Traffic Technologies fails to declare a dividend in volatile year Traffic light and road signage group Traffic Technologies has failed to declare a dividend in the 2020 financial year, booking earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) down 402 per cent to $11.4 million. Revenue was down eight per cent to $44.5 million. The results included…
A ‘WarpSPEE3D’ 3D metal printer has been camouflaged as it continues to be deployed and put through its paces by the Australian Army in the extreme heat and humidity of the Northern Territory. Made by SPEE3D, the WarpSPEE3D uses cold spray technology for faster and more cost-effective metal part production at speeds of 100 grams…
Hearing implant manufacturer Cochlear is pressing ahead with construction of its first Chinese manufacturing plant in Chengdu in Sichuan province (pictured). The $90 million investment was announced in 2017 ‘to facilitate local market growth and provide additional manufacturing support for products in China and emerging markets’, according to the company. It is believed the plant…
By Professor Shams Rahman and Dr Kamrul Ahsan The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented damage to the global economy, with the federal government naming advanced manufacturing as one of six sectors of strategic importance for future growth. This sector accounts for approximately half of Australia’s $100 billion plus annual manufacturing output, with the Australian industry…
Unmanned aircraft engine manufacturer Orbital achieved earnings before interest and tax of $2.6 million on revenue up in what was a transformative year for the company to $33.8 million. The Perth company was named primary engine supplier to Boeing subsidiary Insitu during the year and brought its second Insitu engine model into production. A third…
Composites manufacturer Quickstep Holdings grew sales, margins and profits in the 2020 financial year as all key production contracts in defence and aerospace achieved growth. The Bankstown, Sydney-based company booked earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $4.6 million on sales up 12 per cent for the year to $82.3 million. Sales margins rose 25…
Peak employer body the Australian Industry Group has released a series of policy papers that include a call for Australia to move decisively towards net zero emissions by 2050. AiGroup aligns itself with the states, all of which have zero emissions targets, and against he federal government which is resisting the transition towards renewable energy.…
The Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) has expressed ‘serious concern’ at the Australian government’s decision to limit the scope of Round 10 of the Cooperative Research Centres programme’s CRC-P Grants. Academy president Professor Hugh Bradlow said Canberra should address concerns raised earlier in the week by by ATSE Fellow Dr Tony Peacock who is…
Bisalloy’s profits up 45 per cent High strength steel manufacturer Bisalloy Steel has grown earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) 45.9 per cent in FY2020 as efficiencies and markets grew. The company reported sales up 12.8 per cent for the year to $110.7 million as domestic sales grew 30 per cent. While its…
Australian Strategic Materials’ (ASM) joint venture partner has produced 20.8 kg of high purity titanium metal, with a purity of 99.83 per cent (pictured). South Korea’s Zirconium Technology Corporation (ZironTech) produced the metal, confirming the energy usage at approximately 30 per cent of the standard titanium industry processes. The company’s metal technology energy usage is…
