Manufacturing news briefs - stories you might have missed

FFI Gladstone takes shape

Fortescue Future Industries’ new green manufacturing hub is taking shape in Gladstone, Queensland (pictured), according to construction material supplier Bosfa Pty Ltd. The company is supplying its Dramix steel fibre reinforced concrete to help build FFI’s new green energy production facilities. According to Bosfa: “This new 14,600m2 facility is the first of many to be constructed around the world for manufacturing electrolysers for the production of hydrogen. FFI and (Hutchinson, builder) needed a high quality flat floor for the mostly automated facility, and Dramix was the obvious choice.” Bosfa said its flooring solution provided high quality jointless slabs, faster construction and less labour in a regional location, and highly burnished flat floors.

Orbital grows in drone engines

Orbital has received a payment of $2.4 million from its largest customer for its drone engines, Boeing subsidiary Insitu following that company’s discontinuation of an engine order. The payment, previously announced as $1.2 million, was revealed in the Perth company’s half year results, and increased because of additional supplier cost reimbursements. Orbital reported an operating loss before tax of $1.8 million, on revenue of $12.7 million, up 42 percent on the previous corresponding period. During the period Orbital made progress diversifying its customer base, winning new contracts from AeroVironment, Anduril and Animal Dynamics for engine development and engine concepts. Engine shipments have begun from Orbital’s supply programme to the Australian Army.

Canberra gifts PNG two NZ built aircraft

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has gifted two New Zealand manufactured aircraft to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF)- two new Pacific Aerospace PAC-750XL aircraft. The two aircraft will increase the PNGDF’s sovereign aviation capabilities, which provide important services to Papua New Guinea. The PAC-750XL aircraft will provide the PNGDF with additional transport and operational capacity to respond to domestic and regional incidents, and will have the ability to be quickly reconfigured for different activities. Australia and Papua New Guinea are partnering on aviation safety, maintenance and sustainment throughout the operational life of the aircraft through their joint Flights of Excellence program. This will include continuing joint training and capacity building activities between ADF and PNGDF personnel.

Matrix funds growth with $20.2 capital raise

Perth’s Matrix Composites & Engineering has announced a $20.2 million capital raising to support new awards for composite systems as its core oil and gas markets rebound. Given market conditions Matrix expects revenue to increase from $11.8 million achieved in the first half to ‘at least’ $33.5 million in the second half. The raising consists of a $6.3 million institutional placement and a non-renounceable entitlement offer of $13.9 million, with the proceeds strengthening the company’s ability to win and execute future contracts. The company expanded from its oil and gas core during the Covid pandemic, and is now pursuing new opportunities in areas such as mining, floating wind and hydrogen.

Thales and Swinburne link for new aviation concepts

Thales Australia and Swinburne University of Technology’s Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) have entered a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the development of new operational concepts to support evolving aviation concepts including Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) for next generation aerostructures. The recently signed MOU will focus on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) to support regional cargo delivery and critical infrastructure inspections, Urban Air Mobility including Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL), Concept of Operations for urban vertiports, and the integration of concepts of operation for traditional Air Traffic Management (ATM) and new concepts of operation for Unmanned Air Traffic Management (UTM). The MOU will also research and develop how ATM systems need to tailor their approach to integrate UTM, while ensuring compatibility and interoperability. This requires a comprehensive understanding of ATM and UTM ecosystems from products to processes through to systems and human factors.

Canberra backs STEM community engagement

The federal government is supporting STEM learning, announcing 22 community engagement grants for young people totalling almost $2 million. Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, said the Maker Projects – Community science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) engagement grants aim to foster creativity and inquiry-based learning for young people. Thee 22 grant recipients include Murdoch University’s WA Robotics Playoffs program and STEMTECH career expo in partnership with Curtin University. Other recipients include: $100,000 to the Australian National University to deliver the STARSMAP project, engaging up to 50 primary and secondary schools in regional and remote locations, $100,000 to Playgroup Victoria to deliver the Stories, STEM & Making project, enhancing home learning environments of children up to 5 years of age, and $100,000 to Noosa Film Academy to deliver hands-on workshops to engage very remote Queensland teenagers in the mechanics of screen production for STEM content creation, live streaming technologies and digital entrepreneurship.

RV maker Jayco announces this year’s range

Australian owned and operated RV maker Jayco Australia has unveiled its 2023 range, which the company says features increased safety features, elevated interior and exterior designs, and the introduction of the two new models. The Wren Camper Trailer and the Jpod-X are “aimed at couples looking for an uncomplicated solution to the RV lifestyle.” with the entry-level Wren described as similar to the existing Penguin Camper Trailer but with a lighter tow weight and lower price point. The JPod-X is an addition to the Jpod range, and “offers side entry doors and a rear kitchen hatch with upright fridge that is complimented by the slide-out kitchen on the rear quarter and a 270 degree Escape by Jayco awning to create a convenient, undercover meal preparation area” according to Jayco. Jayco makes all of its RVs at its complex in Dandenong South, Victoria, continuing a 48-year tradition of Australian manufacturing.

Darwin cathode manufacturing plant scoping study completed, “encouraging”

Avenira has announced the results of its scoping study for its 100 per cent-owned lithium iron phosphate cathode manufacturing project, planned for Darwin, claiming the “strong economics and technical viability are encouraging”. According to a statement to the ASX on Thursday, the study highlighted “the potential for Avenira to become one of the leading Lithium Iron Phosphate Cathode Active Material (LFP CAM) producers globally, and one of the only LFP producers in the world based outside of China, Taiwan and Japan.” The study, completed by Bechtel Australia, considered a single-train plant with 10,000 tpa output of LFP CAM and a three-train plant of 30,000 tpa, and was “based substantially on the flow sheet and process configuration of the existing LFP plant in Taiwan.” Avenira’s Executive Chairman Brett Clark said the design of the LFP plant owned and run by proposed technology partner Aleees in Taiwan was currently being applied in Europe and the USA. “Being the fourth plant significantly reduces our technical and execution risk. Our plant will target sales of LFP in the Asia-Pacific markets to electric vehicle (EV) and stationary storage manufacturers,” he said.