export

The first Australian-designed and made Holden Cruze hatchback models have begun driving off the production lines at the company’s Elizabeth, South Australian assembly plant.

The Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has just completed its seventh year. The itch is supposed to begin in the seventh year. The fundamental issue is whether the relationship has been good for both parties.

Perth’s Quickstep Holdings Limited has secured a finance guarantee from the government’s Export Finance & Insurance Corporation (EFIC) to help export parts for Lockheed Martin’s US-based F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) defence vehicle project.

Medical device manufacturer Cook Medical Australia has won the Premier of Queensland’s Tom Burns Award for generating $15 million in revenue from its new export business to China and Vietnam.

In this Q&A, Professor Sir Mike Gregory, Head of the Manufacturing and Management Division at the University of Cambridge, talks about the changing patterns of global manufacturing, the companies defining this new paradigm and the importance of these trends for Australia.

Is there a legitimate reason for Australian industry to import fabricated steel? We’ve heard the case against it; now let’s hear the case for it.

As Australian manufacturing companies become increasingly pinched by the high Australian dollar and competition from overseas, more training organisations are launching manufacturing-specific training programs to help companies get out of the rut.

Sydney manufacturer of hardware for sliding and folding doors, the Brio Group, has gained a foothold in the lucrative US building market and opened a new subsidiary, Brio USA Inc.

The government’s commitment to improving Australia’s anti-dumping regulations is a welcome act of support for local suppliers doing it tough on the export market. But when teamed with talks of local content mandates in the resources sector, is this beginning to smack of protectionist policy from a government so hell-bent against it?

Holden and GM are deciding whether or not to trash their lucrative Commodore export program as a result of import tax increases in Brazil.

A cable released by Wikileaks shows Ford Australia refused funding from the government to build its export business, amid speculation that Australian car manufacturers are in dire straits after battling with the strong Australian dollar for the best part of a year.

Brazil’s finance minister has announced a 30-point increase in the country’s industrial-product tax on cars, raising concern for some Australian automotive exporters.

More than 3,300 Toyota workers are planning more strikes in Melbourne and Sydney over an unresolved wage dispute at Toyota’s Altona manufacturing plant earlier this month.

China’s second-largest steel manufacturer, Ansteel, has abandoned plans to build a huge steel mill in Western Australia, reportedly deterred by the high costs of manufacturing in Australia.

Guangzhou, China: August 26, 2011 — ZWSOFT, a leading supplier of 2D and 3D CAD/CAM solutions to the AEC and MCAD industries, announced the release of Service Pack 1 for ZW3D 2011. This release greatly enhances the efficiency and usability of ZW3D, and illustrates ZWSOFT’s ongoing investment in the 3D design and manufacturing technology, which it acquired just last year.

New manufacturing opportunities have arisen for electricity utility services following the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, with a new plant opening in Moolap, Geelong. Hamish Brooks writes.

The manufacturing, tourism and education sectors will be hit the hardest by the skyrocketing Australian dollar, with some manufacturing companies worried that stiffer import competition and decreased margins will be the death of them.

Sydney-based swimming pool and water treatment company Waterco has developed a new fibreglass winding machine which is capable of manufacturing the world’s largest fibreglass wound filters.

Sullair Australia has appointed a new national accounts and export manager to facilitate communications between national and export customers and the Sullair Australia team.

Exporting is clearly becoming an increasingly important monetary stream for Australian businesses, with over 60% of respondents to a recent survey claiming their export revenues have increased by more than 25% over the past year.