The world’s biggest producer of rare earths critical to the production of permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, electric motors, computer drives, medical devices and defence equipment is to ramp up the speed and size of previously announced production increase. Lynas Rare Earths has previously announced a 50 percent expansion of its Mt Weld mine…
Defence manufacturer Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions has manufactured the first artillery projectile from the joint venture’s new Maryborough, regional Queensland plant. The completion of the first batch of projectiles comes a little over two years after construction began on the greenfield site in the Moonaboola Industrial Estate, with a ramp up of production to follow. When…
By Peter Roberts Shares in added manufacturing technology developer AML3D took off today on news it has become the first manufacturer to be awarded an Additive Manufacturing Facility accreditation with wire feedstock through DNV, the globally recognised validation society. Late today the company’s shares were up 15 cents or 19.2 percent to $0.093. Achieving ‘approval…
Kawana-based engineering company Manuplex has been awarded “more than $500,000” in assistance through the Queensland Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program, which will contribute to purchasing four new steel rollforming machines and CAD software.
By Peter Roberts The federal government has announced a Defence Strategic Review, with $44.6 billion in annual spending up for review or, in the government’s own words, even abandoned. With the new government facing an increasingly complicated defence environment, the review will also cover defence force structure and where defence assets and personnel are best…
German chemical company Henkel has announced that it will begin producing its Loctite brand of polyurethane adhesives in Australia, citing increased interest in engineered timber for construction. Henkel said it would start production of Purbond at Kilsyth, Victoria in the second half of 2023, which would open “many opportunities for us to help our customers…
Flinders develops new wave energy system A prototype system for harnessing power from ocean waves designed by Flinders University researchers delivers a robust generator made from recycled material that promises to help address small-scale local energy requirements and environmental pollution issues with further R&D, according to the university. The ‘green machine’, designed around a wave-driven triboelectric…
Explosives and mining technology company Orica is to expand its interests in orebody intelligence with the purchase of underground geospatial systems manufacturer Axis Mining Technology for $260 million in cash. With Orica already a leader in digital explosives technologies at minesites, the addition of Axis orebody characterisation capabilities strengthens the company’s digital solutions vertically. Orica…
By Peter Roberts You hear comments like this all the time: ‘but we don’t manufacture any major appliances in Australia, do we?’ Well actually we do – in fact many of Australia’s most loved appliances in areas from cooking, to air conditioning are still made locally. A stand-out is Seeley International, which has just revealed…
Australia’s east coast gas crisis is set to sharply worsen. A new report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) notes supply conditions will deteriorate significantly in 2023 if no action is taken. The 56 petajoule shortfall is huge – equivalent to around 10% of domestic demand.
