Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Queensland’s ARM Hub turns three years old Queensland’s Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM Hub) is celebrating its third anniversary this week with celebrations including cake and a string quartet. Assistant Minister from Manufacturing Senator Tim Ayres will highlight the government’s $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, while Linda Dobe, a/Deputy Director in Manufacturing, Queensland state government,…

If you buy it, why can’t you fix it? Here’s why we still don’t have the ‘right to repair’

By Leanne Wiseman, Griffith University and John Gertsakis, University of Technology Sydney When you buy a product, you expect to be able to repair it. The problem is, many modern products are designed so that you can’t fix them. Vital parts are inaccessible. Or you have to go through the manufacturer, which may well just…

Renewable energy plans “will simply not be a reality” without industry and skills support: Weld Australia

Professional body Weld Australia says that the results of a member survey conducted last month show delivery of the federal government’s renewable energy plans is “almost impossible” due to skills shortages and other challenges. Weld Australia’s annual survey took responses from more than 130 companies. The organisation’s CEO, Geoff Crittenden, said it indicated that, “Labour shortages,…

XTEK signs MoU with Tata, targets Indian defence market

Defence contractor XTEK has announced an MoU between its US-based HighCom division and Indian conglomerate Tata, covering the use of Australian-developed composite curing technology for ballistic helmets for the Indian market. According to a statement from XTEK on Monday (Australian time), the collaboration agreement between HighCom Armour Solutions and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) covers…

Applications open for free ten-week cybersecurity R&D program delivered by CSIRO

The nation’s science agency, CSIRO, is welcoming SME businesses focussing on cybersecurity and digital technologies to apply for its free, ten-week Innovate to Grow program. According to a statement on Monday, the online program will  connect between 20 and 25 successful applicants with “knowledge, resources and mentors to advance their project or ideas” with possible…

Rex buys into e-aviation startup

Rex Airlines has announced a 20 per cent stake in Dovetail Electric Aviation, and will take a seat on the startup’s board of directors. Dovetail is a Bankstown-based startup focussed on retrofitting electric propulsion systems to turboprop nine-19-seat commuter planes, which it sees as a $US 15 billion opportunity. In a short statement on Friday,…

Planned Australian-first cathode material factory closer as land secured at Kwinana

IGO has announced that it has secured land at the Kwinana-Rockingham Strategic Industrial Area from the Western Australian government, where it plans to expand its value-adding activities in the global battery value chain. The company’s proposed Integrated Battery Material (IBM) Facility would be on approximately 30 hectares of vacant industrial land leased from the WA…