Phased array inspection technologies for draglines and shovels demonstrated at non-destructive testing conference in Brisbane. [ + ]

Many food, beverage and primary processors in the Australasian and Asia-Pacific region have traditionally viewed their wastewater primarily as a problem that has to be solved to meet local discharge standards. [ + ]

Germany's Industry 4.0 initiative aims to develop industrial machinery with built-in intelligence based on smart self-monitoring functions. Researchers have now come a step closer to the ideal of a self-maintaining machine. [ + ]

Kaeser Compressors has satisfied Tatura Milk Industries' stringent internal benchmarks for air quality in its food processing operations. [ + ]

The world's leading oil and gas industry process control specialists are coming together in Perth next year for the annual Australasian Oil & Gas Exhibition and Conference (AOG).

A prototype electric motor that uses a new principle for transforming electricity into rotary force is being developed at C-Motive Technologies, a company co-founded by UW-Madison assistant professor Dan Ludois. [ + ]

More than 800 sensors strategically positioned on the wind turbines at Australia's newest wind farm will play a key role in ongoing research by Siemens to optimise performance and minimise the need for potentially costly maintenance. [ + ]

The School of Engineering and Architecture at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts chose the Simatic PCS 7 Microbox version as the process control system to clearly present the processes in a new rectification plant to its students.

AccessPack, from Western Australian company CASWA, uses smart card technology to prevent unauthorised operators from using high-risk or critical equipment. [ + ]

The rise of technologies such as lightweight robots, 3D printing and power computing tools will play an important role in helping the Australian manufacturing industry through one of its most critical junctures. [ + ]

Separators are almost always present wherever there are oil and gas production facilities because, depending on the nature of the reservoir, oil, gas and water will be present in varying proportions. [ + ]

Process control and automation technologies are increasingly under threat from sophisticated and well-funded criminal groups. Many of these groups use sophisticated techniques to disrupt or sabotage an organisation's operations. [ + ]

Existing clean-in-place (CIP) processes are time intensive and waste large amounts of energy, water and chemicals. In Part 1 of this article the risks and costs associated with inefficient CIP processes were discussed, but new innovations in CIP technology can now allow plant operators to cut costs in an environmentally friendly manner while still conforming to regulatory safety standards. [ + ]

Poor alarm management can lead to serious consequences in process plants. The integrity and effectiveness of alarm management can be crucial in either assisting the operator by indicating abnormal situations quickly and simply, or otherwise by distracting, confusing or failing to notify the operator of abnormal situations. [ + ]

Over the past few years there have been many challenges to our industry - the merging of trades through multiskilling, the emergence of the internet and the reduction in jobs as companies have sought to become more competitive in a shrinking world market. [ + ]