The federal government has launched its $160 million fund to support small and medium sized Australian manufacturers to invest in new technology, grow and create new jobs. The Manufacturing Modernisation Fund will include $50 million from the government and will be matched by at least $110 million from industry. The fund will have two types … Continue reading Federal government launches Manufacturing Modernisation Fund →

The professional association for Australia’s technology sector, ACS, has launched a report highlighting skills shortages in the technology sector, with an additional 100,000 workers reportedly needed by 2024. The 2019 ACS Australia’s Digital Pulse report outlines a number of policy priorities for recommended implementation to assist the growth of Australia’s digital economy and meet the … Continue reading ACS report highlights skills shortage in tech sector →

Dr Bronwyn Evans has been appointed as Engineers Australia’s new chief executive officer. Evans has experience in both the corporate and not-for-profit roles, including as CEO of Standards Australia, senior executive roles at Cochlear Ltd and GE Healthcare, as well as non-executive board experience in the construction, medical technology and digital business sectors. Engineers Australia … Continue reading Bronwyn Evans appointed Engineers Australia CEO →

The federal government has announced $6.2 million in funding to Logan City Council (LCC) to develop the Loganholme Wastewater Treatment Plant Gasification Facility at Loganholme in Queensland. Once complete, the $17.28 million project will be the first time gasification has been incorporated into a wastewater treatment plant in Australia. The facility will help to reduce … Continue reading Federal government funds first wastewater plant gasification project →

Thermo Fischer Scientific now offers Fluke Australia’s electronic test tools. Fluke Australia produces tools that can be used for process calibration, power quality, industrial imaging, and infrared cameras. Fluke’s devices are used in fields including industrial maintenance, commercial building, mining, oil and gas, and wastewater. The Everett, Washington, US-headquartered company was established in 1948, and … Continue reading Thermo Fisher Scientific now distributing Fluke devices →

A first-of-its-kind 3D metal parts printer, LightSPEE3D, has been installed at Swinburne University’s Factory of the Future. This latest installation, developed by Australian 3D metal-printing company SPEE3D, is the first 3D metal parts printer to apply supersonic deposition, where metal particles are fired faster than the speed of sound, creating industrial quality metal parts in … Continue reading SPEE3D metal parts printer installed at Swinburne Uni’s Factory of the Future →

The federal government is preparing to launch a new education resource to get more females studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Trialling the Girls in STEM Toolkit with high school students in western Sydney, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the online resource would make it easy for all students across … Continue reading Online resource to help boost diversity in STEM fields →

Additive Assurance, a company based on research from Monash University, has launched with an investment from IP Group and is now conducting trials with aerospace, defence, and energy companies. The company has been founded to commercialise a metal 3D printing quality assurance technology, developed at Monash University in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering … Continue reading Australian additive manufacturing company starts product trials →

The Queensland government has approved the development of a $16 million detailed business case into the potential raising of Queensland’s largest dam. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that upgrading the Burdekin Falls Dam was the next step in developing the Burdekin Hydro power project, which is expected to create 200 jobs during construction and generate enough … Continue reading Business case to be developed for the raising of Queensland’s largest dam →

A $5 million study is underway into a hydrogen plant at Stanwell Power Station in Queensland. State energy minister Anthony Lynham told Queensland parliament that the 12-month study would assess the technical, commercial and strategic feasibility of a large hydrogen electrolysis plant near Stanwell Power Station. The government-owned generator Stanwell Corp is looking at a … Continue reading Queensland government funds hydrogen plant feasibility study →

A Northern Territory-based science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program, the sySTEMic Collaboration, has been recognised at the national level after taking out the award for Best STEM Program at the 2019 Australian Education Awards. The sySTEMic Collaboration, created in response to the Engineers Make Things Happen Report of 2017, is an initiative that seeks … Continue reading Northern Territory STEM education program recognised with award →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $950,000 in funding for gas company BOC for a renewable hydrogen production and refuelling project in Queensland. The $3.1 million pilot project will involve the installation of a 220 kW electrolyser and a 100 kW solar array at BOC’s Bulwer Island gas facility to produce green hydrogen … Continue reading ARENA announces funding for BOC hydrogen project in Queensland →

At the recent Industry 4.0 Advanced Manufacturing Forum (I4AMF), Standards Australia outlined how developing standards can help Australia tackle the next major industrial revolution. Standards Australia presented at the conference about how Australian businesses can optimise their supply chain processes, reduce risks, eliminate inefficiencies, and improve productivity. “The fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, is … Continue reading Standards Australia: adoption of international standards can help Industry 4.0 transition →

Fabio Coelho de Souza Silva of Novus Automation provides insights into the major features of cloud computing in industrial settings. Cloud computing technologies, widely known as “cloud”, are already a consolidated reality in the market. It is undeniable that this technology is here to stay and change the way the IT sector gets related to … Continue reading Myths and facts about cloud systems →

The PSENscan safety laser scanners from Pilz are now also suitable for area guarding in vertical applications, eg, for access protection. PSENscan applications can now be designed with greater flexibility, which minimises downtimes and increases cost-effectiveness. Due to integrated muting inputs, applications can now be monitored in which material is simultaneously transported in and out. … Continue reading Pilz PSENscan safety laser scanner →

Ten teams of businesses, students and graduates will compete in the The National Innovation Games launched on the Gold Coast this week. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said ten teams of businesses, students and graduates will put their minds to the test in the competition, which fosters creative thinking and collaboration. Federal … Continue reading Innovation Games begin on the Gold Coast →

A lab that enables manufacturers to create virtual replicas, or “digital twins”, of physical objects and systems has been launched by CSIRO’s Data61. The Mixed Reality Lab in Melbourne houses a set-up of industrial and consumer optical cameras and sensing equipment to capture detailed information about a physical object and the space surrounding it. The … Continue reading CSIRO’s Data61 launches “digital twin” lab →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced up to $40 million in funding towards the deployment of a pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) project in South Australia. ARENA’s funding will help to fast track development of South Australia’s first PHES plant. The successful funding recipient will be at least 200 MW in capacity, and … Continue reading ARENA to fund SA pumped hydro energy storage project →

UNSW University students have designed a virtual and augmented reality system that enables workers to safely shut down dangerous machinery in industrial plants, an effort that has seen them win this year’s UNSW Maker Games competition. Now in its third year, the Maker Games encourages UNSW students from multiple faculties to come together and design … Continue reading Virtual reality industrial safety solution wins UNSW Maker Games →

Construction companies that understand the requirements of industrial automation are few and far between. We talk to Total Construction’s James Bolton and Rob Blythman to discuss how the company’s expertise extends across the advanced industrial sector. Industry 4.0 – it is the concept on every manufacturer’s lips. The potential of advanced technologies and techniques to … Continue reading The Total take on Industry 4.0 →