The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $460,500 in funding for a study on the use of renewable energy to generate process heat, which it says represents the largest component of energy use within manufacturing.
Analysis by Peter Roberts This week saw the extraordinary spectacle of an Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, threatening exporters and telling them to cut back on exports. For Morrison to warn alumina producers Rio Tinto and Alcoa to cut back on exports to the United States was strange enough, but the reason for it was…
The South Australian government has granted major project status to a venture which aims to become Australia’s first commercial rocket launch site. Southern Launch is aiming for its Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex “to get off the ground in 2020”.
Comment by Peter Roberts Australia’s business boardrooms need to get serious about innovation, with few recognising the urgent need to prioritise innovation, acording to a new report from the Australian Institute for Company Directors (AICD). Given the current realities of Australian manufacturing, this is a comment that should be taken on board even more urgently…
A two-year project linking an award-winning crane load management manufacturer and robotics experts at Queensland University of Technology has been announced.
By Andrew Spence Australian hi-tech company Micro-X has rolled out the first of its lightweight mobile X-ray carts fitted with its own in-house designed and manufactured X- ray tube. The X-ray tubes are the world’s first to be electronically controlled and contain a unique carbon nanotube emitter designed by Micro-X in collaboration with South Australian…
Defence ministers have announced that two armoured personnel carriers have been short-listed to replace the army’s armoured personnel carriers. Defence minister Linda Reynolds and defence industry minister Melissa Price named Hanwha Defense Australia and Rheinmetall Defence Australia, beating out two other contenders. LAND 400 Phase 3 programme will replace existing M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers with…
A development application has been lodged for the recently-purchased former Electrolux site in Orange, with the company behind it saying around 25 jobs will be created through a new aluminium extrusion operation. According to a statement from Orange City Council, the DA is for “a set of concrete footings to support the equipment required”…
UNSW Canberra spin-off company Skykraft has been awarded a $1 million grant to accelerate design and manufacture of small satellite systems. The grant from the ACT government will begin design and manufacture of a SmallSat constellation to provide global air traffic management capabilities. Skykraft managing director, James Prior said this ‘early definition work’ established a…
A partnership between CSIRO, and Japanese chemical manufacturer, Piotrek, will develop Australian-developed battery technologies aiming for commercial production in the next five years. The two will develop lithium battery technologies for portable electronic devices, drones and automotive vehicles, as well as developing batteries less prone to fires. They will develop Solid Polymer Electrolytes (SPEs) for…
