Manufacturing sector struggles continue in March amid uncertainty

Australian manufacturing conditions deteriorated further in March as political uncertainty and global trade disruptions weighed on business confidence, according to the latest Ai Group Australian Industry Index released on Tuesday. The Australian manufacturing PMI fell by 17.8 points to -29.7, deepening the sector’s contraction. This stands in contrast to the S&P Global Australia Manufacturing PMI,…

Fitch downgrades steel manufacturer InfraBuild to ‘CC’ amid audit delays

Fitch Ratings downgraded Australian steel manufacturer InfraBuild’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating to ‘CC’ from ‘CCC-‘ on Monday, citing an elevated probability of default on its USD $550 million notes within the next three months. The ratings agency pointed to InfraBuild’s failure to publish audited financial statements for FY24, which were initially due in October 2024…

Aussie medical tech scores big win in US market

Cyclopharm’s lung imaging technology is breathing new life into the company’s bottom line, with its Technegas product surpassing the million-dollar milestone in US sales, according to Tuesday’s ASX announcement. The Sydney-based company has rapidly expanded its American footprint, with Technegas systems now installed in 27 US medical facilities as of 31 March 2025 – a…

Swinburne invests in AI-driven dental technology

Swinburne University of Technology announced on Sunday an investment in H3D, supporting the commercialisation of AI-driven technology for dental devices based on research conducted at the university. H3D, which has already transformed the audio manufacturing industry by automating the design of custom hearing aids and related products, will now expand its cloud-based AI Computer-Aided Design…

Liquid catalyst breakthrough speeds up chemical manufacturing

A major breakthrough in liquid catalysis is transforming how essential products are made, making the chemical manufacturing process faster, safer and more sustainable than ever before. Researchers from Monash University, the University of Sydney, and RMIT University have developed a liquid catalyst that could transform chemical production across a range of industries – from pharmaceuticals…

ARENA grant fuels investor interest in Livium’s LFP battery technology

Livium’s wholly owned subsidiary VSPC has reported increased investor engagement following its recent A$30 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for an LFP Demonstration Plant. The company announced on Tuesday that it is actively seeking to close the remaining A$30 million funding gap for the 250-tonne per annum demonstration facility, which will…