Best of the week — the five most popular stories among @AuManufacturing’s readers

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading. 5) Fortescue progresses plans for Marsden Point green aviation fuel factory Channel Infrastructure and Fortescue Future Industries announced their investigation into a green hydrogen manufacturing facility at Marsden Point for synthetic Sustainable Aviation Fuel (eSAF) has progressed, with…

Samsara Eco gets first strategic investor in SE Asia

Japan’s Kanematsu Corporation has made an investment in Australian environmental technology startup Samsara Eco. According to a statement from Samsara – which has developed an enzyme-based process to dissolve end-of-life plastic back into its component monomers for reuse – trading company Kanematsu acquired the strategic stake by accepting Samsara’s third-party allotment of shares.  “Through this…

Hydrogen headstart consultations underway

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) have begun consultation for the design of the federal government’s flagship hydrogen programme. Announced in the 2023 federal budget, Hydrogen Headstart will deliver a step change in Australia’s renewable hydrogen production by underwriting some of the largest electrolyser…

Babcock inaugurates defence communications system

Engineering services group Babcock Australasia has officially inaugurated the Defence High Frequency Communications System (DHFCS), providing operation, management and maintenance upgrades to support critical operations in Australia and overseas. As the Commonwealth’s industry partner under project JP9101 (Enhanced Defence High Frequency Communications System), Babcock is supporting the existing DHFCS capability, while delivering a comprehensive technology…

Core Additive, TAFE Queensland announce two-year partnership

Australian Markforged reseller Core Additive and training provider TAFE Queensland have announced a two-year partnership related to educational programs specific to industrial use of composites and additive manufacturing. According to a joint statement on Thursday, training programs developed will ensure Queensland and Australian businesses “do not fall behind in the age of advanced and additive…

New $180 million space Trailblazer to hold official launch

The new iLaunch (Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications, and Hypersonics) Trailblazer, linking three universities with private businesses to commercialise space-oriented R&D, will be launched by federal assistant education minister Anthony Chisholm on Thursday. The Trailblazer initiative was part of the previous federal government’s efforts to increase commercial returns from university research, and was awarded…

First Nations food and beverage firms backed through Qld native food program 

Three Queensland First Nations businesses have received state government support to develop their products under the Indigenous Native Food Program.  The program helps First Nations-owned and run businesses commercialise new food products with native food ingredients.  Queensland innovation minister Stirling Hinchliffe said in a statement on Thursday that, “With the eyes of the world focused…