Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

UOW joins antimicrobial CRC

The University of Wollongong has joined the newly-established Collaborative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food and Environments. (CRC SAAFE) as a research partner. Antimicrobials prevent and treat infections caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses, with anti-microbial resistance a problem estimated to grow to become a $283 billion annual cost to the Australian economy by 2050. CRC SAAFE has over 70 organisations across industries and sectors, and has secured $35.4 million in federal funding, plus $112 million in cash and in-kind contributions from partner organisations. “Antimicrobial resistance is a very complex issue and one of society’s major 21^st century health challenges. Only working together across sectors will allow us to tackle this problem,” said Distinguished Professor Antoine van Oijen, Director of UOW’s Molecular Horizons institute.

Export Market Development Grant round opens next week

The next round of the federal Export Market Development Grant opens at 9am on Tuesday, May 31 (AEST.) The program is open to Australian companies exporting (or ready to export) goods, services or IP, and which had revenues under $20 million in the financial year prior to the financial year an application is made. There are three tiers, aimed at SME companies in the categories preparing to export; exporting and expanding; and exporting, expanding and strategic shift. Applications close on 4pm on Tuesday, July 5. More information can be found at the Austrade website here.

Straws to go in next tranche of ACT single use plastics ban

The next phase of the ACT government’s single use plastics ban comes into effect on July 1, with 2022, with single-use plastic straws (with an exemption for those who need them), cotton buds with plastic sticks, and all oxo-degradable plastics banned from sale or supply in the territory. “We would like to thank businesses and organisations who have already made this switch for embracing alternative products and helping make Canberra a more sustainable city,” said transport and city services minister Chris Steel.

Schneider donates to universities and TAFEs to support training

Schneider Electric has donated products worth over $200,000 to universities and TAFEs to help support the next generation of electricians, the company said this week. The Circular Partnership program was designed to give a second chance to surplus products, it said, with 7.7 tonnes of electrical materials diverted from recycling plants to educational facilities over the past year instead. Products included power sockets, distribution blocks, switchboards, and current breakers, to be used by students to gain hands-on experience. Since beginning last year, the company’s residential brand Clipsal by Schneider Electric had provided almost 20,000 units as part of the program, it said.

Curtin mineral processing technology acquired

A Curtin University-developed technology improving gold extraction has gone global with the sale of company Mining and Process Solutions (MPS) to Czech chemical supplier Draslovka. A statement from the university describes the technology as using amino acids such as glycine to leach ores including gold and copper, as well as nickel and cobalt, which are both in high demand from the battery industry. Curtin University Director of Commercialisation Rohan McDougall said researchers spent years developing the improved leaching process, expanding its applications and improving its efficiency for extracting gold and other minerals. “It is fantastic that Curtin’s work over many years with minerals industry partner Mining and Process Solutions to commercialise the new process has culminated in the technology going global, thereby bringing its benefits to industry world-wide,” said McDougall.

Offshore wind farm to decarbonise the Hunter region

Global wind energy business BlueFloat Energy and local developer Energy Estate have partnered to build the Hunter Coast Offshore Wind Project off the coast south of Newcastle in the Hunter region of NSW.
BlueFloat Energy has a growing pipeline of offshore wind projects including three projects in Australia. The Hunter Coast Offshore Wind Project will be located in an offshore wind renewable energy zone identified by AEMO in the draft 2022 Integrated System Plan. This project will support the revitalisation of the Hunter region as it transitions from coal-fired power. It will supply existing large energy users such as the Tomago aluminium smelter as well as potential green hydrogen production.

Australia’s Neara plans expanded digital twin software

Utilities digital twin technology company Neara has raised $20 million in a Series B capital raising led by Skip Capital and Square Peg Capital. A previous round in 2021 raised $7.25 million. The company’s software as a service product uses AI and machine learning to create a ‘digital twin’ virtual model of an infrastructure network. The software can be used to design or redesign parts of the network and analyse potential risks. The new funds will expand its footprint in the US, and move into new industries.

Featured picture: www.blumeglobal.com

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