Aussie smart street furniture manufacturer eyes expansion
An Adelaide engineering company has further plans to tackle the global market with an export-friendly line of smart furniture and modular buildings.
Lack of semiconductor manufacturing will consign Australia to “second-tier status”: report
The nation’s dearth of semiconductor manufacturing creates a strategic vulnerability and it should build up manufacturing capability in areas matched to research strengths, according to an Australian Strategic Policy Institute report published today. “Opting out of semiconductor manufacturing will severely constrain Australia’s growth as a technological nation and consign it to second-tier status,” write authors…
Upskilling for hydrogen shift “a pressing issue facing the nation” says new report
Australia has an “alarming” shortfall in hydrogen skills and training available needed to meet its decarbonisation goals, according to new research by Swinburne University of Technology’s Victorian Hydrogen Hub (VH2.) Implementing hydrogen is a key part of Victoria’s goal of being emissions-neutral by 2050. The report – with input from 37 industry representatives – urgently…
A review into how university research works in Australia has just begun – it must confront these 3 issues
By Gregory Michael McCarthy, The University of Western Australia and Kanishka Jayasuriya, Murdoch University Education Minister Jason Clare has just announced an independent review of the Australian Research Council (ARC). This is the body that oversees funding for non-medical research in Australian universities and plays a critical role in the careers of academics. After years…
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you may have missed
Monash researchers show new way to ultra-strong titanium alloys Monash University engineers have led a world-first study, which the university says has demonstrated how 3D-printing techniques can be used to produce an ultra-strong commercial titanium alloy and provided a significant leap forward for aerospace and other industries. Australian researchers, led by Professor Aijun Huang and Dr Yuman Zhu of…
Gilmour Space announces planned rideshare LEO mission for early 2024
Gilmour Space Technologies has announced a rideshare launch mission into low earth orbit (LEO), planned for early 2024 and dubbed “Australia’s first caravan to space.” In a statement on Monday, the rocket builder said that the Caravan-1 mission would provide affordable access to launch into a mid-inclination orbit, and the option to customers of a…
Australian team shows how to 3D print solid polymer electrolytes
School of Chemical Engineering researchers at University of NSW Sydney have developed a new process able to additively manufacture electrolytes using inexpensive printers, an achievement they say might be applied to future medical products. According to a statement from the university, the resulting solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) have high conductivity and robust strength. One of…
Best of the week – the five most popular stories among @AuManufacturing’s readers
Curious about what the most popular stories of the week were? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading. 1) AUSTRALIAN TEAM FINDS RARE, INCREDIBLY HARD DIAMOND IN SPACE ROCKS Research published on Tuesday and led by Monash University might lead to the production of novel, ultra-hard diamonds with usefulness in industrial applications. The team…
USQ researcher awarded fellowship for CO2 utilisation research
A University of Southern Queensland nanomaterials researcher is among Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellows announced this week, with Dr Lei Ge awarded $813,000 to develop electrochemical conversion technologies to convert carbon dioxide into chemicals and fuels. Ge (pictured) is based at USQ’s Centre for Future Materials. He said in a statement on Friday that…
NSW Export Awards finalists announced
A list of finalists for the 2022 Premier’s NSW Export Awards has been announced ahead of a gala awards night at Sydney Town Hall on October 12. The finalists are in four categories specific to NSW, and 13 others that are recognised by other states and territories. Winners from the 13 categories will go on…