Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Archer moves biochip graphene sensor to commercial fab

Semiconductor company Archer Materials has announced completion of a proof of concept biosensing graphene transistor for use in its biochip, and submitted the technology design to a commercial foundry to verify scalability.
Archer is transferring its first-generation graphene field effect transistor (“gFET”) design to a foundry partner,  following completion of its optical lithography-compatible chip layout for the gFET device. Archer’s optical lithography has electrodes, bond pads, and other graphene componentry, that allow the biochip’s sensor device design to scale more easily to produce complete wafers in collaboration with commercial foundries, it said. The sensing chips will be produced by a commercial foundry, with the aim of Archer validating its design to ensure appropriate scalability for manufacturing process. Archer expects completed runs to arrive at the end of 2023 for evaluation to test which foundry and process are best suited to Archer’s technology.

Laing O’Rourke extends partnership with Robotics Australia Group

Laing O’Rourke has renewed its strategic partnership with national peak body Robotics Australia Group for another twelve months, RAG has announced. The group’s CEO Nicci Rossouw said, “Laing O’Rourke has been a great supporter of our organisation since the beginning, and we’re honoured to partner with them for another year as our sponsors from the construction sector.” Georgina North, Head of Technology and Innovation at Laing O’Rourke, said the partnership will help accelerate technology readiness and commercialisation of robotics solutions in Australia. Laing O’Rourke has sponsored robotics industry roadmaps for Australia in 2018 and 2022, and is a founding partner of the Robotics Australia Group

Queensland food and fibre grants awarded

The Queensland government’s Food and Fibre to Market: Industry Partnerships Program (FF2M) will provide $600,000 to eight industry organisations and grower collectives towards projects valued at $1.7 million, it was announced this week, supporting supply chain and market development projects targeting markets including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, India and the United States. The recipient organisations are Avocados Australia, Austchilli in Bundaberg and their grower partners, Australian Macadamia Society, the Australian Mango Industry Association, North Queensland’s Daintree Fresh and their supply chain partners, Persimmons Australia, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, and Tropical Agri Food Industry Network in partnership with the Australian Reef Fish Trading Company.

Cobram announces harvest results

Cobram Estate Olives has announced the results of its Australian harvest, with final production from its own groves coming in at 12.5 million litres, down slightly on the previously announced range of between 12.6 million and 13.2 million litres. The company told shareholders it processed 0.9 million litres of third-party oil that will also be marketed by the Company. Cobram said its lower than expected crop was driven “by the unusually cold and shorter growing season delivering lower-than-average oil content in the fruit combined with  smaller-than-normal fruit size.” It added that olive oil quality is excellent, “with an historical high percentage of the oil produced being classified  as premium or ultra-premium extra virgin”.

Incitec Pivot gives update on breakup

Chemicals manufacturer Incitec Pivot has updated the market on its proposed structural separation of its fertiliser and Dyno Nobel explosives businesses to create two separate businesses. IPL confirmed it may also be considering a potential sale of the fertilisers business, having received a number of approaches from suitors. “The board’s assessment of a potential sale is being considered alongside the proposed demerger, which remains a strategic priority of the board. The board will continually assess all options to ensure shareholder value is maximised.” The update followed media speculation on a possible sale.

New Director at Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life

The National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life — a Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) and University of the Sunshine Coast-supported initiative — has appointed Professor Tripti Singh as its new Director. Singh has more than 20 years of experience in managing collaborative, multi-million-dollar research programs and is a lead name in wood protection research, according to a statement from FWPA. “We are delighted to welcome such a well-respected and widely recognised name from the international wood science community to the Director role,” said Craig Taylor, FWPA Chair. “The centre has enjoyed an outstanding launch and evolved to become a valuable resource for the entire industry. We look forward to its continued success and expansion under Tripti’s leadership.

Recce Pharmaceuticals receives R&D rebate

Recce Pharmaceuticals which is developing a new class of Synthetic Anti-infectives has received non-dilutive funds from Radium Capital for $801,604 of Recce’s future Research and Development (R&D) tax incentive payment from the federal government. The advance payment represents an accountant verified proportion of its March-May FY23 R&D applicable expenditure. The non-dilutive funds come in addition to recently reported $973,144, seeing $3,682,787 of future R&D credit backed funds received and redeployed this financial year to date. The federal government provides a 43.5 percent Research & Development Tax Incentive rebate.

LAND 200 Phase 3 first-pass approval given ahead of tender

The federal government has given first-pass approval for the LAND 200 Phase 3 Battlefield Command Systems project. According to a statement from defence on Thursday, the investment will improve the security and performance of tactical communications network and battle management systems and increase the speed and quality of decision-making. Defence will issue an open tender for an integration partner for the Battlefield Command Systems project in 2023, which it said “provides opportunities for Australian companies to fulfil this role.” A second tranche of the project is scheduled to deliver enhancements to the tactical communications network and consider additional battle management systems.

Picture: credit defence.gov.au