Analysis by Peter Roberts. Step-changes in technology are accompanied by the demise of companies and industries, but negative economic effects are almost always outweighed by new business opportunities that emerge. As renewable take hold in electrical generation in Australia numerous companies have been formed or taken the opportunity to diversify. Examples include solar-voltaic panel manufacturer,…
Comment by Forum member Professor Roy Green. Connectivity isn’t everything, but it’s almost everything. Faster, better and cheaper is transforming our daily lives. And connectivity isn’t just about broadband access. It’s also about fast and efficient freight transport. Even in a digital world where so much of what we produce is intangible, Australia’s fortunes as…
Sydney professional audio manufacturer RØDE Microphones has branched out into a fast growing area of media with the release of an all-in-one podcast production studio, the RØDECaster Pro. The RØDECaster creates professional-quality podcasts using its four microphone channels, inputs for all modern devices and advanced sound processing. It is programmable from your computer and livestreams…
Ten Australian companies are in the running to secure major component orders following the selection of General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the RAAF. Defence industry minister, Steve Ciobo announced today the RAAF would buy an Armed Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) version of the aircraft at a cost of up to $2…
Iconic fruit and milk beverage company Nippys has taken the internet of things (IoT) route to improving operational performance at its Moorook facility in the Riverland. The company has teamed up with Australian supplier, Ailytic, implementing IoT sensors and smart factory software to monitor and control availability, performance, downtime and efficiency. Julian Martin, Nippys Riverland…
Work has begun at Osborne in Adelaide to construct the first of 12 new offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Australian Navy, Defence minister, Christopher Pyne said today. Government owned ASC is utilising steel cut in Perth for the vessels which are to be named the Arafura class after its first ship, HMAS Arafura. “The…
Liberty OneSteel’s owner, Sanjev Gupta has revealed he has assembled a team to develop plans for a major copper smelter in the iron triangle region of South Australia. Liberty is already investing more than $1 billion in boosting output at its Whyalla steelworks and on a combination of solar, wind, batteries and pumped hydro to…
A fully capable mine to finished product lithium supply chain is closer to a reality with the approval of a giant lithium refinery at Bunbury, south of Perth. The WA government has given Albemarle Corporation environmental approval for a lithium manufacturing plant in the State’s South-West. When in operation, the Albemarle plant will process spodumene…
Belgian group Nystar says it will lay off 120 of its 600 staff at the world’s largest lead smelter at Port Pirie in South Australia. The company confirmed the earlier @AuManufacturing repor that the completion of its $660 million plant upgrade meant fewer staff were required in future. A sinter plant and the former blast…
Fascinating statistics from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, 2018, show just which jobs are most vulnerable to automation or performance by a robot. But it is this image from Visual capitalist brings it home that it is not just manual labour, clerical work and data processing that are at risk. Even what…
