Defence Minister Richard Marles has outlined an ambitious Integrated Investment Program which incudes a jump in defence spending to the equivalent of 2.4 percent of GDP by 2033-34, a rise of a massive 0.3 percent on earlier projections. The programme, a response to the 2024 National Defence Strategy, involves a complete rebuild of Defence’s capability…
Today in our editorial series – Towards 3% – turbocharging our national innovation effort – innovation policy analyst Dr John Howard shines light on why Australian R&D is going backwards. In this, the second part of a two-part series, Dr Howard discusses the reasons behind the fall in R&D spending, pointing the finger at a…
A Queensland government manufacturing grant will enable Mackay business, Key Solutions Group to purchase two Motoman AR1440 series welding robots, Power-Trac seam finders/trackers and rotary screw compressors. This will expand its manufacturing capacity and grow the business, resulting in as many as eight new jobs and the upskilling of 28 existing staff. Key Solutions Group…
The Australian Army has joined allies and partners in Project Convergence which is testing and developing networks, robotic and autonomous systems, air defence and strike related systems. Project Convergence is a US-led campaign of learning through experimentation. The project was designed to aggressively advance and integrate technology across all warfighting domains, to overmatch an adversary…
It’s the final day to nominate for this title’s Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers list. As we prepare to pass things along to our panel of expert judges, we take a look at Contactile. Brent Balinski speaks to the sensor specialist’s co-founder Dr Heba Khamis. Maybe it was palletising, machine tending or lifting heavy workpieces.…
By Peter Roberts In all the orgy of offshoring that has hollowed out Australian manufacturing in the past few decades, few have stopped to ask why do those companies that remain local manufacturers remain here, when so many now source offshore? Palash Nandy, CEO of electrical equipment manufacturer Legrand Australia and New Zealand, has been…
JAG Welding has been awarded $794,146 in grant funding by the Queensland government, which the company says will help it invest in installing a new robotic welding arm and software. According to a statement on Wednesday from state manufacturing minister Glenn Butcher, the project will create an estimated “15 new full-time jobs and up to…
The Australian Space Agency is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from companies and institutions seeking to discuss their niche Australian technology capabilities. Through its Moon to Mars initiative, the ASA is working closely with international partner agencies to identify Australian technology capabilities that could add value to international space exploration endeavours. The information from this…
Construction robotics company FBR has announced a capital raise worth approximately $12.6 million, following agreements on a demonstration program in the United States and joint venture option with a subsidiary of concrete block maker CRH. As reported by @AuManufacturing last week, the company – which makes the Hadrian X automated bricklaying robot (pictured) – FBR…
Evolve Group expands production Brisbane-based product developer and manufacturer Evolve Group has announced “a major phase of growth” and an increase in capacity with three new machines. “Our production area is scaling up impressively with the addition of… a Yizumi UN260 A5 260 Ton and two Yizumi PAC350K 350 Ton machines, each featuring high-tech robotic…
