The age-old process of cleaning and making safe rock faces in mines could soon be replaced by an autonomous robotic system. Perenti subsidiary Ausdrill, the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre and the University of Technology Sydney have joined to back a research project that combines robotics and virtual reality to make rock scaling operations safer.…
By Denham Sadler Labor has successfully launched a Senate inquiry into Australia’s domestic advanced manufacturing capability, as support for the sector and sovereign capability shape up to be an election issue. Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching moved a motion in the Senate on Thursday morning calling for the Economics References Committee to conduct an inquiry into…
Moves towards the production of novel battery materials and batteries in Australia are gathering pace with announcements from three companies this week. Brisbane battery developer RedEarth has received Clean Energy Council approval for its lithium-iron-phosphate (LIP) battery – the first Australian battery to be added to the list. Metals development company TNG commissioned Perth firm…
Western Australian robotics firm Nexxis has launched its Magneto-EX – the world’s first EX-rated inspection robot (pictured). The spider-like prototype robot crawler and camera device unveiled in Perth has magnetic ‘feet’ and is the first system to be developed which is suitable for use in hazardous area inspections. Nexxis’ managing director Jason De Silveira said…
Queensland-based weapons and munitions company NIOA is continuing manufacturing operations at the Government Owned, Contractor Operated (GOCO) Benalla Munitions Facility in Victoria while recapitalising 120mm tank ammunition destined for the army’s M1A1 Abrams tank fleet. The project extends the life of type of M1028 cannister tank ammunition and represents an initial step for future manufacture…
Poker machine manufacturer Ainsworth Game Technology has reported a loss for the 2021 financial year on revenues that are recovering from the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic last year. The Sydney company released a selection of unaudited results today. Revenue for the second half is expected to be $88 million, up from $72 million in…
Advertisement By John Hosking, Series Producer How it’s Made – Australia and former Executive Producer, Beyond 2000. The ongoing global success of the international How it’s Made television series is all but unprecedented. The statistics simply defy belief in a medium so often notorious for shallow, ephemeral content – and audiences. Thirty two seasons –…
By Peter Roberts We all know how hard it once was to dispose of an old mattress. Massive and worn maybe, mattresses contain a huge amount of disparate materials from fabrics to foams and steel springs. Who would take them, and each year more than a million are sent to landfill while others are dumped…
The Royal Australian Navy’s amphibious assault ship’s communications capabilities have been bolstered following a two-month-long upgrade. Brisbane’s EM Solutions supplied its locally designed and built Cobra Tri-Band Inmarsat GX and WGS X/Ka-band Satellite Communications Terminal on the navy’s Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship, HMAS Canberra. Installation was undertaken in concert with partners including Navantia Australia.…
Varley Rafael Australia has begun local production of the SPIKE Guided Missile Integration Kits (SIKs) – the first time the Israeli company Rafael has conducted assembly operations overseas. The kits, which will be integrated into the LAND400-2 Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles, make up the launcher and missile control elements of the SPIKE missile. VRA, a…
