Manufacturing news briefs - stories you might have missed

Alter Steel gets DA for planned Pinkenba steel mill

Alter Steel has announced that it has received conditional development approval for its Pinkenba site. The company, which is part of privately-owned steel products business Westview Group, said in an update on Linkedin last Thursday that the news “is a significant milestone in delivering Australia’s cleanest steel mill. We’re targeting a 2025 construction start, made possible by the many people across government, planning, advisory, and engineering.” Westview CEO Grant Johnston told The Australian Financial Review last December that it wants to have the $750 million mill at Pinkenba operating in late-2027.

FaBa releases sustainable packaging report

Researchers at Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator have developed a roadmap which they say will help food and beverage businesses shift towards more eco-friendly packaging. FaBa’s 2025 Sustainable Packaging Trends Report (linked), highlights “priority areas to reduce environmental impacts with designs that meet consumer expectations and regulatory requirements”, it said in a statement on Tuesday, with co-author, UQ Professor Janet McColl-Kennedy, adding that Australia’s packaging industry is on the cusp of generational change. “This report outlines the latest sustainable packaging trends to inform discussions and decisions towards the sustainable development of the Australian food and beverage sector,” McColl-Kennedy said. Subsidies available to showcase the flavours of NSW at leading tradeshow.

Subsidies available for Fine Food Australia exhibitors

Emerging food and beverage producers in NSW are encouraged by Investment NSW to apply for a subsidy to exhibit at the Fine Food Australia 2025 trade show. According to a statement from the state government agency on Monday, the event at ICC Sydney held between September 8 to 11 will allow businesses to showcase their food and drink products directly with suppliers, distributors, as well as retail and hospitality businesses. Subsidies of $4,500 are available to support 18 NSW businesses to exhibit within the Flavours of NSW zone at the tradeshow. Expressions of interest for the subsidy are open until Monday May 12, with more information available here.

Sleeptite joins Care Economy CRC

Aged care technology company Sleeptite has announced that it is a Core Industry Partner in the Care Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), which was awarded $35 million in federal funding last week. The CRC is a $129 million, ten-year partnership involving 60 organisations. “This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to revolutionise the care sector through innovative technology,” Cameron van den Dungen, Sleeptite CEO said in a statement. “By working alongside a diverse group of partners, we are confident that our REMi platform will play a crucial role in enhancing care delivery and improving the quality of life for many Australians. Together, we are poised to drive meaningful change and set new standards in care.” The company describes REMi (depicted above) as a “nearable technology based on soft and pliable electronics, capable of precisely determining a person’s position, presence, and movement from the surface of the bed”, parameters which “can identify early indicators of distress, discomfort, and potential accidents.”

Queensland team picked for WorldSkills Australia National Championships

Over 100 TAFE Queensland students have been selected to represent the state and compete at the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships in Brisbane in June 2025. The National Championships, to be held June 12-14, is Australia’s largest vocational education excellence event, with 63 skill area competitions on offer. Top performers in eligible skills may earn a spot in Team Australia (“The Skillaroos”), which will compete at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in 2026. TAFE Queensland Chief Executive Officer John Tucker said in a statement that, “over 80 per cent of the WorldSkills Queensland team is made up of TAFE Queensland competitors, showcasing our talent and dedication to supporting both our students, employers and industries.”

TWPG launches new VYCOR range of craft

Marine manufacturer The Whiskey Project Group (TWPG) has unveiled VYCOR, a new line of commercial watercraft described as versatile, rugged purpose-built vessels, engineered to meet the requirements of commercial maritime. According to a statement from TWPG, VYCOR spans a diverse lineup of high-performance craft, including agile Patrol Boats, resilient Landing Craft Light, robust ProPunts, and adaptable Support Vessels. The company said it is set to begin manufacturing of the vessels at its Edenton, North Carolina facility. It also operates manufacturing sites in Picton, New Zealand and across NSW’s coast from Sydney (Belrose), Gosford, Morisset, Newcastle and Yamba. CEO Darren Schuback said, “The market response has been overwhelmingly positive, with initial vessels already delivered to Marine Rescue NSW and the State Emergency Service in Australia.”

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