Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Austal delivers 14th Guardian patrol boat

Shipbuilder Austal has delivered the 14th Guardian class patrol boat (GCPB) to the Australian Department of Defence. The vessel, FSS Tosiwo Nakayama, was then gifted to the Federated States of Micronesia at a certificate signing ceremony held at Austal’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. The ceremony was attended by Lieutenant Commander Paulino Yangitesmal, Commanding Officer of FSS Tosiwo Nakayama. The vessel is the first of two Guardian class boats to be delivered to Micronesia under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1), part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Programme. Austal CEO Paddy Gregg said the new vessel was the first of nine naval ships scheduled for delivery to the Commonwealth in 2022, including five Guardian class patrol boats and four Evolved Cape class patrol boats.

Site works underway at Leigh Creek

Leigh Creek Energy has received formal Activity Notification (AN) from the South Australian Regulator, the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM), for the next stage of construction activity for the Leigh Creek Urea Project (LCUP), to begin. The AN relates to shallow investigation drilling which will provide geological, geotechnical and environmental information for Stage 1 and Stage 2 design of its coal to urea project in outback South Australia. Leigh Creek is developing the former coal field of that name, utilising in situ coal gasification to feed a urea fertiliser plant. The latest work includes reviewing published geotechnical and geological information, shallow test pits, cone penetration testing, and shallow borehole drilling and laboratory testing. The tests will produce a conceptual geological and geotechnical ground model for the site.

Incannex developing cannabis for sleep apnoea

Medicinal cannabis and psychedelic drug company Incannex Healthcare has announced ‘positive results’ from a trial using its novel cannabinoid combination in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. The phase 2 clinical trial at the University of Western Australia Centre for Sleep Science and the Alfred Hospital looked at the effect of three different doses of its IHL-42X compound at reducing the apnoea hypopnoea index (AHI), which is the diagnostic criteria for OSA. Trial participants received each of the three doses of IHL-42X and placebo across four seven-day treatment periods, separated by one week washout periods. At the end of each treatment period, participants on average showed a 44.4 per cent reduction compared to baseline AHI, compared to the placebo’s 6.4 per cent reduction.

1,000th Hawkei vehicle in production

Defence contractor Thales has celebrated the arrival of the 1,000th Hawkei armoured vehicle on its production line in Bendigo, Victoria (pictured). Major General Simon Stuart, Head of Land Capability, visited the facility to mark the event. According to Thales: “We’re just as excited as you are that the 1000th Hawkei vehicle is on the production line. (We are) looking forward to getting more of this advanced capability into the hands of the Australian Defence Force as quickly as possible.” Australia is purchasing 1,100 of the 7-tonne Hawkei light, four-wheel drive protected mobility vehicles and 1,000 trailers, drawing on 22 sub-contractors under a $1.3 billion contract.

McCain stops Russian production

Food giant McCain stopped construction at its Russian production facility in the Tula Oblast region in February over concerns around Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The company has now determined to discontinue the project entirely. “In addition, we are also suspending all shipments of our products into the Russian market.” The company also recently donated $200,000 to the Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. “We are always guided in these decisions by the ethics and perspective of being a family-owned business from New Brunswick, Canada. As the global market leader in prepared French fries and specialty potato products, McCain Foods takes our leadership role seriously across the 160 countries that we operate in.”

BlueScope to mentor solar innovators

BlueScope Steel has announced a Solar Surface Accelerator programme aimed at solar technology companies wishing to develop a prototype, or power up marketing of existing products to the next level. The company is inviting innovators developing next-generation advancements in solar cell technologies. Ten companies will be selected to take part in the 12-week intensive programme featuring mentors from start up, ventures, manufacturing, strategy and solar engineering industries and have access to state of the art equipment, resources and technical expertise. Participants will have access to $20,000 each to assist them in participating in the event will be run virtually, with the official start in May 2022.

Picture: Thales/Bendigo

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