Robert Bosch Australia is to close its Clayton, Melbourne factory manufacturing diodes – closing one of the few large scale semiconductor manufacturing operations in the country. The Melbourne facility is the sole Automotive Diode factory for the Bosch group, supplying up to 60 million diodes annually. Bosch itself hasn’t been a customer for the Australian…
Mars Petcare Australia has announced a major investment in its Wodonga, Victoria regional factory to expand its pet food manufacturing capabilities and create more than 60 new jobs. Supported by Regional Development Victoria, the project builds on more than $55.8 million invested at the Victorian facility over the past five years. According to a statement,…
The first of an order for 43 Thales Bushmaster protected vehicles has arrived across the Tasman in an order for the New Zealand Army. The first 18 Bushmaster 5.5 vehicles which were developed and manufactured in Bendigo, Victoria arrived in NZ where they are replacing outdated Pinzgauer military utility vehicles. According to the Army, the…
Rail operator Aurizon has contracted Progress Rail to convert one of its diesel locolotives to full battery electric operation, paving the way for the greening of its freight-haul rail fleet. This will be the first freight unit to be constructed in Australia powered by batteries, according to Aurizon, with the locomotive’s battery also capturing re-generative…
In situ coal gasification technology company NeuRizer is taking its technology to China where it could end up operating two coal to gas to hydrogen production facilities. NeuRizer, which is developing the former Leigh Creek coalfield in South Australia to produce gas and then urea fertiliser, has signed a binding contract with China’s Meijin Energy…
Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing company AML3D has reaffirmed its focus on servicing the US defence industry, just as the company is about to significantly deepen its involvement in the market. The company, which is close to dispatching a $1 million Arcemy 3D printer (pictured) to the US, said it had established and was working to…
The federal government is making efforts to ensure the growth of artificial intelligence technologies (AI) in Australia is safe and responsible with today’s release of two discussion papers. The papers are intended to begin a discussion to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in relation critical AI technologies, according to Minister for Industry and Science…
By Peter Roberts Emeritus Professor Maria Skyllas-Kazacos (pictured) is a name few know, but we all should, as she is one of the most brilliant and somehow unappreciated innovators this country has ever produced. Ms Skyllas-Kazacos’s name re-emerged this morning with an announcement that she had joined a Technical Advisory Group of critical mineral processing…
Researchers at Flinders University have discovered a new low-cost material that can be made into lenses for thermal imaging – opening the way to new advanced manufacturing applications for this powerful technology. Thermal and infrared imaging are used in many industries including defence, security and surveillance, medicine, electrical engineering, space exploration and autonomous vehicle operation.…
The federal government’s first new Jobs and Skills Council (JSC) has been formally established aaiming to help the agribusiness sector get the skilled workers they need. The new Agribusiness JSC, named Skills Insight, has been established as a tripartite body inclusive of the full range of industry views as it pursues solutions to skills and…
