Zone RV grows workforce to 231

Caravan company Zone RV has featured in the first week of Queensland’s Inside Advanced Manufacturing showcase, with the company announcing that it recently increased its headcount to 231. Manufacturing minister Glenn Butcher visited the Coolum Beach maker of lightweight composite-bodied off-road caravans on Wednesday morning.  During its expansion, Zone RV has purchased what it describes…

Deloitte selected on proposed Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Hub at Bunbury

The Western Australian government has announced that it is moving forward with planning for the proposed Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Hub (AMTECH), with Deloitte the successful tenderer to deliver a detailed feasibility study and business case. According to a statement on Tuesday, the appointment of the Big Four firm represents a next step towards “a…

Graphene electrodes part of plan to make Australia make PV again

A consortium of Halocell Energy, First Graphene and Queensland University of Technology has shared a few details about a three-year project to develop perovskite solar cell fabrication, recently awarded a $2 million grant under Round 14 of the federal Cooperative Research Centre Projects (CRC-P) initiative. Halocell makes perovskite solar cells containing halide, and describes itself…

Defence projects at risk due to shortage of engineers

Professionals Australia has stepped up its advocacy of a specific STEM classification and pay structure to attract, recognise and retain the engineering and technical capabilities needed by the federal government to roll out the initiatives recommended by the Defence Strategic Review (DSR). Professionals Australia’s CEO Jill McCabe said that the lack of critical engineering and…

Lockheed announces senior appointment, new offices for major defence satellite project

Lockheed Martin Australia has announced Toni-Anne Munn as Deputy Program Director for JP9102, the multi-billion-dollar military satellite communications project that LMA was named preferred bidder on in April. According to a statement on Monday, the new role would “facilitate further growth in the region” as LMA prepares for the project’s execution phase. The company added…

Ukraine war: Australian-made cardboard drones used to attack Russian airfield show how innovation is key to modern warfare

By Paul Cureton, Lancaster University Innovative design choices can have a massive impact in the theatre of war, so it is important to understand the principles behind their development. Recent use of low-cost cardboard drones by Ukraine, supplied by Australia, to attack targets in Russia is a good example of how this can work. Australia…