The federal government has today released a plan that defines the strategic rationale for a sovereign defence industrial base and aims to maximise support for Australian industry, including SMEs and its critical contribution to national security. The Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS) outlines: Focus areas for the defence industrial base Procurement reforms including simplifying contracting…
By Peter Roberts Much has been written about the Australian universities accord – final report from scientist and engineer Mary O’Kane (pictured). But from an industry innovation point of view her panel’s recommendations fall short of what is needed to kickstart Australia’s fading innovation – and I mean business innovation – performance. National R&D has…
The countdown is on to register to join @AuManufacturing for our latest webinar – Secure Your Business Against Cyber Attack – on Tuesday March 19, 11.00am AEST. There are very real cyber security threats to your business from compromised credentials, external contractors or former employees, malicious actors and a lack of a complete understanding of…
Heating and cooling systems manufacturer Seeley International is to expand its air cooling manufacturing operations in Adelaide focused on export to the California market. Group Managing Director Jon Seeley said the company would extend its Lonsdale facility and update equipment for the scale-up of its innovative Climate Wizard Hybrid model which integrates evaporative cooling, heating…
By Peter Roberts BHP might just be getting serious about fully exploiting its ability to refine and export copper on a large scale from its South Australian copper mines – however the company has considered major expansions previously and baulked at the cost. In 2012 BHP halted plans for a $30 billion expansion of its…
Work has begun on a new $100 million pharmaceutical plant being built for Noumed Pharmaceutical at Salisbury in northern Adelaide in partnership with Terre Property Partners. The plant, supported by $20 million from the federal government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy, is UK group Noumed Life Sciences’s first production plant in Australia. Noumed is an integrated generics…
Surface engineering technologies company Laserbond has entered the Western Australian engineering market with the purchase of 40 percent of Gateway Parts & Equipment for $10 million. Laserbond has the right to acquire further shares after three years to obtain 51 percent of the company, with any subsequent purchase necessitating the approval of Gateway shareholders. The…
Defence and communications manufacturer Electro Optic Systems has moved into the Middle East, inking a MOU leading to a joint venture with a local manufacturer to penetrate the region’s markets with its its remote weapons stations. The region is already the biggest customer for the RWS with ‘a Middle East customer’ placing an order worth…
Battery minerals company Lava Blue is to expand its Predictive Research into Speciality Materials (PRiSM) centre which it is developing along with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The centre is developing a process for production of high purity alumina (HPA) from sapphire bearing kaolin clay deposits in North West Queensland. HPA is the essential…
The Assistant Minister for defence Matt Thistlethwaite has spruiked the government’s response to the Defence Strategic Review in the field of defence innovation, including through joint work with AUKUS partners the US and the UK. The DSR found that more support is needed for innovation, faster acquisition and better links between Defence and industry to…
