Minerals technology company, Alkane Resources (ASX: ALK) has signed an agreement with a South Korean firm to develop new methods for refining zirconium and rare earths using an electrolytic process. Alkane, through its subsidiary, Australian Strategic Metals will invest $1.8 million in a pilot plant being developed by Korea’s Zirconium Technology Corporation. The plant will…
Australian defence and space manufacturer, Electro Optic Systems (ASX: EOS) has been added as the sixth company competing to design an upgraded weapons systems for the US Army’s Stryker armoured vehicle. Previously five US companies had been named to share funding to develop proposals to upgrade the Stryker’s weapon to a 30mm high performance cannon…
Comment by Peter Roberts A number of home truths are emerging since the surprise re-election of the Morrison government – that our economy is strong for example when it is not. But the potential for a shift in power and focus in Australia’s expanding defence industry sector from South to Western Australia has gone largely…
Melbourne medical technology business, Biotech Resources had landed a comprehensive US patent covering a revolutionary device that can rapidly detect disease carrying pathogens in the blood. The company, which is developing technology from the Monash University Centre for Biospectroscopy, has been awarded a patent covering detection of a range of disease including fungal infection, HIV,…
It is increasingly obvious Australia’s economic competitiveness is fading, but where to from here – Australian Manufacturing Forum member viewpoint by Iain Wicking. Focusing on the historically slow rise and relatively fast fall of the Australia’s manufacturing sector is important, but it misses the point in today’s economic environment. If the main objective is to…
The year 2018 has passed and yet again, the National Centre for Vocational Educational Research (NCVER) reports it was another bleak year for apprenticeships in Australia. After years of continual falls, 2018 was a year when apprenticeship commencements and completions again decreased. This time commencements were down 3.7 per cent to 156,950, while completions fell…
Melbourne agri-technology developer Agersens has raised $14.75 million to speed market penetration of its eShepherd virtual fencing system for beef and dairy cattle. The IoT-based eShepherd collar, based on technology originally developed by CSIRO, has been making waves in animal husbandry, as reported in @AuManufacturing news. Cattle wear the eShepherd collar, which includes an embedded…
Thomas Foods International will invest several hundred million dollars in a new state-of-the-art abattoir at Murray Bridge, almost 18 months since its previous plant was destroyed by fire.
Defence and space systems manufacturer, Electro Optic Systems (ASX: EOS) has confirmed a period of massive growth driven by orders for its remotely operated weapons systems. Canberra-based EOS released data to the market confirming it was set for 45 per cent per annum growth beyond 2020 and 2021 even if it received no new orders.…
Newcastle-based electronics assembly business, Puzzle Precision is close to completing an order for 20,000 circuit boards which will be the heart of the receivers for Australia’s Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio-telescope. As reported in @AuManufacturing news, the $188 million pathfinder will form part of the world’s largest telescope, the SKA being built at sites…
