$540m Business Growth Fund is officially launched
The $540 million Australian Business Growth Fund has been officially launched, despite legislation unlocking $100 million in Commonwealth funding still languishing in Parliament.
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ANSTO reactor production interruption affects medical tests
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation has suffered a second incident at the Lucas Heights reactor which has interrupted supply of a critical isotope used in nuclear medicine. The Guardian reported a fresh incident at the reactor had interrupted supply of molybdenum-99. Mo-99 is the parent isotope of Technetium-99m, which is used in hospitals…
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Qantas could act to bolster domestic oil refining – by Shane West
The local oil refining sector has shrunk to parlous levels, while national airline Qantas has a need to reduce its carbon emissions. Shane West ponders how both issues could be tackled by a move to refine jet fuel from local crude oil. This is a great opportunity to bolster the Australian refining industry and reduce…
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Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed
Anti depression drug developer Bionomics completes equity raising Bionomics has successfully completed an over-subscribed equity raising from current shareholders, raising $2.2 million before costs. The raising will accelerate the commercialisation of the company’s drug candidate, BNC210 for the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder. The company is also developing drugs for the treatment of pain,…
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How to build a lean railcar manufacturing supply chain – by Ross Sterland
Last week @AuManufacturing revealed NSW had bought 2,000 railcars and trams in a decade overseas. Here Ross Sterland, explains how the problem could be turned into a lean manufacturing local opportunity. The year is 2050. Australia’s rail rolling stock manufacturing industry is world-leading. At a federal level, the government’s 30-year plan to reinvigorate the industry…
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Robotics adoption matters: collaborating with robots
In day three of @AuManufacturing’s Robotics adoption matters series Matthew Adams discusses collaborative robots and where they can help SME manufacturers.
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Lynas sales recover from Covid-19 shutdowns as government assistance beckons
Rare earths producer Lynas Corp has reported its processing operations and sales are recovering from Covid-19 pandemic levels, and foreshadowed the possibility that governments in Australia and elsewhere may provide assistance to extend its strategic processing operations. The Perth company, which mines rare earths at Mt Weld in Western Australia and operates a controversial processing…
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Australian Vanadium secures land for value-added metals production
Resources and chemicals group Australian Vanadium has extended its option to purchase land for a value-adding metals processing facility close to the port of Geraldton in Western Australia. The company is developing a vanadium, iron and titanium resource at Gabanintha south of Meekatharra, where it will undertake crushing, milling and benefaction of the magnetite ores.…
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Opportunities in critical mineral projects highlighted in new report
The Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus 2020 has been launched, aiming to attract foreign investment to help value-add to raw materials.
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CEFC continues renewables focus, skirts around coal and gas
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has emphasised its focus on renewable energy and made scant reference in its future plans to so-called transitional technologies such as carbon capture and storage and gas which are favoured by the federal government.
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