Analysis by Peter Roberts It has been slow to come but the costs and disruption being wrought on world trade by the United States and China’s trade war are now clearly being felt. In a series of mutual escalations since March the US and China have imposed tit for tat tariffs on hundreds of billions…
Latrobe Magnesium (ASX: LMG) which is developing a project to produce magnesium metal in Victoria’s La Trobe Valley has extended protection for its unique technology with the granting of a patent in India. The patent, which adds to protection in Australia, the US, EU, China and Indonesia, protects the company’s 100 per cent owned electrolytic…
Analysis by Peter Roberts As we enter 2019 we are seeing a a gradual slowing of the Australian economy, with manufacturing’s contraction in the most recent month just one of the early warning signs things are off the boil. A combination of a tapering off of infrastructure spending, soft consumer confidence linked to falling real…
Additive manufacturing technology company Titomic (ASX: TTT) has inked three agreements with Chinese entities that further its development of 3D printing machines and products based on titanium metal powders. The Melbourne company released three statements to investors over Christmas that secure its supply of titanium metal powders, deepen its R&D relationships and provide a path…
Today’s inforgarphic, from Visual Capitalist, throws down the challenge to Australia for the 21st Century. Will we ride this new bull wave for metals needed in the new economy simply by digging the stuff up and shipping it out? Or will we use our natural advantages, skills and wealth as a nation to go up…
Analysis by Peter Roberts Iron ore miner Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has completed the deployment phase of its $900 million Pilbara AutoHaul automated heavy-haul, long distance rail network. After a build up from running its first autonomous train in July, the company has announced the system is now fully operational. The company operates more than…
Comment by Peter Roberts Moly-Cop, the world’s largest manufacturer of ball and rod grinding media used in minerals processing, is along with the Whyalla steel works another global opportunity that went unseen and unfulfilled by Australian investors. Just as the steel works is being doubled in size by new owners Liberty Primary Steel, Moly-Cop under…
Leigh Creek Energy (ASX: LCK) company will raise $5.1 million through a rights issue and placement to fund development of chemicals processing opportunities in South Australia. The company said in a statement that its in situ coal gasification demonstration plant at the former Leigh Creek coal fields has notched up 13 days continuous production of…
Sydney autonomous vehicle technology business, Baraja, has secured $45 million in Series A venture capital to fund development of its LiDAR navigation systems for driverless vehicles. Raised from Sequoia China, Blackbird Ventures, and Main Sequence Ventures, this adds to seed funding raised in 2016 which also included Blackbird among its investors. Baraja launched its Spectrum-Scan…
@AuManufacturing’s recent feature on shoddy imports has cast light on Australian Consumer Law. Here we explain consumer rights when faced with minor and major faults. By Helen Hull New data just released reveals people are increasingly contacting the ACCC about issues with faulty products and services. In 2018, the ACCC received nearly 34,000 contacts about…