Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Hanwha, Elphinstone sign contract for Redback hulls 

Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) and Elphinstone have signed a contract for manufacture of “all 129 vehicle hull structures” for the Redback family of Infantry Fighting Vehicles under LAND 400 Phase 3 program. In a statement over the weekend, HDA said the work by Elphinstone under the contract is valued at approximately $90 million “and will sustain employment for approximately 95 personnel” at the company’s site in Wynyard, Tasmania, during the project. HDA is already working with Elphinstone on the LAND 8116 Phase 1 Protected Mobile Fires program for the Huntsman family of vehicles. “We are very excited to enter a second major contract with Hanwha” said Ben Sandow, General Manager of Elphinstone. 

Livium appoints Non-Exec Chair

Battery recycler Livium has appointed Phillip Campbell as Independent Non-Executive Chair, effective April 1, the company said on Monday. The company said in an ASX statement that Campbell is an experienced independent non-executive director on publicly listed and private company boards, with “executive experience (MD/CEO roles) in a range of national manufacturing and engineering businesses” and “significant experience in expanding and developing businesses.” He currently holds non-executive chair directorship roles at Verbrec, Intrax Engineers, and SpaceCube Group. He replaced Philip Thick, currently acting as Interim Non-Executive Chair, who transitions back to Non Executive Director. Livium CEO and Managing Director, Simon Linge, added, “Phillip’s experience will also assist our funding and structuring considerations for Livium into the future and  will further support the strong governance processes that we have well established at Livium.”

AnteoTech non-exec directors retire

Materials technology company AnteoTech, a revenue-stage company focussed on the clean energy and life sciences markets, has announced the retirement from the board of independent non-executive directors Ewen Crouch and Dr Katherine Woodthorpe, effective April 14. The company said on Monday that it will announce the next Chair “in due course.”

EMVision begins “pivotal trial” of emu scanner

Stroke detection device manufacturer EMVision announced commencement of what it called a “pivotal trial” last week, designed to support FDA De Novo clearance for its first commercial device, the emu bedside brain scanner. According to a statement from the company, the Royal Melbourne Hospital — “with a world-class comprehensive stroke centre, and home to the Melbourne Brain Centre” — was greenlit as the first Australian hospital after a successful site initiation visit and with operator training in process. In addition, an emu device was shipped to the first US site, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center (TMC). A site initiation visit is planned for the coming weeks. Additional sites will be announced and activated shortly, it added.

CEO at Universal Biosensors steps down 

ASX-listed electrochemical sensing company Universal Biosensors has announced that John Sharman has decided to step down from the Managing Director and CEO roles for personal reasons, effective April 1. Sharman led the company for five years “and in that time has transformed UBI from being R&D and engineering focused to customer centric and product commercialisation focussed”, according to Universal Biosensors. It singled out essential FDA approval for the Xprecia Prime hand-held “PT/INR coagulation monitoring device.” Sharman is replaced by as Managing Director and CEO by Peter Mullin, who joined UBI as Finance Director and CFO last December, “following a long history as an active investor in UBI.” Chair Graham McLean said, “[Sharman] leaves with the gratitude  of the Board. Peter will bring a broad set of leadership, financial and sales skills and experience that will enable the next phase of growth in the Company as we penetrate global markets with a strong portfolio  of world first, innovative, hand-held technologies.”

Gelion appoints new Technology Advisor

Anglo-Australian battery business Gelion announced the appointment of Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Markus Antonietti as Technology Advisor last week. The company said the appointment will provide “strategic guidance on battery technology development, primarily supporting the recently announced collaboration with the Max Planck Institute (MPI) on pioneering sulfur battery innovations.” Antonietti was described as one of the world’s most influential scientists, currently ranked as the fourth best chemical scientist globally and first in Germany, and is the Founding Director of the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, Germany. Antonietti “will receive 1.5 million nominal cost options over Gelion’s ordinary shares of 0.1p each, vesting equally over three years with the exercise period being five years from the Commencement Date.  Any IP generated under this advisory contract will vest with Gelion.”

Greater Geelong showcase to be held at GMHBA Stadium

ICN Victoria Greater Geelong Showcase, held by ICN Victoria in partnership with Regional Development Victoria, will begin at 3:30 pm on Tuesday. According to a statement from ICN Victoria, the event at GMHBA Stadium, Kardinia Park, offers “an important opportunity for local suppliers to meet with bidders and awarded contractors for the Geelong based Regional Sports Infrastructure projects and other critical projects for the region.” The event aims to share key insights with suppliers into upcoming projects and valuable connections to secure new opportunities. “By leveraging programs like Local Jobs First, local suppliers can maximise their involvement in major projects, creating jobs and driving economic growth within the region, added ICN Victoria CEO Nick Foa. More information is available here.

Picture: Dean Michie of HDA and Dale Elphinstone of Elphinstone (supplied)