Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

The Healthy Mummy to be sold through Woolworths

Halo Food Co’s The Healthy Mummy sports and diet products are to be sold through Woolworths supermarkets nationally. The retailer will stock three THM powdered smoothie products from the first quarter of 2023. The sales value of the products to Halo is forecast to be $2.5 million in the first year. THM products will be manufactured at Halo’s Melbourne facility.

Hydralite takes off in North America

The Hydration Pharmaceuticals Company has announced record September quarter sales of its Hydralite hydration product of US$2.44 million, up 17 percent on the previous corresponding period. The rise was driven by strong growth in sales through e-commerce channels including Amazon and rising sales in North American retail outlets. The company launched nine new products in the quarter including powder flavours, effervescent tablets and powder tubs. New product launches are planned in the sports segment.

Orthocell’s boost in the Australian prostheses market

Orthocell’s peripheral nerve repair product Remplir has been granted inclusion in the Australian Prostheses List, which enables surgeons to receive reimbursement from private insurers for its use in surgical proceedures. The listing opens the way to a significant market for the Perth company’s collagen devices which provide a scaffold for nerve regrowth, later dissolving in the body. There were 11,780 surgical repairs of peripheral nerves completed in public and private hospitals in Australia in 2019/20. Orthocell managing director Paul Anderson (pictured) said: “Inclusion of Remplir on the prosthesis liust is the culmination of translational research and a regulatory programme to bring this product to the Australian market.” Device Technologies has been appointed as the exclusive distributor for Remplir in Australia and New Zealand.

ASM to raise $40 million for rare earths developments

Rare earths developer Australian Strategic Materials has announced an institutional placement to raise $30 million and a share purchase plan for existing shareholders seeking a further $10 million. Chairman Ian Gander will contribute $4 million to the raising. Funds raised will be uses to accelertate development of the company’s Korean Metals Plant where it produces rare earths critical to high technology products, and its Dubbo, Australia rare earths project. ASM CEO Rowena Smith said: “With our Korean Metals Plant producing commercial quality metals and our Dubbo project ready for development, ASM is well positioned to secure project financing and execute our mine to metals strategy.”

Colostat cancer test to be sold in New Zealand

Rhythm Biosciences has been registered as a manufacturer in New Zealand, allowing its ColoSTAT cancer detection tests to be sold in that market. ColoSTAT has been registered with the New Zealand national database of Medical Devices, allowing NZ sales to begin. The company now plans to begin pre-sales activities and partnership discussions. ColoSTAT is a simple blood test which can be used for mass screening for bowel cancer to boost early diagnosis of the disease.

Austal delivers third ECCPB

Perth shipbuilder Austal has delivered its third evolved Cape class patrol boat to the Royal Australian Navy. The vessel ADV Cape Naturaliste was accepted by the Commonwealth after 12 months of construction. Austal CEO Paddy Gregg said productivity had improved with each vessel, with five boats now in various stages of construction. Austal is contract to build eight ECCPB’s to the RAN.

Picture: Orthocell’s Paul Anderson