After five years of success in NSW, the LAA/APICS Mentoring Program is expanding to Victoria in 2008.

The Fieldbus Foundation has released specifications for H1 cable testing and standard temperature transducer blocks.

Using pure biodiesel or blending biodiesel with standard fuel could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a CSIRO report released recently.

CSIRO and Cleantech Ventures, with technology start-up company Smart Storage, are developing a hybrid battery suitable for storing electricity from renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.

Dover Corporation has announced the combination of two of its Dover Engineered Systems companies: US-based Markem Corporation and French-based Imaje S.A.

Bosses are giving their workers extra leave and even airline tickets instead of wage increases to retain staff in a tight labour market, a report into collective workplace agreements has found.

The Women in Manufacturing Stepping Up Program will be offered again during 2008, following the success of the pilot program last year.

Flowexpo is an international exhibition on valves, pipelines, fluid engineering and process industry, founded in March 1997. It is held 26-28 March at Guangzhou, China.

Industrial components specialist Treotham Automation has seen one of its major suppliers, igus of Germany, recognised in a top-level design award competition.

BHP Billiton has ruled out selling the company’s petroleum division to help fund a potential takeover of Rio Tinto.

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation has acquired Arrow Hose & Tubing Inc.

Rockwell Automation has entered into a definitive agreement to buy Pavilion Technologies, a privately held company involved in advanced process control, production optimisation and environmental compliance solutions for process and hybrid industries.

PetroChina became the world’s first company worth more than US$1 trillion on Tuesday, shooting past Exxon Mobil as the Chinese oil producer’s shares nearly tripled in their first day of trading in China.

Adept Electronic Solutions is opening an office in Melbourne and is celebrating with a Machine Vision Open Day on 22 November.

ABB Australia has announced Jarred Spriggs from Deakin University is the overall winner of the National Robotics Innovation competition for university students, launched earlier this year.