Queensland pumped hydro project powers ahead

Two key contracts have been awarded for the Queensland government’s $12 billion Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro energy storage project. Central Queensland business Twin Hills Engineering and Drilling has been named as the successful tenderer for the six-month geotechnical shallow drilling programme for the project. Queensland-based joint venture Water2Wire is the successful proponent for the project’s Front-End…

NT hydrogen hub powers ahead

The Northern Territory Government has today taken the next big step towards developing its Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct in Darwin as a new clean energy, investment and jobs powerhouse. Powered by renewables and lower-emissions energy, the precinct is being developed to attract industries that reflect what the Territory’s future economy will look like –…

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Titomic sells integrated cold spray 3D manufacturing spray booth Additive manufacturing equipment manufacturer Titomic has sold an Integrated Spray Booth system to Dutch firm Perron038 for $710,000. The system incorporates a robotised Titomic D623 medium-pressure cold spray additive manufacturing unit and will be delivered this calendar year. Perron038 is a research and development facilitator that…

Quickstep looks to expand aftermarket services after strategic review

Following what it called a “comprehensive strategic review” of its underperforming aftermarket division initiated in February, Quickstep Group has said it will retain the business as a core part of its company. The aftermarket division was established in late-2020, following the purchase of Boeing Australia’s MRO operation in Tullamarine, Melbourne. In a statement on Friday,…

Quantum Brilliance makes it easier to add quantum to your business

Room-temperature quantum computing manufacturer Quantum Brilliance has released Qristal SDK, an open-source software development kit for researching applications that integrate the company’s portable, diamond-based quantum accelerators for manufacturing and other industries. Previously in beta, the Quantum Brilliance Qristal SDK is now available for anyone to develop and test novel quantum algorithms for real-world applications specifically…

New R&D hub aims for digitally-integrated manufacturing processes

A new Australian Research Council (ARC) Hub to help forge an internationally competitive Australian biopharmaceutical sector using digitisation and artificial intelligence (AI) in pharmaceutical manufacturing has been launched at the University of Melbourne. ARC Acting CEO Dr Richard Johnson inaugrated the ARC Digital Bioprocess Development Hub – a five-year, $18 million research programme, which has…

Defence extends NIOA strategic munitions deed

Australian owned defence manufacturer NIOA will supply the Australian Defence Force with munitions well into the second half of this decade, following Defence’s decision to extend its Major Munitions Deed (MMD) by five years. NIOA Australia and New Zealand CEO Ben James said the decision shored up supplies against growing international supply chain pressure and…

Unions decry welders exposure to harmful, fumes

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) has decried the contionuing exposure of workers to welding fumes, following a decision by Safe Work Australia (SWA) decision to review, rather than immediately lower acceptable fume exposure limits. The union, which represents welders, boilermakers and fitters, has been calling for the limit set by the Workplace Exposure Standard…

Sober up and start driving value

As part of our campaign to identify Australia’s 50 most innovative manufacturers, we speak to Tom Kerr and Dr Munib Karavdic from human-centred design consultancy WAVE Design. By Brent Balinski. You could say a lot of things about innovation in Australia at the moment.  Tom Kerr’s opinion is this: “It’s been treated a bit like…