Japan’s Mizuho Bank has announced a US$5 million investment in Canberra-based carbon capture and storage startup MCi Carbon. The company, which captures industrial emissions and utilises them to make products and materials using a chemical process called mineral carbonation, received the investment from the bank’s ‘Transition Investment Facility’ which commits seed or early-stage equity investments.…
There are vast technical hurdles and skills availability issues to deliver the AUKUS submarine program, according to Dr Edward Obbard, the head of UNSW’s nuclear engineering program, based on an analysis of the those needed to build, operate and maintain the new fleet. Prime minister Anthony Albanese recently announced a project worth up $368 billion,…
Engineering group Civmec has announced $100 million worth of manufacturing, construction and maintenance orders for fabrications for Western Australian mining infrastructure. The company has been awarded three new contracts for the proposed Albemarle Lithium Kemerton expansion project in WA (pictured). Civmec will fabricate 25 carbon steel tanks for the project which will be fabricated, assembled…
Defence contractor Raytheon Australia has announced an ‘Invested in Exmouth’ programme to upgrade skills and knowledge needed to create strategic naval and space capabilities at the Harold E. Holt (HEH) defence precinct at Exmouth in Western Australia. Raytheon Australia Managing Director Michael Ward said in a statement that the programme was a new multi-year initiative…
Survey suggests SME optimism despite inflationary pressures and recession fears: The latest annual SME Compass Report by lender Banjo Loans found 70 per cent believe 2023 will be a year of revenue growth for them. The survey of 1,011 respondents found they were “feeling upbeat about the future and reporting revenue growth despite the pressures…
SMC Corporation Australia New Zealand has announced that its Managing Director, Wayne Driver, will be taking an early retirement due to unspecified health and personal reasons, effective April 1. This decision marks the end of his 33-year tenure at SMC, a Japanese-headquartered specialist in pneumatic and electric automation equipment. “This decision has not been taken…
The potential industrial payoff from the construction of Australian nuclear submarines, or potentially the lack of it, has ignited controversy among @AuManufacturing readers. Here, in the third in a series (see below) Geoff Potts takes a more positive view. AUKUS will be one of the most significant and difficult national projects undertaken by our nation…
John Kerin who served as minister for primary industries, trade and transport between 1983 and 1993, and was treasurer for six months in 1991, has passed away, aged 85. His passing is important to note as he was behind the setting up of 15 research and development corporations around rural industries and the founding of…
ChemX signs MoU with lithium–ion battery company C4V ASX-listed high–purity battery materials development company ChemX Materials has announced the signing of a non–binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US–based battery technology company C4V. C4V is involved in some of the world’s largest gigafactory developments, including Recharge Industries’ gigafactory in Geelong, Australia, as well as iM3NY’s…
Sparc Technologies has commissioned the company’s ecosparc graphene additive commercial production facility. The state of the art facility enables Sparc to produce commercial quantities of its ecosparc graphene additive product for use in the global coatings industry, composites and other graphene additive applications. Sparc Technologies Executive Chairman Stephen Hunt said: “Sparc is delighted to be…