Today’s linear motion applications are more demanding than ever before. Faster throughput, more exact positioning, longer life, less maintenance, fewer moving parts; the list is never ending. Motion control companies strive to meet and exceed these requirements by continual technological advancement.

There have been many comparisons between Foundation Fieldbus (FF) and Profibus for use on field instruments in the process industries. If you put the two protocols side by side you will see that either will do the job and provide the much published cost savings.

Underground storage tanks (USTs) have been used since the early stages of industrialisation. Although they are most often associated with the storage of petroleum products, USTs are also used to store other hazardous substances, including waste products.

Victoria’s largest energy producer, Loy Yang Power, recently embarked on an upgrade of its four-level open-cut coal mine facility, Loy Yang Mine. The ‘in progress’ upgrade includes the redesign and progressive changeover of the mine’s existing coal transfer conveyor drive systems. With a combined length in excess of 25 km, the mine’s conveying system transfers the freshly mined coal from the mine floor to the surface.

Victoria’s largest energy producer, Loy Yang Power, recently embarked on an upgrade of its four-level open-cut coal mine facility, Loy Yang Mine. The ‘in progress’ upgrade includes the redesign and progressive changeover of the mine’s existing coal transfer conveyor drive systems. With a combined length in excess of 25 km, the mine’s conveying system transfers the freshly mined coal from the mine floor to the surface.

It is critical that plant managers and engineers choose the right level detection switches as they can prevent the accidental discharge of toxic products into the environment. A well-selected, correctly installed level switch will save companies the expense associated with treating and disposing of spilt material. Moreover, it will safeguard companies against punitive fines in the event of an unavoidable accident.

Environmental regulations and responsibilities are stimulating industrial process operators to minimise particulate emissions from fabric filter and electrostatic precipitator dust arrestment plant by optimised maintenance and operation programs. The online monitoring of particulate emissions plays a fundamental role in this optimisation, providing the evidence and feedback of any improvements.

COTS is an acronym that stands for ‘Commercial, Off The Shelf’ and the COTS revolution has changed commercial computing, created personal computing, impacted telecommunications and made huge changes in the industrial environment.

It is critical that plant managers and engineers choose the right level detection switches as they can prevent the accidental discharge of toxic products into the environment. A well-selected, correctly installed level switch will save companies the expense associated with treating and disposing of spilt material. Moreover, it will safeguard companies against punitive fines in the event of an unavoidable accident.

Melbourne-based automation and robotics specialist Andrew Donald Design Engineers is reaping great benefits from its work with Australian manufacturers. The company works with its customers to design automated processes to improve efficiency and productivity, and with its strong focus on research and development, has claimed the Australian Government’s R&D Tax Concession since 1998.

Melbourne-based automation and robotics specialist Andrew Donald Design Engineers is reaping great benefits from its work with Australian manufacturers. The company works with its customers to design automated processes to improve efficiency and productivity, and with its strong focus on research and development, has claimed the Australian Government’s R&D Tax Concession since 1998.

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) remains one of the most popular processes used for separation of solids from liquids.

As one of the world’s leading suppliers of products, services and solutions to the process industries, Emerson Process Management has begun to take a serious look at the future of the industry in terms of sustainability. In a recent interview with ProcessOnline, the many ways the company is adapting to the global changes that are forcing companies to become more environmentally aware were discussed.

Specialised corporate knowledge loss is a significant business risk in the 21st century with a large number of ‘baby boomers’ now approaching retirement. The University of Wollongong and the Navy have committed themselves to a project that plans to maximise retention of irreplaceable knowledge before it ‘walks out the door’. The research project will be directly applied to Navy’s maritime engineering community and the knowledge gained could also provide benefits for other Australian organisations.

Engineers and scientists around the world are looking for ways to harness the sun’s thermal energy to replace the diminishing global supplies of fossil fuel with a ‘clean’, carbon-neutral energy source. Australia is particularly well placed to do this, since it has the highest average amount of solar radiation per square metre per year on Earth.