Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Noizend reports progress after one year’s operation

Noise reduction company Noizend has developed a relationship with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to develop its Noizend Shields at its Centre for Audio, Acoustics and Vibration. Noizend develops noise-cancelling technologies to reduce the noise pollution at the source from construction facilities, live music venues and factories. The first contract assignment lead to Noizend demonstrating a 150 Hz low-frequency reduction of 20-30 Decibels in a controlled environment at UTS. Noizend has received a NSW Government MVP grant, and grants from the federal government Industry Growth Program (IGP) and Sydney City Council.

PPK Group distributes LI-S Energy shares

Technology manufacturing investment house PPK Group is to pay a fully franked, special in-specie dividend to shareholders via a distribution of shares in lithium-sulfur battery manufacturer Li-S Energy which is listed on the ASX. PPK will cede control of LIS and deconsolidate from an accounting perspective with the distribution of just under 26 million LIS shares to all holders of PPK shares. Managing Director Marc Fenton said: “The Board believes that the deconsolidation of LIS will simplify the PPK financials making them easier to interpret for shareholders and investors. The increasing separation will also allow us to more clearly emphasise the performance of the other group companies, such as PowerPlus Energy and Craig International Ballistics.

Bathurst ‘return and earn’ recycling made easier

The Bathurst region, NSW’s Return and Earn scheme has launched an innovative ‘Takes All’ trial that is set to transform how locals recycle bottles and cans. Instead of sorting, they can drop eligible containers through updated machines in Lithgow, Portland Golf Club and Bernardi’s Marketplace in Blayney. The CEO of scheme operator TOMRA Cleanaway James Dorney said: “Residents of the Bathurst region are already enthusiastic recyclers, having returned more than 164,000,000 million eligible bottles, cans and cartons through local return points since the scheme began. These improvements will make it even easier and quicker to return your eligible bottles and cans and pocket the refund.”

Aurecon appointed as consultant to CETRI

The Western Australian government has announced Aurecon Australasia’s appointment as the consultant to design the Clean Energy Training and Research Institute (CETRI) in the Pilbara. The $22 million facility will be a multi-user training hub and research institute incorporating different training providers and research site locations across industry and tertiary and vocational training settings, focussing on both research and skills development. The design process will be undertaken over the course of the next eight months, with Aurecon tasked with undertaking a co-design process with key CETRI stakeholders. WA regional development minister Don Punch said: “I congratulate Aurecon on their selection as the consultant to undertake the CETRI design and I look forward to this important project progressing over the course of the design over the next eight months.”

Equatorial Launch Australia appointments new regulatory lead

Spaceport operator and launch technology infrastructure company, Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA), announced Francois Lambert as its new General Manager, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, on Thursday. According to a statement from the company, the role will work closely with ELA’s CEO to lead and develop the implementation of ELA’s Launch Facility Licence and Launch Permit Application frameworks, aiming to help clients navigate the intricacies of space launch operations. ELA has scheduled launches with South Korean rocket company, Innospace in 2025 and recently announced of French launch vehicle provider, Sirius Space Services, as the second ‘Resident Launcher’ at its space centre. “We are working towards a higher launch cadence in the coming years and Francois’s role will be critical to ensure ELA operates within the legal and regulatory frameworks necessary for successful high frequency space launches,” said CEO Michael Jones.

BioPak supports OzHarvest initiative

Compostable packaging company BioPak announced its support for OzHarvest’s national food relief campaign, “Unite to Feed Australia,” on Thursday. BioPak said it will donate 50,000 meals to help the charity reach its overall goal of providing an additional 5 million meals to feed people in need. The company said their longstanding partnership — extending back 20 years — has already donated more than 337,000 meals. BioPak will once again release the limited edition OzHarvest Christmas cup to help raise funds for the campaign, where donations from coffee drinkers can be made through QR code, with $5 providing ten nourishing meals. “As OzHarvest marks 20 years of impact, we acknowledge that we are not just tackling food waste— but more so nourishing our communities to ensure no one goes hungry,” said BioPak CEO Gary Smith.

OPAL returns to operation

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation announced earlier this week that its OPAL multi-purpose research reactor at Lucas Heights has officially returned to power and recommenced operations. The reactor — which opened in 2007 — had been in a months-long planned shutdown to carry out essential maintenance and upgrades, ANSTO explained, with an “elaborate replacement of OPAL’s cold neutron source, located next to the reactor core” central to these upgrades. The three-metre-tall device slows down neutrons as they travel from the OPAL reactor through to the large scientific neutron beam instruments, allowing researchers to look at the structure of materials in atomic detail. ANSTO’s General Manager for the OPAL Reactor, David Vittorio, said this first-of-a-kind project for ANSTO required ten years of intricate and sequential process planning.