Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, July 28 – August 1, 2025

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading.

5) Bedford forfeits $20m site in bailout deal as new manufacturing hub hangs in balance

Disability services provider Bedford Group will surrender land worth more than $20 million as part of its government bailout, whilst the future of its brand new $45 million manufacturing hub remains uncertain, according to reports on Monday.

The Australian Business Network reported Bedford will relinquish its 3.9-hectare Balyana site at Clapham, which houses around 40 people in supported accommodation, in exchange for a $15 million funding injection from the South Australian government.

Property industry sources told the publication the prime location near Adelaide’s city centre would attract strong demand from housing and retirement village developers, with an estimated market value exceeding $20 million.

4) Why the Australian innovation system needs Fraunhofer institutes

Australia’s innovation system is constrained by a persistent failure to translate world-class research into industrial capability and commercial outcomes.

Drawing lessons from the German city of Kaiserslautern and its transformation through Fraunhofer Institutes, Dr John Howard and Peter Moar argue that Australia must have applied research institutes dedicated to bridging the gap between universities and industry.

3) Maiden rocket launch on Wednesday morning a strong result, says Gilmour Space

Rocket business Gilmour Space Technologies has completed the maiden test launch of the first Australian designed and built orbital rocket, achieving 23 seconds of engine burn time and 14 seconds of flight for its Eris vehicle.

According to a statement from the company shortly after the Wednesday morning launch, the flight of its 23-metre, 30-tonne Eris rocket marked a major milestone towards its goal of offering affordable launch services for small satellites globally.

“Space is hard,” said Adam Gilmour, CEO of Gilmour Space Technologies.

2) Alter Steel, Sims sign MoU covering 550,000 tpa of scrap for planned Pinkenba steel factory

ASX-listed metals recycler Sims Metal and Alter Steel, which intends to build a $750 million steel mill in Pinkenba, Queensland, have announced a supply and services agreement for the upcoming site.

According to a statement from Sims on Thursday, the pair have entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding regarding the proposed electric arc furnace plant, scheduled to begin operating in 2028.

Sims said that the MoU covered exclusive supply of “up to 550,000 tonnes of ferrous scrap annually” to the reinforcing steel factory. The covers “manag[ing] Alter Steel’s scrap inventory on a just-in-time basis, and provid[ing] access to port and rail infrastructure via the staged development of Sims’ Pinkenba site.”

1) DroneShield soars with record revenue and massive pipeline growth

Australian counterdrone technology company DroneShield has delivered explosive growth in its latest half-year results, with revenue surging 210 per cent to $72.3 million.

The Sydney-based company, which develops AI-powered anti-drone systems for military and civilian applications, reported its highest-ever quarterly revenue of $38.8 million in the second quarter, representing a staggering 480 per cent increase year-on-year.

Software-as-a-Service revenue jumped 177 per cent to $3.5 million, whilst the company’s sales pipeline swelled to $2.33 billion across 284 projects spanning 2025 and 2026. DroneShield has already secured $176.3 million in revenue year-to-date, triple its entire 2024 performance.

Picture: supplied