The thaw in China Australia’s trade relationships is continuing with Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Assistant Minister for Trade Senator Tim Ayres among a group of Australian ministers attending a high-level meeting in China this week. Only the second minister to visit China since the election – following the visit by Foreign Minister Penny Wong…
As our Celebrating Australian sovereign capability editorial series comes to a close, Graeme Sheather looks at the big picture, where we stand today and the challenges and solutions ahead. A new global order is emerging and it is imperative that Australian manufacturing businesses and government get their act together to create advanced high-tech products and…
University of Melbourne research into new inks has has raised the prospect that the use nanoparticles has the potential to play an important role in reducing our reliance on energy production. According to the university’s Dr Mohammad Taha, lead research report author, these inks can adjust the amount of radiation that can pass through them,…
By Peter Roberts Green technology company Fortescue Future Industries has claimed a major breakthrough in the production of green iron – a step towards manufacturing green steel – making it the second of two Australian companies which make such an ambitious claim. The claim first surfaced in parent company Fortescue Metals Group’s FY23 half year…
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed the country to purchasing US and UK submarine technology with strong support from the Opposition, as part of the AUKUS agreement. This is the latest chapter in a decades long – and spectacularly unsuccessful – effort to establish an Australian sovereign submarine design and manufacturing enterprise. Peter Roberts…
Perth shipbuilder Austal’s Philippines yard has delivered the 115-metre, high-speed vehicle-passenger ferry Express 5, to Molslinjen of Denmark, following the successful completion of sea trials in Balamban, Cebu. The ‘Auto Express 115’ high-speed catamaran ferry is the largest ferry (by volume) constructed by any Austal shipyard in the company’s 35-year history. During sea trials, the…
Stärke Advanced Manufacturing Group acquire Gadac Plastics Stärke-AMG has added plastics to its strengths in precision metals manufacturing through its acquisition of GADAC Plastic Injection, a long-standing Australian family-owned plastic specialist business. GADAC provides a ‘design to finished product’ service for the manufacture of plastic product, specialising in plastic injection-moulding, product design and assembly. The…
Building products manufacturer Brickworks Limited has announced record underlying Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) from continuing operations of $410 million for the half-year ended 31 January 2023, up 24 percent on the previous corresponding period. Statutory NPAT was $354 million, down 38 percent, a figure affected by the previous year’s one-off profit with the disposal…
Technology innovator Sparc Technologies has reported progress in the development of hard carbon anode materials for sodium ion batteries in its research project with Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The company said QUT had delivered the first project milestone report which describes the results of SIB half-cell battery testing and material characterisation for a sustainably…
Robotics, AI and design for manufacture industry hub ARM Hub CEO Associate Professor Cori Stewart presented at the inaugural RACQ Electric Transport Industry Transformation Forum in Brisbane recently. Dr Stewart was asked what an advanced electric transport ecosystem looks like. Queensland needs deeper manufacturing capability to capture global market electric vehicle opportunities. Can Queensland be…
