In recent years, utility companies have undergone great changes in the way they run their businesses. The pressure to increase profits and reduce expenses has them integrating their SCADA systems with their business networks to streamline operations. The popularity of the internet has customers requesting online access to their accounts as well as online bill payment, further increasing network exposure. In addition, utility companies have reduced costs by leveraging the internet to facilitate core business operations such as outage management and procurement.

As embedded computers have become ubiquitous, so too the need for human machine interfaces has grown. Now small form factor HMIs appear headed for inclusion in nearly every part of human existence.

The refurbishment of one of Western Australia’s oldest Catholic cathedrals received a boost recently with help from hydraulic technology and the skills of riggers.

Along with energy and water, compressed air is one of the most ubiquitous inputs into an industrial plant. Why then are we so aware of the need to conserve energy and water, but often so blasé about optimising the efficiency of our compressed air systems? Here, compressed air system innovator John McNab* offers tips for getting the best from new or existing compressed air systems, by identifying 10 common misconceptions about compressed air.

When selecting compressed air purification equipment, installers and users often compare the performance of equipment from many manufacturers in an effort to cost-effectively achieve the quality of compressed air required by their application. A new ISO standard will add greater clarity to the decision-making process.

In manufacturing plant networks, what is frequently overlooked is the lowest level of automation, where sensors, simple binary actuator and safety inputs reside. At this level the number of wire leads that must be routed, stripped and terminated is staggering.

Compressed air systems can consume significant quantities of electricity, accounting for around 10% of Australia's power usage. An optimised electricity supply is an essential component of an efficient, cost-effective compressed air system installation.

Keeping physical assets in proper working order is essential to any organisation. Today, most maintenance is still performed either according to a set calendar schedule or according to that most ancient of operating procedures: “if it breaks, fix it”. But in a modern, data-intensive industrial environment we can do much better, and take plant performance to the next level with condition-based maintenance (CBM).

As end users discover the benefits of fieldbus with their process automation systems, many are beginning to wonder why they haven't been able to enjoy similar benefits with their safety instrumented systems (SIS)

In Part 1 of our story last month, we looked at the desirable features of a non-petroleum-based hydraulic fluid. This month we continue by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of hydraulic fluids based on vegetable oils

Clean coal technology company, Linc Energy has recently installed three Boge SL481 screw compressors at a coal tenement site in Queensland

Hydro Tasmania plays a significant part in keeping the state clean. As Australia’s leading renewable energy business, it contributes 50% of the country’s electricity from renewable energy sources. Hydro Tasmania generates approximately 10,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity annually through 28 power stations, numerous lakes and over 50 large dams.

Driverless trains, ore drills and even trucks are set to change the way mining in remote areas is done

Spills of standard, petroleum-based hydraulic fluids are known to kill marine life and contaminate soil. Environmentally safe hydraulic fluids are formulated to avoid these undesirable results

A recent upgrade to the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP) in Western Australia provides increased gas flow to local energy providers and features several turnkey air compressor packages