Nature inspires advanced anaerobic technologies to cleanly transform wastewater into green energy. [ + ]

In the course of modernisation of one of its stormwater basins, the wastewater treatment plant Waiblingen-Hegnach decided to implement radar measurement technology from VEGA. The basin, which is 5 kilometres away from the treatment plant, is monitored reliably by three radar sensors. [ + ]

Powder-handling tasks typically impose rigorous demands upon the actuators and isolators used in their materials handling systems. [ + ]

The volatility of the coal industry, and the ongoing search for alternative energy resources, has resulted in many Australian coal miners investing heavily in R&D to discover the optimal coal-to-liquid process (CTL). CTL plants cost billions to get established so it is critical to ensure the project viability before proceeding. [ + ]

Billions of packages of all kinds are filled around the world every day. ‘Package’ can mean bottle, jar, tube, box or can - any container filled with product. All prepackaged goods by law display net weight or volume and number of pieces. [ + ]

Companies in Australia have discovered that direct digital manufacturing is a powerful alternative, rather than a direct replacement, to the conventional manufacturing processes. [ + ]

Instrumentation, control systems and automation (IC&A) industries directly or indirectly employ or engage people in almost all key activities within any modern economy. [ + ]

Should you use a traditional belt conveyor, or a vibratory or horizontal motion conveyor for moving your food products? Each has its pros and cons, and the lowest cost to implement many not necessarily mean the lowest total cost of ownership. [ + ]

The machine automation controller (MAC) is the latest stage in the evolution of the automation controller, meeting machine control needs more effectively than previous controller solutions. [ + ]

Technology such as variable speed drives allows us to save energy from motor applications, but electrical energy efficiency is not just about speed control. Non-unity power factor loads and harmonic distortion increase energy losses in the power distribution network and increase infrastructure costs. [ + ]

Germany’s Black Forest has long been famous for its natural beauty, clean water and clean air. It also has a tradition of precision workmanship going back many centuries, with products such as its clocks being famous the world over. The Rothaus brewery, maker of the famous Tannenzäpfle beer, uses four ABB robots in handling and packaging. [ + ]

The iron ore industry in Western Australia consumes in excess of a 3 million litres of diesel each day. This diesel is delivered to the mine sites either by rail up to the site load-out or by a combination of rail and road. The use of mine transport corridors for transport of fuel not only adds significant costs, but also has a considerable safety impact. [ + ]

In the upcoming decade, software tools will play a more critical role in system design and development. [ + ]

As centralised information technology has advanced towards the use of decentralised PCs with servers, the typical utility’s SCADA architecture has not kept pace. [ + ]

CompAir’s Quantima compressor system has helped Australia’s largest milk processor, Murray Goulburn (MGC), reduce costs and carbon emissions. [ + ]