Rail operator Aurizon has contracted Progress Rail to convert one of its diesel locolotives to full battery electric operation, paving the way for the greening of its freight-haul rail fleet. This will be the first freight unit to be constructed in Australia powered by batteries, according to Aurizon, with the locomotive’s battery also capturing re-generative…
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In situ coal gasification technology company NeuRizer is taking its technology to China where it could end up operating two coal to gas to hydrogen production facilities. NeuRizer, which is developing the former Leigh Creek coalfield in South Australia to produce gas and then urea fertiliser, has signed a binding contract with China’s Meijin Energy…
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Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing company AML3D has reaffirmed its focus on servicing the US defence industry, just as the company is about to significantly deepen its involvement in the market. The company, which is close to dispatching a $1 million Arcemy 3D printer (pictured) to the US, said it had established and was working to…
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The federal government is making efforts to ensure the growth of artificial intelligence technologies (AI) in Australia is safe and responsible with today’s release of two discussion papers. The papers are intended to begin a discussion to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in relation critical AI technologies, according to Minister for Industry and Science…
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By Peter Roberts Emeritus Professor Maria Skyllas-Kazacos (pictured) is a name few know, but we all should, as she is one of the most brilliant and somehow unappreciated innovators this country has ever produced. Ms Skyllas-Kazacos’s name re-emerged this morning with an announcement that she had joined a Technical Advisory Group of critical mineral processing…
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The iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre has announced $1 million in funding to support development of new technology, products and services in the transport sector. According to a statement from iMOVE on Thursday, its Impact Extension Program (IEP) is open to any company with an ABN, with no requirement to partner with an academic institution. Companies…
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University of Southern Queensland graduate Thomas Murphy has won two national awards for his honours thesis on railway sleeper design. Civil engineer Murphy (pictured) will accept the Undergraduate Thesis Award at the Conference on Railway Excellence at Melbourne this month, which follows an award last October in the Futures Challenge by the Institute of Public…
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Researchers at Flinders University have discovered a new low-cost material that can be made into lenses for thermal imaging – opening the way to new advanced manufacturing applications for this powerful technology. Thermal and infrared imaging are used in many industries including defence, security and surveillance, medicine, electrical engineering, space exploration and autonomous vehicle operation.…
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The federal government’s first new Jobs and Skills Council (JSC) has been formally established aaiming to help the agribusiness sector get the skilled workers they need. The new Agribusiness JSC, named Skills Insight, has been established as a tripartite body inclusive of the full range of industry views as it pursues solutions to skills and…
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Scientists form the University of Sydney and RMIT have developed a new class of what they call ‘designer’ alloys made of titanium aimed at use in additive manufacturing processes. By integrating alloy and 3D printing process designs, the alloys hold promise for more sustainable high-performance alloys for applications in aerospace, biomedical, chemical engineering, space and…
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