Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

WOA sells Dirty Clean Food to Jay Albany

Wide Open Agriculture is to sell its Dirty Clean Food business to its CEO Jay Albany through his holding company DCF Global. DCF aligns production, manufacturing and distribution to support and grow regenerative farming and regenerative farmers in Western Australia. The deal, work $1.5 million, will enable WOA to focus on its core business of Buntine Protein derived from lupins. In the interim Matthew Skinner, CFO of WOA, will step in as interim CEO. The deal is conditional on the transfer of assets to DCF, Albany securing working capital finance, and Wide Open Agriculture shareholder approval.

Hexagon moves to secure water supply for low-emissions ammonia project

Hexagon Energy Materials has provided information on its agreement with the Water Corporation of Western Australia to secure a water supply for its WAH2 low-emissions ammonia export project. The parties have committed to negotiate in good faith intending to execute a definitive water supply agreement. Hexagon has agreed not to seek alternative supplies of water for the project, while Water Corporation will reserve the capacity required for supply. The project uses natural gas as a feedstock and will utilise capture and storage of CO2 in depleted gas reservoirs delivering what the company called ‘low emissions’ ammonia.

Osteopore to raise $3m from investors

Bone reconstruction technology company Osteopore has announced a $3 million entitlement offer to shareholders to strengthen its balance sheet and support growth. The company’s 10 for one renounceable offer will be made at a price of 0.29 cents. The funds will maintain sales momentum, continue product development, secure regulatory clearances, advanced M&A opportunities and increase working capital. The company’s directors will take part in the offer. Osteopore’s regenerative 3D-printed bioresorbable silicone implants create a scaffold which guides a damaged or broken bone to regrow naturally.

EMVision receives $600,000 stroke grant payment

Medical imaging manufacturer EMVision Medical Devices has achieved a milestone in its research project funded by the Australian Stroke Alliance, triggering a $600,000 grant payment. The company’s scanner, which uses microwave imaging techniques to detect strokes at the point of care, is undergoing clinical testing. The company’s second generation scanner utilises an advanced 28-antenna system and an ultra-light weight helmet scanner

Codan appoints Matthew Jones to VP role in Asia Pacific

Communications and metal detection manufacturer Codan has extended its senior leadership team by appointing Matthew Jones as Vice President of Asia Pacific for Codan Domo Tactical Communications. Jones recently served as the Executive Vice President at EOS Defence Systems where he led the C4EDGE Australian Industry communications consortium demonstration. In his new role, Matthew will be responsible for leading the company’s business activities and overall go-to-market strategy within the region with a particular focus on the Military and Uncrewed markets. Jones said: “I’m pleased to be joining the company at this key point in the development of uncrewed systems – Codan’s product portfolio will be the critical enabler to customer capability delivery.”

Fugro brings ROV piloting course to Australia

Geo-data specialist Fugro has signed a memorandum of understanding with Commercial Dive Academy (CDA) and AMC Search (AMCS), to collaborate on bringing its Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Induction Course to Australia. This ROV course is suitable for people who are looking to change their career path into the complex and challenging world of piloting an ROV to support offshore renewable energy projects, offshore scientific or environmental work, offshore energy inspection, repair, maintenance or construction work, underwater search and recovery work or even wreck investigation. The Global Technical Training Manager of Fugro Wayne Reynolds said, “The offshore industry is going through a significant period of growth – trained staff are needed to meet the demand for personnel as…more staff are needed to remotely pilot ROVs.”

Andrew Dyer to depart as energy infrastructure commissioner

The Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC), Andrew Dyer, has advised the federal government of his intention to retire from the position effective 31 March 2024. Dyer was first appointed National Wind Farm Commissioner in November 2015, and in March 2021 his role was expanded, and later appointed the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner. Dyer has led efforts to promote best practices, information availability, and provide a central, trusted source for the dissemination of information. According to a statement from Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen the rapid take up and investment in new renewable energy and transmission projects would not have been possible without Dyer’s ‘tireless efforts to ensure the concerns of communities and energy infrastructure proponents are properly considered’. An acting Commissioner will be appointed soon as an interim arrangement pending a search process.

USC offers two electrical engineering scholarships for women

This week the University of the Sunshine Coast announced two Veolia Women in Electrical Engineering Scholarships, worth $20,000 each over four years, to support students starting an undergraduate Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) (Honours) program. The courses will be delivered at UniSC’s Moreton Bay campus and were “sparked by a long-standing partnership between Veolia ANZ and UniSC”. The university’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Helen Bartlett, said the scholarships would play an important role in attracting more women to engineering. “We’ve had an enormous growth in popularity across our engineering courses, 13 percent on last year, and yet all of the new students in the Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) program this year have been male,” Bartlett said. “Electrical engineering degrees offer enormous career opportunities and Veolia sets high targets for employing female engineers, so it’s important we make those pathways clear for women as they consider their study options.”

Picture: Fugro/Fugro Academy