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) Fortescue progresses plans for Marsden Point green aviation fuel factory

Channel Infrastructure and Fortescue Future Industries announced their investigation into a green hydrogen manufacturing facility at Marsden Point for synthetic Sustainable Aviation Fuel (eSAF) has progressed, with Fortescue to begin a pre-feasibility phase study.

According to a statement from the two companies on Wednesday, the eSAF factory could supply approximately  60 million litres a year, or more than 3 per cent of the annual pre-Covid jet fuel requirements for New Zealand, and would be one of the first at-scale projects in the world for eSAF.

4) WA and Indonesia’s action plan for critical minerals

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has signed a Plan of Action with Indonesia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) during the Republic of Indonesia President Joko Widodo’s visit to Australia.

The agreement will further strengthen Western Australia’s economic ties, trade, and supply chain opportunities with Indonesia, including cooperation in critical minerals sectors.

It follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Western Australia and KADIN in February to provide a framework that constructs and secures the supply chains of critical minerals and promotes investment and collaboration to develop value-adding critical minerals and battery industries.

3) Skills ministers are apparently just getting on with the job

Federal, State and Territory Skills and Training Ministers met on Friday to progress key reforms to vocational education and training (VET) and the development of a new National Skills Agreement (NSA), writes Peter Roberts.

Afterwards they put out their usual post-meeting statement listing what was discussed – a long, rather dry but worthy communique has become the norm – check @AuManufacturing’s coverage of recent meetings here.

2) Collaboration and quiet achievement the threads running through innovative companies

@AuManufacturing concluded its Australia’s 50 most innovative manufacturers campaign this week with an event at the Clayton Hotel on Tuesday.

This is the introductory speech, reflecting on what came out of our four-month effort.

1) Australia’s 50 most innovative manufacturers revealed

@AuManufacturing and the Australian Manufacturing Forum’s quest to identify Australia’s 50 most innovative manufacturers is over.

Editor Brent Balinski hosted a breakfast event in the Melbourne industrial heartland of Clayton this morning which saw the whole list revealed.

As we planned, 50 Australian manufacturers were inducted into @AuManufacturing’s inaugural Top 50, with another 24 forcing their way into contention and Highly Commended.