Leading composites manufacturer Quickstep (ASX: QHL) has reported fast-growing sales on the back of strong orders from defence and aerospace customers. The Sydney company reported sales up 14 per cent to $18.9 million in the December quarter and strong operating cash flow of $3.6 million. With first half sales of $38.4 million the company has…
Defence, space and communications group Electro Optic Systems (ASX: EOS) has bought US space business Audacy Corporation for $10 million in cash. The Canberra company’s subsidiary EOS Defence Systems USA Inc purchase of Audacy is part of a strategy to widen the remit of EOS’s operations in the United States. The chairman of EOSDS John…
By Peter Roberts Australia’s slide down the list of leading developed nations has been dramatically confirmed with the Australia Day weekend coinciding with evidence of a fall in our national innovation effort. The highly respected Bloomberg innovation index saw Australia slip to number 20 in the world on its ranking of innovation (table below). Australia…
One of Australia’s leading industry policy experts Emeritus Professor Roy Green has decried the lack of properly resourced industry policies to capitalise on areas where we have competitive advantage. Green told ABC radio a lack of a manufacturing culture partly caused by years of policy neglect was the over-riding factor in Australia’s weak manufacturing sector.…
Analysis by Peter Roberts Elon Musk has had more his fair share of troubles entering the world’s crowded car market with its Tesla electric vehicles, but the past week has given him some hope that he may escape the fate of the vast majority of auto start ups as fodder for financially stronger groups. Hot…
Industrial materials producer First Graphene (ASX: FGR) has announced progress in its development of production processes used in making graphene oxide suitable for a number of industrial applications. Conventional processing to create dispersible graphene solutions utilise strong acids. First Graphene subsidiary 2D Fluidics Pty Ltd, Flinders University and the UK Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre…
Perth-based engineering firm IKAD Engineering has unveiled its new 15,500 square metre production facility for marine and shipping services at Henderson south of the city. The new premises contain three workshops: # An office and fabrication facility designed with the potential to build hull sections for the Hunter class frigates to be built in Adelaide…
Melbourne electric truck manufacturer SEA Electric has added a new medium duty truck variant to its range of plug-in electric powered vehicles, the Ford-based SEA F-650. Launched on social media on the weekend, the SEA F-650 is based on the Ford F-650 chassis and is likely to be suited to the regional delivery truck and…
Changes in Queensland building facade market Queensland Facade Systems has acquired vertically-integrated manufacturer of facade products, Architectural Metalworks Australia. AMA CEO Sam Bevis, who will stay with the new group, said the move was of strategic benefit to both companies and positioned it for a more global business environment. He said: “We have been working…
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has given approval for construction of an interstate electricity connector which has the potential of stimulating green-power investment and lowering eastern state power prices. The AER today approved the new South Australia-New South Wales interconnector, which will connect wind and solar production in South Australia with the east’s major electricity…
