Privately owned Queensland defence contractor NIOA has entered US military manufacturing with the 100 per cent acquisition of the Tennessee rifle design and manufacturing company, Barrett Firearms. The purchase price was not revealed. Revealing the company-changing move, NIOA Group CEO Robert Nioa (pictured) said the two family-owned companies came together out of a shared commitment…
First Graphene and Suvo Strategic Minerals have signed an agreement to jointly develop graphene-enhanced metakaolin solutions for the production of low emission concrete products. Technologies from the graphene manufacturer and the producer of metakaolin, a pozzolanic material derived from fine kaolinite clay, will be used to partially replace traditional clinker which is the binding element…
Australia faces major economic problems, with boosting productivity foremost. Here, in the first part of a two-part series, John Sheridan identifies the major issues. Former Treasury boss Ken Henry said ‘something is desperately wrong’ with Australia’s economy, which is beset by ‘structural deficiencies’ that cannot be fixed by interest rate cuts or government largesse. Dr…
Tasman ferry builder Incat has received its first order for a new electric vehicle ferry design which will be exported to South America. According to reports, Argentine company Buquebus has ordered what will be Incat’s first-ever electric aluminium catamaran design – the 148 metre long catamaran ‘utility Ro-Pax’ design (pictured). Designed by Revolution Design, the…
By Bruce Mountain, Victoria University Sun Cable – considered to be the world’s biggest renewable energy export project – announced last week it had entered voluntary administration following “the absence of alignment” with shareholders. Sun Cable is expected to cost over A$30 billion. It proposes to build an enormous, 12,000 hectare solar farm in the…
By Peter Roberts The federal treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced an overhaul the economic advisory body, the Productivity Commission, by broadening and deepening its work on economic policy and keeping a central focus on boosting productivity. Well good luck with that. Labor attempted to reform this bastion of neo-liberal economics once before – by moving…
The federal government has announced a major boost to the development of a green hydrogen production sector, earmarking $70 million to support the development of a hydrogen hub in Townsville. The Government released guidelines for the competitive Townsville Region Hydrogen Hub programme, which will deliver $70 million towards projects that accelerate the development of a…
Companies from Korean steel giant POSCO to renewables leader Fortescue Future Industries are among companies who will benefit from a bold move by the Western Australian government to allocate industrial land for major resource processing industries. The state government announced Land allocation approvals for multiple industrial companies in Boodarie and Ashburton North to enable $70…
Next generation Hadrian X robot completed Perth robotic technology company FBR has completed mechanical assembly of the first next-generation Hadrian X bricklaying robotic system. The next-generation Hadrian X is designed to be able to lay at speeds of up to 500 blocks per hour, equating to up to ~120m2 of wall per hour. This has…
Canberra reaffirms nuclear submarines will be built in Australia The federal government has reaffirmed that Australia will announce a decision to construct nuclear powered submarines locally in the first quarter of this year. Asked about concerns by US lawmakers that Australia’s needs could stress American supply chains, defence minister Richard Marles said Australian industry would…
