Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Austin Engineering awarded $5 million for advanced manufacturing Perth mining equipment manufacturer Austin Engineering has been awarded a grant of up to $5 million from the WA government’s Investment Attraction Fund to boost advanced manufacturing capabilities at its Kewdale plant. The IAF seeks to bring investment, jobs and economic diversity to the state, increasing local…

Radioactive waste isn’t going away. We’ve found a new way to trap it in minerals for long-term storage

By Grant Douglas, CSIRO There are around 440 nuclear power plants operating in 32 countries around the world, supplying some 10% of the world’s electricity. Another 60 reactors are under construction, and 300 more are proposed. Australia has only one reactor, used for research and medical purposes. But Australia typically produces more than 5,000 tonnes…

Trioda Wilingi gets $2.6 million investment to develop medical gels from native grasses

University of Queensland/Uniquest spinout company Trioda Wilingi will receive a $2.6 million investment from Uniseed and Bulugudu to create injectable medical gels from an Australian spinifex grass. Trioda Wilingi has exclusive rights to develop medical gels from spinifex, with potential use “including osteoarthritis, drug delivery and cosmetic treatments” and using a process developed with the…

Thales joins forces with RGM Maintenance

Defence contractor Thales Australia has partnered with Queensland SME, RGM Maintenance to help optimise and advance specialised heavy vehicle maintenance and regional access to services and maintenance of Land Materiel including armoured vehicles for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The new partnership with RGM will boost the specialised skills, experience and training necessary to optimise…

Austal delivers US Navy’s largest autonomous ship

Perth shipbuilder Austal has delivered Expeditionary Fast Transport USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13, pictured) to the United States Navy – the largest surface ship in the fleet with autonomous capability. Building upon the highly automated hull, mechanical and electrical systems already installed on the Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport ships, designed by Austal Australia, the Austal USA…