Researchers borrow from bugs to make unsinkable metal
A University of Rochester team has developed a laser-etching technique and taken inspiration from fire ants and diving bell spiders to engineer water-repellent, buoyant metal structures.
Warren Randall buys four more McLaren Vale vineyards
Major Australian wine company Randall Wine Group has acquired four more vineyards in McLaren Vale totaling 142 hectares to become the region’s largest vigneron.
Officeworks to introduce pen and battery recycling scheme “by the end of 2020”
Officeworks has announced that it plans to introduce battery recycling at all stores and pen recycling “in most stores” by the end of next year. Federal assistant minister for waste reduction, Trevor Evans – who attended the announcement at the Wesfarmers-owned office supplier’s Osborne Park store – said that Officeworks would partner with BIC on…
Brickworks expands in the US – again
Australian building products group Brickworks (ASX: BKW) has added to its fast-growing US brick manufacturing network with the purchase of RedlandBrick Inc for $70 million. The Sydney company bought four modern manufacturing sites in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, adding to its portfolio of brick making assets in the north east of the country. While Redland…
Geelong hemp processing business ramps up machinery exports
Textile & Composite Industries is exporting two of its D8 hemp decorticators to a farm in Pennsylvania. The units, which retail for roughly $350,000, are the eighth generation of the machine, and are produced by Geelong engineering business Austeng. Founder of TCI, the late inventor Adrian Clarke, made his first machine in 1994. …
Now NSW sources ferries from overseas, ignores local builder
Comment by Peter Roberts The New South Wales government has confirmed its love affair with importing expensive transport equipment with the purchase of 13 Sydney harbour ferries for a reported $1.3 billion. Writing in MichaelWest.com, maritime commentator Neil Baird said Northern NSW company, Birdon had contracted to build the ferries in China and Indonesia. The…
Development capital sector invests in manufacturing through Levett
Development capital interests have agreed to buy leading South Australian supplier of precision components and assemblies for defence and aerospace industries, Levett Engineering.. CPE Capital subsidiary ASDAM will add Levett to a growing portfolio of manufacturing interests, focused on high tecnology suppliers to defence prime contractors. Levett provides complex parts for naval and air force…
2020 WorldSkills tradie competition to be held August 13 – 15 in Perth
More than 500 competitors and 20,000 visitors are expected to attend the WorldSkills Australia National Championships, which have been announced for August 13 – 15 at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre next year. The national vocational and educational training (VET) competition will feature as many as 60 skills categories. It is held in conjunction…
Tyre recycler steps up tech export efforts with new US appointment
Central NSW-based tyre recycling business Green Distillation Technologies has announced the hire of a marketing agent in the United States.
Now Microsoft and Google make quantum breakthroughs
Technology giant Microsoft has joined rival Google in announcing important advances in quantum computing, the next stage in smaller and ever more capable computers. Yesterday Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella announced the technology company had developed a “full-stack, open cloud ecosystem” to bring the benefits of quantum computing to developers around the world. He…