Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Sparc Hydrogen begins pilot plant work

Sparc Hydrogen has begun front-end engineering and design (FEED) work on its pilot water splitting (PWS) reactor to produce green hydrogen at cheaper cost than traditional electrolysis. The company, a joint venture between Sparc Technologies, Fortescue and the University of Adelaide, will locate the plant at the UoA’s Roseworthy Campus, north of Adelaide. Theite approvals process and long lead equipment orders are underway and follows the signing of a Collaboration Framework Agreement with
Shinshu University in Japan, a leading developer of photocatalyst materials. Sparc told investors: “Each of these milestones represents material de-risking of the pilot plant development workstreams building on from the pre-FEED study and the successful prototyping work completed at the CSIRO Energy Centre in early April 2024.”

Gold Hydrogen reports rising helium concentrations in natural hydrogen prospect

Naturally occurring hydrogen developer Gold Hydrogen has reported concentrations of helium of between 20 and 25 percent in exploration work at its Ramsay Project on Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. Previously the company had reported concentrations of up to 6.8 percent, with the gases detected at surface – a world first for naturally occurring hydrogen and helium according to the company. Helium has numerous uses in cryogenics, arc welding, automotive airbags and in cooling superconducting magnets including in MRI imaging. Gold Hydrogen has completed the capture of seismic data with the data suitable for choosing future well locations across the extensive prospect.

Austal delivers seventh ECCPB patrol boat to the RAN

Shipbuilder Austal has delivered the seventh of ten Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats (ECCPB’s) under contract to the Royal Australian Navy. The vessel, ADV Cape Solander, was officially accepted at Austal’s Henderson, Western Australia shipyard. Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said: “Working closely with our valued supply chain partners and the project teams from the Department of Defence and Royal Australian Navy, the Austal Australia team is collaborating effectively to deliver sovereign capability for Australia.” The SEA1445-1 project will see a total of ten vessels built.

AML3D 3D printing machinery installed in US submarine construction supply chain

AML3D has announced that the industrial-scale, ARCEMY ‘X-Edition 6700’ Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAM) metal 3D printing system ordered by Cogitic Corporation is now commissioned and operational. The final commissioning of the equipment triggers the final payments in the $2.5 million purchase. Cogitic is a supplier of componentry to the US Navy’s Submarine Industrial base and specialises in complex parts and assemblies. AML3D Managing Director Sean Ebert said: “The successful commissioning of this Cogitic ARCEMY X system advances a key objective of AML3D’s US scale up strategy, embedding our WAM technology in the supply chains for the US defence industry and in particular US Navy’s submarine industrial base.”

Ego Pharmaceuticals doubles cream products manufacturing capacity

Ego Pharmaceuticals has celebrated the installation of a new Cream Filling Line, marking a significant milestone in its decade-long plan to boost production capacity and meet the growing global demand from consumers and patients. The state-of-the-art machines doubles our capacity for the entire range of bottled QV body products, including not just QV Cream, but also QV Gentle Wash, and QV Skin Lotion. The 7.3 tonne line boasts precision temperature control for products best filled within a narrow temperature range. and this machine is specially designed to maintain that.

Amplia Therapeutics drug reduces tumour size in pancreatic cancer

Amplia Therapeutics has announced that an additional patient has shown a confirmed response in the Company’s Phase 2a clinical trial investigating narmafotinib in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. The patient showed a sustained reduction in tumour size in pancreatic cancer. Amplia previously reported that three confirmed partial responses have already been observed in the first patient cohort. This latest confirmed partial response means that only a further two confirmed responses are required for the trial’s interim analysis to support recruitment of the additional 24 patients in a further trial.

State government appoints Victorian Rail Advocate

The state government has appointed a new Victorian Rail Advocate, Tamara Culembourg, in a role responsible for promoting the local rail manufacturing supply chain and workforce. A statement from the Victorian government last week describes Culembourg as  a transport and rail manufacturing specialist with almost two decades’ worth of local and international experience to the role. The advocate chairs the state’s Rail Industry Development Advisory Committee (RIDAC) and promotes collaboration between industry, transport operators, and government. “I’m excited and honoured to be appointed Victoria’s next Rail Advocate and look forward to supporting innovation and helping manufacturers and suppliers secure new opportunities in this high value, highly skilled industry,” said Culembourg.

New AusBiotech Deputy CEO appointed

Life sciences industry body AusBiotech has announced Rosanne Hyland as its new Deputy Chief Executive Officer, following five years as the group’s Business Manager and Chief Operating Officer. Hyland also served as Acting CEO for the six months until May 2024. As Deputy CEO, Hyland “will continue to oversee day to day operations while also working closely with the CEO, Rebekah Cassidy, to embed member value in all parts of the organisation’s operations” according to a statement on Monday from AusBiotech. Hyland added: “There’s no doubt that Australia’s life sciences industry is poised for future growth. Making sure we can hear member voice at speed to enable their success must be one of our highest priorities. Getting to do that with our hardworking AusBiotech team, including our fantastic membership engagement team, is an honour.”

Marinus Link secures cables

Marinus Link — owned by the Australian, Tasmanian and Victorian governments and responsible for progressing the Marinus Link interconnector project — has executed a major contract with Prysmian to supply the project’s high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables. The contract ensures the design, manufacture, supply and installation for Stage 1 of the  Marinus Link interconnector project, a 750-megawatt HVDC cable system, according to a statement from Marinus last week. CEO Caroline Wykamp said, “Prysmian has proven and global expertise in delivering projects like Marinus Link. “We have booked their most advanced cabling vessel – the Leonardo Da Vinci. “Marinus Link will enable Tasmania to import excess supply of solar and wind produced  interstate, while reserving its hydro and storing the extra energy.” The project’s cables span 345 kilometres: 255 of these undersea across Bass Strait and 90 kilometres underground in Gippsland, Victoria.

Conflux is hiring

Metal additive manufacturing specialist Conflux Technology has shared that it is hiring for multiple roles across the company. According to the Waurn Ponds-based business, roles are available as Outbound Sales Development Representative, Project Manager, Project Coordinator, and Business Development Manager – North America (based in the United States.) Application and other details for each role are linked.

Mushroom Material secures seed round

New Zealand-based Mushroom Material, a start-up founded in 2020 and aiming to replace styrofoam with what it says is the world’s first pelletised fungi packaging, has secured NZ$8.5 million in (approximately $7.8 million) in seed round funding. According to a statement from MM, Southeast Asia Wavemaker Partners and Singapore’s SEEDS Capital have led the investment, along with local and overseas VCs Icehouse Ventures, K1W1, and Black Kite Capital. Mushroom Material said it has has developed a scalable process “to grow millions of fungi based pellets, which are then coated in a binding agent, allowing it to be shaped into customised packaging solutions.” The funding is being used to establish a 1,300 square metre pilot plant in Auckland’s Mount Roskill, with an aim to start delivering orders to existing customers in 2025.

Picture: Prysmian group’s Leonardo Da Vinci vessel (supplied)