products and good staff support the business. It turns out creating and marketing the product is the easy bit; keeping good staff is the challenge. Industry knows that valuable employees are reliable, loyal and keen to see the business succeed. However, good staff are also human. The ebb and flow of daily life can impact and adversely affect productivity. When a valuable employee explains they have a health issue, this is resolved relatively easily: questions are asked about medical treatment and a back to work timeframe. Job done. So what happens when an employee comes to you with a mental health issue? When asked, many managers struggle to answer, hoping to avoid such a situation. The simple answer is to have staff

trained in Mental Health First Aid. Mental Health First Aid officers are an emerging trend in companies. Trained to provide initial support to other employees in the workplace, as well as complimenting more formal support services, Mental Health First Aid officers give your employees an outlet that’s increasingly necessary in modern life. Accredited Mental Health First Aid training is available. Due to current restrictions the MHFA course is available online and offers instructorbased and e-learning sessions that include relevant workplace scenarios. To take advantage of this opportunity contact accredited MHFA instructors Jan Fisher on 0403 912 890 or Melitta Pinney on 0408 266 267. https://melittapinney. com.au/mental-health-firstaid-training-course/

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“Half replacement cost “ up to 30 Shelf ready cartons min. A major Sydney food producer have built a new plant & will no longer require the only “two year old” flexible Robotic Palletiser system including stretch wrapper as a complete line. Available Beg Nov 2020

OCTOBER 2020

INDUSTRY POLITICS from the major advanced economies, but the US- China quarrel and the dislocation of global trading and investment relationships it threatens heightens the tensions between Australia economic and security choices.”

BRENT WHYTE - MANAGING DIRECTOR OF WHYTE PUBLIC RELATIONS

So, not all bad, not all good.

WE’RE HEADED FOR A CLIFF, AREN’T WE? As a publicist for the last 50 years, I read with a pinch of scepticism the multiple warnings the Australian economy risks “falling off a cliff” much higher than the 1991 recession if State and Federal Governments halt spending on Covid relief packages. For a start, they won’t halt spending. The manufacturing, mining and other welcome measures announced recently and also contained in the Federal Budget demonstrate that the wise counsel from multiple parties across party lines is being heard in the Federal and State capitals. This includes the representations of big business, big unions and everyone else with a legitimately vested interest in restoring our national economic recovery after the huge hit it has taken. But it is worth standing back and sorting the likely reality from the strident calls from these legitimately vested interests benefitting from current wage supports and other incentives. Because it is a fact of public life that if you introduce measures that give support to particular sectors, you create an instant pressure group that will howl with discontent when there is a threat of them reducing. So my point – as a former journalist and political press secretary – is that you have to listen carefully and form your own balanced judgement about what the likely future reality will be. There is no doubt this Covid situation is serious and will be enduring. It is more serious than the five or six major economic disruptions I have worked through over the last five

decades, starting with the oil price shock in 1974. Remember that? By March 1974, the price of oil had risen nearly 300%, from US$3 per barrel to nearly $12 globally. Those were the days when some of the fossil-fuel dependants in Australia and New Zealand – myself included – could only use their cars on alternate days according to odd and even number plates. NZ suffered losses of 100,000 skilled workers, mostly to Australia, from a labour pool of about a million. I was working with the NZ Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Group at the time (remember Piggy Muldoon?) and putting out messages to interest groups (employers, unions et al) about how the economic pie had shrunk and we would all be getting less. I moved to Australia to be greeted a decade later by the 1987 stock market crash when the Dow Jones fell overnight by 22.6 per cent (508 points). The Australian share market lost around 25% in one day and 41.8% of its value by the end of October. But both markets came back strongly. Falls of similar magnitude seem minor when the Dow rides at 26,000-28,000. Such falls are now just a bad night, not a tectonic shift as it was headlined then. That doesn’t mean they won’t happen again, with flow-on effects for business, but history suggests it would recover again even if this did happen (and probably sooner than expected, given that human beings by and large are optimistic creatures, who prefer to build for success than plan for failure).

And, as most of us right now are focussed on survival, it might also be time to look ahead and position ourselves for change. Change, along with taxes and death, is one of the few absolute certainties of life.

Move forward another decade to the 1990s with Australia in the “Recession we had to have” (Paul Keating, 1990), then tech stock bubble, then the Global Financial Crisis from 2002. We picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and put in a world-class performance economically.

Amidst change, we can either adapt and plan to succeed, or not adapt and let failure take its course. It is a clear choice, a strategic vision. Even if the path to success is complicated, businesses have to start with a vision of where they want to be, to see challenges and change as a time of opportunity, of positive thinking.

Then along comes Covid. What’s different this time is the magnitude of the problem. It is a huge problem. But it is also engendering a huge response. And one that does engender some optimism among the more general gloom of the daily commentators.

Because business opportunities haven’t died from the coronavirus. They are still out there. Some have diminished, some have been put on hold – and huge new sectors are quietly opening up in the background (hydrogen and solar power, for example, as well as communications, sustainable resource development, energy-efficient building, improved logistics to manage and protect supply chains, industry 4.0 automation to respond nimbly to changing demand.

Take the comments of John Edwards, of the independent Lowy Institute, for example. He recently gave us some perspective and pointed out that, after infections of more than 23,000 Australians, and the deaths of more than 420 (at the time he wrote), the coronavirus is fading sooner and with less economic damage than expected.

Already as a specialist company operating in the B2B space, we are seeing expanding optimism and planning among existing and new clients who want not only to respond to change, but to be seen to respond by the markets they want to reach.

“Despite Victoria’s second wave of infection, Australia’s economic recovery from coronavirus is under way,” he says. “The bitter aftermath includes high and rising unemployment, vastly increased government debt, and a markedly less congenial global economy.” “Though formidable, the fiscal challenge is well within Australia’s means, especially if the Reserve Bank remains willing to acquire and hold Australian Government debt. It may need to anyway to suppress an unwelcome appreciation of the Australian dollar in a world where major central banks are committed to low long-term interest rates. “Australia’s increasing integration into the East Asia economic community offsets the draft

The imperative for forward-thinking B2B companies is to communicate that they are taking the lead, and responding to changing needs – as well as having the ability to adapt swiftly if further changes arise – to better serve their client base. So yes, we might be headed for a cliff. But it may not be as tall as we thought. And adaptable businesses will land on their feet and thrive through flexibility and innovation.

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AUTOMATION COLIN WELLS - MANAGING DIRECTOR, ROBOTIC AUTOMATION PTY LTD

TECH SUPPORT, NICE TO HAVE OR NOW ESSENTIAL? Have you had a look under your car’s bonnet lately? Innovation and technology have evolved at such a rapid pace that even contemplating to repair or service your own vehicle is beyond the understanding and capabilities of most people. Today’s complex operating systems, mechanical components, and electrical controls require certain skills, tools, and specialised knowledge that can only come from factory trained technicians who possess the tools and software required to carry out critical servicing. The good old days of self-servicing and maintaining one’s own equipment is long gone, and hiring a professional service has long been accepted as the new norm where cars are concerned.

technologies across the board, gone are the days when companies were able to provide their own in-house tech support for the reasons mentioned above. This trend is deepening but appears in some client’s horizon to ‘be a matter worth not much consideration’. Thus, this subject has in many cases been given a less than appropriate level of priority when choosing a supplier and the total package being offered, especially the topic of local tech support capability.

The same applies nowadays to modern technology solutions employed in manufacturing. However, unlike a car, of which “many thousands are made”, a modern palletising system (for example) uses multiple elements all coupled together such as robots, AGVs, packaging equipment, vision systems, laser scanners, barcode readers, labelers, PLC control systems, and the list goes on. All are important elements that make up a modern system for a client that, when integrated together, create a complex, be-spoke solution requiring a commensurate level of tech support.

1) In any given modern and complex automation system there are many components used in multiple quantities which in some cases are easy to replace with a new version or an equivalent; this has always been the case in the past.

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INSTALLATION, COMMISSION AND TRAINING

INDUSTRYUPDATE.COM.AU

END OF LIFE AND DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF REPLACEMENT SYSTEM

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Local experienced tech support is essential

companies need to allocate some funds for spares. The client, with the help of the supplier, has the option to acquire what is deemed to be the minimum spares package rated on a risk basis when the system is initially purchased. These critical decisions give a business the peace of mind and confidence that by conducting early due diligence it has taken significant steps to remediate any future issues which arise. This small investment up front could save a huge amount of down time, expense, and stress. Do I hear a call for the integrator to carry these spares? This is difficult for all the reasons above. The component employed or required could well be one of only a few in the country and possibly the only units ever sold by that system integrator.

OPT

Due to constant innovation and changing

There is a simple solution to combat this issue:

M AI

It is interesting today to observe company procurement practices that still appear to not properly take into consideration the level of ongoing tech support that is going to be required for the full lifecycle of the system. Some ageing systems have had their operational life extended significantly way past their use-by-date by utilising a combination of having the right spares in stock and moreover, the appropriate tech support available. These systems generally had much simpler technology with less components and software controls involved. This approach may have been adopted previously by industry, however in today’s fast paced and constantly changing global manufacturing environment, it is exposed for what it is: a high-risk strategy.

2) Many suppliers have also embarked on securing future demand for their products by ensuring their parts are hard to replace with a different brand. With the software, wiring, and plugs all being unique, it makes it hard to simply swap out a part for another brand.

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This year, Covid-19 has unfortunately presented all sorts of issues for the manufacturing sector to combat. However, one unexpected positive outcome for RA is that, due to the restrictions regarding entry into Australia, our tech support team have been heavily involved with the installation of specialised robotic systems delivered by overseas integrators. The outcome has been beneficial for the client as now they also have a local tech support resource which they were probably unaware of.

However, with market pressure on component makers to constantly upgrade and promote their components as ‘new’, the rate of change has vastly increased in recent years. Hence the individual compatible product availability has reduced drastically in some instances to a couple of years compared to several years in the past. If this is translated into the lifecycle of a whole system being 15 or more years long it is possible that the parts you are looking to replace are four to five generations out of date!

A great example is Apple, who are hugely successful not only because they have a great product, but importantly they have in place an equally amazing tech support package second to none, which without they would not have had such great success. The two now go hand in hand.

Regarding spare parts this is also generally an increasing issue in this market and a subject worthy of further investigation. Below are a few such examples.

“How about leaning on the integrator’s supplier located in Europe?”, I hear you say. That is possible, but given the issues listed in the two examples above, they are almost in the same situation. You also must consider the supply chain and time frame for door-to-door delivery, especially during Covid-19. Industry, along with society, points to the direction of future and change in most walks of life. One thing is for sure: we are not returning to the old ways. And frankly, I don’t want to, as I much prefer the car I drive today over the one 20 years ago. Robotic Automation 1300 552 333 www.ragroup.com.au

OCTOBER 2020

SUPPORT YOU CAN TRUST

RA are committed to providing a fully comprehensive, value added support program to keep your operations running smoothly. Our annual service agreements are designed to maximise the performance of your automation systems and provide the highest return on investment over every stage of its lifecycle.

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• Technical Support – 24/7 access to a nationwide team of highly skilled technicians. • Spare Parts - Robotic Automation only source and stock genuine factory spare parts. Keep your systems running with our customised Spare Parts package. • Training - Empower your employees with the knowledge they need with training available on-site or at one of our training facilities. • Optimisation & Upgrading - Extend the life cycle of your robots for increased productivity through our Robot Rebuild and Planned Upgrade programs. • Life Cycle Management - Optimise ROI and system performance through our Preventative Maintenance Program. • Consultancy Services – Utilise our specialised engineering and technical consulting team to receive expert advice across a broad spectrum of industrial automation applications.

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TEXTILES PEAK BODY STA PARTNERS WITH AUSTRALIAN MADE CAMPAIGN

SMC Corporation Australia | New Zealand Group

Specialised Textiles Association (STA) representing Australia’s textiles industry, is in the spotlight as one of the latest partners of the Australian Made Campaign. STA recently launched its #80 YearsStrong campaign during the peak body’s Jubilee anniversary this year. STA is the peak national industry association for Australia’s leading textile suppliers. It represents fabricators, installers and suppliers of textiles, equipment, accessories and services across Australia’s specialised textiles industry. Australian Made Chief Executive, Ben Lazzaro, said the partnership was a timely one and supported the development of Australia’s textile industry. “The specialised textile industry is one of the most diverse in Australian and a key component of our manufacturing success.” When you buy Australian Made textile products you are supporting Australian manufacturing as a whole.” “They are used in almost all industries, including agricultural, construction, automotive, marine, mining and defence, so it is vital that we rally behind local manufacturers to ensure long-term success,” Mr Lazzaro said. Australia’s textile manufacturers are world leaders in the field and recognised for excellence and innovation making camping equipment, flags and banners, to shade structures, window furnishings, tarps and awnings. “Australia’s textile manufacturers

have already demonstrated their capacity to adapt and innovate during these challenging times, with many re-tooling to produce much-needed equipment.” “STA acts as a voice for the textile industry, and we are excited to have them on board as an Australian Made Campaign Associate.” Mr Lazzaro adds. STA President, James Kelman said, “Our partnership with the Australian Made campaign provides our association, along with our members, the opportunity to not only promote Australian made textile products but also to help raise consumer awareness.”

Australia’s world-leading textiles industry produces premium locally-made products for both indoor and outdoor use.

consumers can rest assured knowing

STA represents 160 predominantly small to medium-sized business fostering relationships, information sharing, lobby government and work towards industrywide accreditation.

for Australian conditions. All of STA’s

"STA has been around for 80 years and always been able to link Australia’s leading textile fabricators with world-class suppliers to deliver global excellence in textile fabrication.” “In these uncertain times, Aussie

STA members are manufacturing quality products locally, that are made members operate under an Industry Code of Ethics and can offer fast and innovative solutions with proven performance,” Mr Kelman said.

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Fifty-six percent of Australian transportation and logistics businesses have reported that having a mobile-first strategy in place has helped them to significantly upscale operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, research from mobile and IoT management solutions provider, SOTI, has revealed. The vast majority (70 per cent) of Australian T&L companies also said that having an effective mobile-first strategy for last-mile delivery had benefited their businesses by greatly reducing their operational costs. Out of those who did not have this in place already, 91 per cent said that they thought a mobile-first strategy would deliver their business cost savings. “The T&L industry across the globe has had to quickly step up to a huge challenge, following an enormous surge in e-commerce demand and rising expectations for quick delivery during the pandemic,” said Michael Dyson, vice president of sales, APAC, at SOTI. “Under this heavy pressure, the

and the use of outdated technology ultimately prevented their organisation from sufficiently upscaling operations during the pandemic. “Having an advanced mobile-first strategy in place within T&L operations is clearly the differentiator between coming out on top, or sinking under the pressure of high demand and losing out to competitors in the process,” Mr Dyson said.

importance of having mobile technology deployed has risen, not only as a way to ease the COVID-19 burden, but also to help T&L businesses to improve their operational efficiency and remain resilient in the future,” Mr Dyson said. Yet, even though many Australian T&L businesses had mobility in place that could help them quickly upscale to

“Our research demonstrates that it’s not enough to just have any mobile technology in place – it’s vital to have the most up-to-date technology and a mobility strategy in place to maintain strength within the market, particularly during a pandemic.”

meet escalated demands, the survey also found there are still areas for further improvement. Just under half (46 per cent) of Australian T&L businesses said that they would benefit from having improved realtime support for mobile devices in the field during COVID-19. An additional 36 per cent also stated that their legacy systems

The research also found that amid the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, 32 per cent of T&L businesses in Australia have evaluated that their number one business priority going forward is to improve efficiency by integrating or growing their mobile-first strategy.

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THE AUSTRALIAN MADE CAMPAIGN GETS A REVAMP The Australian Made Campaign Ltd has launched a new initiative encouraging Australians to back local makers and growers and buy Australian-made products in the lead-up to the festive season.

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The campaign calls on all Australians to “Buy Australian Now and support Aussie jobs” and dovetails well with the initiatives in the federal government’s $1.5 billion manufacturing package and support for business within the budget. An extension of the “It’s never been more important to Buy Australian than right now” initiative launched in June, the campaign seeks to impact the purchasing decisions of Australians to drive support for Australia’s manufacturing industry and local jobs. Latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the unemployment rate in August was at 6.8 per cent with 921,800 Australians out of work and a further 11.2 per cent underemployed. Manufacturing now employs 843,900 people in Australia, a drop of 50,000 since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The “Buy Australian Now” campaign encourages Australians to exercise their preference for locally made product through a range of TV, radio, out-ofhome, print, online and social media ad placements.

Ben Lazzaro - CEO of Australian Made

Australian things we can do,” he said. “Every dollar spent on locally made and grown products has a direct impact on the livelihoods of Aussie growers and manufacturers, as well as the wider community.” Recent Roy Morgan Research found that 99 per cent of all Australians are aware of the Australian Made logo and 92 per cent trust the logo as an identifier of genuine Australian products.

Australian Made chief executive Ben Lazzaro sees a thriving manufacturing sector as critical to Australia’s economic future and prosperity.

Nine-seven per cent of Australians associate the logo with the support of local jobs and employment opportunities, 95 per cent with safe and high-quality products, 89 per cent with the use of ethical labour and 78 per cent with sustainability.

“It continues to be a tough year for some of our Australian manufacturers and growers, so rallying behind these businesses is essentially one of the most

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OCTOBER 2020

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AUSTRALIAN MADE PARTNERS WITH EBAY ONLINE BUYING seller experience and operations Jerry Neyman says the joint campaign also will show ways for local companies “to add value to their business by joining the ‘Australian Made on eBay’ campaign”. Mr Neyman has been with eBay for more than four years and is interested in growing and scaling sellers and buyers through the Australian Made platform.

The Aussie Made Club, a go-to online resource for shoppers looking to find authentic Australian Made products, as well as win great Aussie prizes and discover news and recipes, hit an all-time high last month exceeding 50,000 members.

Made Club arrives in the wake of a renewed focus on buying Australian made and supporting local manufacturers, with a record number of Australians seeking to do their bit to fast-track the country’s recovery from COVID-19.

The digital club for shoppers here and overseas makes it easy to connect with Australian makers and growers online across a wide range of industry sectors – which are highly renowned for crafting some of the world’s finest Australian products.

In June, monthly licence applications for the Australian Made logo certification increased fivefold and visitation to australianmade.com.au also hit a new record in June, with more than 287,000 sessions recorded. Monthly social media audience growth was also up 800 per cent from February, with more and more consumers looking to support Aussie Made products.

“We’re excited to continue to provide shoppers from Australia and overseas with an essential tool for engaging with genuine products made to Australia’s high manufacturing and safety standards,” Australian Made chief executive Ben Lazzaro, said. “Consumers can be sure that the products they connect with via the Australian Made Club are manufactured and grown right here in Australia, because every product listed in the monthly newsletter and competitions have been certified to carry the famous green and gold kangaroo.” The new milestone for the Aussie

More than 3000 businesses are now registered to carry the iconic green and gold kangaroo logo on over 20,000 products sold here and around the world, spanning gifts, furniture and bedding, skincare and beauty, pet care, vitamins and products for export. To sign up for the Aussie Made Club visit the Australian Made website here. To find genuine Aussie products online visit australianmade.com.au.

eBay has partnered with the Australian Made campaign with a newly launched hub called ‘Australian Made on eBay’. The partnership gives eBay Australia’s 11-million unique monthly visitors access to the hub, offering shoppers one convenient location to find products bearing the iconic accreditation across a range of categories, including automotive, home and garden, fashion and beauty. The central hub will work as a one-stop site, allowing users to browse Australian made products, shop and purchase. The Australian Made logo has seen a surge of interest from Australian consumers and business since the start of COVID-19, with domestic products reaching more Australians around the country. At a webinar, the ‘Australian Made on eBay’ campaign told audiences that the initiative was not only to support and promote the partners’ commitment to Australian made products but, more importantly, to support Australian manufacturing to strengthen opportunities for local jobs and creating employment for the future generations. Ebay Australia senior manager for

“There has been a marked shift in shopping behaviour among Australians,” he said. “They are moving to shopping online. Tthere has been a spike to 72 per cent and we think it’s a permanent shift. “It also is a good time to take advantage of similar upward trend in increased interest with Australian made products since COVID-19 started,” he said. “The Australian Made website shows data that indicates a rise of interest in products with the iconic symbol from March 2020 onwards. It has shown an interesting spike in the purchase of Australian made products.” Due to continuing disruption to international supply chains, Mr Neyman believes this shift will continue. There also has been a marked shift shopping habits since COVID-19. eBay reports also that almost half of consumers – 49 per cent – now begin their buying activity online. “This, therefore, indicates increased opportunities in participating in online markets such as e-commerce, which experienced five years growth within a 12-month period, showing Australians’ interest in online markets,” Mr Neyman said.

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EDITORIAL

LPG GAS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN AGRICULTURE heat loss that comes when water is stored – and there’s no need for constant power – saving farmers money. Approximately 25% of the energy used on a dairy farm is for hot water.

Flame Weeding As a large agricultural property owner, many farmers simply don’t have the time or energy to walk around with chemicals spraying weeds. Flame weeders are an essential alternative, highly effective when it comes to eliminating weeds without the use of harmful chemicals. They are ideally suited for vegetables and vineyards, are particularly popular with organic farmers, and are highly effective. They work by using a direct flame or infrared burner to vaporize water in the plants – killing any weeds within three days.

Greenhouse Heating The agricultural industry has long relied on LPG as an adaptable source of power to keep farms working and produce growing. The use of LPG promotes sustainable development, while at the same time, allows industry members to remain competitive. Across Australia, companies such as Elgas have been leading business owners across the Australian agriculture market for many years, providing access to LPG to help reduce costs and emissions. Sustainable energy has never been more important, and the use of LPG is certainly assisting the agricultural industry in the process. LPG is easy to store, portable and accessible. It has become essential in many operations and is typically used for

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temperature control, hot water, heating, weeding, pest control, meat processing, plant growth enhancement, drying of produce, and as a diesel substitute. In recent years, it has also become universally used in grain drying, dairy hot water systems, flame weeding and greenhouse heating. Here’s how it works.

Grain Drying When it comes to grain drying, LPG is commonly used to fuel the drying systems. Moisture control is essential for preparing crops for harvest and storage. Many farmers use batch dryers or continuous flow dryers to keep their grain protected from the elements and LPG dryers are an efficient way to do this. They’re adjustable to suit a range of temperature settings, fully automated, generally have a long

operational life, and of course, they’re more energy efficient than other systems. You can use them on wheat, maize, barley, onions, potatoes, and much more – allowing farmers to preserve their crops as long as necessary.

Dairy Hot Water Systems Dairy farmers generally use hot water systems to ensure they have continuous flow of hot water to use as required. Hot water is needed for washing the milking system, bulk tanks and other equipment as well as general washing. Dairy gas hot water systems are more efficient, cost effective and they are better for the environment than other methods. The main reason farmers use LPG for their hot water is because it helps to avoid

Greenhouses can range in size from small sheds, through to industrial size buildings so its essential for operators to have an efficient solution for taking care of their plants. LPG heaters can provide the right amount of heat and humidity to assist with crop development and, to prevent crop damage if the weather is cool. LPG units not only produce and radiate heat, they also produce CO2 which helps plants grow. It’s a clean, safe and cost-effective way to heat greenhouses. Taking care of the environment, while at the same time ensuring your agricultural business continues to grow, is essential and LPG is set to continue to play an important role for many years to come. Elgas 131 161 www.elgas.com.au

OCTOBER 2020

EDITORIAL

TRANSFORMING MANUFACTURING TALK TO ACTION – WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY 10 years, and identifying barriers and opportunities that will guide action and investment. “As the peak body of the industry, we represent the breadth and depth of this essential sector; WMRR stands ready to collaborate and engage with the government as it develops these roadmaps.” “We look forward to working closely with industry and governments as we move towards a more sustainable future,” Ms Sloan said.

The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR), applauds the government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy which will provide investment within six key priority areas. WMRR are engaging with government at all levels on how, as key material managers, essential waste and resource recovery industry, can play a crucial role in driving economic recovery during the post-pandemic period. WMRR says this will set the path for domestic remanufacturing growth, and in the process, “create new jobs and industries such as remanufacturing and industrial redesign, while increasing its positive impact in protecting human health and the environment, including mitigating carbon emissions.”

OCTOBER 2020

“This continued commitment to our industry will have multiple positive touch points for a long time to come,” WMRR CEO, Ms Gayle Sloan, said. The peak national body for the waste and resource recovery industry continues to work closely with all governments. They are advocating for sharper focus and action on building domestic remanufacturing, supporting secondary end markets, building Australia’s resilience in uncertain global times, and importantly growing local jobs. “The Prime Minister hit the nail on the head when he said we need to keep making things in Australia and that manufacturing is a revitalised source of high-wage jobs and national income – this is aligned to everything WMRR has been calling for.”

The Morrison government says it will commit $1.5 billion in new funding earmarked to drive projects, and a commitment to understanding and addressing Australia’s supply chain issues. Ms Sloan says over the last 18 months, the federal government has taught a lesson in moving from ‘talk’ to ‘action’ and the actions have certainly been coming in thick and fast. “Australia can be excited about our future – one that will unlock multiple opportunities and outcomes for businesses, communities, and the environment.” Industries that sit within the government’s six (6) priority areas will soon be engaged to co-design tailored roadmaps for their sectors, setting goals over the next two (2), five (5), and

The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) have more than 2,000 members across the nation, representing a broad range of business organisations, the three (3) tiers of government, universities, and NGOs. The waste and resource recovery industry is an essential industry for the community and continues to be a significant contributor to Australia’s economy and environment, contributing to Australia through: • A turnover of over $15 billion per annum; • Employing 50,000 full time equivalent (fte) persons; • Reducing the pressure to utilise depleted virgin resources; • Extending the life cycle of manufactured products; and • Improving industrial ecology.

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EDITORIAL

ENERGY EFFICIENCY EXPO VIRTUAL CONFERENCE HELP BUSINESSES SAVE ENERGY COSTS learn how to unlock the full potential of energy efficiency and take control of their energy costs. While we are unable to host a face-to-face event this year, we remain committed to developing a high-calibre virtual conference with the same quality of sessions and speakers as last year,” Tim Rusbridge, Exhibition Director at Energy Efficiency Expo, said. “For leading businesses, smart energy management plays a crucial role in managing their exposure to volatile energy markets.

Energy Efficiency Expo, Australia’s most comprehensive trade exhibition and conference addressing energy productivity and affordability, launched a Virtual Conference in October after cancelling its 2020 face-to-face event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual conference continues until the month of November 2020. As energy efficiency has the potential to save businesses thousands of dollars per year, it has become a top priority for organisations especially during the pandemic. The Australian government is delivering $40 million in grants to help businesses and community groups lower their energy bills, and help ease some of

the financial pressures they are facing in these unprecedented times. For this reason, Energy Efficiency Expo’s 2020 Virtual Conference took place at a significant time in the country, where it is more important than ever for businesses to adopt energy efficient practices and technologies to reduce operating costs and build greater resilience. It was launched in partnership with the Energy Efficiency Council, and open for participation by attending online “Energy Efficiency Expo’s 2019 inaugural event was a tremendous success, with our conference sessions attended by businesses, governments and consultants from across the country who came to

However, there is more to do; Australia’s energy productivity still ranks far below our international competitors, which means there are businesses out there that are missing out on straightforward cost savings opportunities. Energy Efficiency Expo’s Virtual Conference brought the latest in energy efficiency to more businesses than ever before, giving them the information they need to lock in cost savings and productivity gains sooner rather than later,” says Luke Menzel, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Efficiency Council. With more than 30 expert speakers, the conference program will feature relevant topics such as the digital transformation within energy management, behind the meter applications of demand response, and opportunities for office tenants and energy-intensive industries. Energy Efficiency Expo’s Virtual Conference kicked off with a joint opening plenary with All-Energy Australia

titled ‘Accelerating a Green Economic Recovery’ with Kane Thornton (Chief Executive, Clean Energy Council) and The Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP (Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change) to open proceedings. This will be followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Luke Menzel (CEO, Energy Efficiency Council), focusing on the stimulus measures that could create jobs and fuel the revival of a green economy post-COVID. Attendees heard from other industry experts including James Seymour (CEO, Centre for New Energy Technologies), Dr Scott Dwyer (Research Principle, UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures), Kaspar Karrlep (Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer, WePower), Rob Murray-Leach (Head of Policy, Energy Efficiency Council), Claire Richards (Manager of Industry Engagement & Regulatory Affairs, Enel X) and Dr Shama Islam (Senior Lecturer, Deakin University). The Energy Efficiency Expo’s Virtual Conference was held alongside All-Energy Australia and Waste Expo Australia, forming the country’s largest webinar series for the energy management, renewable energy, waste and recycling industries. Energy Efficiency Expo’s Virtual Conference took place from October 2020 and open till November. To view the conference program and register for free, visit www. energyefficiencyexpo.com.au.

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LUMITEX LED Lighting 1300 337 809 www.lumitex.com.au 35,000+ esimated number of computers damaged - CIO, 2013

32,000 computers damaged - CNN, 2013

$10B in damages - ApexTech, 2017 globally

$15M estimated cost of Sony Pictures hack - TechTimes, 2014

$4B in damages globally - CBS News, 2017

$300M in damages globally - The Register, 2017

- Shamoon

- Dark Seoul

- Killdisk/Industroyer

- NotPetya

- GandCrab

- MegaCortex v.2

- Narilam

- Destover

- Shamoon 2

- Wannacry

- Triton/Trisis

- LockerGoga

- Maya

- Targeted hacks

- Wiper

- Killdisk

- Stuxnet

- BlackEnergy

- SamSam

- Industroyer

- Sodinokibi

- OlympicDestroyer

- GandCrab

- KillDisk

- Duqu

Quantified Cybersecurity Threats to OT

2010-12

2013-15

Natanz: - 1,000 fuel centrifuges destroyed in Stuxnet a8ack on Iran’s Uranium enrichment plant - BBC, 2013

2016

2017

Dark Seoul - 32K computers aﬀected by a coordinated a8ack on several banks and media companies in Seoul by hack0vist group Lazarus - CNN, 2013

Ukrenergo - 225K Kiev customers without power in December cold winter a5er Industroyer a8ack - Reuters, 2017

Bowman Avenue Dam - Hackers would have caused $80 million of damage had they opened the ﬂood gates a5er successfully accessing SCADA.

Fiat Chrysler - 1.4M vehicles recalled due to a vulnerability that allowed remote control of Jeep Cherokee’s transmission, radio, air condi0oning and other systems

- Newsweek, 2019

- The Guardian, 2015

2018

OCTOBER 2020

- ISMG, 2019

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2019

Merck & Co -$1.3B in remedia0on 0me, lost sales & produc0vity loss due to NotPetya a8ack - Bloomberg, 2019

Tasnee - $undisclosed revenue loss due to Triton a8ack which disrupted Saudi oil reﬁnery - ZDNET, 2017

Norsk Hydro -$40M+ revenue & produc0on loss due to blocked systems - ZDNET, 2019 a5er LockerGoga a8ack

Maersk - $300M in damages & business disrup0on due to NotPetya - Bloomberg, 2017

SAIPEM - 500 Saipem computers impacted a5er Shamoon 3 a8ack.

ASCO - 71% of workers on 1 wk paid leave a5er Sodinokibi a8ack - ZDNET, 2019

Mondelez - $188M in damages, lost sales & compromized data a5er NotPetya a8ack - Financial Times, 2018 Reckitt Benckiser - $117M in lost sales, compromized data and damaged a5er NotPetya a8ack - The Guardian, 2017

08 8152 4050

$56,577 Avg daily cost per attack

- iEncrypt

Aramco - 35K computers wiped or totally destroyed by Shamoon a8ack eﬀec0ng opera0ons of its middle east oil reﬁnery - CNN, 2015

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up to $5.8M ransom fee per attack - ZDNET, 2019

- Reuters, 2018

Aebi Schmidt - Numerous networked systems at Aebi Schmidt were paralyzed globally - SC Magazine, 2019 Arizona Beverages - lost millions of dollars a day due to targeted ransomware a8ack (iEncrypt)

- TechCrunch, 2019

TSMC - $255M in lost revenue & down0me at semiconductor Plant a5er Wannacry a8ack - Spiceworks, 2018

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INDUSTRY UPDATE MANUFACTURING VIDEOS

D BRAN EO VID W E N NT E T N CO Industry Update Video has been a huge success, with more than a million impressions and half a million YouTube views in one month alone during 2018. All our videos can be viewed on the Industry Update YouTube Channel and from the Industry Update Website. And now readers of Industry Update Magazine can check out the latest releases direct from this regular Video Update section. Just scan the QR codes on these pages with your mobile device of choice and you will be taken straight to the video. (Users of some older mobile devices may need to download a QR reader app.)

Adept Conveyors - Yawei HLE at Wildcat Industries (case study)

AWS - Student Powered Air Program

Bestech - Digital Panel Meters

Bestech - ILD2300 Laser Displacement Sensor

Bestech - thermoIMAGER TIM 160

Boker's - Precision Metal Stamping

Cigweld - Weldskill 155 & 185

Control Logic - Red Lion CR1000/3000 HMIs

DMF - RL3000 Rapid Roll Doors

Global Pumps - Verderflex Vantage 5000

Adept Conveyors - Low Energy Transfers

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Hare and Forbes - TDQ612075-K1 Rhino Cart Mobile Fixturing Station

OCTOBER 2020

A QUICK GUIDE - SCAN AND WATCH!

Hydro Innovations - Rotary Gear Pump

Lencrow - EPT-12EZ Lithium Pallet Jack

Lencrow - Forklift Hire

MHA - Trolleys and Hand Trucks

Optibelt - Super XE Power Pro

Robotic Automation - AGVs

Robotic Automation - Materials Handling

Robotic Automation - Palletising

Robotic Automation - Service & Maintenance

Turck - Banner SC10 Safety Controllers

Robotic Automation - Welding

Turck - Field Logic Controllers

Southern Cross Compressors Lubricated Scroll Technology

Turck - PS+ Pressure Sensors

Turck - Banner Q4X Sensor

Turck - TCG20 Wireless Cloud Gateways

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OCTOBER 2020

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EDITORIAL

HOW EDGE COMPUTING CAN BENEFIT SMART MANUFACTURING data architecture spreads the risk. This will be especially advantageous in remote sites where network connectivity is less reliable.

Savings If implemented correctly, edge computing can also help manufacturers save money. As already discussed, it reduces the risk of downtime caused by network outages. It is also a key enabler for more effective predictive maintenance. By gathering, processing and acting on data in real-time, with the reduced latency offered by edge devices, manufacturers can be sure that if an automation part or an item of machinery is about to fail this will be acted upon quicker than ever before. Replacement parts can be order from a reputable supplier before money is lost to unplanned downtime. It is estimated that there will be 41 billion IoT devices by 2027, but how can manufacturers access the full benefits of this revolution? John Young, APAC director at automation parts supplier EU Automation, identifies the three main ways edge computing will benefit smart manufacturing in the coming years. In simple terms, edge computing refers to locating computer processing of data as close to the source of the data as possible. According to research by Gartner, around 10 percent of enterprisegenerated data is created and processed outside of traditional centralised data centres or the cloud. It is estimated that this figure will rise to 75 percent by the middle of this decade. Although edge computing is in most respects the polar opposite of cloud computing, the two technologies will likely prove most valuable when used together

INDUSTRYUPDATE.COM.AU

as part of a hybrid data architecture. However, here are my three Ss for understanding those areas where edge computing really does have the edge:

to reduce the risk of accidents caused by machinery and allows manufacturers to monitor the health of factory equipment in real-time.

Speed

Security

Speed, or reduced latency, is central to the potential benefits of edge computing. Latency refers to the time taken between data being sent from an IoT device and when it returns to the same device. Even if we are talking about milliseconds, there are certain applications where reducing latency is critical.

From a cyber security perspective, edge computing also offers benefits over the cloud. Movement represents a point of vulnerability and the more data being moved to the cloud, the greater the opportunities for hackers to intercept it. With edge computing, more sensitive data can be stored locally and only data that has already been processed to a degree is sent to the cloud.

The best example given to explain the importance of this is autonomous driving, where the data generated by smart sensors needs to be acted on in real-time to prevent accidents. However, there are many other potential uses in the world of manufacturing. Edge computing promises

Edge computing also reduces the risk that arises from outages causing costly downtime. In comparison to the centralised solution offered by the cloud, edge computingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distributed, open-ended

Cloud subscriptions, along with the volume of bandwidth required for the growing number of IoT devices, can also cost large sums. With edge computing, manufacturers reduce their need for larger volumes of cloud storage and free up bandwidth. Taken together, the above benefits suggest that when implemented in the right way, edge computing can help manufacturers make savings. Furthermore, the very nature of edge computing means it can be implemented in a piecemeal way, without the need for a large upfront investment. In the time it takes to read this article, approximately 20,087 devices will be connected to the internet. In the next few years, edge computing will be essential in allowing manufacturing to reap the benefits of the IoT. Implemented in the right way, edge computing promises to increase speed, enhance data security and bring savings in productivity and reduced downtime.

OCTOBER 2020

PRODUCTS

HOW SHARPE ENGINEERING KEEPS THEIR COOLANT CLEAN Demand for Australian-made metal components is increasing, a positive development, but scaling production also means using more coolant.

cannot remove tramp oil and fine metal shavings due to their small particle size.

Industrial coolants, widely used in metalworking and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) cutting processes, are a major expense.

Family-owned business Sharpe Engineering has been providing quality engineering and manufacturing solutions in Queensland since 1995.

Their unique chemical composition makes them prone to contamination and degradation.

The company’s clients include operators, contractors and service providers across Australia’s significant resource and energy sectors.

Replacing them is a messy and timeconsuming task. Disposal costs are high and expected to rise further in the face of today’s environmental regulations. But dirty coolants are also linked to other, less obvious costs. For example, fine metal shavings in coolant can lead to increased tool wear.

A better way to clean your coolant;

As the business expanded across its three workshops, equipment was getting bigger and with that, coolant volumes were increasing. Currently, Sharpe’s biggest machine requires a 1,700 litres coolant tank, while the other units are attached to 600 – 700 litre tanks.

Jon Sharpe -, General Manager at Sharpe Engineering

Due to rising cost, it made perfect sense to investigate the Alfa Laval Alfie 500 separator, to clean the coolant. “The Alfie rips all the oils and particles from the coolant.” “And the right coolant treatment has a great effect on the quality of work and staff morale,” Jon Sharpe added.

Oil in coolants causes bacteria to proliferate.

In Brisbane the company operates 12 machines alone.

Bacterial growth in collection tanks does not only deteriorate the coolant, but produces a distinctive foul odour which is a WHS issue for metal manufacturing industry workers.

Jon Sharpe, General Manager at Sharpe Engineering, explains why coolant treatment is a problem.

Centrifugation works with G-force to achieve solid-liquid separation faster and more efficiently than filtration, skimmers, and lamella separators.

“Particles enter the coolant system, and these fine metal shavings affect the quality of the coolant fluids over time.”

Centrifuges can remove sub-micron particles down to 2-3 microns whereas filters are limited to 8-10 microns.

“We had to dispose of our coolant every year to keep it at a good consistency.”

The coolant is pumped up from the tank and centrifuged in the separator bowl at speeds of 6,000–10,000 rpm.

Tramp oil also contributes to quality problems later during processing (e.g. painting), and can trigger skin irritations. Some companies use skimmers and filters in an effort to prolong the life of coolant and cutting fluids. These technologies are quite basic and

Sharpe Engineering is currently paying almost $1 per litre with a specialised waste disposal company.

Centrifugal force pushes the solid particles out to the periphery of the disc stack.

There they become trapped on the inner surface of the separator bowl, while the lighter oil is forced toward the centre, where it can then be drawn off. Due to its high rotation speed, the centrifugal separator cleans up to 10,000 times more effectively than equipment based on gravity alone. Since Alfa Laval Alfie centrifugal separator is installed in a bypass flow, cleaning can proceed both during production and when the equipment is idle. Centrifugal separation dramatically reduces the volume of waste coolant to be sent to disposal and waste management facilities. Find out more how Alfa Laval, the global leader in separation technology, can help your business save on coolant treatment. www.alfalaval.com.au

CATHODIC PROTECTION IN HAZARDOUS AREAS DISCUSSED When working in hazardous locations, such as during heatwaves or extreme weather conditions, extra consideration is made to protect materials against corrosion. This applies for example when working with steel structures, like pipes, tanks and bridges. This is where the use of cathodic protection (CP) systems becomes crucial. Corrosion is a natural process where metals are gradually degraded and destroyed by chemical and electrochemical reactions with their environment. Galvanic and impressed current CP systems are used to control the corrosion of steel in structures and involve voltages and currents being introduced into the structures. Occasionally, these structures are

OCTOBER 2020

situated in hazardous environments where there are explosive liquids and gases, creating a risk of an explosion occurring if electrical voltages and currents are not managed carefully. “It’s clear that using galvanic or impressed current CP systems in hazardous areas needs to be handled carefully,” explained David Celine, Managing Director of Omniflex. “The approach required to manage this must be well-documented and systematic, detailng all electrical circuits and materials present, to comply with regulations and standards.” “There are international standards governing the installation and use of electrical equipment in hazardous areas, which all equipment located in hazardous areas must comply with,” said Mr Celine.

Unfortunately, these standards don’t specifically discuss CP systems in hazardous areas. This perpetuates a lack of understanding within the corrosion industry on how to quantify the dangers presented, and how to mitigate these dangers in accordance with the requirements of the standards. Mr Celine will be holding a presentation on hazardous areas and address the impacts this has on the design of CP systems referencing real-life examples. It will be held in the coming Corrosion and Prevention annual event online,of cathodic protection specialists at the Australasian Corrosion and Prevention conference. The event online is the largest gathering

on corrosion and mitigation in the Southern Hemisphere, hosted by Omniflex. Omniflex designs and manufactures electronic products and systems for the automation and control industry worldwide, specialising in remote monitoring. This includes industrial networking, remote I/O systems, utilities monitoring, process auto-mation systems, signal conditioning, and alarm and event management. Omniflex www.omniflex.com

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PRODUCTS

EPSON ECOTANK TOPS 50M SALES Cumulative global sales of Epsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EcoTank high-capacity ink tank inkjet printers recently topped 50 million units. Epson first launched EcoTank high-capacity ink tank inkjet printers in October 2010, in Indonesia. The company then steadily expanded the territory over which EcoTank printers were sold, reaching 170 countries and regions by last year. As well as selling more 50 million units, by saving on plastic, which is the main component of ink cartridges, Epson estimates that CO2 emissions are about 166,000 tonnes lower than they would have been if all these units had been cartridge printers. By first establishing a presence in emerging nations and then making inroads into developed economies, Epson has seen its high-capacity ink tank models account for a growing

percentage of the total inkjet market each year. As a result, Epson, which boasts strong brand recognition and an extensive product line-up, has continued to maintain the top share in the global high-capacity ink tank printer market for 10 consecutive years. Rapid changes in society touched off changes in the office and education printing environments during the 2020 fiscal year. Epsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal in all segments now is to continue to offer far lower printing costs than its competitors and unrivalled environmental performance. For more information on Epson EcoTank printers scan the QR code.

PRECISION ENGINEERING & LOCAL EXPERTISE

mrtaustralia.com.au EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS

JOINT AUSTRALIAN / GERMAN OWNERSHIP

CONVEYOR COMPONENTS Range unmatched from any other Australian supplier. Performance and reliability unmatched and backed. No comparable products on the local market that can match it for quality and performance. Hard to beat price on any other European products. Solutions to most hard to source replacements. Complete roller range offered and assembled here.

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OCTOBER 2020

PRODUCTS

INTELLIGENT FACE MASK AND BODY TEMPERATURE DETECTION SYSTEM Unlike handheld thermometers that need an individual to take a person's body temperature, VINO2100 provides noncontact and efficient temperature checks and facial mask detection to allow or deny the entry of people in buildings and event venues.

Backplane Systems Technology is proud to present iBase’s VINO2100, an intelligent face mask and body temperature detection system powered by Intel® OpenVINO-based iVINO AI recognition software. The VINO2100 is an all-in-one platform featuring a 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7600U processor and a 21.5” IPS LCD Touch Panel with IP65 Front-Panel Waterproof Protection. It uses a high-precision thermal camera for body temperature measurements ranging from 35°C to 42°C (95°F to 107.6°F), the precision of ±0.3°C. This real-time automated system features face mask recognition with 90+% accuracy in 50ms speed and can be used to intercept people not wearing a face mask and who fail body temperature test. It supports sound/light alarm and access gate control for one by one walkthrough inspection. The face mask detection function can be disabled if not required.

With Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology, it does not require human observation or intervention to assist frontline workers to perform epidemic prevention and control. Measuring 537.8 x 329.26 x 71.95mm, the fanless system has 8GB of DDR4 memory and 64GB SSD storage. A desktop mounting stand and the high-precision thermal camera are optional in the package. Key Features The key features of iBase’s VINO2100 is Face Mask Recognition with 90+% Accuracy in 50ms Speed. There is capacity for Body Temperature Test with Measurement Range from 35°C ~ 42°C (95°F ~ 107.6°F), Precision of ±0.3°C and RealTime Detection for Multiple People. There is also Built-in Intel OpenVINO-Based iVINO AI Recognition Software and High-Precision Thermal Camera. It has IP65 Front-Panel Waterproof Protection and Supports Sound/Light Alarm and Access Gate Control.

PHASE POWER METER GIVES ACCESS TO REALTIME ELECTRIC USAGE WITH 3 PHASE POWER MEASUREMENT tight space. It operates over a wide range of input voltages 10 ~ 500 VAC which allows universal compatibility. Also, with 2 channels built-in relay outputs, it can be linked with sirens or lightings for alarm messages.

ICP Australia is proud to introduce ICP DAS’ PM-3133-RTCP2000P Series Modbus RTU, 3-Phase Power Meter, with Rogowski Coil CT. The Smart Power Meter PM-3133RCT gives you access to real-time electric usage for three-phase power measurement. With its high accuracy (<2%, PF=1; Input Current >50A), this series can be used to both low voltage primary side and medium/high voltage secondary side and enables the users to obtain reliable and accurate energy consumption readings from the monitored equipment in realtime under operation. These compact size and cost-effective power meters monitoring equipment with Rogowski Coil CT is "rope-style" Current Transformer which delivers "Easy Installation" features for large window size (55 ~ 185mm) and mechanical flexibility for

It also supports Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, or CANopen protocols for easy integration. Key Features Its multiple key features include BiDirectional Energy and True RMS Power Measurements. There is also Energy Analysis for 3P4W, 3P3W, 1P3W, 1P2W, with Current Measurements Up to 500 ~ 4000 andVoltage Measurements Up to 500 V. Its Rogowski Coil Soft CT is for Easy Installation and W Accuracy Better than 2% (PF=1 Input Current >50A). There is Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) feature with RS-485 or Ethernet (PoE) Communication and Supports Modbus RTU/TCP Protocol. Finally it also has Built-In 2 Power Relay Output (Form A) and IEC 61010-1 and EN 61010-1.

TREOTHAM’S LABELLING TECHNOLOGY GETS NEW LOOK

Saving up to nearly half its weight and 42% mass intertia, Treotham’s black guide roller with ball bearings has proven to be big news for packaging and labelling technology.

OCTOBER 2020

As fully assembled systems with a tube made of aluminium, carbon or PVC, the ball bearings prove their worth as guide rollers for deflecting films or labels, or for conveying goods.

from a customer enquiry. The technical specifications of our classic aluminium rollers were already very convincing, but black visible parts were desired for one labelling series,” Semsroth said.

Marcus Semsroth is Head of the xiros polymer ball-bearing division at igus GmbH.

“This soon resulted in a product that met the customer’s requirements in terms of technology, price and appearance.”

Semsroth points out that by using wear-resistant high-performance polymers and thin-walled tubes, they provide a weight saving of up to 48% compared to metallic solutions.

Since the roller doesn’t reflect light, it allows for easier collaboration with camera systems.

“The idea for the black design arose

In the online tool, the user only has to specify the outer and inner diameter as well as the length of the roller, the load, the

load case, and the ambient temperature. If the user follows the second step, they can select their guide roller based on the deflection, weight and price data – all directly from Treotham. Treotham Automation is a leading supplier of high-quality electrical components and products to a wide range of industrial markets. Treotham Automation 1300 657 564 www.treotham.com.au

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PRODUCTS

SELECTING THE RIGHT SEIFERT COOLING SOLUTION FOR YOUR ENCLOSURE APPLICATION The selection process for determining appropriate cooling for your enclosure and protecting the equipment inside needs to be thought thru. Here are some points to assist in the process of evaluating cooling requirements. Consider the size and build style of your enclosure; it needs to be a minimum IP54 (ingress protection, where 5 = solids - dust protected and 4 = water - protected from water splashed at all directions. We recommend this IP rating as a minimum. The functionality of Seifert precision air conditioners works on a split system, dual air circuit principal. The internal cabinet circuit recycles clean cool air within a pressurised zone. The external air circuit relies on drawing and exiting air to atmosphere. What’s your enclosure fabricated from. If it is stainless steel, we recommend a stainless steel air conditioner. Stainless 304 as standard and 316 for harsher environments.

For mild steel applications as standard Seifert units are powder coated RAL7035 a light grey finish as standard. For outdoor environments we recommend the dedicated OC series of Outdoor units or the Slim Line Pro series. By default, these units are IP56. For indoor applications maybe the Compact series or the Slim Line series. Again, they are available in mild steel powder coat finish or stainless steel. These units are rated to IP54. When establishing the required cooling capacity to suit an enclosure we take into consideration the followingMaximum ambient temperature. Where the installation location is, indoors or outdoors Maximum internal temp – that is the required internal temp of the enclosure to be maintained at – In most applications it is around 35ºC.

What the power supply source is 240V AC or 400V AC (3 phase). Solar load on the enclosure, are sun shields fitted and Thermabreak installedThese need to be considered. Thermal dissipation of equipment. Probably the most complex part of the equation and generally the hardest to define. Sometimes the data sheets of equipment will identify thermal loads in Watts or British Thermal Units (BTU’s). Can take a bit of investigation. We are happy to assist in this area. These are the main criteria for selecting a suitable cooler. To assist, refer to the Seifert web page “Cal-cool-ator”. By answering the above questions and a few additional, it will assist with fine tuning an appropriate cooling solution for your application. Alternatively, we are happy to work thru the process of establishing a suitable

cooling solution in consultation with you. Seifert Systems Pty Ltd 03 9801 1906 www.seifertsystems.com.au

K-COMMANDER CONVEYOR BELT TRACKING FOR ALL-ROUND SAFETY For a guaranteed supply of safe and reliable conveyor belts for your material transport needs Kinder Australia’s K-Commander series has it covered. A poorly tracked conveyor belt can lead to a number of productivity and safety issues. Damage to the conveyor belt when it misaligns or tears, as well as the conveyor structure can become a major problem. This becomes a significant safety risk. Conveyor belt misalignment may lead to material spillage and may increase the risk of accidental slipping or personnel becoming entangled. Material spillage can then damage idlers and can cause conveyor rollers to seize. The ideal scenario whereby a conveyor belt tracks "true" in the centre, involves idlers and pulleys being aligned, leveled and square to centre line prior to loading the belt. It should be pivoting and rotating freely when the belt is tracking. Other options include fixed tracking solutions without rotating structure.

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In order to install any one of the K-Commander® series, the belt needs to be monitored in order to identify any problem areas that cannot be solved by making adjustments.

The unique engineered action of the central ball and socket link is encased in a rubber covered steel tube. This protects the internal mechanics and ensures that the belt runs true.

The K-Commander Exceed Series is an all-direction belt tracking solution featuring flexible 360o rotational capability, with its separate axial and rotational function allowing for the double axis pivot bush.

The K-Commander Direct Series are a pivoting base style, available in both trough and return applications automatically providing belt centering.

While the K-Commander Exceed Series P has been designed to use in two steps. The first stage focuses on the inner shell, which contains the shaft and an engineered pivoting bush allowing the axial movement of the tracker. A flexible EPDM rubber boot protects the inner shell. The second stage focuses on the roller bearings, which allows the rotational movement of the tracker. The roller bearings connect the inner shell and the outer shell and are protected by a labyrinth seal. The installation of the K-Commander Control Series is only for the return side, being the most critical surface of the belt in order to maintain belt alignment.

The outboard servo rollers cause the idler frame to pivot as they contact the belt edge and this swivel action causes the belt to realign automatically. To further aid belt tracking, Kinder Australia offer rubber lagged rollers (trough and return) as an option for your belt tracker.

tracked belts. They are easy to install with a split on one side to slip over the roller – no need to remove the roller. Finally, the K-Commander® Guide Series INV is an all-purpose conveyor belt alignment idler ideally suited to short centred or reversing conveyor applications. The two inverted vee rollers put pressure down onto the belt, promoting centralised belt training.

The results are better tracking performance (especially in heavy duty applications), Increased roller durability against the constant scuffing nature roller shells in trackers experience and increased belt training response.

The universal frame adjusts to all types of mounting structures and is installed just after the head pulley, or prior to the tail pulley. They are suitable for reversing belt and are available for all belt widths.

Made of highly wear-resistant polyurethane, the K-Commander® Tracking Discs fit both flat and vee return rollers as well as selected troughing rollers.

So there are many customised options, which can assist any belt tracking needs using the K-Commander series.

Ideally, they are located in pairs prior to the tail pulley to help align the conveyor belt, and so eliminating spillage from mis-

Kinder Australia Pty Ltd www.kinder.com.au

OCTOBER 2020

MACHINERY

WATER AUTHORITY HAPPY WITH VENTURI-AERATOR An Australian Water Authority has recently installed a Venturi-Aeration system from Hydro Innovations into a sludge storage tank to add dissolved oxygen, remove nutrients and mix the tank. A Gorman-Rupp Super T Series pump was used with a 30kW motor to “drive” the Venturi-Aerator, and the unit was set up to discharge several metres below the surface. All of the aeration equipment [pump and venturi unit] is located on the outside of the sludge tank, giving operators quick, safe and easy access to the equipment for monitoring. It is also convenient for operators to perform routine maintenance to ensure a long service life for the system. The system works using Bernoulli’s principle, whereby a decrease in pressure is caused by increasing the speed of a fluid. The Gorman-Rupp pumps draws fluid from the tank [or lagoon or basin] to be treated, then discharges it into the VenturiAerator, where a nozzle accelerates it up

saturated with dissolved oxygen. The venturi unit has no moving parts.

to 16 metres per second. This increase in velocity creates a low-pressure area within the Venturi unit, enabling atmospheric air to be drawn into the unit where water and air are mixed under pressure. The effluent is then discharged,

COOL, WASH AND RINSE WITH EXAIR

Venturi-Aerators are available in four sizes [50mm, 75mm, 100mm and 150mm], enabling the delivery of up to 30kg of dissolved oxygen per hour. Multiple units are used where more oxygen is required. For large applications, larger single pumps can be used to pressurise multiple Venturi-aerators. The Water Authority was very

The stainless steel construction of the liquid atomising nozzle adds to its durability and corrosion resistance. Available now from Compressed Air Australia, the FullStream range of nozzles

OCTOBER 2020

Hydro Innovations 02 9898 1800 www.hydroinnovations.com.au

ON OVERHEAD CRANES LOAD LIMITERS

ROPE AND CHAIN CRANES AND HOISTS • Helps reduce the risk of accidents • Protects against overloading of Crane and supporting structures • Quick and easy installation and available for all capacity cranes • Available preset or easily calibrated on site • Helps reduce maintenance costs • Minimizes down time • Automatic reset by reducing the load

The tangential flow of the FullStream is vaneless, which creates wide-open internal features to resist clogging. Distribution is uniform in a round pattern with medium to large droplets, while the right-angle design is compact and can operate up to 100 PSIG liquid pressure.

Liquid is supplied into the body of the nozzle, creating a swirling action within a vortex chamber. This vortex produces the spray pattern when the machined nozzle breaks the liquid surface tension as it exits the orifice and into a controlled spray angle.

Their average dissolved oxygen levels of up to 1.3mg/L are being maintained and ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus levels are less than 1.0mg/L.

REDUCE MAINTENANCE COSTS

New from EXAIR, the ¼ NPT FullStream liquid atomising spray nozzle provides a full cone spray pattern for pressurised liquids. Whether you’re cooling, washing, cleaning, rinsing or even suppressing dust, the FullStream is the solution.

FullStream cone nozzles are particularly effective with liquids containing particulate.

particular in specifying parameters for the system to meet, and rate the unit as delivering good performance, ensuring aerobic conditions are maintained.

are CE compliant and available in a variety of flow rates. The FullStream nozzles complement EXAIR’s large line of 1/8, ¼ and ½ NPT Air Atomising and No Drop Air Atomising spray nozzles, all of which come with EXAIR’s five-year built-to-last warranty. Compressed Air Australia 1300 787 688 www.caasafety.com.au

CONDUCTOR BAR • • • •

Available in steel & copper Quickly and easily installed Supports required only every 1.5m Also available in a compact cluster range

SIDE PULL PREVENTERS / ROPE GUIDE PROTECTOR Prevents side pulling and protects rope guides and drums on most multi-fall cranes & hoist • Prevent dragging of loads • Easily fitted to any crane/hoist • Helps reduce down time

Liftco Industrial Supplies Pty Ltd

(02) 9829 4411 sales@liftco.com.au

www.liftco.com.au

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EATON SMART WIRING SYSTEM

AUSTAL ACCELERATES SHIPBUILDING WITH EATON SMART WIRING SYSTEM Perth-based Austal is Australia’s global shipbuilder, defence prime contractor and maritime technology partner of choice, designing, constructing and sustaining cutting-edge defence and commercial vessels for the world’s leading operators. Since 1988 it has designed and constructed more than 300 vessels for more than 100 customers in 54 countries, gaining an enviable reputation for innovative shipbuilding using advanced technologies and modern techniques. The company operates shipyards in Australia, the USA the Philippines and Vietnam along with service centres around the world. It employs more than 6800 people and is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX: ASB).

Need for speed in shipbuilding With a healthy order book for new vessels and tight delivery schedules Austal wanted to accelerate vessel design and construction. Austal identified Eaton’s SmartWireDT wiring system as having the potential to significantly reduce the time taken to design and build electrical control panels for its vessels, and provide significant benefits to vessel operators. Austal now has incorporated SmartWire-DT into multiple vessels including high-speed catamarans and trimarans built for customers around the world: Tahiti, Denmark, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Canary Islands. The latest is Queen Beetle a next generation 83-metre trimaran ferry for JR Kyushu of Japan being readied for delivery in Austal’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. These vessels typically have up to 10 control panels fitted with multiple motor starters, switches and indicator lights to control and monitor the operation of electric motors that power pumps, fans and drives around the vessel Traditionally these panels have been built using individual motor starters, door switches, relays and control wiring that was a labour-intensive task and could be prone to errors due to its manual nature.

A smarter way to wire control panels In contrast, SmartWire-DT eliminates control wiring and speeds up the assembly process by easily plugging in function modules to each starter.

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It uses a single flat eight-wire ribbon cable to connect all switches and indicator lights to motor control modules. The cable is easily installed with clip-on function modules that pierce the insulation to connect each switch or lamp to the wire inside. Keith Hudson, Control and Monitoring Manager at Austal, said SmartWire-DT had greatly reduced the time taken to design, build and test control panels, and these time savings had been a significant factor in Austal’s decision to use SmartWire-DT. “The system we were using before needed about 45 minutes per circuit. That is for all the wiring associated with each motor starter and switches on the panel door. With SmartWire we were able to wire up an entire panel in 45 minutes. “Plus we reduced the motor control circuit design to one page instead of 10 pages with the previous technology, significantly decreasing the design and assembly timeframe.”

Software enables real-time monitoring Eaton’s Commercial Marketing Manager, Australia & New Zealand, Sanjay Kallianpur, said SmartWire-DT was complemented by Eaton’s SWD-Assist software that helps with panel design and facilitates testing of a panel during construction, as well as providing real-time monitoring for the customer once the system is in operation. “SmartWire-DT is a structured wiring

solution that, with SWD-Assist, delivers information on the status of the connected device: it makes dumb products into smart products,” he said. “You can just plug components in and use SWD-Assist to get information out of the product for the customer. Other products on the market use a similar wiring bus but they need additional components to communicate.” Keith Hudson added: “We receive diagnostic information through SWDAssist that we weren't able to get from our other system. Previously we would have needed another module and communications interface, doubling the cost of each motor starter.”

He said this feature, providing live maintenance data, had been a hit with customers. “That’s been a good selling point for us. Our customers can take the output from SWD-Assist into their maintenance packages and analyse the data over time. Previously they would just run a motor until it tripped out on overload, or failed completely. But if they lose a sailing because of motor failure, the cost can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars.”

Certified for marine applications An additional, and essential, feature of SmartWire-DT for Austal was its certification by DNVGL the world’s leading classification society, for use in control panels for maritime applications. “SmartWire has a number of certifications but the DNVGL certification is widely recognised and it’s the one required by Austal’s customers,” Mr Hudson said. He concludes: “We have found SmartWire to be more than fit for purpose. That’s important for our customers as availability and through-life support are a big concern, with vessels in service for 20-plus years, and that is something we design for.” Austal www.austal.com Eaton www.eaton.com

OCTOBER 2020

PACKAGING, WRAPPING AND LABELLING

STREAMLINE YOUR WAREHOUSE PACKAGING The warehouse needs to be running smoothly as it is a major thoroughfare during the packaging process and especially it is where new stock from suppliers are always received and managed. It is definitely the space where inventory is organised, customer orders are picked, packed and shipped, and where store returns and holds on future products happen.

strain or workplace accidents. Customising your packaging will save money on the wastage of consumables and freight and your products will take up less space in your warehouse.

Right tools for the job

That’s why it is so important to get your warehouse operating as efficiently as possible.

Preparing goods properly for transport and storage ensures that your items arrive at their destination without damage and builds trust in your brand.

For businesses who spend considerable time packaging goods for posting, storage and transport it’s time to start streamlining the packaging process.

It’s worth auditing the workspace to check if you are using the right tool for the job and that staff are trained to use the tool efficiently and safely.

By streamlining your packing processes your company will be able to improve efficiency.

There are many tools designed to package many different items for many different circumstances.

Customising

Ergonomic and efficient hand tools that apply strapping, tapes, heat seals and pallet wrapping are a fantastic cost-efficient option for streamlining process on smaller production lines.

Customise your workstations for each aspect of the packaging process. Set up each workstation to be tidy and as ergonomic as possible to save on repetitive

As an example of the right tools for the

job, for mailroom activities even a simple tool such as the bubble wrap dispenser frame and cutter assembly will save on materials and cut down handling time. Dispensers for bubble wrap, Kraft paper and tapes come as benchtop tools, wallmounted or on mobile stands. Your choice of tool will be dependent on how your packing room is configured and whether you have enough bench space or need a flexible location.

Streamline your packing processes with automated solutions If your production line is getting busier, a move to an automated system will be your logical next step. By adopting semi to fully automated machinery you will improve productivity and be able to expand your operations. As the volume of production increases due to the growth of your business upgrading

to a pallet wrapping machine or a carbon strapping machine may be in order. Automated carton strapping machines take seconds to strap each item saving on waste, time and handling difficulties. The same can be said for pallet wrapping machinery. Each machine is programmed to minimise waste and speed up packaging time. Machines reduce the need for extra staff, saving on employment costs. While machines may seem like a large expense, in the long run, they pay for themselves by saving on consumables, increasing load security, decreasing loss and damage and saving on staff down-time due to strain and injury. Packline Solutions packline.com.au

A fully integrated system or a basic component – YOU choose from a single supplier.

Local Manufacturer Not an importer, we use components from our own exclusive European partners and build all conveyor products HERE.

European Quality

Adept has been supplying the materials handling industry with innovative and Bespoke designs for many years. Warehouse order fulfilment systems. Freight and courier parcel handling systems. E-commerce - Scope and range to satisfy and support most e-commerce companies. Faster Deliveries - Not subject to long lead times. Faster deliveries than all industry peers. Systems can be up and running before others get theirs off the boat. Flexibility - We provide solutions from a basic component to full system analysis, design and implementation. Long Term Support - Will always have availability of spares no matter how old the design may be.

OCTOBER 2020

Partnered with affiliates from all over Europe for specialised products.

Sydney

(02) 9771 4655 Melbourne

(03) 9357 8814 sales@adeptconveyor.com.au

adeptconveyor.com.au

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MOTORS AND DRIVES

CORREGAS DEAL TO BOLSTER ZERO-EMISSION Coregas, Hyundai and Jemena have signed a deal to strengthen hydrogen supply lines to Australia’s zero-emission vehicle industry. The trio recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that sees the production and delivery of hydrogen gas to Hyundai’s Macquarie Park headquarters from early 2021. The gas will then be used in Hyundai’s hydrogen-powered vehicle refuelling station. The MoU is the latest green light for Hyundai’s zero-emission initiative following the Australian Government’s formal certification of the carmaker’s hydrogenpowered Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), the NEXO.

step forward for Australia’s hydrogen vehicle industry. “Australia’s lack of hydrogen refilling stations and associated infrastructure is consistently cited as a barrier to the growth of a strong domestic zero-emission vehicle industry,” he says. Australia currently has only one hydrogen refuelling station. “Our partnership with Hyundai and Jemena is the first step towards demonstrating that Australia has the opportunity to be a world leader in the hydrogen-powered vehicle industry.”

While the NEXO is cleared for use on Australian roads, it is currently only available to governments or fleets with access to a hydrogen refilling station.

Under the MoU, Jemena will develop a power-to-gas project in Western Sydney which will produce green hydrogen. Coregas will provide hydrogen compression installation, pipework and connectors for filling and discharging, as well as hydrogen packaging, transportation and quality control services.

Coregas executive general manager Alan Watkins describes the partnership with Hyundai and Jemena as a significant

It’s not the first time Coregas and Hyundai have teamed up; Coregas helped bring Hyundai’s hydrogen-powered

concept car to life in 2015. Hyundai’s ix35 Fuel Cell was powered by Coregas hydrogen. FCEVs combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, which runs the motor. With an official range of over 650 kilometres, hydrogen-powered FCEVs like Hyundai’s NEXO can travel much further than pure electric vehicles and can be refuelled in under five minutes, much like a petrol car.

construction in the ACT, with others planned for Melbourne and Brisbane. The largest hydrogen vehicle fleet in Australia is the 20 Hyundai NEXO SUVs soon to be deployed by the ACT Government. “This is the first of many small steps needed to accelerate the use of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for transportation in Australia,” Watkins says.

The only emission from a hydrogenpowered FCEV is water vapour from its tailpipe.

“Coregas looks forward to contributing to the future of clean energy and green transportation in Australia.”

In Australia, the only permanent hydrogen refuelling station is located at Hyundai’s Macquarie Park headquarters in Sydney. A second station is under

The global hydrogen-powered vehicle industry was valued at around $650 million in 2018, and is projected to be about 60 times higher by 2026.

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OCTOBER 2020

WELDING

IMPROVE WELDINQ QUALITY – PROFILE SCANNING Metal fabrication is a manufacturing process that utilises a variety of techniques to shape or join sheet metals into assembly parts, goods or enduser products such as cans, pipes, metal windows, automotive parts, bolts, screws and much more.

on both the insides and outsides of the welds. The ideal inspection system primarily requires sensors that are able to detect the height and width of the welded seam as well as interruption and residue clinging on to the seam.

It is used to manufacture components for application in industries such as aerospace, agricultural, automotive, construction, medical, military and defence as well as OEM.

The sensors should also be capable of performing inline measurement in the production line.

Welding is one of the most common techniques used for joining metal sheets during fabrication. It’s also one of the most used methods in the metal fabrication process. Advanced growth in technology has enabled the development of welding robots for calculating welding processes in advance before they are carried out. This enables the manufacturer to fully automate their welding process while maintaining the quality of the welded seam. High precision sensors and scanning technology have been used and integrated in the welding robot for optimising the weld quality. However, these systems are costly, which prompts manufacturers to question their need for that optimisation. The weld quality quantifies a welded joint’s ability to perform the functional requirements of the weld during the service life of the welded product. It can be durability, corrosion resistance, appearance and other mechanical functions. Numerous research studies have shown a correlation between fatigue strength and weld quality. Substandard weld quality significantly increases the risk of failures at the early stage and should be avoided. On the other hand, excessive welding increases fabrication cost and does not add customer value to the product. Laser Profile Scanner as a welding quality inspection system Inspection of welding quality should be done

Non-contact laser profile scanners are popular for factory automation applications due to their high-speed, high accuracy scanning even when used in-line. The laser profile scanners detect the shape deviations and fault locations on the welded seam. It can also detect foreign contaminants such as welding wire residue left during the welding process. The laser profile scanner works based on the laser triangulation principle by projecting a laser line into the target. The diffusely reflected light is registered onto the CMOS array in the camera optical system while the controller computes the profile data. The controller also uses this camera image to calculate the position along the laser line in x-axis and distance in z-axis. These values are output in a two-dimensional coordinate system that is fixed with respect to the sensor. The profile scanners can also be moved back and forth or used for performing measurement on traversing objects to generate 3D profiles. The inspection is carried out after the welding process while the parts are still hot. This is done as the products can be passed on for rework if errors are detected at this early stage. The tolerance limit is defined and saved in the system. The pass/fail assessment is conducted based on this saved limit. This high-speed inspection system can measure with 10kHz sampling rate to inspect 100 per cent of the parts. Scanner integration in welding robots Robots have been widely used to automate the welding process. To achieve optimum quality

The SpecialiSTS in elecTronic DriveS for over 30 yearS • Repairing of complex electronic boards, including obsolete boards that are no longer supported by vendors • Design and construction of multi-drive systems • Professional Control Systems Integrators • Repairing/retrofitting of electronic AC, DC and servo drives • Laboratory & Clean Room

The design of the laser profile scanners is also compact to enable installation into hard-to-access areas and, for high-volume OEM applications, integration into robots or machinery as well. The scanner can be easily fixed into welding robots to detect the geometry of the seam to be welded before the actual welding process begins. Once the scanning starts, the robot can calculate the number of welding passes, the position of the weld seams, the weld speed and the oscillation width. Then it automatically performs the welding process and finds the optimum welding path based on the calculated results. Some profile scanning systems are available with smart and integrated controllers in the sensor head to enable calculation of profile properties such as width, edge angle, groove, gap etc. This smart feature is essential for measurement and inspection during production of longitudinally welded pipes. Manufacturers are required to know the exact edge position based on the sheet edge length and ensure that the sheet edges are aligned perfectly. The laser profile scanner also offers a noncontact, wear-free and fast measurement of these parameters to ensure they are perfectly aligned before welding starts. Other potential industrial welding applications Industries such as mining or applications such as pipeline maintenance may also benefit from utilising laser profile scanning systems for inspection of welded seams.

Mining machineries such as excavators incur high capital cost, making it more economical to repair worn parts than replacing them with brand new ones. The steel parts on an excavator chain link wear out after approximately four years of continuous operation in harsh environments The eroded parts should be welded to restore the chain links to working order. The surface of the defective area can be scanned with the profile scanner to obtain the 3D profile and calculate optimum welding line. Surface pre-treatment is not required prior to welding due to the high quality of the scanning and high resolution of the data. In industrial applications, pipeline maintenance is essential to ensure continuous supply of utilities and continuous operation of the process plant and machinery. Laser profile scanners can be used to automate the inspection process of the external welded seams. These are installed directly above the seam for real-time monitoring The deviation of the welded seam position from the ideal central position can be communicated to the inspection unit via analogue signal. Ultimately, laser profile scanning is a simpleto-operate yet high-end measurement system that offers high versatility and superior resistance to moisture, dirt and corrosion. Operated via PC, it has a wide range of measurement applications in industrial and factory automation. The scanners measure with high precision and accuracy with fast response times and can easily be adapted to achieve sharp, reliable measurement on various surfaces including oily, metallic and reflective bases.

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of the welded seam, robots scan the seam and calculate the optimum welding path to optimise the amount of materials used. To be technically feasible, this requires a high precision profile scanning system.

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OCTOBER 2020

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PRODUCTS

MOUSER ELECTRONICS LEADS IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS According to Mouser’s website, “The VOC index provides a practical quantification of VOC events relative to each individual sensor’s average indoor environment.”

NEW PORTABLE HYDROCARBON AND WATER ANALYSER FOR NATURAL GAS QUALITY which shows a magnified view of the mirror surface. “It is this optimised display – together with specific illumination techniques – that makes it possible to measure either water or hydrocarbon dew point and log the results.”

The VOC index indicates to what extent the indoor air quality has deteriorated or improved compared to the sensor’s average VOC environment. Mouser Electronics has launched over 370 new products in the last month, mostly focused on the rapid introduction of technologies that can give customers an edge to spend time to market. As a global distributor, Mouser offers the world’s widest selection of the newest semiconductors and components in stock and ready to ship. Of the many products released, the Sensirion SGP Indoor Air Quality Sensor is perhaps best suited to offer a drastic reduction in power consumption. The sensor provides a humiditycompensated indoor air quality signal via a digital interface alongside Sensirion’s MOXSens Technology, which offers robustness against contamination.

This information can be used for gradually controlling the fan of air treatment device or to provide feedback on the daily active profile. Mouser’s customers can expect genuine, certified products that can be fully traced from each of its manufacturer partners. Their website boasts an extensive library of technical resources, including a Technical Resource Center, along with product data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, engineering tools and other helpful information.

“Once the user has observed a layer of condensation form on the mirror surface, the temperature, pressure and dew point are recorded at the push of a button.”

MICHELL Instruments has announced the launch of a fully-portable, manualvisual dew-point instrument that is used for quality control in natural gas processing and transmission. The CDP301 hydrocarbon and water dew-point tester uses chilled mirror techniques for highly accurate and reliable measurements of both hydrocarbon and water dew point.

“The video footage and/or still images, along with corresponding data, for multiple measurement cycles is logged for later review either on the instrument’s display or on a PC.” The CDP301 weighs just 8kg and its rechargeable battery allows up to 8 hours of use, so it can be utilised with complete confidence in remote locations where access to power is not always guaranteed.

According to Michell Instruments, the CDP301 includes a full-colour interface

Michell Instruments www.michell.com

The iEi’s TANK-880-Q37 key features include 8th/9th Gen Intel Core Processor Platform with In-tel Q370 Chipset and DDR4 Memory.

It also has on-Board Internal Power Connector for Providing Power to AddOn Cards.

flexibility for hardware expansion.

It offers dual independent displays with high-resolution support and Rich HighSpeed I/O Interfaces.

Finally it also offers four Accessible 2.5” HDD/SSD SATA 6 Gb/s Bay (with RAID 0/1/5/10 Sup-port) with great

Mouser Electronics www.mouser.com

HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING SYSTEM FROM ICP ELECTRONICS AUSTRALIA

ICP Australia introduces its latest iEi’s TANK-880-Q370 high-performance Edge Computing System.

computing system has four 2.5” Hard Disk Drive bays available that support RAID 0/1/5/10.

TANK-880-Q370 series is an embedded system for wide range temperature environments.

Multiple expansion slots allow the product to add additional cards for customisation.

It is powered by the 8th or 9th Generation Intel Core Processor, which uses the Intel Q370 chipset and supports two 260-pin DDR4 SDRAM SO-DIMM modules up to 64GB.

These expansion slots include a MiniPCIe slot, M.2 M-Key slot, M.2 A-Key slot, and a PCIe slot up to 16x, reserved up to 120W internal power for add on cards (MUSTANG-V100-MX8, MUSTANG-F100 & GPOE-4P).

8GB of DDR4 SDRAM is preinstalled with the system. The TANK-880-Q370 Series includes one digital I/O port, one HDMI, one DP, one iDP port (optional), three GbE LAN ports, six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and three RS-232/422/485 connectors. This high-performance edge

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ICP Electronic Australia Pty Ltd (02) 9457 6011 www.icp-australia.com.au

OCTOBER 2020

PRODUCTS

THE WORLD'S MOST ADVANCED EXPLOSIONPROTECTED PLUGS AND SOCKETS Available from Control Logic, the ‘SolConeX’ by R. STAHL, is the latest in a series of explosion-protected plugs and sockets.

INDUSTRY UPDATE MEDIA SNAPSHOT INDUSTRY UPDATE VIDEO • ALL videos produced by Industry Update are on page one of Google • The revolution in the delivery of trade media is here • Hosted by national TV icon and news journalist Tim Webster • Filmed in a 6pm nightly news broadcast style • Creating a high level of integrity for clients’ products and services

The series boasts impressive versatility, and clever features for quick and easy installation. Fully compatible with older versions, the SolConeX range can be used in Zones 1, 2, 21 and 22, and is suitable for all international wiring systems. Thanks to a deep-drawn enclosure wall, there is more space in the connection chamber for the load disconnect switch for quick setup. An integrated strain relief ensures optimal contact during operation, and the self-cleaning contact stacks have been developed to minimise contact resistance. For control and status signals, there is the option of retrofitting up to two auxiliary

contacts. The switch sockets are available for currents between 16A and 125A, and for connection cross-sections of up to 150 mm². Proudly distributed by Control Logic

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MIXQUIP IBC MIXERS WITH POWDER/LIQUID ADDITIONS PORT

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One key reason behind the 40 plus years of success of Teralba Industries, is listening to customers and finding solutions to their frustrations and problems – ways to streamline and speed up production. One such problem solver is the Mixquip IBC mixer. The continuing rise of IBC (or TOTEs as they are sometimes known) as a means to transport, blend and ship liquid products, led to the introduction of the Mixquip IBC mixer a number of years ago. Further innovations in these Australian designed and manufactured mixers include EXD Flameproof motors and geared air drive motors (watch operation video) to mix virtually any products that can be shipped in IBC’s. The 2020 Mixquip Series 200 IBC mixer has now made a significant advance in user friendliness with an optional “Additions Port”. This stainless steel funnel can now be optioned on any Series 200 IBC Mixer and

OCTOBER 2020

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bolts to the stainless steel bridge of the mixer. The IBC Additions Port allows powders or liquids to be added directly into the mixing vortex within the IBC. There is no need to forklift the bridgemount mixer off the IBC, to access the opening, nor cut extra holes in the plastic top of the IBC. Ingredients can be mixed in quickly and effectively, without any mess or spills. Mixquip IBC Mixing mixquip@teralba.com 1300 20 70 20

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PRODUCTS

NEW BLOCK-BOTTOM PACKAGING MACHINERY FOR YOUR COFFEES Jet technologies is delivering the latest coffee packaging innovation to the Australian and New Zealand coffee industry, with the launch of the first Vertical Form Fill Seal (VFFS) Machinery, capable of producing and filling BlockBottom Gusset Bags at high speed. Suited to high output coffee production environments, this feature allows roasters to produce their own ‘Block-Bottom Gusset Bag’ without needing to purchase this packaging as a pre-made bag. Goglio makes the desired blockbottom coffee packaging design at half the cost of purchasing pre-made bags.

explained Daniel Malki, General Manager, and Jet Technologies. “The block-bottom design allows for improved styling of product branding, which comes at an advantage to brands wanting to stand out from others in the market.” Until now, brand owners have needed to purchase a pre-made bag to achieve the desired block-bottom look, which is more expensive. This was typically filled either by hand or required stand-alone filler, which added further overhead costs.

The attractive aesthetic and practical design of the Block-Bottom Gusset Bag allows products and their branding to be showcased neatly, upright and with a strong shelf presence.

Now coffee brands can use high productivity VFFS machinery to simultaneously make and fill the BlockBottom Gusset Bag to order and in line with demand.

“The capability to achieve the popular block-bottom design in a cheaper and more productive way for coffee brands is something we are very excited about,”

The block-bottom design works uniquely to combine the functionality of a stand-up pouch with all the benefits of a side gusset bag.

The Block-Bottom Gusset Bag is ideal for packaging a wide variety of coffee products such as whole bean or ground bean coffee. “The coffee industry is extremely competitive, particularly in Australian and New Zealand, and today’s roasters strive to be leaders in sustainability and innovation.” “This means they need to be able to differentiate themselves on store shelves with a stylish and functional packaging design that stands out to consumers and maintains coffee flavour and freshness,” added Daniel. The Goglio VFFS Machine with block-bottom capability is the only high output machine producer in the market that can help coffee brands achieve the sought-after block-bottom gusset bag design in-house. Jet technologies www.jet-ap.com

YALE EXPANDS UX RANGE FOR TARGETED NEEDS Global warehousing and forklifts solutions leader Yale is expanding its range of UX series electric lift and tow trucks in Australasia for customers seeking international standards of service, quality and safety for their individual material handling needs – without buying features they do not need. The new UX range is engineered to bring to a wider range of users Yale's value proposition – “Simply Efficient” – which has at its core the understanding that, if a forklift usage is only around four hours a day, companies do not need a more expensive forklift that has been designed to handle all-day, everyday applications. The expanded UX family delivering this no-nonsense, uncomplicated approach to materials handling with efficiency and strong safety features now includes 3-wheel forklifts in 1600-2000kg capacity (pictured), pallet lift trucks in 1500kg capacity and stand-up and sit-down tow trucks in 3000-6000kg capacity respectively. “All are engineered to expand the long-established strengths of the Yale brand into wider markets seeking a quality, cost-efficient solution backed globally by service and customised solutions to meet

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users’ needs for applications requiring less frequent usage,” says Hyster-Yale Area Business Director, Pacific, Mr Mark Chaffey. Yale is a leading provider of a full line of high-quality products, equipment and services, including electric, gas, LP-gas and diesel powered lift trucks, narrow aisle, very narrow aisle and motorised hand trucks. Yale has positioned itself as a leading materials handling company that is ready to “move the world forward” postCOVID, where the nature of business is changing. “We’re ready to get back to work, and here to help businesses make the right adjustments to keep people healthy and safe while getting industries and the world moving again. We have the solutions to take on the challenges we’ll face in this ‘new reality,’” said Mr Chaffey. Hyster-Yale Asia-Pacific Pty Ltd 02 9795 3842 www.hyster-yale.com

OCTOBER 2020

PRODUCTS

GETTING THE RIGHT PUMP FOR LARGE AND HARD PARTICLES Do you need a tough and durable pump that is suitable for pumping large and hard particles such as fish, cut offs and animal by-products? The unique construction of the JS Lamella pump enables it to pump large and hard particles such as bones, tissues and fat. There are many scenarios where transferring solid materials without adding liquids is required. Another model, the JL Lamella makes it possible to pump an inhomogeneous product over long distances. One example would be food processing when pumping thick consistency foods like minces or vegetables to make patties. These consistencies must be mixed to a particular recipe that cannot take further moisture. Another example would be transporting bone and offal in an abattoir or meat process plant. The transportation of pre-broken bone and offal can be a costly area of production, which can be simplified and more cost-effective. The pre-broken product can be transported [un-manned] within fully enclosed pipelines. The closed pipe system reduces hygienic problems and odours.

The enclosed pipeline system ensures more sanitary conditions. The product is much less likely to be contaminated by insects, dust or water [rain]. This cannot be guaranteed when using screw conveyors or manual transfer systems like forklift and bins.

Because of the pumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compact design and ability to pump in a closed pipe system, the JS Lamella Pump replaces other systems such as screw conveyors, progressive cavity pumps, pressure tanks and conveyor belts.

The Lamella pumps also reduce labour and maintenance costs for operation in comparison to a blow tank or manual system. A manual transfer system requires a manned forklift, which also brings into play wear and tear on the forklift, increases

OH&S risks and increases the chance of equipment damage. Using a blow tank system requires an operator, and this system also requires the addition of water, which needs to be cooked out of the product, using more fuel than that required for a JS Lamella pump transfer system. Maintenance on a screw conveyor can get expensive. Re-welding flights, straightening screws, wear on the flights are all maintenance issues for screw conveyors transporting tough materials like

cattle bones. Also, when distances become too long, a screw conveyor becomes less economical and more problematic. Additionally, the Lamella pump has lower energy and maintenance costs, as well as a higher capacity, in comparison to other systems. The JS Lamella Pump does not require any manned operation, which reduces the risk of injuries. Hydro Innovations 02 9898 1800 www.hydroinnovations.com.au

SUPER-CHARGED LEAKSHOOTER DETECTOR The LeakShooter LKS 1000â&#x20AC;&#x201C;V2+ is an ultrasonic compressed air, gas and vacuum leak detector with a camera. It is capable of finding all leaks even the smallest, including those no bigger than the size of a syringe needle, at a distance of 15 metres. When it comes near a leak, a yellow target appears on the large colour screen and turns red and shrinks as it approaches the source of the leak. When the device is facing the leak, a cross appears in the centre of the target. Specialising in Test & Measuring Equipment 1800 358 531 sales@rapid-tech.com.au

OCTOBER 2020

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THEY SAID IT.. The best industry and political quotes of the past and present: “No grand final barbecue with friends is worth it.” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews when announcing the extension of COVID-19 restrictions on hotels and retail businesses “More than 1000 jobs have been lost, on average, every day. The continued health, mental health and financial impacts of these restrictions will be profound on many Victorians.” Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the decision by Premier Daniel Andrews to maintain most restrictions in Victoria “There’s no point having a 25km travel zone if nothing is open. This is an inexplicable and unacceptable delay for Victorians and small businesses who are hanging on by a day, not a week.” - Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott on the Victorian lockdown “Just like the federal government, just like every responsible government around the world, we are borrowing to build and to stimulate the economy and to keep people in jobs.” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on the state election trail “Nicola and I are incredibly proud and humble to be able to bring R.M. Williams back under Australian ownership.”

TEABREAK TRIVIA Fortescue Metals Andrew Forrest on buying the iconic bootmaker back from French fashion house Louis Vuitton

1. What country has the most vending machines per capita?

7. Who said the famous Hollywood line "You talkin’ to me?"

2. What animal has the largest brain?

“I loved him ... but I’ll never speak to him again” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on her affair with disgraced former state MP Daryl Maguire

4. What does Caesar mean in Latin?

8. Which two 19th and 20th century Russian businessmen are famed for their collections of Impressionist paintings that now tour the world?

5. Something unusual happened on the 6th of May, 1978 at 12:34pm. What was it?

9. What is the world's largest living organism?

6. Where can you find Eggs and Bacon Bay?

10. Who is Samuel Langhorne Clemens?

“It’s been spoken about quite a bit. I suppose there is a sense of relief that it’s over now and I have the medal.” Brisbane Lions AFL player Lachie Neale on winning the Brownlow Medal

3. What is an octothorpe?

NEXT ISSUE

“If things go right, and virus numbers go right, you genuinely start to get a beautiful recovery.” Deloitte partner Chris Richardson on his confidence the Australian economy can recover from COVID-19 “You’re not going to see the end of Donald Trump.” Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon on the US election “There is a distinct chance that if we don’t sort out our economic challenges quickly, New Zealand could end up a failed state.” Oliver Hartwich, executive director of think tank the New Zealand Initiative after the reelection of Jacinda Ardern

Our hopes are raised that in November Victoria may ease its COVID-19 restrictions that have prevented retailers from opening their doors and limited manufacturing activity. We came out of the Budget 2020 statement, full of great aspirations with what the manufacturing sector can do to take us out of the pandemic recession. As summer creeps in on us, albeit with some rain here and there, we pull out all stops to revamp our calls for Australianmade products creating jobs locally. Even e-Bay Australia has joined the movement – which is all good for those who are into online shopping. Meanwhile, we welcome the month of November with several of our favourite topics. We hope to do more on workplace security and safety, as well as environment/ waste management. It is a sign of our times post-pandemic.

LATERAL THINKING

1. How many three cent stamps are there in a dozen?

And don’t forget our topic areas coming up:

2. What occurs once in every minute, twice in every moment, yet never in a thousand years?

LED Lighting – light emitting diode (LED) type of lighting continues to evolve as energy saving alternative to the incandescent light. Workplaces, homes and outdoor environments have a variety of choices for many purposes.

3. Sam Slug got out of jail and pushed his car to St. James Place Hotel. When he arrived he realised he was bankrupt. How did this happen?

Lateral Thinking ANSWERS

Teabreak Trivia

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1.12. 2. The letter M. 3. Slug was playing Monopoly

1: O-. 2: Five (Russia, Canada, China, USA, Brazil). 3: 1. Japan. 2. Sperm whale. 3. A hashtag. 4. Hairy. 5. The time and day could be written as 12:34, 5/6/78. 6. Tasmania. 7. Robert De Niro. 8. Ivan Morozov and Sergei Schukin. 9. The Great Barrier Reef. 10. Mark Twain.

Alcohol and Drug Awareness Safety – Post pandemic safety becomes front of

mind as we re-open business. Send us your tips and strategies while we bring you the latest research and models for business. IT Hardware and Softwares –The Internet of Things and connectivity is now part of standard business infrastructure, so there are varied IT devices, hardwares and softwares to keep up with as our workplaces continue to evolve. Fasteners and Adhesives – We are about making sure everything comes together and stays there where we want it. The choices for fasteners and adhesives have also expanded and modernised according to your sector’s needs. Workplace Hygiene – In a post-pandemic environment, good workplace hygiene is the right business practise. So before you start Christmas shopping and thinking of time away, get your stories up and running early and send to us so we can include with our month’s story focus. If you want to advertise with us, call Scott, Dom or Glynn on 02 9439 1288. If it is an editorial you are after please send to editor@industryupdate.com.au. Please send it by end of October 2020 for the November issue.

OCTOBER 2020

We Weproduce produce PRODUCT PRODUCT VIDEOS, CASE CASESTUDY STUDYVIDEOS, VIDEOS, uce PRODUCT VIDEOS, CASE VIDEOS, STUDY VIDEOS, MANUFACTURING MANUFACTURING CURRENT CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS VIDEOS VIDEOS and andHOW HOWTO TOVIDEOS VIDEOS ACTURING CURRENT AFFAIRS VIDEOS and HOW TO VIDEOS

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Dan

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Some Some of of our our Industry Industry Update Update Video Video clients clients ndustry Update Video clients Some of our Industry Update Video clients

August 8, 2019 3:05 PM

Source: Source: 1) https://www.wyzowl.com/video-marketing-statistics-2018/ 1) https://www.wyzowl.com/video-marketing-statistics-2018/ OPERATOR OUTPUT NOTES/COMMENTS Source: 1) https://www.wyzowl.com/video-marketing-statistics-2018/ VERSION JOB # / NAME 2) https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/press/ 2) https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/press/ Source: 1) https://www.wyzowl.com/video-marketing-statistics-2018/ 2) https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/press/ SETUP

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Number Number one one manufacturing manufacturing publication in Australia Number one manufacturing Circulation ofAustralia 19,233 and readership of 76,932 publication publication in in Australia publication in Australia Audited by

Circulation Circulation of 19,233 19,233 and and readership readership of of 76,932 76,932 Circulation of 19,233 and readership ofof 76,932 Audited by

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02 9439 1288 / sales@industryupdate.com.au

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Industry Update October 2020 Issue 116 Victorian Edition

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