The Tolomatic RSX080 actuator the latest addition to the Tolomatic family of high-force electric actuators–is an economical actuator solution with forces up to 18,000 lbf (80 kN) ideal for replacing hydraulic cylinders. Designed and tested for 100 per cent duty cycle, the RSX080 actuator is roller-screw driven for long, consistent life in demanding environments. Applications … Continue reading High-force electric actuator added to Tolomatic range →

An ‘x-ray vision system’ that overlays three specific technologies to assess the structure and health of individual trees in plantation forests through the canopy is being developed in South Australia. University of South Australia autonomous systems expert Professor Anthony Finn said an infrared sensor gave the drone the “x-ray vision” to see through forest canopies. … Continue reading Infrared sensing gives forest drones a new edge →

Michell Instruments has launched its upgraded S8000 chilled mirror hygrometer range to maintain its position as the world’s most popular and cost-effective family of industrial chilled mirror hygrometers. The first of the new instruments released in April 2018 were the S8000 RS and S8000 Remote. The very popular mid-range S8000 Integrale is due to be … Continue reading Hygrometer range improved and relaunched →

VTT’s robot car, Marilyn, sees better than humans in foggy, and even snowy, conditions, and can now navigate without stopping – including in bad weather. It can also see a human through fog and avoid accident automatically. This is enabled by the LiDAR mounted on the car’s roof, which can see wavelengths that are beyond … Continue reading Finnish robot car takes leap towards automatic 24/7 driving →

A leading researcher in the field of petroleum engineering had joined Edith Cowan University as a Professorial Research Fellow. Professor Stefan Igauer, who has authored more than 180 technical publications, has joined ECU’s School of Engineering to establish a Petroleum Engineering discipline. He received his PhD in Material Science from Oxford Brookes University (UK) in … Continue reading ECU recruits new professor in engineering →

Recent infrastructure-heavy State and Federal Budgets will not prevent a peaking in the public investment cycle over 2018/19, according to leading construction industry analyst and economic forecaster, BIS Oxford Economics. In officially launching its civil construction report, Engineering Construction in Australia 2018 – 2032, BIS Oxford Economics said total measured work done in Australia’s largest … Continue reading Building and construction sector to peak soon →

Monash will use big data to enable their buildings to intelligently and automatically alter the internal environment, transforming the way staff and students live, work and learn at the university. Monash University and Honeywell Building Solutions have signed a collaboration agreement today to deliver one of the world’s first ‘cognitive office buildings’ bringing together next-generation … Continue reading Monash uses big data to create buildings of the future →

STMicroelectronics has added new high-stability MEMS sensors with 10-year product-longevity assurance. The new sensors, to be made available during 2018, begin with the  IIS3DHHC, a three-axis accelerometer optimised for high measurement resolution and stability to ensure accuracy over time and temperature. The IIS3DHHC targets precision inclinometers in antenna-positioning mechanisms for communication systems, Structural Health Monitoring … Continue reading High-accuracy MEMS sensors for advanced industrial sensing →

The manufacturer of the world’s smallest IR sensor, JonDeTech Sensors AB has gained a design win with the newly started Norwegian innovation company FireNanny, which aims to integrate JonDeTech’s sensor into FireNanny’s overheating alarm. “The application area is important and up-to-date and we think it can become very big,” says JonDeTech CEO Robert Ekström. The … Continue reading World’s smallest IR sensor for overheating alarm →

Kaizen. It is a word synonymous with improvement in organisations around the world. While the Japanese word literally means ‘improvement’, in industry and business the focus is on small, continuous steps to better processes. It is embedded in the management thinking of many organisations. Japanese businesses developed Kaizen practices around the 1950s, most notably Toyota … Continue reading How incremental improvements can impede innovation in automation of warehousing and distribution →

Following the recent acquisition, NHP are pleased to have strengthened its business with an expanded team of locally based automation professionals from the Rexel Industrial Automation business who are specifically experienced and trained in Rockwell Automation products, systems and solutions. Through NHP acquiring the Rockwell Automation related business assets from Rexel Industrial Automation, NHP is … Continue reading NHP is the local choice for global partner Rockwell Automation →

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) said it welcomes the $20 million allocated to establish an SME export hubs program, as well as extending funding for the export growth centres. These programs should help many SMEs make the jump into international business and we look forward to seeing the detail. “Overall, this is positive budget … Continue reading 2018 budget positive for SME exporters but a long way to go →

Australian machine building company, HMPS, will again be exhibiting at ProPak Asia in Thailand. MPS will showcase its latest innovations and product launches to wow more than 44 000 anticipated visitors to the show. HMPS has been setting the standard since the 80’s when it designed and developed the first Bag in Box machinery in … Continue reading HMPS gets set for ProPak Asia 2018 →

WaterGroup, an integrated water savings company, and metering manufacturer HZ Metering have announced a partnership to distribute a new smart water meter in the Australian market. Called the Network-ready Ultrasonic smart water meter (NUmeter), this meter is the first commercially available ultrasonic smart water meter to have an IoT type network communications module like NB-IoT, Sigfox or … Continue reading NUmeter partnership set to tackle Australia’s major water challenges →

The Australian space industry is set to receive a boost as the government pushes forward its plans to establish a national space agency, announced by the government in September  last year, in a bid to coordinate existing efforts in the aeronautical industry and create jobs. Ahead of the 2018 federal Budget being delivered next Tuesday, the ABC has reported  that the Australian … Continue reading Australia a step closer to establishing its own space agency →

SMC’s flow and pressure valves in the AS-R and AS-Q series offer a cut in internal air consumption by up to 25 per cent when using the AS-R pressure valve and an AS-Q flow valve on their cylinders. Among the many tangible benefits, using these valves helps to shorten the response time of the return … Continue reading Flow and pressure valve reduces air consumption by up to 25 per cent →

Control and shut-off valves are used for oil and gas transmission in refineries and petrochemical plants. The valve position is regulated using the position measuring systems, because they are extremely reliable, especially in very harsh environments. When explosion protection has the highest priority, the new, certified position measuring system BTL7-T500 from Balluff is the right … Continue reading Magnetostrictive linear position sensor for explosion hazard areas →

It is hard to escape the future of work. Nearly every day, new reports predict huge changes to how businesses operate, and what this will mean for countries, companies, and consumers. From digital transformation to the rise of robotics, one thing is clear: in the age of automation, innovation and the adoption of technology are … Continue reading Australia needs to up our innovation game – it’s now or never →

Jon Norman is a professional engineer with nearly 20 years’ experience in the power industry, environmental sector, management consulting and government. His company, Hydrostor, is leading the sector in Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES), with the world’s first adiabatic CAES facility operating in Toronto, and the development of a new CAES demonstration project at the … Continue reading Where Australia sits on the energy storage global stage →