Silentium doubles down on US market entry with senior appointment
Passive radar systems manufacturer Silentium Defence has announced further commitment to the US market, posting co-founder and Chief Experience Officer, Simon Palumbo to Virginia. Palumbo will assume the role, Executive Vice President, Silentium Defense Corporation, and be responsible for in-country customer support, business development, talent acquisition and growth of the US team. The company said the move follows a first US contract announced in October 2023 and increased demand for its MAVERICK M8 passive radar systems. Palumbo said: “it is clear we have a unique technology that addresses a specific capability gap in the current operating picture, especially as it relates to Counter-UAS and expeditionary force protection. Our low-size, weight and power passive radar system is highly mobile and can see everything in the airspace, even non-emitting objects like silent, autonomous systems and dark drones.” MAVERICK M8 was recently trialled at Exercise Trident Spectre 2024 and exhibited at SOF Week in Tampa, and is already in various stages of trial and use by the Australian Army, Navy, and Air Force as well as global customers and partners.
KBR offers defence internships, new positions
Defence technology and engineering solutions provider KBR has launched its summer internship campaign, offering 60 roles at its sites around Australia. People and Culture Director Christine Gillon said: “Internships are an important part of our recruitment strategy and the roles on offer provide university students with the chance to try a range of workplace experiences ahead of completing their studies. Many of our interns continue with us as graduates because they love the variety of work we do and the opportunities they have for career development in Australia in both critical infrastructure and defence, and also as they progress, within our global business.” To be eligible for KBR’s intern program, students must be Australian citizens or have permanent residency and be in their penultimate year of study of a bachelor’s degree with an interest in engineering with a focus on infrastructure, defence, energy and sustainability, transport, safety, Integrated logistics support, computer science, cyber security, project management or risk management. KBR is also recruiting a number of specialist positions in Sydney after being selected as the industry partner to support the Royal Australian’s Navy’s Amphibious and Replenishment Ship fleet.
Cann I Help launches cost medical consultations
Australian medicinal cannabis network, Cann I Help, has announced a significant initiative aimed at alleviating the financial strain on patients by providing complimentary consultations. Cann I Help, part of medicinal cannabis grower and manufacturer Cann Group, has served over 15,000 patients since its inception in 2021. Head of Medical at Cann I Help Dr Laurence Kemp said: “While our clinicians possess exceptional expertise, we recognise the economic challenges facing many Australians today. Offering complimentary initial consultations underscores our dedication to making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.” Commencing April 1, 2024, these complimentary consultations have supported individuals grappling with various medical conditions, such as chronic pain and sleep disorders, through alternative medicinal solutions, according to the company.
Queensland and Bavaria collaborate on clean energy and storage
A scientific knowledge-sharing partnership between the governments of Queensland and the German state of Bavaria will benefit from a $600,000 investment from the state. The Queensland-Bavaria Collaborative Research Program is a joint initiative formed under the Declaration of Intent between the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) and the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts. It will see the development of partnerships and research collaboration in the areas of clean energy and storage, emission reduction technologies, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, aerospace, manufacturing, life sciences, biomedical research, and the wider bio-economy. These are key areas supporting Queensland’s development strategies including the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, Industry Roadmaps and Action Plans, and the Queensland Trade and Investment Strategy. Queensland universities and research organisations can apply to join with Bavarian research institutions in research projects to build knowledge in these key areas.
BAE Systems’ Craig Lockhart’s shipbuilding award
The Managing Director of BAE Systems Australia’s Maritime business has been awarded the Australian Naval Institute’s McNeil Prize for 2024. The McNeil Prize, which was awarded to Craig Lockhart during a ceremony in Canberra, recognises an industry professional for an outstanding contribution to the capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Craig Lockhart has spent 40 years working in national naval shipbuilding and sustainment programmes in the United Kingdom and Australia. In his role overseeing BAE Systems Australia’s maritime capabilities, including the Hunter Class Frigate Program and sustainment programs for the RAN’s ANZAC class frigates, the Hobart class Air Warfare Destroyers and with his previous nuclear experience, he is now supporting the AUKUS programme. In this capacity, Craig Lockhart has played a key part in the evolution of Continuous Naval Shipbuilding in Australia. Ben Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of BAE Systems Australia said: “This award rightly recognises the pivotal role that Craig has played in shaping the future of Australia’s maritime defence. Under Craig’s stewardship, the Osborne Naval Shipyard has flourished into a hub of innovation, shaping the foundation of Australia’s continuous naval shipbuilding capability.”
Food manufacturing and training hub planned for Ourimbah
Central Coast Industry Connect is planning to build an $11.6 million food manufacturing and training hub in a light industrial area at Ourimbah, it was reported this week. According to a report on Coast Community News (linked), the development proposal is for a single two-storey building, with nine internal spaces for food-related businesses in a co-operative hub for research, innovation, promotion and education. Central Coast Council is owner of the 1.88 hectare development site at 2-4 Brownlee St, Ourimbah, and agreed in June last year to enter a land lease arrangement with Central Coast Industry Connect so the Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub could proceed. The application will be determined by the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel and submissions close on May 20 on Central Coast Council’s DA Tracker.
SPEE3D launches EMU
Cold spray additive manufacturing business SPEE3D announced the launch of its Expeditionary Manufacturing Unit (EMU) this week. According to a statement from the company, EMU is a complete on-site mobile additive manufacturing solution, combining SPEE3D’s expeditionary metal 3D printer, XSPEE3D with its SPEE3Dcell post-processing and testing unit in two 20-foot shipping containers. Together, the printer and other cell “can produce cast-equivalent metal parts in record time close to the point of need.” The deployable technology was demonstrated at the European Defence Agency’s AM Village 2024 Workshop in Tournai, Belgium, alongside the British Army to militaries from over 25 EU and NATO countries. “Part of the issue for defence and other heavy industries is getting critical equipment up and running quickly to avoid costly production delays,” said Byron Kennedy, CEO of SPEE3D. “EMU will enable the British Army and others to take control, giving them the ability to print and post-process parts very quickly from anywhere.”
Detpak to exhibit at US trade show
Packaging business Detpak has said it is strengthening its position as a major partner in the global Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) industry by electing to exhibit at the National Restaurant Association Show (NRAS) 2024 in Chicago, running from May 18-21. The event is the largest gathering of food service professionals in the western hemisphere, said Detpak, which designs, manufactures and supplies the FMCG, grocery and food services industry with paper and cardboard packaging solutions. Detpak said it recently opened sales offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Tampa, and is solidifying expansion plans “into the North American market, with a focus on paper and board-based packaging solutions for the QSR, retail and grocery, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries.”
Diraq engineer secures early career fellowship
Quantum processor company Diraq has shared details this week of an Australian Research Council (ARC) Early Career Industry Fellowship recently awarded to CMOS Design and Measurement Engineer Dr Nard Dumoulin Stuyck. According to a srarenment from Diraq, the fellowship recognises “Stuyck’s groundbreaking research towards Diraq’s mission of achieving large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computing” and comes with $500,000 funding to advance a project “focused on developing high-volume testing and characterisation capabilities for semiconductor spin qubits.” The project addresses the challenge in scaling quantum processors from prototypes to full-scale devices, “and has the potential to significantly accelerate the path towards billion-qubit quantum chips, a key milestone for realising the transformative power of quantum computing”, it said.
AML3D raises $6.9 million
Wire arc additive manufacturing business AML3D has announced “strong support for the company’s non-renounceable, pro-rata, 1 for 3 rights issue” this week, raising approximately $3.9 million, and has received firm commitments to undertake a placement to raise an additional $3 million on the same terms as the rights issue. The rights Issue closed on May 9 and was supported by existing shareholders. This funding “will allow AML3D to be fully funded in its efforts to establish a US manufacturing base whilst retaining sufficient working capital to take advantage of potential growth opportunities”, the company said.
NSW announces extra funds for ten NCRIS facilities
Ten research facilities have shared in a $15.2 million funding injection over two years through the NCRIS Support Program. In a statement on Wednesday, the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer said the funding round included $3.2 million to the NSW node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility, $2.15 million to Microscopy Australia headquartered at the University of Sydney, and $1.9 million to the Sydney Institute of Marine Science. (A full list of funded projects is here.) “We recognise the vital role NCRIS facilities play in supporting the state’s research and development sector,” said NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, Hugh Durrant-Whyte. “These facilities enable the most advanced research and commercialisation opportunities to happen right here in NSW.”
Picture: credit SPEE3D
