Best of the week — the five most popular stories among @AuManufacturing’s readers

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading.

5) HYDROGEN COUNCIL WELCOMES REVIEW OF NATIONAL HYDROGEN STRATEGY

The Australian Hydrogen Council has welcomed a review of the National Hydrogen Strategy as well as state-level strategies.

The new strategy will respond to the local and global changes since 2019 and guide Australia on its path to be a global hydrogen leader.

CEO of the Australian Hydrogen Council Fiona Simon said that global competition for hydrogen projects is fierce, with “Significant financial incentives… announced by various countries, with each jostling for first mover advantage.”

4) SILEX SYSTEMS RAISES $120 MILLION FOR URANIUM ENRICHMENT

Industrial technology company Silex Systems has completed a $120 million institutional placement to further its move into the nuclear fuel industry.

Earlier this month Silex said it was accelerating the commercialisation of its Silex laser uranium enrichment technology to take advantage of an emerging global nuclear fuel supply chain.

Silex is also developing the production of zero spin silicon used to manufacturing quantum computing chips.

3) NEXTORE TO DISPATCH MR TRUCK ANALYSER

Mining equipment manufacturer NextOre is to dispatch its first commercial magnetic resonance (MR) truck analyser.

The CSIRO-backed company has completed assembly and factory testing of what is claimed to be a world first MR truck analyser which build’s on the company’s on-conveyor analysis equipment.

The unit (pictured), measuring seven metres in diameter and designed to be suspended 10 meters over 180-tonne trucks, has been sold to its first customer and will be dispatched to a large copper mine overseas in March.

2) AUSTRALIA’S FIRST LOCALLY-DESIGNED AND MADE VTOL DRONE UNVEILED

A new unmanned aerial vehicle, designed to fly up to 800 kilometres and carry a payload of up to 160 kilograms, was the major bit of news on day one of the Avalon International Airshow.

Brent Balinski spoke to Kisa Christensen, Director – Red Ochre Autonomy & Sensors at BAE Systems Australia, after the unveiling of STRIX.

1) APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR MADE IN VICTORIA GRANTS WORTH UP TO $250,000

The Victorian government announced on Monday that it is accepting applications from SMEs for the Made in Victoria – Manufacturing Growth Program, offering grants of up to $250,000.

According to the statement, the program – which awarded more than $10 million to 29 projects last year – would support manufacturers “introduce new technologies, expand operations and improve productivity”.

Grants valued between $50,000 and $250,000 are available, with companies needing to match them by a minimum investment of $2 per every $1 in grant money.

And in case you missed our podcast…

We heard from 1Milllikelvin’s Managing Director, Kheang Khauv, after the company won the National Innovation Award and SME Innovation Award at the Avalon Airshow this week. In episode 48, Khauv shared his quest to bring a clever Australian invention to a global audience, and the importance of teamwork and travel in getting there.

Picture: credit Chris Hopkins/Victorian government