Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Titomic sells integrated cold spray 3D manufacturing spray booth

Additive manufacturing equipment manufacturer Titomic has sold an Integrated Spray Booth system to Dutch firm Perron038 for $710,000. The system incorporates a robotised Titomic D623 medium-pressure cold spray additive manufacturing unit and will be delivered this calendar year. Perron038 is a research and development facilitator that connects high-technology companies, educational institutions and research companies for collaborative development. One user will be Windesheim University of Applied Sciences which will undertake research of novel materials and coatings. Titomic Managing Director Herbert Koeck said: “This marks an important development for our company as we continue to expand into the education sector.”

Air Force air show announced for November

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), in partnership with the City of Newcastle and Port Stephens Council, has announced the Air Force Newcastle Williamtown Air Show 2023. The biennial Air Show will be held in November in both Newcastle and at RAAF Base Williamtown. A community event will be held on Saturday November 18, including morning and afternoon flying displays by Air Force aircraft over Newcastle beaches and rivers, and a ticketed non-flying Open Day at RAAF Base Williamtown the day after, featuring static ground displays and a range of military equipment from across the Australian Defence Force (ADF). “The flying displays in Newcastle, and the open day at the base, aim not only to strengthen our relationship with the community, but offer insight into the vital role the ADF plays in ensuring the security of our nation,” said Head of RAAF air shows, Air Commodore Micka Gray. More information is available here.

Felix System shows advantage in sperm separation: study

ASX-listed reproductive biotechnology company Memphasys has announced results of a study titled ‘Analysis of sperm separation protocols for isolating cryopreserved human spermatozoa’, which show that only cells separated using the company’s Felix system “exhibited significantly lower levels of DNA fragmentation following cryopreservation.” Felix an automated system with a single-use cartridge that gently separates high-quality sperm from a semen sample in six minutes for use in human IVF procedures. Results were released this week at the annual Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) 2023 Conference and published in the medical journal Reproduction and Fertility.

Nova Systems progresses space antenna array

Nova Systems’ space team has been working with researchers from Perth’s Curtin University at the Nova Systems’ Space Precinct in Peterborough, South Australia, installing the next sets of antenna tiles forming part of the passive array radar prototype (pictured). The hardware was successfully integrated and tested onsite – the next step is to collect data to further refine the algorithms that will detect and track space objects using advanced passive radar techniques. The team will be back onsite in a few weeks to integrate additional antenna tiles – further increasing the passive array radar’s capabilities. The formal partnership between Nova Systems and Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) will deliver a prototype passive array radar system to detect and track satellites and space debris orbiting Earth. The radar prototype is based on technology adaptation of the Curtin University-led Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), a low frequency radio telescope for astrophysics.

Thales Australia appoints Duncan Lewis as new Chair

Thales Australia recently appointed Duncan Lewis AO DSC CSC, former Secretary of Defence and Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), as Chair of the Thales Australia Board. Lewis has served the nation at the most senior levels of the Army, public service, diplomatic service and security agencies, in roles that included Commander of Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment, National Security Advisor to the Federal Government, Secretary of the Department of Defence and Ambassador to Belgium, the European Union, Luxembourg and NATO. Thales Australia’s outgoing Chair Belinda Hutchinson AM will remain on the Thales Australia Board as a non-executive director. Thales Australia CEO Jeff Connolly said: “Duncan brings with him a wealth of knowledge spanning a 47-year career with the Australian Government, both in and out of uniform. Duncan’s experience as one of Australia’s pre-eminent leaders in cyber security, defence and international affairs are all areas of critical importance to Australia’s national security interests in the current geopolitical climate, and will only increase in importance into the future.”

a2 Milk to re-enter China market

The a2 Milk Company will again be manufactured in China for local consumption following a decision from the China State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). SAMR has approved the re-registration the company’s China label infant milk formula by Synlait Milk/. The approval will allow Synlait to manufacture until September, 2027. a2 Managing Director David Bortolussi said: “The approval provides a2MC with continued access to China’s substantial registered domestic infant milk formula market which remains the key focus of our refreshed growth strategy.”

New SA defence R&D fund established

A new $4.6 million defence research and development funding scheme has been launched which is designed to speed up the translation of innovative defence technology into real world capability for the Australian Defence Force. Administered by South Australia’s Defence Innovation Partnership, the Activator Fund will build on the state’s R&D strengths and the high priority innovation challenges identified by Defence. The first Activator project theme aligns with the undersea warfare and trusted
autonomy priorities of the Defence Innovation, Science and Technology programme. Up to $1.6 million will be available from the fund for the initial ‘Remote Undersea Surveillance Data Processing, Analysis and Networking’ project, with successful applicants required to provide matching co-contributions that will support larger scale R&D activities. Proposals will be sought from consortia led by South Australian universities and industry and involving Department of Defence partners, as well as other national and international partners.

Southern Cross in big data centre win

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering’s Heyday subsidiary has been awarded three data centre contracts in Sydney with a total value of $60 million. J Hutchinson has awarded the company electrical services contracts for Stages 1 & 2 of the Amazon Web Services SYD054 Orion Data Centre project at Smeaton Grange. Taylor Construction Group has awarded a similar contract for the Microsoft SYD08 Data Centre project at Seven Hills. And Heyday has been awarded an electrical works package by Multiplex Constructions at the NEXTDC SYD03 Artarmon NSW Data Centre. SCEE Managing Director Graeme Dunn said the contracts reflected significant growth in data centre construction, and ‘exponential growth’ in data creation and usage.

Avecho develops edible cannabinoid ‘gummies’

Avecho Biotechnology has completed the development of its first edible dosage forms of cannabinoids. The company said its new cannabinoid gummies outperformed standard products with faster onset and greater effect. Gummies are chewable, jelly-like preparations made from a mixture of glycerin and gelatin. They are made utilising Avecho’s proprietary drug delivery system called Tocopheryl Phosphate Mixture (TPM) which is derived from Vitamin E. Avecho now offers oral oils, capsules, edibles and topical gels.

Babcock workshops bring safety training to life

Defence sustainment and services business Babcock Australasia has changed the way it delivers workplace health and safety education to staff by using professional actors to deliver a series of engaging and interactive live performances, bringing critical safety training to life. The workshops, titled ‘Game Day’, enable staff to observe workplaces under pressure through a series of safety awareness scenarios, delivered by Acting Consulting Training (ACT) Australia & New Zealand. More than 200 participants from Babcock, industry and Defence attended the workshops, held across three days on Garden Island Naval Base this month. The audience were given insights into the decision making, emotions, pressures and complexities involved when addressing a safety incident on site. Babcock Australasia’s Managing Director – Marine, Simon Spratt said: “Through unique initiatives like the Game Day workshops, Babcock is continually updating the way we deliver safety training to staff to ensure we are at the forefront of the latest requirements and advice.”

Picture: Nova Systems/Space Portfolio Manager Phil Krix, Senior Systems Engineer Andrew Guidi and Technical Support Officer Tony Hawkes at the Space Precinct