Economy poised between crash and cure

Manufacturers are viewing the economy as at a delicate point between point between boom and bust, according to the ACCI-Westpac Business Survey December 2024 Q4. Currently spot on the breakeven threshold, the latest survey shows manufacturers are experiencing a torrid time, but have expectations of far better times ahead. Could this be from pent-up demand…

First commercial sale of DotzShield

Nanotechnology development company Dotz Nano has made its first commercial sale of its proprietary in-product tagging solution, DotzShield, to a U.S. based provider of oilfield technology to the oil and gas sector. The order marks a pivotal milestone for Dotz in its commercialisation journey, according to an announcement, validating the company’s solution for real-time corrosion…

AUKUS governments and industry press ‘go’ on submarine build

The Australian and UK Governments have announced a significant milestone between the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) and industry partners that will support the delivery of the SSN AUKUS fleet of locally built, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. The SSNA platform will replace the Astute Class SSN for the UK Royal Navy…

Livium moves to demonstrate lithium extraction technology

Lithium chemicals manufacturer Livium, formerly Lithium Australia, will decide by the end of January 2025 whether to proceed with plans to utilise its proprietary technologies to extract lithium from difficult to process ores. Livium is developing technologies to produce lithium chemicals from waste or low-grade sources, with its main technologies LieNA for processing spodumene and…

BlueScope, BHP and Rio Tinto select Kwinana for 40,000 tpa green iron pilot plant

Steelmaker BlueScope and iron ore miners, BHP and Rio Tinto have selected Kwinana Industrial Area, south of Perth, to host an electric smelting furnace pilot plant, which aims to test and optimise lower-carbon emissions molten iron from Pilbara iron ore using direct reduced iron (DRI)-ESF technology.  Rio said the trio assessed a number of locations…