Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

CST extends its Olympics efforts at Paris

Carbon fibre specialist CST Composites (pictured) shared this week that it supplied mast sections for the ILCA6, ILCA7, 49er and 49erFX sailing classes for the Paris 2024 Olympics. “Seeing these exceptional athletes perform at the highest level with our equipment is truly a testament to our unwavering commitment to precision and quality. We are bursting with pride as we celebrate their outstanding achievements” the company posted on Linkedin, adding that it has assisted Olympic athletes secure four gold, four silver and medals four bronze medals. “A massive shout out to all the athletes for their spectacular performances and relentless dedication. Your hard work and talent have shone brightly, and we’re honored to have been a part of your journey” it added.

Forbidden Foods buys Oat Milk Goodness business

Infant, toddler health and plant-based ingredients company Forbidden Foods is to acquire non-dairy oat milk manufacturer Oat Milk Goodness in an all-scrip transaction valuing the business at $3.2 million. Founded by cricketer Steve Smith, Oat Milk Goodness is well established in Australia and is targeting the Indian market. OMG is turning over $1.2 million a year with its products to be integrated with Forbidden Foods Blue Dinosaur snack range. As part of the transaction Forbidden Foods has secured commitments from investors to raise $650,000.

Hydrogen worker training centre for Townsville

A re-elected Labor government will build a new $15 million skills and training facility in Townsville to help develop the region’s green hydrogen industry workforce. Townsville’s Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre will give local workers skills in specialist plumbing, fire, and air-conditioning and mechanical training needed in the clean energy sector. The new centre will deliver the full suite of training in plumbing and fire protection, from pre-apprenticeship level to the full Certificate III apprenticeship courses, through to a range of Certificate IV and post-trade courses. It will also deliver accredited training in emerging technologies and applications like working safely with hydrogen and other renewable gasses.

Orbital UAV achieves $1m grant funding

Drone engine manufacturer Orbital Corporation has received a $1 million grant from the Western Australian Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science & Innovation, following the successful achievement of performance milestones in the six months ending 30 June, 2024. The performance milestones include export targets, new customer developments and support investment into capabilities in design and manufacture. The grant reduces Orbital UAV’s loan balance to $2.4m at 30 June 2024 and improves the company’s Net Asset position by $1 million. The interest free loan was established in January 2010, however under a Deed of Variation, the Department agreed to amend the repayment schedule to allow the Company to offset its debt to the state through the achievement of performance milestones. It is now likely that the company will have met remaining milestones to offset the entire value of the remaining loan by December 2024.

Sam Roberts appointed CEO of Professionals Australia

Professionals Australia has appointed Sam Roberts as its new CEO following an exhaustive CEO search process conducted by the board. Professionals Australia National President Katie Havelberg said Sam came with a wealth of experience in industrial organising. Havelberg said: “Sam joins us from the United Workers Union (UWU), where he has extensive leadership experience and a strong track record of delivering excellent wages and conditions for his members and strengthening union membership.” Sam has represented union members across different industries, sectors and occupations for over 20 years.

Sparc files provisional coatings patent

Sparc Technologies has filed an Australian provisional patent application for Sparc’s development of advanced coating systems for photocatalyst materials. The technology has synergies with the work of photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) developer Sparc Hydrogen which is a joint venture with Sparc, Fortescue and the University of Adelaide. The patent covers a platform technology targeting higher efficiency, greater durability and improved handling of photocatalysts within water splitting reactors. Sparc Managing Director Nick O’Loughlin said: “Results in the lab are very encouraging and given the nascent stage of the PWS industry there is strong potential to deliver a highly relevant and complementary platform technology protected by IP which is 100 percent owned by Sparc Technologies.”

New $39 million WA TAFE campus opened

The Western Australian government has opened Australia’s newest TAFE campus, a $39 million multi-storey building in the heart of Armadale’s town centre. Officially opened today by Premier Roger Cook, the new multi-storey South Metropolitan TAFE campus on Church Avenue will deliver world-class training to students in Perth’s outer south-eastern suburbs. South Metropolitan TAFE is offering industry-relevant courses across business, childcare, community services, education support, general education and information technology at the new campus. The new campus consolidates multiple vocational training facilities into a standalone training hub for the local community, with almost double the training capacity of the previous facilities. The expanded student capacity comes after publicly funded vocational course enrolments reached a new record high of over 153,800.

AusBiotech named an IPO for IGP

Life science industry organisation AusBiotech has been announced as an Industry Partner Organisation (IPO) under the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program (IGP). In a statement this week, AusBiotech welcomed the selection, under which it will provide support for startups and SMEs. “The program will see AusBiotech deliver a commercialisation advisory support service for Australian biotech and medtech companies that are part of the Industry Growth Program” it said. “AusBiotech will leverage its deep industry expertise and networks to support mentoring and connection for small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) moving through research translation and commercialisation.”