Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Treasury backs intervention to cut energy prices Treasury has taken the unusual step of backing ‘temporary and regularly reviewed’ market intervention to rein in high coal and gas prices. A statement from Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy read to a Senate estimates committee said price shocks “bring into scope government intervention”, though the government should not…

Maggie Beer sales slump post Covid-19

A rise in sales during Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns has not lasted into Q1 FY22 for prestige food manufacturer Maggie Beer Holdings. The Barossa Valley company reported that Q1 FY22 sales were down 22.1 percent compared to the previous corresponding period which were boosted as consumers remained at home where they spent more time cooking. However…

GlaxoSmithKline to commercialise Cann Group cannabis medication

Medicinal cannabis producer Cann Group and global pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline are progressing negotiations relating to the commercialisation of Cann’s Satipharm CBD capsules. Cann Group, which operates a major cannabis growing and processing centre at Mildura, Victoria (pictured) announced it was in negotiation with GlaxoSmithKline’s Australian arm Haleon. The negotiations involve an exclusive agreement covering distribution…

Calix awarded $947,000 for engineering and design study on demo-scale iron factory

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has announced $947,000 in funding to Calix, supporting an investigation into the feasibility of a hydrogen direct reduced iron (DRI) plant using the Australian company’s Zero Emissions Steel Technology (ZESTY) process. According to a statement from ARENA, the funding would assist a pre-FEED and FEED (Front End Engineering and Design)…