Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

First commercial space launch blasts off from Arnhem Land

Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) owner of the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) on the Gove Peninsula in Australia’s Northern Territory last night successfully completed Australia’s first commercial space launch with NASA (rocket, pictured). The historic launch was NASA’s first from a fully commercial spaceport and is the first of three rocket launches, with the latter two planned for 4 and 12 July, to conduct astrophysics studies that can only be done from the Southern Hemisphere. The Arnhem Space Centre is located 12 degrees south of the Equator on the Gulf of Carpentaria offering unique benefits for space launches.
Witnessing the launch at the Arnhem Space Centre tonight were the Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, Consul General of the United States Kathleen Lively, senior members of the Australian Space Agency and the space industry, Traditional Owners, the Northern Territory Government, stakeholders and supporters of ELA.

DCS to paint new missile launcher cannisters

Defence Coating Systems (DCS) has announced a partnership with Kongsberg Defence Australia to paint Kongsberg’s NASAMS Mk 2 Canister missile Launchers, which will be delivered to the LAND 19 P7B program prime contractor Raytheon Australia for delivery to the Australian Army. The contract, now underway, has enabled a major investment in new coating infrastructure at the DCS Wingfield, Adelaide facility. DCS is now able to perform large-scale defence coating projects on-site.

Austal wins additional US$45m LCS contract

Perth international shipbuilder Austal has been awarded a further US$45 million contract for design and sup[port of all variants of the Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs) built for the US Navy. The contract exercises options for additional LCS design services and support for the USN’s Integrated Data Product Model Environment (IDPME). Services ‘may include program management, fitting out services, change processing, software maintenance, engineering and lifecycle efforts’, according to the company. The USN will also have access through IDPME to enterprise LCS management. Austal has built fifteen of the trimaran hulled LCS vessels for the USN, with another four under construction.

Today is United Nations’ Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day

Monday June 27 is the United Nations’ Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day. Such businesses represent around 90 per cent of global businesses, the organisation said in a statement, and more than 60 per cent of employment and half of gross domestic product (GDP) worldwide. “They are the economic lifeblood of communities around the world,” said. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who said the theme this year was “Resilience and Rebuilding”, highlighting the vital role of these enterprises in a fair and sustainable recovery.

Proteomics International to develop cancer test

Proteomics International Laboratories has signed up for an exclusive worldwide licence to develop a diagnostic test for oesophageal cancer. The blood test is designed to replace endoscopy, an expensive and invasive procedure to detect the common cancer, oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Perth-based Proteomics has developed a number of diagnostic tests, and was granted use of the IP for the new test by Queensland’s Berghofer Medical Research Institute.

APV seat belts incorporated into self-propelled howitzer project

APV Corporation has announced that it has been working with defence contractors Hanwha and Plasan on their occupant restraints (seatbelts) for the prestigious Australian Howitzer program. The company has now introduced its Australian-made Military Occupant Restraints, into their Blast Attenuating Seating and Survivability package destined for the howitzer. Managing director Harry Hickling took to social media to say: “The engineering development, test and evaluation program is immense – this is not just a seat belt. It is System Level engineering and is absolutely fundamental to keeping our troops safe within these vehicles under battle conditions.” APV has manufactured seat belts that protect the occupants of Australian and US-made armoured vehicles. Hickling said: “APV has produced over 37,000 Military Occupant Restraints of which 26,600 have been exported into US Amphibious and Land Vehicle Defence platforms.”

Picture: Defence Coating Systems

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