Australia and Japan, trade and industry post Shinzo Abe – by Warren Reed

Australia’s modern industrial structure has been shaped by its symbiotic relationship with Japan. Here Warren Reed, who has an intimate understanding of Australia-Japan relations as a former officer with the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), and who is now a successful novelist, looks at how the departure of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will change the…

Stockmarket high sparks capital raisings

Manufacturers are using the current high level of the stockmarket to raise fresh capital for what remains a very uncertain business environment. Today both welding technology company K-TIG, and lithium-ion battery technology firm Magnis Energy Technologies announced successful raisings. K-TIG, which is commercialising a CSIRO high speed precision welding technology, has received binding commitments to…

Army self-propelled guns to be built in Geelong

The federal government has issued a request for tender for the building of thirty self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles for the army. The request was issued to preferred supplier Hanwha Defence Australia under the army’s Protected Mobile Fires project and will provide better mobility, lethality and crew protection. The self-propelled howitzers will…

Austal and AML3D team up for additive maritime components

Shipbuilder Austal and additive manufacturing technology company AML3D have teamed up to develop additive manufacturing components for naval vessels. Signalling a move to additive components, Austal has signed a $20,000 contract for AML3D to optimise the design of an existing naval personnel lifting device. The project, likely to lead to other design and production contracts,…

Clever Policies to Rebirth Manufacturing by John Blakemore

Engineer John Blakemore believes now is the time for politicians to accept that manufacturing policy has failed, plus his priorities for change. The covid-19 pandemic has exposed Australian supply chains and our lack of independent manufacturing capability to a significant extent and clearly demonstrated that the policies of the past need to change. We have…