Siemens Australia is showcasing two Australian innovations and world firsts at Hannover Messe 2023, the world’s largest industrial trade fair in Germany. Taking the stage this year to speak to attendees at the fair will be Walter Meyler, founder and CEO of Automation Innovation and Shane Carter, Managing Director of Centric Process Automation. Both are Australian companies with world-first innovations designed and built using Siemens technology.
Speaking on the showcase of Australian case studies at Hannover Messe, Darryl Kaufmann, head of the Siemens Digital Industries business in the region said, “From an Australian point of view, the future lies in high-value, repeatable solutions that can make a global impact. Both examples use the best automation and digitalisation technologies, combined with local knowhow and expertise, to make a positive impact on the environment. This is absolutely the way that manufacturers in Australia will succeed on a global stage."

Darryl Kaufmann - Head of Digital Industries, Siemens Australia and New Zealand and Walter Meyler - CEO, Automation Innovation
Melbourne-based company, Automation Innovation, developed a unique solution for the glass mould cleaning process – making it faster, more accurate and eliminating the use of harsh chemical cleaners or ceramic bead blasting. The artificial intelligence (AI) solution which includes a unique ‘path-mapping’ software algorithm, written and developed in conjunction with Siemens, can rapidly guide an automated robotic laser cleaning system. At Hannover Messe, Walter will discuss how this process has set a new industry benchmark for cleaning glass moulds by turning what used to take hours or days into seconds or minutes.
Shane Carter from Centric PA will present on the world’s first fully automated fire-retardant loading system for aircrafts. The unique system saves critical response time for fire-fighting aircraft and increases safety and efficiency for fire fighters. The Retardant and Suppressant Computerised Aircraft Loading system (RASCAL) is Australian designed and built for the loading of firefighting aircraft. It is an automated pumping system that increases the accuracy, safety, efficiency, ease, and reduces cost of pumping retardant and/or suppressant into firefighting aircrafts. RASCAL rapidly accelerates the time it takes to load vital fire-fighting aircraft with retardant and does this with pinpoint accuracy.

From left: Marcus Riley - Siemens, Shane Carter - Centric PA, Sam Crothers - Centric PA, Bernie O’Rourke - RFS, NSW
“It’s fantastic to be able to present two great examples of Australian innovation on a global stage at the biggest industrial trade fair in the world. Both these solutions solve real-world problems by using the best available automation and digitalization technologies. They not only help increase efficiency and save money, but in the case of RASCAL, could also help save lives and critical assets,” said Darryl Kaufmann.

Hannover Messe runs from 17th – 22nd April. Both sessions can be livestreamed. Further information on overall program and the individual sessions can be found on our Hannover Messe 2023 Virtual program page.



