While increasing automation in mining tasks can improve safety, it may jeopardise on-site jobs, a new report from the UQ’s Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining has found. [ + ]

Pressure Dynamics has been bought out by a consortium, commencing trading as a new entity on 26 July. The company appointed PPB Advisory as receivers and managers on 7 June. [ + ]

The NSW EPA’s new Compliance Policy is now available on its website. The EPA says the policy will provide additional transparency to the public about the way it regulates industry in NSW. [ + ]

Two grit-blasting robots developed by UTS are being used to strip lead-based paint from the Sydney Harbour Bridge in preparation for the first repainting in the bridge’s history. [ + ]

Dell has been contracted to supply a 3200 core high-performance computer cloud for the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI). [ + ]

National Instruments and Flinders University have signed an agreement that will significantly boost the university’s teaching capacity and engineering research. [ + ]

Engineering and mechatronics students from leading Australian and New Zealand universities are preparing to face off in the final of the National Instruments Autonomous Robotics Competition in Melbourne. [ + ]

The ASA has welcomed the ISP assessing underground coal gasification in Queensland, calling it an “opportunity to demonstrate the vast potential UCG has in solving Australia and the world’s energy problems”. [ + ]

‘Mechatronics for Human Wellbeing’ is the focus of the 2013 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM2013), which commenced yesterday in Wollongong. [ + ]

ABB has been selected by Fastned to supply chargers for more than 200 electric vehicle fast-charging stations in the Netherlands. The project will place an EV fast charger within 50 kilometres for all Dutch residents. [ + ]

Humans still seem to worry that the robots we build to serve us may one day turn against us. To address this irrational fear, a UK research project will explore how robots can interact with humans in an increasingly safe and trustworthy manner. [ + ]

Engineers Australia has joined an alliance of peak professional bodies opposing the government’s proposal to cap tax deductions on work-related expenses to $2000. [ + ]

Swagelok Company is one of 10 leading global companies that have formed the Facility 450 Consortium (F450C) to address the complex facility and infrastructure challenges of 450 mm semiconductor wafer fabrication. [ + ]

The Australian Industry Group’s Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index was 49.6 for June, up 5.8 points from the previous month. [ + ]

Engineers Australia has lent its support to a proposal to appoint a Chief Engineer to guide Australia’s infrastructure investment priorities. [ + ]