Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Gekko Systems to build King Island mineral processor

Mining equipment developer Gekko Systems will design, procure build and commission a mineral processing plant for Group 6 Metals Limited’s Dolphin Mine, located on King Island. The Contract, which has a value of approximately $49 million, anticipates the commissioning of the facilities in the first calendar quarter 2023. Based on this timing the first shipment of ore from the Dolphin Mine to customers will also occur during Q1 2023. Gekko has been engaged with G6M over the last three years and together, have formulated the flowsheet which was developed after extensive independent test work at the ALS laboratory undertaken on behalf of G6M in Burnie, Tasmania.

EOS and C4Edge demonstrate sovereign comms system

Electro Optic Systems and the C4EDGE network of SMEs are demonstrating their sovereign tactical command, control and communications solution for battlegroup and below to the army (pictured). There are multiple different radio architectures – physical and virtual – being modelled for army – HF, MIMO Mesh, LBand and VHF Narrow Band, Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) and Infrastructureless Data Radio Solutions. Radio hardware is Australian developed and made by Barrett Communications, Codan Communications and Solinnov Pty Ltd.

PPK Group progresses reorganisation

Diversified technology investment company PPK Group is progressing its business reorganisation as it focuses on exploiting its boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) technologies and its technology linkup with Geelong’s Deakin University. Chairman Robin Levison told the company’s annual general meeting that the divestment of PPK’s underground mining equipment business, formerly the foundation of the company, was underway and ‘progressing well.’ Levison said the listing of battery technology developer Li-S energy had been a highlight of the company’s year. He said the company anticipated commercialising another related technology in the coming year ‘on at least one occasion’. Levison said: “PPK is targeting significant progress with multiple industry applications of BNNT technology maturing.”

Northrop Grumman’s new Canberra facility

Defence supplier Northrop Grumman Australia has opened a $20 million systems integration, mission visualisation and demonstration facility, Parallax Labs. in Canberra. The facility can be scaled virtually with others here and overseas and can support projects with complex system architectures and highly integrated technologies, according to Asia Pacific general manager, Christine Zeitz. “We are committed to developing and investing in sovereign Australian capability” said , general manager Asia Pacific, Northrop Grumman. “Parallax Labs represents a critical component of how Northrop Grumman Australia . Importantly, it also serves to now and into the future.”

WA and Rotterdam collaborate on green hydrogen

The government of Western Australia and Europe’s largest seaport, the Port of Rotterdam will work together to investigate a renewable hydrogen export supply chain between them. The two have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the port, which plans to become a major hydrogen import hub. They will study production, storage, transport, and the use of renewable hydrogen in Germany. They will also cooperate on knowledge sharing relating to policy, regulation, and technology.

Traffic Technologies sells into Tasmania

Road signage and traffic management systems company Traffic Technologies has won an order from Tasmanian electricity distributor TasNetworks for Smart City LED street lighting. The $3 million contract follows on from the company’s existing contracts in the state, and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and power and maintenance costs. Supply will occur extending into 2023. TasNetworks operates and maintains 50,000 street lights in the state, with Traffic Technologies supplying 26,000 to date.

Picture: Electro Optic Systems/C4EDGE

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