Second Australian radar system to be developed in Defence contract
Following the success of CEA Technologies CEAFAR maritime radars, Defence Industry Minister Pyne has announced a second company will be encouraged into the radar field.
Australian company gets $19 m series B backing, looks to commercially launch rockets in 2020
Gilmour Space Technologies has raised $19 m from companies including Main Sequence Ventures (which manages CSIRO’s Innovation Fund), Blackbird Ventures and the US-based 500 Start-ups. The company is aiming to address a bottleneck in launches for the booming nano-satellite market, catered to by about a half-dozen operators globally.
GE commits to 3D printing of rail locomotive components
GE is to extend its success with 3D printing of aero engine parts to the locomotive industry. The company is targeting 250 parts to be 3D printed by 2025 – and we will see them here as numerous GE heavy locomotives are already in service in Australia.
Exporting to Europe?
The Forum has been approached by a local maker of European EPAL pallets offering a government-subsidised review to explore the potential to improve the supply chain costs and effectiveness of exports to the EU and Britain via these pallets.
How to keep your electricity costs below 10c/kWh.
One Step off the Grid reports: “The case for demand response becoming a major player in Australia’s future grid has been underscored this week, with the findings of a new study revealing it can cut business energy costs by up to one-third, while also helping to reduce power prices across the grid. The research from…
Games can make manufacturing fun.
Garry Cox posts on the power of games to make manufacturing fun. We learn as children through games, and as adults through game-like systems such as the airline pilot flight simulator. Similarly the power of games can be added to the production line. Find out here.
Investor seeking to buy a manufacturing business
A group of investors has approached the Australian Manufacturing Forum looking to purchase an Australian manufacturing business. The business should have a track record of profitability – in the region of an EBIT of $1-$5 million, and the purchaser is willing to look at companies from all locations.
Byron Kennedy, co-founder and CEO, SPEE3D
AuManufacturing’s first featured member is Byron Kennedy of SPEE3D, who shares some thoughts about bringing new manufacturing technology to market in Australia. His company specialises in a novel method of additively manufacturing parts through “supersonic 3D deposition”, with metal powders fired precisely and at triple the speed of sound onto a surface.
Industry all but disappears from the new look Federal Cabinet.
Scott Morrison’s first Cabinet as Prime Minister continues the break up and eclipse of the former industry portfolio and installs yet another differently experienced minister in the key role.
Everything you need to know about the factory of the future.
This unusually comprehensive report on the factory of the future by analysts CB Insights looks at the key elements of the factory of the future.