Upskilling the digital workforce – by Craig Lockhart

Australian manufacturing is racing towards digitisation, and none moreso than in naval shipbuilding. Here, Craig Lockhart explains progress being made in developing a digital shipyard to construct Australia’s new Hunter class frigates. BAE Systems is progressing the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare frigate and building a critical industrial capability that will contribute to keeping our…

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Australian products headed to space – from space beer to in space repair

Space services provider Saber Astronautics has announced the first set of Australian projects selected for development on board the International Space Station (ISS). Selected with a focus on their manufacturing potential, the projects range from the seemingly frivolous zero-G beer bottle from 4-Pines Brewing, to in space repair utilising Titomic’s cold spray fusion additive manufacturing…

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Free-free TAFE courses set tor ACT

Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor and ACT Minister for Skills Chris Steel (pictured) are encouraging eligible applicants to enrol in Fee-Free TAFE courses on offer through the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT). Fee-Free TAFE is a jointly funded initiative between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments, which will inject more than…

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$23 million, four-year overhaul of ANFF-Q completed

A major $23 million upgrade to the Queensland node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility network was celebrated on Tuesday. ANFF-Q has state-of-the-art facilities, staff and equipment specialised in microfluidics, organic electronics and opto-electronics, biomaterials, novel semiconductor materials, and related testing. According to a statement from the Queensland government – which contributed $4.59 million to…

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Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

3D Metalforge places itself in liquidation 3D printing bureau 3D Metalforge has placed itself and its Singapore operating subsidiaries in voluntary administration. Directors voted to propose voluntary administration to creditors for the Australian listed parent company and, separately, for liquidation of its Singapore subsidiaries 3D Metalforge Pte Ltd and 3D Matters Pte Ltd. No reasons…

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Nuclear inspection robot promises safer inspection of fuel ponds

A prototype autonomous machine developed with the help of CSIRO’s Data61 division has successfully completed a trial at an operating nuclear energy site in South America, collecting real-time data useful for safeguards verification. The robot is referred to as a “Robotized Cherenkov Viewing Device” (RCVD) and was developed in a collaboration between Data61, Hungarian robotics…

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Ampcontrol part of novel wound care collaboration

Engineering firm Ampcontrol has shared some details of its latest project, developing wound care solutions in a recently-announced $5.67 million, three-year collaboration with Whiteley Corporation, University of Newcastle, and Western Sydney University. Ampcontrol has its roots in the mining sector, but has diversified into projects ranging from radar systems to electric vehicle charging to renewable…

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