Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Alphafit supplies eqiuiplment for elite sporting complex

The Newcastle Knights football club have installed a major new gymnasium fitted out with Australian-manufactured Alphafit gym equipment (pictured). The District Park training centre accessed by both NRL and NRLW players includes 5x Single Cages with Storage, 5x Half Cages with Storage, 2x Core Functional Trainers, 2x Freestanding Core Lat Pull Low Row Tower, 3x Pull Benches and a Core Vertical Smith Machine. Molendinar, Queensland manufacturer Alphafit operates a state of the art factory boasting laser cutting, folding, welding, sandblasting, powder coating and trimming operations. The factory utilises 3D modelling software to design, stress test and analyse its equipment before production. The company also supplied Newcastle Knights branded PU Dumbbells, Dumbbell Towers and a 2 Tier 5 Row PU Dumbbell Rack.

FormFlow announces second manufacturing plant

Geelong-based manufacturer FormFlow will transform an unused airport hanger in Portland, Victoria into a manufacturing hub for its innovative metal manufacturing products. The $2.35 million manufacturing hub, supported by a $800,000 grant from the state government, will create 50 new jobs. The hub will be capable of producing up to 200 relocatable houses a year, including one, two, three and four bedroom homes. The grant, part of the $17.4 million Portland Economic Diversification Plan, was announced by Minister for regional development Harriet Shing.

Defence opens Pitt-Johnston Electromagnetic Warfare Research Centre

The Defence Department has officially opened the Pitt-Johnston Electromagnetic Warfare Research Centre, a collaboration between Joint Capabilities Group and the Defence Science and Technology Group. The purpose-built facility boasts a highly secure environment with first-class laboratories, workspaces and high-end information technology to test the survivability of Defence platforms on the electromagnetic spectrum. Lieutenant General John Frewen said the facility demonstrated the strong nexus between operations, technology, science and industry required in modern warfare. “The location of this facility was carefully considered to optimise the contribution of Defence Science and Technology Group, while leveraging the operational experience within co-located units and the Defence Industry Hub in Adelaide.
Industry support and collaboration has also been instrumental in the facility becoming operational and remains essential to operating a number of systems housed in the research centre.” The centre is named after Wing Commander Mark Pitt and Group Captain Wayne Johnston, recognising their outstanding contributions to the development of Joint Electromagnetic Warfare capabilities.

Leigh Creek coal to urea project gets impact assessed development status

The developer of the former Leigh Creek coal fields in South Australia, NeuRizer Ltd has announced yesterday that the NeuRizer Urea Project (NRUP) had been declared an Impact Assessed Development by the state government. Under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act) the South Australian Minister for Planning has the authority to declare projects that are recognised as being of significant economic, social or environmental importance to South Australia as Impact Assessed Development. A declaration of Impact Assessed Development is advantageous because it affords the project proponent with additional support, coordination and information services from government agencies throughout the approval process. Under the process, formerly known as a Major Project Declaration, Impact Assessed Development projects are assessed through a rigorous state-run process that differs from other standard development applications that are managed by local councils.

Two submariners pass new course

Two Royal Australian Navy submariners have passed the inaugural Australian Submarine Command Course, a sovereign training program to produce its next generation of submarine commanders. According to a statement from defence personnel minister Matt Keogh, the locally-developed and delivered “international-standard course culminated in a rigorous sea-phase that tested participants in undersea and special warfare scenarios”, and “the home-grown capability would better meet Australia’s evolving workforce needs.”

Picture: Alphafit