Brent is a co-founder and editor of @AuManufacturing.

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, August 18 – August 22, 2025

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) Carbon280 launches Kwinana pilot plant following $10.6 million seed round Hydrogen storage startup Carbon280 launched its Hydrilyte Technology Pilot Plant in Kwinana, Western Australia, which aims to prove its technology at an industrially-relevant scale. According to a statement from the…

Despite disappointments, this founder is still adamant about high-tech gear made here

Appreciation has grown in the last decade or so for a modern, holistic view of manufacturing. It’s “more than just production”, you will have heard countless times, and production is the lowest point in the “smiley curve” model of where value is added.  The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, for example, chose to open its inaugural…

Withdrawal of major investor, subsequent “cash crisis” cited in Energy Renaissance’s collapse

The administrator to Energy Renaissance has given “withdrawal of a major investor from a planned funding subscription program” as the reason for the battery maker’s difficulties. According to a short statement from Jirsch Sutherland provided to @AuManufacturing on Sunday, the withdrawal “left the company in a cash crisis“.  Stewart Free and Bradd Morelli of Jirsch…

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, August 11 – August 15, 2025

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) 11 grants awarded under Supply Chain Uplift Program Recipients of grants under Round 5 of the state government’s Supply Chain Uplift Program have been announced, with approximately $800,000 awarded to 11 Victorian businesses. State manufacturing minister Colin Brooks visited Hanwha…

Energy Renaissance, Australia’s first lithium battery manufacturer, goes into administration

Lithium ion battery storage company Energy Renaissance, which recently marked a decade anniversary, has apparently collapsed. Few details are available, but an ASIC notice dated August 13 states that Stewart William Free and Bradd William Morelli have been appointed as administrators to ER Industrial Pty Ltd, formerly trading as Energy Renaissance. @AuManufacturing requested comment from…

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, August 4 – August 8, 2025

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) v2food buys up US company Daring Foods for undisclosed amount Plant protein business v2food has announced a strategic partnership with multinational food and biotechnology company Ajinomoto, as well as the acquisition of US plant-based chicken company Daring Foods. According to a statement from…

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…

TNA shows tenacity is the key ingredient

A local market too small for meaningful sales of a highly-specialised product. Overseas copycats. Prospects interested yet stuck on the notion that “it’s too good to be true.” TNA Solutions saw a set of problems familiar to many early-stage Australian businesses setting out with an interesting bit of technology. Their breakthrough invention, launched in 1985,…

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, July 21 – 25, 2025

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) Federal, SA governments tip in an extra $275 million for Whyalla steelworks as sales process continues The federal and South Australian governments have announced an additional $275 million in funding to support operations, workers and suppliers at the Whyalla Steelworks…