Manufacturing news briefs - stories you might have missed

Titomic signs collaboration agreement with DNV

Last week cold spray additive manufacturing company Titomic announced a strategic collaboration agreement with DNV, an assurance and risk management provider. According to a statement from Titomic, it will advance Titomic’s efforts to obtain certifications for its coating and repair technologies across the oil and gas and maritime sectors, with a primary objective to achieve qualification under the NORSOK M-501 standard for surface preparation and protective coating of offshore installations developed by the Norwegian petroleum industry. Klaas Rozema, President of Titomic EMEA, said, “NORSOK M-501 and related maritime certifications will enable Titomic Kinetic Fusion to be recognized for Thermal Spray Aluminum (TSA) repairs, surface protection of field welds, and restoration of marine hulls, ballast tanks, subsea infrastructure, and pipeline systems. Working with DNV ensures our technology is held to the highest international standards.”

Weld Australia Launches ArcAhead

Professional body Weld Australia has announced the launch of ArcAhead, an initiative designed “to extend the life of legacy augmented reality welding simulators while creating meaningful social impact.” The program will see decommissioned and legacy simulators refurbished and redistributed to communities in need, “helping to foster welding career pathways for disadvantaged groups, including youth, Indigenous communities, women, and those from remote and regional areas.” Ben Mitchell, Director, Strategic Partnerships at Weld Australia, added, “we’re not just reusing hardware—we’re reigniting opportunity… The program bridges the gap between surplus equipment and underserved communities, delivering both environmental and social value.” Weld Australia is inviting expressions of interest from TAFEs, training organisations, and employers who have unused augmented welding simulators and want to be part of the program. More information is available here.

Austin changes company secretary

Mining equipment company Austin Engineering has announced the appointment of Sarah Wilson as Company Secretary last week, following the resignation of Katina Nadebaum. In a statement to the ASX, it described Wilson as “an experienced company secretary with 10 years corporate advisory and corporate governance role experience”. It added: “Nadebaum has served as Austin’s Company Secretary for four years and is stepping down to focus on other company secretarial commitments. The Board wishes to thank Ms Nadebaum for her significant contribution to Austin Engineering and wishes her well in her future endeavours.”

Sand mining startup recognised by World Economic Forum

University of Queensland spinout venture OreSand has been recognised among a handful of innovators by the World Economic Forum. Led by Professor Daniel Franks of the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), the company “offers mining companies a research-backed blueprint to drastically reduce waste and produce useful sand byproducts”, according to the university. Franks explained in a statement that the minerals that make up sand “are discarded in huge volumes during the mining of metals like copper and iron, and that his startup “works with mining companies to reduce their waste by extracting clean sand byproducts from the ore. OreSand was named one of eight global winners at the World Economic Forum’s Uplink Top Innovators program, earning “access to networks capable of supporting and scaling it up.” The company uses approaches devised by Franks and fellow SMI researchers, including Dr Louise Gallagher and Dr Juliana Segura-Salazar at the Global Centre for Mineral Security (GCMS), to modify ore extraction so quality sands can be captured and processed from the ore before they become tailings.

Ridley in trading halt

Shares in Australia’s biggest animal feed manufacturer Ridley Corporation will be placed in trading halt at the request of Ridley, pending the release of an announcement “regarding the outcome of the institutional component of the accelerated entitlement offer”, the company told the ASX on Monday morning. Unless the ASX decides otherwise, the securities will remain in trading halt until the commencement of normal trading on Tuesday.

Osteopore elevates partnership with Kelyniam

Australian-Singaporean regenerative medicine company Osteopore, which makes 3D-printed biomimetic and bioresorbable implants, has announced a non-exclusive three-year distribution arrangement with medical device company Kelyniam Global to market craniofacial implants in the U.S. Kelyniam specialises in manufacture of custom cranial and craniofacial PEEK implants, and according to a statement on Monday is expected to result in stronger US customer service and support for Osteopore, as well as higher precision in securing product listing in hospitals and exposure to industry leading surgeons. CEO Dr Yujing Lim, said the US market is a significant market opportunity, and that by “working directly with Kelyniam”, the company will “leverage their established access to hospitals and potential customers, thereby accelerating customer access to Osteopore’s products.”

Qld government embarks on trade mission to China

The state government has said it’s “on a mission to rebuild relationships with key partners” and strengthen Queensland’s presence in China through a trade mission this week. Led by trade minister Ros Bates, the trip is aimed at strengthening a relationship with its largest trading partner, “through a series of strategic meetings and events in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Shenzhen.” Bates will open a new Trade and Investment Queensland office in Shenzhen during the trip, and attend Hong Kong’s food, beverage and hospitality trade show HOFEX 2025, among other duties. A statement blames the previous government for leaving “Queensland’s trade relationships in tatters” via “mismanagement and unpredictable policy.”

Companies, researchers invited to take part in International Astronautical Congress

The NSW government called on the state’s companies and research organisations to take part in the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025, to be hosted by the Space Industry Association of Australia in Sydney alongside the Australian Space Agency and NSW Government from September 29 and October 3. Investment NSW said in a statement on Monday that “the world’s leading space industry event” is expected to attract up to 10,000 attendees from over 80 countries to Sydney and represented “an unrivalled opportunity to demonstrate the depth and dynamism of Australia’s space sector”. The theme is Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth. Investment NSW said it expected to support up to 40 NSW businesses and research organisations at IAC 2025 via an EOI process, with exhibitors gaining access to global investors and industry leaders including the heads of major space agencies such as Japan’s JAXA and Europe’s ESA, as well as executives from commercial space companies. More information is available here.

Picture: Dr Juliana Segura-Salazar (left) and Dr Lulit Habte Ekubatsion (Credit GCMS)