Scientists at the Australian National University have demonstrated the direct production of hydrogen within solar PV cells, a development that could potentially bring down the cost of renewable hydrogen production. Thirteen researchers, led by Siva Krishna Karuturi and Heping Shen published their results in a paper in Advanced Energy Journal titled “Over 17% Efficiency Stand‐Alone…
Welding technology developer K-TIG is to work with Bisalloy Steels and Axiom Precision Manufacturing to develop specialist welding capabilities for the defence sector. The three companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a sovereign capability in the efficient and effective welding of specialist steels. Their target is to maximise Australian participation in…
Grants totalling $11 million have been awarded to ten Australian companies and universities working in the space sector.
Australia has remained in 18th place in the annual IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, now in its 32nd year.
Ballistic armour manufacturer Xtek has secured loan funding to allow the expansion of its ballistic helmet manufacturing facility in Adelaide. The company secured a $2.5 million loan from the Commonwealth Bank which will be used to install commercial scale preform presses needed before the company’s proprietary XTclave composite materials curing and consolidation process. The process…
The federal government is calling for information from companies which are utilising PFAS chemicals or have considered or tried alternatives. The PFAS taskforce of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has written to industry groups seeking information on PFAS use as part of consultations on a National PFAS Position Statement. The current statewent…
A just-completed maintenance operation on HMAS Armidale (pictured) has illustrated the extent of SME involvement in supporting the Australian defence forces. Defence minister Melissa Price today announced Armidale had undocked in Cairns after undergoing a $5 million servicing and restoration project at the Norship shipyard. More than 200 critical tasks were carried out by Norship…
Eight new contracts were announced under the Defence Innovation Hub program on Tuesday morning, with a total value of over $21 million.
Australia’s export gas industry which puts upward pressure on domestic gas prices is starting to falter as the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to ripple across the economy. The Australian LNG Report from EnergyQuest released today shows LNG export shipments in May were 6.4 million tonnes, down from 6.9 Mt in April, with seven…
In recent weeks, we have reported on manufacturers applying their expertise to developing Covid-19 tests. Brent Balinski spoke to Samantha Ollerton of GreyScan, which is building a trace detection device for surfaces, where the virus can linger for days. March was a month where everything changed. Whatever your business, it was time to rethink…
