By Peter Roberts An announcement by technology group Silex Systems (ASX: SLX) that it will make silicon suitable for fabricating quantum computing chips shows the way forward for Australian involvement in this emerging manufacturing sector. Silex has entered into a R&D project with Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC), a spin off from the University of NSW,…
Security and risk management group AVA Risk Group (ASX:AVA) has won additional orders for Future Fibre Technologies’ (FFT) perimeter detection systems from government clients. The Melbourne company received orders worth $630,000 for FFT’s Aura Ai-2 platform which will be installed in sensitive US Government sites. A second order worth $350,000 was for FFT’s SecureFence platform…
France’s Naval Group which is to build Australia’s Attack class submarines has joined with the ARC Training Centre for Automated Manufacture of Advanced Composites (AMAC) and Airspeed Pty Ltd to explore the use of composites embedded with fibre optics. The AMAC, at the University of NSW, conducted proof of concept tests over a five day…
Australian Dairy Nutritionals Group (ASX: AHF) has given the go-ahead for a $6 million organic infant formula plant at the Camperdown dairy park in south-west Victoria. The company made the move following the certification of its first dairy farm at Yaringa in the region as 100 per cent organic. Its first-stage organic infant formula plant…
Agricultural biotechnology company Terragen Holdings (ASX: TGH) is reporting sales up 45 per cent as it increases distribution of its two launch products. The Queensland company, which raised $20 million on listing, produces microbial-based treatments and feeds at its Coolum plant. The company reported sales up until November of its Great Land microbial soil conditional…
Perth global shipbuilder Austal (ASX: ASB) has delivered its latest expeditionary fast transport ship, the USN Puerto Rico (EPF 11), to the US Navy at a ceremony at its yard in Mobile, Alabama. In August the vessel was the first of its class to complete integrated sea trials, involving builder’s trials and acceptance trials, in…
By Peter Roberts Defence, space and communications group Electro Optic Systems (ASX: EOS) has raised $85 million from investors and shareholders, confirming investor appetite for progressive manufacturers. The company announced it had raised $17 million – $10 million more than initially sought – in a share purchase plan from existing shareholders. This came on top…
Respiri Limited (ASX:RSH) has achieved TGA approval to list its wheezo asthma monitoring device (pictured) on the Australian Therapeutics Goods Register (ARTG). The device is the world’s first digital wheeze monitoring solution of sensor, smartphone application and digital health platform to help people manage respiratory disease. TGA approval came after the Melbourne company undertook an…
Treasurer Josh Frydenburg’s message to business is “to back yourself and use your balance sheet to invest and grow.” Whilst we may not agree with all his policies, it is clear there is a significant need to invest in R&D, innovation and ways to enhance productivity, whether that’s through new technologies or processes to improve performance.
Holden has dumped its once market-leading Commodore nameplate as sales of the brand continue to tank. With sales of about 6,000 a year, the model is obviously unviable. But then again it was always on the cards – no-one really expected that buyers of the big rear drive Commodore made in Adelaide until 2017 would…
