Australia is well-placed to take advantage of the economic transformation of one of its nearest neighbours, with Thailand adopting an Industry 4.0 to promote and support innovation, creativity, research and development (R&D), higher technologies and green technologies. The program hopes to modernise industries and supply chains with the incorporation of smart technologies and digital innovation. … Continue reading Thailand open to Australian Industry 4.0 support →

Launching the NSW government’s Internet of Things (IoT) strategy, Dawn Routledge, executive director, Office of the Secretary, NSW Department of Customer Service, declared the state has embraced IoT. “The NSW government is absolutely IoT ready,” said Routledge. Described as a handbook for the NSW government to use IoT to drive better services, Routledge warned that … Continue reading NSW launches policy to drive procurement of IoT tech →

Australia’s submarine building program has attracted international advanced manufacturing companies to set up locally, with French propulsion and power generation systems firm, Jeumont Electric establishing an agreement with ASC to have a local presence. Signed at the PACIFIC 2019 naval exhibition, the Heads of Agreement creates a steering committee to find opportunities for Jeumont Electric … Continue reading French-Australian collaboration to drive submarines →

Marand Precision Engineering has been named a top Victorian exporter, at the Governor of Victoria Export Awards (GOVEAs). Marand won the award for Manufacturing and Advanced Materials, in part for its contribution to global defence projects, such as the F-35. “Our commitment to supporting exporters has never been stronger and in the 40th year of … Continue reading Marand wins Victorian export award →

Sydney University has established the Sydney Knowledge Hub, to connect start-ups and university researchers. The Hub will provide resources for new companies and organisations to leverage the deep knowledge of the university, said head of the hub, Rupal Ismin. “The Hub will allow early-stage organisations to work hand-in-hand with the University through access to our … Continue reading Hub to connect researchers and start-ups →

A new royalty arrangement could see the flourishing of a new field of manufacturing in Western Australia. The Western Australian government will use royalties to spur the growth of the downstream processing and manufacturing of lithium in the state. “Updating the royalty arrangements provides a fairer system for all lithium producers and will enable Western … Continue reading Royalty arrangement to drive lithium manufacturing →

Defence prime contractors have signed agreements to ensure that the latest technological advances are brought to bear on the manufacture of the Future Submarines and Future Frigates. In separate agreements signed as part of PACIFIC 2019, Flinders University announced that it will work with Naval Group Pacific, the local subsidiary of French company naval Group, … Continue reading Agreements signed between primes and university →

Australia’s competitive edge in technology has fallen, dropping to 14th place in a survey of 63 developed nations. With the adoption of technology a key way for sectors including manufacturing to increase productivity, Australia’s fall in competitiveness in technology issues is an area of concern, according to those pushing Australia forward in this field. The … Continue reading Australia slipping on digital competitiveness →

A new centre for research into green manufacturing will enable Australian manufacturers to adopt environmentally-friendly chemical processes. Housed at Monash University, the ARC Training Centre for Green Chemistry in Manufacturing brings together researchers from Monash, Flinders, Deakin and Curtin universities. “New innovations based on green chemistry principles applied in Australian manufacturing will provide technical and … Continue reading Centre for green chemistry opens at Monash University →

The message from energy market analysts to manufacturers? Get used to higher prices. At least, that was the view of four analysts at the National Energy Summit on October 10. While there was disagreement as to exactly how much energy, and in particular, gas, will cost, there was unanimity on the fact that prices will … Continue reading Manufacturers need to confront high energy prices: analysts →

The Defence Industry Minister, Melissa Price, announced that two companies have received funding from the Defence Innovation Hub. The first, Sypaq Systems, will receive $3.5 million to develop an unmanned aerial system (UAS) to operate in harsh environmental conditions. The company will utilise a hybrid power delivery system and is developing the UAS for use … Continue reading Defence manufacturers receive Innovation Hub funding →

The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge kicked off on October 13, for the 15th time travelling down the Stuart Highway from Darwin to Adelaide. With cars only allowed 5kw of stored energy, all other propulsion must come from either the sun or the kinetic energy of the vehicle. Known for spurring innovation in the field of … Continue reading Solar race kicks off →

New Australian Research Council (ARC) Centres of Excellence will provide funding for scientific research to advance manufacturing techniques in a range of fields, from synthetic biology, to nano materials, and automated decision-making. Announcing the ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems, Minister for Education, Dan Tehan, highlighted how the centre, and others like it … Continue reading New research centres to underpin advanced manufacturing →

Jet Engines Australia launched a new turbojet engine design for unmanned systems at PACIFIC 2019. The TB400-700 turbojet engine can produce 700lb and 315kg of thrust and incorporates 3D printing into its design and construction. These features allow the engine to stand out in the unmanned market, according to Philippe Bonnet, chief operating office of … Continue reading Australian manufacturer unveils new drone jet engine →

Deloitte has released a new report highlighting how innovation in the energy sector is not just coming from the supply side, but instead, from those who use energy. Noting that “communities and consumers, large and small, are taking charge of their own energy”, the report outlines how these groups are driving change. Responding to this … Continue reading Consumers driving energy change: Deloitte →

At PACIFIC 2019, Naval Group demonstrated to participants the nature of its involvement with Australian industry. As the Platform System Integrator for the Future Submarine program, Naval group engaged industry in a briefing on the project, outlining progress on the Attack Class submarine program. In attendance were 700 Australian and international companies, as well as … Continue reading Naval Group outlines future industry engagement →

CSIRO has announced new technology which will support electric vehicle (EV) charging, throughout peak demand periods during the summer months. The charging stations will use renewable energy and avoid placing stress on charge drawn from the grid. With hot days increasing temperature stressors on electrical systems, the Australian-designed chargers have taken these conditions into account, … Continue reading CSIRO launches solar EV charging module →

Lockheed Martin has selected Australia-based Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia to provide the designs for the optronics search and attack mast, navigation radar, and navigation data distribution components. These designs and components will be part of Australia’s Future Submarine Program, a $50 billion project to construction and deliver the Attack-class submarine until 2050. Specifically, this … Continue reading Lockheed Martin signs $37m contract to bring systems design to Australia →

Duelling proposals for cutting energy prices have squared off at the AFR National Energy Summit. Speaking at the two-day event, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, outlined he saw a heightened need to focus on investing in dispatchable energy, with the rise of intermittent energy generation from wind and solar. Taylor proposed that … Continue reading Visions of a reliable energy future →

Weld Australia has signed an agreement to develop a national shipbuilding welding education and training competency framework, with the Naval Shipbuilding College. With welding required for major projects such as the $90 billion continuous Naval Shipbuilding Program, and Australia facing a shortage of qualified and certified welders, the framework would establish standards and commonality in … Continue reading Partnership signed to prepare workforce for naval shipbuilding →