The electrical industry in Australia is characterised by sole traders, family, micro and small businesses, which face daily challenges involved in running a company in difficult times.

Man first came to understand the value of copper around 10,000 BC. The Romans, Greeks, Aztecs and Egyptians were quite innovative in their use of copper and copper-tin alloys such as bronze and brass. The metal was readily accessible, very ductile and malleable, making it relatively easy to smelt. It also had a natural resistance to corrosion. The current extraordinary rate of development in China and India has significantly increased the demand on this resource, driving the cost of copper to record levels. As the lifeblood of all electrical systems, it is essential that designers and engineers are efficient in their use of copper to produce an economical solution without jeopardising the integrity of the electrical supply system.

Seifert mtm Systems' second-generation models of the ecool series with speed-controlled compressors offer temperature stability for less component stress.

Industry analyst firm NanoMarkets projects substantial growth in the OLED lighting materials market 

The Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre (DKASC), a demonstration site for solar panels, was set up to help promote understanding and confidence in solar technologies. The site is an initiative of Desert Knowledge Australia and CAT Projects and is located about 9 km south of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

International fish feed supplier Nutreco recently upgraded its fish feed production plant in the Hobart suburb of Cambridge, Tasmania. The upgrade of the facility, which operates as Skretting Australia, included an extensive $3m rewiring of the entire plant by electrical services company Pacific Services Group (PSG) Tasmania. Skretting Australia is Australasia’s leading supplier of commercial fish feed. The plant was officially opened by Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings in September.

Businesses are increasingly getting caught out by the Fair Work Ombudsman on sham contracting arrangements. Below are some tips on how to avoid sham contracting arrangements.

Z-Axis has improved the reliability of its communications systems with IceWarp.

NECA warns consumers should be careful when buying products manufactured overseas as they may not meet Australian standards.

Research firm Ovum says there will be $213.8bn of new revenues up for grabs in the telecoms sector between 2012 and 2015.

Alcatel-Lucent has used Spirent TestCenter HyperMetrics mX 40/100G to validate the scale and performance of its FP3 Processor in initial public demonstrations.

Much has been said about the need for faster and more relevant training - but have we got it right? Is the method of training best served in a classroom, or through practical hands-on learning, or a combination of both? If we use both, how much should be the hands-on training and how much theoretical information do we need?

Globalisation and the growth of the online marketplace have intensified competition and increased the pressure on SMEs, but instead of letting this dampen the enthusiasm, its time small business owners think creatively and reshape their businesses to take advantage of changing trends.

Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary in South Australia was established in 1969 by revegetating dairy land with native trees and shrubs to attract native animals and birds. The sanctuary, which contains 14 hectares enclosed by feral-proof fencing, is now home to 100 species of birds and many native mammals, most of which are nocturnal and highly endangered.

On 30 April 2009, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) endorsed an agreement for a National Occupation Licensing System (NOLS) for economically important trades. The objective of establishing a national licensing system was to remove overlapping and inconsistent regulation between jurisdictions in the way they license occupational areas.