Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

GT Recycling officially opens Geelong soft plastics plant

Geelong, Victoria’s GT Recycling has officially opened its soft plastics recycling facility in a ceremony attended by local MPs. The $4.7 million facility is supported by a $3 million federal government grant. The new facility marks a major milestone in the fight against plastic waste, turning recycled plastics into concrete products. Companies with commercial quantities of plastic waste can now take advantage of GT Recycling’s collection services, ensuring that their waste is processed sustainably and contributing to a cleaner future. GT Recycling is a member of the Geelong Manufacturing Council.

Guzu taken over by Benbro

Electronics design and manufacture business Benbro has expanded, taking over Guzu, which designs custom lighting and electrical products for the defence sector. Guzu took to social media and said: “This merger combines our rapidly deployable lighting expertise with Benbro’s 38+ years of experience in designing mission-critical electronics for the defence, telecommunications, and medical industries.” Benbro was established in 1985, initially manufacturing, but has since expended including into power supplies and DC-DC converters, mainly for other OEMs. Sydney-based Benbro is part of the M-Holdings Group.

Altech Batteries secures first battery offtake agreement

Silicon battery developer Altech Batteries has executed an Offtake Letter of Intent between Zweckverband Industriepark Schwarze Pumpe (ZISP) and Altech Batteries GmbH. ZISP will purchase 30MWh of energy storage capacity annually, consisting of 1MWh CERENERGY GRIDPACKS, for the first five years of production of its German battery plant. The price of these batteries has been agreed and aligned to Altech’s Definitive Feasibility Study assumptions and is subject to performance tests, battery specifications and the batteries meeting customer requirements. A combination of wind, solar, and Altech’s CERENERGY GridPack Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will ensure continuous power supply to the Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park, even during low energy generation or outages.

Lockheed Martin selects AW Bell for mentorship programme

Lockheed Martin Australia has selected Melbourne-based advanced castings manufacturer and precision machining specialist AW Bell as the fourth Australian small-to-medium enterprise (SME) to participate in its Mentor Protégé Program (MPP). AW Bell executives will undertake an intensive 12-month mentoring programme with access to leading Lockheed Martin’s experts from both Australia and the United States. The MPP aims to accelerate the development of core capabilities within SMEs covering best practices in areas such as human resource processes, business ethics, contracting, product management, export controls, quality management systems, supply chain risk management, competitive intelligence, and cybersecurity readiness. By leveraging Lockheed Martin’s extensive expertise, AW Bell will seek to achieve a strategic uplift for its Australian customers, while also further expanding their export opportunities to the United States and beyond.

Queensland’s new aquaculture development programme

The Queensland government will invest $15 million in a Queensland Aquaculture Strategy 2024–2034, which outlines a plan to put more premium Queensland seafood on plates. This investment follows $7.5 million committed to aquaculture in March 2023. Some of the key initiatives include: A research and development programme to support diversification in the industry; Research into innovative and cost-effective waste treatment and management, farm automation and energy-efficient enterprises; Enhanced biosecurity initiatives to support industry; A limited grants programme to support First Nation businesses and the adoption of new technologies to enhance business sustainability and resilience; And the establishment of an Aquaculture Stakeholder Reference Group. The Strategy supports new technologies and equipment, including a grants programme.

Bardee has bounced back, apparently

Eco-friendly fertiliser business Bardee, which was ordered into liquidation in May, is apparently back in business. The company’s co-founder Phoebe Gardner posted on Linkedin on Monday morning that “Bardee has been through what seemed like impossible challenges, and yet, here we are. We’ve made it through, and I can finally exhale… Today, I’m incredibly thankful that Bardee is still here, able to continue its mission. I’m proud to do work that aligns with my values and to create real change. Achieving a circular economy will require countless attempts, and while not all will succeed, the effort is vital.” Bardee made fertiliser from food waste using black soldier flies, had products in Bunnings stores, and received backing from firms including Blackbird Ventures. “I’ll be sharing more about this journey in the coming weeks in the hope that it resonates with someone facing their own challenges, now or in the future” Gardner added.

Flinders student completes Exail internship

Jeremy Wojak, a Flinders University Masters student, recently completed a six-month internship at Exail’s Brest facility in France, where he made significant contributions to maritime autonomy and robotics, according to a statement from the company. Wojak was selected as part of an R&D collaboration between Exail, Flinders University and ENSTA Bretagne, and supported by the Nicolas Baudin Travel Grant. He worked closely with Exail Robotics’s Marine Data Processing Product Manager and Brest Site Manager Sébastien Tauvry, and Flinders University’s Professor Karl Sammut. “Our students continue to benefit from valuable overseas study and work experience with the help of the Embassy of France in Australia internships under the prestigious 2019 Nicolas Baudin internships in Australia initiative,” said Sammut.

Picture: credit Bardee