The owners of Australia’s biggest aluminium smelter are in talks with workers at Tomago, with the company “yet to identify a pathway” to commercially sustainable operations beyond 2028. Tomago Aluminium’s current electricity contract with AGL Energy expires in December 2028. The site employs 1,000, produces up to 590,000 tonnes of aluminium annually, and uses about a…
Central West NSW-based aluminium outdoor furniture maker Felton Industries has announced new certifications for its management management systems under the ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 standards. The Condoblin-headquartered company announced on Thursday said that the accreditations added to its existing ISO 9001 certification for its quality management system (QMS.) The additional two certifications cover occupational…
Orora has begun using a new digital print solution, able to directly print to cans at high speeds, at its Dandenong factory. Industry title Print21, which attended the launch last week, reports that the new Helio solution is based on a Velox NNC 500 machine, “eliminates the need for plates, labels or sleeves”; and is…
A new $10 million initiative has been launched to grow Australia’s domestic green metals sector for the iron, steel, alumina and aluminium industries.
Without a concerted effort to develop local refining and manufacturing, Australia will remain dependent on international supply chains for the materials we use, leaving us vulnerable to global disruptions. By Professor Christopher Hutchinson. Australia stands at an important point in its technological and industrial future. While we have abundant raw materials and a wealth of…
The Albanese government announced $750 million in funding to support the development of new technologies for Australia’s metals manufacturing sector, according to a joint media release on Friday. The investment aims to help metals manufacturers remain globally competitive while reducing emissions and is part of the $1.7 billion Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund announced…
By Lisa Toohey, UNSW Sydney “Unjustified” and “not the way that friends and allies should be treated”. That’s how Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have described the latest shot in United States President Trump’s trade war. Effective today, there is a 25% tariff on all imports of steel and aluminium into…
By Scott French, UNSW Sydney US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have stated an exemption for Australia from Trump’s executive order placing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imported into the US is “under consideration”. But prospects remain uncertain. Albanese would do well to secure an exemption using similar arguments as…
By Tessa Leach, Monash University and Anna Malos, Monash University Aluminium is an exceptionally useful metal. Lightweight, resistant to rust and able to be turned into alloys with other metals. Small wonder it’s the second most used metal in the world after iron and demand is set to soar. But aluminium comes at a cost…
The Australian government has announced a $2 billion pledge to convert the nation’s aluminium smelters to renewable energy, which it said will be transformative and mark a significant step reducing the nation’s carbon footprint and enhancing its manufacturing sector’s competitiveness on a global scale. The investment is part of a broader initiative under the “Future…