VIC

Britax Australia workers will rally in shopping centres, following the company’s May announcement that it will close its Melbourne factory and outsource production to China.

According to a report in today’s Australian newspaper, former Orica executives, Andrew Larke and Patrick Largier, are being courted by the administrators of Arrium to become directors of its $1.5 billion subsidiary Moly-Cop. Moly-Cop makes steel grinding balls used in mining and is touted as one of the most lucrative part of Arrium’s ailing operations. … Continue reading Arrium administrators find Orica execs as the solution for Moly-Cop →

Unlike our previous election, in fact unlike our past three federal elections, in the US, both candidates for president are vowing to revitalise and resurrect the U.S. manufacturing industry. In fact, Donald Trump says he will “reclaim millions of American jobs” while Hillary Clinton is pushing a “make it in America” strategy. “While too many … Continue reading OPINION: Unlike in Australia, US elections are all about manufacturing →

Servicing, Maintenance and Welding (SMW) Group provides field servicing, maintenance and emergency repair and rebuild services to customers in Central Queensland. The company also provides complete plant and equipment management, supported by a range of mine site compliance activities. In response to SMW’s desire to make its large welding workshop more efficient, BOC and its … Continue reading New gen robots cutting weld time by up to 90 per cent →

The business founded by young engineer, STEM evangelist and entrepreneur Marita Cheng has just begun shipping its new product, Teleport. Brent Balinski spoke to Cheng about getting robots into our homes.

US vice president Joe Biden visited the Boeing Aerostructures plant in Port Melbourne yesterday, talking up the value of free trade and innovation and addressing 200 employees after a factory tour.

A fire at an unnamed automotive factory in Sunshine North, west of Melbourne’s CBD, yesterday morning is being treated as suspicious.

Tested in demanding NASCAR and Touring Car racing environments, an Australian brake rotor innovation is ready for the market, according to the company behind it. Brent Balinski spoke to OzBrakes’ Colin Lagoon about the road ahead.

Pillow, quilt and doona manufacturer Tontine, which is part of Pacific Brands, is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it was encouraged by today’s strategic decision to bring together the planning, coordination and operation of Victoria’s transport system under the new body, Transport for Victoria. Victorian Chamber Chief Executive said that a highly integrated infrastructure system was vital to supporting long term economic growth and liveability … Continue reading New body to help meet transport needs of Victorian business →

The first graphene factory in the country has been opened in Geelong, which can “consider itself the graphene capital of Australia” according to the company behind it.

Either Albury or Wodonga will get a new cross-laminated timber factory, creating 54 jobs, according to XLam. The Border Mail reports that the company, which makes structural timber, plans to have a site up and running by June next year. The raw timber would be plantation-sourced. The exact location would be determined later, but the area at the … Continue reading Cross-laminated timber factory in Albury-Wodonga to create 54 jobs →

The Australian automotive industry has made its way into the federal election campaign, with new figures suggesting the winner will face the problem of up to 40,000 made unemployed. The Herald Sun reports that the Federation of Automotive Products Manufacturers has modelled that many jobs lost, and two-thirds of these will be in Victoria. Only … Continue reading Auto manufacturers body says up to 40,000 jobs could go →

Opposition leader Bill Shorten will announce a $59 million plan aimed at easing the pain from the end of car assembly in Australia, which will start this year with Ford Australia ending production. The Geelong Advertiser reports that Shorten will announce the “Manufacturing Transition Boost” in the area, where Ford has its engine, casting and … Continue reading Shorten to announce $59 million “Manufacturing Transition Boost” →

A factory fire in West Melbourne on Saturday night is being treated as suspicious. Sky News reports that over 30 firefighters showed up at the printing factory on Irelanbd Street, with police called at 8:45 pm. There was “evidence that the scene is suspicious”, the Melbourne Fire Brigade’s spokesman Steve Moore told The Age.

Manufacturer of child seats Britax Australia has announced that it will shut its Melbourne factory and offshore production, cutting 80 jobs. The ABC reported last Friday that the company will shut its factory in Sunshine after an internal review found significant investments would be required to upgrade the factory. “It is difficult for an Australian-based … Continue reading Britax to close factory, cut 80 jobs →

Insulated building products maker Bondor is preparing to both mark its 65th anniversary and announce a new $20 million facility in Melbourne. Brent Balinski spoke to General Manager Geoff Marsdon about what has shaped the company´s diversification and longevity. Handled smartly, tougher standards for building products have presented new opportunities for Bondor in the last … Continue reading Bondor opens door to a new era, creates 50 more jobs →

Orica and Thales have worked to onshore production of the explosives companies’ boosters, with 5 million to be made annually at two of Thales’ Australian factories. AAP reports that the Benalla (Victoria) and Mulwala (NSW) sites, owned by the defence department, will make the next-generation boosters. These were designed at Melbourne and will be produced … Continue reading Onshoring Orica booster supply “great result” for ­regional manufacturing →

Bosch inaugurated its new $40 million Australian headquarters and technology centre last night and announced it would invest another $6.2 million to strengthen its diode production. The wholly-owned local subsidiary of the German engineering giant was established in Australia in 1954 and described the facility as evidence of its long-term commitment to the region. Around … Continue reading Bosch inaugurates new $40 million Victorian site →

Bendigo and Melbourne based apparel manufacturer, ADA, has reported a 12.5% increase in staff over the past 12 months. ADA is now operating the largest dedicated uniform manufacturing facility in Australia out of Bendigo. ADA CEO Matt Graham said that ADA’s Bendigo factory has long been a quiet achiever, opening in 1991 with just 40 … Continue reading Victorian uniform manufacturer defies negative textile trends →