Manufacturers' Monthly August 2013 by Prime Creative Media

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Publisher: Martin Sinclair martin.sinclair@cirrusmedia.com.au Managing Editor: Cole Latimer Ph: (02) 8484 0652 Fax: (02) 8484 0722 cole.latimer@cirrusmedia.com.au Editor: Matt McDonald Ph: (02) 8484 0645 Fax: (02) 8484 0722 matthew.mcdonald@cirrusmedia.com.au Journalists: Brent Balinski Ph: (02) 8484 0680 Fax: (02) 8484 0722 brent.balinski@cirrusmedia.com.au Alex Heber Ph: (02) 8484 0884 Fax: (02) 8484 0722 alex.heber@cirrusmedia.com.au Editor-at-Large: Alan Johnson Ph: (02) 8484 0725 alan.johnson@cirrusmedia.com.au Graphic Designer: Dave Ashley david.ashley@cirrusmedia.com.au Creative Director: Julie Coughlan Production Co-ordinator: Mary Copland Ph: (02) 8484 0737 mary.copland@cirrusmedia.com.au VIC/Overseas Sales: Michael Northcott PO Box 3069, Eltham, VIC 3095 Ph: 0448 077 247 michael.northcott@cirrusmedia.com.au NSW Sales: Anthony Head Tower 2, 475 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW 2067 Ph: (02) 8484 0868 Fax: (02) 8484 0722 Mobile: 0414 644 664 anthony.head@cirrusmedia.com.au QLD Sales: Sharon Amos PO Box 3136, Bracken Ridge, QLD 4017 Ph: (07) 3261 8857 Fax: (07) 3261 8347 Mobile: 0417 072 625 sharon.amos@cirrusmedia.com.au NSW, SA/NT & WA Sales: Cirrus Media Ph: (02) 8484 0868 anthony.head@cirrusmedia.com.au Published 11 times a year Subscriptions $140.00 per annum (inc GST) Overseas prices apply Ph: 1300 360 126

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Inside

For daily news visit manmonthly.com.au

AUGUST 2013

4 Editorial ■ Are we on the cusp of a new

industrial revolution?

6 Comment ■ Australian Industry Group

exploring use of sub-standard building products

7 Analysis News

■ What’s happening

We preview AIMEX 2013.

12 IT@MM ■ Manufacturing and the cloud

gear

16 What’s New

28 Fluid Handling

■ Shield clamps ■ Floor sweepers

■ Macnaught makes a success of

■ Palletisers ■ Flame detectors

inhouse manufacturing

20 Packaging Equipment ■ A simple singulation solution

22 Q&A ■ Face to face with Andy Pearson

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32 Industrial Doors ■ Galvanised steel doors ■ High-speed doors

■ How to win contracts and tenders

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■ The ultimate OHS trade show

36 Management

■ Electric motors for turbo-

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30 Safety Show Sydney

■ Easy access mechanisms

24 Motors & Drives

Cirrus Media Tower 2, Level 3, 475 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW 2067, Australia Locked Bag 4700, Chatswood Delivery Centre, NSW 2067, Australia Ph: (02) 8484 0888 Fax: (02) 8484 0633 ABN 80 132 719 861 ISSN 0025-2530 www.cirrusmedia.com.au © Copyright Cirrus Media, 2013 18,170* CAB Audited Distribution (*last two issues of Oct-Mar 2013) 16,448, CAB Oct-Mar average Printed by Bluestar Print 83 Derby Street, Silverwater, NSW 2128 Ph: (02) 9748 3411

■ Heavy industry moves into top

1 5 / 0 5 / 1 3 ,

Motors & Drives >> Industrial Doors & Access Systems Packaging Equipment >> How to Win Contracts & Tenders Industry Q&A >> Fluid Handling >> Cloud Computing

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40 Materials Handling ■ Lifting the game ■ Conveyor rollers ■ Warehousing solutions

42 Product Focus: Dust & Fume Control ■ Dust filters for workshops and

maintenance facilities ■ Dust can be an explosive risk ■ Breathing easy on site – Factory

ducting

46 AIMEX ■ AIMEX 2013 isn’t only for miners.

We highlight products on show this year.

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Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 3

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26/07/13,

9:19:00

Editorial

COLE LATIMER – Managing Editor

editor@manmonthly.com.au

Are we in for a new industrial revolution? A digital revolution perhaps?

very day the crew here at Manufacturers’ Monthly hears the major newspapers sounding the death knell for the manufacturing industry, but what they fail to understand is that the industry isn’t dying. Not in the slightest – it is evolving, and changing into something new. We’re entering new territory here – 3D printing. While it has been around for a while now, the technology and capability to mass produce extremely high quality and unique products using the process hasn’t really been around until fairly recently. Smaller 3D printing machines, the capability of producing highly machined parts, and working parts is opening new doors for manufacturers and others outside of the industry. The new technology is also opening up the world of manufacturing to more people outside of the wider Australian primary and secondary industries, allowing for amazing designs and products that previously wouldn’t have been possible to construct without major investment. And 3D printing has really M A 0the 8 1imagination 3 _ 0 0 0 _ofKthe ER captured general public in a way that the

3D printing has captured the public’s imagination. previous manufacturing industry was 3D printing festival, a new never able to. Makers’ Movement, the London Sitting within the manufacturing School of Design has even installed industry as we do, we know how 3D printers at its museum to allow this technology has been utilised for members of the general public to some time, but this rampant uptake make things. 1of its 2 potential 0 1 3 - 0 over 7 - 0 9 last T 1 few 0 : 3 3 : 3 2 The + 1 way 0 : 0things 0 the are picking up, years is simply astounding. almost without many noticing, must

be reminiscent of the swift, almost overnight build-up experienced by those during the Industrial Revolution. Except this is now putting the revolution in the hands of the people, instead of a few with the capacity and finance to mass produce. It could even lead to a revival of cottage industries, as people take the manufacturing of specialist goods in small batches back into their homes or smaller factories. And all of this is supported by the widespread use of CAD and CAM helping people to access these designs. Cloud computing and the “infinite computing” ability it provides is also helping these smaller manufacturers to a degree. Sophisticated modelling and more simulations can be carried out faster, even from the home. It also takes away the capital intensive nature inherent to manufacturing. Within a generation or two we could see the end to massive factories, as more people move to the cloud and trade designs, and they won’t have the large overheads in terms of plant and site.

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23/07/13,

3:36:39

Industrial COMMENT INNES WILLOX – CEO Australian Industry Group

Australian Industry Group exploring use of sub-standard building products As Ai Group CEO Innes Willox writes, the focus of the project will be the major product categories of steel, glass, electrical, engineered wood products, aluminium, paint and adhesives.

or most of us, ‘standards’ do not comes across as a particularly exciting area but in terms of the contributions product standards make, including in creating a fair and level playing field for Australian businesses, the issue is hugely important. A major component in developing a fair market place – and perhaps an obvious one – is the creation and use of products and materials that conform to Australian standards and regulations. Unfortunately, businesses manufacturing and supplying products – including to the building and construction sector – are concerned at what they see as increasing competition from products that do not conform to Australian standards and regulatory requirements. This presents both safety and economic risks. How widespread is the use of non-conforming products? At present there is not any really good source of information to answer this question but Ai Group has been receiving anecdotal reports of non-conforming products over the last few years and we now see that this issue is worth close examination. Accordingly, we are embarking on a research project with an initial focus on the building and construction sector. The cost argument is one aspect we will be exploring. How much does price dictate purchasing decisions and do customers give enough weighting to safety and conformance when sourcing their inputs? Unfortunately, despite the potential very real dangers from using non-conforming products and materials, the regulatory burden is falling increasingly on importers and producers. And the incentive to act is sometimes slim. Businesses feel they are effectively forced to pay

6 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

twice under the current regulatory models: once to cover the cost of their own compliance; and secondly to fund Government enforcement on non-compliant competitors. There is clearly a problem with the system when a growing number of companies believe the benefits of non-compliance outweigh the risk of being penalised. This is putting those who are adhering to the growing regulatory burden at a huge competitive disadvantage. Some sectors are achieving engagement with, and response from, regulators to start to address non-compliance. The electrical equipment industry, for instance, is working with regulators to redesign the current state-based electrical safety regulations. The aim is to achieve harmonisation across jurisdictions; visibility of equipment suppliers to regulators and consumers; and increased surveillance and compliance activity. Electrical contractors are a vital link in the supply chain and their purchasing decisions affect the amount of non-conforming products in the market. As we have been highlighting in an awareness campaign, linked to our research project, electrical equipment standards exist to provide mandatory minimum levels of safety and performance. The entire electrical equipment supply chain, including manufacturers, suppliers and contractor installers have serious legal obligations to ensure that equipment supplied or installed meets the conformance and regulatory standards of Australia. For example, electrical contractors who purchase electrical equipment from overseas are classified as equipment importers and need to ensure equipment is designed, examined and tested to be

Case studies identifying successful strategies will be looked at. electrically safe. The risks associated with importing, selling, supplying or installing non-conforming or counterfeit electrical equipment include fire, injury and death. Penalties range from fines, imprisonment, loss of licenses, invalidation of liability insurance, legal action and risk to professional reputation. Additionally, there are severe penalties in place for non-compliance with state electrical safety laws. Of course there is a wider issue of non-conforming products across broader industry sectors. Following endorsement by the Prime Minister’s Manufacturing Leaders Group, Ai Group is examining the problems created by non-conforming products in the building and construction section and gathering further evidence on the scale and extent of these issues across the country. The focus of the project will be the major product categories of steel, glass, electrical, engineered

wood products, aluminium, paint and adhesives. We are working with companies, other industry bodies, and regulators to find the product types and industry sub-sectors most at risk. We will be mapping existing regulatory scope, controls and priorities to try to identify any gaps that may exist. With different regulations, standards and compliance mechanisms applying in different sectors it means there will not be a single solution across all sectors or product issues. Identifying the failure points in each sector will provide direction as to the solution for that sector. Case studies identifying successful strategies will be useful and businesses reporting non-compliance should be prepared to provide specific examples or evidence to support their claims. The findings will form a general report including recommendations to industry and governments. We will host an open forum to launch the report and discuss with all stakeholders the best way forward. We see this initial research as an important first step to solving this issue. The impact on product and building safety is of great concern and the uneven market created by non-conforming products risks a downward spiral of product standards and quality with the potential for significant harm to Australian manufacturers. Ai Group is seeking to work with industry bodies, regulators and businesses to research this issue. Interested parties can contact David Crossley (david.crossley@aigroup.asn. au or phone 02 4254 2502) or James Thomson (james.thomson@aigroup. asn.au or phone 02 4925 8313) to contribute information to this project. manmonthly.com.au

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Analysis NEWS Claim that FBT change is already biting

Industry bodies say the FBT change will not raise the $1.8 billion claimed by the government.

car fleet management company has claimed that the federal government’s proposed change to the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) has caused it to lay off a quarter of its workforce. According to AAP, Fleetcare says that 20 of its employees will lose their jobs this week because of the tightening of rules surrounding tax concessions on company vehicles. Fleetcare founder Nigel Malcolm said that the company had been devastated by the decision and that it had already had to cancel a number of orders. He wants the decision to be overturned and said, “If the government had consulted the industry, we could have worked out a plan that delivered a more positive outcome for everyone.”

Under the changes which will apply from April 2014, any driver who receives a new employerprovided car or car bought through salary sacrifice will have to keep a log of their private use of it. Such use will be subject to the FBT. This will be paid by their employers. Opposition leader Tony Abbott has pledged that a future Coalition government would not implement the change. In addition, he raised doubts that the change will raise the $1.8 billion that the government has claimed. Many within the automotive industry share this view. Matt Honan, of salary packaging company Remunerato told The Australian, “Over four years, the impact on import duties, luxury car tax, stamp duties, registration and

Family businesses making up less and less of manufacturing sector manufacturing “once the heartland of the sector – from 40% to 20% of the respondents” in the last decade. In 2006, the percentage was 26. Demagrapher Bernard Salt from KPMG told Business Spectator, “If you go back to 1976, that figure was around about 1.7 million so over a quarter of a century we have gone from 1.7 to under a million and in 10, 15 or even 20 years’ time, we’ll still be making stuff but we might not need 980,000 workers. “We might only have 600,000 workers and we might be making bricks and beer, stuff that’s too hard to bring in from overseas at an effective rate, or it might be high tech products that only the Australian market can make. “But in either case, the continued diminution of the manufacturing I would see – not elimination The face of manufacturing is changing. but continued erosion.”

ACCORDING to an RMIT-MGI survey, the percentage of family business in manuafacturing is contracting noticeably. Business Spectator notes that a decade ago, manufacturers made up 40 per cent of all family businesses, though the share is now on a sharp decline, and has been sped up by the GFC. The MGI Australian Family and Private Business Survey 2013, first published in 1994, states that there has been a fall in

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so on, we’re looking at a negative impact of $2.2bn. “So they’ll be in a hole for $400m.” Business Spectator points to the notion that the FBT concession is widely abused and claims that the change may actually help the local automotive manufacturing sector. Currently, many companies lease expensive imported cars and others often do use company cars for domestic purposes. The government is currently in negotiations with General Motors and Toyota in an attempt to formulate a strategy to save the local car manufacturing industry. The FBT is likely to be factored into that strategy and any damage caused by the change will be accounted for.

Child’s death leads to child-proof packaging for lithium batteries THE death of a four-year-old girl in Queensland has prompted Australian manufacturers of lithium batteries to introduce childproof packaging for their products. Safe packaging will be implemented as soon As the ABC as possible. reports, the move follows the death of Sunshine Coast girl Summer Steer. The child swallowed one of the batteries which subsequently burnt a hole in her stomach. The announcement follows a meeting convened in Sydney recently by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Battery manufacturers, importers, retailers and industry associations were represented at the meeting. Those involved agreed to strengthen consumer education, improve warnings on packaging and introduce childproof packaging as soon as possible. Lithium batteries are small and button-shaped. They are often found in household devices, such as remote controls. If swallowed, they can become lodged within the body. A chemical reaction caused by saliva can burn a whole in organs such as the oesophagus. Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 7

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Analysis NEWS Govt may change China investment rules THE federal government may consider easing restrictions on Chinese investment in Australia as part of a renewed effort to secure a free trade agreement (FTA) with the world’s most populous country. The Australian reports that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has put a comprehensive free trade agreement with Beijing back on the agenda as the government tries to bolster the Australian economy amid declining revenues and an uncertain resources sector outlook. Under former Prime Minister Gillard, the federal government free trade talks had reached a stalemate and Australia was pursuing a reduced form of free trade focused on agriculture given that it had refused to ease Chinese investment access. However, according to The Australian, the new Trade Minister Richard Marles is to soon fly to China to discuss a free trade deal and said that China is particularly interested in raising the threshold at which non-state investments are referred to the Foreign Investment Review Board. As it stands, privately-owned Chinese companies can invest $248 million in Australia without it being reviewed by the Foreign Investment

An FTA with China is becoming a top priority. Review Board (FIRB). And, in the case of Chinese state-owned enterprises, all investments must be approved by the FIRB. However, the United States and New Zealand can invest more than $1 billion in Australia without being scrutinised by the FIRB. In a phone conversation earlier this month, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Chinese President Xi Jinping both expressed a desire to

Rayson and RTK announce merger FLAT Glass industries has announced that its RTK subsidiary has merged with the Rayson Industries subsidiary of Scholz Industries. According to a statement from Flat Glass Industries, the integration of the facilities of the two companies will lead to manufacturing efficiencies. The two businesses have cohabited for the past 12 months and it is hoped that the merger will be beneficial to customers and employees. The new business will be known as Rayson RTK Pty Ltd. Both names have been retained because both have strong market recognition. The business will be owned by the current owners with approximately 65 per cent holdings by Scholz and 35 per cent by Flat Glass. The new business will be located in Hallam, Victoria. The merger took effect from 1 July 2013. And all details, including due diligence were wrapped up at the end of July.

8 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

conclude a free trade agreement between the two countries. Marles told The Australian that the government was prepared to look at the FTA “in a fresh light” and negotiate in a “practical and pragmatic” way. “The future of our economic relationships with China is going to shift from being one based on resources – although it will obviously still have a very large resources

component to it – to one that has a much bigger goods and services component,” he said. “If we were able to make progress on an FTA with China that would be a very significant contribution to the Australian economy given how important providing goods and services to the growing Chinese middle class is going to be for the future of the Australian economy and future prosperity in Australia.”

FLIR wins contract to fight international terrorism FLIR has won a $16 million contract to help international counter-terrorism. The company received the order for its Recon B2-FO integrated dual channel thermal binoculars from an Asian government customer tied strategically to the U.S. This country is also one of FLIR’s largest users of the Recon line. Work will begin immediately with shipments of the binoculars expected to start in the next 12 months. “We are very pleased to have been selected to provide these high performance long-range handheld imaging systems for this counter-terrorism mission,” Andy Teich, FLIR CEO stated. “Once again, our CDMQ model of developing, manufacturing, and distributing military-qualified imaging systems on a commercial basis has yielded a product that optimises size, weight, power, and global supportability.

Recon B2-FO integrated dual channel thermal binoculars. “This significant follow-on order from this customer demonstrates the effectiveness of our strategy and the long-term nature of our customer relationships.” manmonthly.com.au

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Christopher Pyne meets Holden workers, AMWU

British researchers use urine to charge mobile phone

COALITION frontbencher and Sturt MP Chris Pyne has met with Holden BRITISH researchers from the Bristol Robotics Laboratory claim to workers and the AMWU’s John have found a way to use urine to charge a mobile phone. Camillo regarding the car maker’s CBS reports that the scientists passed the urine through a stack future. of microbial cells which reacted to compounds including chloride, Adelaide Now reports that Pyne met sodium and potassium. workers at Holden’s Elizabeth factory, The Royal Society of Chemistry journal reported that, as a result, which shed 400 jobs on July 26, and they were able to harness a charge that was strong enough to make did not rule out assistance under a a brief call on a mobile phone, send a text message or browse the Coalition government, provided the web. The Coalition has said that if elected it car company had a plan to boost its According to the laboratory, the electricity is a by-product of the would cut $500 million in subsidies to the exports. microbes’ natural life cycle. When they eat, they generate. automotive industry. “I have a long-standing commitment Dr Adam Best, a senior research scientist at CSIRO’s Material to keep Holden operating in South is worried about the future,” said Science Engineering Unit, is familiar with the process. He told the Australia,” Pyne told Adelaide Now. “Alex”, a worker at the Elizabeth ABC’s PM program, “The process simply works by having the urine The Coalition has said that if plant. and water mixing together in a similar sort of structure as you would elected it would cut $500 million in “If Holden closes it would not have a normal fuel cell.” subsidies to the automotive industry. only be devastating for the northern “So whereby you’re applying the urine to one side or the negative Holden has said that it could suburbs but the whole of South side of the cell, and water on the positive side of the cell. leave Australia as early as the end Australia’s economy and we would “The reaction that occurs at the interface between the urine of the year if any taxpayer help is be flooding the already unstable solution and the water actually creates the voltage and the power cut. job market with thousands more and the energy to actually drive the system.” Earlier this week, SA Premier jobseekers. The scientists are now planning to develop the technology to the Jay Weatherill suggested that his “We don’t want to be treated point that it can fully charge the handheld phone. Also, it is hoped government might consider boosting specially, but the government and that it could produce enough electricity to power showers, lighting its funding M A 0 8to1 Holden. 3 _ 0 0 0 _ TSU 1 the 2 car 0 1 industry 3 - 0 7 need - 1 1to T be 1 0working : 3 3 : 2 9 + 1 or 0 electric : 0 0 razors. “Morale is very low and everyone together.”

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Analysis NEWS Coalition to ditch Innovation Precincts program if elected THE federal government’s planned network of up to ten Industry Innovation Precincts, a key part of its Industry and Innovation statement, would be abandoned if the Coalition were to win office in this year’s election. The precinct network – announced in February along with other measures such as mandatory Australian Industry Participation Plans to be completed for major projects worth over $500 million and changes to anti-dumping laws – is budgeted at $504.5 million. Its stated goals include creating better collaboration between researchers and industry. “Obviously greater cooperation between companies and researchers is fundamental and critical to our future and it’s a principle that the Coalition obviously supports and has done so for a long time,” shadow industry minister Sophie Mirabella told Manufacturers’ Monthly. When asked if the Innovation

The Manufacturing Precinct is headquartered at Monash University’s Clayton campus. Precincts would be scrapped if the Coalition were to be successful at the upcoming federal election – the date of which is the subject of speculation but which could be held no later than November 30 – Mrs Mirabella replied, “that’s correct.”

The first two Innovation Precincts announced were for the food and manufacturing industries. The Manufacturing Precinct, headquartered at Monash University’s Clayton campus, held its first board meeting on June 13.

Carbon tax to become floating price a year early PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has confirmed that the carbon tax would move to a floating price on carbon a year earlier than previously planned. The current tax on carbon of $24.15 was scheduled to move to $25.40 in 2014-15 before moving to a floating price, predicted to be about $6 to $10, a year after that. This is now due to happen on July 1 next year. The decision would “take the cost of living pressures off Australian families and still act on climate change,” Fairfax reported Rudd as saying. Prior to Rudd’s statement, federal treasurer Chris Bowen announced the earlier transition in carbon pricing. The Coalition was scathing of the decision, with opposition leader Tony Abbott questioning Rudd’s authenticity. “What he’s trying to say is that he is somehow against a carbon tax,” Abbott said. “In fact, he was a senior minister in the Government that voted for the carbon tax.” “Mr Rudd can change the name but whether it is fixed or floating it is still a carbon tax.” The Australian Industry Group welcomed the news, with CEO Innes Willox saying in a statement, “We will be looking for more detail, but in principle a switch to much lower internationally linked carbon prices next 10 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

The carbon price is now expected to fall. year would be very positive for businesses struggling with high energy prices and lost competitiveness.” The Australian Financial Review reports that programs most likely to be cut due to the decision include the Clean Technology Program, which has about $1/2 billion left to provide to manufacturers in the next two years.

Chair of the Manufacturing Innovation Precinct, Albert Goller, told Manufacturers’ Monthly that he was confident the precinct could continue its job regardless of the election outcome. “If we’re going to get a government that’s going to support us, then wonderful,” he said. “If we get a government that stays maybe a little bit more neutral, that will not hinder us to be successful.” The opposition claims that the government was unlikely to deliver on the initiative, and the funding for it was based on “shaky” figures. “Apparently approvals of any of the proposals for at least 80 per cent of innovation precincts announced in the industry statement are also being postponed until after the election,” said Mirabella. “So not to mention that there’s been at least 12 months’ delay on a decision on where at least one of the two that have so far been nominated will be housed permanently.”

EFIC appoints new CEO THE Export Finance & Insurance Corporation (EFIC) has announced that Andrew Hunter has been appointed at the agency’s new managing director and CEO. Hunter stepped into the position on July 29. EFIC’s current chairman, Andrew Mohl said, “Andrew [Hunter] brings a wealth of relevant knowledge and experience to the role and is excited to be joining EFIC. He has had a career spanning almost 23 years in financial services, with significant experience in offshore markets and in structuring credit transactions”. Hunter was recently the co-head of Macquarie’s financial institution group in Australia, and prior to that was head of the group’s London office and of Macquarie Group Europe. He replaces the current CEO Angus Armour, who has spent twenty years at EFIC; ten as the CEO. Armour will step into the role of deputy director general, industry, innovation, hospitality and the arts for the NSW Department of Trade & Investment, officially leaving EFIC on August 30. “The Board would like to thank Angus for his significant contribution to EFIC. Over the past decade, EFIC has signed facilities totalling more than $5 billion, supporting over $22 billion of Australian exports to 65 countries from SMEs and large companies in a broad span of industries,” Mohl said.

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Energy inefficiency is costing Australia billions: report IF Australia were to improve its energy efficiency by 1 per cent, it would be able to add $26 billion to the economy by 2030. This is a finding of research commissioned by the Climate Institute and US energy giant General Electric. According to the research, Australia’s poor investment in energy efficiency is costing the nation tens of billions of dollars in of economic growth. This new research, the first to quantify the impact that energy efficiency can have on economic output, found that on average a 1 per cent improvement in energy efficiency boosted GDP per person by 0.1 percentage points. It was carried out by Vivid Economics and is based on analysis of over 30 years of data from 28 countries. “If Australia improved its energy efficiency by just an extra one per cent each year it would generate an additional $8 billion in GDP by 2020 and $26 billion by 2030,” said John Connor, CEO The Climate Institute. “This is an important contribution to improving Australia’s productivity, as well as cutting our energy bills and carbon pollution.” There are some simple steps that Australia could take to cut energy use across the economy. For example, major industrial sectors like A 1 per cent energy efficiency improvement could add $26 billion to the manufacturing, resources extraction economy by 2030. and processing, construction, and freight and air transport could cut their energy use by 11 per cent, saving companies some Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has confirmed that $3 billion each year, according to recent research the carbon tax would move to a floating price on by ClimateWorks Australia. carbon a year earlier than previously planned. Energy saving tactics range between sectors, The news was welcomed by The Australian but can include upgrading equipment, retrofitting Industry Group, with CEO Innes Willox saying in a buildings and refining operational processes. statement, “We will be looking for more detail, but According to GE Australia & New Zealand in principle a switch to much lower internationally Director of ecomagination, Ben Waters, there is linked carbon prices next year would be very plenty of potential to achieve productivity gains positive for businesses struggling with high energy and eliminate costs from some of Australia’s major prices and lost competitiveness.” industries, such as mining, and manufacturing. However, Connor said that the move to the ETS “This new research reaffirms that improvements is going to have to be accompanied by increased in energy efficiency and economic growth are not ambition on the climate change issue, strengthened mutually exclusive,” said Waters. domestic policy and a continued integral role for “By making even small investments in our energy the independent Climate Change Authority. productivity, we have the opportunity to reach new “Remember why we did all this in the first place: levels of efficiency, drive economic growth and it is about reducing Australia’s disproportionate improve utilisation of our scarce energy, mineral, contribution to climate change and making our agricultural and water resources while reducing high carbon economy competitive in the low-carbon carbon emissions.” reality of the 21st century,” he said. manmonthly.com.au

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TechnologyIT@MM What the cloud holds for manufacturers The rising popularity of and potential offered by cloud computing is nothing new. In areas like ERP and CAD, the benefits of cloud – quick rollout, a saving on IT capital expenditure, boosted computing muscle – have been known by industrial users and those offering them solutions for some time. Brent Balinski reports.

“W

e have done the cloud with our services since 2002 and now we have about 20 per cent for customers in the cloud as a software solution,” said Paul Goepfert, Pronto’s marketing manager, who notices that demand for cloud capabilities in ERP has been on the up and up across all industries. Surveys such as those published this year by US research consultancy Mint Jutras and MYOB in Australia are illustrative. Mint Jutras’s survey found that 22 per cent of all manufacturing and distribution software was Software as a Service (SaaS), and this was predicted to grow to 45 per cent in a decade. The 2013 MYOB Business Monitor Survey, published in March this year and carried out by Colmar Brunton, found that 16 per cent of SMEs (up from 14 per cent about a year before) were using cloud computing, and these companies were 106 per cent more likely to have seen a revenue rise in the last year. Not to be outdone, the federal government recently jumped on

12 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

The cloud offers productivity and efficiency benefits. the bandwagon, with then-minister for communications and broadband Stephen Conroy announcing in lateMay that federal agencies would be required to consider cloud services “for new ICT procurements,” and this would have productivity and savings benefits. Goepfert said that using the cloud, essentially IT as a service, helped keep costs down and get a quick result. “You don’t need to manage a farm or server and stuff like that,” he told Manufacturers’ Monthly. “The second reason why there’s a lot of demand is when companies make a decision to invest in IT they want that to have an impact very fast. “Obviously in the cloud you don’t need to buy a server, you don’t need to wait for it to be delivered.

It makes the implementation faster. And when manufacturing spends capital investment that’s not for example in your press or your bending machine, they want it to be effective very rapidly.” Although ERP solutions often feature cloud, design is an area where the benefits are huge, at least according to design software company Autodesk, whose products CEO Carl Bass famously said last year would eventually only be used online. “So if you’re looking at the way that the internet or the cloud is providing opportunities for massive computing power, it’s all sitting out there in data centres and Amazon servers and all of those,” explained Karsten Hojberg, then director of the manufacturing solutions division, Autodesk Australia, and now the

company’s senior manager of Clean Tech Business Development. Autodesk believes that one of the key benefits of cloud CAD for SME manufacturers is the access to what it likes to call “infinite computing” – accessing extra computing horsepower and gaining more sophisticated modelling and more simulations in less time – through its Autodesk 360 services. Another major plus, Hojberg told Manufacturers’ Monthly, was greater collaboration within a company. “Once you have that level of computing you also have this massive infrastructure for collaboration and sharing,” he said. “So it all of a sudden doesn’t matter if your designer is living in Bundaberg, Queensland and your manufacturing plant is in Sydney, you want to be able to know manmonthly.com.au

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that you have easy collaboration across all aspects of your design process, certainly, and then your manufacturing process. “So that’s what really the cloud delivers. It serves the hardware and technology that people haven’t had before.” Increased collaboration and more effective, quicker innovation is behind CAD rival SolidWorks’ Mechanical Conceptual product, which was announced at SolidWorks World 2013 and is currently in trials. Collaboration and social sharing on a private cloud are to be features of Mechanical Conceptual when it is released. Being connected at many different levels throughout the innovation process are what customers have demanded, SolidWorks has said. “And one of those things is collaboration in the design process or engineering process and that can be internal collaboration, with stakeholders in their business or supply chain,” Shane Preston, CEO of Solidtec Solutions, a SolidWorks re-seller in Australia and New Zealand, told Manufacturers’ Monthly. “Some of those are also early in the process encouraging collaboration to try and harvest great ideas and use those as a basis for innovation.” “I think [parent company] Dassault and SolidWorks are now saying our customers are looking for increased collaboration and the culture’s becoming more and more online and more and more in-tune with social media. So we’re looking to bring those two together to create a company that has an increased ability to compete.” Preston said he didn’t see cloud CAD replacing desktop products, at least not in the near-term, and they could exist side by side. A desktop solution makes sense to clients who aren’t “power users,” reasoned Preston. For users with highly complex needs, they might feel the need to progress to a cloud-based system, he said. Smaller users didn’t always need a lot of computing strength. “A desktop application makes manmonthly.com.au

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a lot of sense to them; they don’t have large overheads in terms of maintaining or administering desktop-based software.” And there are those who have security concerns around IT as a service. Goepfert pointed out that certain manufacturers would never in a million years consider a cloudbased ERP system, and there wasn’t a one-size-fits all consideration. “For example we have a customer that is creating banknotes and sim cards and for these guys, there’s no way they will go in the cloud, ever,” he said. “We have another customer, Nike, and for them they decided to go cloud, no questions asked. Why is that? Because they wanted to implement new outlets, very rapidly, because they are planning to grow tremendously over the next few years. “They don’t want to buy equipment, hardware, they just want to enable it in at the most an hour. And between these two extremes you have a complete variety of needs. People that don’t want to buy the hardware but want to own the software.”

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Technology IT@MM Manufacturers who are making the move to the cloud According to Netsuite Australia, its cloud-based software suites offer manufacturers a range of capabilities to manufacture, forecast, price, track and schedule products. NETSUITE Australia, a provider of cloud-based financials/ERP and omnichannel commerce software suites, reports that a growing number of Australian manufacturers are turning to cloud manufacturing solutions. These include Headland, Precision Mechatronics and BA Equipment Group. A complete cloud manufacturing solution provides them with robust capabilities to efficiently manufacture, forecast, price, track and schedule products, with a focus on design and a single platform for both B2B and B2C distribution. Today’s manufacturers face shifting economic conditions, accelerated time to value and the need to innovate rapidly. Modern manufacturers require a system that helps them reduce costs during the design process, efficiently manage multi-channel distribution, continuously innovate and leverage a dynamic supply network, while adapting to mobile-empowered customers blurring the lines between B2B and B2C and demanding a modern Ecommerce experience. “Traditional on-premise software approaches used by many manufacturers create a barrier to product innovation and business growth by increasing IT costs, driving up the cost of production and decreasing business efficiency and accuracy,” said Mark Troselj, managing director of APAC for NetSuite. “By switching to the NetSuite cloud, today’s modern manufacturers can accelerate innovation, produce higher-quality products at high margins, rapidly adapt to market changes and distribute across multiple channels, gaining a competitive advantage and driving success in the global economy.” NetSuite’s integrated business solution complements manufacturing-specific functionality with order and inventory management, fulfilment, financials and accounting, CRM, services automation, Ecommerce and more, eliminating the pain and inefficiency 14 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

The cloud holds attractions for manufacturers. of maintaining multiple disparate systems. NetSuite is intended to free staff from inefficient manual work and channel resources into valueadded activity such as R&D, supply network optimisation, customer service and support.

Headland Headland supplies metal working machinery equipment to the manufacturing and engineering sectors within Australia and New Zealand. Headland turned to NetSuite OneWorld in 2011 to improve business efficiency and streamline workflows using a rich, cloud-based ERP solution that provides a single comprehensive view of its business, while enabling the company to grow by supporting multicurrency conversion capabilities. Headland is using NetSuite OneWorld in eight different currencies in two countries for financials, inventory management, fulfilment, CRM, process workflow, project costing and reporting, as well

as other core processes. As part of the solution, Headland developed its own service management

Precision Mechatronics Precision Mechatronics and its stable of companies in Australia, Taiwan and the US, provide custom-designed, built and fully installed equipment solutions for many industries and environments. It also supplies atmospheric plasma technology products for a broad range of industries, such as semiconductor, aerospace, medical devices, renewable energy and advanced materials including composites. It now relies on NetSuite OneWorld for financials, inventory and order management, customer service, marketing, sales force automation and other core business processes. NetSuite OneWorld supports multiple languages, currencies, taxes and reporting standards to fulfil the needs of its international expansion, providing one system to automatically manage local financial requirements in any market it expands into.

BA Equipment Group BA Equipment Group supplies rock-breaking hammers and fixed hydraulic boom systems to the civil construction, demolition, quarrying and mining industries in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. It is also the distributor of hydraulic rock breakers, demolition equipment and other complementary attachments through a well-established network of dealers throughout Australia and New Zealand. BA Equipment Group moved to NetSuite to help it separate from its parent business and deploy fully featured ERP systems across multiple offices with no hardware required. It now uses NetSuite for financials, customer service, inventory and order management, project management, marketing, sales force automation and other core processes. Today, more than 16,000 companies and subsidiaries depend on NetSuite to run complex, mission– critical business processes globally in the cloud. manmonthly.com.au

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What’sNew See more new products at manmonthly.com.au

Long-range sensor for worker protection

The shield clamps allow shielding on both sides in extensive systems.

Shield clamp with filter WEIDMULLER has released a shield clamp that allows users to shield on both sides of a cable to eliminate noise. The KLBU RC shield clamp discharges interference currents. The built-in frequency filter in the shield clamp prevents high frequency noise from being transferred across the cable. It effectively suppresses interfering currents to help ensure a more effective and responsive system. Suitable for use in long or extensive systems, the shield clamp is particularly recommended for use in power plants, sewage plants, wastewater and other industrial facilities where the use of numerous data cables, processors and frequency converters is growing. According to the company, the shield

clamp also aids functional earthing to help protect electrical equipment. It allows users to shield at both ends of long cable routes to also help ensure the performance and safety of the electrical cables. It is certified for resistance to vibration, meets the requirements of wind-power plants and can be used in mobile installations. Available in three different terminal sizes from 3-20mm, the shield clamps match cable diameters for secure contact. Plus, they allow for flexible installation. Whether users are working with TS 35 top-hat rails or TS 27 C-rails, the devices are simple to install. Weidmuller 1300 914 822 www.weidmuller.com.au

3 Pole Mini PL connector

THE Reer Admiral AX-LR (Long Range – 60 m) safety light grid has been designed for the protection of workers using dangerous machines. It is specifically intended for outdoor applications. The IP 67 heated version with -25 to +55 °C makes AX LR an ideal choice even for harsh environments. The light grid has two safe PNP static outputs. Since it has all the safety functions integrated inside the emitter and the receiver it can work without an external control unit. It complies with the requirements of the European Standard EN 61496-1 and of the International Standard IEC 61496-1-2. The light grid integrates the start/restart interlock function as well as the External Device Monitoring. The AX LR DB/AX LR DB WTH versions feature a Dual Beam system and are useful in outdoor applications and in harsh environments. They decrease the light curtain sensitivity to small objects such as leaves, snow, etc. Treotham Automation 1300 615 110 www.treotham.com.au

The sensor uses standard cables.

Heavy duty floor sweeper THE Ausa B201RH heavy duty floor sweeper is built on the platform of a 2000 kg mini dumper. It is powered by a four-cylinder diesel Kubota engine and has a four wheel drive hydrostatic transmission which is intended to provide the driver complete control on all surfaces. The unit has a main broom and two side brooms to give a total sweep path of 2370 mm and offers selectable dust control by means of water sprays. The sweeper section hopper is 245 L which can be dumped in the bucket of

the dumper which holds 1250 L. This combination is intended to offer hours of continuous operation. With the attachment of a 180 L bucket, the unit can be changed into a self-loading 2000 kg dump truck. This process takes less than 15 minutes. For safety, the sweeper has oil immersed wet disc brakes and the driver’s guard is ROPS rated. A windscreen with washer is standard. Lencrow Materials Handling 1300 245 993 www.lencrowgroup.com.au

THE 3 Position Mini PL SPEC Pak, a compact, environmentally sealed (IP68) connector, is capable of 22 amps at 600 volts (UL). The 3 Position Mini PL connector features a manual release latch to prevent accidental un-mating and is touch safe on both sides (per UL 1977 section 10.2). Its rugged shell is fire resistant (UL94 V0) and weather resistant (UL746C F1). It leverages PowerMod pin and socket contact technology. These 30μ gold plated contacts will accommodate wire sizes from 24 to 14 AWG (0.50 to 2.50 mm²). The pins are available in three length and provide sequencing capabilities for design flexibility. It is suitable for use in harsh environments and is often used in the marine, wind power, lighting, transportation, industrial automation, and solar power sectors. Soanar 1300 250 783 www.soanar.com The floor sweeper has a four wheel drive hydrostatic transmission. 16 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

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Reengineered layer palletiser

The palletiser can be adapted to different pallet sizes.

BEUMER has reengineered its highcapacity layer palletiser Beumer Paletpac. It has been upgraded to provide better accessibility, shorter assembly period, and higher flexibility. The palletiser can be incorporated into high-performance packaging lines to process sensitive and valuable products in a gentle and efficient manner. In order to optimise the energy consumption in the palletiser, the lifting frame has been exchanged for four chains with a counterweight. This is intended to save weight and minimise the energy needed for the lifting movement. The pallet is now pulled up by the chains. Previously, a large hoist drive was needed for the system, but now a small motor operating as a servo drive is sufficient. It results in further weight reduction and less maintenance. And when maintenance or cleaning is needed, maintenance personnel can access all the components more easily. The unit is now considerably slimmer and the external frame elements can now be folded. In this way, the whole palletiser head fits into one transport container. Beumer Group Australia 02 9450 0380 www.beumergroup.com

True-absolute linear and rotary encoders SIEMENS DRIVE-CLiQ is the innovative, powerful communications interface to connect encoder and direct measurement systems with SINUMERIK and SINAMICS drive components. RESOLUTE true-absolute optical encoder with the DRIVE-CLiQ interface allows machine builders to achieve higher performance and greater reliability. This product determines position immediately upon switch-on and so is particularly suitable for use in highperformance lathe spindles as well as DDR torque motors requiring the highest levels of precision and motion control integrity. Its unique operating principle is analogous to an ultrahigh speed digital camera, capturing images of the scale, enabling resolutions up to 1 nm to be achieved (32-bit on rotary) even at speeds up to 100 m/s (36 000 rev/min on rotary). Advanced optics mean the detection scheme also has intrinsic low Sub-Divisional Error (SDE) and very low noise (jitter), so users can benefit from lower velocity ripple and rock-solid positional stability. Such high-fidelity motion control performance is normally only associated with much more fragile encoders, but RESOLUTE adds ruggedness and reliability, with sealed readheads and scales constructed from dependable shatter-proof engineering materials. manmonthly.com.au

The encoders are designed for high-fidelity motion control performance. Renishaw 03 9521 0922 www.renishaw.com Manufacturersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Monthly AUGUST 2013 17

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What’sNEW Flame detectors

The bolt removal and thread refurbishment tool is designed for safety and precision.

Bolt removal and thread refurbishment tool THE Hydratight geniSYS II is a highly portable 4-axis CNC milling machine capable of accurate removal of cracked or broken studs and precise refurbishment of damaged threads, without the need for manually controlled drilling or metal disintegration techniques. The tool is entirely computer controlled, providing desired results in a safe and controlled manner, across a range of bolt extraction and threading applications. This includes work on recirculation pumps, turbine cases, heat exchangers, motor bases and many more high impact assets. Full CNC operation allows for accurate

and repeatable machining while the motion control command centre provides performance monitoring and technician safety.The tool is available complete with 3-axis mill assembly; motion control package; all required bits and extensions; and an optional voltage converter. Features of the tool include 452.1 mm depth of cut to handle the most demanding thread and boring applications. Its high tolerance profile rails are intended to produce consistent results. Hydratight 08 9353 1659 www.hydratight.com

SIMTRONICS MultiFlame DF-TV7 series flame detectors are designed to provide fast and accurate detection of hydrocarbon fires while ensuring reliable false alarm immunity. They are available in Multispectral IR (IR3) and UV/2IR versions; both are housed in a rugged 316 stainless steel enclosure, approved to ATEX, CE, and IECEx global standards, and certified and suitable for use in SIL2 applications. The flame detectors are based on a multi-infrared spectrum (IR3) technology that provides the longest distanceto-detection on the market (80m for n-Heptane). This technology is highly sensitive to fire and is ideal for use in dirty environments and for smoky fires. They use combined ultraviolet/infrared (UV-2IR) optical technology that provides immunity to false alarms based on the two IR channel design. Both solutions are said to provide very efficient false alarm rejection while keeping optimum sensitivity to fire.

Device Type Managers for TDR sensors VEGA’S new Device Type Managers (DTM) contain functional enhancements for instrument adjustment with a PC. The Collection contains functional enhancements for TDR sensors of the VEGAFLEX 80 series (e.g. Profibus and HART SIL). Functional enhancements for adjustment of other sensors as well as signal conditioning instruments have also been added. All DTMs available in this version have been checked and released for operation under Microsoft Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 as well as Windows 8. This also applies to the included version of the adjustment software PACTware 4.1 SP3. All DTMs for adjustment of VEGA sensors and signal conditioning instruments are available in DTM Collection 05/2013. The DTMs describe the functionality of the hardware and allow complete adjustment. They have been developed according to the FDT/DTM Style Guide. The new DTMs supersede the older DTMs of the same series. Compatibility across all instrument versions is ensured. This means that the user can adjust all instrument generations entirely with the latest release. Vega Australia 1300 614 344 www.vega.com/au/

18 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

The flame detectors are suitable for use in dirty environments. The Flame detectors can be configured to communicate with a wide range of fire panels, controllers, and PLCs and offer HART 7 and Syntel (Lonworks) protocols for addressable event monitoring. Prodetec 02 9620 8700 www.prodetec.com.au

The I/O system is highly modularized and flexible.

I/O system THE iDCS-8830 modular remote redundant I/O system supports Modbus/ TCP and Modbus/UDP with 8 I/O slots designed to work in duplex or simplex applications. It provides easy installation of the I/O modules and process cabling. The system is highly modularized and flexible, so that the I/O modules can be combined to suit many applications including most types of signals, digital, analog, counter and HART. The station of the I/O system consists of power modules, communication modules, I/O modules and termination boards. The power modules provide the isolated power to the system. The communication modules are the interface to the iDCS-8830 I/O

modules and the iDCS-8830 I/O modules sense or control the device in the field. Termination boards are used to connect between signals to/from the field and I/O modules. All of this supports Hot-Swap allowing modules to be replaced. The communication component of this system comprises a pair of partnered Ethernet adapter modules that communicate with Modbus/TCP or Modbus/UDP protocol, and the I/O modules that are configurable in simplex or duplex modes. This system supports max 4 redundant pairs of I/O modules that work in Duplex mode. ICP Electronics Australia 1300 402 822 www.icp-australia.com.au manmonthly.com.au

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Knee protection pads VISIONSafe offers the Guardsman range of strong, comfortable knee protection pads. There are two styles available. The Air Suspension knee pad (KP4020) has a hard, transparent knee cap shell with nylon tensioning strings threaded behind to provide an air cushion which can absorb pressure and provide an unbelievable shock absorbing capability. The Anti-slip Knee Pad (KP4019) has a soft, hardwearing foam knee cap pad to increase comfort and prevent slipping over extended periods of kneeling. manmonthly.com.au

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Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 19

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Packaging EQUIPMENT

The singulator’s small footprint facilitates retrofitting.

A simple space-saving singulation solution ‘Singulation’ is necessary if you want to minimise manual labour and have an efficient packaging operation. A new system adds a simple innovation to do the job in a nice compact area. Matt McDonald reports.

20 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

onveyor belts are a tried and true means of moving products quickly and efficiently. But they aren’t particularly neat. They tend to deliver items in a random, disorderly fashion. Manufacturers don’t like this type of disorder because it slows things down and costs money. They want systems that can line-up or ‘singulate’ randomly oriented products into an orderly straight queue for packaging. The High Speed Singulation System from Machinery Automation and Robotics (MAR) is one such system. Recently launched at AUSPACK PLUS 2013 in Sydney, it is recommended for use with foods and other delicate items that can’t be crushed or pushed around too vigorously. In fact, it was so well received at

that exhibition that it was named ‘Best New Product’ at the APPMA Awards of Excellence. As such, it was judged to deliver proven efficiency and productivity gains; to be innovative; and to have proven and improved cost of ownership. Manufacturers Monthly was on hand at AUSPACK PLUS 2013 where we spoke with MAR General Manager, Troy Krogh about the singulator. “The system is quite simple, using conveyor technology,” he explained. “That’s really the beauty of the system, its low complexity. It is easy to understand and easy for our clients to use.” He pointed out that “typically, singulation requires a large footprint and involves multiple conveyors in a line.” Such systems need space to line

up their items. In these cases, singulation occurs at the point where the products move to the next conveyor. And because they need multiple conveyors they need plenty of space. In contrast, the MAR singulator doesn’t need a lot of space. The system involves a series of 90 degree turns using standard belt type conveyors. Each conveyor in the series is running at a higher travel rate than the previous in order to pull the gap needed for singulation. “This uses a very small foot print in a circular arrangement to allow users to singulate products out to packaging. That allows robots to pick the products to place into packaging or to feed into a flow wrapper,” Krogh says.

A simple innovation So the innovation is in the 90 degree manmonthly.com.au

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turns. Rather than travelling in a conventional straight line, the conveyors take your products on a little journey around a square (or rectangular). At the end of that little journey they are in a nice uniform queue. The whole system has turned back on itself and the job is completed in a compact area. While the dimensions and foot print vary depending on application, the typical foot print for a single lane system is approximately 1200mm x 1200mm. In summary, Krogh says, “It is a very low cost....very simple to use system.” The high speed singulation system was originally designed with food manufacturing in mind. It is suitable for use with doughnuts, muffins, cookies, corndogs, poultry, confectionary, burritos, frozen foods, baked goods, patties, and so forth. However, it may also be applied to a range of other applications in many different M A 0industries. 8 1 3 _ 0 0 0 _ SCH Designed for long life and

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available and there is a choice between two belt width options.

Retrofitting

Troy Krogh, Sam Kekovich, Malcolm McIntosh, Adam Saint & Jamie Bailey accept the award for Best New Product at the APPMA awards. high performance regardless of applications and is easily integrated the operating environment, it is into existing lines and infrastructure. available with a choice of aluminium Single and multiple lane or stainless steel frame construction. singulation systems are available It has a robust, hygienic and dependent on rate and product flow. easy-to-clean structure and features Each lane can handle speeds of up to 1sealed 2 0 ball 1 3 bearings. - 0 7 - 1It1can T 1be 0 : 5 5 : 4 500 7 + pieces 1 0 : /0minute. 0 adapted for multiple product There is a washdown version

And the singulator can be retrofitted. According to Krogh, the small footprint again facilitates any retrofitting. “We can integrate the singulation of the product and also add the robotics systems to the line either immediately or in phases,” he says. “Management may decide to replace some manual labour initially...and then ultimately remove all labour from that area.” The decision comes down to each individual business but, ultimately, the system is intended to make a positive impact on the packaging environment by transforming bulk flow of items into a single sortable stream without the need for manual intervention. Effective singulation means faster operation, increased efficiency, less downtime and a healthier bottom line. Now those are some things that manufacturers definitely do like.

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Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 21

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Q&A:THE PEOPLE OF MANUFACTURING Q&A: Andy Pearson, Technical Support Centre Manager As part of our new Q&A series we interview you, and find out what your job is day to day. In this edition, we speak to Andy Pearson, Rockwell Automation’s manager Asia Pacific, for its Technical Support Centre. Manufacturers’ Monthly: What are your primary roles and responsibilities in your job? Give us a day in your working life.

In 1996, I immigrated with my family to New Zealand, which is where I joined Rockwell Automation. My first role with Rockwell Automation was as a project engineer/project manager running automation projects as part of the solution delivery group. I was offered the opportunity to manage a large facilities management project for the semiconductor industry in Malaysia. Whilst working on that project, which lasted about a year, Rockwell Automation asked me to take over the Solution Delivery team in SouthEast Asia, which was more of a business management role. I was in that position for 10 years before I moved to Melbourne to manage the Asia Pacific Technical Support Centre two years ago.

Andy Pearson: I am the Remote Support Services Centre Manager for the Asia-Pacific region for Rockwell Automation. In this role, I manage a team that provides technical assistance to Rockwell Automation customers. The support takes place by telephone, email or through online chat services. We provide this service by use of our extensive knowledge of the services and products provided by Rockwell Automation and by utilising our global technical support database. We also provide support to our in house global technical teams working in the automation space. We have three remote support centres in the region. I operate out of our Melbourne centre, but I am also responsible for two other centres, in Shanghai and India. My primary role is to manage the operations at these centres and make sure we have the required technical competency and resources available to support our customers. The Asia support centre also forms part of our global “Follow the Sun” service which offers 24/7 support for our customers by also utilising our support centres in Europe and the Americas.

MM: What tools and/or software do you use on a daily basis?

AP: The primary software tool we

MM: What training/education did you need for your job?

AP: I’m originally from the United Kingdom. I started my career as an electrical apprentice for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). I studied Electrical / Electronic Engineering at Teesside University in the UK. Since then, I’ve also taken many development courses in automation technology, business, leadership and 22 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Andy Pearson is responsible for three technical support centres. project management. I am a certified Project Management professional.

MM: How did you get to where you are today?

AP: I started as an electrical apprentice with ICI before moving into electrical design engineering

for the ICI engineering design office. Eventually I joined a system integration group in the UK where I started to specialise in Automation Engineering. I have worked on many automation projects as a Project Engineer and then Project Manager in the UK, Europe and Asia Pacific.

use is the SAP CRM module. With this software every interaction we have with our customers, colleagues and partners is documented in a service ticket. We document everything to the industry standard, Knowledge Centered Support methodology (KCS). We use the standards so that a documented solution can be used globally for the benefit of all our customers. It is accessible through our global knowledge base solution, Rockwell Automation Support Centre.

MM: What is the one thing that you are most proud of in your professional life?

AP: During the period I spent in Southeast Asia as a solution business manager, I helped build a project manmonthly.com.au

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delivery team capable of delivering diverse automation solutions across multiple countries. That’s something I am most proud of during my time with Rockwell Automation, helping to build up the Solution Delivery business in Southeast Asia.

Different people have different ways of doing things and I’ve found that the key to maintaining detailed and accurate documentation is by helping them to understand that getting it right early saves time down the track.

MM: Biggest daily challenge?

MM: What is the biggest challenge

MM: Biggest career challenge?

MM: Is there anything else about your

AP: The biggest challenge in my

job you want Australia to know about?

career was during the period I moved into more of a commercial role. I had always been involved on the technical side of the business as a project engineer or manager. Then during my time in Malaysia I was asked to run the solution business and I had to pick up the required commercial skills very quickly. It was a significant change from what was purely a technical and operational role to a business/ commercial position. That is when you really need a great mentor and I was lucky enough to have one.

MM: What is your biggest frustration in your job?

AP: Customer service is a priority for our group and having detailed customer case knowledge is an important step towards achieving this. We have implemented processes and templates to allow for consistency and ease of information sharing between the group and the biggest frustration is getting people to adhere to the templates and processes. manmonthly.com.au

paid for technical support in Asia’s emerging markets. The customer buys a contract that gives them the ability to access real-time technical support of products supplied by Rockwell Automation. That concept is well established in what might be considered more mature markets in the South Pacific, North America and Europe. When a customer is in trouble, and there is potential to lose significant revenue in lost production, to have an experienced global team available at any hour of the day, that you can reach in real time, in your local language is of great value to our customers.

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AP: We are working to expand our Asia Pacific service to include an application support service. When a customer calls and says they have a problem or query with a product we will support them by helping to rectify the issue. However, if we also know how the product has been applied then we are able to offer the next level of support. To get to that next level, we endeavour to gain a greater understanding of the customer’s manufacturing process and how they have developed their application. We will spend time with the customer to transfer that knowledge of their system to our team. We also set up a dedicated group of engineers for the customer so that when the customer calls they are talking to a person who has in-depth knowledge of their system. We will also review the system and any support events with the customer at scheduled review meetings.

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Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 23

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Motors & DRIVES Electric motors for turbo-compressors Traditionally, large compressors in modern plants have been driven by gas turbines. However, as Amin Almasi* writes, variable-speed electric-motor drives can be employed to do the job more economically.

he large compressors in modern plants demand drive powers in the region of 10 to 150 MW. Traditionally, they have been driven by gas turbine. The “all electric” concept seeks to eliminate the gas turbine and use the variable-speed electric-motor drives. The main benefit from this would be the added productivity of the plant, from around 340 days for gas turbine drive systems, to a theoretical 365 days a year. Advanced electric motors and modern compressors in the cleangas service theoretically don’t need routine maintenance. Accounting for unscheduled outages of the compression units of 3 to 5 days per year, the compressor train still yields a minimum of 17 to 20 added production days. This is important given modern, large plants have a production value of around $0.5 to 1.5 million per day. Other benefits of electric motor driven compressors are derived from the better controllability of variable speed drives, and the unlimited number of (soft) starts. Electric motors are around 50 to 70 per cent of the initial cost compared to modern gas turbines with the same ratings. Two-pole brushless synchronous motors in power ratings up to and beyond 100 MW have not been built in the past due to lack of demand. From the manufacturer’s prospective there is no reason not to build large two-pole synchronous electric motors. Their design, materials, manufacturing methods, and analyses (electrical, mechanical and thermal studies) are identical to those of two-pole synchronous generators which are used in many power plants around the world in ratings up to 400 MW (and above). Higher speed applications, variable speed requirements and

24 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

A variable speed drive panel for a large VSD electric motor. new component designs for large electric motor applications may impose some changes. Sometimes, the qualification process for critical components is crucial and correspondingly extensive. The detailed mechanical/electrical design reviews, the rotordynamics analysis, the torsional review, the control issues, the RAM (reliability, availability and maintainability) studies, and comprehensive network stability studies should be performed to satisfy both the operating company and the manufacturer. Independent design reviews can provide the necessary neutral assessment of the up-scaled electric motor technology. The design of the associated variable frequency drives of the load commutated inverter type, on the other hand, amounts to a downsizing from existing high voltage DC technology and is less crucial.

Mechanical issues While economics say that electric motors are the best option, the

units are not without their own mechanical issues. For example, with large electric motors, the flexible rotor concept is generally used. In other words, the rotor runs super-critical (the first critical speed lies below the operating speed range). The rotor should be dynamically balanced. The rotor design and construction are usually such that a subsequent field balancing would not be needed (whereas it is often possible). For large high-speed electric motors, the usual balancing methods based on rigid body balancing theories aren’t sufficient to create an adequate balancing condition for heavy elastic rotors (with relatively wide bearing spans). A special task for electrical motors is the handling of thermal unbalances. Because of the use of various materials with different thermal expansion coefficients, combined with a non-uniform temperature distribution under a load condition, special care should be taken to achieve symmetrical

mechanical and thermally insensitive design. Dynamic studies and performance tests of high-speed large electric motors usually show high vibrations. Particularly high vibrations at bearings are reported (whether the bearing housing or the bearing locations of the shaft). Even for some large electric motors, vibration velocities over 6 mm/s (more than three times of “1.8 mm/s”, the allowable limit by some electric motor codes) are measured. To clarify the source of these vibrations, a dynamic modal analysis should be used. For large high-speed electric motors, if it’s impossible to reduce the vibration below standard limits, the achieved vibration level should still be below harmful fatigue levels. In such cases, the vibration and noise would be high but a failure will not be expected. If such steps are followed electric motors are a viable option. *Amin Almasi is a rotating machine consultant in Australia. manmonthly.com.au

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AEDT

NORD Drivesystems (AU) Pty Ltd 18 Stoney Way, Derrimut , Victoria, 3030 Australia Phone: +61 3 9394 0500, Fax: +61 3 9394 1525 www.nord.com.au National Customer Service 1300 00 NORD (6673), au-sales@nord.com Member of the NORD DRIVESYSTEMS Group

AU_ManuMonthly_May_250313.indd 1

25.03.13 11:37

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Motors & DRIVES

Heavy industry moves into top gear A quiet revolution is under way in the field of drive engineering. Practices that are familiar within manufacturing environments are now spreading to heavy industries such as minerals processing and mining. As a leading provider of drive automation solutions to these sectors, SEW-EURODRIVE is well placed to observe this shift.

ccording to the company’s state manager for South Australia, Robert Justice, heavy industries are beginning to seek ‘24 hour, seven days a week’ breakdown support. There is also demand for local expertise and local assembly of the large drives required for mining and materials handling applications. “This level of service has been traditionally available to the manufacturers. Now we are seeing similar expectations emerge in other fields,” he says. “In a recent example, when Adelaide Brighton Cement constructed a new cement mill at their Birkenhead site in Port Adelaide, they

It was important that the large X Series gear unit could be delivered within 12 weeks. needed gear units of varying sizes for the mill’s conveyer belts. “As construction of the conveyer systems depended on the availability of the gear units, fast delivery was a priority for Adelaide Brighton Cement. It was important that even the large X Series gear unit for the mill’s main feeder could be delivered within 12 weeks of the order being placed. This goal was made achievable by our ability to assemble X Series units in Australia.” The 10-storey high cement mill will play a vital role in cement production at the site. The new 3,000 kW mill will almost double existing

milling capacity at Birkenhead, allowing Adelaide Brighton Cement to reduce its reliance on cement imports. The new mill will operate around the clock, with production halted only during periods of planned maintenance. The 5–35 mm diameter clinker nodules are an essential ingredient in cement production. They are formed when limestone and the other raw materials are heated to 1,400°C at the Birkenhead kiln. After cooling, the clinker is fed via conveyer belt to the cement mill where it is crushed and then combined with varying amounts of gypsum and additional limestone to form different grades of cement. The finished product is sold to industrial and wholesale suppliers throughout Australia for housing, engineering and infrastructure projects and mining operations.

Processing on a large scale Prior to entering the kiln, the limestone is transported by ship across St Vincent Gulf from a quarry on the York Peninsula. After being stockpiled in pre-blended heaps of around 25,000 tonnes, it undergoes a number of blending, drying and crushing processes. Once the clinker is produced and ground with the 26 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

other raw materials, the resulting cement is stored in silos that hold from 500 to 30,000 tonnes. For the conveyer systems in an operation of this scale, a range of gear units were required. The ten smaller conveyer feeds, the shortest of which is less than 10 m, are powered by SEW-EURODRIVE’s 7-series gear units. These are rated from 50 to 22,000 Nm and are of modular construction. Helical, parallel shaft, helical-bevel and SPIROPLAN configurations are selected according to the application. For the main feeder, which is 150 m long, Adelaide Brighton Cement specified a larger X Series gear unit. These industrial-scale gear units are suitable for motors of nearly all powers, and can be configured with finely-stepped torque ratings ranging from 22,000 to 175,000 Nm. Heavy-duty helical and helical-bevel gear units of this kind are used in conveyer systems, ball mills, bucket conveyers and agitators around the world. “It is the ability to assemble and support gear units of this size in Australia that is of critical importance for the mining and minerals processing industry,” says Justice. “While the smaller manmonthly.com.au

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units – which are widely used in the manufacturing industry – have been assembled in Australia for many years, the local assembly of the X Series (and like products) is a relatively new development. It has come about as a result of the growing demands that we are seeing from the heavy-industry sector in Australia. SEW-EURODRIVE’s major investment and expansion of its Australian facility has enhanced the service it offers to Australia’s heavy-industry sector. “Large operations like Adelaide Brighton Cement can take full advantage of the rapid availability of heavy-duty gear units like the X Series. Similarly, when it comes to support, we have built on 30 years of expertise and experience acquired in manufacturing environments, and applied this to heavy industry, minerals processing and mining. As a result, operators in these fields are now receiving a level of service already familiar to our manufacturing clients.” The value of this investment in local assembly and support is confirmed M A 0 8by1Adelaide 3 _ 0 0 0Brighton _ PI E Cement’s Capital Project Manager,

15/07/13,

8:55:35

The ability to assemble and support gear units in Australia is critical for the mining and minerals processing industry. Guy Martin. “The short delivery time of the locally assembled X Series units was a key factor in our decision to use SEW-EURODRIVE gear units,” he says. “Having had their equipment on site over many years, we knew we could expect good quality products and had confidence that they could do the job.”

Adelaide Brighton Cement’s staff, although SEW-EURODRIVE can also provide this service. To improve the maintenance cycle and act as an aid in the prediction of equipment life spans, the gear units incorporate electronic sensors that ‘read’ vibrations. “From this, we can tell whether the gears or bearings need attention, and whether it’s within the inner race, the outer race or the cage Local support 1Routine 2 0 1maintenance 3 - 0 7 - 1 and 2 T oil 0 9 : 3 5 : 2 of 8 the + 1 bearing,” 0 : 0 0 says Martin. changing is carried out on-site by Enhanced access to maintenance

and support is proving valuable in the mining and processing sector. In an era of growth, the immediate availability of support engineers and spares are vital. “Local support is a big issue. Mining managers from sites that are situated remotely from Adelaide prefer that expertise and spares are on hand within their own state. The alternative of sourcing support and spare parts from interstate or off shore is not attractive to them. So in special cases, in order to provide fast and effective service, we have stocked a range of spares locally in Adelaide, based on the demands of our customers. We have also invested in the employment and training of local staff and have a team of skilled people, ranging from applications engineers to fitters,” says Justice. SEW-EURODRIVE ensures that 24-hour service is available and that, wherever possible, repairs and upgrades can be carried out locally. Having regional facilities staffed by technical experts also means that an ‘express assembly’ service can be provided to organisations that have an unplanned and urgent requirement for new equipment.

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Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 27

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Fluid HANDLING Macnaught makes a success of inhouse manufacturing Macnaught, a company which began its manufacturing operations in NSW more than 60 years ago, has no plans to head overseas. As Kevin Gomez reports, the company is set to launch a new range of locally designed and manufactured flowmeters.

Macnaught’s facility in NSW is able to make any component required to build its products.

Macnaught’s leadership: (l-r) Robert Hill, Steve Gavin and Graham Wilson. 28 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

n 1948, Colin Macnaught started manufacturing hand pumps for kerosene and oil in Turella, NSW. Today, sixty-five years on, the company bearing his name manufactures a range of equipment for the lubrication and fluid transfer industries including grease pumps and guns, oil pumps and guns, fuel pumps, hose reels and flow meters. While many local manufacturers flee the country seeking low-cost bases overseas, Macnaught bucked the trend and focused on its in-house production. “Because of our heritage as a manufacturer in Australia, going offshore is always the last resort for us,” said Bob Hill, CEO, Macnaught. Since the GFC in 2008, the company has invested heavily in equipment and skills, building strong local capabilities. This month Macnaught will draw upon this investment and unveil a range of

positive displacement flow meters that it believes, will set it far ahead of the competition. Macnaught’s new MX range replaces the older M series and comprises of nine base models. One of the major enhancements is in the area of instrument quality. “We are now manufacturing from billet rather than castings, which gives us better dimensional stability, corrosion resistance, and improves the pressure rating,” explains Graham Wilson, Product Manager, Flow Meters. “The ability to control the manufacture of the meters from the machining of the raw materials to the final assembly, enables us to apply strict Quality Assurance procedures throughout the entire process in order to produce a consistently high quality product.” [Editor: A billet is a length of metal that has a round or square crossmanmonthly.com.au

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section. Billets are created via extrusion or rolling an ingot.] The MX range will be available in nine models representing different sizing (1/4” to 4”) and flow rates (0.5 lph to 1200 lpm). “We have designed this range with common components to make it easy for the end user to select a suitable meter for their particular application, with the mounting arrangement of the display or pulse module really setting it apart,” explains Wilson. The mounting system, called M-lock, is a unique bayonet type quarter turn fitting that allows the output display module – which is common across the range – to be quickly changed or replaced if required. “If you had a range of meters in your plant spanning various sizes, you only need to hold very limited stock of replacement displays, perhaps one or two to cover the range,” adds Wilson. With positive displacement flow meters, typically only a couple of things can go wrong: either the rotors are not turning which means that there is no mechanical movement, or the electronics has failed. Macnaught’s unique bayonet

Macnaught’s new MX range incorporates a unique mounting system allowing it to be quickly replaced. manmonthly.com.au

15/07/13,

3:46:31

design allows the user to do a quick test to identify the source of the problem. “If we’re not getting a signal, I just need to quarter turn off the existing electronic module, quarter turn on another one, and check whether the system is working,” explains Wilson. There’s no need to stop the process or dismantle the meter. The new MX range, available in two versions, is targeted at the fuel and oil, mining, and chemical processing and dispensing sectors locally and overseas. The aluminium version is suitable for the general non-aggressive materials, like fuels and oils. The stainless steel version has higher grade material and is suitable for the more aggressive industrial environments. “When we launch we will also seek to pene-trate new markets,” adds Wilson. The company is optimistic about its new product range and its competitive position in the market. Perhaps, much of this is belief is due to Macnaught’s local manufacturing culture, with all production carried out at its plant in Turrella, New South Wales. “We can essentially make any component required to build our products – with the exception of general hardware such as nuts and bolts,” explains Steve Gavin, Operations Director. Agility is another key aspect. “We have versatile CNC machinery that we can change over quickly, enabling us to switch from one of two or three products during the same day on any given machine.” As demand changes, Macnaught has developed the flexibility to deploy machines on the required product lines and thus achieve very short lead times. “We can manufacture products within a few days rather than waiting on sub-contractors for weeks,” adds Gavin. “Also, our in-house engineering department

Macnaught set up for inhouse manufacturing and changed to inhouse inspection. is able to apply design changes or improvements to the components or the products in real time.” The GFC of 2008 put a lot of stress on many companies but Macnaught used these challenging times to redefine its operations. “By designing manufacturability into our products, we can minimise the labour content and thereby neutralise to a great extent the first advantage offshore suppliers enjoy,” explains Hill. The transformation to self sufficiency was a challenging one. Apart from raising funds for equipment purchase and extensive staff retraining the company had to move to a lean manufacturing culture. For example, the earlier practice was to inspect components and assemblies as they come into the building.

“When set-up for in-house manufacturing we changed to in-process inspection which is at the beginning of a set-up and during the manufacturing process,” explains Gavin. “Consequently, there are not too many delays at the end of the production run when checking and passing the goods.” By building its operations around a local manufacturing strategy, Macnaught is definitely swimming against the tide, but this approach is paying dividends. “Local design and manufacture ensure that we remain in touch with the needs of the market and are able to adapt,” explains Hill. The company appears to be holding its own locally and overseas. As Gavin explains, “Being globally competitive is about working smarter with the right tools.” Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 29

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SafetySHOW The Safety Show Sydney: The Ultimate OHS Trade Show This event at Sydney’s Olympic Park is a great opportunity for industry professionals to check out the latest safety products, catch up with old acquaintances and make new business contacts.

he Safety Show Sydney, the final safety industry trade show for 2013, is set to take place at Sydney Showground in September. The three-day event will represent an excellent opportunity for businesses to network with industry experts and gain access to cuttingedge knowledge on the latest safety technology and resources. From 3-5 September, The Safety Show Sydney will showcase over 150 exhibitors demonstrating the latest technology in safety and free seminars from industry experts all under one roof. Sam Palermo, Exhibition Manager

The latest OHS gear will be on display. from Informa Exhibitions Australia, explains an extra added value of The Safety Show Sydney is “the range of seminar sessions and workshops

The Safety Show Sydney will offer over 150 exhibitors. 30 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

visitors will have access to. In addition to the exhibitors and free seminars, visitors can take advantage of WorkCover NSW’s exhibit and

interactive workshops,” he says. This will be WorkCover NSW’s eleventh consecutive show as an exhibitor, marking their commitment

There will be a range of seminar sessions and workshops. manmonthly.com.au

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to display their wares will be Additionally, exhibitor Advacoat Wrightway Products, which for will display their brand of industrial 18 years has been providing bin concrete coating. The Advacoat tippers to the Australian industry. Polyaspartic enhances the top coat Among their newest products is the appearance to produce a higher gloss Wrightway2MT Bin Tipper, which and abrasion resistant film, resulting provides new safety features that in a beautiful floor with trouble-free workers and OHS officers have been maintenance. requesting as standard inclusions. The Safety Show Sydney is The innovation demonstrated dedicated to keeping Australian by exhibitors at The Safety Show workers safe. Whether you’re in Sydney indicates an increased focus the warehouse, out on site or in the on advance workplace safety and office, The Safety Show Sydney will materials handling technologies. be an invaluable resource to help Zap Cap will be showcasing their keep your workplace safe. range of watertight seal safety caps. Starting from 2014, all shows These are constructed from highacross Australia will be known as impact thermoplastic for electric Safety In Action. One major three cables at risk of getting wet on day show will run in September each worksites. year, alternating between Sydney Safety on work sites is also and Melbourne each year. This a vital issue for Zedflo, which follows the successful model of the along with Test & Tag Supplies Queensland and WA shows. Shows will be showcasing electrical in Perth and Brisbane will be held safety solutions including test and in June and April across alternating calibration equipment usually years. And the newly added 2-day supplied to the oil & gas, as well as show in Darwin, set to commence in theMmining A 0 8 1and 3 _chemical 0 0 0 _ industries ENW 1 March 2 0 12014, 3 - 0is7planned - 1 1 T to 1 be 0 : held 4 9 : 5 3 + 1 0 : 0 0 around Australia. every four years.

From 2014, all shows across Australia will be known as ‘Safety in Action’. to the event and the safety of Australia’s workers. Exhibitors from around the country will be displaying a comprehensive range of the latest safety-related products and services. Industry professionals will be able to speak directly to producers of safety products and resources and build relationships for future business engagements. A series of free seminars centred around key industries will also take place at the show. They will allow attendees to learn directly from leaders and experts from various safety-related fields. Seminars will cover a wide range of topics including how technology is changing the way we undertake onsite safety; emergency planning; contractor management; OHS program planning and funding; personal protective equipment industry updates; and an overview of manmonthly.com.au

the latest legislation that will affect your company. A number of speakers are already confirmed to present. These include Carl Sachs, Managing Director at Workplace Access & Safety; Adrienne Strachan, Senior Consultant at NSCA: National Safety Council Australia; Richard Gregory, Managing Director, Navace; and Richard Donarski, Team Leader – Health & Safety Product Services at SAI Global – Assurance Services. More speakers are set to be announced over coming weeks. Visitors can also attend The Advanced Logistics and Materials Handling show, a special feature area happening alongside The Safety Show Sydney. This will cater for those wanting supply chain specialist information on the packing, moving, storing, tracking and delivering industries. Among the exhibitors set

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Industrial DOORS High-speed doors This range of high-speed doors from DMF International is suitable for security, vermin control and more.

MF International, a fully Australian-owned manufacturer of high speed doors, with agencies Australia wide, are also exclusive agents throughout Australia, for the German produced Efaflex range of high speed doors. This high end range from Germany enables DMF to supply doors for a greater range of uses, and for highly specialised applications. The high speed roll door has become increasingly popular for applications such as processing, logistics, warehouses or dock openings, and for the control of things including temperature, dust, vermin and security. Security for parking areas and commercial applications, large openings for distribution warehouses, emergency services, cleanrooms, high-wind exposed openings, and complex manufacturing areas, can now all be accommodated by the Efaflex high speed doors. And all doors purchased from DMF are also servcied by DMF. Door blade material can be customised to suit the application,

While various designs are available, the circular spiral is standard. with variations including insulated panel, thick gauge extruded aluminium, flexible PVC, see through acrylic glass, or secure ventilation panel systems. While various different designs are available, the circular spiral is the

standard solution, and also boasts the fastest opening/closing times among the range. If you only have limited space above the door, then you have two spacesaving variants to choose from for many door types in the S Series, oval spiral and low-header.

And with many options of activation and safety sensors, the DMF doors can be designed to offer efficiency safety. DMF International 1300 875 022 www.dmf.com.au

Durable galvanised steel door solution ALBANY DOORS’ Envico TITAN from ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems offered Bosch a customised solution for its exterior door needs. Chassis Systems Brakes Australia develops and manufactures innovative braking systems for the automotive industry within a global network. As part of the world’s largest independent parts supplier to the automotive industry, Bosch Chassis Systems offer customers advanced technology, quality and services, all from a single source. For its Bentleigh East location, Bosch, along with Wentworth Constructions, needed an exterior door that would securely and effectively support the various logistic and production requirements of a modern industrial process. The door would have to operate smoothly, allowing easy access for heavy vehicle traffic and the pick up

32 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Low maintenance doors with aesthetic appeal. and transport of goods. Furthermore, Bosch wanted a very durable, low-maintenance door with an aesthetic appeal and design. Fast opening and closing speeds,

along with high safety standards were also some of the requirements for the project. These doors have been engineered to withstand high winds and are constructed from heavy galvanised steel pressings which are then powdercoated for optimum protection. The doors have special dampening straps within the side frames for frictionless movement. When combined with variable speed drives the large doors offer a quiet and smooth operating action. The Titan fulfilled the criteria, creating a high performance 13 meter wide door that provides protection against drafts, improved working conditions and a controlled environment for production. Albany Doors 1800 608 320 www.albanydoors.com/au/

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Industrial DOORS

Roller shutter doors GRIFCO eDrive, from Chamberlain Group, can be applied to virtually any warehouse door without the need for a brand new door. It’s a way to upgrade the way a business is run and deal with OHS issues. The eDrive features an automatic chain engage mechanism (ACEM) as well as reliable self locking gear reduction to protect users and a low voltage wall controller for programming and door operation. If ever there was one type of business most in need of an automated roller shutter door, it would be a driving school. Christine Hillis, NRMA Safer Driving, Wagga had been manually operating her warehouse door for six years before installing a Grifco door opener to her existing door a month ago. A month made a large difference, not only to business productivity and security also M A 0 8 1but 3 _ 0 0to0driving _ D MF instructors, whom she says are

The roller shutter door at NRMA Safer Driving, Wagga Wagga. with a manual 1pleased 2 0 1with 3 - how 0 7 much - 0 9 easier T 1 0 :their 3 0 : 2 0 Having + 1 0 : struggled 0 0 jobs have become. door for six years since the business

was established in 2007 with partner Sarah Wardman, it was an easy

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BULK FLEXIBLE STRIP AND SHEET PVC VISIFLEX STRIP DOORS SWINGFLEX DOORS TRAFFIC DOORS AUTO BiFLEX DOORS RAPID AUTO ROLL DOORS HIGH SPEED EFAFLEX DOORS LARGE FOLD UP DOORS HYGIENIC SWING DOORS SPECIALISED CUSTOM DOORS SERVICE

Ph 1800 281170 Victoria enquiries Premier Plastics Pty Ltd ph 03 9357 8477 fax 03 9357 8938 www.premierplastics.com.au

www.dmf.com.au Australian agents for

Sales and service throughout Australia, NZ and SE Asia 34 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

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decision to automate the process without having to buy an entirely new roller shutter door. Suitable for light commercial doors and roller shutters, the Grifco eDrive commercial door opener now saves Christine and her staff of five instructors the time and strain of moving the warehouse door using a metal chain. With four cars at the school coming and going multiple times a day, the opener and remotes have changed the way the school is run, streamlining its operations significantly and bolstering security at the same time. “We still have a chain attached should there be a power outage, so the manual option is there in case of emergency but at least we don’t have to rely on this for each time we open and close the door,” said Hillis. Grifco has a product range of automated door solutions for any warehouse or factory application from light commercial through to sectional doors and heavy industrial roller shutters. The openers offer security and convenience M A 0 8 1and 3 _can 0 0be0 utilised _ A L Bby all industries.

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Easy access with door mechanisms GRIFCO’S range of door openers utilise a clutch mechanism which allows manual operation of roller doors and shutters in the event of a power cut. This system is a patented device, known as the Automatic Chain Engage Mechanism (ACEM). In the wake of severe flooding events in Australia’s eastern states, particularly Queensland, Grifco has seen an increased demand in the need for industrial doors to have the ability to open easily and safely in times of power outages. The company’s patented range of door openers can be operated without power from the ground due to their pull system which works off the opener gears, eliminating the need for someone to climb a tall ladder to release the gearbox in order to manually wind up the roller door – a potentially dangerous exercise. This is particularly useful for emergency services buildings and other commercial and industrial businesses in areas prone to natural disasters like flooding, not only to ensure the safety of workers, but also to streamline the efficiency and response times of emergency services workers. As well as representing responsible OHS practice, Grifco’s door openers can allow a business to potentially keep functioning despite a lack of power, allowing warehouse 1 doors 2 0 1to3be- opened 0 7 - 0by9aTchain 1 0 from : 3 1the : ground 4 2 + 1or0even : 0 0

ensuring owners can try to relocate large, valuable equipment quicker in the case of fire or flood. Grifco’s range of patented openers are invaluable in enhancing the safety of workers in the event of a power outage, such as occurred in many areas during the recent QLD and NSW floods, where water near electrical outlets meant that power failed or had to be disconnected due to the dangers of electrocution. The door openers can be easily hand-operated with minimal exertion in times of power cuts. Grifco has a product range of automated door solutions for light commercial through to sectional doors and heavy industrial roller shutters, with the openers offering security and convenience to all industries. Product Marketing Manager for Grifco, Luke Porter, believes that Grifco is the better option for all commercial door opener owners. “Owning a door opener that can be easily overridden without any climbing should be a priority for everyone with a commercial or industrial door,” said Porter. “Grifco door openers ensure efficiency and require little physical effort, which are two vitally important factors to consider during times of emergency.” Grifco 1800 474 326 www.grifco.com.au

Complete Range of High Performance Doors www.assaabloy.com

Albany invented the world’s first high speed fabric roll up door in 1968. We now have the largest range of High Performance Doors on the Global market with sales and service offices nationally in both Australia and New Zealand.

Assa Abloy Entrance Systems, No. 9 Mc Ilwraith Street, Wetherill Park 2164, Sydney, NSW Ph: 1300 666 232, Fx: (02) 9756 4340, sales.ads.au@assaabloy.com, www.albanydoors.com

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The global leader in door opening solutions

Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 35

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Management CONTRACTING How to win contracts and tenders The prospect of competing for public tenders can be daunting for up-and-coming SMEs. But, as Matt McDonald reports, there are steps that can be taken to maximise the chances of success.

Tenders â&#x20AC;&#x201C; seeking new business.

t some point every manufacturer needs to spread its wings and expand. Any SME which is travelling well, and has a good product and a list of satisfied customers needs to take that next step and aim for something bigger. One obvious way to do this is to try to win business through a public tender. A quick online search reveals there are always several tendering opportunities in the public sector. In fact, there are around 120 Australian Government departments, agencies, and authorities with a range of needs that are satisfied through public tenders. And, on top of that, you can add tenders from the private sector. Again, there are always tender opportunities. Manufacturers are needed to supply products for use within the Australian economy, as 36 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Monthly

well as for the export market. The idea of competing for public tender may be too much for some up-and coming manufacturers to contemplate. The managers of such businesses tend to already be time poor and the idea of a public tender is likely to be accompanied by thoughts of endless planning and submission writing added to already full schedules. As an SME, how should you approach the tendering process? How should you decide which tender opportunities are right for you? How do you go about applying for a public tender? What are the barriers to success? And is there any assistance available?

Planning Firstly, you need to know which tenders are available and which you should compete for.

The federal government publishes its business opportunities, annual procurement plans, multi-use lists and contracts awarded in one central location, at the AusTender website (www.tenders.gov.au). Businesses register their area of business interest in an AusTender profile. And having done so, they receive free automatic notification via email of the latest opportunities as they are published. And the various state and territory governments list details of public tender opportunities through their own portals. These websites specify the specifics of that state or territoryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s procurement process, as well as tips for tender preparation and submission. For those interested in tenders from the private sector, there are a number of directories which list current tenders.

It is important to identify the right customers for your business; customers who want what you have to offer. While government tenders are advertised on centralised websites, individual departments and agencies are responsible for their own business decisions. There is no single government market, but multiple agencies and countless people making purchasing decisions on behalf of governments. If you know the business requirements of a particular agency, you are well positioned to target an agency that suits the strength of your business and more likely to win a tender. As with all business activities, networking and building relationships should never be underestimated. Trade Shows and industry events are always a good manmonthly.com.au

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way to get your face and your business known. A willingness to keep up to date with the issues, the regulations and the personalities within your industry, doesn’t only promote your business. It also makes you more aware of your business’s particular strengths and weaknesses. It primes your business for expansion and prepares you for future challenges. Those businesses which don’t yet have the experience or expertise to win public tenders can take the path of forming strategic partnership with other betterestablished businesses. Sub-contracting arrangements or relationships in which resources are pooled between companies can help grow your business and put your company name out there. Next step could be winning a tender.

Tender criteria A successful tender needs to clearly satisfy the buyer in three areas. It

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Securing finance can be a hurdle.

needs to comply with the tender specifications and conditions; it needs to represent value for money to the buyer; and it must not represent a financial risk to the buyer. Many applications will be eliminated early in the selections process. A first read often reveals that the applicant doesn’t meet the selection criteria. So it is important that you answer every question and request for

information even if you don’t have a complete answer at the time of submission. That way, while you may be asked for clarification at a later date, you will remain in contention. It’s even a good idea to go a step further. Emphasise your business strengths and offer the buyers more than they are looking for. Don’t overload them with too much information but, in cases where your aptitudes and achievements go beyond requirements, advertise the fact. A good credit rating is another piece of information that you should put forward. Your company’s credit

history is of great interest to potential buyers. Selection criteria usually covers areas such as technical merit; quality assurance requirements; technical and management competence; financial viability; relevant experience; skills and availability of key personnel; and the risks or constraints associated with your business. The performance history of your company is worth highlighting in your submission. Key projects awards received and the CVs and achievements of staff can all be included in submissions. Having completed a tender application, it is a good idea to have a neutral third party look over it. An unbiased pair of eyes can sometimes see areas where the submission can be beefed up or toned down.

Pricing Everything else being equal, the tender will be awarded to the submission which offers the most attractive price. This doesn’t always mean the cheapest price. Value for money will also factor in things like maintenance and running costs. A project that comes with a low initial price tag but high ongoing costs is not the best value deal. It’s always important to look at the big picture so disposal value needs to be taken into account, as does flexibility to change within the project. Buyers need to keep the long term in mind. An in the case of government contracts, tenders must sit well with broad government policy objectives. Environmental concerns; energy usage; strategic partnerships; ethical use of resources; and commitments to buying locally all play a part in their decisions. Government agencies also have relationships with the three levels of government (local, state, and federal) to factor into their decisions.

Multi-use lists Light at the end of the tunnel – winning tenders. manmonthly.com.au

The federal government has established what it calls Multi-use Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 37

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Management CONTRACTING lists. These are lists of suppliers which have satisfied a list of pre-conditions and are authorised to supply goods and services to government agencies. These lists are established by one or more agencies which operate in a particular sector or industry. They are open to all interested suppliers and any business which meets the pre-conditions will be added to the list. In some cases, new listings are added as they apply, while for other lists additions are made yearly. It is important to note that being on a Multi-use list does not assure a business of gaining contracts. Those on the list have simply met the criteria to enable them to apply for tender.

Financial assistance Any business that wins a public tender needs to convince the buyer that it represents an acceptable business risk. Finance can be a problem for many companies attempting to win a public tender. Indeed, it can be a problem for companies which, having already won a tender are having difficulties convincing their banks that they are an acceptable financial risk. The Export Finance & Insurance Corporation (EFIC) can offer financial assistance to such companies. EFIC was established to support Australian businesses which are attempting to do business overseas. Its purpose is to assist Australian exporters and offshore investors by providing them with financial solutions and risk management options. As Robert Dravers, EFIC’s Director of SME and Mid-Market told Manufacturers’ Monthly, the organisation aims to make “viable deals happen”. As such, EFIC “… works directly with companies and their banks to provide tailored finance solutions, including working capital and bonds.” EFIC can only step in after the tender is secured because, as Dravers says, the organisation is “small, light and nimble and we just don’t have the resources to be pre-approving companies early on in the hope they may win a contract. “We would need to be twenty times the size we are to do that.” 38 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

For any aspiring manufacturer the news of a tender win is obviously great news. But, as Dravers says, “the good news of a contract win may be seen through a different lens by the bank.” According to Dravers, banks need to apply rigid rules about what they are able to lend to SMEs. Their lending decisions may come down to the nature or term of the investment or even the political climate of the country in which the business is being done. And their lending decisions Robert Dravers, EFIC’s Director of SME and Mid-Market. are dictated by quantifiable data such as percentages of security they offshore company that doesn’t really hold against real property and so know the supply capability of the forth. Aussie SME.” SME manufacturers represent a As such, those SMES are often particular challenge for banks. As obliged to put up a performance Dravers says, this is because they guarantee that can be called on if are often “providing a critical good the goods are not judged to be up to an onshore resource project or an to an agreed standard or are not

delivered in an agreed time frame. And, on top of this, there is often a warranty period that must be agreed to. Such periods are often too long for banks to accept. Put simply, the buyer needs to know that it will be compensated if not satisfied with the finished product. Whereas, banks are limited by considerations such as the abovementioned percentages of security SMEs hold against real property, EFIC has more scope to evaluate companies and the risks they carry. “We become the bank’s risk party and what we do is a detailed technical assessment of the company’s performance capability and that enables us to go beyond the balance sheet and beyond the security limitations that they may have for a bank,” Dravers says. A self-financing body owned by the federal government, EFIC does not compete with banks. It works in collaboration with them and supplements what they can supply to customers. The organisation can help Australian manufacturers take that important next step to expansion and future success.

EFIC assists Australian exporters. manmonthly.com.au

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Materials HANDLING Lifting the game Manitou is launching a new industrial forklift range into Australia.

anufacturing is focused on achieving efficiencies like never before. Finding new uses for existing technology, and smarter ways to do business. Many manufacturing operations are now looking to use single machines for multiple applications, able to service the workshops and warehouses as well as outside of these areas. While rough terrain forklifts have been working outside of factories and in the lots, loading goods onto trucks, they have not been able to be used inside many workshops as they are simply too wide to be useful; essentially unable to access the warehouse floor and between racks and machinery. On the other hand, warehouse based forklifts become a potential hazard as soon as they leave the floor as they have a greater chance of tipping on uneven surfaces, seriously injuring the operator and creating a potential crush hazard for all those around. Seeing the gap in the market, Manitou is launching its new series of semi industrial forklift trucks – the MI range.

The company is more known for its focus on telescopic handlers, pallet jacks, and industrial forklifts. Having been focused on rough terrain forklifts since the creation of its first vertical mast RTH forklift in the 1950s, and with 70 per cent of its business still focused on the space, Manitou is now making greater inroads into the industrial material handling space in Australia. The company launched its new range into Australia last month. Manufacturers’ Monthly spoke to JeanPierre Guérand, the global vice president of marketing for Manitou, at the launch at its warehouse. He said that this MI range was developed “as our aim is to get more into the industrial materials handling sector”. However it was not a spur of the moment decision, with Guérand stating that it “was developed after we received customer feedback and saw the existing market demand”. “Around 5800 hours of research

The MI range brings Manitou further into the materials handling sector. 40 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Manitou is launching its new series of semi industrial forklift trucks – the MI range. and development went into the new MI range. “The ease of operation has been a major focus in its design. “Nowadays, customers expect more than just a machine. This is why we are offering a material handling solution tailored to the constraints of our clients in terms of production and logistics”, Stuart Walker, managing director at Manitou Australia added. “We intend to address a particular client request that can also be broken down into various further demands, like the level of commitment, the complex environment, the tracking of the fleet, and the many different needs.” It has taken a two pronged approach to the new vehicles, offering both a gas and diesel powered variant (dubbed the MI-G or MI-D respectively) which are available in a 1.5T, 1.8T, 2T, 2.5T, 3T, and 3.5T version, providing 12 different models in the range. Guérand explained that “after looking at the needs of operators, buyers, technicians and maintenance

teams, as well as the dealers, we have redesigned the frame, counterweights, and increased safety”. The diesel variant will be powered by a Yanmar engine, while the gas powered forklifts will use a Nissan engine, both of which have high level air intakes, air filter safety cartridges, and vertical exhaust for the operators’ health. Regarding operator comfort, Guérand told Manufacturers’ Monthly that “we are also looking at potentially increasing the seat weight handling, from its current level of 120 kilograms, up to 150 kilograms”. All of the forklifts in the MI range come with an Okamura transmission, which Manitou says aids the inching function and ensure a jerk-free approach. They have a wide mast opening, an open work roof for increase vision. All the models will be available in Australia in both gas and diesel variants, expect for the 1.8T machines gas version as they currently have the global standard sizing for gas bottles and will need to be adapted to the Australian market due to Australia’s differing standards. manmonthly.com.au

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When size does matter: Overcoming the problem of incorrectly specified conveyor rollers THE increase in imported machinery makes it hard for machinery operators to stick to standards for conveyor rollers. Unfortunately, the conveyor industry seems to be lacking in this initiative, which can cause major headaches for the maintenance engineers of conveyor components. Although in Australia there are manufacturing standards for conveyor rollers, the increase in imported machinery means that it is almost impossible for machinery operators to stick to even local standards. Imported machinery can lead to expensive roller replacement, as rollers are often sold as a “machine spare part” and not just a standard conveyor roller. To reduce their maintenance costs, conveyor operators then turn to the local market for spares such as conveyor rollers and this is where problems can occur. To the untrained, a small variation in the length or diameter of a conveyor roller may seem insignificant, but the effect of installing the wrong size roller can

Incorrect belt tracking can result in supports getting damaged. ultimately be quite devastating structurally and costly to operations. Incorrect belt tracking can result in supports getting butchered in an attempt to make a roller fit. For nearly 3 decades, bulk materials handling supplier Kinder & Co has focused on solving conveyor issues.

Neil Kinder, CEO of Kinder, explained that “if correctly done, modifying the roller supports to accommodate the length of the roller may allow the new roller to be installed and operate properly. But what happens the next time this roller is replaced? If the same part isn’t supplied, a sloppy or incorrect

fit may result in incorrect belt tracking and other potentially major high maintenance problems.” “Whereas correctly specified conveyor rollers will minimise downtime, reduce maintenance labour costs and reduce the often hidden additional costs associated with lost product. Also, correctly specifying conveyor rollers means more than just supplying “rough measurements”. Providing an accurately measured roller length to a supplier can be the difference between a quick installation and a long maintenance shut down and this difference in operational efficiency can be measured in financial terms. “Conveyor belt tracking is arguably one of the most common headaches for conveyor maintenance engineers and accurately specifying the correct diameter of a conveyor roller can eliminate one potential cause of this problem. “Again, with so many options available “rough measurements” will lead to the wrong diameter roller being supplied, so accurate measurement of the diameter is essential.”

GraysOnline uses new warehousing solutions at its NSW warehouses AUSTRALIAN online auction house GraysOnline has utilised Toyota Materials Handling to equip its main NSW warehouse. The 30,000 square meter warehouse at Homebush handles around 85 per cent of the company’s products, with approximately 35 000 individual stock movements a week. Rick Jacobs, GraysOnline’s Homebush warehouse manager explained that due to its high volumes in the warehouse, the company needed material handling equipment compatible to that used at Australia Post. “It is vital that our warehouse equipment can operate with Australia Post’s uniform loading devices,” he said. “The high-reach forklifts had to be specified with low multi-stage masts, so they could work under our mezzanine racking and also reach the top pick heights in the seven-metre high racking.”

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Due to the heavy level of stock movements, coupled with the need to carry these out at speed, the auction company has implemented 35 Toyota battery electric machines. According to Toyota the site’s equipment includes Toyota 1.8-tonne payload 8FBN18 counter-balance forklifts, Toyota three-tonne payload 7FB30 forklifts, BT RRE reach forklifts, BT low-level order pickers and BT Levio pallet trucks, with the last ones commissioned in March earlier this year. Jacobs said it turned to Toyota after considering three factors – its safety capability, service maintenance, and whether the company’s product range met GraysOnline’s warehouse needs. He stated that the after sale service levels has been high. “The number of forklifts on site means TMHA’s Sydney service technicians are here once a month for regular maintenance,” Jacobs said.

This BT low-level order picker is one of the items purchased.

Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 41

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Product FOCUS: DUST & FUME CONTROL Dust filters for workshops and maintenance facilities

hile dust in the mine is seen as an ever present problem, dust around other areas of the site can often been ignored. In the quest to minimise dust rising from haul roads, open pits, and transported loads, areas such as the workshop and maintenance facilities may be neglected. Although these areas don’t suffer from dust to the same degree as an open pit, workshops have the added bonus of dealing with chemical and oil fumes within an enclosed space. With these issues in mind, Camfil Air Pollution Control has updated its line of Farr Gold series cartridge dust and fume collectors. According to the company, this revamped line features intrinsic design changes as well as “an expanded menu of options to ensure a clean workplace in all types of industrial environments”. Camfil’s president, Lee Morgan, stated that “we’ve made these changes to uphold our mission statement – to supply the best dust collector from an end-user and maintenance standpoint”. The new upgrades to the Farr M Aseries 0 8 1have 3 _ seen 0 4 2the _ Fcartridge ER 1 Gold dust and fume collectors built with

a rugged modular construction for a higher performance, as well as ease of maintenance. They have also been redesigned to meet the higher emission standards demanded by mines which are more focused on reducing their carbon footprints. The company says that “the Gold series collector now has a reinforced door with double thick hinges, much easier to operate hardware and a single flat inside panel which creates a much smoother, airtight gasketed seal”. A taller inlet collar now accommodates larger fans with a better clearance level, while the fans themselves are built with a damper actuator handle that allows the users to see, from ground level, whether the damper is in an open or closed position. Inside the collector the gaskets have been moved to the edges of the pan so that, during operation, dust is unable to build up on top of the vertically mounted filters. The filters cartridges have a longer life, new touch screen controls, and enhanced filter cleaning as well as a diaphragm silencer that 2reduces 0 1 3 -noise 0 7 -levels 1 8 Tby1 up 5 :to1eight 6 : 0 9 + 1 0 : 0 0 decibels.

The upgraded filters are built with a rugged modular construction.

P Find

42 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Evaluate

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Brought to you by

Dust can be an explosive risk If not properly managed, dust can cause catastrophic explosions. However, it is possible to minimise the risk by identifying and mitigating contributing factors. DUST may seem harmless. But if certain conditions prevail, it can pose a deadly problem. So any workplcae with a significant amount of dust needs to manage this ‘harmless’ substance. “For a dust explosion to occur, several contributing factors must be present,” said Graeme Cooper, Managing Director of Tecpro Australia. “First of all, there must be airborne, combustible dust in high concentrations. The environment will also contain an oxidising agent such as oxygen, and the explosion is triggered by a source of ignition such as a flame or static electricity.” Dust explosions have claimed many lives and caused significant injuries and property damage. Typically occurring in contained environments such as underground mines, mills and storage facilities, a wide range of dust types are combustible, including coal, grain, flour, sugar, sawdust, magnesium, cotton and even powdered metals such as titanium and aluminium. “When a product is broken down into dust particles, its total surface area increases dramatically,” said Cooper. “This makes it much more flammable.” Cooper added that one of the biggest problems is that it is sometimes difficult to perceive dust as a real threat to safety. “In settings where there is the odour of gas or flammable vapours, it’s obvious that there is an explosion risk and people are usually quick to M A 0respond 8 1 3 _and 0 4 combat 3 _ F Ethe R problem,” 2 2he 0 said. 1 3 - 0 7 - 1 “In contrast, where there is a large build up of

Tecpro Australia can offer advice and solutions regarding dust control and risk mitigation. dust, it may not necessarily make people in the area think about the possibility of an explosion risk.” Lower grade dust explosions where there is no damage to people or property can also create a false sense of security. “If relatively minor dust explosions occur, sometimes people get complacent and feel that the problem is more or less manageable. However this doesn’t necessarily mean that future explosions won’t escalate into a larger disaster,” said Cooper. “Smaller dust explosions can unsettle dust elsewhere, causing rolling explosions which can of course do great damage. It’s best to be vigilant and proactive by eliminating or minimising the 8factors T 1 5 that : 1 6can : 4 6 + 1 0 :to0 a0dust explosion.” contribute Tecpro Australia is routinely called upon to

offer advice and solutions regarding dust control and risk mitigation. “We’ve developed a large number of dust suppression solutions for a range of environments including coal mines, transfer stations, grain storage facilities, rubbish dumps, concrete manufacturing plants and more,” said Cooper. “We look carefully at each situation and customise a dust suppression solution to match the nature of the dust and its setting.” Tecpro’s expertise was recently acknowledged when the company won an Award for Dust Control, Technology, Application or Practice in partnership with the University of Wollongong. “We’re keen to make people stop and think about whether there is a risk of this occurring in their work environment,” said Cooper.

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Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 43

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Product FOCUS: DUST & FUME CONTROL

Breathing easy on site – Factory ducting Understanding of the health effects of exposure to dust and fumes has come a long way in the last 50 years. And, as Cole Latimer reports, factory ducting has also come a long way in that time.

ith the constant grinding, cutting and welding carried out in the manufacturing space, it’s no surprise that air quality is a major issue for all manufacturers. Areas where woodworking and welding activities are carried out have an unsurprisingly high number of inherent issues when it comes to airborne dust and fume control. In the case of woodworking, the prevalence of wood dust becomes a health issue when particles from processes such as sanding, milling, cutting and turning become airborne. From a WHS perspective, breathing in these particles could cause a number of adverse respiratory reactions and possibly even cancer in the long term. In fact a recent study into sawdust and wood dust has directly linked exposure to lung cancer. The study found that those exposed to wood dust and sawdust in a sawmill work environment had a 50 per cent increased risk of developing lung cancer. This damage is not even realised most of the time due to the fact that the most damaging element is the invisible fine dust, typically known as “coarse inhalable particles” that are between two to ten microns in size. “Basically, these tiny bits of sawdust float around the air and linger even after the tools have stopped running. These invisible particles get inhaled and cause tiny wounds and scarring to our lungs: each time this happens, it causes a very small amount of irreversible damage. The immediate effect is unnoticeable, but over long periods of time, this can result in significantly decreased lung capacity, and a number of other health issues,” according to Eric Meier, at The Wood Database. On top of this there is the issue of the finished product having its quality affected by large volumes of dust and, of course, the dust even becoming a potential explosive problem in some industries. 44 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Those exposed to wood dust and sawdust in a sawmill have a 50 per cent increased risk of developing lung cancer. According to Eximo’s founder and managing director Roger Marriott, a focus on workers’ safety coupled with investing heavily into research and developing has been key in ensuring Australian workers have access to the very latest and best ducting technology to avoid issues such as these. Marriott went on to state that Eximo has been playing a major part in this and “as a company, we are continually coming up with new products to ensure that as manufacturing techniques advance, we have the exact waste disposal system to meet any specific requirements”.

In Australia, the two most common varieties of ducting are flexible ducting and modular ducting. Flexible ducting is usually made from various grades and weights of PVC, Polyurethane or rubber – the higher the grade and weight, the tougher the flexible ducting; while modular is typically steel ducting. According to Eximo “since [our] speedLOCK Modular Steel Ducting is manufactured using only smooth bore technology, it greatly minimises the risk of wood waste settlement and system clogging”. “Moreover for applications where some clogging is unavoidable, the system’s easy access makes cleaning

and maintenance literally a breeze.” However it’s not just woodworking where there are WHS concerns about the large amounts of airborne waste; applications where welding is a daily task also sees the output of many volumes of what are known to be very toxic fumes. The dangers of welding fumes have long been known. For example, according to Safe Work Australia: “Many cases of acute poisoning due to excess exposure or severe short term exposure to one or more welding fume or gas have been documented… Due to the presence of chromium, nickel and aluminium, there is concern about the effects of manmonthly.com.au

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Welding can produce complex oxides of iron, manganese and silicon. chronic exposure on special groups such as welders of stainless steel and aluminium.” Manufacturers’ Monthly itself has investigated the dangers of welding fumes. It found that the those exposed to wood dust and sawdust in a sawmill work environment had a 50% increased risk of developing lung cancer. The most common compounds in fumes when welding mild steel, for example, are complex oxides of iron, manganese and silicon. The short term effects of these compounds, if inhaled, are temporary and include burning eyes and skin, dizziness, nausea and fever. However long term exposure to these fumes can lead to silicosis (iron deposits of the lungs), bronchitis, and even lung fibrosis has been reported. And if the compounds found in the welding fumes include Barium, symptoms may include severe stomach pains, slow pulse rate, convulsions, muscular spasms and even death. Welding professionals should understand that it all depends on the base material and the manmonthly.com.au

consumable the welder is using and if the metal is coated. It is not uncommon for welders to be overcome with paint fumes when welding painted metal. Thankfully, most welders are aware of the dangers of welding fumes, and the short term and long term respiratory problems they can cause. For example, the vast majority of welding machines and consumables in Australia have warning labels on them regarding welding fumes. However, welders should be especially aware of working with exotic materials such as cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorides, manganese, nickel, silica and zinc, even stainless steel. To help keep the workplace free of toxic welding fumes, Eximo has a developed number of solutions, one of which is a flexible ducting product called WeldFlex – a lightweight PVC ducting material that is flame retardant according to DIN 4102 and a temperature resistance of up to 100° C. WeldFlex has a number of highly unique attributes including being self-extinguishing, high flexibility, extreme helix-like PVC structure and

Australian workers have access to the best ducting technology. is available from 52 mm to 505 mm in diameter and is designed for use in a variety of industries including those where explosion issues and safety are paramount. On the point of these qualities, Roger Marriot also says apart from staying well within the myriad of worker safety laws and other health

parameters, any ducting, flexible or modular also needs to be able to be future-proofed. “Whether you are turning wood or welding ships, as a company we are determined to stay one step ahead of whatever dust extraction problem you may have today or in the near future.”

Air quality is a major issue for all manufacturers. Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 45

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AIMEX AIMEX 2013:

Not only for miners Miners aren’t the only people welcomed at AIMEX. The exhibition offers a great opportunity for manufacturers to broaden their horizens.

espite the current downturn, Australia’s mining industry continues to provide strong potential for local manufacturers and the upcoming AIMEX exhibition – held in Sydney in late August, will provide an ideal showcase for the opportunities available for manufacturers within the sector. More than 600 exhibitors across 45,000 sq metres of exhibition space will be showing decision makers in the mining industry their latest equipment, developments, and technology. According to Paul Baker, AIMEX exhibition director, a number of key drivers affecting the mining industry have the potential to offer excellent opportunities for Australian manufacturers. “With the recent volatility in resources prices, the industry has really focused on productivity and

efficiency, and the need to reduce costs,” he said. “In response to this, the emphasis among exhibitors and displays at AIMEX 2013 will be all about innovation; how the very latest processes, systems, services and products can meet miners’ demands for productivity and efficiency gains.” There is also the push within both the federal and state governments for an increased level of local content, putting the onus on Australian mining companies to source a large percentage of their equipment and services from Australian companies. Baker said AIMEX exhibitors included a wide range of suppliers of innovative equipment, products and services aimed at lowering costs per tonne, and increasing production and mining efficiency.

Innovation is the focus of this year’s exhibition. 46 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

AIMEX will feature more than 600 exhibitors across 45,000 sq metres of exhibition space. “In part, this is because Australian manufacturers – particularly in the mining sector – are highly regarded around the world for their quality and global competitiveness, and AIMEX 2013 will be a global showcase for some of these companies,” Baker said. “It’s also an ideal forum for them to network and look at ways of working together on major projects which they may not be capable of delivering in isolation,” he said. Another increasingly significant area of interest that has potential for local manufacturers and engineering shops is in equipment sourced from developing markets – particularly China, with some significant players

from this market exhibiting at AIMEX. “At the same time, there are enormous opportunities for Australian consultants, engineers, fabricators, and those with manufacturing and R&D experience and expertise. “AIMEX, with a number of suppliers from China, Eastern Europe and other developing markets, will be an ideal venue for owners and representatives of machine shops, fabricators, engineering facilities and designers to see this equipment and talk to manufacturers and their representatives about opportunities in this market,” Baker said.

AIMEX will offer excellent opportunities for Australian manufacturers. manmonthly.com.au

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Racking and shelving BAC Systems will be unveiling its latest racking and shelving concept on Stand 5525 at AIMEX. Its new BAC Series 77 concept supersedes the company’s design award-winning BAC Rack, sales and marketing manager Robert Griffin said. “At AIMEX 2013, the mining industry will get its first look at our new BAC Series 77 which in addition to catering for general pallet racking requirements, now also includes our dedicated Long Span Shelving system. “With this system, customers can also incorporate BAC’s High Density Drawer system into the same structure as the pallet racking, providing an efficient hybrid storage solution to suit requirements from a two-bay parts store all the way up to a large distribution warehouse,” he said. “In addition, we will also be promoting solutions that offer high density storage using our market-leading BAC Drawer

Storage Modules, as well as lean manufacturing through our customiseable range of BAC Workbenches and Workstations.” Griffin said BAC Systems solutions offered efficiency, cleanliness and innovative approaches to storage. “For example, we believe our special integrated dust control feature will be a major talking point for our High Density Drawer Storage Modules. “With dust causing millions of dollars of damage each year to machinery, companies are investing heavily in developing new systems to purge it from parts,” he said. Its range of Dust Control Storage Modules fully complies with the Caterpillar Category 5 Contamination Control, and is used across the Asia Pacific in mines and warehouses. BAC Systems 1300 514 990 www.bacsystems.com.au

New products on show will include the compact Ultima hand pump.

Safer bolting and lifting

ENERPAC will unveil what it describes as some of the world’s most advanced portable, powerful and safe bolting and hydraulic pumping technology, along with high-precision heavy lifting equipment on Stand H1079. New products on show will include the compact Ultima hand pumps, offering reduced handle effort and two-speed operation with the second stage (7002800 bar) suited to rugged applications and able to handle cylinders of 5-25 tonnes; they also include a new XC battery-operated cordless pump with attachments such as a bead breaker, spreader, nut splitter and pull cylinders; square drive and hexagonal torque wrench cassettes complemented by tensioners, torque multipliers and a torque wrench pump, the TQ700E-K-100, which incorporates ultrasonic technology MA 0 8 1 3 _ 0 4 7 _ R A N 1 2 0 1 3 - 0 7 - 1 6 T 1 4 : 1 9 : 4 to 7 help + 1 ensure 0 : 0 0safe joints; and RC BAC Systems will be unveiling its latest racking and shelving concept. Duo high-pressure (700 bar) compact,

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hydraulic lifting cylinders with lifting capacities from a few hundred kilograms to individual cylinders that can lift up to 1000 tonnes each. Enerpac will also focus on hydraulic and mechanical equipment it says is lighter, quieter, safe, more powerful and more efficient including new generation hydraulic pumps, including the TQ-7000E Classic 700 bar electric pump and Z series pumps engineered to save time and labour on repetitive tasks, improve operator safety, generate less friction and use less energy. Non-impact bolting technology will be another highlight of Enerpac’s AIMEX stand. This includes W series torque wrenches weighing from 1.4 kg to 12 kg and S series double-acting square drive wrenches. Enerpac Australia 1300 198 007 www.enerpac.com/en-au

Mark Lazic 0413430046 m.lazic@ranpakeurope.com Pete Forsyth 0404839311 p.forsyth@ranpakeurope.com

Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 47

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AIMEX GET and undercarriage systems BRADKEN will unveil a new ground engaging tool (GET) system as well as a new Ultiroller range designed to maximise excavator undercarriage life on Stand 2011. Details of the new GET system, the second such system to be released by Bradken this year, are being kept under wraps until AIMEX opens. However, sales and marketing manager for Bradken’s GET & Buckets business, Jason Lunn, said it was designed to enable mines to make significant safety improvements in managing and handling GET, while increasing production and reducing downtime. “Our new GET system will have its first public showing at AIMEX, so we are not letting anything out at the moment as to what it is,” he said. As well, Bradken will be showing the latest additions in its recently expanded cast-lip GET system, Penetratormax. The new additions fit onto Bradken’s Penetrator nose or an OEM nose, using a Bradken-designed and manufactured adapter, point and hammerless locking pin system, which is designed to reduce the risk of injury. Fraser Batts, BDM for Bradken’s Crawler Systems Business was more forthcoming about Bradken’s UltiRoller excavator undercarriage load roller range, which is designed for use on Caterpillar excavators, with operating weights from 285 tonnes to 1080 tonnes. “This has been designed to help excavators attain maximum undercarriage life with lower operating temperatures; it features a self-contained assembly with the roller shell split into two standalone (shell and axle) pieces,” he said. An optional automatic lubrication system made use of the carrier machine’s auto-lubrication system, feeding lubricant through the end block into a specially

designed axle so it was supplied directly to the area of contact, Batts said. “Contact between the bush and axle occurs at the base and this area is permanently submerged in lubricant, which aids in decreasing wear rates.” Batts said, when under loads, the Ultiroller’s design meant less bending occurred in the axle, resulting in a uniform area of contact. In addition, the range incorporated a single-plated, two-bolt retention system developed to simplify the fitment process and remove reliance on using the side frame to set the assembly float. The design also maximised the clearance between the end block and the crawler shoe, Batts said. Other innovations on show at AIMEX from Bradken, designed to reduce mine operators’ total cost of ownership, will include a ground engaging tool, dragline rigging and wear technology aimed at reducing inventory while providing safety and production advantages; a fixed plant skirt liner system designed to promote quick and safe change out without the need to work in a confined space; a web-based fixed plant wear liner monitoring system that supplies email alerts such as recommended liner replacement data; an Evolution shoe for use on Caterpillar excavator models 6030, 6040, 6050 and 6060 with a patented continuous roller path designed to achieve superior service life compared with alternative products; and advances in mineral processing grinding mill liner technology to help promote operational efficiency and reduce costs. Bradken 02 4926 8437 www.bradken.com

The GET system is designed to enable mines to make significant safety improvements in managing and handling GET. 48 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

Hoses have been tested to one million impulse cycles.

Hoses and crimping machines GATES Australia will unveil both a new 413 bar high-pressure 2-inch hose with a one-piece, non-skive coupling and a new 2-inch crimping machine on Stand H1088 at AIMEX. The new 32EFG6K hose, an addition to Gates MegaSpiral® range, is described as suited to high pressure, high impulse applications which would have previously required 2-inch rigid pipe. “Equipment used in the mining industry is pushing the limits of hydraulic design with the need for more power and greater speeds,” Stephanie Papathanasiou, the company’s marketing services co-ordinator, explained. “Gates MegaSpiral hoses can handle this, having been tested to 1 million impulse cycles which is twice the SAE requirement and they have up to only one third the minimum SAE bend radius.” Gates’ new GC32-TSi crimping machine being launched at AIMEX was distinguished by unique features such as an indexing head that rotated slightly on every crimp to ensure a consistent application of grease, Papathanasiou said. This prolonged the life and accuracy of the crimper and increased maintenance intervals, she said.

The crimper also features a touch-pad Android tablet as the controller and user interface, using data from the Gates eCrimp website to advise the correct dies to load and automatically crimping to the correct crimp settings. “The crimper can even dynamically measure and validate the final crimp dimension,” Papathanasiou said. MegaSys hydraulic hose and coupling systems, described as ideal for mining applications, will be another highlight of the Gates display. “They have FRAS and MSHA approval, constant pressure ranges up to 550 bar, colour-coded laylines and comprise both spiral-wire and braid-wire hose assemblies designed and tested to 1 million and 600,000 impulse cycles respectively,” Papathanasiou said. Gates will also display lifeguard sleeves designed to offer line-of-sight protection against hose failure, and comprehensive power transmission belts, including synchronous belt drives that can replace roller chain drives and industrial v-belts. Gates Australia 03 9797 9600 www.gatesaustralia.com.au manmonthly.com.au

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Electric torque wrenches

Hand protection DIPLOMAT Blades will exhibit its newest protective glove, which is designed to offer cut and impact protection while preventing overheating, on Stand 8014 at AIMEX. The HexArmor Chrome Oasis 4030 is a mechanics’ style glove featuring HexVent technology. “It offers the highest level of cut and impact protection on the market while its advanced breathable technology ensures wearers won’t overheat due to their PPE (personal protective equipment),” Diplomat marketing manager, Matt Russell, said. The new design was especially suited

for protection from hazards such as metal burrs, wires or slivers in oil and gas production environments, he said. “And the combination of HexVent, HexArmor’s standard pre-curve design and double-stitched seams provide extra dexterity and durability.” HexArmor gloves exceeded the mining industry’s highest testing standards (ISEA and CE Level 5), Russell said – with the full range to be on display at AIMEX. Diplomat Blades 03 9562 0777 www.diplomatblades.com.au

The torque wrenches make use of patent-pending motor technology. NORBAR Torque Tools will be launching its new Evotorque electric torque wrench on Stand 2513 at AIMEX. According to Norbar’s managing director Matt Packer, the Evotorque makes use of patent-pending motor technology and shut-off control software to give unprecedented joint control. “We are the world’s leading torque specialist, with one of the most modern factories devoted exclusively to the design, development and production of torque tightening and measuring equipment,” Packer said. “There is no external control box with the Evotorque; you input all values directly on the tool,” Alex Bence,

Norbar’s sales manager added. Other features include the ability to correct torque output from hard through to soft joints; the fact it can safely be used on pre-tightened bolts as part of a joint verification process; a quiet operation of only 72.3 dBA coupled with smooth operation with low vibration level (0.304 m/s²); a water and dust sealed construction; and its maintenance-free motor (with no brushes). In addition to the new Evotorque, visitors to Norbar’s stand will be able to see working demonstrations of tools and testing. Norbar Torque Tools 08 8292 9777 www.norbar.com.au

The HexArmor Chrome Oasis 4030 is a mechanics’ style glove.

Training simulators

The simulators include a training model.

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IMMERSIVE Technologies will display what it describes as the world’s first complete mine operator training system on Stand 3120. Features of the new system, which incorporates the company’s advanced equipment simulators, include a training model blending eLearning, instructorled training, and medium and high fidelity simulators with customised content and curriculum – designed to ensure high levels of staff readiness, operational improvement and trainee output in a cost-effective manner; SimCloud technology offering mining operations complete visibility of local or global simulation training programs via a secure website; global operator benchmarking tools so mining operations can benchmark their equipment operators against global norms based on data captured from more than 23,000 operators; and a trainer productivity station. “AIMEX attendees will be able to experience the results of years of dedicated R&D, collaboration with hundreds of users of the industry’s largest installed fleet of advanced equipment simulators, and exclusive partnerships with leading OEMs, including Caterpillar, Hitachi, Komatsu, Liebherr and P&H Mining.” The new systems is supported by Immersive Technologies’ training consultants, backed by a mining operator development best practice R&D team. Immersive Technologies 08 9347 9011 www.immersivetechnologies.com

Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 49

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AIMEX Split bearings

The steel was was developed in response to requests from mining companies.

High hardness steel BISALLOY Steels will unveil what it describes as the hardest quenched and tempered steel made in Australia on Stand 4225 at AIMEX. According to Bisalloy Steels’ business development and strategy manager, Tom Matinca, Bisplate 600 was developed in response to requests from Australian mining companies focused on reducing operational costs. Bisplate 600, along with the company’s full range of high tensile and abrasion-resistant quenched and tempered steel, is manufactured in an efficient continuous-flow process. Bisalloy’s AIMEX display will also include a new low-friction Bisplate option that can handle wet and sticky ore types while offering a very low friction service,

COOPER Split Bearings and Kaydon Bearings will debut an increased range of new specialist bearings for mining applications on Stand 2005 at AIMEX. New at AIMEX will be its 01E and O2E enhanced bearings series which, according to the company, combine a greater load capacity than any split-to-the-shaft roller bearings of similar size with up to 135 per cent longer life, making them ideal for harsh mining conditions; and split double-row tapered (DTR) bearings, described as the first of their kind and designed for high-thrust applications such as ventilation fans and blowers and marine prop shafts. New Kaydon mining excavator slewing ring bearings will be another feature of the companies’ display. They include 4-point contact ball, 8-point contact ball, crossroller, and 3-row roller designs. Available in diameters from 50.8 mm to 6.1m, they can be ordered with no gearing, internal gearing or external gearing. All feature a triple labyrinth seal that stays concentric with the shaft, maintaining sealing integrity even when the shaft is misaligned. Cooper Bearings Group 0488 093 966 www.hmbe.com.au

as well as a very high tensile strength steel in structural applications. According to Bisalloy’s product applications engineer, Justin Suwart, the company’s customers no longer want to just purchase ‘any wear material at any cost as long as it is available’. “They are looking for a fit-for-purpose wear product that provides the best return over the life of the equipment,” he said. Bisalloy Steel’s main production facility and sales headquarters are in Wollongong, NSW, with stock facilities and sales offices in Perth and Brisbane and a sales office in Melbourne. Bisalloy Steels 02 4272 0444 www.bisalloy.com.au

The bearings have high load capacities.

Cleaners and degreasers

Formulated for the mining industry.

50 AUGUST 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly

SIMPLE Green will showcase its recently released mine site cleaner and degreaser Simple Green Mine Clean on Stand H1025 at AIMEX. According to marketing manager, Tanya Rademacher, Simple Green Mine Clean has been specifically formulated for the mining industry as a safer alternative for employees, the workplace and an environmentally friendly replacement for most cleaning and degreasing chemicals used in the industry. It is non-abrasive, non-corrosive, non-toxic, non-flammable, readily biodegradable and rinses residue-free, Rademacher said. Additionally it has no added fragrances or colours and is low foaming. Applications include vehicle wash down, machinery degreasing, work tool cleaning and the cleaning of draglines, crushers and conveyors, rubber screens and drilling rigs. Office, accommodation and janitorial cleaning, as well as

uniform laundering can also be carried out with Mine Clean. “Petroleum greases, transmission fluids, radiator fluids, greasy soils, road grime, bitumen and bird droppings are among the many substances Mine Clean can remove” she said. Simple Green Mine Clean is supplied in 20, 208 and 1041litre concentrates, with water being added on site, reducing the energy used to transport it and the cost per litre of the finished product. It is not classified as dangerous goods according to Australian transport regulations. While Mine Clean will be the focus of Simple Green’s AIMEX display, the company will also use the exhibition to showcase its full range of industrial cleaners and degreasers. Simple Green Australia 1300 826 470 www.simplegreen.com.au

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24/7 conveyor alarm systems FENNER Dunlop Australia will unveil a new 24/7 conveyor diagnostic and alert system on Stand 0616 at AIMEX. The round-the-clock alarm system is designed to alert users the instant any significant steel cord damage or splice damage is detected – and the nature of the problem. It also incorporates a splice monitoring system for the remote measurement of splice elongation. “This can help prevent a common form of splice failure in fabric and solid woven belting,” said the company’s sales and marketing representative, Alana Beaton. Other new Fenner Dunlop products on display at AIMEX will be its Ultra Tuff belting for high wear applications; high impact utility belting; a mine approved fire-resistant and anti-static (FRAS) heavy duty, lightweight nylon roller; and hi-Integrity Splicing

The alarm systems alert users to significant steel cord damage or splice damage. (HIS) technology which Fenner Dunlop has introduced into Australian mining operations for rubber-plied belts. Beaton said Fenner Dunlop aimed to provide innovative, value-adding conveyor system solutions with measurable, sustainable results and an emphasis on safety.

In Australia, the Fenner Dunlop Group consists of Fenner Dunlop, Australian Conveyor Engineering (ACE) (acquired in October 2012), Leading Edge Conveyor Services (LECS) and Statewide Belting. Fenner Dunlop Australia 02 4370 9500 www.fennerdunlop.com.au

Next gen electronics BRAMCO Electronics will highlight its b3 range of electronic products for the mining industry on Stand 7405 at AIMEX. Described as Bramco’s “next generation of products”, the b3 range includes earth continuity relays; earth leakage relays (fascia and DIN mount); neutral link monitors; module remote interfaces with flameproof buttons; isolation barriers; and combination relays. According to the company, the b3 range features innovative technologies, compliance with current industry standards, and assembly via surface mount technology and automated process machinery. Australian-owned Bramco, which has supplied products to the mining industry since 1945, says its products are ideally suited to extreme environments and exposure to mining applications for commodities such as coal, copper, gold and manganese. The company’s services cover energy distribution, electric power systems (including switchgear), short-haulage and long-distance conveyor controls, industrial communications, and tailored and engineered electronic solutions. “Bramco products are also suited to heavy and general industries where monitoring, protection and safety services are paramount,” said Leigh Kenny, the company’s technical writer. Bramco Electronics 02 4014 4444 www.bramco.com.au

The range is suited to extreme mining environments.

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The jackets were developed in Australia.

Anti-static mining jackets HUSKI will show a new cotton anti-static mining jacket described as the first such industry-specific jacket to be developed in Australia on Stand H18 at AIMEX. The Current 918176 has a carbon fibre configuration woven into its fabric. “This reduces and dissipates electrical charge, providing maximum protection in the event of sparks or ignition” explained Mark Kessel, marketing manager for Huski. “We have developed a truly anti-static 100 per cent cotton fabric. It meets an industry need for an all-round, warm winter weight jacket suited to the specific requirements of the mining industry. “By weaving carbon fibre through

the cotton fabric we have been able to create a garment that exceeds Australian, European and British standards for antistatic. This is a genuine breakthrough for the Australian mining and safety industries.” Kessel said the newly developed fabric is anti-static and high visibility day/night compliant. The Current also featured warm cotton lining and 3M 8910 reflective tap. It complies with Australian Standards 1906.4:2010 and 4602.1:2011 class D/N, anti-static – EN 1149-1. Huski - Palazzi 0418 379 227 www.huski.net Manufacturers’ Monthly AUGUST 2013 51

MA0813_052_BOC

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A Member of The Linde Group

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