Industry News
Biogas facility recognised for innovation at QMBA Awards
A biogas and water treatment plant has won the award for Innovation in ‘Environmental Management Construction’ at the Queensland Master Builders Association (QMBA) Brisbane Regional Awards. [ + ]
Rising LNG prices more significant than carbon tax for manufacturing sector
A report commissioned by manufacturing companies shows more than 14,000 manufacturing jobs could be lost nationally by 2021, if gas prices continue to rise and exports increase. [ + ]
New codes of practice for safer NSW workplaces
WorkCover has announced that 12 new codes of practice have come into force in NSW. The new codes replace a number of existing codes that were in place under previous occupational health and safety laws. [ + ]
IChemE signs up its first Australian Technician Member
IChemE has signed up its first Australian Technician Member, following the introduction of a new member grade. [ + ]
Nominations invited for annual HART Plant of the Year Award
The HART Communication Foundation is seeking qualified nominees from all world areas for the 13th annual HART Plant of the Year Award. [ + ]
Double blow to NT iron ore sector
The Northern Territory iron ore industry has suffered its second hit this month, with an iron ore company announcing it is going into voluntary administration, just weeks after the declared shutdown of a Top End mine. [ + ]
Industry experts ponder the future for Holden's Elizabeth site
The Holden site at Elizabeth, South Australia, is expected to cease manufacturing by the end of 2017. Thoughts are now turning to possible future uses for the site, which currently employs about 1600 workers. [ + ]
Automated root-cause analysis earns patent for Metso
Metso Automation USA has received a patent from the US Patent office for Automated Determination of Root Cause. The patented method determines the most likely root cause using a "big data" technique. [ + ]
BHP looking to second generation in driverless road and rail
BHP Billiton's Jimmy Wilson acknowledges that BHP is trailing Rio Tinto on autonomous trucks and rail in the Pilbara, but he insists that for any technology, the second generation is always better than the first. [ + ]
HAM-LET launches enhanced stainless steel
HAM-LET is launching PuRight, an enhanced version of 316L stainless steel, which offers lower inclusion content, low carbon content for enhanced welding, low sulfur content for enhanced electro-polishing and better corrosion resistance. [ + ]
Mathworks' MATLAB free one-day events
MathWorks' MATLAB Tour is a series of free, one-day events which bring together engineers, scientists, technical managers, and academia to discuss how MATLAB and Simulink software are addressing advanced science and engineering challenges. [ + ]
Record numbers attend Yokogawa event
The biennial Yokogawa Solutions Conference, the largest and most successful to date, was attended by delegates representing a broad spectrum of the process control industry, along with vendor partner companies. [ + ]
Pilz to hold robot safety training courses
Automation technology provider Pilz will hold a series of one-day robot safety training courses to provide those who integrate robotic systems with a comprehensive understanding of the essential requirements of robot safety. [ + ]
Connectivity and automation: productivity solutions in challenging times
The challenges posed by a high Australian dollar and slower economic growth should inspire manufacturers to focus their attention inwards in the quest to remain competitive. [ + ]
Honeywell to provide technical training at Vietnam's largest refinery
Honeywell Process Solutions has announced it will be responsible for training technicians at a new 200,000 barrel/day refinery being constructed in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. [ + ]