Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

The NSW government has launched a new $2.5 million co-investment seed funding program, which it says will “unearth the state’s next major critical minerals projects.” The new Critical Minerals Exploration Program requires a 50 per cent co-investment from successful applicants and will encourage more exploration in NSW, supporting companies to undertake drilling, geophysics and geochemistry, all necessary to determine the scale of a critical minerals deposit. The four streams under the program are Exploration Geochemistry (up to $50,000 per project), Exploration Geophysics (up to $70,000 per project), Exploration Drilling – less than 250 metres depth (up to $150,000 per project) and Exploration Drilling – greater than 250 metres depth (up to $250,000 per project.) Applications open at 10 am on April 16 and close on 5 pm on June 30. More information is available here.

Magnetite files patent application

Magnetite Mines announced this week that it has filed a provisional patent application for its saline water flotation process method, allowing for the recovery of high grade magnetite iron ore concentrates in saline water “without compromising recovery or concentrate quality”. Such concentrates are the primary feedstock for Direct Reduced Iron (DRI), and typically produced in a process plant at the mine site. The company said its application is an initial step taken to protect the IP of the saline water flotation methodology it has developed, and “specifically relates to the combination and sequencing of flotation process reagents that enable effective processing of magnetite in a saline water environment at the flotation stage of processing.” It secures an early filing (or priority) date for the invention and provides the Company with a 12-month window to complete further testwork and technically refine the process, before proceeding to full patent protection.

Melbourne trailer maker in court

The Fair Work Ombudsman announced this week that it has commenced legal action against a Melbourne trailer manufacturing company and its sole director for an alleged breach affecting a migrant worker. Facing court are Hoppers Trailer, which operated its business in Hoppers Crossing, and its sole director and shareholder, Gurpinder Singh. The FWO said a Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance Notice to the company in August 2023 “after forming a belief that it had underpaid a welder it employed on a full-time basis from June to October 2022.” The worker, an Indian national, was in Australia on a temporary graduate visa at the time, and the inspector “formed a belief that the company had failed to pay the worker’s accrued but untaken annual leave entitlements at the end of his employment, owed under the Fair Work Act’s National Employment Standards.” The company faces a penalty of up to $46,950 and its owner faces a penalty of up to $9,390.

Yamaha buys Telwater

Yamaha Motor Australia, a subsidiary of Japan’s Yamaha Motor Co, has signed a purchase agreement with subsidiaries of Canada’s BRP to acquire all shares of Australian boat maker Telwater. According to a statement from Yamaha, Telwater is one of Australia’s oldest boat manufacturers and “one of the major producers and seller of boats in the southern hemisphere”. The aluminium boat company owns brands including Quintrex, Stacer, and Savage. Telwater was established in 1999, is headquartered at Coomera in Queensland, and has a headcount of approximately 300. “The acquisition of Telwater is intended to strengthen the foundations of Yamaha Motor’s marine business, and the Company aims to not only expand its sales network in the country but also reinforce the foundations of its outboard motor business,” Yamaha said in a statement.

Aluminium council adds new members

The Australian Aluminium Council announced on Wednesday that it has added five new downstream members so far this calendar year. These were named in a statement as Almax, Extrusions Australia, Inex, National Aluminium and Alxin. “The Council’s expanding downstream membership reinforces its commitment to representing the entire aluminium supply chain, from bauxite mining and alumina refining to aluminium smelting, extrusion, and distribution,” it said in a statement, adding that it now represents more than 95 per cent of Australia’s extrusion industry. Australian Aluminium Council CEO Marghanita Johnson said, “There has never been a more important time for cohesive industry representation to ensure direct engagement with the Australian Government on trade matters and to advocate in the face of uneven global competition.”

SA government exploring rezoning for defence and aerospace precinct

The South Australian government said on Friday that it is investigating rezoning “a huge parcel of land to support the state’s manufacturing and defence” industries. The aerospace and defence precinct would be immediately north of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Edinburgh Air Base, aiming to “encourage more defence industries to be based in SA and generate significant employment opportunities” The Defence and Aerospace Precinct Code Amendment will investigate rezoning 400 hectares of land at Penfield, with the zoning to “build upon the existing industry already based in the area at Edinburgh Parks, as well as the neighbouring $200 million Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility” currently under construction. Planning minister Nick Champion added: “Given the area’s strategic location, it’s important thorough investigations are undertaken to determine the infrastructure investments required and ensure acceptable interfaces with neighbouring sites.”

Picture: credit Australian Aluminium Council