State government-backed venture fund Breakthrough Victoria has announced Rod Bristow (pictured) as its new Chief Executive Officer, replacing inaugural CEO Grant Dooley. In a statement on Monday, BV said Bristow came with over 30 years’ experience in the “stockbroking, asset management, wealth management, agribusiness and not-for-profit sectors”, and was most recently CEO of Sydney and…
Premier Peter Malinauskas has issued a stern warning to GFG Alliance’s Sanjeev Gupta, urging transparency and immediate action on overdue financial commitments as concerns mount over the future of the Whyalla Steelworks in South Australia. Amid reports of significant arrears in royalties and payments to contractors, the Premier emphasised the need for Gupta to prioritise…
By Garritt C. Van Dyk, University of Waikato The day he took office for his second term, United States President Donald J. Trump unveiled his “America First” trade policy, including tariffs on imported goods from Mexico, Canada (both of which have since been paused) and China. President Trump’s reasoning for the tariffs included revitalising the…
Mulford Plastics, renowned for its Laserlite Building Products, is set to expand its manufacturing capabilities in Dandenong, Melbourne. This strategic move aims to enhance production capacity and strengthen its market presence across Victoria and beyond. Perry Pericleous, Managing Director at Mulford Plastics, highlighted Melbourne’s strategic importance, noting its robust customer base and excellent connectivity as…
Applications opened on Monday for Round 16 of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF), a bilateral program offering science and technology researchers between $200,000 and $1 million per project. According to a statement from federal industry minister Ed Husic, the round has a total allocation of $4 million, with funding open for joint research projects,…
A sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pilot program at RAAF Base East Sale, involving Viva Energy Australia and UGL and running for 12 months, has begun. According to a statement from defence on Sunday, the pilot began recently and aligns with the goals of increased energy security and transitioning to lower-carbon energy “without detriment to military…
What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) Applications open for CRC-P grants worth up to $3 million each Nominations opened on Thursday for Round 17 of Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) grants, which offer between $100,000 and $3 million in matched funding for short-term (up to three-year) collaborative…
By Jens Blotevogel, CSIRO and Naomi Boxall, CSIRO Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life. They power small rechargeable devices such as mobile phones and laptops. They enable electric vehicles. And larger versions store excess renewable energy for later use, supporting the clean energy transition. Australia produces more than 3,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste…
A new Industry Trainer Program addresses skills and knowledge retention challenges in manufacturing businesses, according to TAFE Queensland and Manufacturing Skills Queensland, the two organisations partnering to deliver it. According to a joint statement from the pair on Friday, the program includes a “self-directed, six-week online course with two optional one-hour virtual sessions each week”…
Chemicals R&D business Sparc Technologies has announced execution of an agreement with coal miner BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) for a 24-month field trial of a graphene additive at a coal handling and processing plant. Sparc’s graphene-based additive product, ecosparc, will feature in a coating, and Sparc claimed the trial as “another key milestone in validating”…