The pandemic has shown us the value of being able to manufacture locally. In this installment of our “technologies and tools…” series, Edmund Boland discusses the need to build on Australia’s pockets of excellence.
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…
Continuing yesterday’s sustainability theme, @AuManufacturing’s “technologies and tools…” turns to the potential of bioenergy, which is underutilised in Australia compared to Europe. Shaun Scallan explains.
Professor Veena Sahajwalla begins week two of our technologies and tools for a manufacturing transformation series. She writes about one element of sovereign capability generally overlooked in the current discussion.
Advanced technology developer Archer Materials has developed portable hardware systems to interface with its novel graphene based biosensor which is being developed to detect the presence of disease. The company created the biosensor components (pictured) using water-based graphene ink printed on a clear substrate with electrodes with micron-scale features. Archer said in a statement that…
Today, @AuManufacturing’s “technologies and tools…” series turns to technology adoption among SMEs. Inu Rana and David Fox look at some of the difficulties and benefits of increased digitalisation for smaller companies, and what it means in practical terms. There is no denying that technology is making an impact on manufacturing worldwide, helping the industry keep…
Technology developer BNNT Technology has succeeded in producing high purity boron nitride nanotubes in commercial quantities. The company, part of the diversified PPK group, is producing 10 grams a day of nanotubes from a single furnace and at 99 per cent purity. Boron nitride nanotubes are a cutting edge new material similar to carbon nanotubes,…
On day two of our new series, aimed at helping businesses transform their operations to compete and grow through new tools and technologies, we hear from Carl de Koning. He lays out eight characteristics important to advanced manufacturers. Over the past 40 years, I have had the privilege of working for three exceptional companies: Air…
Australian Strategic Materials is pressing ahead with its Dubbo, NSW rare earths project with ambitious plans to value-add the strategically important materials in Australia. The company, a subsidiary of listed miner Alkane Resources, is developing the Dubbo deposit containing zirconium, rare earths, niobium and halfnium. These are minerals critical to advanced industries with more than…
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has launched two new ‘good practice guides’ as part of their response to issues raised by Industry 4.0 technologies. The guides lay out frameworks for how best to incorporate essential digital skills into vocational education and training (VET) delivery and to upskill VET educators. The guides Incorporating…
