Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Victorian industry minister Natalie Hutchins announced the $10 million Skills Solutions Partnerships Program at the 2023 Victorian Manufacturing Showcase on Tuesday. As part of the program, government, industry, TAFEs and universities will co-design and pilot new training courses in manufacturing, digital, construction, clean economy, healthcare and social services, said Hutchins in a statement. “Many of our fastest growing industries are experiencing critical skills shortages – our Skills Solutions Partnerships Program will connect these industries with passionate, work-ready local students to fill the gaps that are blocking their growth,” she added.

Titomic sells new spray booth to Air France subsidiary

Cold spray additive manufacturing company Titomic has announced the sale of a medium-pressure Integrated Spray Booth (ISB) to EPCOR, a subsidiary of Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance. This sale represented “a significant milestone in Titomic’s journey” and “a pivotal step in our collaboration with EPCOR”. The system, will provide “new capabilities in metal part restoration for the aerospace sector”, according to Titomic. “We believe in making a real difference in the industry, and it’s collaborations like this that make it possible,” Titomic posted on Linkedin. “With EPCOR now joining the ranks of Boeing and Airbus in utilising cold spray technology in aerospace, we’re keen to see where this journey takes us.”

Second OPV launches in SA

The Arafura class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) NUSHIP Eyre has been launched at South Australia’s Osborne Naval Shipyard. The vessel is the second in its class being built by Luerssen Australia, in collaboration with local defence industry partners, for the Royal Australian Navy. The Arafura class OPVs are intended to replace the Armidale class patrol boats and have been designed to perform maritime patrol and response duties for the Australian Defence Force. It follows the launch of NUSHIP Arafura in December 2021. The remaining vessels will be built by Luerssen Australia at the Henderson Maritime Precinct in Western Australia. “On behalf of the Chief of Navy, and the sailors and officers of the Royal Australian Navy, I congratulate the defence industry workforce at Osborne on the launch of Australia’s second OPV, NUSHIP Eyre,” said Royal Australian Navy’s Head of Navy Capability, Rear Admiral Stephen Hughes.

AIS Water’s sales head eyes off Brisbane Olympics

The new Chief of Sales and Marketing at AIS Water, Lee Moore, has said he aims to have the company’s water disinfection systems in all the commercial swimming pools across Brisbane which will feature in the 2032 Olympic Games. Moore began at the company last month and has over 15 years’ experience working in senior management within Australia’s pool and spa industry. “My new role at AIS Water is exciting to me for a lot of reasons, Moore said. “Not least because as a Brisbane based business, our technology is already in so many commercial and residential swimming pools across Australia, including many where our Olympic athletes are training hard to bring home gold in 2032.” AIS Water’s technology can be found in over 55 countries. AIS Water was a winner of the Top 10 Gold Award in @AuManufacturing’s Australia’s 50 most innovative manufacturers campaign earlier this year.

Bod receives $1.645 million R&D Tax Rebate

Cannabis-focussed development company Bod Science has announced a $1.65 million Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentive Rebate for the 2023 financial year has been received. The R&D rebate covers in full the outstanding loan repayable to Radium Capital, which totals $1.216 million, with the balance of $0.43 million transferred to Bod. The rebate relates to applicable R&D activities conducted by Bod during the 2023 financial year. CEO Jo Patterson said in a statement on Wednesday that, “The R&D tax rebate highlights Bod’s commitment over the last 12 months to our R&D projects specifically on our Schedule 3 OTC Phase llB and our R&D work with Aqua Phase to support its commercialisation”.

Amaero raises $10 million to fund Tennessee factory

Amaero International announced on Tuesday that it has raised $10 million through a two-tranche placement. The placement is priced at $0.1600 for one fully-paid ordinary share in the capital of the company with one free  attaching option for every share issued. The placement will take place in two tranches. The lead investor is Pegasus Growth Capital (an approximate 39 per cent shareholder, and an entity associated with two directors of the company, Hank Holland and Bob Latta) with a commitment of $4 million (subject to approval of this investment by shareholders.) A planned $5.7 million of the placement will be spent on the fit-out of a new factory in Tennessee, and $4.3 million on capital equipment.