Air “ain’t free” so use it efficiently
Bill Blyth from SMC Pneumatics raised a number of compressed air issues in a recent article in www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au. As many businesses used compressed I&I thought it worthwhile to raise some of these issues here.
Compressed air is often the highest energy cost for many businesses, but unfortunately this resource is often seen as unlimited. It is therefore important that this valuable energy source be utilised efficiently, in all processes, at all times.
With the requirements on industry to move to more sustainable and energy-efficient processes and practices, the reliance of maintenance activities to identify and maintain better ‘in-house’ practices is developing.
The costs associated with the use of pneumatically operated processes can be dramatically reduced provided that the compressed air systems are efficient and are well maintained. Maintenance must include the establishment of, and adherence to, efficiency ‘benchmarks’ for all processes.
When establishing benchmarks for the efficiency of pneumatically operated processes, there are several areas that need to be considered:
Quality — what is the required level of particle filtration, moisture and odour removal? These are determined by the required processes and the requirements of the selected pneumatic components.
Volume — what volume of air is required for the processes? This should account for the highest demands required.
Pressure — what is the maximum pressure available? Is this pressure sufficient to satisfy all the processes?
More ideas can be found in the full article in www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au Contact: Bill Blyth, manager strategic product development, SMC Pneumatics (Australia) Pty Ltd, www.smcaus.com.au Giving up on the Murray Adelaide goes to sea
Approval has been granted for the construction of a $10 million pilot desalination plant at Port Stanvac in South Australia. The pilot plant will test water quality, filtration and pre-treatment technology required for the proposed $1.1 billion, 50-gigalitre desalination plant planned for the Gulf St Vincent. Stage one of pilot plant testing will run for six to 12 months to assess the pre-treatment process in a range of climatic conditions. Stage two will involve up to six months of reverse osmosis membrane testing. The pilot plant study phase will typically pump a small quantity of seawater through an automatically monitored and controlled treatment process. This smaller plant will help determine the key design criteria and processes that will allow seawater to be pre-treated to a sufficient quality and at a feasible cost for desalination in the gulf.
Contractors will soon begin assembling the intake and outfall pipelines for the pilot plant which should be in operation by the end of July, according to the state government. Last month, the government declared the Adelaide Desalination Plant a major project and announced SA Water would finance it under a design, build, operate and maintain procurement option.
The 50GL plant would provide Adelaide with one-quarter of its annual water use and was a climate-independent source. A $3 million baseline environmental assessment for the gulf will be complete by the end of 2008 and the SA Government expects to have the major plant up and running by the summer of 2011-12. (Courtesy of www.constructionindustrynews.net ). Event 1: China, planes, innovation and breakfast!
The Illawarra Innovative Industry Network (i3net) & Connect2 Ltd Hong Kong are holding an Innovation Showcase 2008 Business Breakfast “Doing Real Business in China from the SME Perspective” on Wednesday July 2 from 8am to 10am at the HARS Hanger 1, Illawarra Airport, Albion Park.
Following the Presentation HARS members will provide a Tour of the Historical Aircraft Museum. From 11am as part of the program Connect2 Management will offer one on one consultation clinics with companies wishing to confidentially explore or discuss in greater detail their strategies and opportunities further. These clinics have proven popular, book your clinic early to avoid disappointment. Bookings can be made through Pauline at the i3net office, email i3net@i3net.com.au or phone 0401 030 023.
Event 2: Intellectual Property: Strategies for Entrepreneurs
This seminar is for entrepreneurs and business owners who rely on innovation as a key driver. It will feature presentations from Australian Technology Showcase Patron SPRUSON & FERGUSON, one of the leading intellectual property firms in Australia, specialising in the areas of trademarks, patents, designs, IP litigation, commercialisation and management.
The first session of the seminar, "IP fundamentals”, will provide a practical overview of IP as a strategic business tool; how to identify and capture the IP you and your staff create; the costs, benefits and risks in protecting and defending your IP. The second component of the seminar will consist of three concurrent breakout sessions, providing insights into the specific characteristics of managing, protecting and valuing IP in the ICT, biotechnology and manufacturing and medical devices sectors. The third session will provide an overview of the strategies for commercialising IP in Australia and internationally. Each session will be followed by an open discussion.
This seminar is on 25 June 2008 from 8am – 12noon at NSW Trade and Investment Centre, Level 47, MLC Centre, 19 Martin Place, Sydney. Enquiries to Maryse Delorie on 02 9338 6651 or email maryse.delorie@business.nsw.gov.au Event 3: Get the real story about energy in Australia?
The critical issue of how to power the future of Australia is being discussed in a series of public forums organised by the Whitlam Institute and the College of Health and Science within the University of Western Sydney.
Energy Security: The Real Story brings together leading Australian and international scientists to showcase the best scientific knowledge about energy now and into the future. The science behind fossil fuels, nuclear and renewable energy will be discussed, as well as how to use this information to make good policy decisions in the years to come.
The monthly forums, the next being 19 June and continue until September, will include speakers from UWS, the CSIRO, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre in the USA.
This topical, educational series is for policy makers, government departments and agencies, civic groups and non-government organisations, researchers, universities, schools and other members of the community - particularly those in Greater Western Sydney.
The full list of speakers and topics is available on http://www.whitlam.org Contact:. Eleanor Gibbs, Communications Officer Phone 9685 9072 Your Ideas, Innovations or Events?
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