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…
By Peter Roberts Just when manufacturing SMEs are really doing it tough there is anecdotal evidence that the Australian Tax Office is coming down hard on the struggling sector. Two industry representative groups report anecdotal evidence of formerly accommodating tax office staff changing their attitude in the past week…for the worse. “One minute it was…
Apprenticeship statistics are showing mixed messages with some good and bad news, but the bottom line is the year to 30 September, 2019 was yet another year in which apprenticeship commencements fell. This was the fifth year of steady decline (see graphic above) according to figures from the National Centre for Vocational and Education Research…
Poker machine and gaming manufacturer Ainsworth Game Technology has joined others in the gambling industry in announcing a big hit from the effects of the Covid-19 coronavirus. The Sydney company said that the virus had caused a large number of gaming and hospitality venues to close or seek to reduce visitation. “As a result the…
