Organic straws add value to rye harvest
Drinking straws made from locally grown organic rye are being developed ahead of a proposed single use plastic ban in South Australia.
“Industry led mechanisms” the answer to plastics problem: PM to UN
Prime minister Scott Morrison has spoken in favour of industry-led solutions to plastic ocean waste during an address to the United Nations General assembly early Thursday morning, AEST.
$10.6 million drone contract to create 10 jobs at Xtek
Defence supplier Xtek has earned a $10.6 million contract to “provide spare parts, repair, maintenance and support services” for the Australian Defence Force’s fleet of Wasp All Environment drones. The work will be carried out at a Xtek’s recently-completed Canberra facility, and according to defence industry minister Melissa Price will create an additional 10…
Dig deep: Australia’s mining know-how makes it the perfect $150m partner for NASA’s Moon and Mars shots
By Andrew Dempster, Director, Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research; UNSW In the wake of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, the Australian government announced on Sunday a commitment of A$150million “into our local businesses and new technologies that will support NASA on its inspirational campaign to return to the…
Osteopore 3D shines on debut
Artificial bone 3D printing company Osteopore (ASX: OSX) burst onto the stock market this week, its shares rising rising four times in price on debut. The company’s shares rose a further 10 cents in its second day of trading. The Perth and Singaporean company, which prints bone scaffold implants designed to fit individual patients, raised…
Stop Press! A federal industry minister that listens
Comment by Peter Roberts It has been difficult for many years to say anything too positive about our federal industry ministers. How could I? With six serving in the position in a similar number of years none have been round long enough to make an impression. But these pictures of industry minister Karen Andrews visiting…
Fonterra offloads pharmaceutical business, cuts debt
New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra (ASX: FSF) has offloaded its shareholding in pharmaceutical supplier DPE Pharma as it reorganises its businesses to cut debt. The company sold its 50 per cent shareholding in the international suppliier of dry inhalation powders for $589 million (NZD$633 million), ending its association with milk-based pharmaceuticals. The purchaser was capital…
South Australia looks to take lead in green hydrogen race
By Andrew Spence An Australian state with and abundance of renewable energy has unveiled a plan to become a leading global exporter of certified green hydrogen. South Australia is already a world leader in wind, solar and battery storage to the point where excess renewable energy is often shed during peak production…
Wind and solar electricity just keep getting cheaper
New figures from Bloomberg new energy finance show the continuing fall in the cost of solar and wind generated electricity, which is now the cheapest form of power in two thirds of the world. Their report, New Energy Outlook 2019, shows that price is driving a shift in global energy mix, with solar and wind…
“Free education to all manufacturers” launched
A new online learning tool featuring advice from some of Australia’s manufacturing success stories was launched on Tuesday.