Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

WA funds Fugro SpAARC to get into space

The Western Australian government has announced a $5 million commitment to Perth-based facility Fugro SpAARC to bolster the complex’s operational capability for space missions. The government said in a statement the funding would pave the way for Fugro SpAARC to support international space missions from Perth. “It will also strengthen Fugro SpAARC’s partnership with US company Intuitive Machines, who are supporting upcoming Moon missions under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative.” Funding will be supplied through the state’s Investment Attraction Fund, which invests in projects that encourage investment in WA, create local jobs and diversify the economy. The funding is on top of $3.5 million previously provided by the WA government, and $4.5 million from the Australian Space Agency to set up SpAARC last year. The announcement came as the inaugural Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference is underway in Perth.

Bulla dairy launches Violet Crumble ice cream

Bulla Dairy Foods has acquired a licence to manufacture ice cream under the Violet Crumble brand (picture) from Menz Confectionery through a partnership brought together by Asembl Brands. Bulla’s new Violet Crumble Sticks are the perfect addition to the company’s growing licensed ice cream portfolio which includes Hershey’s, Reese’s and Chupa Chups, according to the company. “When can you try it for yourself? From October 23rd, the first of our new Violet Crumble branded premium ice cream sticks, will be hitting the shelves in Coles Group, Woolworths Supermarkets, independent grocers, 7-Eleven & Coles Express stores across the country.”

Starpharma’s big R&D tax incentive refund

Pharmaceutical developer Starpharma has received a $7.2 million research and development tax incentive refund from the federal government. The company has been developing a portfolio of drugs, as well as commercialising its Viraleze antiviral nasal spray, and VivaGel non-antibiotic gel against bacterial vaginosis. CEO Dr Jackie Fairley said: “The R&D tax incentive offered by the Australian government plays a vital role in supporting local companies like Starpharma to innovate and expand.” Starpharma continues to progress trials for its DEP radiotheranostic and DEP antibody drug conjugates pipeline in areas of cancer therapy.

Aurora Labs to further develop its 3D print technologies

Perth metal additive manufacturing company Aurora Labs has moved to focus on further developing its patented Multilayer Concurrent Printing (MCP) 3D printing process. While the technology is at the heart of the company’s its long awaited AL250 metal 3D printer the company is advancing computer simulations to look at the potential of the technology. The simulation results precede a design stage of ‘imagined’ prototype assemblies and component designs, according to the company. Aurora Labs intends prototyping MCP machines as a basis for discussion with global manufacturers.

Micro-X receives $6.2 million from federal government

Cold cathode X-ray machine manufacturer Micro-X has received a R&D tax incentive payment of $6.2 million from the federal government. The company sells a range of lightweight portable X-ray machines. It is manufacturing full size, integrated, self-screening airport passenger checkpoints under contract for the US Department of Homeland Security. It is also developing a lightweight CT scanner for pre-hospital stroke diagnosis in air and land ambulances under contract with the Australian Stroke Alliance.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering in contract wins

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering (SCEE Group) has announced new contracts worth $50 million in Western Australia, New South Wales and New Zealand. Multplex Constructions awarded group company Heyday design and construct packages for electrical and power station installation at the Artarmon NSW Data Centre. Trivantage Manufacturing has received contracts from Teck Global for the supply of switchboards and from Siemens (NZ) for power distribution equipment. SCEE Electrical won contracts from BHP Iron Ore for a switchboard replacement project.

Funding announced to attract female tradies to energy and manufacturing

Victorian minister for women Natalie Hutchins visited Nestle’s Campbellfield factory with Pascoe Vale Girls College students on Wednesday to announce $840,000 for initiatives to help students ‘try a trade’ and provide mentoring for women. According to a statement from the state government, the funding is the first tranche of a $2.7 million fund to support the male-dominated energy and manufacturing industries to attract, recruit and retain women. Hutchins said, “This funding will scale up existing programs to support women to have meaningful careers in the manufacturing and energy industries across our state.”

Monash tops state in paint recycling

The Monash Recycling and Waste Centre has been ranked the top paint recycling collection point in Victoria under its partnership with paint recovery scheme Paintback, the council announced this week. The recycling centre collected a total of 214,710 kilograms of paint from July 2022 to June 2023, diverting that paint from landfill and securing the Victorian title for seven years running, and placing second overall nationally for Paintback in 2022/23. Monash City Council is hosting a site tour on Thursday November 23 “for the public to see the centre in action and learn where materials go.”

Ferns produce insecticide, scientists find

Researchers from La Trobe University and the University of Melbourne have solved the structure of a novel insecticidal protein, originally discovered by Corteva Agriscience, that is effective in protecting major crop plants like corn and soybean from pests and is naturally produced by ferns. Professor Marilyn Anderson at La Trobe University said the discovery could lead to plant-made protein pest control for crop plants that are essential to global food production. “The structural analysis demonstrates that even though this protein is produced by plants, it has several features in common with known three-domain Cry proteins used extensively in agriculture for insect control,” said Anderson.