Ansell expands with Kimberly-Clark acquisition

Glove and protective clothing manufacturer Ansell is to expand globally with the purchase of Kimberly-Clark’s Personal Protective Equipment business (KCPPE) for $420.5 million (US$640 million) in cash. KCPPE designs and markets hand, body and eye protection products under the Kimtech and KleenGuard brands to customers scientific and industrial markets – its presence in scientific markets…

Without community support, the green energy transition will fail. Here’s how to get communities on board

By Simon Wright, Charles Sturt University Connecting cheap, clean energy from renewables comes with a hidden cost and challenge: building 5,000 kilometres of new transmission lines this decade, and another 5,000km after that. This sounds like a lot, but 5,000km is only around 10% of the existing grid network, and unlocks more than 32 gigawatts…

Applications open for Queensland collaborative METS project grants

Applications have opened for grants worth between $50,000 and $300,000 through the Queensland government’s $2.67 million Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) Collaborative Project Fund. Grants cover up to half of eligible project costs to assist teams “to innovate and collaborate to develop projects to address environmental and safety challenges facing the resources sector”. Funding…

Alceon buys into BOSS

Alceon Private Equity has taken a 50 per cent stake in agriculture and transport industry equipment maker BOSS Engineering. According to a statement from BOSS, it is the first institutional capital and will allow it to increase both its rate of growth and geographical reach. The value of the stake was not disclosed, though according…

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

EOS and RICO demonstrate long range autonomous control The Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation & Coordination Office (RICO) of the Australian Army and defence contractor Electro Optic Systems have extended the capabilities of the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier (pictured) into long range autonomous weapons firing. The partners demonstrated the long-range firing capabilities of EOS’ R400…

EOS makes three new leadership appointments

Australian defence contractor Electro Optic Systems (EOS) shared three changes to its leadership team in an ASX announcement on Thursday. Christian Tobergte was named as the new head of EOS Defence Systems International, with a focus including driving international sales of the company’s Remote Weapons Systems (pictured) products, including its new R150 and R800 RWS…

lululemon, Samsara say new recycled polyester jacket is a world first

Plastic recycling startup Samsara Eco has announced the next step in its partnership with athletic clothing brand lululemon, launching their first product containing “enzymatically recycled polyester” on Thursday. According to a statement from the pair, a limited edition Packable Anorak jacket by lululemon contains “a variety of inputs, including mixed plastic waste, lululemon apparel at…