Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

First Graphene books R&D tax rebate

First Graphene has told shareholders that it has received a tax rebate of approximately $404,300 for R&D work conducted at its Henderson facility in Western Australia. The company said the amount was delivered “following a series of work completed… to improve manufacturing of its in-demand PureGRAPH products.” The work included implementation of a Retsch Mill, with this improving efficiency by 60 per cent, as well as “Electrochemical Cell Optimisation trials which investigated altering the cell and electrode design to deliver improvements to the manufacturing process.” This second tax rebate supports $166,000 recently received for R&D work conducted in the United Kingdom, announced on January 22.

Element 25 raises $2.85 million for working capital

Manganese business Element 25 has announced that it has utilised its at-the-market subscription agreement (ATM) with Acuity Capital Investment Management to raise $2.85 million (inclusive of costs.) The company said it had agreed to issue 8,700,000 fully-paid ordinary shares to Acuity at an issue price of $0.3275 each. The shares will be issued “as per the shareholder approval obtained at the Company’s most recent Annual General Meeting on 22 November 2024” the company told the ASX on Thursday. The issue price represented a premium of 13 per cent to the five-trading day volume weighted average price of $0.2891 to January 29, and the funds raised will be put towards working capital.

Swinburne part of next-gen electrolyser team

An international team is developing new electrolysers to support Australia’s transition to clean energy, Swinburne University said on Thursday. The team is led by the university’s researchers Associate Professor Rosalie Hocking and Associate Professor Andrew Ang, and “will strengthen Australia’s capability in domestic manufacturing for renewable technologies”. Hocking added that the grant enabled research addresses “key challenges in scaling up electrolysers by innovating catalyst design and electrode manufacturing, adding that manufacturing costs were “often overlooked… despite being a critical consideration in any scalable technology.” The international collaboration also involves Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon (RMUTP) in Thailand, and “aims to develop innovative copper oxide (CuOx) and multimetal oxide catalyst systems for the production of value-added C2+ products, such as hydrocarbons and syngas, using renewable energy in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers.”

Public comment period open for SRF-West priority work

A public comment period began on Thursday for for interested parties to access documents and provide submissions on the Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-West) priority works at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia, running until February 14. SRF-West is a key part of the nation’s planned acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines. According to a statement from defence, the planned priority works “will upgrade maritime structures, and construct and operate a purpose built controlled industrial facility to support the maintenance of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.” Felix Bowman-Derrick, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Security and Estate Group, said “Defence has put in place a range of avoidance and mitigation measures to minimise any potential impacts of the works… The controlled action assessment will review these mitigation measures to ensure they meet requirements of the [Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation] Act.” Priority works documents are available at this link.

ACCI launches pre-election campaign

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has made 40 recommendations as part of its campaign launched in Canberra ahead of the upcoming federal election. The campaign, labelled Put Business on the Agenda, was launched at Parliament House on Thursday by ACCI CEO Andrew McKellar. A document launched at the event — Agenda for Business — with five priority areas coving productivity and business competitiveness, growing skills and workplace flexibility, open markets and a dynamic economy, affordable energy while protecting the environment, and growing digital capabilities. McKellar said the Agenda (linked here) represented “a coherent plan for addressing Australia’s economic malaise and firing up the business sector and propelling the broader economy forward. We urge the major parties to read the document and adopt all our recommendations.”

NSW EPA launched guide for large emitters

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) released its finalised NSW Guide for Large Emitters on Thursday. According to the NSW EPA, the guide clarifies requirements for large-emitting projects and supports transparent consideration of climate change in planning decisions. “Proponents of large developments, including coal mines, landfills, chemical manufacturers and cement and metal producers, must provide robust and consistent information about their potential greenhouse gas emissions early in the planning process,” it said in a statement. “The guide provides greater transparency through the planning assessment processes, by giving clear direction as proponents develop their environmental impact assessments.” It can be accessed at this page.

Rigid inflatable boats to be built at Edencraft’s Geelong factory

Ribcraft Australia, the local branch of British manufacturer Ribcraft, has partnered with Edencraft International to begin local manufacturing of its high-performance rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) in Geelong, Victoria. In a statement on Ribcraft’s website, the company said the Edencraft facility in Moolap, Geelong, Victoria, “will serve as the hub for producing custom-built Ribcraft RHIBs that meet AMSA NSCV standards”, and that Edencraft had invested “in cutting-edge technology, including a high-tech robotic 5-axis automated machining centre specialising in plug and mould making.” Josie Eastman, General Manager of Edencraft, added: “This partnership signifies a new chapter for Edencraft as we expand into the defence and government sectors. Combining Ribcraft’s proven RHIB designs with our legacy of quality and innovation, we’re proud to produce vessels that meet Australia’s most demanding operational needs.”