Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, May 27 – May 31, 2024

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

5) Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers report now available

Following last month’s heavily-anticipated announcement of the Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers list for 2024, @AuManufacturing is now making a report based on the five-month campaign freely available.

Download the 36-page e-book for profiles on some of the standout nominees this time around, exclusive Q and As with some of the best of the best (this year’s Gold Award winners), some explanations of how companies approach and understand innovation, and more.

And those with queries about the final list can learn about what guided judges in arriving at their scoring decisions.

4) WA sets sights on expanding advanced manufacturing capabilities

The Western Australian Government has launched a prospectus to help boost local manufacturing, outlining the state’s vision for the industry.

Targeting the energy, defence, mining, primary and health science industries, the new prospectus, Western Australia: Advancing the Future of Manufacturing, also aims to lead the state into the space industry.

Manufacturing is the state’s third largest industry, contributing more than $18 billion to the state’s economy last financial year.

3) Whyalla blast furnace up and running after repair

The Whyalla steelworks is back producing steel following successful repairs to the blast furnace, GFG Alliance Chairman Sanjeev Gupta has just announced.

Gupta made the announcement while visiting the steelworks to inspect repairs (pictured) after an uncontrolled iron breakout which damaged the furnaces outer shell.

Whyalla is Australia’s only source of steel rails and structural steel and had been closed since March.

2) Grant supports tyre reprocessing on Tasmania

Tasmania’s shredded waste tyres no longer have to be shipped interstate and can now be processed on the island and turned into fuel following a major grant.

Tyrecycle has been awarded a $1.27 million grant from the Tasmanian government as part of the state’s waste and recovery push.

The grant will be used to upgrade Tyrecycle’s Barwick facility so that they can not only shred and process the tyres but also turn them into an alternative industrial fuel source.

1) Rice growers welcomes NSW gov decision to end rice vesting

Rice manufacturers have welcomed the expected draft legislation to end statutory rice export marketing, or vesting, by July 2025.

These statutory marketing boards act as a single desk and buyer for agricultural products, as well as the sole seller for these products in Australian and overseas markets, often in a one size fits all approach.

The removal of vesting gives rice makers the power to export NSW rice overseas, entering new markets and negotiating their own contracts.

Picture: credit Liberty Primary Steel