Xtek receives US government defence order

Defence, security and space systems manufacturer Xtek’s US subsidiary has received an order from an undisclosed US government department. The company’s 100 per cent owned US subsidiary, HighCom Armor Solutions, received a purchase order from a federal government department valued at $1.5 million for specialist ballistic armour products. Delivery from the group’s ballistics armour brand…

K-TIG passes first armoured steel test for Hanwha

Automated welding technology developer K-TIG has successfully completed the first round of weld testing under a Memorandum of Understanding to develop advanced keyhole welding procedures for Korea’s Hanwha Defense. Weld procedures for joining Ultra Hard Hardness and Ultra High Toughness armoured steels have been developed with hardness and tensile strength results superior to traditional MIG…

Fortescue and Incitec Pivot study green ammonia production

Global renewable energy company Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) has announced yet another green business venture – a joint feasibility study with fertiliser and explosives manufacturer Incitec Pivot for the conversion of ammonia production to utilise green hydrogen. The study, announced after a week in which FFI revealed plans for a $1 billion green equipment manufacturing…

Debt restructured for high performing Whyalla steelworks

The GFG Alliance has agreed to a debt restructuring for Liberty Primary Metals Australia with Credit Suisse Asset Management, ending uncertainty over the future of the Whyalla steelworks. The company said Whyalla had ‘registered record-breaking performances following its operational efficiency drive, continuous improvement initiatives and favourable market conditions underpinned by strong investment in infrastructure.’ LPMA’s…

Fortescue to build ‘$1bn’ green equipment manufacturing plant

Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Future Industries is to construct the world’s largest electrolyser, renewable industry and equipment factory at Gladstone, Queensland FFI, which only last week announced it was designing a 1Gw solar PV factory to be sited in Australia, made the announcement of the first stage on Sunday. FFI said total investment could add up…

Applied EV autonomous vehicle shows the futility of Australia’s car plans

By Peter Roberts For several decades Australia has a series of ‘car plans’ that succeeded in reducing model proliferation in what was once a highly protected industry, creating a sector which was technologically advanced and, with the subsidy of the plan, profitable for the surviving companies Ford GM and Totoya. It made an important contribution…