Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, February 24 – February 28, 2025

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

Hydrogen business Endua has announced the passage of what it says are two major milestones, launching its “mini hydrogen factory” and successfully deploying one of its power bank units at Archerfield Airport.

According to a statement from the company on Tuesday, the new electrolyser enables on-site production and storage of green hydrogen (that is, hydrogen produced by renewable sources.)

The company’s website describes the customisable solution as being up to 250 kilowatts per electrolyser module, with each able to produce up to 4 kilograms per hour of hydrogen, and onboard water treatment, meaning potable water – rather than ultra pure water – can be used to make hydrogen.

4) The promise of green iron, steel and ammonia is keeping the green hydrogen dream alive

Recent setbacks — such as the South Australian government shelved plans for a A$593 million hydrogen power plant, Fortescue paring back its green hydrogen projects, and Woodside withdrawing plans for two large-scale green hydrogen projects — show hydrogen isn’t the ultimate solution to all our energy needs, especially if we want to export it.

But they don’t spell doom, write Changlong Wang and Stuart Walsh from Monash University.

Instead, they nudge us toward where hydrogen really shines: in heavy industry, right where it’s made.

3) Workspace announces expansion of facility, new circular furniture program

Workspace Commercial Furniture, a 114-year-old business based at the Adelaide suburb of Melrose Park, has launched the expansion of production and warehousing at its headquarters as well as a new “take back” program for used furniture.

According to a statement from the company on Monday, the expansion would allow it to “increase output and meet the growing demand” across Australia with greater efficiency and speed.

“The expansion of our Melrose Park facility represents a significant milestone for Workspace and for Australian manufacturing,” said Tom Clark, CEO.

2) No buyer found for Oceania Glass, 56 jobs cut ahead of Dandenong factory closure

Collapsed architectural glass maker Oceania Glass has been unable to find a buyer since going into administration earlier this month, with 56 employees made redundant ahead of the closure of its Dandenong factory.

According to a statement from administrators Grant Thornton on Thursday, there is a potential for another 95 redundancies “over the coming weeks” as production at the nation’s only architectural glass company is wound down. The company reportedly employs 260.

A co-located distribution facility at Dandenong will operate as usual “over the forthcoming weeks” as a sale of Oceania’s nationwide distribution business is explored, administrators added, and they will continue to work “with several interested parties through a due diligence process.”

1) How Whyalla can be upgraded to green steel and why we need to keep steel production in Australia

Australians should have access to quality steel at competitive prices. The domestic steel production industry employs tens of thousands of people.

The state and federal governments have stepped in, however, announcing a A$1.9 billion support package for Whyalla, together with a new $1 billion green iron investment fund. Half of the new fund will be allocated to Whyalla to support its transition to green steel production. That’s a large amount of money for a privately owned business.

So, are the new packages going to be money well spent? To answer that question, let’s examine the priorities, writes Daniel Rossetto from the University of Adelaide.

Picture: credit Workspace Commercial Furniture/Australian Made