University of NSW and ANSTO scientists have characterised the structure of new materials, publishing work that could lead to advanced fire-retardant products. A statement from ANSTO describes work understanding “a family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, carbonites and nitrides” known as MXenes. According to the American Ceramic Society, MXenes were discovered in 2011 by two…
Fertiliser and explosives manufacturer Incitec Pivot increased production of Adblue by roughly 800 per cent last week in response to a shortage of the diesel fuel additive, which appears to have eased. Incitec was awarded $29.4 million in December by the federal government in response to a supply crunch in December, which the Australian Trucking…
The low temperatures and low humidity of food-processing facilities increase viral transmission, while the poor air quality increases the prevalence of respiratory disorders, which means workers are more susceptible to illness if infected. The rate of asthmatic symptoms among chicken-processing workers, for example, has been estimated as being four times that of all adults. These risks are heightened by working in close proximity to others on production lines where the work is physically demanding and the pace hectic.
Hydrogen energy company Star Scientific has made the finals of the South by Southwest festival’s Innovation Awards, which will be held at the long-running Austin, Texas festival next month. Star Scientific was nominated for its HERO (hydrogen energy release optimiser) product, which it is currently commercialising, and which uses a “non-polluting catalyst” to create zero-emission…
The Australian Industry Group has released its annual CEO survey, characterising business leaders as “on balance… cautiously hopeful” about 2022, but clearly expecting further difficulties as a result of the pandemic.
Adelaide clean energy company Phosenergy is leading a collaborative project to develop a new product for converting infrared energy from waste heat into electricity.
Applications opened on Wednesday for round one of the Victorian Regional Recycling Fund, with grants up to $500,000 each available to upgrade resource recovery centres. The funding would “strengthen regional Victoria’s recycling network” by upgrading regionally significant facilities, according to the government. “These regional facilities are the building blocks for a robust recycling network that…
Funding for a $12.2 million round of Accelerating Commercialisation grants has been announced, with assistance going to companies including makers of EV chargers, products for green steelmaking, fruit harvesting robots and hydrogen energy storage systems.
Norsta Maritime of Cairns has been awarded a five-year, $70 million naval maintenance contract delivering the Cairns Regional Maintenance Centre, which will become operational “within the coming months” and initially support the evolved Cape class patrol boats. The contract came with incentives for local SMEs to compete for work, with “local industry set to benefit…
IBISWorld has updated its data on the state of the fabricated metal market in Australia, which has faced increased competition from imported products, particularly from China and the United States.
