Comment by Peter Roberts Globally, proactive governments are looking to their manufacturing sectors to help them navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, raising questions about when Canberra is going to afford similar recognition. Last week Canberra belatedly reached out to manufacturers with a ‘çall for information‘ from producers of essential medical supplies. Defence personnel have also been…
Medium calibre munitions for the F35 lightning fighter aircraft will be produced in Australia and exported to allies including the United States following an announcement by the Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions (RNM) joint venture. The venture, between Australian-owned NIOA and Germany’s Rheinmetall, will install a new production line at the government-owned munitions plant in Benalla to…
Barrett Communications has announced a new partnership with US company Royal Communications International, and a new order for HF radio equipment for the US Mission in Central Asia. The Perth company, which also manufactures in the United States, revealed a two-prong strategy to build sales to the world’s biggest defence custoer. The first prong is…
Institutional investors have responded rapidly to hearing technology group Cochlear’s efforts to raise new capital, subscribing $880 million in new capital within two days. The company, which is raising capital to tide it over a slump in surgical implant procedures of its devices caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, originally intended to raise $800 million,…
Portable X-ray equipment leader Micro-X has received yet more new orders for its lightweight Nano portable X-ray machine for use in diagnosing advanced cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, sparking a scaling up of manufacturing capabilities. The Adelaide company has developed the world’s first and only carbon fibre nanotube X-ray emitter, and had made only initial…
There seems to be a plethora of daily-changing, often contradictory messages flying round about what to do about the Covid-19 coronavirus in the workplace. But SA Health has issued an extremely clear run-down of everything manufacturing employers need to know to keep their people sale. Things like: # What cleaning practices should I instigate #…
The US Navy and Department of Homeland Security have deemed Perth shipbuilder Austal’s American shipyard as a mission essential industry to remain open during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The government is working with the company to ensure the workforce is protected and continues to build and maintain USN warships. An assistant secretary of the United…
Australian Manufacturing Forum member viewpoint by Kris Gale With the world attempting to come to grips with the COVID-19 situation, it’s hard to find too many opportunities for good news but recent discussion regarding the R&D Tax Incentive is one of them. As reported in @AuManufacturing news, the Senate Economics Legislation Committee (the Committee) is…
Hearing technology company Cochlear has announced a massive $850 million capital raising to fortify the company to weather the Covid-19 coronavirus slowdown in sales. The company’s shares went into a trading halt today as the company revealed a share placement to institutions and a share purchase plan for existing shareholders. The raising is prices at…
The Industry Capability Network has stepped up to the plate setting up a forum where manufacturers can find information about government requirements as they tackle the spread of Covid-19. The following Requests for Information and Expressions of Interest are currently open: # The Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources has released a…
