Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Fleet on hiring spree

Small satellite business Fleet Space Technologies is hiring for 11 positions, the company’s co-founder and CEO announced on Monday. In a statement on Linkedin, Flavia Tata Nardini posted about the positions vacant, listing Key Account Executive – Salt Lakes (US)m Senior Sales Executive – Macquarie Arc (AUS), Sales Engineer (APAC), Data Scientist, Junior Electronics Engineer, Product Technician, Test/Validation Engineer, Market Intelligence Analyst, Lead Product Marketing , Manager, Geological Client Manager, and Junior Embedded Software Engineer. More information can be found at this link.

Talga Group raises $9.5 million

Battery materials company Talga Group has received commitments for a placement of new fully paid ordinary shares to raise $9.5 million before costs. The placement was strongly supported by existing major long term shareholders and institutional investors. Proceeds will be used to fund pre-execution activities during the final stages of the company’s Swedish Vittangi Anode Project development and execution readiness ahead of a financial investment decision, and progress mineral resource and anode production expansion studies and the SQM lithium joint venture.

Respiri raises $1.1 million from shareholders

Respiratory medical technology company Respiri has received firm commitments to raise $1.1 million from existing sophisticated and professional shareholders. The company has received the placement funds in advance and will be converting to equity in the coming weeks. Respiri will use the cash raised to fund the accelerated execution of the company’s US commercialisation strategy including patient recruitment and onboarding, its differentiating Clinic in Cloud (CiC) services and finalising contracts currently underway. Managing Director Marjan Mikel said: “The amounts raised from the recent capital raisings will assist the company in progressing towards its goal for profitability.”

AnteoTech signs purchase agreement

Surface chemical company AnteoTech has signed a US$1.8m purchase agreement for its AnteoBind biomolecule binding technology with vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India. The five year agreement envisages US$370,000 in annual minimum order. The Serum Institute of India produces over 1.5 billion vaccine doses annually. AnteoTech plans to ship the first US$185,000 order for the product in August. The Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of AnteoTech David Radford said: “We are excited to extend our close working relationship with Serum Institute of India…with our unique AnteoBindT product becoming an integral part of their vaccine development and production process.”

IDT Australia revenue powers ahead

Pharmaceutical manufacturer IDT Australia has reported a strong finish to the financial year with Q4FY24 revenue up 87 percent to $4.6 million. FY24 revenue of $13.5 million was 92 percent above FY23. IDT’s Advanced Therapies and API manufacturing businesses were growth standouts. IDT told investors that Myndbio which has bid to purchase the company was undertaking limited, first-stage due diligence on IDT on a non-exclusive basis.

Convergence Medical hires new commercial head

Surgical robot business Convergence Medical has announced Brynn Turner as its new Head of Distribution and Commercial. In a statement from the company on Linkedin, Turner was described as having “extensive experience in commercial roles, having worked in orthopaedic medical devices in his previous role, growing the company from startup to global distribution during his tenure.” Turner has also been involved in numerous startup ventures, “which have seen commercial success in industries such as home automation and recruitment.” Convergence Medical featured on @AuManufacturing‘s Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers for 2024 list.

The Whiskey Project makes board appointments

Australian specialist and tactical watercraft manufacturer The Whiskey Project Group (TWPG) has announced the appointment of Colonel John Lowry III (retired) to its Australian board and Major General Paul Kennedy (retired) to the board of its United States operation. In a statement on Wednesday the company’s founder and Managing Director Darren Schuback said: “At this critical time in TWPG’s growth, John Lowry brings crucial expertise in supply chain management and growth… Paul Kennedy and John Lowry’s deep understanding of the strategic environment, as well as their unmatched leadership and expertise in the nexus between politics and defence policy, will prove invaluable as TWPG expands its US-based operations, focusing on the development of next-generation tactical watercraft for military, law enforcement and maritime rescue agencies”.

Tetrapak names new Oceania Marketing Director 

Packaging solutions company Tetra Pak has appointed Giancarlos Larocca as its new Marketing Director for the Oceania region.  Larocca has relocated to Melbourne from Italy and was appointed into the role earlier this month, following the internal movement of Jaymie Pagdato to Sales Director after six years in the role. Larocca was most recently Tetra Pak’s Global Category Manager, joined the company in 2015 as Marketing Manager, and has since worked in various capacities for the business across Italy and the Americas. Boris Munster, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Oceania, said “His expertise across both B2B and B2C marketing, as well as his in-depth knowledge of Tetra Pak’s offering at a global  level will be an asset for our regional business. We’re thrilled to have him on board.”

Fortescue collaborates with Cosco Shipping

Metals and green energy company Fortescue signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Cosco Shipping in Shanghai this week to work on decarbonising shipping. According to Fortescue, both companies “will collaborate on developing technologies to lower emissions and build a green fuel supply chain.” This includes exploring construction and deployment of vessels powered by green ammonia to ship iron ore and other mineral products with the aim of reducing Australia-China Iron Ore Green Shipping Corridor’s carbon emissions. “The shipping industry plays a vital role in global trade however also contributes significantly to the world’s carbon emissions,” said Fortescue Metals Chief Executive Officer, Dino Otranto. “This collaboration marks a significant step in decarbonising the shipping industry and establishing a green fuel supply chain.”

Mars launches Indian mint farmer program

Confectioner Mars Wrigley has launched its Fresh Futures program, which it says will help India’s mint growing communities to become more sustainable. Mars said the program aims to advance plant science and invest in mint farmers and their communities in Uttar Pradesh  — which accounts for around 75 per cent of the world’s fresh mint — to ensure their crops thrive for generations. Mint is a key ingredient in the mint brand, ECLIPSE Mints. Mars said it will help fund local UN-backed programs designed to save water, improve soil, reduce disease, and increase productivity, while also helping educate, train and empower nearly one million women and children. Andrew Leakey, General Manager Mars Wrigley Australia, said, “I had the pleasure of leading our Mars Wrigley India business for four years from 2016 – 2019… Fresh Futures program is working to actively confront and address the issues within the mint farming communities, from sustainable farming practices through to education, empowerment and bolstering income and financial literacy to not only directly support mint farmers, but enable the broader mint farming community to thrive.”

Picture: credit Mynd Bio