The high cost of gas poses an imminent threat to east coast manufacturers, making them internationally uncompetitive and increasing the likelihood they will wind up or relocate their operations, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said in a speech to the Australian Domestic Gas Outlook conference in Sydney last week. Mr Sims called on gas suppliers to…
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Monash University spinout Maple Glass Printing is attempting to be the first company offering a glass 3D printer for industrial use. Brent Balinski spoke to co-founder and CEO Darren Feenstra about their story so far.
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Listed goat’s milk infant formula and organic baby food producer, Bubs Australia (ASX: BUB), has partnered with a leading Chinese baby nutrition company to penetrate the Chinese market. Bubs announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Beingmate China, one of the country’s largest infant and maternal nutrition companies. The company said: “Under the…
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Analysis by Peter Roberts China’s economy has finally cracked under multiple pressures ranging from a trade war with the US to massive over-building and related indebtedness. The boom economy which is a major supporter of Australia’s economic fortunes recorded exports in US dollar terms in February which were 20.7 per cent down on the previous…
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China’s third largest winemaker, Wei Long Grape Wine Company, has begun processing its first vintage at a purpose-built vineyard and winery near Mildura in Victoria. The vintage will involve processing 25,000 tonnes of mainly red wine grapes for production and export to the booming Chinese export market. The launch of the company’s first vintage was…
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Composites manufacturer and technology developer, Quickstep Holdings (ASX: QHL), has raised at least $10 million from shareholders through a placement and an expanded share purchase plan. The company, which develops composites production technology and makes aerospace parts including for the F-35 Lightning fighter, will use the funds to strengthen its balance sheet and accelerate expansion.…
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The Queensland government has pledged $7.5 million to speed the development of a $60 million shell forging plant for Maryborough in the north of the state. Rheinmetall Defence Business, which is already manufacturing the Boxer armoured reconnaissance vehicle in Queensland, is planning the plant to support local defence sales The CEO of Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions…
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A joint industry-research 3D printing robot, Repairbot, has successfully repaired an automotive part using 3D printing techniques. In a world-first, Repairbot 3D printed a replacement lug onto an automotive headlamp assembly as part of a project underway at Swinburne University. An in-house formulated polypropylene composite material, developed by Swinburne’s materials scientist Dr Mostafa Nikzad, was…
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Brent Balinski spoke to the Australian head of professional services company Genpact about the company’s recent report on artificial intelligence adoption and challenges.
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Global defence group Thales has unveiled plans for a major development of the company’s factory at Lithgow in New South Wales into a modern defence manufacturing precinct. The factory, which began life a century ago as the Lithgow small arms works, will be developed to be capable in digital technologies, including 3D printing, advanced optical…
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