Three manufacturers awarded $2.1 in sovereign capability grants
Axiom Precision Manufacturing, M & I Samaras and Jehbco Manufacturing have collectively been awarded $2,092,340 in Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grants.
Invest in Australian vaccine production: Australian Academy of Science
The Australian Academy of Science has pushed for federal investment in local Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing capacity.
PC to investigate supply chain vulnerabilty
The federal government has given the Productivity Commission the task of reviewing Australia’s supply chain vulnerabilities and risks following the shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Productivity Commission will look at Australia’s supply chains, as well as longer term trends in relation to Australia’s linkages and dependencies on international trade and assess whether vulnerabilities or…
Quickstep grows but currency change mars profit
Aerospace composites manufacturer Quickstep has reported steady growth in sales for the first half of FY21 with sales up eight per cent to $41.5 million, the rise attributable to the company’s involvement in making tail sections for the F-35 Lightning jet fighter. However the rising Australian dollar hit EBITDA margin as did the end of…
Austal USA President resigns following naval ship inquiry
International shipbuilder Austal has accepted the resignation of its US President Craig Perciavalle following the completion of an investigation into cost escalations of Littoral Combat Ships (pictured) the company is building for the US Navy. Investigations by US regulatory authorities focused on Austal USA’s write back of work in progress attributable to the LCS program,…
Redarc says newly-announced project will create 35 new jobs
Redarc Electronics has announced an Industry 4.0 technology and training project, which is receiving $399,770 in support through an Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre grant. According to a statement, it will further develop the project lead’s workforce, Industry 4.0 technology adoption, and business processes “through collaboration with key supply chain partners and expert local service providers.” …
Adbri’s earnings boost despite Covid challenges
Lower residential construction in Australia has seen turnover for construction materials group Adbri fall marginally in the full year to 31 December, only partially offset by increased lime sales. The company, the renamed Adelaide Brighton, reported net profit after tax of $93.7 million, up from $47.3 million in the previous corresponding period on revenue down…
Gale Pacific EBITDA up 332 per cent
ASX-listed fabric company Gale Pacific has reported improved revenues and profitability in the first half of the financial year.
Science calls for $2.4b research translation fund
The nation’s peak science lobby has called on government to use the expected $2.4 billion in savings from changes to the Research and Development Tax Incentive to fund the creation of a new research translation and commercialisation fund.
The Canberra bubble and Australia’s manufacturing dialogue – by Greg Whiteley
Greg Whiteley ferrets out the facts about Australia’s company structure – and it turns out there are a tiny number of large businesses dominated by 99 per cent of companies with less than 200 employees. Yet the policy focus is all about big businesses. Time to change and develop policy suited to our SME business…