Manufacturing news briefs - stories you might have missed

Manufacturing Industry Showcase event held at Toowoomba

Almost 100 people attended the inaugural Manufacturing Industry Showcase event held at Burke and Wills Hotel in Toowoomba on Friday, according to the host, the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise. The event sponsored by JRS Manufacturing Group gave students from Wilsonton State High School, Toowoomba Grammar School, St Joseph’s College, St Mary’s College, TAFE and the Australian Industry Trade College the opportunity to hear from representatives from local manufacturing businesses about future career opportunities. Speakers included from Boeing Defence Australia — which will build the MQ-28A Ghost Bat at the Wellcamp Airport precinct — JRS Manufacturing Group, Obadare Group, JRS Manufacturing Group, and Wagners.

Kim Beazley joins Luerssen Australia’s board

Luerssen Australia announced on Tuesday that former federal opposition leader Kim Beazley is joining its board of directors. Luerssen described Beazley as having “unrivalled knowledge of defence issues after an outstanding career as a politician, diplomat, academic and the 33rd Governor of Western Australia.” Beazley held numerous portfolios in the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments including defence, finance, and special minister of state, and was leader of the house. From 1995 to 1996, he was deputy PM and leader of the opposition in 1996 to 2001 and then 2005 to 2006. Chairman of Luerssen Australia, Tim Wagner, said it was a coup to have Beazley on the Board. “He will provide invaluable advice to us and be critical as we continue to build the company in Australia,” said Wagner. Luerssen Australia currently delivering the 12 Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels to the Royal Australian Navy.

Ai Group & Perth USAsia Centre release new defence supply chain report

Employer association the Australian Industry Group and the Perth USAsia Centre, released a new policy report on Monday, examining strategic risks facing Australia’s defence supply chains. “Securing Australia’s Defence Supply Chains takes stock of the security of Australia’s defence supply chains, and maps a resilience agenda for the industry’s future,” said Innes Willox, the Ai Group Chief Executive. It recommends a comprehensive strategy and action plan for the strategic protection of defence supply chains, robust and scalable mechanisms for generating information on defence supply chain risks, the establishment of governance structures that allow regular and organised engagement with industry, to develop a clear methodology to identify, select and resource supply chain interventions to identified risks, to increase the priority accorded to supply chain issues during Defence procurement processes calibrated by risk, and collaboration with international partners to enable trusted capability supply chain options. It can be accessed at the link above.

A man who could barely open his mouth for almost four years has undergone surgery, having his jaw replaced with a 3D printed jaw device at Epworth Freemasons Hospital in Victoria. The man in his 40s was only able to open his mouth two millimetres — versus a normal opening of about 40 millimetres — after the jaw bones mysteriously fused together, according to the hospital. The man (who wished to be unnamed) said his condition gradually deteriorated. “We surgically released the fused jaw and replaced it with fully customised 3D printed titanium jaw devices that restored his jaw function and allowed him to open his mouth normally again,” said Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon George Dimitroulis in a statement. “Once we released the jaw, he was able to open his mouth about 24-milimetres straight away and that will improve as his jaw muscles loosen over time.”

Picture: luerssen.com.au

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