The Queensland state government is closer to filling in a ‘missing link’ in Queensland's coal rail network after reaching an agreement with property owners to secure a 69 km stretch of the proposed corridor.

Emerson Process Management, an Emerson business, has opened two technology centres in Tianjin, China, to help meet the rising demand for control-valve and valve-automation products for the growing process manufacturing industry in the Asia-Pacific region.

An international Siemens-led consortium is building a 750 MW supercritical-steam coal-fired power station at Kogan Creek, near Chinchilla in Queensland. The $1.2 billion project is scheduled to come online in September this year and will be the largest single-block power station in Australia.

Controlsoft Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s leading industrial automation and control system engineering companies and headquartered in Melbourne, has been acquired by ZI-Argus, a member of the Zuellig Industrial Group.

A futuristic ‘eye’ developed by Pilz and DaimlerChrysler claims to allow people to work next to robots and other automated machines without physical safety barriers.

Kraus & Naimer was founded in 1907, the first workshop being set up in the basement of the building in Wattgasse 53, Vienna. Lorenz Naimer, the founder and financier, and his partner Franz Kraus, launched an experiment to manufacture special electrical devices.

At National Manufacturing Week 2007, Australian drive solution group, SEW-Eurodrive exhibited the results of 25 years of involvement in the Australian manufacturing scene.

An Australian manufacturer of electric motors is set to launch into the European market after signing a lucrative contract with a major Swiss distributor of industrial components.

Australia’s peak water industry body has a new chief executive officer.

The 19th Australian international manufacturing technology exhibition for the automation, process electronics and electrical industries will be held this year at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour.

A system for the pharmaceutical industry which enables the real-time monitoring of product shipment temperatures throughout an extended supply chain using RFID sensors has been developed by DHL in partnership with Microlise and AeroScout.

Research into greener engines has won a UK-India education and research initiative.

A 2007 survey shows that scientists and engineers enjoyed some of the country’s highest salary increases throughout 2006/07.

Eastern Pneumatics has changed its name to Eastern Pneumatics & Hydraulics, effective from 1 May this year.

Danfoss Australia has entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with Automation Direct Pty Ltd for the sale and support of its VLT FC51 MicroDrive range.