Manufacturing news briefs - stories you might have missed

Sparc signs distribution agreement for graphene additive

Sparc Technologies has executed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CLP Group subsidiary Chin Leong Construction Systems Pte Ltd. The parties will collaborate on marketing Sparc’s ecosparc additive to CLC’s coatings customers in Southeast Asia. Sparc Managing Director Nick O’Loughlin said: “Sparc…hopes to establish this partnership as a means to accelerate the commercial adoption of its market-leading graphene based additive in the Southeast Asian region which is a significant market for marine and protective coatings.”

Cyclopharm’s Technegas used in French imaging trials

Radiopharmaceutical developer Cyclopharm has announced that first patients have been imaged in a multicentre clinical trial across 13 nuclear medicine centres in France. The PRONOSPECT trial is a clinician driven trial integrating Cyclopharm’s Technegas into advanced imaging modalities in recurring pulmonary embolism (PE). The trial is examining the potential of nuclear medicine imaging using Technegas to enable improved detection of residual pulmonary vascular obstruction (RPVO) as a predictor of venous thromboembolism (VTE) – which is a clinical area currently dominated by CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) scanning.

Monash releases guidelines to help teachers 3D print for blind students

Inclusive technology researchers from Monash University have developed new guidelines to create 3D printed educational tools to support vision impaired students. The guidelines (linked) are freely available to the public and feature inclusive design considerations, directions to create braille or audio labels, and accessible resources for blind makers. They can be used to create materials like braille learning aids, maps, curriculum-based models such as historic artefacts, and adaptive tools for the classroom. Guidelines were developed in collaboration with not-for-profit organisation Round Table, as well as through consultation with people who are blind and have low vision. Project Lead Leona Holloway from the Faculty of Information Technology said “One of the advantages of 3D printed models over raised line drawings, is that they can be used by blind, low vision and sighted students together in educational settings, and they can also be useful for people who are not trained in ‘touch reading’… However, not all models can be understood well through both vision and touch. Instead, as described in the guidelines, thoughtful design, printing and finishing techniques are required to ensure that 3D printed models are optimised for touch reading and inclusion.”

MGA Thermal gets further backing

Thermal energy storage technology company MGA Thermal has announced investment from angel investor syndicate Electrifi Ventures in partnership with Climate Salad and worth an undisclosed amount. In a statement on Tuesday, the company said the funding joins a boost of $2.5 million from ARENA “in a rapidly closed” pre-Series B. “This investment, alongside ARENA’s support, will accelerate the completion of our Demonstration Unit, advancing our mission to revolutionise industrial energy storage,” said Mark Croudace, CEO of MGA Thermal.

UniSA researchers claim breakthrough obesity treatment

University of South Australia has said that its researchers have created a new, food-grade, natural solution for obesity, able to reduce weight and improve metabolic health, but “without the nasty side effects” of Ozempic. According to a statement from the university on Tuesday, it is rngineered from a plant fibre coating (inulin) and combines coconut and palm kernel oils, with the microcapsules able to “reduce inflammation and improve metabolic markers, such as blood glucose levels.” UniSA PhD researcher Amin Ariaee said InuMCT presents a natural approach for metabolic health and obesity-related conditions. “Anti-obesity drugs also tend to upset the gut microbiome, which not only leads to unpleasant side effects such as nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea, but can also exacerbate long term inflammation and weight gain,” Ariaee said. “Our research is changing this. The new InuMCT microcapsules are created from food-grade, natural products that actively promote a healthy gut microbiome, reduce inflammation, and significantly reduce excess weight.”

New robot navigation method inspired by brain function

A QUT research team has taken inspiration from the brains of insects and animals for more energy-efficient robotic navigation, the university said on Monday. Led by postdoctoral research fellow Somayeh Hussaini, alongside Professor Michael Milford and Dr Tobias Fischer, the research published in IEEE Transactions on Robotics and supported by chip manufacturer Intel proposes a novel place recognition algorithm using Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs). Modern robots still struggle to navigate and operate in complex, unknown environments, and also often rely on AI-derived navigation systems whose training regimes have significant computational and energy requirements. The system developed by the QUT team uses small neural network modules to recognise specific places from images. These modules were combined into an ensemble, a group of multiple spiking networks, to create a scalable navigation system capable of learning to navigate in large environments, according to the university.

AusBiotech Welcomes New Board Director

Life sciences industry group AusBiotech welcomed the appointment of Dr Dell Kingsford Smith to its Board of Directors last week. Kingsford Smith joins the board with more than 20 years of experience in clinical and commercial strategy across medical technology, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines, with expertise spanning discovery to full commercialisation. Prior to joining Cochlear, Dell spent more than a decade with Janssen, the Pharmaceutical Company of Johnson & Johnson (J&J), in local and global leadership roles spanning market access, pricing, and commercial strategy. “I am honoured to have the trust and support of the AusBiotech membership in being elected to the Board,” said Kingsford Smith. “I look forward to working across the broad range of Australian biotech and medtech stakeholders to further strengthen and grow this vital, innovative sector of our economy.”

Pacific Green Expands Into NSW

Battery energy storage business Pacific Green has secured a parcel of land in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, where it proposes to establish its next Australian energy park, the company announced on Tuesday. The land is strategically co-located near TransGrid’s existing Wagga 330 kilovolt substation and 16 kilometres from the town of Wagga Wagga. Wagga Wagga is strategically importance to the national grid, the company said, as it hosts a concentration of renewable energy projects and HumeLink – one of Australia’s largest energy transmission line projects”. The announcement marks its entry into the NSW market and further progresses the company’s objective to build a 10 gigawatt hour development pipeline of battery energy parks throughout Australia, it said. It follows development in South Australia of the Limestone Coast North Energy Park and Limestone Coast West Energy Park, and the recent development application lodgment for the proposed Portland energy parks in Victoria.

Picture (left to right): Dr Tobias Fischer, Somayeh Hussaini, Professor Michael Milford (credit QUT)