Legislation to launch National Reconstruction Fund to be tabled tomorrow

The federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic will introduce legislation to establish the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund – the centrepiece of the government’s approach to boosting manufacturing – promised during the recent federal election campaign. Husic told the national press club that the legislation would be introduced tomorrow which would set in…

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Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

BHP chooses Ampcontrol system for Canadian project Electrical systems manufacturer Ampcontrol has been named the supplier for conveyor control systems for Stage 1 at the BHP Jansen Potash Project in Saskatchewan, Canada, its first installation in that country. Predominantly used as a fertiliser, potash provides a rich source of potassium which keeps soils fertile and…

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Calix and Pilbara Minerals to trial lithium processing technology

Industrial process technology developer Calix and Pilbara Minerals have inked a joint venture agreement to develop a demonstration plant at Pilbara’s Pilgangoora Project in Western Australia (pictured) to produce lithium salts. The companies aim to demonstrate the production of lithium salts through an ‘innovative midstream value added refining process’ utilising Calix’s patented calcining technology, and…

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Deakin, Callidus project delivers better ball valves

A project between Callidus Welding Solutions and Deakin University researchers has resulted in seated ball valves with superior durability, according to the participants. Such valves are crucial in hydrometallurgy production of critical minerals such as nickel and gold, and according to the Innovative Manufacturing CRC – which sponsored the project – can cost upwards of…

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Australia’s place in the semiconductor world: repositioning Australia’s chip industry

Today’s edition of Australia’s place in the semiconductor world takes a look at the growing importance of compound semiconductors. Stef Winwood argues that if Australia invests strategically, with a view to the future, it could carve out a logical niche and realise compound returns The global semiconductor industry is currently a $US 600 billion a…

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Six SMEs win naval missile contracts

BAE Systems Australia has announced ‘significant contract awards’ to six Australian SMEs as part of the delivery of hardware and software sub-assemblies for the global Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) programme. BAE Systems and Australian industry partners will deliver sub-assemblies into Block 2 of the ESSM programme under a new three-year full rate production contract with…

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Navy to acquire Ocius Bluebottle drones

The Royal Australian Navy has signed contracts to acquire five Bluebottle unmanned surface vessels (USVs) from Australian manufacturer Ocius. In the last 15 months, five Bluebottles under a Defence Innovation Hub contract have already completed nearly 23,000 nautical miles at sea , the equivalent to around the world at the equator. The deal to deliver…

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