While manufacturers nationwide have rallied to fight Covid-19 the Queensland government has gone on the front foot with its support for the manufacturing sector. The government launched its very public #MakingItForQLD campaign to support the fight against COVID-19, with daily manufacturing highlights. We have had regular media releases from the federal government but no state…
Comment by Peter Roberts When I was a young journalist the very first speech I gave was to an industrial relations conference on the Gold Coast. As I began speaking it was instantly obvious that this 20 something knew less about industrial relations than pretty much everyone in the room. Lesson learned, stick to what…
Magnis Energy has completed detailed engineering and pre-work on its prop[osed New York lithium-ion battery plant. The Sydney company, which is also financing development of a $2 billion lithiun-ion battery gigafactory in Townsville (pictured), has completed engineering and process design work on the plant. Cost estimation has been completed and discussions are underway with three…
Thermal energy storage developer 1414 Degrees is planning to open the first stage of its breakthrough silicon energy storage technology at its Silicon Aurora project near Port Augusta in South Australia by mid-2021. The company, which is commercialising the storage and recovery of energy in molten silicon, plans a 400 megawatt solar farm and a…
The federal government should investigate the manufacture of 5G equipment and infrastructure in Australia, according to a Commonwealth Parliament report. The House Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts 5G Inquiry Report focused on encouraging local manufacture of 5G, which is now rolling out in Australia, in one of its 14 recommendations. The committee said:…
Executive shake up at Treasury Wine Estates Treasury Wine Estates has appointed Stuart Boxer to a newly created role as chief of strategy and corporate development to drive its new direction for the group. The company, which is considering splitting its Penfolds luxury brand from its commercial ranges, recently parted ways with its COO, Robert…
US President Donald Trump has sparked a diplomatic row with Australia after he threatened to end offshore manufacturing of parts for the F-35 Lightning joint strike fighter (JSF). Speaking to Fox news he described overseas purchases for the jet as ‘crazy’. Fifty Australian suppliers, and hundreds if not thousands of jobs, are in the direct…
BlueScope Steel’s Australian and international operations have been hit by a cyber attack, the company confirmed today. Its US North Star and New Zealand businesses are continuing largely unaffected with only minor disruptions. However manufacturing and sales operations in Australia have been disrupted with some manufacturing processes paused. Local steel despatches are continuing using some…
Perth heavy engineering firm Civmec has won a major new contract with miner Rio Tinto to further develop Rio’s Mesa A iron ore operations hub in the Robe Valley of Western Australia. Rio is developing three new mines and supporting infrastructure for existing operations at Mesa A and Mesa J mine sties under its Robe…
Australia’s only manufacturer of high performance quenched and tempered plate steel products, Bisalloy Steels, is celebrating its 40th year in business with a concerned international push. The Unanderra, NSW company has built on the competitiveness of local steel manufacturing with a distribution push in South East Asia, the UAE and South Africa and an expanding…
