Industry News
Cloud-computing platform for robots launched
Researchers of five European universities have developed a cloud-computing platform for robots which allows robots connected to the internet to directly access the powerful computational, storage and communications infrastructure of modern data centres. [ + ]
GE awarded US$620 million services contract
GE Oil & Gas has received a US$620 million, 22-year contractual service agreement to provide a broad range of advanced technology services for QGC’s Queensland Curtis LNG plant. [ + ]
Schunk optimises robot hand
Five-fingered robot hand can not only grip but gesture. [ + ]
ABB wins Chilean contract
ABB has won an order to provide the electrical equipment, including its new gearless conveyor drives, for Codelco’s largest operation in Chile. [ + ]
Turck Mexico receives leadership recognition
Rodolfo Ortiz, General Manager of Turck’s Mexico operations, has recently been awarded top executive honours for 2012 by ARCHOS, the regional human resources organisation for Southeast Coahuila. [ + ]
Uncertain robots more effective
No-one likes to be reminded of their limitations, but robots need exactly that in order to be more effective, researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) say. [ + ]
EngQuest attracts record numbers for 2013
Engineers Australia’s national outreach program for schools, EngQuest, has hit an all-new record for student participation, attracting more than 50,000 students in 2013. [ + ]
ABB wins $15 million Ichthys contract
ABB has won a $15 million oil and gas contract for the Ichthys oil and gas field in the Timor Sea off Western Australia. [ + ]
Chevron boosts professional development for graduate engineers
Chevron Australia is boosting the professional development of its new engineering graduates, signing a Professional Development Program with Engineers Australia. [ + ]
EPA investigates another Orica incident
Orica says a relief valve in its ammonia storage plant lifted prematurely as a result of a mechanical malfunction - but this occurred well before the alarm’s trigger point in this section of the plant. [ + ]
Inaco and Rittal announce distribution partnership
Specialist industrial automation and controls distributor Inaco Automation Controls has announced a new distribution alliance with Rittal for Australia. [ + ]
Ammonia leak reported at Orica plant
An ammonia gas leak occurred at Orica’s Kooragang Island site in Newcastle on 11 March, with an unconfirmed quantity of ammonia from a 60 m high vent stack. [ + ]
Moore Industries launches new YouTube video
Hosted by Peter Welander, the NCS NET Concentrator System video details the advantages of using a distributed I/O network to send information between instrumentation devices and control elements in a control room or on a factory floor. [ + ]
QGCE Committee calls for papers
The Queensland Gas Conference and Exhibition committee is calling for abstracts on topics demonstrating innovation, thought leadership and best practice across the supply chain, from production to midstream industry. [ + ]
Support for government grant applications available
Government grants are available to businesses to support the review, implementation, acquisition or innovation of new technology or energy-efficient resources in their business. However, many companies aren’t aware of which government grants they are eligible for. [ + ]