French multinational Thales and South-Australian small business Micro-X have signed a $10 million agreement to invest in the development of ultra-miniature x-ray systems. The systems, which utilise carbon nanotubes in their x-ray imaging, have potential applications in airports and other high-security environments. A backscattering image processing algorithm, augmented with artificial intelligence, will identify suspicious items. … Continue reading Thales and Australian manufacturer sign agreement on future x-ray systems →

Customised 3D printed hearing aids and earphones could soon be a common product, thanks to start up 3D Hearables. Using an iPhone’s 3D scanning function and a system that the start-up has developed themselves, the image is automatically processed to create the final device. The total time that these devices could take to be made … Continue reading 3D printed hearing devices that slash time from consultation to product delivery →

Students from the University of New South Wales have been selected to compete in the 2019 Hyperloop Pod Competition. A subsidiary of SpaceX, Hyperloop attempts to create a new method of long-distance travel where people travel through vacuum tubes in pressurised pods, at speeds similar to aircraft. The competition, to be held on July 21, … Continue reading UNSW students push the potential for vacuum travel →

A new plan for the Western Australian forestry industry aims to support the manufacture of timber products. In a statement from the Minister for Water, Fisheries, Forestry, Innovation and ICT and Science, Dave Kelly, harvested wood fibres are named as an opportunity to create products including engineered timbers and bioplastics. Utilising sustainably farmed wood for … Continue reading Western Australia forestry plans for jobs, industries and the environment →

On September 26 and 27, Australian drone manufacturers and those utilising drones in their manufacturing processes are invited to attend the World of Drones Congress in Brisbane. The congress includes a business expo with exhibitors from Australia, China and Japan, as well as a national drone safety forum and a national drones defence industry forum. … Continue reading Drones to hover over Brisbane at Congress →

Three teams from RMIT University have been selected as finalists for the Biodesign Challenge Summit, held in New York City. Two of the teams, Symbiome and Enzer, placed in the top nine of finalists, with Enzer winning the ORTA Prize for Bioinspired Textiles Processes, that was awarded to the team that explored sustainability in the … Continue reading Students design vision for biotech applications →

An international collaboration between researchers from RMIT University and the National Institute of Technology, Warangal (India) has led to the development of a new way to extract graphene. The method derives graphene from eucalyptus bark and is cheaper and more sustainable than current synthesis methods, according to a statement from RMIT. While the current cost … Continue reading Graphene extracted from eucalyptus trees →

Having the knowledge to succeed in industry requires guidance and foresight, something that Swinburne University of Technology is hoping to provide in the inclusion of mentoring programs in its Bachelor of Engineering Practice (Honours). Having a mentor who has experience working in a student’s industry of choice enables the student to make smart decisions about … Continue reading Swinburne integrates mentoring into its engineering degree →

Numbers released by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) as part of their ongoing tracking of the manufacturing sector indicate that June was a mixed month for the sector. The Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) While production and exports expanded, other activity indexes contracted, with employment down by 5.5 points, new orders down 2.5 … Continue reading June’s PMI: A mixed month for manufacturers →

In attempting to find new renewable energy sources, additions to wind and solar are increasingly coming to market. The federal government is now pushing for the development of hydrogen energy generation in Australia, particularly as nations such as Japan and Korea look to new power sources. The federal Australian government hopes this demand for hydrogen … Continue reading Consultation opens on national hydrogen strategy →

Across south east Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia, new rules apply to electricity providers that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) hopes will benefit energy consumers. For manufacturers who have seen electricity prices eat into their cost margins, the new rules seek to standardise the prices that are offered by electricity retailers. … Continue reading New electricity rules seek to reduce power prices →

The Green Globe Awards from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage are open for nominations for the twentieth year and manufacturers are encouraged to apply. With awards in twelve categories, the awards highlight how sustainability is a key concern for the entire community. Manufacturers are invited to nominate for categories including Business Leadership, Innovation … Continue reading Manufacturers able to nominate for Green Globe Awards →

From 2019 until 2021, the PACIFIC International Maritime Expo will be held in Sydney. The expo is one of the largest defence and maritime industry events in the world, and the NSW government will assist local manufacturers to connect with international markets at the event, according to Minister for Trade and Industry John Barilaro. “NSW … Continue reading NSW government looking to support naval manufacturers at Maritime Expo →

Students from the University of Sydney won their category in the Spaceport America Cup on Saturday, June 29. The team was up against students from 51 teams from around the world, including top technical universities such as Princeton and ETH Zurich. The rocket, named Silvereye, created by University of Sydney students competed in the 10,000ft … Continue reading Sydney students win rocketry competition →

A two-day workshop at the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM) focussed on the future of opportunities in materials science. The use of quantum mechanics has the potential to enable the fabrication of new materials and devices, according to a statement released at the end of the workshop. Held by the Institute for Superconducting and … Continue reading Researchers look for ways forward in advanced materials →

The establishment of an Israel liaison officer at Parkville’s Melbourne Biomedical Precinct will support the commercialisation of biomedical research, according to the University of Melbourne. The liaison officer will collaborate with the whole of Victoria’s biomedical sector, including universities, research institutes and industry. The announcement is the next step from the Victoria Israel Biomedical Innovation … Continue reading Victoria deepens biomedical connection with Israel →

Miner Northern Minerals hopes that the processing of rare earth minerals could spark a burst of investment in high-tech manufacturing – if their Browns Range project is successful. The Browns Range mine is currently in development, and the company hopes to separate dysprosium from surrounding ores. The rare earth mineral can be found in Western … Continue reading Local mining of rare earth minerals could grow high tech manufacturing →

BAE Systems has announced that local manufacturing enterprises are now able to bid to supply equipment, materials and services as part of the Hunter Class Frigate Program. BAE systems estimates that $20 million worth of contracts are will be available in this prototyping stage. The contracts are split between two supplier categories, one of which, … Continue reading Registration opens for local suppliers to the Hunter frigate program →

Representatives of Deakin University, textile technology company Xefco and Proficiency Contracting have agreed upon a joint project for advanced coating technologies that will improve durability for textile coatings while reducing energy, water and chemical consumption. The $3.4 million project will be supported by the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) and was developed, tested and … Continue reading Textile coating technology takes the next step →

In collaboration with the national industry associations of G20 countries, the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has called for action to confront the dissolution of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement system. The WTO established the rule-based framework that Australian manufacturing businesses that rely on international exports and imports depend upon. With Australia’s export … Continue reading Ai Group joins call for stable international trade regime →