Comment by Peter Roberts Australian Strategic Materials’ (ASM) Korean research and development partner, ZironTech has successfully produced a kilogramme of neodymium metal alloy. While this would normally be seen as a win for Australia the fact that production took place in ZironTech’s laboratory in South Korea rings alarm bells. Neodymium is a critical rare earth…
Airbus Helicopters has linked up with more thar 20 Australian partners to form Team Nightjar which will bid for a fleet of military helicopters. The consortium is aiming to snare Project LAND 2097 Phase 4 contract to build new helicopters for Defence’s Special Operations group. Team Nightjar members include Cablex, Cyborg Dynamics, Deakin University, DEWC,…
The Industry Capability Network (ICN) has partnered with Brisbane software developer IONYX to launch ICN Connect, a new B2B marketplace. Developed after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, ICN Connect is designed to make it easier for buyers looking for products and services to find someone to meet those needs. It is aimed at businesses that need…
The Hadrian X bricklaying robot system (pictured) has completed its first commercial display house, a project home in the Perth suburb of Dayton. The robot completed laying the concrete blockwork of the walls on Saturday, capping off a 15 year development process which has seen numerous prototype machines and buildings completed. FBR Limited, which developed…
Analysis by Peter Roberts Australia’s defence forces, science and industry appear to be working more closely together today than they have at any time since the 1960s on the shared task of ensuring the country’s national security. This became a little clearer in the past week with the release of the 2018-19 Defence Industry and…
Engineering firm Valley Precise Global has begun manufacture of a faster and more accurate way to reduce potential fuselage damage when replacing faulty rivets on aircraft. VPG’s Rivet Hole Alignment Tool (RHAT) reduces demands on the technician whilst eliminating errors related to centering over the rivet for subsequent drilling and reaming. Manufactured under an exclusive…
A pioneering renewable hydrogen production facility in Adelaide has celebrated a construction milestone with installation underway for its key component, an electrolyser. Situated at Hydrogen Park South Australia (HyP SA), the Siemens 1.25 MW Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyser is part of the Tonsley Innovation District, south of Adelaide. Tonsley, the site of the former…
Marine propulsion and stabilisation company VEEM Ltd has received its second order for its most powerful ship gyrostabiliser from Europe’s Damen Shipyards. The order for a second VG1000SD gyrostabiliser (pictured below) follows the supply of the first of the 20-tonne units which was installed in the company’s new Fast Crew Supplier, FCS 7011. The VG1000SD…
Maggie Beer drives Longtable sales Sales of Maggie Beer premium foods are accelerating as the company beds down its role as a cornerstone of the Longtable food group. Maggie Beer sales were up 37 per cent in 2020 over the previous year, while final quarter sales were up 220 per cent on the previous corresponding…
Perth international shipbuilder Austal has begun building its largest-ever catamaran passenger ferry at its Cebu, Philippines shipyard. Although three metres shorter at 115 metres than the longest-ever catamaran ferry built by Austal, the new Auto Express 115 to be christened Express 5 will be the largest-ever by volume. An aluminium plate cutting ceremony was held…
