The iLAuNCH (Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics) Trailblazer project will apply the design flexibility and speed of additive manufacturing technology to develop large-scale carbon composite structures for rockets. Launch vehicles will require scalable production of low weight and high strength structures and components that can withstand the extreme loads, vibrations and shocks…
A new R&D project led by marine company Ocius Technology and supported by the Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC will optimise the use of wave energy, according to the ACM CRC. The project links Ocius with the University of New South Wales and will focus on wave energy for propulsion, harnessing energy for underwater flippers for…
Electrical engineering business Ampcontrol has announced that it is partnering with offshore wind developer, Star of the South, on the proposed Destiny Wind wind farm off the Hunter coast. An area covering 1,854 square kilometres off NSW’s Hunter region was declared suitable for offshore wind development by the federal government in July last year. It…
Miner and aluminium producer Rio Tinto has doubled down on its moves to decarbonise the aluminium production chain announcing a second and Australia’s largest renewable power purchase agreement (PPA) to supply its Gladstone operations in Queensland. The company has agreed to buy the majority of electricity from Windlab’s planned 1.4GW Bungaban wind energy project. The…
Textile recycling company BlockTexx has announced completion of a $7 million Series B round. BlockTexx said in a statement that funding came from existing investors and fashion innovation platform, Fashion for Good. Return investors include Artesian and seed investors Mike and Sue Gregg. The company is scaling up its novel chemical process, which is able…
Townsville manufacturer NEM Equipment Hire has been awarded $833,000 through the Made in Queensland programme to buy equipment to drive growth and create 20 new jobs over five years. The Queensland government manufacturing grant will enable the defence and agricultural steel fabricator to purchase a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Beamline machine that will expand manufacturing…
By Peter Layton, Griffith University Australia’s naval surface combatant fleet is in trouble. The eight Anzac frigates are worn out after three decades of Middle Eastern adventures and hard to crew. The Anzac’s replacements, the much-criticised Hunter Class frigates, are late – the first will not enter service until 2032 or so. The project’s cost…
The Queensland government has launched a new plan to deliver hundreds of locally made zero emission buses through direct government procurement. The new zero-emission buses will replace aging diesel buses in operation on the Translink network, with more than 400 buses locally manufactured, dependent on a competitive procurement process. The commitment builds on the Government’s…
a2 Milk Company grows despite decline in China market The a2 Milk Company, which pioneered the use of a2 proteins in milk as a healthy alternative, has reported positive results for 1H24. Revenue was up 3.7 percent to $812.1 million and EBITDA profit up five percent to $113.2 million despite a double-digit decline in the…
The federal government has committed an extra $11.1 billion over the next decade in its announcement on the future surface combatant fleet, in response to an independent analysis finding “in excess of $25 billion in unfunded promises” and following last year’s Defence Strategic Review. There will now be six Hunter Class Frigates, down from nine,…
