Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Micro-X wins $3.3 million Malaysian order

Lightweight X-ray technology company Micro-X has announced a government purchase order placed by the Malaysian government with distributor Integrated Medical System Sdn Bhd (IMS) for Rover Plus Mobile DR X-ray units. According to a statement made on Friday, delivery of the units will begin this month, and represents a “significant milestone in Micro-X’s Southeast Asian expansion strategy.” CEO Kingsley Hall said of the tender award: “We are delighted that the Malaysian Ministry of Health has selected Rover Plus as part of its investment in modern, high-performance diagnostic equipment. This is a major achievement for our distributor IMS and reinforces the strength of our product offering in global markets.” Micro-X said the purchase order it received from its distributor is worth approximately $3.3 million.

Australian-made prototype to monitor ADF personnel heat stress risk

GME, an Australian manufacturer of radio frequency (RF) communication technology products, has developed a new wearable heat risk monitor prototype for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), which is being field trialled by Army personnel in the Northern Territory this month. The device (pictured) aims to reduce heat stress risk in harsh environments, which is a significant issue for workplace safety and force preservation, and currently mitigated with activity cycles informed by specialised thermal monitoring equipment. The Army engaged GME to develop a wearable environmental monitoring technology that’s capable of continuous, real-time personal heat stress monitoring without manual input. GME General Manager Defence, Security and Resilience, Christopher Rule, said, “We’re motivated by the ADF’s commitment to workplace safety and force preservation, using GME’s sovereign engineering and manufacturing capabilities to design this industry-leading device that has the potential to save lives in heat stress environments.”

Waterproofing graphene additive now available in South Africa

ASX-listed nanomaterials company First Graphene is supplying its PureGRAPH to South African construction chemicals producer Glade Chemicals Manufacturers, with this featuring in KR2-Tech Dry, a newly-released waterproofing additive. First Graphene said  initial orders for the product, available to the South African cement and concrete market, have been placed. This follows trials conducted in 2024-25, which showed “a step-change in the durability performance of  ready-mix concrete, reducing secondary (long-term) rate water absorption” over 17.4 per cent and 48 per cent at 28 and 400 days of curing respectively, compared to the control mixture. First Graphene Managing Director and CEO Michael Bell said: “First Graphene is now recouping commercial reward for collaboratively testing a high-quality and  high-performing material during trials and converting market opportunities.”

Monash University establishes Boston-based drug discovery hub

Monash University announced the establishment of the Monash Boston Hub, located in Boston, USA, on Friday. According to the university, the new site is dedicated to “deepening collaborations with North America and Europe to fast-track drug discovery and health innovations” aiming to deliver potential new life-changing pathways for patients. The Hub is strongly focused on drug discovery and health innovation, but will also act as a launchpad for commercial opportunities across fields including engineering, advanced materials, and energy. “Monash has had successful partnerships and commercial arrangements with US and European entities for decades, and the Monash Boston Hub marks a significant milestone by building a bigger bridge between Boston and Melbourne – two of the world's leading centres of biotech research and innovation,” said Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Sharon Pickering.

Resources, energy export earnings “set to soften”

Updated forecasts for Australia’s commodity exports have been given in the September 2025 edition of the Resources and energy quarterly (REQ), published by the federal department of industry, with “a modest rise in commodity export volumes” over the next two years, “though prices continue to decline.” Among the highlights: Gold earnings are set to rise to $60 billion in 2025–26, driven by higher volumes and prices; iron ore remains Australia’s largest earner, though as global supply increases, prices are forecast to decline and reduce export earnings from $116 billion in 2024–25 to $103 billion in 2026–27; and energy exports are set to fall over the outlook period, with declines for thermal coal, LNG and oil. The report can be accessed here.

Picture: supplied