Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, May 5 – May 9, 2025

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

5) Computer/information services and the path to a Future Made in Australia

It is now well understood by innovation policy analysts and advisers that, on many fronts, Australia stands at a pivotal crossroads in its innovation journey, writes Dr John H Howard.

The nation’s future prosperity will depend less on the minerals it digs up from the earth or the crops it grows, but increasingly on the code it writes, the data it harnesses, and the digital solutions it exports to the world.

Computer and information services (CIS) — encompassing everything from software development and cloud computing to artificial intelligence and data analytics — are already a major pillar of the Australian economy. Yet, as global competition intensifies and the world’s economic centre of gravity shifts towards digital industries, Australia must ask: is it doing enough to secure its place as a leader in this space?

4) Almonty wins US Defence tungsten contract

Tungsten concentrate producer Almonty Industries has announced an offtake agreement with  Tungsten Parts Wyoming and Israeli firm Metal Tech for defence applications.

The agreement will see TPW purchase 40 tonnes of tungsten oxide a month, to be converted to tungsten metal power by MT before being used in defence applications such as missile, drone and ordnance systems.

“It positions Almonty as a strategic supplier of critical raw materials for national security and underscores the integration of an upstream supply with allied defence manufacturing capabilities,” the company said in a statement.

3) Game-changing hydrogen deal: Hazer and KBR join forces to tackle climate change

Hazer Group has just inked a game-changing alliance with engineering giant KBR to take its hydrogen technology global.

The Australian innovator announced Monday it has entered a binding strategic alliance with KBR, the engineering powerhouse that’s licensed over 260 ammonia plants worldwide. The agreement will supercharge the commercialization of Hazer’s proprietary methane pyrolysis technology that produces clean hydrogen.

“This is a transformational transaction for Hazer coming at a critical time when the world urgently needs affordable, low-emissions hydrogen,” said Hazer’s CEO Glenn Corrie, highlighting the deal’s  timing as industries  decarbonise.

2) Bega to shutter Victorian factory, invest $50m in NSW operations

Dairy maker Bega Group will close its Strathmerton cheese factory in Victoria by mid-2026, cutting 300 jobs, as it transfers operations to its existing NSW facilities in Bega.

The decision is expected to save Bega about $30 million a year, as it eliminates duplication and will reduced fixed costs once complete.

Additionally, it will invest $50 million at its facilities in Ridge Street, Bega, to have the capacity for these new combined operations.

1) This year’s Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers list revealed

After launching our campaign in November last year, @AuManufacturing announced Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers for 2025 at an event at Crown Melbourne’s River Room on Wednesday.

Following a national search and the judgments of six experts, this title is very happy to share the list, as well as the category award winners. Please see this link.

Our huge thanks to the sponsors who made this six-month adventure possible. They are Australia Wide Engineering, the Industry Capability Network, Bonfiglioli, the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, TXM Lean Solutions, and the Smartcrete CRC.

Picture: credit Alchemist-hp