Brisbane biotech Vaxxas secures US patent for needle-free vaccine technology

Brisbane-based clinical-stage biotechnology company Vaxxas secured a new patent from the United States patent office covering its proprietary manufacturing technology for needle-free vaccine patches, the company announced on Wednesday. The patent covers Vaxxas’ printhead system that dispenses dried vaccine formulations onto the company’s high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP), which features thousands of microscopic projections on a…

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Battery recycling body backs NSW bill, urges nationwide approach

Australia’s battery recycling scheme, B-cycle, has thrown its support behind landmark NSW legislation that would introduce mandatory battery product stewardship in response to growing fire risks from lithium-ion batteries. The Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill, introduced to Parliament on Tuesday by NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, aims to ensure all battery producers and importers take responsibility…

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Perth-developed spray-on PPE gloves see early interest from construction sector

Perth-based R&D company Liquim, which specialises in “natural-origin and plant-based consumer applications”, has developed biodegradable microfilm PPE gloves that they claim are “set to transform hand protection across industries”. In a statement from the company on Wednesday, the company described their “liquid glove” as an answer to landfill waste, and based on a “plant-based hydrogel”…

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Whyalla steelworks blast furnace faces temporary shutdown amid funding concerns

The Whyalla steelworks’ blast furnace will shut down for 36 hours starting Wednesday to allow for “urgent” maintenance work, as administrators warn the plant faces “severe challenges” and is in a “state of disrepair.” Energy and Mining Minister Tom Koutsantonis told ABC Radio Adelaide on Tuesday that the shutdown will enable repairs to the refractory…

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Boral introduces first Australian asphalt using off-the-road tyre rubber

Boral launched an Australian-first proprietary crumbed rubber asphalt bitumen derived from Off the Road (OTR) tyres on Wednesday, claiming the new product can extend pavement life up to twice that of conventional road treatments. The construction materials company has developed the asphalt using end-of-life tyres from front-end loaders and quarry haul dump trucks from its…

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EMVision’s First Responder proof-of-concept brain scanner tested in remote settings

ASX-listed brain scanner company EMVision has announced that its First Responder Proof-of-Concept (PoC) device has been put through a series of volunteer scans in remote settings, in collaboration with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and the Australian Stroke Alliance. In a statement on Wednesday, the company shared that RFDS staff had received preliminary training…

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New manufacturing minister named by returned WA government 

The Western Australian government has made a major cabinet reshuffle after being returned at the March 8 election, with former health minister Amber-Jade Sanderson (pictured) overseeing a newly-made manufacturing portfolio. In a statement on Tuesday, premier Roger Cook said the new portfolios – including manufacturing, health infrastructure, preventative health, and aged care and seniors –…

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