Industry News
FDT Group launches IIoT server
The FDT Group has announced the launch of the FDT/IIoT Server (FITS) for mobility, cloud and fog enterprise applications. The FITS solution protects industry investments in FDT through advanced business logic, well-defined interfaces and common components, and enables operating system agnostic implementation of the technology while supporting today’s integrated automation architecture. [ + ]
CSIRO to improve flow of chemical manufacturing
The CSIRO FloWorks Centre for Industrial Flow Chemistry houses state-of-the-art flow chemistry equipment from small to industrial scale, helping to make this novel technology accessible to industry and other research bodies. [ + ]
GE Oil & Gas and Baker Hughes to merge
A new Baker Hughes will be formed by a merger with GE Oil & Gas, combining its oilfield services and technology with GE's manufacturing and digital platforms. [ + ]
Rockwell invests $12m to bring STEM to next generation
Rockwell Automation has announced a US$12 million, four-year commitment to FIRST — For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — founded to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. [ + ]
Australia's first cloud-predicting solar farm
Cloud prediction technology is being used at the Karratha Airport solar farm to smooth out power generation from the facility in tandem with a battery system. [ + ]
Siemens acquires Mentor Graphics
Siemens and Mentor Graphics have entered into a merger agreement under which Siemens will acquire Mentor for $37.25 per share in cash, which represents an enterprise value of US$4.5 billion. [ + ]
City of Sydney says it is time to modernise ageing electricity network
The City of Sydney is calling on Australia's energy rule maker — for a second time — to encourage efficient, decentralised energy generators, following the recent catastrophic grid failure in South Australia. [ + ]
New way to make low-cost solar cell technology
Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have found a new way to fabricate high-efficiency, semitransparent perovskite solar cells in a breakthrough that could lead to more efficient and cheaper solar electricity. [ + ]
AMGC invests in Swinburne's manufacturing futures research institute
The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre's chairman, Andrew Stevens, has announced funding of $250,000 towards the Swinburne Manufacturing Futures Research Institute to boost the adoption of Industry 4.0 processes to increase Australian manufacturing competitiveness. [ + ]
Omron table tennis robot officially named world's 'first robot table tennis tutor'
Omron Electronics has announced that its table tennis robot FORPHEUS has been officially named the world's 'first robot table tennis tutor' by Guinness World Records. [ + ]
Resource employers welcome 10-year vision for METS sector
A new 10 Year Sector Competitiveness Plan for Australia's mining equipment, technology and services (METS) industry provides a clear roadmap for the development of the sector. [ + ]
General Mills to close Vic manufacturing plant
General Mills has announced plans to close its manufacturing facility in Mount Waverly, Victoria, and move its production activity to an expanded plant in Rooty Hill, New South Wales. [ + ]
Manufacturing edges back into growth in October
The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) increased by 1.1 points to 50.9 in October, signalling a very mild expansion across the manufacturing sector. [ + ]
IDEC powers its HQ with solar and wind
IDEC's US headquarters are powered by a combination of solar panels and wind turbines, providing about 50% of the facility's total power requirements. [ + ]
Metso ranked at Leadership level in CDP's Climate Change evaluation
Metso continues to be included in CDP's Climate Change evaluation at the Leadership level with an A-ranking (the scale of the index was A-D). [ + ]
