Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Equatorial Launch lands in Adelaide

Operator of the Arnhem Space Centre Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) has announced it will establish its headquarters in Adelaide. The move also puts ELA closer to the Adelaide-based Australian Space Agency, the regulatory authority that grants launch permits for every launch from Australia. The company, which is receiving support through the South Australian Landing Pad program, will employ 10 to 15 people, expanding to more than 40 over the next three years. After delivering Australia’s first commercial space launch for NASA, ELA is growing and commencing development of the next stage of the Arnhem Space Centre. “ELA is excited about the future of South Australia’s space industry,” said Michael Jones, Executive Chairman and Group CEO, Equatorial Launch Australia.

Engineering lecturer wins two awards

Charles Darwin University (CDU) engineering lecturer Dr Hooman Mehdizadeh-Rad has received two accolades this week, awarded the Young Mechanical Engineer of the Year 2022 and the Sir George Julius Medal by Engineers Australia. Mehdizadeh-Rad earned the medal for “Heat mitigation in perovskite solar cells: The role of grain boundaries”, a paper on which he was lead author. “We developed a novel, comprehensive and rigorous mathematical model and the relevant computer code to simulate the operating temperature of perovskite solar cells and the factors that influence their operating temperature,” Mehdizadeh-Rad said. The Young Mechanical Engineer of the Year Award acknowledges the achievement and contribution of a young mechanical engineer, technologist or associate in the field of mechanical engineering, including their commitment to professional development and attaining chartered status.

Fleet Space invests in facility, expanded team

Bringing 3D printing entirely in-house has enabled the company to make complex components for its current models and future Alpha satellites, increased efficiency from design to production, and provided cost and speed benefits, according to Fleet Space Technologies. The Adelaide satellite maker’s founder and CEO Flavia Tata Nardini said it was moving towards the goal of producing the fully 3D printed Alpha. “The new metal 3D printer, and the expansion of our Adelaide facility, underlines our commitment to domestic manufacturing,” she said this week. “This is also reflected in our huge increase in staff numbers, from 34 in May 2021 to more than 80 today, almost tripling in size.”

ASM announces first sale of neodymium praseodymium

Australian Strategic Materials has told investors that its subsidiary KSM Metals has signed an agreement for sale and delivery of up to 10 tonnes of neodymium praseodymium metal ingot from September to December this year. The metal will be made at the company’s Korean Metals plant and sold to Korean company NS World, which will use the material for bonded magnets. ASM CEO Rowena Smith said the first sale was an important milestone, and follows the Korean Metals plant going from start of construction to commercial production in under 12 months. “We look forward to securing further sales contracts in coming months and will update the market as contracts are finalised,” Smith added.

Image credit: Fleet Space