Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Savic motorcycle wins Victorian Premier’s design award

Australian designed electric motorcycle, the Savic C-Series (pictured), has won the 2021 Victorian Premier’s Design Award of the Year. Designers Dennis Savic of Savic Motorcycles and David Hendroff’s mission was to design a head-turning motorcycle that combined the power and handling of a traditional cafe racer with the latest electric battery and power conversion technologies. With a lightweight cast-aluminium frame, the body integrates an 80kg powertrain, without detracting from the fine lines and distinctive ‘racing’ style of an iconic 1970s motorcycle. Chair of the Victorian Premier’s Design Awards Jury, Celina Clarke said: “The Savic C-Series has been immaculately designed in every sense of the word. The attention to design details – from its elegant lines, handcrafted chrome and aluminium finishes right through to the design of their website and branding – it is clear this Victorian company is leading by design in everything they do.”

Tri-state green hydrogen highway refuelling plan announced

The Victorian, NSW and Queensland governments signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to develop hydrogen refueling infrastructure for heavy transport and logistics, focussed on the Newell Highway linking Queensland and Victoria, the Hume Highway between NSW and Victoria, and the Pacific Highway between Queensland and NSW. NSW and Victoria have committed $10 million each to the “Hume Hydrogen Highway grant program” which would cover a minimum if four refueling stations and support for 25 hydrogen-powered long-haul heavy freight vehicles, with grant applications expected to open in the middle of the year. Earlier in the week the Queensland government also approved a refuelling project in Chinchilla, west of Brisbane, through state-owned CS Energy and Japanese company IHI.

Apprentice numbers continue to grow

The latest apprentice and trainee data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) show apprentice commencements grew nationally to 48,750 (or by 84.1 per cent) in the September quarter 2021 compared with the previous corresponding period. NCVER Managing Director Simon Walker said: “Over the last four quarters NCVER has reported notable annual growth in commencements, following four quarters of decline.” Commencements in non-trade occupations drove most of the increase in the September quarter 2021, rising by 13,435 or 91.6 per cent. Those in trade occupations increased by 8,800 or 74.5 per cent. The increase in commencements was reported across nearly all industry sectors, with the largest absolute increases occurring in the construction (up 4,805), accommodation (up 2,845) and administrative and support services (up 2,510) industries. Walker said: “Completions also grew nationally to 18,400 or by 9.9 perc cent in the September quarter 2021 compared with the same quarter in 2020. The highest increases were seen in the construction (up 975 or 27.8 per cent), health care and social assistance (up 395 or 24.7 per cent) and manufacturing (up 240 or 21.9 per cent) industries.

SAAB launches Deployable Health Capability Centre

Saab has launched its global Deployable Health Capability Centre of Excellence in Melbourne and signed contracts for the delivery of the JP2060 programme for defence with strategic partners Global Defence Solutions and Aspen Medical. Saab Australia Managing Director Andy Keough said: “Saab’s local development of deployable health solutions, in addition to the establishment of the CoE is a testament to our growing capability. This coupled with our local supplier engagement to foster innovation and product development, will further increase sovereign industry capability and supply chain resilience.” Along with Saab Aspen Medical will deliver clinical and operational medical training to ADF personnel, under a contract valued at $6.7 million. Global Defence Solutions will deliver the deployable infrastructure aspects of JP2060 Phase 3, consisting of hard and soft shelters and other deployable infrastructure elements. The $38.4 million contract with Global Defence Solutions has enabled them to double their local workforce.

Cyber security boost for Western Australia

The Western Australian government has announced $25.5 million to expand the state’s cyber security services. The funding, via the McGowan Government’s Digital Capability Fund, will ensure WA has world-class cyber capabilities in place to facilitate secure data exchanges between agencies and prevent, detect and respond to contemporary cyber threats and risks. It will also ‘transform the Office of Digital Government’s Cyber Security Unit into the largest dedicated cyber security team in Western Australia’, according to an announcement. This includes the roll out of additional cyber security services across the WA Public Sector and establishes a new dedicated home for the Cyber Security Operations Centre. A range of recruitment pools for positions within the Cyber Security Unit are now open on jobs.wa.gov.au

Picture: Savic Motorcycles

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