The CKR Automatic Vision Inspection System has won the 2003 Advanced Imaging Award in the Machine Vision category. This is an annual US Imaging award.

Willett International Limited announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Danaher Corporation.

ABB has signed a full service maintenance agreement with Carter Holt Harvey, an Australian-Asian forest products company. The five-year contract, worth US$10 million annually, covers all maintenance services for the Kinleith mill in Tokoroa, New Zealand.

Level is the process measurement for which suppliers are eagerly pursing wireless solutions. The characteristics of a tank farm exemplify why wireless is appropriate for such applications. Storage tank locations are generally not central to the control room, requiring added costs for digging trenches, laying conduit, associated labour, engineering and maintenance.

World trade rebounded in 2002, growing by 2.5% compared to a 1% decline in 2001. But the real story is in the detailS. China and the transition economies are gaining prominence while The Americas, Western Europe, and Japan are stuck in neutral.

The three major fieldbus organisations are behind an initiative to standardise an Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL).

Global manufacturing commerce solutions provider QAD has announced a partnership with Queensland IT consultancy, F5 Systems Integration.

The Australian Information Industry Association and Gilbert + Tobin have launched the Software Legal Guide. Written in layman's terms the guide provides a broad overview of both the legal and business issues involved in running a software business.

GE Industrial Systems, a unit of the General Electric, has acquired International Fiber Systems, a provider of advanced, digital fibre optic transmission products and systems for electronic security and intelligent transportation systems.

Promise, an international R&D project aimed at ensuring sustainable recyclability for electrical and electronic products has been launched under the IMS (Intelligent Manufacturing Systems) program.

Industry trials are about to get under way for a CSIRO fully-automated, inline rheometer to be used in the production of paints and inks, and foods such as sauces and edible oils.

Recent events in the Australian manufacturing sector have raised the focus upon end-to-end quality assurance requirements and how the transparency of plant floor operations affects boardroom decision-making.

Four key Asia Pacific air freight carriers have launched an Internet-based cargo portal.

Sandvik is intensifying its focus on high value-added products. As part of this effort, the organisational structure within the Sandvik Specialty Steels business area has changed. In line with the ongoing shift in the business area's focus, it has changed the name to Sandvik Materials Technologies.

ABB has announced the opening of a new variable speed drive production line in Finland.