Disability services provider Bedford Group will surrender land worth more than $20 million as part of its government bailout, whilst the future of its brand new $45 million manufacturing hub remains uncertain, according to reports on Monday. The Australian Business Network reported Bedford will relinquish its 3.9-hectare Balyana site at Clapham, which houses around 40…
Mount Isa Mayor Peta MacRae has issued an urgent plea to state and federal governments to secure a deal saving the Mount Isa Copper Smelter and Townsville Refinery, warning 17,000 jobs are at risk as mining giant Glencore prepares to mothball operations. The desperate intervention on Wednesday follows Glencore’s confirmation it is preparing to place…
Forget expensive laboratory equipment costing thousands of dollars – University of Queensland researchers have cracked the code for a DNA analysis device you can literally print at home for the price of a decent dinner out. The Do-It-Yourself Nucleic Acid Fluorometer, cheekily dubbed DIYNAFLUOR, transforms genetic research from an exclusive club into a garage-friendly hobby.…
Clean technology companies MGA Thermal and Knode have cracked the code for Australia’s largest industrial-scale thermal energy storage project, promising to transform how heavy industry heats up, according to an announcement on Monday. The massive 180 megawatt-hour “thermal battery” will pump out 20 tonnes per hour of clean, high-temperature steam to Western Australian industrial sites.…
Australia’s energy technologies have received their annual report card, and renewables are still the class champions whilst nuclear small modular reactors remain firmly planted at the bottom of the cost league table, according to CSIRO’s latest GenCost report released on Tuesday. The comprehensive study found wind and solar backed by storage and transmission continue to…
RMIT University engineers have created a new 3D-printed titanium alloy that is 29 per cent cheaper to produce than standard titanium whilst delivering improved strength and performance, according to research published on Monday. The team replaced expensive vanadium with readily available alternative materials to reduce costs. Lead researcher Ryan Brooke said the breakthrough addresses key…
Archer Materials has achieved accuracy improvements in its blood potassium biosensor and successfully demonstrated lithium ion detection, according to a company announcement on Monday. The Adelaide-based semiconductor company said its Sydney engineering team has made measurable improvements to the sensor’s accuracy while building on early test results from February. The biosensor is designed to measure…
Wood supplier ForestOne will close its dry sawmill and particleboard manufacturing operations at its Benalla facility, according to an ABC report on Saturday. The company announced on Friday it would maintain its green sawmill manufacturing and lamination line but scale back other operations due to increased manufacturing costs and weak market demand. Managing director Ian…
Robotic technology company FBR has launched a new automated welding robot called Mantis, targeting the mining, shipbuilding and defence industries, according to an announcement on Monday. The Perth-based company said Mantis uses its proprietary Dynamic Stabilisation Technology, originally developed for the Hadrian X bricklaying robot. The welding robot features an 8-metre reach and can operate…
Calix has executed a $44.9 million grant agreement with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to build a green iron demonstration plant using its Zero Emissions Steel Technology, according to an announcement on Thursday. The demonstration plant will have a targeted capacity to produce 30,000 tonnes per annum of hydrogen direct reduced iron or hot briquetted…