Federal, SA, Tas governments pledge $135 million to save Nyrstar’s struggling smelters, explore critical mineral diversification 

Manufacturing News

The federal, South Australian and Tasmanian governments have committed $57.5 million, $55 million and $22.5 million respectively to support the modernisation of Nyrstar’s Australian refining facilities and move them towards critical minerals production. According to a joint statement from industry minister Tim Ayres and the two states’ premiers on Tuesday, combined government support of $135…

Boral’s HGCS approved by Sydney Water following six years of R&D

Manufacturing News

Boral’s Blended High-Grade Compaction Sand (HGCS), which it describes as an “environmentally sustainable and easily compacted alternative for pipe laying applications”, has been approved for use by Sydney Water. According to a statement from the building materials company on Tuesday, the now-approved non-standard product was designed specifically to meet the utility provider’s materials specifications. It…

Think tank warns China’s industrial subsidies threaten 73,000 Australian smelting jobs

Manufacturing News

China’s industrial subsidisation spending now exceeds its defence budget and threatens to devastate Australia’s smelting and refining regions unless urgent government intervention occurs, according to a McKell Institute report released on Wednesday. The think tank warned that 73,000 jobs across regional Australia are at risk from Beijing’s “geoeconomic interference”, with some towns potentially losing up…

Endua secures $4.88m government boost for hydrogen electrolyser manufacturing

Manufacturing News

Brisbane clean-tech company Endua has secured $4.88 million through the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program to advance its hydrogen electrolyser technology and expand local manufacturing capabilities, according to an announcement on Monday. The funding supports Endua’s AHEAD project (Advanced Hydrogen Electrolyser for Australian Decarbonisation), which focuses on the company’s proprietary PEM (proton exchange membrane) electrolyser…

Australian Vanadium secures planning approval for Western Australian processing hub

Manufacturing News

Australian Vanadium has achieved a key regulatory milestone with planning approval for its vanadium processing facility at Tenindewa, approximately 65 kilometres east of Geraldton, according to an announcement on Sunday. The Western Australian Planning Commission approved the development application for the processing plant, which forms a central component of the company’s integrated vanadium supply chain…

BlueScope leads $115bn international consortium eyeing Whyalla Steelworks

Manufacturing News

BlueScope has formed a massive international consortium with Japanese, Indian and Korean steelmakers to explore acquiring the troubled Whyalla Steelworks, the company announced on Wednesday. The consortium includes Nippon Steel Corporation, JSW Steel and POSCO, collectively representing $115 billion in market capitalisation and total steelmaking capacity of approximately 130 million tonnes. BlueScope will leverage its…

Applications open for grants up to $50,000 under SA’s Manufacturing Technology Adoption Program

Manufacturing News

Round 2 of the South Australian government’s Manufacturing Technology Adoption Program (MTAP), offering up to $50,000 in matched funding, is now open for applications. According to an update from the department of state development on Monday, the program aims to help SMEs “to keep pace to remain competitive, enhance productivity, and unlock opportunities for growth”…