Praxis Aeronautics pioneering solar powered flight – by Kerryn Caulfield

Decarbonising airplanes and drones is a major challenge as we move towards decarbonising the economy. Here Kerryn Caulfield profiles Praxis Aeronautics, whose novel composite structural systems are making solar-powered flight a possibility. The Adelaide based startup Praxis Aeronautics specialises in the design and manufacture of solar energy harvesting composite structures, using a process that directly…

Coles and Woolworths are moving to robot warehouses and on-demand labour as home deliveries soar

Australia’s supermarket duopoly, Coles and Woolworths, have raced to implement new technology and transform labour arrangements to keep up with the e-grocery boom. Both are investing in “smart” warehousing and distribution systems with various degrees of automation, as well as making extensive use of app-driven gig workers for grocery picking and delivery via platforms such as Uber and Airtasker.

Quantum computing manufacturing beckons with QB’s cash raising

Sydney’s Quantum Brilliance has raised a further $13 million in seed investment to pursue its hardware and software which delivers quantum computing capabilities to existing computer systems without resorting to the low temperatures and lasers required by other QC systems. The venture-backed, Australian-German company raised the funds from investors co-led by the QxBranch founders’ and…

The digital path to growth – Sleep Corp shows how the TCF sector can prosper

The textile, clothing and footwear sector is widely seen as all but extinct in Australia, but this is far from true. Here @AuManufacturing’s editorial series – the digital path to growth – looks at Sleep Corp, a company which is deploying advanced technology to prosper making top-of-bed products. Considered threatened in the 1980s and 1990s,…

The digital path to growth – Reshoring by Evolve Group

Today @AuManufacturing’s editorial series – the digital path to growth – looks at reshoring, and the technology needed to drive success against low-cost competition. Here, Peter Roberts profiles Evolve Group. Ty Hermans, pictured below, doesn’t describe himself as a born manufacturer, and when he took over the Evolve Group from his father in 2005 he…

The digital path to growth – handling information that is secret

Today @AuManufacturing’s editorial series – the digital path to growth – looks at a case when sharing information widely across a company and with suppliers is not desirable. Here Peter Roberts profiles fast-growing sovereign defence manufacturer Electro Optic Systems. Space, communications and defence manufacturer Electro Optic Systems has come a long way from its roots…