Drone technology in Australia has received $8.6 million in funding in two, joint announcements by the Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price. Melbourne company, Textron Systems will use a $3.4 million contract to further develop their drone technology. The partnership between the company and defence comes on the heels of an agreement between Textron and … Continue reading Innovation Hub funds drones for defence →

The Queensland government has released a timber industry action plan, to preserve and develop Queensland timber industry. Across the state, the wood manufacturing industry employs 8800 people and produces $3.8 billion worth of economic activity. The plan will ensure hardwood supplies continue in the Wide-Bay Burnett region until at least 2026. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk … Continue reading QLD timber industry ensured until 2026 →

A delegation from the centre of the Chinese manufacturing industry have visited NSW, with the aim to strengthen connections between the region and Australian businesses. In partnership with Austrade, one of the largest missions from Guangdong Province to ever visit Australia met NSW government ministers, industry organisations, and businesses. Guangdong Province is one of the … Continue reading NSW connects with Chinese manufacturing hub →

A global, challenge-based initiative to encourage greater re-use of materials has kicked off in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Led by the World Economic Forum, the partnership, named SCALE 360, will involve government, business, civil society, and entrepreneurs to reduce waste and find alternative uses for extracted materials. Today, only nine per cent of … Continue reading Alternative paths for waste circulated through new initiative →

The Australian manufacturing sector has remained in positive territory for the month of October, with the Australian Industry Group Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) coming in at 51.6. This indicator of expansion in the sector remains positive, despite a 3.1 point drop from the previous month. According to Ai Group, an earlier-than-expected boom in … Continue reading Food and beverage keeps manufacturing positive →

BAE Systems Australia has tested two new autonomous armoured troop carriers for the Australian Army. Developed by BAE Systems in collaboration with the Australian government, two autonomous M113 vehicles were trialled in a “battlefield simulation” at Majura Training Site, on the outskirts of Canberra. Both hardware and software was installed in the vehicle to enable … Continue reading Autonomous troop carriers undergo trials →

Networks to support the growth of regional businesses have received funding from the federal government. The Seedlab Tasmania project, which focusses on helping grow the food, drink and agricultural industries in Tasmania, received $463,100 in funding, while Latrobe City Council will gain $399,498 in funding for the Startup Gippsland project. Both programs are designed to … Continue reading Regional start-ups receive funding injection →

The benefit of industry-based work experience for students has been reconfirmed via a new report from CSIRO Data61’s Ribit. Ribit, a platform which connects tertiary students with jobs in the digital, STEM, research and business fields, found in its report “Higher Education and Employment In Australia” that course-integrated work improves graduate employability, while increasing graduate … Continue reading Industry placements found to improve job outcomes →

Nominations have now opened for the Endeavour Awards. Celebrating the best of the manufacturing industry, the Endeavour Awards have a history of acknowledging some of the most innovative and significant manufacturers over the past 17 years. Last year, Thales Australia won the overall Manufacturer of the Year award, sponsored by Bestech. Other winners included iOrthotics, … Continue reading Nominations open for 2020 Endeavour Awards →

The Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) has signed an agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to create new electronic technologies and applications for advanced materials. The ANFF manages 500 micro/nanofabrication facilities in 21 locations in Australia, with facilities provided for researchers and industry. The ANFF was established in 2007 under the National … Continue reading Fabrication facility signs agreement with NASA →

South Australian precision components and assemblies manufacturer, Levett Engineering, has reached an agreement with CPE Capital for the purchase of the company by ASDAM. ASDAM is an Australian sovereign defence and advanced manufacturing company, which is owned by CPE Capital. Levett has established relationships with clients in the aerospace and defence industries, and provides machining, … Continue reading ASDAM grows with latest purchase →

Orica has released its 2019 results which have shown a profitable result, after posting a loss in 2018. The explosives and chemical manufacturing company posted a net profit after tax of $245 million. Share earnings increased by 14 per cent to 97.9 cents per share. “Orica’s manufacturing and cost performance is improving across the board. … Continue reading Explosives manufacturer posts positive results →

The Queensland government announced that it will increase the support that it provides to manufacturers who are engaged in the defence and aerospace industries, or looking to apply their products in these sectors. The Defence and Aerospace Industry Development (DAID) Fund, with $1.5 million in funding, will provide up to $30,000 in matched funding to … Continue reading New fund to support Queensland defence industries →

Composite manufacturer Quickstep, based in Western Sydney, will manufacture 10 new parts for the global F-35 program. The parts will be incorporated into the centre fuselage, and brings to 45 the number of unique components that Quickstep already produces for the Joint Strike Fighter Program. “This assignment is a testament to Quickstep’s invaluable work in … Continue reading More Australian-made composites for F-35s →

A battery technology designed and patented by the University of Adelaide has finalised a $1 million research contract which will take the project to commercialisation. The high energy density battery, using zinc and manganese, as well as an incombustible aqueous electrolyte, is cheaper, safer, and more reliable than other batteries on the market, according to … Continue reading High energy density battery goes from research to reality →

A World Economic Forum initiative brings together mining companies and metal manufacturers to investigate the use of blockchain for sourcing and sustainability. The seven companies will share the cost of utilising the blockchain technology, which hopes to find an industry-wide standard that is efficient for users. The technology could be used to track the carbon … Continue reading Blockchain used to track metals manufacturing →

Enabling easier access to capital is one of the reasons behind a new initiative from the South Australian government to develop a cohort of angel investors. The Activate Angels initiative will utilise $450,000 in one to one matched funding to enable start-ups in SA to access private funding. “South Australia needs a robust ‘angel investor’ … Continue reading SA funds start-up investment initiative →

On October 30, at the technology conference CEBIT Australia, the potential for Industry 4.0 application in local industries was canvassed by a range of speakers from industry, research and government. Chaired by Ingrid Marsh, director industry development, NSW Treasury, Marsh outlined that Industry 4.0 could be the key to unlocking productivity and growth in manufacturing … Continue reading Variety of Industry 4.0 in Australia on display at CEBIT →

A partnership between a chemical manufacturer, a national science agency and Australia’s oldest gallery has led to a locally made and produced resin for the restoration of art works. The varnish resin comes out of research conducted by CSIRO, with support from the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), and is now produced at commercial levels … Continue reading Resin developed for masterpiece restoration →

An industry sector powered by renewable energy, and zero-carbon manufacturing could lead to coal-free steel. This would lead to a jobs-rich, low-carbon economy, climate think-tank Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) said. “Switching from fossil fuels to renewables is a no-brainer for industries wanting to boost competitiveness, provide long-term job security for workers, or grow their business … Continue reading Think tank calls for green manufacturing →