A vindictive equipment operator’s act of sabotage in 1989 led to an internationally significant breakthrough in mining waste management. Simran Gill speaks to David Smirk, the founder of Phibion, a Top 10 Gold Award winner at @AuManufacturing’s recent Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers awards. David Smirk, founder and non-executive director of Phibion, tells the @AuManufacturing…
The PhosOne joint venture between North West Phosphate (NWP) and Sibanye-Stillwater (SSW) has been awarded prescribed project status by the Queensland government, which says it is expected “to generate $1.4 billion in economic value”. In a statement on Friday, the state government described PhosOne as a pit-to-production venture capable of creating 490 jobs in construction…
Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) has announced that Ben Hudson will be the new Managing Director, effective on Monday. HDA said that Hudson’s background includes working with and leading teams at BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, General Dynamics, and service in the Australian Army. He takes over in the new role on June 2 from Dean Michie, who…
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries across the globe, Australian manufacturing faces a critical crossroads. To remain competitive in increasingly advanced global markets, Australian businesses must urgently adopt smart, high-tech solutions, writes Graeme Sheather. The emergence of AI as a dominant force is no longer a distant threat—it’s a present-day disruptor altering the foundation of…
The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation will reportedly announce a $27 million stake in PolyActiva, a company commercialising an injectable device to treat glaucoma. According to The Australian Financial Review, the investment to be announced on Friday is alongside $13 million in new funding from Brandon Capital, and will support PolyActiva in moving to phase-two trials,…
Cobalt refinery contract signed Mining and mineral processing company Cobalt Blue announced on Thursday that it has signed a contract with Glencore to supply up to 50 per cent of the Kwinana Cobalt Refinery’s (KCR) feedstock needs for the first three years of operation. Calling it “a crucial milestone in KCR’s development”, the company said…
University of NSW has established what it says is the first university-based service in Australia providing technical expertise to help businesses, particularly startups, solve electrical engineering problems quickly. According to a statement from the university on Wednesday, its new Technology Translation Squad provides “critical engineering support to green tech startups” to speed up commercialisation of…
By Samantha Hepburn, Deakin University In a decision surprising very few people, Australia’s new environment minister Murray Watt has signed off on an extension for the gas plant at Karratha, part of the enormous North West Shelf liquefied natural gas project. The decision had been deferred until after the federal election, given significant environmental concerns…
Electronics design-to-manufacture business REDARC Defence & Space has announced a strategic teaming agreement with Projects Unlimited Inc. (PUI), a USA-based aerospace and defence electronics manufacturing services provider, which the Australian company says “directly contribut[es] to the shared objectives of the AUKUS partnership”. In a statement on Thursday (Australian time), REDARC said the collaboration will extend…
Sponsored article GridBeyond, a global smart energy company, has launched an improved version of its Forecaster software, which consistently delivers more accurate results than AEMO, the Australian national grid operator. When GridBeyond’s Forecaster was run against the AEMO forecasts for the first Quarter of 2025 it delivered predicted pricing that outperformed AEMO in terms of accuracy…