Industry Update Issue 99 November 2017 by Industry Update Magazine

AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST CIRCULATING MANUFACTURING MAGAZINE

Industry Update

Issue Issue 76 99 February November2014 2017$12.00 $12.00

COMPLICIT The Australian medical profession is complicit in the overprescription of opioid painkillers. This shocking claim has been made to Industry Update by more than one sufferer during our research into the scale of the nation’s over-use of prescription medications and its implications for workplace health and safety. doubled between 2010 and 2015. And there is no more recent data available to suggest that the trend has changed.

Significant numbers of workers throughout manufacturing industry may be affected by an epidemic that is statistically more likely to affect the employed than any illicit drug problem.

Elsewhere in this issue, health professionals such as GP Dr Andrew Pennington and Senior Anaesthetist Dr Rowan Molnar, have told Industry Update that the profession has finally come to the conclusion that opioid painkillers are not effective for the relief of chronic pain.

There is no denying that prescriptions for opioid painkillers have skyrocketed during the last decade. Data from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme show that the number of scripts issued for oxycodone more than

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Yet some practitioners are continuing to prescribe them in ever-larger doses, leading everincreasing numbers to suffer the consequences of dependence. One of our interview subjects, known only as Roger M, has survived the complete cycle of over-prescription, dependency and withdrawal. And he feels that the health system failed him at multiple stages during his journey.

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“I had been prescribed Endone for acute pain that would occasionally strike due to a congenital condition, but I only needed it a few times a year, and it Continued page 9

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• EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER SCOTT FILBY

EDITOR LAURENCE MARCHINI

MANUFACTURING THE RIGHT MEDIA MIX

PROCUREMENT OFF THE RAILS

2017 has also seen a very significant rise in the return of many advertisers who felt that print media was too hard to calculate a return on investment as well as those that went quite after the GFC. Industry Update has been very fortunate not to have lost much business during the upheaval of the last few years and what we have lost was returned via new business so it really has been a full cycle. Of those who did pause their print advertising many are now returning with full schedules for 2018 and even early 2019. It was easy to get swept up in the thinking that the Internet is the be all and end all but it is not, never has been and never will be! The news cycle of a trade magazine is very different to that of a paper where the news changes within minutes. We have looked at our story headlines of the last to years and ALL the stories are still relevant today, especially the stories where we are standing up for manufacturing against poor decision making of governments. Industry Update is a strong voice for manufacturing! Return to print advertiser, Safetech,

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had a call from a person who said he had been looking everywhere for a Gorbel Crane which he eventually found in Industry Update Magazine. Although the Gorbel Crane is heavily advertised online the buyer found it in print. Another advertiser, RS Components, has seen their business grow into double digits in the three years since they started advertising with Industry Update. Most businesses now recognise that it is extremely difficult to be seen Online due to the overwhelming number of companies fighting for dominance and with Google facts that as many as 95% of internet users do not look past page one on a Google search, the reality screams of just how difficult it can be to get your business in front of buyers. Reality is reality. And based on our forward bookings, the place to be seen in 2018 is Industry Update Magazine.

Perhaps it’s just a sign of the times. But in 1962 in the UK when my Father bought me my first model railway he went to a local shop and bought a British-made Tri-ang train set. Were that to have happened today, perhaps he would have gone online, found the best price and ordered me a train set from whichever country could supply one the cheapest. Whether the import would be as well made and reliable as the local product would have to be a matter of guesswork. And you almost certainly wouldn’t be able to take it back to the shop for a repair or replacement. But it would probably save some money. So why should we be surprised that state governments in Australia adopt the same policy when buying real trains? Sadly, it’s not surprising, but it is certainly annoying.

From all of us at Industry Update – Merry Christmas!

Let’s ignore, for the moment, the mistakes that have been made, such as the former Queensland Government ordering trains that are currently being assembled by Bombadier in India.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

These units are already 18 months behind schedule, and will require extensive modifications to be performed once they do arrive in Australia to sort out a long list of faults that ranges from the air-conditioning and ventilation to the braking and disability access.

In this case, what really mattered was that when these trains were ordered in January 2014, they were heralded as costing only half the price the previous government had paid for rolling stock. Elsewhere, the NSW Government has certainly been “shopping around”, with suburban trains currently under construction in China, a $3.2 billion fleet of inter-city trains being assembled in South Korea, and trams for Sydney’s new light rail being built in France and Spain. Fortunately, though, the attitude is not universal. Visitors to Melbourne are regularly reminded that the locals take a rather more enlightened view of procurement, with trams and trains bearing the “Made in Victoria for Victoria” slogan. And the Victorian Government has recently awarded another order for high capacity metro trains – also to be built in Victoria. It is all too easy to see this argument as falling along political lines. And that is unfortunate, because it’s more important than that. A recent report from the Senate Economics References Committee has called for the Government to develop a national rail manufacturing industry plan and to encourage all the states to buy in to it. Whether it will be heeded is another matter.

BUSINESS AND FINANCE •

AUSTRALIAN EXPORTS: WHERE TO NOW?

Australia should be doing more to reach out into the world and build a global export brand. That’s the conclusion of a major review by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) report, and its conclusions are supported by export data, and comments from Defence Industries Minister Christopher Pyne. The CEDA report is titled “Australia’s Place in the World”, and says we have 'used our geography as an excuse' for too long and any notion of Geoffrey Blainey’s Tyranny of Distance should be confined to history. While many of our exports (such as gas and iron ore) are distance-sensitive exports, meaning that the cost of transport can be high, other exports such as manufacturing equipment are less so. Coupled with the expanding (and far closer) market in the AsiaPacific, this makes Australia's future as an exporter decidedly promising. China, for instance, is (and looks to remain) Australia's largest importer of sheep meat, with an expanding market and demand reachable with far lower export costs than it takes to ship similar products to countries as far away as the USA. Awareness and trust of the Australian Made initiative is growing across Asia-Pacific (and to an extent the globe), indicating that Australia holds a strong international presence as a trusted source of quality goods. Pyne has indicated that the government sees an abundance of potential in the expansion of Australian global defence initiatives. "We want a [defence] industry aligned with Australia’s global and regional position, but not just for today,

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for decades into the future," he said in a speech addressing the CEDA report. "This must be set up with the right approach, the right intellectual rigour, and the right commitment to keeping ourselves at the cutting edge – for the next 100 years. This makes abundant strategic sense... and it also creates unprecedented opportunity for Australian industry." He championed the growing scale of Australia's defence initiatives, saying that "opportunities from this record investment in defence industry are coming at a very fast pace. In 2016–17, the Australian Government approved 74 capability related proposals. We had planned to approve 62. Only a few years ago we viewed 46 approvals as a great achievement." One particular success story was Thomas Global Systems, an Australian company that entered the global aerospace market through defence initiatives. "Thomas Global Systems is a fine example. It develops innovative electronic solutions for aerospace and defence and has a fantastic reputation for providing world-class capabilities.

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Thomas products are found in the flight decks of commercial aircraft and military land, air and sea platforms, globally," said Pyne. "The company worked with the Centre for Defence Industry Capability, which provided assistance through the Global Supply Chain programme and Team Defence Australia." As Asia-Pacific imports rise, and as the balance of global defence manufacturing shifts, Australia may well come out ahead.

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• INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES

MANUFACTURING JOB GROWTH AND WAGES Australia, as a whole, has had it pretty good as far as jobs and wages go. It's not great, but it could be worse: a recent report has shown that 94% of the jobs created in America over the past decade are all… temporary. That's 10 million temporary jobs. This figure includes temp workers, independent contractors, on-call workers, and standard part time/casual workers. In Australia things aren't quite as dire, but we're definitely not in the clear. Our economy is still generating new jobs, but total hours worked are going down. According to industry analysis, that's because these new jobs are overwhelmingly concentrated in the "part time" category. “Over the past year a net 143,000 new jobs were created since September 2016 – however this increase consisted of 433,000 part-time jobs (about 37,000 per month) and a stagnation in full-time employment which fell 290,000 (about 24,000 per month) during the same period," according to Roy Morgan Research. The phenomenon goes by quite a few names; those who paint the trend

as positive call it the "gig economy", arguing we are experiencing a new wave of "self-determined" work. Others, less positive, call it an "underemployment" or "casualisation" crisis, arguing the lack of reliable hours or stable benefits is hurting vulnerable workers. There are now far more underemployed workers (defined by those who are both willing and able to work more hours than they are given) than unemployed workers in Australia, which is a turn from historical data. Usually, the two statistics rise and fall at roughly the same rate. Now, the two are diverging, with unemployment remaining steady and underemployment (at almost 1.3 million workers) rising rapidly. Manufacturing is a sector particularly at risk for underemployment. There are severe downward pressures on job numbers: we've seen factory closures of big auto manufacturers that have left thousands of workers unemployed. Despite millions of dollars of retraining efforts, upwards of a third of all redundant workers will never re-enter full-time work.

Worryingly, this employment trend is coupled with a downward pressure on wages. The overall economy's wage growth is at an all-time low of 1.9%. Manufacturing's weekly wages have begun to fall from a high of $1295 in late 2016 to $1254 in early 2017, and are set to fall perhaps still further during 2018. A perfect microcosm of this situation can be seen in Unilever's acquisition of ice-cream manufacturer Streets, where existing agreements have been scrapped and staff face pay cuts of more than 40%, reductions in hours worked, or even the loss of jobs if the factory continues to be "unprofitable" compared to overseas manufacturing. Those affected by the ongoing underemployment deal with lower wages, fewer working hours, an uncertain employment future, less negotiating power, and fewer benefits (such as sick leave) that much of the workforce take for granted. The icing on this hard-to-swallow cake is the grim news that training budgets are being cut, even as employers lament they cannot find appropriately trained staff.

Manufacturing, above many other industries, requires trained and competent staff that are highly motivated to perform well, perform safely, and work in a team. Casualisation and slashed training budgets do not go far towards facilitating those requirements. A solution? For those struggling with budgets, there is good news. Full-time employees are easier to motivate than part time workers; rather than pay rises, intellectual challenges and robust feedback are some of the biggest indicators of happy (and hard working) staff. Training pays for itself given time, and in an economy where job-hopping to another stable, engaging job is a rarity, investing in your full-time staff is a no brainer. Invest in your staff, and you'll see plenty of dividends soon enough.

CONTENTS FROM THE PUBLISHER ................... 2 INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES............. 4 INDUSTRY POLITICS....................... 6 DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AWARENESS The hidden epidemic of pharmaceutical misuse........................14 IT HARDWARE & SOFTWARE.......19 SAFETY Forklift Fundamentals Part 3..............22 MACHINERY.................................... 28 PUBLISHER SCOTT FILBY

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MACHINE BUILDING The changing face of industrial interconnection.................. 34 PNEUMATICS.................................. 36 FASTENERS AND ADHESIVES..... 40 AUSTRALIAN MADE Australian Made certification drives success for tanker manufacturer........ 42 ENVIRONMENT.............................. 44 FOCUS ON NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURING......................... 46

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WORKPLACE HYGIENE................ 48 FANS AND COOLING.................... 49 LED LIGHTING................................ 50 PROFILE From garage to warehouse: Floorsafe’s growth is no accident....... 52 PRODUCTS ......................................53 FUN AND GAMES ........................... 58 FESTIVE GIFT GUIDE..................... 59

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• INDUSTRY POLITICS

ENSURE A FUTURE FOR RAIL MANUFACTURING IN AUSTRALIA

By Senator Kim Carr

It is not that there are no contracts. Investment by the Commonwealth and the states in passenger and freight rail projects is expected to exceed $100 billion in the next two decades. That is greater than the Naval Shipbuilding Plan, a $90 billion spend over 30 years.

Sovereign capability in an industry doesn’t emerge out of a vacuum, nor does it grow on a tree.

But rail manufacturing has become locked into a boom-and-bust cycle because of the procurement decisions made over many years by state and territory governments.

It is just empty rhetoric to rely on the concept of natural advantage. Sovereign capability needs to be built, and then maintained, often over a long period of time. Acquiring this capability requires commitment and planning by governments.

Too often, these governments have decided that it is better to spend taxpayers’ money on manufacturing industry in other countries. They made purchase decisions based on off-the-shelf prices, not on the wholeof-life costs of a contract. That is how sovereign capability is lost.

Governments need to act to preserve jobs and skills in Australia, and to ensure that the necessary intellectual property can be transferred to manufacturers in this country.

During the past year and a half, the Senate’s economics references committee has been conducting an inquiry into rail manufacturing in Australia.

At present the term sovereign capability is most often heard in debates about naval shipbuilding. But the plight of rail manufacturing is akin to that of shipbuilding.

The committee received 20 submissions, held three public hearings and heard from more than 30 witnesses. These included representatives from the industry, governments and the unions, including workers from the shop floor.

Railways have long been at the heart of our national politics. Removing the difference between colonial rail gauges was one of the reasons the six colonies decided to federate as the Commonwealth of Australia.

The witnesses overwhelmingly

testified that action must be taken to preserve the strategic capabilities of Australian rail manufacturing.

research and development, including engagement with universities and research agencies.

The committee called for the Australian Government to develop a national rail manufacturing industry plan, to maximise the benefits of the investment expected in the next decade.

The national rail manufacturing plan and the procurement strategy would be overseen by a Commonwealth coordinating body.

The Plan would include a mechanism to remove the peaks and troughs in market demand, to create certainty for manufacturers. State and territory governments would need to actively engage with the plan and agree on methods of supporting and resourcing it. And, the plan would be complemented by a national rail procurement strategy. The strategy would coordinate the procurement contracts of the states and territories and the development of capabilities in small and medium-sized enterprises. Those capabilities would include local content in the manufacture of rolling stock, training programmes for apprentices and engineering cadets, and the harmonisation of safety standards. The committee also recommended that the states and territories use the procurement strategy to invest in

This coordinating body would have terms of reference that allow it to work directly with supply-chain firms to develop rail-industry capabilities. A supplier advocate would be appointed to promote the industry, and rail industry skills centres would be developed at TAFEs and colleges. Together, these measures could ensure a future for rail manufacturing in Australia. But if the Commonwealth is not willing to provide national coordination of the industry, inefficiencies will continue and the valley of death will loom. Just as we need a national plan for a continuous build and procurement in naval shipbuilding, we also need a national plan for the rail industry. Senator Kim Carr is the Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

But 116 years later we still haven’t resolved some of the differences between the states, especially over procurement. Australia has 150 years of experience in the design, manufacture and maintenance of railways and rolling stock. But the rail manufacturing industry is facing a valley of death, similar to that which loomed for shipbuilding. The industry employs 5000 workers, with another 7000 in the supply chain. But 3000 jobs have gone in the past decade. And the job losses have been especially severe in regional Australia, in places like Ballarat, Bendigo, Newcastle, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Maryborough. 6

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• INDUSTRY POLITICS

AS ONE DOOR CLOSES, MORE ARE PUSHED OPEN

By Senator Michaelia Cash

In October, the last Australian-made Toyota and Holden cars rolled off the assembly line at Altona and Elizabeth. For thousands of workers who have made Australian cars – and the families and communities that have supported them – this was undoubtedly an emotional time. The International President of General Motors explained GM’s decision was “driven purely by business rationale, and not by any direction this government or any future government would give for their auto industry in Australia”. Australian car production fell from 335,000 in 2007 to 210,000 in 2013, despite billions spent in assistance by the previous government. By comparison, several million cars are now being produced each year in larger factories in Japan and South Korea. For Australia, in the words of General Motors, the sums “simply didn’t add up”. Our focus has been ensuring that for Australia and its workforce, as one door

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closes, many more are pushed open. Of the Holden workers who have left so far, 75 percent have found new jobs, or retired. The government and car companies are continuing to provide assistance, including through our $155 million Growth Fund which helps them transition to new jobs. The Turnbull Government is also helping manufacturing businesses diversify through the $100 million Advanced Manufacturing Fund. Last month, we announced 20 companies in Victoria and South Australia would share in almost $30 million in grants under the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Fund, to establish and expand their advanced manufacturing activities. The recipients are working on a wide array of projects that will boost our economy and improve our lives. For example, ATi Implants in North Adelaide is establishing Australia’s first dental implant and prosthetics manufacturing hub.

Levett Engineering at Elizabeth South is expanding its capacity to supply components for global aerospace and defence projects, including the Pentagon’s Joint Strike Fighter project. Melbourne based MiniFAB is upgrading its facilities for the production of medical devices to be used for the emerging ‘organ on a chip’ technology. There are 826,000 more jobs in Australia than in December 2013, when Holden announced its closure. Our economy is strong and Australia still is, and can be, a country that makes things. Our highly skilled workforce means we have a strong future, particularly in advanced manufacturing. Last month, the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre released its report ‘Advanced Manufacturing – a new definition for a new era’. It outlines how Australian manufacturers can realise their significant potential to move up the value chain and grow their businesses, by innovating and introducing production efficiencies and new products and services.

Senator Michaelia Cash is Acting Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science.

The Australian Government will continue to work closely with industry, so we can leverage our strengths and take advantage of tomorrow’s opportunities. Most importantly, we will continue to focus on tomorrow's jobs by delivering a stronger economy, with lower taxes for small businesses, record investment in infrastructure, new export agreements and an ongoing focus on ideas and innovation. The end of car manufacturing has been difficult and has brought challenges, but there is a bright road ahead for our economy and for Australian manufacturing.

NEWS •

despite repeated requests, would only issue a repeat prescription for 32mg Suboxone – effectively forcing him back to his high level dependence and depression.

COMPLICIT

Continued from cover

But when his condition worsened, and the pain became chronic, Roger baulked at the idea of taking daily doses of Endone. He sought medical advice, and his GP assured him there would be no problem with taking the painkiller daily.

the care of a consultant psychiatrist specialising in withdrawal management. Roger felt that the high dose of Suboxone he was still being prescribed was beginning to have side effects – notably depression, from which he had never suffered before – and he requested to start reducing the dosage.

He was wrong. After five weeks of daily doses, Roger M had become opioid dependent, despite his GP’s assurance that it would be OK to increase the frequency of his medication.

Rather than support Roger in his selfdriven quest to reduce his medication input, the consultant psychiatrist vetoed the idea and prescribed an additional antidepressant.

That was two years ago, and it is only now that Roger can bring himself to talk about his ordeal.

The holiday season intervened, and Roger took the downtime from work to cut his Suboxone dose in half – from the legal maximum 32mg to just 16mg. And after the five-week break, his body had fully adjusted to the new lower dose, and the depression had lifted.

worked just fine,” says Roger.

His first step on the road to recovery was an overnight visit to a dependency clinic, where he was switched from Endone to the lesser opiate Suboxone and closely monitored for side-effects. The substitution worked. Roger M then found himself in

Roger’s next consultation with the consultant was not a good one. The consultant insisted that Roger redouble his dosage back to the maximum, and

It was at that point that Roger, in desperation, sought a second opinion, and changed to a different health practice with strongly contrasting views on withdrawal management. And, with their support, over ten months he has been able to reduce his Suboxone dose to the point where today he has no need of it. Not surprisingly, he feels let down by the system, and he can see how others might not be able to break free. “Surely, they should be moving towards getting people off it,” he says. “But if the system is set to keep people on it then this shows an attitude that is morally and ethically wrong. And that should not be allowed to happen.” “It shows just what people are up against,” he adds. “Even when they go for help to get off something that doctors had badly prescribed to start with, the system is completely against them. I can see why people feel hopeless

and helpless as they want you to feel that way to keep you under control.”

There is no denying that prescriptions for opioid painkillers have skyrocketed during the last decade. The problems of prescription opioid dependence are not unique to Australia. The situation in the USA has been thrown into the spotlight recently with a pledge of action from President Trump, and last month’s arrest of the former CEO and six other executives from Insys Therapeutics, all charged with bribing doctors to prescribe the opioid drug fentanyl. And while nobody is suggesting that activities like that are going on in the Australian health system, it does seem that some members of the medical profession have an agenda other than the long-term wellbeing of their patients.

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• NEWS

TRADE DEAL OPENS UP CHINESE E-COMMERCE MARKETS The GCEIA is an organisation comprising more than 2000 Chinese e-commerce businesses from retailers to logistics companies. And the agreement has been signed against a backdrop of increasing demand for Australian goods in China. The MoU was signed at the China International SME Fair, held in Guangzhou, China in October. The signing followed an address by Australian Made Campaign Chief Executive, Ian Harrison, at a special Australian Made event within the fair.

Ian Harrison addresses the Chinese International SME Fair in Guangzhou

The signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Australian Made Campaign and the Guangdong Cross-

Border E-commerce Industry Association (GCEIA) offers a new route to Chinese markets for Australian manufacturers.

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As part of the agreement, the GCEIA will educate Chinese e-commerce players about the significance of the Australian Made symbol, and promote the campaign’s online product directory. (Only products that have been certified as having been made or grown in Australia can feature on

this platform, which showcases the largest consolidated range of certified Australian-made and grown goods the country has to offer.) Ian Harrison said the new deal will offer local businesses a valuable market channel, pointing out that: “Cross-border e-commerce is a lucrative opportunity for Australian businesses unable or unwilling to access the Chinese market via traditional trade channels, due to size, time or cost constraints.” “Local knowledge is everything, and the GCEIA can connect Australian businesses with the resources and contacts they need to start out or expand their sales in China,” he concluded. Australian Made Campaign 1800 350 520 www.australianmade.com.au

AUSPACK 2019 OPENS FOR BUSINESS Planning is underway for AUSPACK 2019, and the first phase of exhibitor applications has begun. The event is set for 26th to 29th March 2019 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and will showcase the major trends in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical processing and packaging industries. “With a record show in 2017, our 2019 event is already looking exciting,” says Mark Dingley, Chairman of the Australian Packaging & Processing Machinery Association (APPMA), which owns AUSPACK. “Processing Day, held as part of the growing Packaging & Processing Week, and the new awards were excellent inclusions and added a lot of value for visitors,” adds Dingley. “We developed Processing Day to enhance the opportunities for processing companies to meet other key players and it was a very useful business tool, while the well-received PIDA Awards (the only awards programme of its type in Australasia) were an excellent way to recognise those making a significant difference in packaging and processing.” Ali Mead, Event Director with Exhibition and Trade Fairs (ETF), the organiser of AUSPACK, adds: “This time, exhibitor applications will be handled a little

AUSPACK 2017 broke records in Sydney

differently, with APPMA members and previous Melbourne exhibitors given first options in the four phases.” Phase 1 of the 2019 exhibition-space application process is open now for APPMA members that have previously exhibited in Melbourne. Phase 2 will open on 7th November for all other APPMA members. All other previous AUSPACK Melbourne exhibitors will be able to apply for space from 5th December, and the remaining space will go on general release from 30th January 2018. Says Ali Mead: “2017 was one very memorable show. AUSPACK 2019 is on target to be even more exciting and rewarding for the businesses who exhibit and attending visitors.” Exhibitions & Trade Fairs 02 9556 7993 www.auspack.com.au

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• NEWS

WORK BEGINS ON WA WAVE ENERGY PROJECT to Carnegie’s CETO project team. The measured data will be used to validate the modelling performed at the deployment site and will be fed into the detailed design phase.

Carnegie Clean Energy has started work on the project design and development of its Albany Wave Energy Project, which is slated to become the first commercial-scale wave farm in Australia. The first phase involves the detailed, localised measurement of the wave resource available at the site proposed for the installation of Carnegie’s CETO 6 generator unit, and a data buoy has been deployed at the site, which is around 1.5km off the existing Albany wind farm. The data buoy is currently measuring wave height, period and energy spectra and is transmitting this data

The key criteria are to maximise performance and survivability of the system and to minimise its environmental impact. The Albany Wave Energy Project will design, manufacture and install a CETO 6 unit in Carnegie’s existing licence area offshore from Torbay and Sandpatch in Albany during the 2019-20 summer weather window. The project has attracted grants from the Western Australian Government’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development ($15.75 million) as well as attracting a further $3.75 million from the WA Government to the University of Western Australia to establish and manage an associated Wave Energy Research Centre in Albany.

AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING CONTINUES GROWTH DESPITE AUTOMOTIVE CLOSURES Australian manufacturing continued to grow in October, despite the closure of both the country’s remaining automotive assembly plants. The Ai Group’s Australian PMI came in at 51.1 for the month, a figure that is still indicative of growth, albeit at a much-reduced rate than in recent months. It did, however, mark a13th consecutive month of growth, and the longest run of expansion since 2007. Announcing the figures, Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, pointed out: "October marked the final, historic end of automotive assembly in Australia. This was reflected in lower results (and an absolute contraction) in the Australian PMI in South Australia. However, outside of the automotive sub-sector, conditions appeared to be relatively buoyant, if a touch slower, for manufacturers in October.” When viewed by subsectors, the star performer remained the non-metallic mineral products sector, which remained at its record high of 72.2 in October held up by strong demand for building-related

products. Food and beverages also continued to perform well (rising to 57.1). And the all-important machinery and equipment subsector remained in positive territory at 56.4, a slight drop from the high in September. In terms of activity, October was a poor month for production, with that subindex dropping into negative territory at 48.4. This was also reflected in a drop in capacity utilisation to 74.7% - the lowest this year. Balancing the books continues to be a problem, though. The manufacturing selling price subindex remains in negative territory below 50, indicating minor price reductions during October. Meanwhile, the input prices subindex continues to rise (reaching 66.2 in October) fuelled by electricity and gas price rises together with certain key materials shortages in the food processing sector. Ai Group aigroup.com.au

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NEWS •

NEW MODEL FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING CROSSES INDUSTRY DIVIDES The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) has developed a new model for the development of vocational education and training that rewrites the rules for the way industry collaborates on future skills needs. The scheme is based on a series of cross-sector projects that focus on emerging technologies and bring a range of industries together to determine the common skills people will need to transition into future jobs. As well as modernising training, the new approach acknowledges the importance of a flexible and adaptable workforce to business productivity and Australia’s future competitiveness. AISC Chair, John Pollaers, is urging businesses and employers to get involved in nine pilot projects looking at VET skills in the areas of: disability, big data, automation, coding, consumer engagement through social media, supply chain management, cyber security, environmental sustainability, and

ACQUISITION FURTHERS DIGITAL VISION

team work and participation. “The VET system needs to be responsive to modern ways of working, technological change and the challenges posed by structural adjustment in the economy,” he said. “The traditional siloed industry approaches to the training package development have been a major barrier to this responsiveness. With more collaboration in design, and shared ownership of the product, training can be designed to give people the skills they need to adapt to future workforce needs.” The cross-sector projects will recognise and formalise skills used across multiple industries. They aim to make it easier for people to move between jobs and occupations, and will also mean companies do not have to reinvest to ensure an employee’s skills are nationally recognised. Australian Industry and Skills Committee www.aisc.net.au

Schaeffler has completed the acquisition of condition monitoring specialist autinity systems in a move seen as an important step in implementing the company’s global and local digital agenda. “Schaeffler has been using software solutions by autinity for many years now,” says Mark Ciechanowicz, Industrial Services Manager, Schaeffler Australia. “The acquisition of this company will help us to intensify our collaboration and accelerate further developments in the fields of machine data recording and condition monitoring. Both topics are essential elements of Schaeffler’s digital agenda, which are in strong demand both from internal and external customers.” As part of its “Mobility for tomorrow” strategy, Schaeffler has identified digitalisation as a core future opportunity, and a major part of this strategy is the acquisition, recording and analysis of machine data. Globally, Schaeffler is currently

working on 30 major digitalisation projects, and this number is projected to double by next year. “Schaeffler is shaping the digital transformation with a clear vision and specific solutions highly relevant to Australian industry,” says Ciechanowicz. “With systems such as its Smart EcoSystem, Schaeffler is offering a consistent hardware and software infrastructure – from sensorised components to digital services and business models.” Schaeffler Australia 02 8977 1000 www.schaeffler.com.au

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• DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

THE HIDDEN EPIDEMIC OF PHARMACEUTICAL MISUSE The most alarming aspect of pharmaceutical misuse is that it almost invariably begins by accident, and without any intent. So what is “misuse”? It can be something seemingly minor as taking slightly more than the recommended or prescribed dose, or it might involve combining the medication with some other drug or alcohol. It may be as simple as taking one more – “just to get to sleep”. However, the misuse of pharmaceuticals – in particular opioids, including over-thecounter codeine, and benzodiazepines – continues to increase. According to data from the PBS, prescriptions for opioids more than doubled between 2010 and 2015. And data from 2013 indicate that the 24 million-strong population of Australia got through a staggering 27 million packs of codeine in that year alone – 55% of which were sold over-the-counter without a prescription. Interestingly, studies repeatedly show that the typical pharmaceutical misuser is very different from the typical illicit drug user. Statistically, the pharmaceutical misuser is more likely to be employed than the illegal drug user, and they are also of more mature years, with males in their 30s and females in their 40s prevalent in the official figures. However, many pharmaceutical misusers simply don’t understand the risks, a point that is currently being stressed by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation in its “Take Arisk” campaign. However, as with illicit drug use, the effects of pharmaceutical misuse can affect a person’s ability to work safely and effectively – both with the substances in their system and when suffering withdrawal effects after use.

In extreme cases, this can form a severe health and safety problem with loss of concentration potentially leading to lifethreatening consequences when working with machinery. Natasha Jager is National Manager for Workplace Safety at the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, and she points out that even at seemingly low levels the “little mistakes” on the job can mount up, leading to a loss of productivity and reducing team morale in any work situation. “We need to consider fitness for work,” says Jager, “and that encompasses an employee’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, together with tiredness. All these factors contribute to a person’s ability to work effectively and safely. We know the misuse of drugs can exacerbate an employee’s mental or emotional state.” Fortunately, the standard drug tests that are performed under workplace drug and alcohol testing agreements are fully capable of detecting prescription medications just as well as they pick up illicit drugs. For example, the most common opioid painkiller, oxycodone, is flagged by the same marker that is triggered by heroin in both oral fluid and urine testing, according to spokesmen from drug testing organisations Alere and Medvet. It is important to understand the effects of prescription drugs you are taking and if they can impact your performance. Natasha Jager recently revealed that taking the ADHD medication Ritalin can lead to a positive drug test for crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) because it has the same properties. Likewise, opioid based pain relievers oxycodone and morphine could both return a drug test result for heroin. For this reason, the Alcohol and Drug

Foundation recommends that any employee who is taking medication should declare their prescription to their manager with a medical certificate ahead of any workplace drug testing. Indeed, today’s test procedures are sufficiently accurate to detect the exact levels in a subject’s system, and so can detect even minor excess dosages that might be symptomatic of misuse. “By being upfront with the prescription medication you may be taking, it helps the workplace to manage their symptoms,” says Natasha Jager, “In cases where people have had a problem with dependence and are addressing it, rehabilitation is the most important aspect, and that includes helping them back into the workforce.” Although the medical profession in Australia does claim to be addressing the issues of pharmaceutical misuse, Natasha Jager still works with many workplaces that address alcohol and drugs and seemingly overlook this growing problem.

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Alcohol and Drug Foundation 1300 85 85 84 adf.org.au

this can be difficult to deal with.” He admits that in some cases it can even be “a case of trial and error” in finding the correct level of medication, starting too low and raising levels until sufficient relief has been found.

In his role as a senior specialist anaesthetist, Dr Rowan Molnar deals with many patients who are each managed by different doctors, and so is exposed to a broad overview of the Australian population. And he is under no illusion as to the scale of the national opioid painkiller crisis.

For Dr Molnar, this presents a major professional problem. Part of the role of the anaesthetist is to prescribe medication to alleviate post-operative acute pain. However, if a patient is already taking medication for chronic pain the anaesthetist has to perform a balancing act between the patient’s acquired tolerance to the medication and the potential for feeding an addiction.

“The misuse of prescription medication is a lot more prevalent than we ever thought, mostly because a lot of people don’t understand what misuse really is,” she says. “It’s staggering that more people are dying from prescription medications each year than the national road toll.”

THE ANAESTHETIST’S VIEW

“Chronic pain is a widespread issue,” he says, “and while ten years ago we thought that opioid painkillers were the answer, we now know that they are of no benefit for chronic pain.”

PBS data from 2016 show a dramatic increase in prescriptions

Natasha Jager is National Manager for Workplace Safety at the Alcohol and Drug Foundation

“We need to find a way of providing pain relief after surgery,” he says, “and sometimes

So how did we get to this position? Rather than apportion blame, Dr Molnar feels that the medical profession has learned its lesson. “Medicine is an evolving speciality,” he says. “The field of knowledge continues to change.” And he illustrates the phenomenon by saying “50 per cent of what I learnt in medical school is now wrong.” “Pain medicine is now a speciality in its own right,” he adds. “We know what we’ve done wrong in the past, and we know how to fix it.” “It’s encouraging that more and more young doctors are getting involved in the field of pain medicine.” Dr Molnar points to the necessity of treating pain, not with drugs, but by using the resources of multidisciplinary teams to help the patient manage the issue and get back to something close to a normal life. “You can’t manage chronic pain on your own,” he says, “but you do need to understand what pain is about.” “Rehabilitation is paramount,” he says. “You can’t just write a prescription for pills.”

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL •

CRASH SURVIVOR WILL NEVER GIVE UP

OPIOID PAIN KILLERS AND THE DANGERS OF DEPENDENCE One person with first-hand experience of opioid painkiller dependence is Ron Smith, who owns and operates a small engineering firm in Western Sydney.

Doug Wright is well positioned to talk about the effects and dangers of opiates. In 2012, the former mining engineer survived a head-on vehicle collision in Northern Queensland that left him fighting for life and with multiple fractures. His pelvis was broken, his hip was broken, his left leg was broken and his right leg was almost completely shattered. His recuperation was a long and painful process, with four and a half months of hospitalisation and as many as 45 to 50 hours spent on the operating table as surgeons gradually rebuilt his body. While he acknowledges that the opiates he was given did help him cope with the acute pain in the immediate aftermath of the accident, he was concerned about the potential effects of long-term use that might be involved in the recovery process. “I have been addicted to tobacco in the past, and knew if I didn’t get off the opiates that I could become addicted to these as well,” says Wright. “So I looked into getting off pharmaceuticals and replacing them with a natural alternative.” “I overcame much of the pain by using breathing techniques and meditation during the course of my healing and continue to do so.” Doug Wright is a great believer in the power of the human spirit, and today is a motivational speaker through his own

organisation, Will Never Give Up, helping others to overcome adversity. His presentation “The crash survivor – a transformational journey” at the recent Safety in Action event in Melbourne was “standing room only”, and has been universally praised. We spoke to him at the show on the subject of prescription medications, and his responses were candid. “The system is wrong,” he said. “The easy answer is for doctors to continue to prescribe the medications. There’s no incentive for them to take the holistic approach and, say, send someone for cognitive behavioural therapy.” “I had to take matters into my own hands,” he added. Doug Wright now describes his accident as “a blessing”, because he learned that when you accept adversity in a positive way, it becomes a source of inspiration. “I made a decision that I wanted to help as many people as I could to also learn how to deal with hardship,” he added. “And this is why I developed my Will Never Give Up motivational seminars.” Will Never Give Up 1800 631 311 www.willnevergiveup.com

Ron’s problems followed a relatively minor injury at work. He was prescribed oxycodone to mitigate the pain, and initially it worked. But what Ron didn’t know and his GP did not correctly diagnose was that his injury was going to be the source of chronic pain – pain that he would have to live with and manage for the foreseeable future. “At first the painkillers were brilliant,” says Ron, “I’d be in absolute agony, take a pill, and the pain would disappear. I could get back to work, and there was even a very mild feeling of euphoria to go with it.” The problem was that the pain would always return. And over time it seemed to get worse. Ron was becoming dependent on his medication – his body had become accustomed to the opioid painkillers and needed higher levels to achieve the same effect as before. “I remember going back again and again to my GP and to specialists, and their answer was always a pill – stronger, faster acting, slow release – they gave me so many medications I lost track of their names. But eventually the pain would win in the end,” says Ron. “It got to the level where it was seriously affecting my mental wellbeing. It was hard to think straight – I couldn’t trust myself to drive or operate any machinery. And it was getting harder to control my emotions,” he adds. “And when I told the doctors this, the reaction was to give me more medication.”

“I remember thinking that this could be the death of me and told the doctors that I wanted to get off the medications as soon as possible.” What happened next was the final straw for Ron. “They told me that the only way I could get off the opioids was by taking more opioids. It was almost as if they had a vested interest in keeping me doped,” he says. This news only served to strengthen Ron’s resolve, and he set about finding alternative methods for managing his chronic pain. And now, more than a year later and after extensive physiotherapy, exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy and sheer determination he has learnt to live with his pain. Like many people who have fallen foul of overprescribed medications, Ron never even considered himself a drug user. After all, all he did was to follow doctors’ orders. These were legal drugs. They were produced by proper drug companies. “What’s most worrying,” says Ron, pointing to the massive increase in the use of opioid painkillers, “is that these drug companies are literally making billions out of this, and the medical profession is helping them. They hand out prescriptions for these ‘magic bullets’ that will solve all your problems, without fully explaining the consequences.”

THE CHILLING STATISTICS OF AUSTRALIAN NARCOTICS When the Australian Bureau of Statistics released its annual “Causes of death, Australia” analysis for 2016, the figure of 1808 registered drug-induced deaths caused alarm in many areas, equating to a death rate per capita of 7.5 per 100,000 people. Significantly, this was the highest number of drug deaths in the last 20 years, and drew comparison with the heroin epidemic in the late 1990s, which peaked at 1740 deaths in 1999.

It is also worth reporting that the ABS statistics are specifically for drug-induced deaths (ie where drugs are the cause of death) and exclude drug-related deaths.

induced deaths in 2016, being identified in 663 cases. Prescription painkillers such as oxycodone, morphine and codeine were present in over 30% of deaths.

However, in comparison with 1999, the 2016 statistics show increases in fatalities from both prescription drugs and illicit narcotics.

According to data released from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in 2015, between 2010 and 2015 there was an increase of over 100% in prescriptions of the slow-releasing opioid oxycodone.

When analysed by single drug type, benzodiazepines (prescribed for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia) were the most common substance present in drug-

The 2016 statistics also record 1387 drug-related deaths, which are cases where drugs were identified

as a contributory cause. While the majority of these were identified as non-overdose suicides, there were also significant numbers of accidental deaths from transport accidents, falls and drownings. The ABS statistics confirm a trend that has been emerging in recent years. Data from the Victorian Coroner's Court showed pharmaceutical drugs contributed to 330 of the state's 420 overdose deaths in 2015. INDUSTRYUPDATE.COM.AU

• DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

SHOULD WE BE TESTING FOR TIREDNESS? While many companies have transitioned from a drugs and alcohol policy towards a fitness for work policy, it becoming clear that there are other factors that can impact on a person’s ability to function effectively and safely at work. Shortage of sleep can significantly impair reaction time, motor control, decision-making, and situational awareness. In Australia, more than 10,000 serious workplace injuries annually are attributed to workers who are fatigued due to sleep deprivation. In addition, statistics indicate that driving while tired is one of the top three causes of fatalities on the roads, and accounts for almost 20% of all serious road traffic accidents. This led to the highly impactful “Don’t trust your tired self” safety campaign run over the past few years by Transport for NSW.

However, tiredness in the workplace remains an issue that goes largely unreported for fear of loss of earnings. Now, researchers at Monash University have identified a range of biological markers that can be linked to reduced alertness. These include eye movement patterns, bloodbased metabolites, chemiresistor signal responses and various speech parameters. “This is a major step forward in the pathway to developing objective tests of fitness to work or drive,” said Professor Shantha Rajaratnam, Sleep Programme Leader at Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, and at the Cooperative Research Centre for Alertness, Safety and Productivity (Alertness CRC). “Biomarkers of sleepiness will provide

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The “Don’t trust your tired self” safety campaign includes a self-testing website – testyourtiredself.com.au – that aims to illustrate to users the consequences of tiredness and its effect on driving abilities.

the foundation for more effective road safety laws and public education about when an individual is too sleepy to drive,” Professor Rajaratnam said. The objective is now to develop portable testing technology for these

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roadside and in the workplace in much the same way that testing is currently carried out for alcohol and drugs.

PILL TESTING AND DRUG CULTURE Medvet Senior Toxicologist Dr John Edwards asks whether it is time to reconsider our approach.

We can acknowledge that there is a culture of drug consumption in modern society and that there is clearly penetration of these behaviours into other parts of life and culture, including workplaces, domestic environments, and recreation. It is well known that popular rave culture, nightclubs and party environments are venues where drug consumption may be prevalent, and that experiences encountered and further developed in these locations and events add to the generalised burden of drug culture. Pill testing at rave, festival and other event venues has been viewed as an opportunity to reduce the impacts of drug consumption. This is of particular impact for younger users who may be at risk from drugs supplied in variable and dangerous doses with unknown and unknowable provenance and composition.

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biomarkers that can be used at the

knowledge of drug effects and risks of harm. This has led to the person subsequently deciding not to use the drug at that time and may have a longer-term effect on drug consumption choices of young people. Earlier attempts at pill testing in Australia were quashed when the Government introduced strict zero tolerance policies causing pill testing groups to be subject to legal action for handling drugs during the testing process. Over ten years later we are seeing increased drug consumption and in more diverse subgroups of the population. Is it time to reconsider?

Pill testing as a harm minimisation approach has been trailed in several countries – including Australia – and there remains debate about the merits of this approach.

Workplace drug testing programmes, when combined with worker education and employee assistance programmes, have been shown to reduce the prevalence of workplace drug use. If interventions can occur earlier in the development of drugtaking behaviour, can we interrupt the path taken by many young consumers?

Perhaps the strongest argument is that in many cases, the intervention involved in pill testing represents an opportunity to question drug users about their motivation,

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• DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

LIFESTYLE MEDICINE PROVIDES A PRESCRIPTION FOR WELLBEING There is a growing movement that offers a different approach to the management of chronic diseases. Lifestyle Medicine aims to equip sufferers with the knowledge and ability to avoid lifestyle choices that can be detrimental to health. One practitioner is GP Dr Andrew Pennington, who runs the Sanctuary Lifestyle Clinic at Waitara in Sydney’s Upper North Shore. He describes the approach as “the application of lifestyle principles to prevent, arrest and reverse, where possible, disease processes”. And those principles? Dr Pennington is in agreement with the US pioneer of Lifestyle Medicine, David Katz, who refers to “feet, forks and fingers” as the three key words for a proper lifestyle – referring to feet (with which we move), forks (with which we eat) and fingers (which we shouldn’t use to hold cigarettes). Dr Pennington contends that “the majority of chronic illness is preventable…

it’s down to lifestyle choices.” And while he agrees that all Australian GPs acknowledge the role of lifestyle in chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and the like, he fears that the majority of the medical profession have given up on trying to convince their patients of the benefits of making the right choices. “It’s much easier to keep prescribing the medications,” he says. “But when you understand that you can treat chronic disease with lifestyle medicine - generally with only positive side effects - then this becomes more than conventional wisdom. It is clearly a superior therapy.” Lifestyle medicine adopts a holistic approach, combining both physical and mental aspects, while acknowledging that the two are inextricably linked. Practitioners cite a growing body of clinical evidence supporting the beneficial

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au.enquiries@alere.com nz.enquiries@alere.com

effects of exercise in treating anxiety, and the physical and mental benefits of the so-called Mediterranean diet. The lifestyle approach is particularly pertinent when dealing with chronic pain management. “We’ve created a beast,” says Dr Pennington. “Opiates simply do not work for chronic non-cancer pain. They are designed to relieve acute pain.” “People get to a point where the original pain has long gone. But the opiate is still providing a psychological benefit by triggering endorphin release, and so becomes a way out of the pains of life,” he contends.

exercise therapy to treat anxiety; and cognitive behavioural therapy to address psychological issues that may underlie the problem.

The lifestyle approach, on the other hand, is holistic, and tailored to each individual case.

With combinations of these measures, together with other therapies targeted to each specific case, Dr Pennington contends that chronic pain, like chronic disease, can be successfully treated without recourse to prescription medication.

Common strands include: a diet high in anti-inflammatory agents such as magnesium, Omega 3s and turmeric;

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IT HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE •

PLANNING FOR GROWTH WITH ERP

TENTE’S LOW HEIGHT TWIN WHEEL CASTOR WITH HUGE CAPACITY

to the right people at the right time, and management might struggle to make informed and quick decisions or successfully work with this larger, more diverse business.

If the recent upheavals in Australian manufacturing illustrate one truth, it is the absolute necessity for forward planning, and more to the point, the importance of planning for growth – regardless of a company’s existing size.

While the ambition to grow a manufacturing operation is one thing, planning that growth is a complex matter, and that is where ERP, or enterprise resource planning comes in to play. Specialising in the manufacturing is solution? sector as an ERP software provider, Epicor haspersonally! some very specific will be pleased to Software advise you experience to pass on to its customers.

For example, a quest for growth might lead a company to take on bigger, more complex projects, diversify its product and expand its target Castors & Wheels Ptyofferings, Ltd , 3 –29 Birnie AvenueHowever, if not managed well markets. be NSW 2141 the pressure this might place on its ia operations might impact on quality and 1300 836 831 slow down service, causing customers to 1300 550 220 lose satisfaction and go elsewhere. sales@tente.com.au

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Likewise, without the right business intelligence, the company might not be able to get the right information

Epicor highlights three key criteria that a good ERP system must fulfil in order to successfully manage growth. First, it must provide instant access to accurate, real-time data to allow new opportunities to be grasped quickly. Secondly, it should support the way the company’s employees work naturally, rather than forcing them to work to different methods. And thirdly it should be capable of providing a view of the entire organisation to highlight opportunities for improvement and optimisation.

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• IT HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

HOW BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY COULD TRANSFORM MANUFACTURING By Bas de Vos BLOCKCHAIN

connecting multiple parties in a network of trust and integrity, facilitating the transfer of assets and the information pertaining to those assets.

Blockchain technology was created to provide legitimacy to pioneering crypto-currency Bitcoin after the financial cataclysm of 2008. At its heart is a disdain for central authoritative control, offering instead a decentralised network of self-compliance and regulation. But the servant has become the master, offering business benefits not envisaged during its conception.

It does this by securely recording digital transactions in a sequential chain using cryptographic digital keys, which are verified by the network as authentic. Duplication, editing or removal of transactions is prevented by the chain, which is held on everyone’s devices on the network and open to anyone within the Blockchain (see panel).

Before drilling down into how that would work, let’s understand a bit more about the technology. Blockchain is a secure distributed electronic ledger,

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IMMUTABILITY

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components are currently residing. Information relating to the component can then be relayed to or from the new owner for possible action.

Business benefits of Blockchain Using this new platform can bring many business benefits, but most are centred on delivering one or more of six competencies: 1.

In fact, it’s nothing short of a game changer for those who can master it. While originally created as a system for running crypto-currencies, Blockchain’s uses extend much further today with applications being developed in secure asset tracking and smart contracts. For example, a key part of transforming to lean manufacturing processes is minimising stock held while, at the same time, maximising stock availability. Blockchain helps to resolve this seeming conundrum by reducing the time between stock demand triggers and supply by third parties using shared demand schedules across the network of supply contracts.

Efficiency – As transactions are completed directly between the relevant parties with no intermediary and with digitised information, settling the transaction can be quick. Added to this is the ability to operate smart contracts that automatically trigger commercial actions based on satisfying specified criteria. This can dramatically streamline processes and remove time and cost from transacting.

Auditability – As each transaction is recorded sequentially and indefinitely, it provides an indelible audit trail for the life of an asset as it passes between different parties. This is especially important if source data are essential in verifying an asset’s authenticity.

Traceability – Tracking goods in a supply chain can be advantageous when seeking to trace where

PROVENANCE

FINALITY

Transparency – Lack of commercial transparency can sometimes lead to delays and a breakdown in relations. By providing details of transactions against the commercial construct, further trust can be enlisted within the process and so provide a more stable relationship based on transparency rather than negotiation. Security – As each transaction is verified within the network using independently verified cryptography, the authenticity of the information can be assured. Assured information is one of the fundamental keys to unlocking the benefits of the Internet of Things, which is a closed-loop cyber autonomous process linking assets to actions. Feedback – With full traceability throughout the lifecycle of an asset, the asset designers and manufacturers can accommodate through-life asset management into their products to make them more effective. This can allow for information returning from shipping, installation, maintenance and decommissioning.

So far, most use cases for Blockchain technology have been focused on the financial sector, including transaction management. Be it reducing costs by keeping property ownership and records on Blockchain or using it to track high-value goods such as diamonds, all these cases are about creating secure,

verifiable and traceable storage of information. Looking beyond the more obvious financial applications, however, IFS Labs is researching the benefits and impacts it might have on other business applications. But what challenges do we need to solve in the implementation of Blockchain technology before these benefits can be achieved? lockchain in the manufacturing B industry Let’s highlight the application of Blockchain with an example from the manufacturing industry. Think about the current situation where more stock is required for a manufacturing process. A demand trigger is raised by the material requirements planning (MRP) solution against the plan and consolidated into purchase orders for approval. The purchase orders are sent to the suppliers who manufacture the part and distribute it to the address on the purchase order. Now imagine how, by connecting the different parties through a Blockchain, these activities could be streamlined. Managing the demand and supply through Blockchain would allow the stock trigger to raise a demand on the chain for immediate viewing by the network of suppliers in the chain. The supplier who can meet the demands satisfies that demand by manufacturing the part, which is assured by the smart contract held within the chain. The smart contract also allows for the automation of the commercial process providing seamless arms-length transacting. How would this transform manufacturing? Automation and digitisation of the process using

IT HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE •

Integration of information is key

TLAM SOLUTIONS USING BLOCKCHAIN Through life asset management (TLAM) using customer ERP solutions and Industry Blockchain Shared Blockchain ledger

TLAM view of key data

Shared key data

Source detailed information

Web portal

• As designed and manufactured detail spec’s • As designed maintenance routines

• As collected weights, and measures. • Bill of lading • Incoterms • Shipping doc’s

• As installed documentation, including details of any bespoke installation requirements.

• Inspectors identification, dates and times. • Regulatory compliance doc’s and cert’s.

• Maintenance routines and schedules. • Bill or materials • Inspection notes • Observations

• Asset operating information. • Key Performance metrics

Manufacturer

Distributor

Installer

Inspector/ Regulator

Maintainer

Operator

IFS

ERP 2

ERP 3

ERP 4

IFS

Blockchain speeds up the process and provides the assurance required to carry out the transaction knowing that the security of the request is backed up by the digital contract. Stock levels

within the company can be reduced as essentially the third parties are being used as an outsourced inventory provider, thereby reducing working capital and reducing the risk of stock outs.

ownership, privacy and security must also be addressed.

So how can we achieve these benefits in reality? There are several players that need to work together to make this happen: the technology providers like Microsoft (with Azure Blockchain as a Service) must work together with manufacturing companies and their suppliers, as well as with application software vendors. We all need to work together and be willing to share information to integrate with the Blockchain.

There are certainly a few things to consider in order to succeed with Blockchain for manufacturing, but there is huge potential and a competitive edge to be gained for those who are willing to get in on the ground floor. Bas de Vos is Director of IFS’s inhouse technology think tank, IFS Labs, and is responsible for innovation projects that illustrate the future of enterprise software. Bas and his team research and develop ideas that are derived from concepts and technologies beyond the usual context of traditional enterprise IT.

We’re not there yet, as there are still several challenges to overcome. Things like technical performance need to be thought about as transaction delays and the availability of computing power could stand in the way of achieving consensus within a chain. Data

IFS 03 9810 1100 www.ifsworld.com/au

A CRASH COURSE ON BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY BLOCKCHAIN Blockchain, known as the technology behind Bitcoin, is one of the most talked-about and intriguing technologies at the moment. Blockchain, similar to the rising of the internet, has the potential to disrupt business. IFS Labs is researching the potential use-cases for business and their impact on business applications.

Blockchain technology was invented to make the world’s first crypto-currency, Bitcoin, possible. Traditional currencies rely on intermediaries like governments, banks and clearing houses to guarantee their value and process transactions. Bitcoin uses digital technologies to cut out these middlemen. The central technology is a shared, distributed ledger. Instead of relying on third parties such as banks or land titles offices to record and keep a copy of transactions, a Blockchain creates a digital ledger of which each participant has a copy. Participants communicate with each other via a peer-to-peer computing network. Records are added to the shared ledger one block at a time and are identified by a timestamp and a unique digital identifier, or ‘hash’, produced using a cryptographic algorithm. Each new block also records the hash of the previously added block, and this links them together in a chain. The Blockchain also needs to verify that any new block is valid before it is accepted into the chain - a process known as consensus. As well as recording transactions, a Blockchain can also contain a set of rules or a ‘smart contract’ that automatically performs certain actions when a block is accepted and added to the chain. Once a block is accepted, it cannot be deleted; any attempt to insert a new block between two existing blocks would

Someone wants to register a transaction

The transaction is represented as a block in the shared ledger

The block is broadcast to all participants

The participants approve the transaction is valid, providing consensus

The block is added to the chain

A single picture of the chain and actual state is available to all authorized participants

be rejected by the consensus process. Similarly, the contents of the block are tamper proof, because it is impossible to change all the duplicate copies of the Blockchain held by all the different participants. Although every participant has a copy of the ledger, they cannot necessarily read all the records. Using digital identity and encryption technologies, it is possible to restrict access to records to just the concerned parties and/or auditors, for example. A Blockchain generally needs a way to identify participants and ensure they are who they say they are (unless, like Bitcoin, the participants are anonymous). Most Blockchains used in business –

known as Permissioned Blockchains – identify participants. Permissioned Blockchains use a certificate authority (CA) that issues a unique cryptographic certificate to each participant so they can be identified. A CA is a sort of middleman, but not one that slows down transactions or adds much expense. In fact, identifying participants makes the process of achieving consensus easier and cheaper. Consensus can be an expensive process with anonymous Blockchains. In the case of Bitcoin, it is achieved by setting complex problems for groups of computers that hold matching copies of the ledger to solve. The more computers in agreement, the more

computing power they have to solve the problem. The first group to come up with a solution prevails, and their version of the ledger is distributed to all the others. While effective, the amount of computing power and energy consumed can be out of proportion with the end result. Achieving consensus with Permissioned Blockchains is generally less costly and can vary depending on the application. It can be as simple as nominating a certain number of participants as validators, with consensus achieved when a majority of validators are in agreement. More complex methods include the use of Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance algorithms – perhaps a topic for another crash course!

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â&#x20AC;˘ SAFETY

FORKLIFT FUNDAMENTALS

PART 3: ATTACHMENTS

Ross Grassick looks at some of the most common forklift attachments and advises on their safe specification and use.

Today more than ever forklifts are being used to handle a number of different products, and these products do not all fit on a standard pallet. For this reason there is a large range of attachments that can be fitted to forklifts to make the handling of these products both safer as well as more efficient. Forklift attachments come under two basic classifications: manual attachments that operate on forklifts without the need for extra hydraulic functions; and powered attachments that require forklift hydraulics or power to operate. The first thing we should all understand with any attachment is that the attachment must be suitable and rated to be used on the forklift to which it is fitted.

most common manual attachment. These come in various lengths and are available in capacities from 1 to 20t.

Forklift jibs are used for lifting loads that require slings, chains or have a lifting eye. They come in several types and may be fixed or extendable in length. Capacities for these attachments range from 1 to 20t. Note: these cages require special drop testing, and your forklift must be suitable for using a cage. Tarp spreaders are used to distribute tarpaulins over loads on trucks.

Carpet prongs are used to lift long rolls of carpet or other similar packaged material. These come in sizes to suit your needs. The same type of prongs can be used to lift wire and steel coil up to 20t.

Drum handling is an art form with several types of attachments available for handling standard 205L drums in metal and plastic. They come in single, double, top, pick, side pick and rim pick types.

If you have an attachment that has been used with one unit on your site it cannot be used with another unit until it has been rated to that unit. MANUAL HANDLING ATTACHMENTS These are some of the more common manual handling attachments. Slippers or fork extensions are the

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Man-up cages are used for safely lifting personnel up with a forklift for short-duration jobs. They are not to be used for order picking or constant manup jobs.

In fact, there is hardly any limit to the attachments that can be made to make handling more efficient and safer. But these attachments are far from a onesize-fits-all solution as in many cases they need to be built for the job. However, some of the more commonplace powered attachments, such as the side shift that allows a load to be moved left or right, have become standard equipment. This is also true of the fork positioner that allows the fork tine to be adjusted from the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat.

Load spreaders are used to stabilise long loads such as wall board that could bend and break or have excessive bow. These are available to suit all shapes and sizes of machine.

This can be confirmed because the attachment to be used on the forklift must be shown with its appropriate ratings on the forklift rating plate.

paper grabs for handling paper rolls and other round products, win pallet handlers for loading more than one pallet at a time, and even keg and barrel handers to load and rotate as required.

POWERED ATTACHMENTS Today, powered attachments come in many different shapes and sizes, and are generally designed to manipulate a specific type of load. These include

The side-shift is the original and most common powered attachment. It allows the load to be shifted at 90 degrees to the forklift by about 150mm. They are virtually standard equipment today as they improve loading speed by up to 20%. Rotators come with 360 or 180-degree capabilities, with or without

SAFETY â&#x20AC;˘

clamping action. These units are available for all capacities of forklifts. These units are also available with load hold down to allow boxes to be emptied. Carton clamps (or white goods clamps as they are sometimes called) are used to clamp goods for moving without a pallet. The arms are available in different sizes and are fitted with rubber pads to stop damage to the goods as well as an adjustable valve to limit the pressure applied. These units are available with capacities up to 3000kg.

sheet of plastic or cardboard on which the goods sit and are pulled on or pushed off hydraulically. Not only does this technique save the weight of the pallet, there is also no need to track or retrieve the pallet.

Paper roll and general roll clamps are used to clamp rolls of product. These units come in a variety of combinations and a vast range of sizes, and need to be specified on an application basis. Note: roll clamps have multiple facings to prevent damage to the roll materials. Some use vacuum grabs to stop all damage. Push pull attachments are for the movement of goods without pallets. They work with a slip sheet, which is a

The bin tipper has many uses

large loss of capacity. They are mainly fitted to 1500 to 3000kg units.

Extender forks are used to extend the load forward to load trucks from one side or to load double-deep racking. The disadvantage is that these units entail a

Twin pallet handlers come in many sizes, and enable the simultaneous loading of two pallets. Standard clamps also come in many sizes, and enable the gripping of nonspecific loads.

This is far from an exhaustive list of all the attachments you can fit to a forklift, and we could not show all that are available. The best way to find the attachment for your situation is to call a professional and give them the size, weight and description of the load that needs to be moved. Chances are that if there is not a standard attachment available, one can be manufactured. Remember: although a forklift attachment may seem an expensive extra that you could get away without, it could save a lot of money in damage. And who can put a price on safety? Lencrow Materials Handling 1300 536 276 www.lencrow.com.au

This attachment allows you to sweep up with any forklift

THE TOTAL MATERIALS

HANDLING SOLUTION

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RackGuard

• SAFETY

MODULAR PLATFORMS ARE SAFE ANSWER TO COMPLEX ACCESS REQUIREMENTS

Made from a flexible, impact-absorbent polymer blend, the RackGuard protects vulnerable rack legs from front, side and scrape impacts from workplace equipment that can degrade safety. QUALITY & CONFIDENCE

Tested and independently verified by TÜV, all A-SAFE products come with

the reassurance of being the strongest, most innovative products from the global industry leaders. GRIPPED & SECURE

Frictional grip points and a centralising rubber lug ensure the product stays central and secure to any rack leg, while a compression hinge ensures the leg is in a state of constant compression. VISIBLE & ULTRA-LOW MAINTENANCE

The high visibility yellow makes accident prevention a priority and the non-scratch, non-repaint properties create large maintenance savings. EASY INSTALL FOR ALL RACKING

A Rackguard Tool Set assists with ultra-fast installation for every rack leg size

A-Safe Australasia Pty Ltd 02 9625 8927 www.asafe.com

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The Instant Access Spandeck system is a modular work platform system that provides a full range of simple, safe and cost-effective solutions to complicated and difficult access requirements. Spandeck is a lightweight aluminium walkway bridge, work platform and staging system in one versatile unit. Thanks to its unique reversible design and double side hooks Spandeck can be used individually as a walkway or side by side as staging. Its high-strength aluminium alloy construction ensures Spandeck is lightweight and remains maintenance free. And its integral toeboards allow it to be used safely as a walkway. Guardrail posts and guardrails are fitted to provide a safe working environment. Spandeck provides a simple, cost-effective and safe answer to any high-level access requirement. Using just a small number of standard components, the system is easy to specify yet is versatile enough for the most demanding of locations. Installation is quick and simple, and thanks to the light weight the need for expensive craneage is reduced.

Spandeck can be inverted and used in multiple combinations to provide decks and work platforms of virtually any dimensions. The unique hook design allows Spandeck to be positively connected for multiwidth use and also provide a positive location between towers or traditional scaffold systems. The Spandeck system has become the first choice for specifiers of roof access equipment, thanks to Instant Access’s programme of ongoing development to improve safety while working at height. In conjunction with major roofing contractors and safety officers, the company has developed a number of safety products designed to ensure safe roof access without hindering work progress. Providing full compliance, where applicable, with BS6399 (part 1) 1996 and BS5395 (part 3) 1995, subject to detailed specification, Spandeck systems are manufactured using procedures approved to ISO9001.

Instant Access 1300 10 20 80 www.instantaccess.com.au

• SAFETY

SAFETY MANAGEMENT TAKES TO THE CLOUD system that is accessible online 24/7 from desktop and mobile platforms. With no server to deploy and no software licences to purchase, Sherm can be configured quickly and easily and this is all done by Safety for Life for the client. Sherm is a scalable system that can be used to manage both single and multiple sites. The software modules are each designed to streamline crucial aspects of the safety management process, such as data and records management, reporting and recording of incidents and hazards, tracking corrective actions, scheduling training, performing workplace inspections and comprehensive reporting.

Sherm is accessible 24/7

Australian OH&S specialist Safety for Life reckons that its cloudbased safety management software Sherm offers users a real competitive advantage. And by adopting its SaaS (software as a service) approach,

companies gain an comprehensive safety management program that is always available and always up to date. According to Safety for Life Director Caroline Kingston, this approach also minimises the risk for potential users: “With Sherm there is no large initial capital outlay or unnecessary ongoing resource requirements for deployment, operations and upgrades,” she says, adding “Cloud computing optimises the use of computing resources to deliver the ultimate in efficiency and utilisation of the entire shared infrastructure.”

The Sherm desktop homepage provides a graphical display

Sherm is an integrated management

THE TOTAL MATERIALS

HANDLING SOLUTION

All aspects of the management system have been constructed to be easily configurable for each company, from the risk matrix down to the security settings, so the software is suitable for all industry types from mining to manufacturing.

Comprehensive support is included in the SaaS model, with extensive online help facilities and training courses. There is even access to a virtual OH&S consultant to help users resolve individual questions. Sherm is designed to enable compliance with existing Australian standards on OH&S management (AS4801), quality management (ISO9001), environmental management systems (ISO14001), risk management (ISO31000), and workplace injury and disease reporting (AS1885.1).

Safety for Life 07 3396 6208 www.safetyforlife.com.au

The homepage provides the logged in user a graphical display of all the hazards, incidents, issues and workplace inspections that have been logged for the 12 months. The information can also be viewed by site. Each user’s Dashboard messages provide a listing of all tasks that need to be performed. Each message will link to the specific page in Sherm for ease of use. Sherm is a fully secured technology hosted on dedicated private servers, which are backed up every day and supported by a 99.9% network uptime service level agreement. And, all system updates, upgrades and improvements are provided free of charge, and performed invisibly, with no need for user input.

Ask us about our five year warranty programs

The mobile version provides full access

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• SAFETY

SAFETY FOOTWEAR – ONE SIZE CERTAINLY DOESN’T FIT ALL

When specifying safety footwear for any workforce, it is essential to look in detail at the exact requirements of each particular job function to ensure that an appropriate level of protection is provided while allowing the freedom of movement and comfort. This was the key message from Dr Caleb Wegener, Head of Footwear Research and Innovation for Bunzl Industrial & Safety at the recent Safety In Action event in Melbourne.

In his presentation on “Biomechanical interaction between footwear design and safety”, Dr Wegener highlighted some of the historical statistics on workplace foot injuries, suggesting that as many as 90% of workers report issues with their feet, and more than half of these attribute these problems to their footwear.

For example, if a job involves driving machinery, the worker will require easy ankle mobility to be able to react effectively and operate pedals. If a task requires frequent pivoting or turning, this creates a requirement for a flexible boot shaft that does not inhibit turning of the foot and ankle.

which should be performed at the end of the day while wearing normal work socks, and can simply be checked by standing on the insole of the shoes concerned. There should be a gap of 12-15mm between the end of the longest toe and the insole.

Significantly, the costs of foot problems are generally underestimated. However, Worksafe Queensland has crunched the numbers, and reckons that if a worker takes 1.5 days off over a foot injury, the true cost to the employer averages out at more than $8000.

Fatigue is also a factor that is gaining greater recognition and encouraging lighter weight in safety footwear. Studies have suggested that each 100g of additional weight on the foot increases oxygen consumption by 1%.

Secondly, test the flex point, as it is essential to ensure that the boot flexes with the foot.

However, even having identified a style of safety footwear that is suitable for each worker, it is just as important to ensure that all footwear is correctly fitted. And, surprisingly, this is still not always the case.

Finally, check the depth: boots should not feel tight over the top of the foot, and there should be a facing gap in the laces of approximately 30mm.

According to Dr Wegener, there are a number of important criteria to consider when selecting safety footwear for any specific job role. And while many of these involve protection from the potential hazards of the role – such as impacts, penetration and exposure to chemicals or liquids – an analysis of the movement requirements is equally as important.

Dr Wegener recommends a fourstep process to ensure accurate fitting. This begins with a length check,

Instant 160 Scaffold

Thirdly, check the width: each foot should fit entirely on the midsole.

Mack Boots 1300 350 216 www.mackboots.com.au

Working height options

4.5m8.0m

Top of scaffold height

3.5m7.0m

Platform height options

2.5m6.0m

1 Quick & simple assembly 2 Non rusting aluminium construction 3

Lightweight great for weight sensitive area such as timber or tiled floors

Modular system so only use components as required to reach the working height

Extra components available to increase scaffold height if required

Can be transported in a full tray back utility or trailer

all frames and braces are constructed with extruded 1.6mm 6061 T6 aluminium tubing

For more information or to arrange delivery call us now on 1300 10 20 80 www.instantaccess.com.au 26

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• SAFETY

SAFE SELECTION AND USE OF LIFTING MAGNETS Ian Heard of Serpent & Dove – Applied Magnetics offers advice and pointers to current and prospective users of magnetic lifters. In recent years there has been increasing recognition and take-up of the efficiencies offered by lifting magnets and lifting magnet systems. It is important therefore for those considering the use of magnetic lifters to be fully aware of their constraints and limitations – and that they be used wisely. Apart from the weight of the load, there are a number of important factors in the selection and use of lifting magnets:

•

The thickness, length and width of the steel plate (or the diameter, wall thickness and length, if round or cylindrical).

•

The required thickness to achieve the rated magnet capacity, as indicated on the magnet or in the manufacturer’s documentation.

•

Appropriate derating when thickness is not adequate for indicated magnet capacity.

being lifted may cause it to peel away from the magnet.

are not made clear in the standard) 2:1 for electromagnetic lifters.

•

To avoid too much unsupported overhang (or whip), care must be taken with magnet layout and positioning when using multiple magnets to lift steel sheet and plate. (The accompanying chart is a guide to safe overhang distances for various steel thicknesses.)

•

The condition of the magnet lifting face: it should be kept clean, free of grit and undamaged.

Mains powered electromagnetic lifting systems are required to have a battery backup to ensure load retention in the event of power outage, but this is unnecessary when using permanentelectromagnetic systems. Permanentelectromagnets employ permanent magnet elements that are magnetised and demagnetised electrically.

•

Regular magnet inspection and testing by the manufacturer’s representative or suitably qualified personnel.

• Appropriate derating when full face contact on magnet cannot be achieved. • The type of steel (mild steel, cast, high tensile, other). • The steel surface condition (clean, rusted, galvanised, drilled or punched etc).

Safe overhang distances for lifting magnets using various thicknesses of steel sheet and plate

• The “whip”, or unsupported overhang length of steel sheet beyond the magnet/s, must be within specification. Excessive flexing of the load

THE TOTAL MATERIALS

HANDLING SOLUTION

Australian Standard AS4991-2004 Lifting Devices includes requirements for lifting magnets when used below the hook on a hoist or crane. It requires a safety factor of 3:1 for permanent magnetic lifters (which require no electric power), and (for reasons that

Ask us about our fixed price service contracts

Serpent & Dove - Applied Magnetics not only offers an extensive range of lifting magnet systems but welcomes questions and discussion on these important safety considerations.

Serpent & Dove - Applied Magnetics 02 9971 7577 www.serpent-dove.com

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• MACHINERY

CUSTOM-BUILT THERMOFORMERS SUIT INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTION NEEDS 3D manufacturing solution specialist Flecknoe is working with manufacturers to drive efficiency and productivity in thermoforming and vacuum forming plastics production processes. With more than 30 years experience designing, building and supporting manufacturing machines and processes for more than 50 Australian manufacturers, Flecknoe Director Phil Kitney is in demand for the advice and custom technology that gives these manufacturers an edge in the highly competitive 3D manufacturing marketplace. Kitney says that he speaks both languages thermoforming and vacuum forming - when it comes to making plastic do what you need it to do. “The market is getting bigger and so are the products,” says Kitney. “The growth in thermoforming is keeping up with, and even overtaking, the growth of the plastics industry overall.” “In the past, people had to build their own thermoformers: it was a costly and time-consuming process, and the result wasn’t an efficient or operator

friendly process,” says Kitney. “But with our machines you don’t have to use mechanical stops. You can easily set the platen via the control panel, for example.” “A thermoformer also offers total process control through the PLC and an aluminium clamp frame,” says Kitney. Thermoformed products have become larger over the years as the machines have come to offer better capabilities. Custom built “Thermoforming is so versatile it’s replacing many fibreglass parts like tractor cabins,” says Kitney. “Small boats and canoes have been made in the past, but now we have clients thermoforming components for yachts,” he adds. Flecknoe’s strength is its ability to custom-build a thermoformer to suit each client’s individual production needs. A machine can cost around $45,000 for an entrylevel device up to $300,000 for a large unit. One machine manufactured by Flecknoe had to be transported in three sections.

This monster had a footprint of 11 x 5m and was 4m in height. The largest of the three sections, containing the oven, weighed 4500kg. The oven section had 90 heating zones, top and bottom, and used ceramic colour changing heaters. All this required 1500m of high-temperature silicone cable. The machine’s form station was fitted with an electric platen and closed loop positioning. The sheet loader has the capability to handle a sheet measuring 3 x 2.5m and a load of up to 250kg. “This technology gives our customers quicker setup time, constant part thickness, a reliably repeatable process, less part stress and overall product quality,” says Kitney. Warringah Plastics in Sydney, relies on its 3.3 x 2.7m maximum sheet size thermoforming machine to produce a range of products from skylight covers and light diffusers, equipment housings and interior coverings, builder handling trays, sealed enclosures to promotional material like display stands. Smaller machines Some companies, like award-winning pointof-purchase design and manufacturing company PopArt in Melbourne, need smaller machines built to specifications that match the exact requirements of their manufacturing processes. “Sometimes you can get better efficiencies that way,” says Kitney. It makes sense to buy locally, too. “Imported machines are rarely a cost effective solution,” says Kitney. The large machines are so big they won’t fit into a container, which means the freight can cost more than the machine itself. Servicing imported technology can be a real headache too… which is why buying from Flecknoe has a clear competitive advantage. “All our machines have an Australian electrical system, which means easier servicing and spare parts,” says Kitney. In addition to design and manufacture of thermoforming machines, Flecknoe also supports the entire forming process, including CAD/CAM software, sales, installation and support for Thermwood 3- and 5-axis CNC routers, and supply of router tooling and bits. Flecknoe 08 9354 9393 www.flecknoe.com.au

industry update ad.indd 1

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30/08/2011 5:25:30 PM

• MACHINERY

DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS expansion coefficient and excellent rigidity performance. Maximum torque is 350Nm, providing serious cutting capability. Pallet change takes only 8s, and the table is programmable when undertaking machining from various axes. Second to none Nordon Director Norm Johnson believes that the Queensland manufacturer is “strokes ahead of the rest.” “In addition to providing highspec cylinders to companies in major industries, we meet the needs of the hydraulics sector,” he said.

Mark Porter of Nordon Cylinders is joined by YCM engineer Jeff Lou and David McDonald from 600 Machine Tools.

The Brisbane company Nordon Cylinders is well aware that it has a key role in keeping the wheels of industry turning. However, its customers at home and abroad require hydraulic cylinders from tiny to humungous, and they don’t always want them today – sometimes, they want them yesterday. At its manufacturing base just north of Brisbane, the long-established company continuously manufactures and refurbishes cylinders ranging from 1.5 to 10in bore – and units with strokes of up to 7m, if required. The Brendale workshops produce cylinders with a wide range of specifications – bore, stroke, pressure, speed, gland, mounts etc – all supplied with a warranty. These Australia-made products are now commonplace in such industries as manufacturing, processing, mining, construction, and agriculture. To ensure rapid response to customers throughout Australia and internationally, Nordon stocks a complete range of 350 grade cast, machined steel mounts, and accessories. This provides engineers with extensive and flexible configuration options. More capacity and capability The company has been in the hydraulics business since 1974, and has built a solid reputation for its expertise, product quality, and commitment to

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customer service. Its engineering knowledge and day-to-day problem-solving experience proved to be invaluable when choosing a new machine to add further capability and flexibility to its cylinder manufacturing capacity in Brendale – which is in the scenic Moreton Bay region. After ascertaining their needs, the Nordon team chose a YCM H500B CNC machining centre from 600 Machine Tools, configured for their specific applications. An ISO9001 accredited manufacturer, YCM was founded in 1954 and has built a worldwide reputation for technological innovation. Its latest design – a machining centre – won the Supreme Excellence Award of the Taiwan Machine Tools Industry Award 2017.

“In Brendale, we manufacture roundline welded-construction hydraulic cylinders in Australia's most modern and best-equipped cylinder manufacturing facility. “Our product range incorporates Australia's widest range of high-quality cast-steel mountings, supported by a market-leading catalogue, and client access to 3D modelling. “The new YCM machining centre will add to our capacity to produce components, even quicker, and with our customary precision. “We enjoyed a good working relationship with the Brisbane office of 600 Machine Tools, especially during the installation and commissioning of the new machining centre, and then during the operator training process,” said Johnson.

the Nordon team because they know what they want – precisely! “It is our job to ensure that the machine we recommend could not be bettered for a particular application, either in specification or price. “The H500B is the right machining centre for the tasks envisaged by the Nordon team, now and in the foreseeable future. “600 Machine Tools is proud to be the exclusive distributor of the highprecision YCM range in Australia. “We can see how the manufacturer’s combination of thoughtful design and engineering excellence has been the cornerstone of their steadily increasing popularity in the world’s workshops.”

Making a choice Queensland Regional Manager for 600 Machine Tools, Wally Nujin, commented: “It is a pleasure to work with

The H500B machining centre boasts high-rigidity construction and high-speed machining ability – up to 30m/min rapid feed speed. It features a direct transmission design on all three axes, along with pretensioned ballscrews to ensure motion rigidity and machining accuracy. Its high-precision linear-motion guideways ensure low friction, high speed, and optimal damping force. Noted for its high speed and highprecision spindle design, the H500B model has ceramic ball bearings for highspeed machining, featuring low thermal

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• MACHINERY

ACOUSTIC EMISSION ANALYSIS IS EFFECTIVE MEASURE FOR SLOW-SPEED BEARINGS Challenges and solutions The project was particularly challenging, because the main rotating hub bearings are located 63m above ground with limited access that can only be done outside of opening hours. Additionally, hub space is limited and temperatures inside fluctuate considerably. Schaeffler successfully install four acoustic emission sensors with amplifiers for each bearing. They were installed axially within the hub, spaced 90 degrees apart. The sensor amplifiers output the raw sensor measurement in decibels and the corresponding computed distress level for the connected sensor. Two robust 8-channel Schaeffler FAG ProCheck devices were installed for all data processing from the acoustic emission signal inputs. The FAG ProCheck devices are designed to operate efficiently under harsh environmental, rotational and temperature conditions. Most bearing vibration analysis is performed using accelerometers, which are highly accurate and effective measuring tools at high speeds and when the vibration frequency falls between 10Hz and 10kHz. However, there are limitations to this method of vibration analysis; for example, when the speed is slower (especially under 50rev/min), when there are extreme fluctuations in speed, when the rotation process has a short duration or when oscillating processes are present. For very slow speed applications, acoustic emission is a far more effective measurement technique, and covers vibration frequencies from 50kHz right

Schaeffler spherical roller bearings are used on the Melbourne Star

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through to 1MHz. Sounds that fall in this range include plastic deformation of materials, crack formation and propagation, material fractures and friction. These can all help predict and prevent serious problems and downtime arising in a multitude of slow-speed industrial, manufacturing, processing and materials handling applications, including slewing ring bearings on stacker/reclaimers, air preheater bearings in power generation plants and converter bearings in steel plants. The installation of Schaeffler spherical roller bearings on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, the largest ferris wheel in the Southern Hemisphere, provided an ideal opportunity to test the effectiveness of acoustic emissions as a condition monitoring technique for very slow speeds. The wheel has a rotational speed of 0.029rev/min. The bearings installed on the Observation Wheel are Schaeffler’s double-row spherical roller bearings, designed for long life, high reliability and high safety requirements. They feature a rotating outer ring and have a quasi-static load condition.

Schaeffler then used its online monitoring centre (OMC) to conduct remote monitoring of all diagnostics from the acoustic emission signals. An industrial telecommunications kit was set up to transmit the measured data over a 3G network to the OMC. Two types of measurement were taken to ensure an accurate overall picture of the machine’s vibration was formed. First, snapshots were taken of amplifier outputs over a small arc of rotation (16 seconds, or approximately 3 degrees), and secondly averages of the amplifier outputs over one complete rotation (43 minutes or approximately 1.4 revolutions) were recorded. Measurements are only taken when the wheel is in motion, using the motor speed and current as validation, and there is no discrimination between the direction of rotation. Data are automatically transmitted back to the OMC every 24 hours. Results Two main measurements are used to analyse the bearings’ condition: distress and decibel level. The computation of distress is trademarked by the sensor manufacturer, but in general terms it comprises a summation

Two FAG ProCheck units handle all data processing

of the clicks, crunches, groans and whistles generated by defective rotating machinery. If distress is 0-5 units, the bearing is in excellent condition, 5-10 units means it is in satisfactory condition and greater than 10 units means the bearing is in suspect condition and may need maintenance or replacing. For decibel readings, when the overall trend is starting to increase, rather than remain at a stable and consistent level, that is when it is time to check the bearings. Schaeffler also takes grease samples from the bearings inside the hub every four months, which are sent to the laboratory for detailed analysis. A particle quantification (PQ) index is established to measure the total ferrous (iron) particles present in the sample. In analysing results of condition monitoring, it’s important to take note of any trends. It’s also important to correlate and confirm the presence of a problem using multiple techniques. Using more data, from varied sources, reduces the chance that it was just an anomaly, and will strongly confirm that there’s a problem. Since implementation in 2014, overall levels have been relatively stable. Some instances of elevated amplitudes of acoustic emission as well as spectrogram wear particles in the grease samples have occurred over this time, but not to concerning levels. This story is based on a case study presented by Mark Ciechanowicz, Manager – Industrial Services, Schaeffler Australia, at the International Machine Vibration Analysis Conference, Gold Coast, September 2017. Schaeffler Australia 02 8977 1000 www.schaeffler.com.au

MACHINERY •

BODY PERFECT GEAR IS MANUFACTURED ON DEMAND from tens of thousands of units to hundreds of thousands of units within a year. “3D printing has allowed us to remove most of the limitations of traditional manufacturing,” says Chris Bellamy, senior product and manufacturing engineer for Wiivv. Wiivv relies on 3D Systems’ sPro SLS 60 machines to deliver each pair of custom ordered insoles. Hargovan says the efficiency and lower costs of this machine are central to Wiivv’s continued growth. Wiivv Wearables is on a mission to make body-perfect gear accessible to the masses. Its flagship product, a custom shoe insole, has proven to be a good first step and uses a combination of customer-collected smartphone data and 3D printing to feed its design and manufacturing process. According to the company, this methodology has enabled Wiivv to deliver highly personalised products on demand at a competitive cost compared

The ability of 3D printing to continue delivering greater efficiency at lower costs is central to Wiivv's continued growth. The company's plans extend beyond footwear to almost every conceivable type of body-fitted apparel.

with conventional methodologies. Cofounders Louis-Victor Jadaji and Shamil Hargovan say the flexibility of their process not only enables mass customisation, but removes the need to stock inventory and invites localised production. “The supply chain is fundamentally different,” says Hargovan. As Wiivv continues to perfect its process, he says their efficiency has only increased, giving him confidence in Wiivv’s ability to scale

"The Wiivv Custom-Fit Sandal is our next step towards ultimately creating 3D printed gear for every body part," says Hargovan, who calls his company's strategy, "Body Perfect Gear" Hargovan is confident that Wiivv is starting out with the right products to

fulfil the promise of mass customisation using sPro 60 machines. "The industrial world has spent a long time looking for a use case for mass production on 3D printers," he says. "We've come up with a product that has proven its case based on customer demand." What comes next is largely predicated on continued advances in 3D printing combined with the fertile minds of Wiivv's strategic management, design and production teams. 3D Systems, On Demand Manufacturing - Asia Pacific 03 9819 4422

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• MACHINE BUILDING

THE CHANGING FACE OF INDUSTRIAL INTERCONNECTION These ready-to-use assemblies are more durable as the supplier guarantees the quality of the entire system, and the user does not have to worry about installation errors such as forgotten end sleeves or damage to the insulation. With assemblies direct from the manufacturer, customers can also benefit from expert interconnection knowhow and always be sure the technology they use is the state of the art. There are other trends that may well have huge consequences for industrial interconnection technology.

Robots and other machines are becoming more compact

Simon Pullinger of Lapp Asia Pacific looks at some of the trends in interconnection in the next generation of industrial machinery. The digital revolution on the factory floor is changing the face of industrial communications. With ever increasing processing power available, and even greater numbers of inputs to process, an increasing volume of data needs to be transmitted at increasingly fast speeds. And this is having a significant impact on industrial connection technology. Special cable designs Robots and other machines are becoming more compact and each machine requires an increasing number of data connections. This has led to the development of a number of special cable designs and technical innovations aimed at saving space, such as hybrid cables that combine the power cable, data cables and even hoses for pneumatics and hydraulics in a single sheath. Where large data volumes are being transmitted, a single high-speed Cat7 Industrial Ethernet cable can replace several slower cables, and one optical fibre can replace multiple copper cables. It’s not just the cables that are slimming down – the connectors are following the same trend. Circular connectors are getting leaner, and today’s modular connector systems combine numerous contacts for different cables in a single housing. All these changes in speed and size have also required the development

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of special materials and novel internal cable constructions to enable the cables to handle the industrial environment. With this comes the additional requirement to withstand lubricants, hot vapours and the like, as well as millions of cycles of bends and torsion. Manufacturing is also becoming more flexible. The days of the fully dedicated production line for a single product are numbered: manufacturing is becoming more modular and flexible. Individual production modules are exchanged or rearranged in next to no time. This has major consequences for the connection technology used in machine building. For example, an electrical connection that would previously have been hard-wired and soldered for life will probably now require the flexibility of a connector – and one that can be disconnected and reconnected thousands of times and still create a reliable contact.

For example, the increasing level of photovoltaic generation in the global energy mix is leading many to question whether the AC power distribution grid will continue to be viable. After all, electronic equipment universally demands direct current, and it is direct current that is generated by photovoltaic cells. The conversion to AC for distribution and back to DC at the point of use involves large energy losses. However, switching to an all-DC landscape would involve massive disruption. Conventional switches and connectors are not suitable for DC because the polarity of the voltage does not change and there is no arc breakage when switching off - this is hazardous. New connectors and automatic switchoff mechanisms would be needed, but these issues could be resolved.

influence of the fields generated by direct current. Cable manufacturers are actively researching these issues. Then there is the issue of wireless communications. Surely, the days of the data cable are numbered? Cables have the edge On the contrary: increased electrification and networking in factories will require even more cables to guarantee the high transmission rates. In addition, cables have the edge where data reliability and latency are important. Because industrial processes are based on strict cycles information has to be reliably transmitted in the millisecond range. This is very difficult to achieve using wireless solutions without disproportionately high costs. Multiple wireless signals can easily interfere with one another and can also be interrupted by moving objects such as forklift trucks. Cables are also less susceptible to malicious disturbances and hacking. As a result, there is little prospect of wireless technology pushing out cable-based systems - in fact they will increasingly complement one another. LAPP Express Australia 1800 931 559 lappexpress.com.au

Also, there are strong indications that the plastics used for insulation and cable sheaths age differently under the

Easy to configure These connectors are also becoming more modular, combining power, data and even hoses in a single assembly. Everything needs to be easy to configure and to reassemble again and again, for example if a machine is upgraded. The complexity and density of the latest generation of cables and connectors have led machine builders to demand more from interconnection suppliers, in the form of tailored readyto-use assemblies that they can easily incorporate into their machines.

Tailored ready-to-use assemblies are easy to incorporate into machines

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• PNEUMATICS

SCROLL COMPRESSOR RESCUES CUSTOM CAR BUSINESS Darcy Ewing of Kurrupt Kustoms in Albury NSW was running compressed air from a 6-year-old reciprocating piston-style compressor when (in his own words) it virtually “S*** itself!”. This left his high-end auto body and customisation shop in real trouble with a total shutdown of all essential operational functions. You could say it took the wind out of his sails and with a shop full of work and promised deadlines he needed to come up with a replacement solution fast! He emailed 25 or so compressor companies with the urgent request for an immediate replacement and had only four responses on offer for consideration. Luckily for Darcy, one of these was from Southern Cross Compressors, and came in the form of a phone call from Debbie on the sales desk. Debbie asked all the right questions and recommended an advanced, lubricated scroll technology compressor, a type that was totally unknown by Darcy who had intended to get another piston type as a replacement. Debbie’s understanding of Darcy’s needs and the required performance to run the multiple point air-tool stations convinced Darcy that the ‘orbital’ scroll was the perfect answer. So, after telling her to get it ready, he headed off down the highway to pick up the lightweight unit and get it back to Albury for installation.

After installing and commissioning the new compressor into the system himself, Darcy couldn’t believe the difference. “I flicked the switch and was quickly amazed at the improvement over the old piston compressor. It was much, much quieter and now all work stations had ample, consistent pressure to operate at maximum load together with absolutely no pressure drop.” “The service was fantastic, the price was very affordable and we were back in business with a vastly improved system that allowed us to catch up with our workload… thanks to Debbie and the Southern Cross team.” Demands from industry to reduce energy costs, improve reliability and provide a safe working environment have now virtually rendered piston-type compressors obsolete. From 7.5 to 15kW capacities, advanced, lubricated ‘scroll’ technology compressors offer energy efficiency with minimal moving parts in an ultra-quiet, compact package. With the added benefit of continuous load capability and an integral aftercooler to reduce moisture carry over, you get to experience a reliable compressed air supply with lower energy bills. Southern Cross Compressors 1300 098 901 www.southerncrosscompressors.com.au

Screw Compressors For full range scan QR code or go to

pneutechgroup.com.au/iu Call 1800 763 883 for all of your compressed air needs.

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(Above) Darcy Ewing collected the new compressor from Southern Cross Compressors and installed and commissioned it himself at Kurrupt Kustoms (below).

76,000 PEOPLE

• INDUSTRIAL DOORS FEATURE

involved in the manufacturing industry will look at this page.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SELL THEM TODAY? Advertising in Industry Update’s magazine, website or product cards can generate leads at a fraction of the cost of other mediums. Contact Industry Update today • 02 9439 1288 • sales@industryupdate.com.au 22

The current CAB audited circulation of Industry Update magazine is 18,000 with a readership of 72,000. From this edition (April 2013) the circulation has increased to 19,000 with a readership of 76,000.

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Industry Update

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• D I R E C T M A I L • C R E AT I V E

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• PNEUMATICS

TEN TIPS FOR EFFICIENT COMPRESSED AIR DISTRIBUTION The performance of compressed air powered tools and equipment is often restricted by inadequate air pressure and flow due to a poorly designed compressed air distribution system. Poor equipment performance can also be caused by contamination reaching the equipment due to inefficient separation within the pipework system. Here are the top ten tips for an efficient compressed air distribution system. 1. Ring main: In most cases it is beneficial to incorporate a ”ring” or “closed-loop” main pipe. Ring main systems allow the air to flow in either direction to get to the point of demand by the path of least resistance. Typically you can multiply the capacity of a straight-line distribution main by 1.5 if the same size pipe is made into a closed-loop ring main. For example, if a 50mm straight pipe is rated at 500cfm at 125psi, that same pipe in a ring main system would be rated at 750cfm at 125psi. 2. Feeder pipe: Feed the ring main from a dry compressed air storage tank with a feeder pipe at least one pipe size larger than the ring main itself. This is important because the ring main system has 1.5x the flow capacity of a straight length of pipe and a smaller sized feeder will create a flow restriction. 3. Quick couplings: Avoid quick couplings wherever possible as they can restrict flow unnecessarily. Quick couplings should only be used where quick disconnection of air tools, spray guns or other handheld equipment is required. Any connection of stationary equipment should be by way of hard pipe or flexible hose with straight through barbed fittings and ball valves. 4. Elbows: Avoid the use of elbows wherever possible as they can cause cause the equivalent pressure drop of 1 to 3 metres of pipe, depending on the type and size of the fitting. Radius bends have much less flow restriction than

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Compressed air pipework incorporating a ring main

elbows. Try to keep pipework as straight as possible and avoid the considerable added expense and loss of efficiency resulting from running pipes around columns and roof beams. 5. Future expansion: If future expansion or additional demand is likely, it is much more cost effective to plan for it now compared with the disruption and additional expense of increasing pipe sizes at a later date. 6. Leakage: Any leakage is unacceptable, but a totally leak free system is often very time consuming and expensive to achieve in an existing installation. An overnight leak test should not, however, result in a pressure drop of more than 10%. In new installations leak free systems are typically much easier to achieve using aluminium, copper or stainless-steel pipe compared with traditional threaded iron systems. Of these alternatives, mechanically swage-

jointed stainless-steel pipe systems provide very cost effective, durable and leak-free solutions 7. Condensate drainage: Any low point in the system should have provision for condensate drainage. Low points can cause blockages or restrictions to airflow due to a buildup of contaminants at that point. 8. Drip leg drain drainage: All outlet droppers should have a main isolation ball valve that is reachable from ground level with a drain valve at the bottom of the drip leg for easy removal of contaminants that have dropped past the outlet point. 9. Isolation valves: Install isolation valves, tees and plugs throughout the main piping system so that future expansions and modifications of the system can be more easily and cost-effectively installed.

10. Dropper pipes: Dropper pipes do not need to come off the top of the main header pipe and the main header does not need to fall to a corner with a drip leg drain installed. This form of layout is only effective if the header pipe is significantly increased in size to reduce the air velocity and prevent the air from pushing the water along the pipe to where it is going. It is more cost effective to have a drip leg drain at the bottom each dropper to deal with condensate and contaminants at points in the system where they actually accumulate. Pneutech Group can advise and quote on the supply and installation of complete compressed air pipework systems as well as the maintenance or replacement of any components in existing systems. Pneutech Group 1800 763 883 www.pneutechgroup.com

• FASTENERS & ADHESIVES

AUSTRALIAN FASTENER INDUSTRY ADOPTS WORLD’S BEST PRACTICES By Pete Jeans five years ago there were no Australian standards for structural anchors and fasteners critical to the Australian construction industry.

Fasteners take many forms in a myriad of applications across a wide range of activities and Australian industry sectors. Anchoring, attaching, fixing, gluing, nailing, screwing, stapling… you name it, the methods of mechanical and chemical bonding and fastening applications abound. At the beginning and end of the day, the fastener and the fastening method has to be fit-for-purpose. Fasteners must meet local and sometimes international industry codes and standards. They must stand up to claimed specifications and applications as well as operating life requirements, warranties and a bunch of other legal, industry practices and user preferences and compliance imperatives. The Australian Engineered Fasteners and Anchor Council (AEFAC) was established as recently as 2012 by Swinburne University of Technology in collaboration with Founding Board Members Ancon Building Products, Hilti (Aust), Hobson Engineering, ramsetreid, Stanley Black & Decker and Wurth Australia. Supporting Members include Allthread Industries, Simpson Strong-Tie Australia and Iccons. However, AEFAC is an independent body, and so does not endorse comments below from other industry leaders, their companies or their products. According to AEFAC Training & Development Manager, Dr Jessey Lee,

However, now “working with Australian regulators, industry and end-users, AEFAC has helped to create new industry standards that dramatically improve the safety, specification, selection, design and installation of structural anchors and fasteners for the Australian industry, transforming industry practice to world’s best. “Improving fastening practice enhances safety during construction and in the circumstance of extreme events, increases cost effectiveness,” she concludes. What do fastener industry leaders say about the value their products deliver? Fuji Fasteners has been producing metal fasteners, screws, bolts, studs, pins and more for Australian industry and overseas markets for more than 40 years. With extensive expertise and credentials in the automotive aftermarket, industrial, OEM, defence, specialised construction, marine and reseller sectors, Fuji Fasteners also exports to New Zealand, China, Vietnam and the Czech Republic. Fuji Fasteners Director, Ross Tidswell, says there are a number of key aspects to selecting the right fastener for any specific application or task. “Obtaining metal screws, bolts, studs, pins etc for customer specific application requirements is where Fuji Fasteners focuses. It must be the right fastener for the job at hand; the required quantities have to be right, and, the appropriate plating or finish to suit the application,” he says.

“Far too often a standard fastener is used because of availability and price… only to find the end result is compromised due to issues such as aesthetics, poor thread choice, material not strong enough and/or the fastener is showing signs of rust,” says Tidswell. Key criteria include: • ensuring the right fastener shape and thread type to ensure the best possible fastening solution • aesthetics • a viable and economical quantity of fasteners to suit the application • ensuring the most appropriate fastener material is chosen • and making sure the most appropriate finish is applied to the fastener, particularly the plating or coating, to suit the environmental conditions of the finished application. “We have innovative fastener solutions like cost effective fastener screw SEMS assemblies,” Tidswell adds. “These are screws or bolts with a captive spring or flat washer (or both washers captive)… rather than the labour intensive task of hand applying washers that often fall off if the fastener has to be applied in the downwards position. “These washers are specifically designed with a finer inside diameter dimension so that they are held on by virtue of the larger diameter of the threaded section of the fastener,” he concludes. Key international trends? Lightweighting and sustainability According to Dr. Antonio Pagliuca, Senior Technical specialist at 3M Industrial and Tapes in the UK,

Fuji Fasteners SEMS assemblies

“lightweighting” is a mega-trend across many industries. Reducing component weight has great benefits, ranging from improved product design/performance and a decreased end-user cost through to lower environmental impact. Given this, bonding and fastener suppliers are being challenged to introduce new, cost-effective, lightweight material solutions which meet the same durability, quality and reparability standards the industry demands. Shari Loushin is 3M’s Lead Application Engineering Specialist in the USA. She comments: “Sustainability in production is a hot-button issue that is only going to escalate. “A lot of pressure is on manufacturers to decrease fuel use, energy consumption and contaminant emissions. The best way to do that is to reduce the weight of materials being produced, and use the lighter-weight materials in lieu of traditional heavy metals. “Adhesives are great options for thin, lightweight materials. Where mechanical fasteners may rip though and damage a thin substrate, an adhesive bond provides even load distribution across the surface area of the joint area. This reduces the potential for fatigue damage, lengthens the life of the bond and product, and drastically reduces replacement or repair costs. “Thinner and lighter materials can be cheaper to manufacture than heavy metals, so using adhesives with these types of materials in assembly can effectively drive down costs, as well,” concludes Lousin.

Pete Jeans is Chief Operating Officer of SMO Sydney.

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FASTENERS & ADHESIVES •

RETAINING COMPOUNDS ARE REFINED FOR INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT

Henkel has upgraded its Loctite retaining compounds to enable higher temperature and oil tolerance as well as improved performance on passive materials. These anaerobic adhesives are formulated to secure bearings, bushes and cylindrical parts into housings and onto shafts. They are high-strength products that form 100% contact between mating metal surfaces so they can carry high loads and are particularly effective in combination with shrink or press fits.

Loctite 638 and 648 are singlecomponent acrylic adhesives that are now able to tolerate minor surface contamination from various oils such as those used for metal cutting, lubrication, corrosion resistance and protection. This, together with their ability to withstand higher operating temperatures, considerably extends the application scope of these retaining compounds. Both products cure when confined in the absence of air between close fitting metal surfaces, preventing loosening and leakage from shock and vibration. They also achieve a robust cure on all metals, including passive metals such as stainless steel and plated surfaces. Henkel Australia 1300 88 555 6

www.henkel-adhesives.com.au

VERSATILE COATING CAN BE SPRAYED, DIPPED OR BRUSHED HFAC is an all-new halogen-free acrylic conformal coating from Electrolube, and has been developed specifically to address concerns with chlorinated and bromininated flame retardants that can created hazardous and highly corrosive emissions during a fire. HFAC is flexible and transparent with improved flame retardancy, excellent clarity and UV resistance, making it ideal for use in LED applications. The versatile UL94V0approved coating can be sprayed, dipped or brushed, and can be easily removed for rework using Electrolube’s ULS Ultrasolve.

HFAC was created as an alternative version of Electrolube’s highly popular AFA aromatic-free acrylic coating in response to demand for a halogen-free coating product. Its properties are much the same as the AFA coating range, which includes being free of aromatic solvents, offering a wide operating temperature range, a UV trace to aid inspection and fast touch-dry time at room temperature. Electrolube Australia 02 9938 1566

www.electrolube.com.au

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41 9/07/14 5:53 PM

• AUSTRALIAN MADE

AUSTRALIAN MADE CERTIFICATION DRIVES SUCCESS FOR TANKER MANUFACTURER Australian Tank Engineering (ATE Tankers) has been engineering and manufacturing tankers in Australia for nearly two decades. But whereas most vehicle manufacturers have seen sales decline in recent years, ATE has elevated itself through the trend with a transformative mindset that has enabled the company to grow year on year. The country’s only certified Australian Made tanker manufacturer says its people are the cornerstone to its success. From the initial stages of the company entering the manufacturing industry, a major focus has been on engaging and nurturing Australian talent, developing positive and high-energy teams and partnerships. “ATE’s core values are based on three pillars – that of honesty, integrity and transparency. With this, we have selected both our people and suppliers that hold firm these values and built a

customer-centred Australian business,” says ATE Tankers Managing Director, Dan Mejak. “To become a customer-centred manufacturer, design needs to be central to everything.” “Without a smart technology platform, changing our underlying design process and culture would not have been possible,” says Mejak.

“Focusing on design means bringing design into every element of manufacturing, including the design process, the customer experience and so on. We have a totally integrated approach to manufacturing - end to end.” Significantly lower barriers ATE believes that localised production allows for free-flowing communication and significantly lower barriers to change. “Every client has varying needs and a different vision, and at ATE, we’re prepared to purpose-design anything and everything on a tanker. To do this, we need to be able to control the manufacturing process and the client needs the opportunity to get involved as their investment takes shape.” Each tanker that is engineered and manufactured at ATE’s plants in Victoria rolls off the production line carrying the Australian Made certification trademark.

committed to retaining manufacturing in Australia well into the future,” says Mejak. ATE’s Australian Made accreditation is promoted across all marketing and communication materials, on the shop floor and in the head office foyer. “Australian Made carries weight with our clients, who, much like ourselves, want to support locally made products and industries. The Australian Made logo is associated with extremely high standards and provides our product with a strong competitive advantage.” ATE Tankers has worked hard to question the cultural fabric of its organisation, and plans to expand and diversify the business within the next 24 months – leveraging its Australian Made certification to do so. ATE Tankers www.atetankers.com.au

“Local manufacturing is critical to our business model, and we are proudly

Get the It’s recognised. It’s trusted. It works. Australian Advantage Call 1800 350 520 or visit australianmade.com.au 42

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• ENVIRONMENT

NATIONAL SOLAR PROJECT TO CUT RETAILER’S CARBON FOOTPRINT Beacon Lighting is well on the way to substantially reducing its carbon footprint as its partner Upstream Energy nears completion of a national solar project spanning more than 70 stores and saving millions of kilograms of carbon emissions each year. Upstream Energy developed a proposal to deliver clean energy to Beacon Lighting’s portfolio in order to reduce operational costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and promote sustainability. When completed in late 2017, the project will see Beacon become a retail industry leader by lowering its retail energy carbon footprint by approximately 75% and capitalising on underutilised roof space in its leased buildings. Beacon’s electricity profile is particularly constant and predictable, with seven-day consumption, predominantly during daylight hours. The national project – one of the largest collective commercial installations in Australia – will see Upstream install up to 4MW of solar generation around the country, potentially reducing Beacon’s annual energy spend by over 20% per store while cutting expected energy carbon emissions by almost 6 million kilograms each year. In addition to the custom-designed solar power stations, Upstream has also retro-fitted the Beacon stores with LED fixtures, provided HVAC efficiency treatment and sub-metering for complete energy visibility. Upstream is actively working in the large format retail sector to deliver low-cost clean energy solutions to businesses in tenanted buildings. Further to the production and delivery of clean electricity, Upstream is actively seeking

Solar installation on the roof of the Beacon Lighting outlet at Fyshwick ACT

landlords to lease their roof space in similar projects. Proprietors can expect to receive ongoing monthly revenue from nil capital outlay, in addition to an improved, sustainable building with greater tenant bargaining power. Beacon Lighting is Australia’s leading and largest specialist retailer of lighting, ceiling fans and light globes. As its presence grows to over 107 stores across Australia, Beacon’s mission is to light people’s lives through its advanced lighting and energy efficient solutions. Beyond its impressive range and Beacon

Solar’s trusted delivery of renewable solar energy, Beacon Lighting is continuing its commitment to energy sustainability through its National Solar Project. Beacon Lighting Group CEO Glen Robinson says the initiative is proof of the company’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and also to reduce a growing overhead on its stores. “This is an important demonstration to retailers that we’re focused on their ongoing financial success, not to mention our role in reducing our environmental impact,” he said. The retail roll out is a continuation of the success the business has had with solar energy, having installed a 100kW system on the Beacon distribution centre in Derrimut in May 2016, with the 384 panels installed in the unique shape of the word Beacon. The result is not only a landmark design for Beacon, but also projected savings of a 24% reduction in energy consumption and projected ROI of 14.1%. According to Glen Robinson: “This unique solar installation sets the bar high when it comes to the power and flexibility of solar and will continue to demonstrate the benefits of adopting

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a long-term approach to reducing our carbon footprint and reaching Australia’s renewable energy target of 20% by 2020. “Whilst we have been operating successfully in the Australian market for the past 50 years, there have undoubtedly been market influences that have changed the way in which we run our business. “We see the future success of our business as being able to adopt new technologies and innovative solutions, helping reduce operating costs for our retailers and supporting them in delivering the same solutions to their customers.” Along with the conversion of globes in store to energy efficient LEDs and other measures including heating, ventilation and air conditioning treatments, Beacon Lighting is extending its PPA offering to its commercial customers through the Beacon Solar business. Beacon Lighting www.beaconlighting.com.au Beacon Solar

www.beaconsolar.com.au

ENVIRONMENT â&#x20AC;˘

PUMP AND AERATOR COMBO IMPROVES ENERGY EFFICIENCY effect, enabling atmospheric air to be drawn into the system and mixed with the pumped fluid. The aerated fluid is then pumped back into the lagoon or basin from which the water was drawn. When used with a self-priming pump, the system can me mounted on the bank of the lagoon, making it safer, cheaper and easier to maintain than other systems. Hydro Innovations can supply the Venturi Aerator packaged with a Gorman-Rupp self-priming pump as the authorised Australian distributor for both these US manufacturers. Hydro Innovations now offers Venturi Aeration systems for applications such as odour control, sludge digestion, wastewater aeration, lake destratification, septage treatment, and many others.

The Venturi Aerator is a static device that is installed immediately downstream of a pump. The pumped fluid is forced into the Venturi Aerator, where a specially designed and machined nozzle produces a venturi

Hydro Innovations claims that the combination of the Venturi Aerator with the Gorman-Rupp pump enables asset owners to transfer oxygen at a cheaper rate per kilowatt employed than other forms of aeration. Other forms of aerator are mounted

on pontoons and are tethered to banks via cables, whereas the Venturi Aerator system is mounted on lagoon banks. This makes this style of system safer, easier and more cost effective for operators to maintain. Operators donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to drag floating units into banks or row out to them. Venturi Aerators are available in 50, 75, 100 and 150mm sizes, with fluid transfer rates from 5 to 80L/s with a single unit. Hydro Innovations 02 9898 1800 www.hydroinnovations.com.au

Reduce Costs with EDUR DAF Pump An EDUR Multiphase (DAF) pump replaces your Compressor, Air Saturation Vessel and existing Pump. Create the same (or better) micro-bubbles without the complicated and maintenance intensive system.

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HydroInnovations.com.au 02 9898 1800 sales@HydroInnovations.com.au

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â&#x20AC;˘ NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURING

THE ANZCERTA Australia and New Zealand are known to be close partners; binding the two countries together is one of the most comprehensive free-trade agreements ever made, and the first such agreement to include the free trade of services, not just goods. In 2014-15, total trade (goods and services) between the two countries was valued at $A23.7 billion, making New Zealand Australia's eighth largest trading partner. The level of Australian investment in New Zealand was valued at $A99.93 billion and New Zealand investment in Australia was valued at $A38.52 billion by the end of 2014. Much of this trade and investment is facilitated by the ANZCERTA, or CER Agreement, which was written with the express purpose of creating a World Trade Organisation(WTO-)consistent Free Trade Area encompassing Australia and New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand have had free trade agreements composing anywhere upwards of 60% of trade since the early 1930s. A partial free trade treaty, the New Zealand Australia Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), entered into force in 1966, leading to 46

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the removal of tariffs and restrictions on 80 per cent of trans-Tasman trade by the late-1970s. Because NAFTA was not structured to address a changing international economic environment, and because it lacked an effective mechanism for removing remaining restrictions, Australia and New Zealand agreed to develop a more open bilateral trading system. Thus the development of ANZCERTA in 1983, which vastly expanded the scope of free trade to virtually all goods and services between the two nations. Any and all tariffs and quantitative import or export restrictions on trade in goods originating in the Free Trade Area (Australia and New Zealand) were prohibited. This had the specific goal of removing technical barriers to trade and impediments to the movement of skilled personnel between nations, without the need for complete harmonisation of standards and professional qualifications. The agreement also contains measures to minimise market distortions in the trade of goods, including through domestic industry

NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURING •

Manufacturing and construction have grown steadily year-on-year from 2011 onwards (with a slight contraction in 2015) growing from 10% to 12% of the GDP.

Manufacturing composes 50% of all NZ exports: food, wine, carpets, plastic goods, and high-tech computer components. However, over 90% of exports come from under 5% of manufacturers. 12% of all workers are in manufacturing, also 12% of the GDP ($16.312 billion). This makes manufacturing the second-largest industry across the whole of NZ, and of most sub-areas

Bay of Plenty has Manufacturing as the largest employer, with forestry and timber being the key subindustry

Manufacturing is less focused on Advanced Manufacturing, with few companies focusing on additive manufacturing or collaborative robotics.

New Zealand is not as patriotic in its purchasing attitudes: the Australia-made logo is recognised by 94% of Aussies, while the New Zealand-made logo is recognised by just 87%. Further, while 64% of australians prioritise buying aussie-made, only 52% of NZ'ers buy nz-made "whenever possible". Key sectors across country: food and beverage (36%), machinery and equipment manufacture (14%)

NEW ZEALAND INVENTIONS

assistance and export subsidies and incentives. The equalisation of Trans-Tasman food standards through the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) Agreement of 1995 has also played a major role in lowering the cost of collaborating between industries, removing regulatory barriers, and as a result, granting additional consumer choice. The Protocol on Investment to ANZCERTA entered into force on the 1st of March 2013. Under the Protocol investors in both countries benefit from lower compliance costs, higher screening thresholds and greater legal certainty when investing in their Trans-Tasman neighbour. Two-way investment between Australia and New Zealand is worth more than $130 billion (2014).

Australia might brand itself as an 'innovation nation', but New Zealand is no slouch in the inventions department: they've got the 7th highest patent activity in the world, and are responsible for some of the most widely used and practical gadgets around. NZ's greatest hits include, but are not limited to: • The electric fence • Continuous fermentation brewing • Disposable syringes and tranquiliser guns • Bungee jumping (but they spell it 'bungy') • Jetboats • The Thermette kelly kettle • Tipping-blade portable sawmill

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• WORKPLACE HYGIENE

DEEP CLEANER TURNS ITS HEAD TO BOOST PRODUCTIVITY the end of each sweeping run, Kärcher reckons this can cut cleaning time by up to 30%. The cleaner performs three functions in a single step. Spray nozzles on the front of the machine head apply the cleaning agent solution. A roller brush works the cleaning solution deep into the carpet pile. Then the squeegee wipes it up again, which significantly reduces drying time.

Kärcher has developed a novel deep carpet-cleaning machine that combines high carpet cleaning performance with maximum productivity. The head of the new BRC 40/22 C cleaner can rotate 200° in each direction, which makes it highly manoeuvrable. And because the operator can easily turn the machine at

of the roller brush (which works the cleaning solution into the carpet) helps the operator by providing additional traction, whether moving forwards or backwards. The new cleaner has been designed to be easy to operate, with intuitive controls. A simple rotary switch is used for setting the operating mode. The roller brush and squeegees can be changed without tools. There is a novel cable guide to simplify cable management. And operator comfort is improved with simple height-adjustable handlebars.

With conventional carpet cleaner designs, as much as 30% of the cleaning time is taken up by getting the machine back into its original position in order to clean in parallel strips. But with the BRC 40/22 C’s rotating head, a quick turn of the steering wheel means that the machine is ready for the next strip – in the opposite direction.

The BRC 40/22 C is also suitable for intermediate cleaning with the vacuum unit switched off. This increases the area performance up to 1000m2/h, saves energy and reduces noise emissions.

The unit can also be manoeuvred easily out of corners: with the head turned 180° the machine can be driven out backwards. And the rotating motion

Kärcher Australia 1800 675 714 www.karcher.com.au

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FANS AND COOLING •

AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST RANGE OF FANS IN STOCK Beacon Lighting reckons that Australian homes and businesses can enjoy easy, breezy living all year round with its new ceiling fan collection. The range features new with inspired designs and allows users to reduce their energy costs.

With power costs continuing to rise, a ceiling fan is becoming an absolute must-have, allowing users to beat the summer heat for as little as 1 cent per hour (based on an average electricity price of 0.28c/kWh). When used in conjunction with air conditioning, a

ceiling fan can help reduce running costs by up to 40%. For even better energy efficiency, users can choose a fan with DC technology. Direct current fans are super energy efficient, while still maintaining high volume air movement and silent operation. The highly efficient DC motor saves up to 65% of the energy used by ceiling fans with traditional AC motors. DC fans cost only 1 cent per hour to run, making them an ideal addition to any home or business.

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Beacon’s new fan collection has a style to suit every space. From dramatic black and crisp white to the beauty of natural timber, Beacon offers options for any style and budget. Domestic fans are available from Beacon Lighting stores nationwide and online. Business users should contact Beacon Lighting Commercial. Beacon Lighting www.beaconlighting.com.au Beacon Lighting Commercial

www.beaconlightingcommercial.com.au

EMAIL US TODAY sales@mrtaustralia.com.au www.mrtaustralia.com.au

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• LED LIGHTING

LED CANOPY LIGHT IS FIT FOR FOOD AND FUEL Australian LED lighting manufacturer Aqualuma has extended its range of industrial and commercial LED lighting solutions with a canopy light suitable for food and petroleum grade applications. The all-new Aqualuma Food & Petroleum Grade Canopy Light is suitable for both new builds and retrofitting into existing installations. It has been designed for use in food processing facilities, in commercial cold stores, on fuel station forecourts, and on other canopy roofs. The canopy light is available in 90, 125 and 165W versions and is easy to install. It can be surface mounted on many different ceiling types, including concrete or sandwich panel.

The slim low-profile design requires very little maintenance and continues Aqualuma’s renowned product reliability and energy efficiency. It is also certified under the HACCP International Food Safety Certification Programme. Also new to the Aqualuma range in 2017 is the Litebay LED highbay, which has been designed to compete with imported LED highbay lights, with competitive pricing and superior performance. The Litebay is still an Aqualuma premium quality product, standing head and shoulders over the competition with 130W output, IP66 water ingress rating, marine grade epoxy powder-coated aluminium housing and heatsink. But

it is available at a market-leading price with an Aqualuma 3-year warranty and is Australian made. The Litebay is a straightforward luminaire, designed for the business that needs a simple lighting solution to either replace existing metal halide lighting or to fit out a new premise without complex controls or optics. It uses many components and marine grade casting from the existing Aqualuma Highbay luminaire range, ensuring that the unit is still of the highest quality and will outlast any of the competition. A full lighting design service is available to all Aqualuma clients to ensure the most efficient use of fixtures, often reducing the number of fixtures

making for a more cost-effective solution. Aqualuma 1300 145 555 www.aqualuma.com

READY-MADE CABLE ASSEMBLIES SPEED EQUIPMENT DESIGN the need for expensive tooling, reduces production times and cuts out a whole level of laborious testing procedures.

RS Components is stocking a range of ready-made cable assemblies covering many of the key connector ranges from industry leader Molex. The new range of Molex preterminated cables makes it easier for machine builders to adopt industrystandard interconnection components in new and existing designs. It also avoids

Applications for the cable range include industrial machinery, defence, networking, telecoms and medical engineering. The cable assemblies have been designed to work with some of Molex's

most popular interconnection families. These include the FIT range (Micro-FIT, Mini-FIT Jr, Nano-FIT and Mega-Fit), as well as the Clik-Mate and MicroClasp and Pico-Clasp connector ranges. RS Components 1300 656636

au.rs-online.com

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• FLOORING PRODUCTS

FROM GARAGE TO WAREHOUSE: FLOORSAFE’S GROWTH IS NO ACCIDENT In 1986, while working in Adelaide on a roofing project for McDonalds, a builder asked Philip Zagni “is it possible to anti-slip tiled floors?” This simple question spiked his interest, and after researching the subject he discovered an American-made anti-slip product that claimed to make “slippery-when-wet” ceramic tiles anti-slip safe.

and in order to be able to meet growing customer demand the company needed more space to be able to hold more stock. So in July 2016 Floorsafe moved into a larger warehouse where it is today. The complete new setup allows the company’s staff to cut, pack and have orders ready to be dispatched in a few hours.

“I still remember how amazed I was seeing the product work for the first time and how immediate the results were,” says Zagni. “I absolutely loved the idea that this product could save people from serious slip and fall accidents.”

Today Floorsafe Australia is still very much a family-run business with Philip Zagni’s granddaughter helping to run the company and continue its success.

Unfortunately, after using the product for three months problems started to arise. According to Zagni: “I realised the product contained a very high volume of chemicals and therefore the tiles, after treatment lost colour and became very difficult to clean. I set out to produce my own product using a different chemical that was more passive and much safer to use.” After three years of determination, testing and trails Philip Zagni had created a product with which was very happy, including his own formulation for a maintenance cleaner.

Tactiles and stair nosings in stock at Floorsafe

Zagni moved into a larger home in 1993. Following extensive advertising, contractors all around Australia started to purchase the product. In 1994 he improved the product by developing and incorporating two other compounds. This led him to rename the product as the DIY Floorsafe anti-slip system. The formula has never changed to this day

Franklin Street is in the Adelaide CBD

The garage where it all started

In 1991 Zagni was living in a small house with a tiny garage underneath. Determined to make his business work, he mixed up his own chemicals in 20 litre drums, printed his own labels and made his own cardboard cartons. In order to make ends meet he also worked collecting money for various charities. “Every week I saved enough money to be able to purchase 50 stamps and envelopes,” he says. “I would mail out information to organisations I found listed in the Yellow Pages just hoping to get a response.”

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By 2001 it was a case of “make or break!” Zagni had invested so much time and energy into his dream and after 10 years he was finally starting to see success. But, like many small businesses, his cashflow didn’t allow for major investment.

As the health and safety industry continued to grow, Floorsafe received increasing numbers of requests for products to make stairs safe. So the company started to stock self-adhesive anti-slip tapes, and the demand was so great that within six months every colour and every size was available. “It was the increasing demand for the anti-slip tapes that made us aware of the potential for a range of products that could be used to make stairways safe,” says Zagni. In 2005, as safety regulations increased, the Floorsafe product range expanded to include aluminium stair nosings, safety tapes, fibreglass products and many more. Following the initial success of the stair nosings products, in 2009 the company also started to sell a small selection of tactile indicators used to guide the blind and vision impaired. With its passion for customer service

He says: “With the help of my family I was lucky enough to find bigger premises right on a main road in the Adelaide CBD.” This additional exposure meant that local contractors and maintenance companies were able to stop by and pick up the safety products they needed without delays. It was there in Franklin Street where Floorsafe truly came to be recognised.

Floorsafe today

“We pride ourselves on being able to fill any order, whether large or small,” says Zagni. “Our staff are polite and understand the benefits of treating someone spending $10 the same as a customer spending $1000,” he adds. And some orders are very large indeed. The newly opened Royal Adelaide Hospital includes 3600 metres of aluminium stair nosings, 900 stainlesssteel tactile plates, each measuring 300 x 600mm and 48,000 individual stainlesssteel tactiles, all supplied by Floorsafe. So what are the secrets of Floorsafe’s continuing success? According to Philip Zagni: “We make sure the customer has plenty of choice; we sell quality products at the very best price; we have plenty of stock to fulfil even the larger orders; we make sure product is packed so it is secure in transit; and wherever possible all orders received today are dispatched today.” Floorsafe 1300 717 769

www.floorsafe.com.au

PRODUCTS •

PRESSURE CLEANER IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF BUSINESS The Superjet PW C21 is the latest addition to the Kerrick range of highquality commercial and industrial cleaning equipment, embodying 80 years of experience in the manufacture and supply of high-pressure cleaners. “Whether you choose to mount it with the wall support kit and hose reel, mobilise it with the trolley kit accessory or simply move it as is to go with your business, the Superjet PW C21 is designed to meet the needs of your business,” says David Miller, General Manager, Kerrick Australia.

and a professional pressure guide that will never leave the user guessing.

“This sturdy and robust semiprofessional pressure cleaner easily handles any application in a reliable, effective and powerful way.”

The Superjet PW C21 boasts a 130bar (2000PSI) pressure rating and a flow rate of 9L/min, making it an ideal unit for small businesses, tradesmen and commercial industries. Optional extras include a wall support kit, a hose reel kit for trollies, a high-pressure hose and a turbo lance.

Thanks to its hard-wearing brass head and ceramic piston, the Kerrick Superjet PW C21 should stand the test of time. This is combined with easy serviceability,

Nilfisk 1300 556 710 www.nilfisk.com.au

VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE IS MADE FOR MACHINE BUILDERS The ABB ACS380 variable speed drive is a compact unit designed to answer the demands of large-scale machine builders. Available now from Control Logic, the series has been designed with a range of selectable options to keep costs low. Operating over a wide temperature range from -10 to +50ºC without de-rating, the ACS380 machinery drive delivers high torque accuracy with integrated features such as PID, limit-to-limit travel, encoder feedback and timers. An inbuilt EMC Class 2 filter secures compliance with the latest European and international standards for global industrial environments. The ACS380 has an integrated icon-based control panel, and an optional Bluetooth control panel for easy configuration and monitoring of parameters for use on mobile devices. Safety functions such as TUV-certified safe-torque-off come as standard. Integration is simplified with the inclusion of Industrial Ethernet protocols such as Profinet, Ethernet I/P,

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Modbus and EtherCat, as well as RS485 and CANopen protocols. The drive also supports mechanical, electrical and regenerative braking via networking multiple drives on a common DC bus systems and includes compatibility with ABB’s highly efficient SynRM synchronous reluctance motor. Ideal applications for the ABB ACS380 machinery drive include heavy-duty mixers, lifts, compressors, conveyors, winches, extruding, winding and unwinding applications. Control Logic 1800 557 705 www.control-logic.com.au

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• PRODUCTS

POWER SUPPLIES SLIM DOWN FOR AUTOMATION SYSTEMS INTEGRATION

IMAGER OFFERS REAL-TIME TEMPERATURE MONITORING

side-by-side with other devices, such as Logo! intelligent logic modules. Typical efficiency is as high as 90% over the entire load range, and no-load losses are less than 0.3W.

RS Components is now stocking the fourth generation of Logo!Power power supplies from Siemens. The narrowformat PSUs have the same external design as the Siemens Logo!8 logic controllers. They deliver up to 100W for distribution boards, and are fully compatible with the third-generation range of devices. New functions and models in the range allows support for an extended selection of automation applications, such as packaging machines, conveyor belts and sorting systems. And an extended operating temperature range from –25 to +70°C enables their use in colder environments. With housing widths of 18 to 72mm, the fourth-generation devices are 18mm narrower than the previous generation, allowing flexible mounting on DIN rails in distribution boards or directly on walls or ceilings. They can also be mounted

The series extends the Logo!Power portfolio with two new output variants offering 24V/0.6 A and 12V/0.9A. Including these two units, the series comprises a total of 11 devices with regulated and adjustable output voltages of 5, 12 15 and 24V supplying an output of up to 100W. A wide-range universal input allows these power supply devices to be operated with all single-phase supply networks (110 to 240V AC) and DC supplies from 110 to 300V, with no need to switch over. RS is working closely with Siemens to ease the transition to this latest range. This will include holding stock of the existing third-generation supplies for as long as possible, while also delivering the new generation of products for those customers working on new designs that want to take advantage of the latest features and technologies. RS Components 1300 656636 au.rs-online.com

Bestech Australia now offers an industrial thermal imager that combines high-speed measurement capability with high-resolution images and wide temperature measuring ranges. The Micro Epsilon TIM G7 thermoImager is a robust, lightweight and compact imager that can be operated at ambient temperatures up to 70ºC without cooling, and up to 315ºC when equipped with a cooling jacket. The TIM G7 produces VGA-level images with 640 x 480pixel resolution and provides spectral range of 7.9µm, which enables reliable temperature measurements on thin glass without transmission loss. It also offers a large temperature range from 200 to 1500ºC, making it suitable for monitoring the different stages of glass production. Its high measuring rate of 125Hz makes it suitable for measurements of moving

objects in glass manufacturing where usually high-cycle speeds are required. The imager comes with an advanced process interface that is easily integrated with existing control systems using analogue, USB or Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. The package also includes G7’s licence-free TIMConnect analysis software. This incorporates a line scan feature that can measure the temperature profile of moving objects and identify boundaries between heating and cooling zone of the tempered glass during the treatment process. This helps to avoid tensions and deformations in the glass surface that generally result in visual defects. Bestech Australia 03 9540 5100 www.bestech.com.au

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PRODUCTS •

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See you on stand S4 at Foodpro

MODULAR LAPTOP PROVIDES HMIS PROMISE IMPROVEMENTS EASY ACCESS TO DIGITAL FOR BOTH DEVELOPERS EDUCATION AND USERS The latest-generation pi-top modular laptop is available now from RS Components. The new device is designed for educational and selflearning activities using the Raspberry Pi 3 single-board computer with the pi-top ecosystem of software, accessories and teaching/learning aids, to help users to understand computer science and coding principles, and build their own projects. The latest pi-top comes with a 1080p full-HD 14in display and a full-sized sliding keyboard. The laptop is supplied with the display installed in the chassis, ready to assemble by connecting a Raspberry Pi 3 and accompanying hardware using the cables supplied. Battery life is quoted as up to 8h. The sliding keyboard provides access to the Raspberry Pi 3 and a magnetic board-mounting rail that enables hardware expansion. The unit comes with an advanced inventor’s kit, featuring LED lights, modular microphones and speaker accessories, and

The latest generation of Red Lion HMIs with Crimson 3.1 software deliver an improved developer and user experience, and incorporate protocol conversion, data logging and a web server for monitoring and control.

pi-topProto+ – a HAT-compatible board containing a breadboard for solderless prototyping of electronic circuits. The pi-topOS Polaris software suite contains purpose-built teaching apps, including the pi-topClassroom lesson-plan creator, pi-topCoder, and pi-topProto physical-computing examples. Familiar tools like Scratch and CEEDuniverse help users to learn coding concepts, and powerful built-in utilities like Google office suite and Chromium are also included. The new pi-top is available to order now from RS Components. RS Components 1300 656636 au.rs-online.com

Available from Control Logic, the CR1000 and CR3000 HMIs are available in a range of sizes from 4.3 to 15in and provide a wide choice of connectivity options to answer the challenges of multivendor manufacturing environments, thanks to the ever-expanding library of more than 300 industrial protocols supplied as standard in Crimson 3.1. Updated and expanded symbol libraries and the facility for 16 million colours will allow designers to create interfaces with greater visual effectiveness and a more natural appearance. This can both accelerate operator learning and improve user understanding of on-screen information, symbols and messaging.

The CR3000 has a built-in web server that allows users to securely monitor and control their applications via PCs, tablets or smartphones, with text messaging and email alerts to provide early warning of process issues. The HMI also includes data logging, which is important for both troubleshooting and meeting regulatory requirements. The new HMIs are housed in rugged IP66-rated polycarbonate enclosures with high shock and vibration tolerance and have wide operating temperature ranges of -10 to +50°C. They are ideal for industries such as manufacturing, packaging, food and beverage, and plastics. Control Logic 1800 557 705 www.control-logic.com.au

High Precision Thermal Imager now available with VGA (640 x 480)ps resolution • • • •

Robust, lightweight High-speed measurement; 125 Hz Line-scan feature, specially designed for glass industry Wide range; 200oC - 1500 oC

Optional: • • •

Reference pyrometer for reflective coating correction Embedded industrial PC suitable for rail mounting Integrated cooling jacket

For full range, please visit our website: http://www.bestech.com.au

Global Technology, Local Support E: enquiry@bestech.com.au | P: +61 3 9540 5100 INDUSTRYUPDATE.COM.AU

• PRODUCTS

DISPLACEMENT SENSORS PROMISE SPEEDY AND RELIABLE MEASUREMENT This improved performance means that machinery is not affected by changing targets, thereby improving productivity. The key is the use of the latest generation of advanced HSDR (high speed dynamic range) CMOS camera chips and the step-less laser power adjustment algorithm for stable measurement. Wide range

Omron has released a pair of highly stable, easy-to-use and affordable laser displacement sensors, reckoned to offer best-in-class speed and accuracy, and response times of only 60μs and a measuring cycle of 30μs. The ZX1 and ZX2 sensors can measure distance accurately, regardless of the colour of the target or surface conditions such as dark matte or shiny surfaces, which have traditionally been challenging to detect.

The sensors have a wide measuring range from 20 to 1000mm, and so can be used in a wide range of applications including cap detection, palletisation, confirming number of washers, measuring depth of a thread etc. Each unit has the necessary amplifier integrated within its all-in-one IP67-rated housing, making it easy to incorporate into any machine environment. The compact sizing makes the sensors easy to build in, and an integrated LED makes it easy to read measurements.

The ZX2 offers additional functionality over the ZX1, including average, peak-to-peak, sample, bottom and peak timing measurements. The sensor can be set to three tunings: single smart tuning for one type of object detection, multi-smart tuning ideal for changing objects, and active smart tuning for configuration of variable workpieces. Smart tuning simplifies configuration, reducing set-up time with single button measurement. To aid reliability, the remaining laser diode lifespan is automatically detected and indicated by a LED on the main digital display of the amplifier. This enables preventive maintenance and avoids unexpected failures that might stop an entire production line. Omron Electronics 1300 766 766 www.omron.com.au

2018

These castors are ideal for applications where a low profile and a high load capacity are required (each set of four castors can carry up to 2.4 tonnes).

The 9940 series twin-wheel castor features precision bearings in the swivel head, making manoeuvring easy. Each of the wheels is made of polyurethane with precision bearings for ease of use.

ELE V ENT

Tente’s new 9940 series twin-wheel castor will carry loads up to 600kg per castor with a low overall height of 125mm.

H EDITION

TWIN-WHEEL CASTORS TAKE HEAVY LOADS The suitable operating temperature range is -20 to +60°C.

Tente Castors & Wheels 1300 836 831 tentecastorsandwheels.com.au

ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS CATALOGUE The housing is made from heavy pressed steel with a large swivel plate.

EDITION

ELEVENTH

ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS CATALOGUE

• ENERGY MANAGEMENT • POWER QUALITY • MOTOR CONTROL • AUTOMATION • SIGNALLING

2018 ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS CATALOGUE

www.mechtric.com.au

T: +618 9248 0410

ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PRODUCTS

MECHTRIC

Euchner has added a bistable locking function to its proven CTP safety switch to add an additional level of safety to machine guarding. The CTPBI switch is available now in Australia from Treotham Automation. In normal operation the locking of the guard is controlled via an input signal. When the operating voltage is switched off, the guard lock is held in its existing state (locked or unlocked) until power is reapplied. As a result, personnel who legitimately enter a guarded area for service, maintenance, or cleaning cannot become inadvertently locked inside a guarded area due to an unexpected power failure The bistable solenoid also prevents the deactivation of guard locking in the event of a power failure, thereby avoiding access to the danger area where machinery may still be freewheeling. Treotham Automation 02 9907 1788 www.treotham.com.au

2018 CATALOGUE ORDER NOW

1000’S OF PRODUCTS:

2018

SAFETY SWITCH ADDS EXTRA LEVEL

Call or Email to request your FREE copy

E: sales@mechtric.com.au

ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PRODUCTS

INDUSTRYUPDATE.COM.AU

PRODUCTS â&#x20AC;˘

CABLE ENCLOSURE KEEPS CONNECTIONS DRY, SAFE AND SECURE As every schoolboy knows, water and electricity do not mix particularly well. However, Adept Direct now has one answer to the problem in the form of the ZAPCAP Safety power lead enclosure.

ZAPCAP Safety exceeds the industry standard for maintaining a watertight seal when in use, as well as eliminating the risk of unintended disconnections by stopping the power lead connection from coming apart.

Designed specifically to keep extension cable connections safe and secure when used in wet areas the IP66-rated power lead cap is constructed from high-impact thermoplastic for use on construction sites and in other harsh applications. The

ZAPCAP Safety ensures a watertight seal for all electrical connections and devices, and is critical to ensuring maximum electrical safety in any wet environment. Application areas range from domestic use with electric

lawn mowers and power tools, through to tough industrial areas and mines. Potential uses include: floor polishers and liquid vacuum cleaners; outdoor lights and entertainment systems; pressure washers and blasters; wet area power tools such as water-cooled concrete saws and tile cutters; outdoor machinery where water spray on leads may be present, such as cement mixers; backyard pools and water features; outdoor electric tools including

mowers, hedgers and chainsaws; and caravans and camping. With the addition of a padlock, the ZAPCAP Safety also performs as a lockout system Adept Direct 02 5924 1213

www.adeptdirect.com.au

MORE TORQUE FROM LOW-BACKLASH PLANETARY GEARHEADS Wittenstein alpha SP+ and TP+ lowbacklash planetary gearheads are now available from Treotham Automation with higher output torques and maximum speeds and with a larger range of ratios. The increased power density

improves motor capacity utilisation and enables their use in even more dynamic processes. This leads to shorter machine cycle times and higher productivity. Furthermore, the expected life can now be taken into account when designing the gearheads. This

customisation option is a unique selling point for the SP+ and TP+ planetary gearheads.

They offer excellent value for money and can also be combined with high-torque and high-speed gearhead variants.

When used in advanced linear systems, the SP+ and TP+ planetary gearheads fulfil the requirements of both mid-range and high-end applications.

Treotham Automation 02 9907 1788 www.treotham.com.au

INDUSTRYUPDATE.COM.AU

• FUN & GAMES

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

TEABREAK TRIVIA

LATERAL THINKING

1. Which element is named after the home country of Marie Curie?

1. A horse is tied to a 5 metre long rope and there is a bail of hay 10 metres away from him. Yet the horse is able to eat from the bail of hay. How is this possible?

2. How many vessels made up the First Fleet? 3. …. and who commanded it? 4. Which US singer and actress was born Frances Ethel Gumm on 10th June 1922? 5. Which team has won the most NBL titles in Australia with 8? 6. Which is further south, Perth or Cape Town? 7. Where in Australia is Warrumbungle National Park? 8. Which Australian icon was developed by Cyril Percy Callister in Melbourne in 1922?

2. It is more powerful than God. It's more evil than the devil. The poor have it. The rich need it. If you eat it, you will die. What is it? 3. How can you throw a ball as hard as you can, and make it stop and return to you, without hitting anything and with nothing attached to it?

WT WEARABLE TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE 7-8 December 2017, Sydney International Convention Centre www.wearable-technologies-aus.com

ARBS AIR CONDITIONING, REFRIGERATION AND BUILDING SERVICES EXHIBITION 8-10 May 2018, Sydney International Convention Centre arbs.com.au

AUSTRALIAN WASTE TO ENERGY FORUM

NATIONAL MANUFACTURING WEEK

20-22 February 2018, Mercure Ballarat, Victoria

9-11 May 2018, Sydney Showgrounds

aien.com.au/wteforum

www.nationalmanufacturingweek.com.au

NATIONAL DIESEL DIRT AND TURF EXPO

9-11 May 2018, Sydney Showgrounds

13-15 April 2018, Panthers Penrith, NSW

safetyfirstexpo.com.au

www.dieseldirtandturf.com.au WASTE 2018 CONFERENCE 8-10 May 2018, Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour www.coffswasteconference.com.au/2018/ waste

SAFETY FIRST CONFERENCE AND EXPO

MEGATRANS 10-12 May 2018, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre www.megatrans2018.com.au

9. … and why did he do it? 10. Ghandi was once asked by a reporter what he thought of western civilisation. What was his response?

INDUSTRY UPDATE BRINGS UP THE

100th EDITION

THEY SAID IT... The best industry and political quotes of the past and present: “When politicians offer you something for nothing, or something that sounds too good to be true, it's always worth taking a careful second look.” Malcolm Turnbull during the 2010 Federal Election. “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” Albert Einstein “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” Douglas Adams

“The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing noncompetitive." Donald Trump (who else?) “Watch your thoughts. They become words. Watch your words. They become deeds. Watch your deeds. They become habits. Watch your habits. They become character. Character is everything.” This has been attributed (in different forms) to many different people, from Mahatma Gandhi to Margaret Thatcher.

There are at least 100 good reasons to look out for the February 2018 issue of Industry Update. It’s our 100th issue, and we’ll be commemorating the event with a golden 100-page issue. In fact, we’ll be celebrating our “ton” with a tonne of news, views and features, and looking back at some of the biggest stories that we’ve featured over the years. But that’s not all. We’ve also lined up some of our favourite special features, including: Materials Handling – covering everything from powder and fluids handling to forklifts, cranes and conveyors. Electronics – looking at the key enabling technologies for the Industrial Internet of Things and Industry 4.0.

2. Nothing. 1. The other end of the rope isn’t tied to anything. Lateral Thinking ANSWERS

1 Polonium (the Latin name for Poland is Polonia), 2 11, 3 Captain Arthur Phillip, 4 Judy Garland, 5 Perth Wildcats, 6 Cape Town, 7 Near Coonabarabran in Central NSW, 8 Vegemite, 9 Because shipments of Marmite from the UK had been interrupted by WWI, 10 I think it would be a good idea. Teabreak Trivia

INDUSTRYUPDATE.COM.AU

3. Go outside and throw it upwards.

Industrial Doors and Accessories – the key to premises security and maintaining climate control.

Footwear Focus – for safety and comfort, one size certainly doesn’t fit all applications. ARBS 2018 – looking ahead to Australia’s major event dedicated to air conditioning, refrigeration and building services. Naturally, we will have all our regular features on Workplace Safety, Environmental Matters, Australian Made, Industry Politics, Training, Business and Finance. So, why not join us in celebrating this milestone in publishing? Editorial copy and images should be sent to editor@industryupdate.com.au. For advertising enquiries call: Scott or Glynn on 02 9439 1288 Editorial can be sent to editor@ industryupdate.com.au, but be sure to send it before the deadline of 9th February 2018.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS •

INDUSTRY UPDATE’S FESTIVE GIFT GUIDE

NOT SURE WHAT TO GET FOR THAT SPECIAL PERSON THIS FESTIVE SEASON? HERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYES ONLINE - SO WE TRIED THEM OUT.

GOLF BALL FINDER GLASSES

STICK N FIND

THE BACK AID With more than one sufferer from lower back pain in the Industry Update office, we thought The Back Aid might be a suitable gift for the desk-bound worker.

If you're anything like us, you lose things constantly. Keys, cables, wallets, important folders; you name it, we've lost it. The StickNFind is a bluetooth-based tracking device that goes a long way towards solving that problem. Peel it out of the packaging, stick it to whatever you least want to lose, and pair it with your phone via the (sometimes temperamental) app. When working, the app is versatile, allowing you to see how far away from your phone the tag is, set alerts for whenever a tag goes out of range, or simply 'page' a tag to make it beep and light up. Not a bad set of features for $59.99. If you're lucky enough to be using an iPhone the software works perfectly, but Android users may find the interface and features rather buggy. www.latestbuy.com.au

Not being one to take the loss of a $7 golf ball lightly, I figured that $24.99 was a small price to pay for something that was going to save me both shots and money.

Developed by a back pain sufferer to relieve his own pain, the Back Aid is included as a medical device on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. It’s a solidly designed piece of equipment that arrives in kit form, and really does only take half an hour to put together.

These glasses are a one-size-fits-all product that is even comfortable to wear over the top of prescription spectacles. And the good news is that they do work.

The Back Aid works by providing self-traction on the spine using your own bodyweight. This gentle stretching relieves pressure on discs and nerves and encourages the release of endorphins. It also comes with an instruction manual with a series of exercises that can be performed using the back aid to strengthen the muscle groups that will prevent further back problems.

The trick is the blue tint that intensifies the contrast between the white of the ball and the green of the grass. However, don’t expect them to help you find your ball in a water hazard or on white sand!

While nobody at Industry Update has got on to the advanced stuff, there are a few fans of the gentle self-traction approach, and a couple of minutes a day does seem to pay dividends. The Back Aid is $840 plus shipping.

www.yellowoctopus.com.au

www.kinggroup.com.au/the-back-aid

LED HEADBAND MAGNIFIER STORM GLASS It’s hard not to appreciate the directness with which this Chinesemade product was named; it consists of three magnifying lenses and two LEDs, mounted on a plastic headband. Powered by two AAA batteries, the LEDs can be tilted forwards or swivelled slightly from side-to-side to accommodate jobs that aren’t directly in front of the user’s face, which might be handy for horologists or something. I suppose. The headband, like the rest of the item, is made of some sort of hard plastic resin, and can be adjusted to comfortably fit the heads of most adults (one at a time [obviously]). As for the magnification, one fullwidth lens is fastened in place, while a

We all want to know what the weather's doing. But let's face it: sometimes, looking up at the sky just doesn't cut it.

second full-width lens and a small round one for the right eye each fold up/down. Despite being made of plastic, they’re surprisingly clear and optically true, and can deliver magnification up to x10. I would recommend this either as a tool for hobbyists or as a prop for mad inventors. Good value at $29.95. www.latestbuy.com.au

For all those times, there's the storm glass: a $29.99 aesthetically pleasing tube of crystals that (with some accuracy) predicts the weather. Hot weather sees the crystals dissolve: colder spells form crystal groups, clumping together in long or short chains depending on the weather. It's a treat to watch as the weather changes, even if it doesn't tell you much that the weather channel doesn't. While the box says the glass works through all kinds of electromagnetic fluctuations and pressure variations, we found that all it needs to put on a show is a shady outside area with

reasonable temperature changes throughout the day. It's not much use for those of us sitting inside an air-conditioned office, however, where the consistent temperature will produce consistently simple crystals. www.yellowoctopus.com.au INDUSTRYUPDATE.COM.AU

Australia’s Leading supplier of scissor lift platforms

We offer the largest choice of quality scissor lifts with a range of custom options to suit almost any application. From mobile bases, track or vehicle mounted units and with capacities from 1 to 50 tonnes, Safetech’s range is as broad as it is versatile. When you choose Safetech, you’re working with the team that’s been designing bespoke solutions to lifting and handling challenges in Australia for more than three decades. Safetech. Australia’s premier dock products and lifting solutions company. Call us to discuss how we can tailor a solution to meet your needs.

39-45 Della Torre Road, Moe Victoria 3825 t: 1800 674 566 e: sales@safetech.com.au

Victoria/South Australia New South Wales/ACT Queensland/NT Western Australia

03 8546 5600 02 9725 2699 07 3267 0483 08 6140 6644