Rare earths producer Lynas Corp is to raise $425 million from investors, even as it reported subdued results down on the previous year because of shutdowns forced on the company by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Perth company reported an EDITDA of $59.8 for the 2020 financial year, down from $100.7 million, on revenue of $305…
BlueScope Steel has weathered a tough year in the Australian and US markets to deliver a strong underlying EBIT of $564 million for FY20. Underlying EBIT was down 71 per cent in the US and 43 per cent in Australia as steel margins were suppressed by higher raw material costs and weaker steel prices. Nonetheless…
Magnis Energy Technologies has received Queensland government approval for its feasibility study into the construction of a $3 billion, 18GWh lithium-ion battery cell gigafactory in Townsville. The Queensland Department of State Development, Tourism and Innovation approved the study, allowing the constructor, Imperium3 Townsville (IM3TSV), to proceed with financial discussions to support investment in the plant,…
By Peter Roberts Manufacturing is undergoing massive transformation in a fourth industrial revolution, sometimes called Industry 4.0. The combination of robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics offers a platform to rebuild Australia’s manufacturing sector. It needs to, as the days when Australia could prosper as a resource commodity exporter with local…
In this, the first in @AuManufacturing’s new series on Australia’s niche champions, Peter Roberts talks to Pat Boland, co-founder of the global tier 1 supplier of CNC tool and cutter grinders – ANCA. Pat Boland (below) and Pat McCluskey were working at a factory at Footscray in Western Melbourne with some of the earliest numerical…
The Clean Energy Council is calling for the Federal Government to commit to extending and funding the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) beyond its current 2021 expiry date. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thorntonsaid: “ARENA is at the centre of Australia’s low-emissions technology agenda and is a critical institution to the delivery of the…
Composites manufacturer Quickstep has signed a letter of intent with the state government which could lead to its involvement in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis being planned around Sydney’s second airport. Quickstep will work with the Western Parkland City Authority to identify synergies between their capabilities in aerospace manufacturing and the planned Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility…
Inflammatory drug developer Mesoblast has received good news which clears the way for its remestemcel-L (Ryoncil) drug to go to market. A panel of the US Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) of the FDA voted in favour of the view that the “available data support the efficacy” of Ryoncil in cases of transplant rejection. The…
Comment by Peter Roberts I have previously argued that the South Australian government once the centre of the sector has given up on manufacturing. It has no manufacturing minister, no manufacturing section in any department, no bureaucrat with that responsibility and no focus on the sector other than a few sexy areas and Canberra’s pet…
The federal government has launched a feasibility study into the local manufacture of main reduction gearboxes for future batches of the Hunter class frigates being built in Adelaide. The first batch of three frigates will have the lowest Australian content as BAE Systems subsidiary, ASC Shipbuilding, builds up its local supply chain, with the later…
