Raytheon is trialling missiles that will fly at new speeds for the US defence forces. With Russia and China also developing hypersonic systems, the US has responded with its own hypersonic flight program to defeat other hypersonic vehicles. Part of a $63 million contract between Raytheon, the US Air Force and the US Defense Advanced … Continue reading Raytheon developing hypersonic missiles →

The Australian army is inquiring into the potential for electric vehicles for its fleet. Citing a combination of legislative pressure, industry disinvestment from internal combustion engines, and their subsequent decline in production, a paper by Major Matthew Wood, sets out the Army’s strategy for the future acquisition of electric vehicles. Noting that for the Army, … Continue reading Future Army vehicles could go electric →

Swinburne University has extended the capabilities of Australian-grown advanced manufacturing with the installation of a LightSPEE3D printer at its Factory of the Future. The LightSPEE3D printer is an Australian-developed metal 3D printer and is the first 3D metal parts printer to apply supersonic deposition, which involved firing metal particles faster than the speed of sound, … Continue reading Swinburne acquires fast metal 3D printing device →

As a result of the Australian government’s Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels, a German and a French defence manufacturing firms have opened a new heating and air conditioning facility in South Australia. The Noske-Kaesar and ENGIE Axima site will produce air conditioning and ventilation systems for the offshore patrol vessels. The facility will employ seven … Continue reading Naval heating and air conditioning facility opens in SA →

The potential for hemp fibres to be used in industry is the subject of a new taskforce, created by the Victorian government. Today, the food industry uses hemp products, however, the taskforce hopes to expand the number of industries that can use the environmentally friendly and sustainable product. “Hemp has huge potential in so many … Continue reading Taskforce to investigate hemp for industrial uses →

A partnership between the University of Sydney and medical manufacturer Codex Research has secured $851,000 of Commonwealth funding through the Innovative Manufacturing Collaborative Research Centre (IMCRC). The project hopes to improve the treatment of heart disease through creating a physiologically-relevant blood vessel implant, that would be used in bypass surgery. Currently, similar products are created … Continue reading Innovative partnership leads to blood vessel manufacture →

For Australians keen to ride the global wave of electric vehicles for their energy, environmental, and economic benefits, one of the stumbling blocks has been the lack of charging stations dispersed outside of major centres. This limitation will be countered by a new plan for 42 charging stations from Evie Networks, which will connect Adelaide, … Continue reading EV charging network spreads across highway system →

A method for quickly producing laser-printed smart fabrics has been developed by scientists at RMIT. The method is cost-efficient and scalable and can produce a 10x10cm smart textile patch in three minutes. These patches are waterproof, stretchable, and easily combinable with energy harvesting technologies. The e-textile technology will enable graphene supercapacitors, to be laser printed … Continue reading Building resilient smart textiles at speed →

Researchers from Australian’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) have formulated new ways of testing how alloys suffer plastic damage. The method studies dislocations present in the microstructure of the material and can estimate a component’s service lifetime. The team, led by Dr Ondrej Muránsky, used Electron Back-Scatter Diffraction (EBSD) and High-Resolution Synchrotron Diffraction (HRSD) … Continue reading New method for testing plastic damage in alloys →

Hydrogen’s potential to compliment traditional energy sources is getting greener, with gas company BOC to produce green hydrogen from renewable energy at its Bulwer Island gas facility in Brisbane. Using existing industrial gas equipment and infrastructure, the project will utilise a 220kW electrolyser and a 100kW solar array to manufacture 2400 kg of renewable hydrogen … Continue reading Queensland invests in green hydrogen for vehicles and industrial supply →

Space and industrial enterprises will be able to access a new font of cybersecurity innovation with the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre. The Centre will be housed at Lot Fourteen, which is already home to numerous space start-ups and advanced manufacturing businesses in what was previously the Royal Adelaide Hospital. The Centre hopes to open by … Continue reading Cyber capabilities grow in space innovation hub →

The Western Australian government will introduce new legislation to criminalise industrial manslaughter, alongside investing $12.9 million to enhance workplace health and safety. The legislation creates two new offences, industrial manslaughter class one, with a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, and industrial manslaughter class two, with a maximum penalty of 10 years for negligent behaviour. … Continue reading WA proposes new workplace health and safety laws →

Women-led start-ups are getting a boost with the $18 million Boosting Female Founders Initiative. Designed to encourage women’s entrepreneurial streak, the program is part of the federal government’s Women’s Economic Security Statement. “We want to give businesses led by women the best opportunity to succeed so that they can strengthen their financial security and boost … Continue reading Industry invited to give feedback on Female Founders Initiative →

Small manufacturing businesses will be able to lower their energy costs with a new tool from the federal government. The Business Energy Advice Program (BEAP) provides businesses with a personalised energy advice service and an online tool to identify where the business can trim their energy bill. For businesses with 6-20 employees, the NSW Business … Continue reading New tool to cut energy bills →

Western Sydney Airport and the surrounding Aerotropolis is to become a hub for advanced manufacturing, with agreements finalised between the NSW government and global industrial firms. Announced during Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s visit to Europe with Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, four statements pointed towards the future activities that will be … Continue reading Western Sydney Airport to be hub for advanced manufacturing →

All that is needed to predict a heart failure could be saliva and smart manufacturing, thanks to a collaboration between RMIT University, the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) and ESN Cleer. The organisations have come together to produce a diagnostic stick that reads heart disease biomarkers. The nano-sensors on the tip of the stick … Continue reading Spit and shine: new device to measure heart disease →

An inquiry into pathways into jobs for senior secondary students will bring together educators and industry to decide whether students are being taught the skills needed for the future. Led by Professor Peter Shergold, the inquiry has been commissioned by the Education Council, a body made up of state and federal education and training ministers. … Continue reading Review into senior secondary to study pathways to industry →

Round two of the small and medium enterprises Export Hubs initiative is now open. The initiative supports industry to coalesce around resources in local and regional areas, with the aim to access international markets and drive the growth of jobs. The funding goes towards not-for-profit organisations which can support the establishment or operation of a … Continue reading Export hubs program open for second round →

The Australian Space Agency continues to take new steps to open pathways for Australian industry to engage in the global space economy. Last week, the Agency signed a statement of intent with the European Space Agency. The statement will encourage both agencies to work closely together across deep space, communications, navigation, remote asset management, data … Continue reading Australian Space Agency signs European partnership →

ANSTO has produced periodic table posters that can come alive with the ANSTO XR augmented reality app. Available for classrooms around Australia for free, the table contains information that can be accessed via a scan on a iOS or Android operating system. The program is designed to make STEM subjects engaging and exciting for the … Continue reading A new dimension for the periodic table →