By Ian Lowe, Griffith University For decades, Australia has exported uranium – but not used it, other than in the Lucas Heights research reactor. But change is coming. We now face a rapidly deepening commitment to the nuclear industry, through nuclear submarines (bipartisan support) or nuclear reactors (Coalition support). The Albanese government was quick to accept…
Satellite manufacturer Inovor Technologies and the Australian National University have come together as part of the iLaunch Trailblazer project to develop resilient radio links to ground stations and for inter-satellite communication. The project will develop and qualify a satellite-based Software Defined Radio for an on orbit demonstration of capability. Satellites rely on radio systems to…
Queensland manufacturer Craig International Ballistics will supply ballistic protection windows for the first three Hunter class frigates under an agreement with BAE Systems Maritime Australia. The order, which follows receipt of a $30 million order from Defence for body armour earlier this month, will see CIB provide transparent armour on each of the anti-submarine warfare…
Silentium doubles down on US market entry with senior appointment Passive radar systems manufacturer Silentium Defence has announced further commitment to the US market, posting co-founder and Chief Experience Officer, Simon Palumbo to Virginia. Palumbo will assume the role, Executive Vice President, Silentium Defense Corporation, and be responsible for in-country customer support, business development, talent…
Steelmaker GFG Alliance’s Sanjeev Gupta has told staff that the company which operates the Whyalla steelworks was ‘very confident’ faulty furnace at the site would be restored ‘imminently’. However this could be as late as next month according to local trade unions. Gupta said via video: “The last couple of months have probably been amongst…
Most Australian manufacturers and distributors are striving for higher output in 2024. However, CommBank’s new report shows that achieving it will rely on overcoming ongoing issues relating to costs, customers and capacity and finding new pathways to productivity.
Today we conclude our editorial series – Towards 3% R&D – Turbocharging Australia’s Innovation Effort – in which @AuManufacturing has exposed the issues eroding Australian R&D. In this edited excerpt Dr John Howard proposes A National Business R&D Strategy and Action Plan. Download the full paper at the foot of this article. The structure of…
Yet another Australian manufacturing operation is heading for foreign control with fertiliser and explosives business Incitec Pivot confirming it was negotiating the sale of its fertiliser manufacturing to an Indonesian company. IPL’s CEO & Managing Director Mauro Neves told investors the company had continued to progress the structural separation of its fertiliser and explosives businesses.…
Nanomaterials developer and producer First Graphene has announced a five-year distribution agreement with privately-owned industrial products distributor Bisley & Company. According to an ASX announcement from First Graphene on Thursday, the non-exclusive distribution deal will see the company’s PureGRAPH sold throughout Australia and New Zealand through Bisley, and represented “a significant milestone” in its commercialisation…
By Kylie Walker, Australian National University This year’s federal budget is making up for decades of lost time – both in our clean energy transition and in betting on new technological breakthroughs. The Future Made in Australia Act holds tantalising potential for building Australian science, research and development. The aim is to turn Australia into…
