Large smelters in electricity-intensive, metal-winning industries can use as much power as a medium-sized city, so finding ways to reduce their energy requirement is a high priority.  In a bid to help smelters cut their consumption and associated emissions, the Australian research agency CSIRO, in partnership with industry players, is assessing and testing new electrical connection systems. [ + ]

Accuracy statements issued by instrument manufacturers are often used as a basis for choosing devices for an application; however, these specifications are measured in laboratory conditions and may not give an accurate picture of the performance of an instrument under real process ambient conditions. [ + ]

Many operational and maintenance problems around a plant can be solved by deploying WirelessHART transmitters beyond the P&ID together with an asset management system and other software to obtain asset health information and other additional plant data. However, plant procedures must be written so as to make full use of this new information. [ + ]

Networks, properly designed for security and fully exploited, can add value to a business, but for many businesses in the Australian manufacturing industries, the fear of internet-borne nasties infecting a network is not uncommon, and may be unnecessarily limiting the productivity gains that current and emerging technologies offer. [ + ]

OneSteel Whyalla took advantage of a recent blast furnace repair to upgrade its critical skip hoist control system. Rockwell Automation provided a cost-effective solution which met and exceeded current safety requirements. [ + ]

A growing international coal gasification market offers potential for coal deposits previously ranked of low value to become a highly marketable resource. [ + ]

Little Creatures began when a group of friends decided to make an idea a reality. The company now produces more than 100,000 hectolitres of beer annually in Fremantle and will soon start production at its new brewery in Geelong. [ + ]

Researchers have achieved the wireless transmission of 40 Gbps at 240 GHz over a distance of one kilometre, setting a new world record that ties in seamlessly with the capacity of optical fibre transmission. [ + ]

Some of the best seats in the house at this year’s State of Origin rugby league matches at ANZ Stadium on 5 June and 17 July were occupied by fans who were probably unaware of the industrial gearbox engineering that brought them closer to the spectacle. [ + ]

What would happen if we went 25 years back in time and used the systems of today, or what would happen if we used these same systems for the next 25 years? For those living in the past it would feel alien and for those living in the future, the systems would be ready for the museum. So what exactly do we need? [ + ]

Electric actuation can help control valve users avoid many of the problems and inefficiencies associated with using compressed air as a power medium. [ + ]

Preventing dust problems is an important priority of the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group, so it engaged Tecpro Australia to provide a dust-suppression solution for their coal-dump stations. [ + ]

Magnetic field sensors are a contact- and wear-free means of measuring the position of machine parts and products. A new generation of Hall sensors is now making the process even more precise and free of interference. [ + ]

In October 2012, Ashland Inc embarked on an upgrade of the Foundation Fieldbus system at their 1,4-butanediol (BDO) production operation in Lima, Ohio. [ + ]

Wind farm operators selling their power into wholesale electricity markets are looking for ways to maximise their profit and reduce revenue uncertainty. Like any energy producer, they need software tools to analyse historical data, forecast prices, and determine demand on the forward-reserve, day-ahead and real-time spot markets. [ + ]