Manufacturing news briefs - stories you might have missed

A Swinburne-led program has received more than $1 million from CSIRO’s Data 61 to build cybersecurity and digital transformation skills in the next generation of manufacturing professionals. The CSIRO funding came through its Building National Cybersecurity Capabilities for Digital Transformation in Manufacturing program, which is designed to help build Australian skills to secure business-critical manufacturing systems. According to Swinburne, their new Building National Cybersecurity Capabilities for Digital Transformation in Manufacturing program was driven by real-life needs from industry partners, DXC, Amazon, ASTA and Sysbox, which are contributing $600,000 in additional funding. The program will address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in manufacturing software, data flow analysis for security in smart manufacturing, data driven control system assessment, and secure and responsible AI for manufacturing.

Electrical engineering and automation firm Sage Automation has installed a new smart school crossing for the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters in Adelaide, an Australian first. The crossing (pictured) is in operation at St Joseph’s Memorial School, Kensington, and incorporates a SAGE Edge device and radar unit, collecting traffic movement and vehicle speed data to be made available for the council via the SAGE Central Management and Monitoring System. According to the company, its would allow council to monitor the operation of the crossing for maintenance as well as provide critical information and reporting to assist data-driven decisions for future planning.

PCI coal starting to feel impact of decarbonisation
A new report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) has found that steel-making companies are exploring replacement of Russian and Australian pulverised coal injection (PCI) coal with green hydrogen as an early pathway to reducing emissions. PCI is essentially high-quality thermal coal, used in both metallurgical or thermal coal markets, and is used in blast furnaces to reduce consumption of more expensive coking coal. Report author Simon Nicholas said that globally, the steel industry is exploring the potential for hydrogen as it faces rising coal prices. “Many steelmakers are prioritising the reduction of emissions at existing blast furnaces,” said Nicholas, rather than immediately shifting production to DRI. “As such, an early use of hydrogen in steelmaking will be in the replacement of PCI coal. This is not a route to full decarbonisation – the replacement of PCI with green hydrogen reduces blast furnace carbon emissions only by 20%.” The report is available here.

Applications opened this week for the annual Western Australian Export Awards, with category winners going on to the Australian Export Awards. The awards recognise companies’ export achievements, and the contributions of these to the national economy. Exports contributed more than $240 billion to the WA economy in 2021. The awards have 13 categories: Advanced Technologies; Agribusiness, Food and Beverages; Creative Industries; E-Commerce; Emerging Exporter; International Education and Training; International Health; Manufacturing and Advanced Materials; Minerals, Energy and Related Services; Professional Services; Regional Exporter; Small Business; and Sustainability. More information is available here.

Schneider Electric launches switchboard with local content

Electrical and automation company Schneider Electric has launched its new PrismaSeT switchboard in Australia, with a claim it is creating local jobs. The French company, which manufactures Clipsal electricals locally, said the sheet metal for the next generation PrismaSeT is manufactured in Australia, “ensuring excellent workmanship quality and helping to boost local manufacturing. As such, the global switchboard system has been adapted to meet unique Australian market needs.”
Schneider said the switchboard’s modular design helped optimise the switchboard footprint and eases scalability. PrismaSeT also achieves superior operational safety standards through comprehensive testing and validation, thereby complying with AS/NZS 61439.1&2 standard. PrismaSeT’s PowerLogic HeatTag sensors allow early detection of overheating wire connections or cables.

This week federal industry minister Angus Taylor officially opened Tindo Solar’s $5 million production line, which makes some of the most efficient solar panels in the world. The production line was designed and engineered overseas before being installed at Tindo Solar’s new $6 million factory at Mawson Lakes, in Adelaide, and was assisted through a $1 million Modern Manufacturing Fund grant. The line allows Tindo Solar – the only manufacturer of solar panels in Australia – to build modules that contain the new global standard for solar cell technology, the M10 cell.