metals

The growing demand for metals produced sustainably present an opportunity for Australian manufacturing, write the authors of a new report from the Energy Transition Hub. Outlining a plan for zero-carbon metal manufacturing, the report, From Mining to Making, highlights that while metal production produces 9 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, there are ways … Continue reading Potential for zero-emissions metals to boost Australian manufacturing →

An industry sector powered by renewable energy, and zero-carbon manufacturing could lead to coal-free steel. This would lead to a jobs-rich, low-carbon economy, climate think-tank Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) said. “Switching from fossil fuels to renewables is a no-brainer for industries wanting to boost competitiveness, provide long-term job security for workers, or grow their business … Continue reading Think tank calls for green manufacturing →

Aluminium smelter and alumina refiner Alcoa has posted a net loss of $221 million for the third quarter of 2019. As part of the results, Alcoa announced that it would review smelting and refining capacity and look into potential asset sales. With a total revenue of $2.6 billion, the New York stock exchange listed company … Continue reading Global aluminium firm posts loss →

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 →

Researchers from Edith Cowan University have developed a way to modify the atomic structure of iron to create a metal that can strip impurities from water in just a few minutes. The breakthrough, recently published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, offers new applications in the mining, textile and other industries where large amounts of … Continue reading Small technology promises to clean huge volumes of wastewater →

Victorian Manufacturing Awards 2017 was presented in the Crown Palladium and rewarded the best Manufacturers in small, medium and large businesses. The theme for the event was centred around Australia’s drive towards growing advanced manufacturing – a concept that is gaining traction among many Australian manufacturers, especially the SMEs. The opening keynote address by Jake … Continue reading Advanced manufacturing to be a focus: Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards 2017 →

According to research by Curtin University, corrosion may be costing the Australian economy more than $30 billion each year. Within industrial environments, exposure to things like water, acid or salt causes corrosion of geared motors. This, in turn, reduces the strength of the corroded parts and inevitably means they have to be replaced. In corrosive … Continue reading Corrosion is eating away at Australian industry →

According to a report in The Australian this morning, HSBC has become the latest Arrium lender to sell its debt in the company. This latest move comes as voluntary administrators KordaMentha and advisers Morgan Stanley prepare to sell the remainder of the Arrium business early next year after divesting Moly-Cop to American Industrial Partners for … Continue reading HSBC set to dump its Arrium debt →

A new report from Forrester has identified and compared the top 11 IoT software platform providers for this quarter. According to the report, IBM, PTC, GE and Microsoft lead the pack, while  AWS, SAP and Cisco Jasper offer competitive options, and LogMeIn, Ayla Networks, Exosite and Zebra Technologies lag behind. Forrester evaluated vendors based on 25 … Continue reading The top IoT software platforms for 2016 →

In a bid to re-strategise its business plans for growth in 2017, German bearing maker Schaeffler has announced that it looks to shave off 500 jobs at its industrial division in Germany and other European countries. The company has cited the move was due to slow delivery chains and overly centralised sales operations and mentioned … Continue reading Schaeffler cuts jobs but Asia Pac remains unaffected →

US-based Hypertherm has released Rotary Tube Pro, software that makes it easier to design and cut tube and pipe parts with no 3D CAD experience required. The software features a parametric design interface that allows main tubes and side-wall cutouts to be added from a list of predefined shapes. Alternatively, users can add tubes and … Continue reading New pipe and tube cutting software →

The closure of Ford’s casting plant in Geelong does make you wonder how losing the ability to make our own engines can be a step forward. Australia should take stock and contemplate what kind of society we are becoming.

LaserBond has secured a contract to provide technology services for a Chinese minerals processing equipment manufacturer.

A new study from Flinders University has put the cost of Arrium Whyalla factory closing at 40 per cent of all jobs in the city being lost, and a bigger overall impact on South Australia’s economy than what’s predicted from Holden’s closure next year. AAP reports that the analysis from the university’s Industrial Transformation Institute … Continue reading Arrium closure would wipeout 40 per cent of Whyalla workforce: report →

Clive Palmer has been ordered to attend court regarding the management of Queensland Nickel, as the Federal Government appoints special purpose liquidators for the failed business. Palmer, along with his nephew Clive Mensink – the sole appointed director for Queensland Nickel – and former managing director Ian Ferguson have all been ordered to face court … Continue reading Palmer to face court for Queensland Nickel collapse →

Queensland Nickel refinery workers left without entitlements will paid by the Federal Government under the Fair Entitlements Guarantee (FEG), putting “National Treasure” Clive Palmer squarely in its sights. Taxpayers will be expected to foot the $73.9 million bill for workers’ entitlements, although Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said the government was “prepared to step in to … Continue reading Government to pay out former Queensland Nickel workers →

University of Adelaide has been a awarded $4.5 million grant to develop more sustainable methods of alumina refining. AAP reports that the university received the support in the latest round of ARENA funding for the project, titled “Integrating Concentrating Solar Thermal Energy into the Bayer Alumina Process”. “University of Adelaide will lead a project to … Continue reading Uni of Adelaide to research solar thermal energy in alumina refining →

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has announced the opposition’s policy on metals manufacturing, with a six-point plan he has said would be enacted within 100 days of being elected.

The OECD report Back to Work Australia makes some grim predictions for workers who lose their jobs. That is the potential threat facing some 7,000 Arrium employees

Tasmania’s Minerals and Energy Council has warned that the state’s energy crisis continuing into the year’s second half could see energy-intensive manufacturers put in jeopardy.