Comment by Peter Roberts Today prime Minister Scott Morrison broke cover – yes Canberra is prepared to subsidise a totally uneconomic gas-fired power station in New South Wales, ostensibly to reduce energy prices. The Coalition has talked about cutting energy prices so often only to disappoint that we can discount that as the real reason.…
Naval Group Australia has today begun its largest apprenticeship intake to date with applications open for apprentice fabricators who will eventually work on construction of 12 Attack class submarines at Osborne in Adelaide. The French-owned group is looking for at least 13 new apprentices to begin work in early 2021 and follows the successful placement…
Lithium chemicals business Lepidico is pressing ahead with plans to build a lithium processing facility at a site in the Khalifa free trade zone in Abu Dhabi. The Perth company has established a subsidiary Lepidico Chemicals Manufacturing Ltd which has been awarded a pre-operations industrial licence to proceed with its Phase 1 chemical plant development.…
Ghian Oberholzer explains how artificial intelligence can help overcome the security challenges of industrial IoT IoT technology that enables the monitoring, control, and internet connection of physical devices of all kinds has had an enormous impact on the energy sector. High-profile examples of IoT applications include smart meters for electricity and water supplies that communicate…
Electrical, engineering and mining technology company Ampcontrol has unveiled its Australian developed and made emergency ventilator, the ‘Ventasys’. The Tomago company developed the Ventasys in partnership with the NSW Government as part of the COVID-19 response, and will now progress to full manufacturing with components ordered for up to 100 units. Ampcontrol developed the machine…
Comment by Peter Roberts I have been receiving a number of phone calls from colleagues asking me: “what has happened with manufacturing policy?” Covid-19 has been with us since the beginning of the year, exposing the fragility of our international supply chains and our own inability to cater for our own, even very basic needs.…
UTS, Sydney is partnering with the federal government to launch a new associate degree programme to help accelerate the implementation of industry 4.0 principles in Australian business. The new two-year associate degree, part of the government’s Covid-19 response in its Job-Ready Graduate Package, aims to strengthen university/industry collaboration through collaborative partnerships. The associate degree will…
Metal additive manufacturing producer Aurora Labs is raising up to $3.5 million to speed uptake of its 3D metal printers and powders. The Perth company has received firm commitments to raise $2 million in a share placement with investors, and now plans to raise up to $1.5 million through a share purchase plan for existing…
Lithium ion battery materials group Lithium Australia has filed two patent cooperation treaty (PCT) applications seeking protection for its lithium ion battery recycling technologies. PCT protection is a way of gaining coverage in multiple overseas jurisdictions in one step. The first of its applications involves the recovery of electrode materials and electrolyte from spent lithium…
The federal government has announced $32 million in additional funding for investment through the Defence Innovation Hub over the next two years. Billed as part of COVID-19 investment initiatives, the cash will flow to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that have the potential to enhance defence capability. Since 2016, the Defence Innovation Hub has awarded…
