Microgrid testing facility opened in Cairns
Ergon Energy has opened a new $6 million energy R&D facility in Cairns, described by the Queensland government as one of the most sophisticated of its kind in the nation.
Six agtech projects awarded $4 million on novel feeds for methane reduction
Six grants totalling $4 million have been awarded for projects investing novel feeds to reduce methane emissions from livestock, based on seaweeds, tropical legumes and the chemical 3-NOP.
Labor’s national reconstruction fund: a path to reindustrialisation?
The shadow of COVID and the associated policy failures of the federal government hang heavy over the coming election, with the campaign certain to be chaotic and full of distractions. Here Lance Worrall looks at the biggest policy idea launched to date – Labor’s National Reconstruction Fund. Many voters were shocked to discover early in…
Spiral Blue to process imagery in space for transmission to Earth
AI and edge computing enabled Earth observation services company Spiral Blue, has been awarded $578,000 commercialisation funding in a co-investment from the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre. The grant in collaboration with Esper Satellite Imagery, UNSW Sydney, Saber Astronautics and Dandelions will progress Project Rainbow Python. In this project Esper’s hyperspectral imagers OTR-1 and OTR-2 will…
Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed
Adbri extends supply agreement with Oz Minerals Construction and industrial materials group Adbri has signed an agreement to supply copper miner Oz Minerals with cementitious material for its Carrapateena mine in South Australia. The agreement is worth $10 million over three years. Adbri, formerly Adelaide Brighton Cement, will also supply aggregate and sand from its…
Deakin calls for startups to join new mentoring program at Manufutures
The Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus-based startup hub, Manufutures, launched a new program for regional startups and entrepreneurs this week.
Frigate project rigged for smoother sailing
By Peter Roberts The $45 billion Hunter Class frigate programme has reached a milestone in its development with the completion of a year-long System Definition Review (SDR) which studied how the special requirements of Australia’s defence department can be fitted into the ship’s baseline design. This review is crucial as the inclusion of the Aegis…
Lightweight armour development for the C-130J Hercules aircraft
Hawkesbury-based engineering consultancy Aerospace & Mechanical Consulting Engineers has been awarded a $2.13 million contract to further develop a unique lightweight armour for the C-130J Hercules airlifter aircraft. The federal government contract with Aerospace & Mechanical in partnership with NSW company Armor Composite Engineering, will use a cutting-edge amour solution to provide the aircraft which…
K-TIG to build new welding R&D facility at BAE’s Factory of the Future
K-TIG has announced that it will build an R&D facility at BAE Systems Australia’s Line Zero – Factory of the Future, located within Tonsley Innovation District, aiming to demonstrate the usefulness of its automated welding technology for shipbuilding and other industrial sectors.
Senate report sets manufacturing battle lines for the election
The federal Opposition has backed the creation of a manufacturing industry fund, regular reviews of R&D incentives, as well as changes to procurement rules to encourage the development of sovereign capability in a Senate report which sets the manufacturing battle lines for the upcoming election.