Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, October 28 – November 1, 2024

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

5) WA hydrogen strategy aims for green ammonia, iron

The Western Australian government has released a refreshed Renewable Hydrogen Strategy for Western Australia, with a major focus on producing green products and value-adding to the state’s resources.

The first update in five years, the Australian Renewable Hydrogen Strategy has a strong focus on using renewable hydrogen to produce green ammonia and green iron.

And the strategy highlights the role renewable hydrogen can play in minerals processing and value-adding.

4) Babcock opens new Adelaide facility, ready for AUKUS work

Defence engineering services group Babcock Australasia has opened a new cutting-edge facility, that will see its Adelaide maintenance, manufacturing and repair footprint double in support of critical army and navy programmes.

The $31 million building will be home to more than 100 Babcock engineers and technical experts.

The Woodville North facility features a 4,000m2 custom-built manufacturing workshop and warehouse, equipped with technology to increase operational throughput, along with 2,000m2 of office space.

3) Mars petfood to be powered with solar thermal steam

Food manufacturer Mars Incorporated has announced that its Wodonga, Victoria pet food manufacturing facility will become the first large-scale steam-based manufacturing site in Australia to be powered 100 percent by renewables.

The company will complete by 2026 the $39.3 million Mars Wodonga Solar Thermal Plant, including the installation of an 18-megawatt Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) plant that will provide up to 10 hours of thermal energy storage for cooking petfood.

The project, supported by a $17.2 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), marks the first commercial deployment of parabolic trough CST technology in Australia.

2) Finally, we are making missiles and arming defence

It has been a long while coming, but after 29 months in office the federal government has released a Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan, writes Peter Roberts.

A recommendation of the Defence Strategic Review, the government has been meanwhile buying new weapons overseas and supporting local manufacture of some missiles and munitions.

It has taken until now to articulate a plan, apparently, though significant spending on beefing up defence and defence industry has already been announced

1) AltForm prefab slashes construction time 45 percent

Prefabricated home system manufacturer AltForm is launching its first Victorian prototype in Ormond, Melbourne, which can reduce construction time by up to 45 percent, according to the company.

In collaboration with SRH Architecture and Highline Living, the Bayside project will see dual townhouses installed later this month, starting at $2.5 million each.

Executive General Manager Tony Phillips said: “This is a really powerful moment, not just for the Ormond project, but for what AltForm represents.”

Picture: credit AltForm