Construction

Construction has started on ABB‘s robotics manufacturing and research factory. Located in China, the facility is expected to open in 2021 and is the result of a US$150 million ($218m) investment by the SIX Swiss Exchange traded company. Located in Kangqiao, near Shanghai, the facility will involve machine learning, digital, and collaborative solutions. According to … Continue reading ABB begins work on future robotics factory →

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 →

As part of the Metro Tunnel project, the Victorian government has constructed an $18 million purpose-built factory to produce concrete segments to line the walls of the tunnel. The segment manufacturing facility can produce roughly 150 curved segments each day, at a rate of one every seven minutes. The plant employs 70 people, many of … Continue reading Metro building drives Victorian manufacturing →

The process of pultrusion has been used by at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) to create composite materials for the oil and gas and transport industries in Australia and overseas. Pultrusion involves creating continuous lengths of composite material by pulling fibre-reinforced profiles through a cross-section of die, resin, and heating and cooling zones. Working … Continue reading Pultrusion creates consistency, productivity →

A consortium bid has opened the way for the advanced manufacturing of buildings and construction in Australia. The $28 million bid is a cooperation between Monash University, Lendlease, The University of Melbourne, and Donovan Group, steered through the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) program. Entitled Building 4.0, the initiative will put the customer at the centre … Continue reading Bid to advance building and construction processes →

The Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) has partnered with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Brisbane surveying company Monitum to manufacture smart sensors for the construction industry. Using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) techniques, the sensors will provide cheap and reliable monitoring of infrastructure projects at a higher level of precision than currently … Continue reading Industry partnership to manufacture low power sensors for construction industry →

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 →

Engineering company FLSmidth will continue to design and manufacture its woven-wire screen media for the mineral processing, construction and aggregate industries in Australia. The media, including galvanised and stainless steel square mesh, specialist agavibe and polyvibe and a range of architectural screens will be manufactured in the company’s New South Wales woven wire plant, part of its new … Continue reading NSW manufacturer continues supply for Australian mining →

Construction and advanced manufacturing businesses in Geelong and Corangamite are set for a $20 million windfall, which will create more than 600 jobs. The funding acts as the first wave of successful projects under the Regional Jobs and Investment Packages. The initiative is part of the Federal Government’s commitment to stimulate jobs and drive economic … Continue reading Advanced manufacturers receive $20m jobs boost →

A strategic partnership of Monash University, the Victorian Government, Engineers Australia and industry has delivered the world’s first Modular Code of Construction Handbook for industry best practice. Building construction uses nearly one third of the world’s resources and around 40 per cent of global energy, while emitting 40 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions … Continue reading World-first construction code unveiled in VIC →

This week, gases and engineering company BOC has announced a revamp of its welding range with the launch of eight new welding models that offer the latest in welding technology to Australian fabricators and businesses.  Richard Fowles, senior product manager of Welding Products says the new welding range is affordable and easy to use, with advanced … Continue reading BOC announces 2017 welding product release →

Investor confidence in Victoria’s economy remains strong with private capital expenditure up 8.6 per cent over the year to June, compared with a national fall of 3.0 per cent during the same period. The latest data from the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released today shows Buildings and Structures capital investment in Victoria grew by … Continue reading Equipment, plant and machinery investments key drivers in Victoria’s growth →

Australia’s manufacturing sector has experienced a tenth consecutive month of expansion – despite significant challenges. The Australian Industry (Ai) Group’s Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) increased by 1.0 point in July to 56.0 points. According to the index, results above 50 indicate expansion with even higher results indicating a stronger expansion. In July, … Continue reading Construction, mining demand aiding continued manufacturing growth →

A new partnership between the Australian Made Campaign and Master Builders Australia aims to boost exports and the use of locally made products by the building and construction sectors. The initiative will encourage building and construction firms to source Australian-made goods and assist local businesses in marketing their products and services to export markets. Australian … Continue reading Partnership to increase Australian products in construction →

Nearly 100 former automotive workers will have an opportunity to be a part of Victoria’s construction industry, due to new funding from the Andrews Labor Government. During a recent visit to Unipod in Derrimut, Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan announced the company had received a grant from the Local Industry Fund for Transition … Continue reading Former auto workers to join construction manufacturing →

The Queensland Government is working to address the impact of non-conforming products on the state’s building and construction industry, an issue which was highlighted in a 2013 report from the Australian Industry Group (AIG). One of the findings of the report was that the current regulatory system placed too much responsibility on building certifiers at … Continue reading QLD govt takes action on non-conforming building products →

Brisbane-based prefabricated building company, Arkistruct, has announced it will be taking its business out of China and bringing it back to Australia. Arkistruct had previously been manufacturing its prefabricated panels in a factory in Shenyang, China, and shipping them over to Australia. According to managing director Daniel McGrath, having a Brisbane-based company that manufactured in … Continue reading Prefab building company bringing manufacturing back to Australia →

​As many as 100 new jobs will be created in a ​Sync Building Systems factory expansion in Brooklyn.

​Interim duties on steel products requested by Arrium against allegedly dumped goods could be disastrous, the local steel company Best Bar has said.

The oil slump may affect building materials companies James Hardie and Boral because of their significant earnings in the US south.