Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Environmental Clean Technologies in lignite-based soil improvement hook up

Industrial technology group Environmental Clean Technologies has signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) with ESG Agriculture for the development and offtake of soil health products. This HoA is a precursor to a Joint Venture (JV) between the companies in developing a lignite-based nitrogen soil health product, meeting the demand for cost-effective fertilisers and enhancing soil carbon levels. ECH has completed chemical composition tests, batch and granulation testingand volume and ramp-up design. The partners envisage an initial product output of 30,000 tonnes per annum, with the opportunity to increase volume with no additional capital expenditure. Large field trials will be undertaken over the next 3-6 months and will target large cropping farms in South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

Wide Open Agriculture completes capital raise

Wide Open Agriculture has completed a placement and priority offer to raise $7.5 million in new capital. The company raised $450,000 from holders under the priority offer and $7 million from the placement, which received strong support. WOA is an ag-tech company focused on plant-based protein ingredients derived from lupins, including its Buntine Protein.

Liontown Resources secures another customer for WA lithium

Battery Materials producer Liontown Resources has executed an offtake agreement with Beijing Sinomine International Trade Co., Ltd. (BSIT)for the supply of spodumene concentrate from its flagship Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in Western Australia. The agreement provides for the supply of up to 100,000 dry metric tonnes (DMT) of spodumene concentrate over the course of 10 months commencing by 30 September 2024, and is in addition to contracts with Tesla, LG Energy Solution and Ford. Liontown’s Managing Director and CEO Tony Ottaviano, said: “Securing a near-term offtake with an established lithium refiner to sell initial volumes over the ramp-up period, de-risks sales during our ramp-up of the plant towards nameplate capacity.”

Vale Rod Carnegie

Rio Tinto has extended its condolences to the family of former Conzinc Riotinto of Australia Limited (CRA) Chief Executive, Chairman and Managing Director Sir Roderick Carnegie AC, who passed away on 14 July 2024 in Melbourne, aged 91. Although most closely associated with the mining industry, Carnegie also had a firm interest in value adding, heading a company that had interests in alumina and aluminium smelting, as well as the production of unique red and gold gems and industrial diamonds from the Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia. Carnegie, a former McKinsey & Co consultant, was a giant of industry involved in many good works, including piloting what are now known as The Clunies Ross Technology Innovation Awards of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. Under his leadership the awards broadened from a pure science focus, to recognising the interaction between science and industry.

Trade and Investment Queensland CEO’s term extended

The Queensland government has announced Justin McGowan will remain as Chief Executive Officer for Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) for another five years. Since joining TIQ in January 2023 on a short-term contract, McGowan has led the global business agency assisting exporters and promoting Queensland as a preferred investment destination. He has supported numerous trade missions and business engagement visits. McGowan was previously Australia’s Commissioner General to the World Expo in Dubai and delivered global programmes with the Department of Defence.

Osteopore appoints Zimmer Biomet as distributor

Australian-Singaporean bioresorbable implants manufacturer Osteopore has signed an Exclusive Distribution Agreement with global medical technology leader Zimmer Biomet for its craniofacial products. Zimmer Biomet will serve as Osteopore’s exclusive distributor for craniofacial products in EMEA and APAC, including Australia and New Zealand – a total of 24 countries. Currently, Osteopore is marketing and selling its craniofacial products in 10 countries with 2023 combined revenue accounting for between eight and nine percent of the company’s annual total revenue. CEO Dr Yujing Lim said: “This distribution partnership with Zimmer Biomet is a key milestone in our efforts to step up the commercialisation of our craniofacial products.”

ADSUN extended to include NT

The Australian Defence Science and Universities Network (ADSUN) has been expanded to include the Northern Territory, it was announced this week. Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory was added to the the Queensland Defence Science Alliance (QDSA), which will foster Defence-focused collaboration across the nation, according to a statement from Defence. Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro AC said that the collective of five state and defence sponsored nodes will connect Defence with researchers and industry to assist emerging technology development. “ADSUN provides Defence with a better understanding of what technologies are being developed by our universities and allows Industry and the research community to form a better understanding of our priorities,” said Monro.

’80 per cent of Australians’ would pay premium for recycled mattress: survey

A new Mattresses Matter Sustainability Survey by Soft Landing Mattress Recycling, Australia’s largest mattress recycler, has found that Australians are “highly concerned” about sustainability, with 93 per cent of Australian consumers saying they would be more likely to purchase a new mattress from a retailer that collects and recycles their old one. Over 86 per cent said they were willing to pay extra for this service. Soft Landing used the results to call on retailers and councils nationwide to partner with them to provide a mattress collection and recycling service. General Manager David Petrie said, “1.8 million old mattresses are disposed of each year in Australia. Of these, it is estimated that over 740,000 end up in landfill. This equates to 5,500 average elephants or nearly 2,500 compactor trucks… “Australians are saying they’ll use mattress recycling services if they’re available – so why not give them the chance?”

Rail industry decarbonisation blueprint launched

Australia must urgently develop a national strategy to decarbonise rail operations or risk losing a critical window to phase out diesel trains and meet net zero targets, according to a new report. Industry advocate the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) launched The Critical Path to Decarbonise Australia’s Rail Rollingstock this week, including priority actions for industry and government to transition the rail industry. The report by GHD said, approximately half of Australia’s diesel-powered rollingstock are due to be replaced from 2030-2050 but there are not yet clear solutions to support the transition to low and zero emissions technologies. Urgent, coordinated action to boost research and pilot projects, plan enabling infrastructure, confirm renewable energy and fuel supply, and build skills and supply chain capability is needed to maximise the benefits that can be realised in this key procurement window were needed, according to ARA.

Treasury Wines shows off new automation investment

This week Treasury Wine Estates launched a new $10 million integrated automation and barrel handling system at its Barossa Valley winery in South Australia, which it says is a world first and was the subject of nearly four years of work. According to a report in Food & Drink Business, the automation set-up includes nine autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), a custom barrel management software system, automated barrel washing and filling facilities, and individual barrel identification. A digital barrel management system developed by TWE and Nukon (a division of SAGE Group) controls the AGVs, which are laser-guided and operate within a 35,000 square metre barrel hall.

PsiQuantum partners with five Queensland universities

PsiQuantum — which hopes to build the world’s first utility-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer in Australia — is partnering with five universities in Queensland to support the growing demand for skills in the quantum computing economy and explore research projects. According to a statement from University of Southern Queensland — one of the five along with The University of Queensland, Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology, and the University of the Sunshine Coast — the partnership aims to foster opportunities for academic, postgraduate, and undergraduate placements that will attract and retain top talent from Australia and around the globe. UniSQ Dean (Research Infrastructure) Professor Brad Carter (pictured) said, “We are excited to pursue research and development in quantum and advanced technology that builds on our research flagship strengths in agriculture and environment, space and defence, health, and regional development.”

Picture: Professor Brad Carter (supplied)