Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, July 28 – August 1, 2025

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) Bedford forfeits $20m site in bailout deal as new manufacturing hub hangs in balance Disability services provider Bedford Group will surrender land worth more than $20 million as part of its government bailout, whilst the future of its brand new…

Monash Ventures Pre-Seed Fund invests $2.25 million in three biotech spinouts

Monash University has officially launched its pre-seed fund, with an announcement of co-investments totalling $2.25 million made in spinout companies Myostellar, FytonBio, and Remagine Labs. The funding for the three companies is through the $15 million Monash Ventures Pre-Seed Fund, a participant in the Breakthrough Victoria’s $100 million University Innovation Platform (BVUIP.)  Breakthrough Victoria describes…

From soil health to sodium-ion batteries: Team investigates biochar’s breadth of potential

Researchers at Deakin University, Barwon Water and RMIT are exploring the “many superpowers of biochar”, including in next-generation batteries through a project backed by the Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH.) According to a statement from Deakin on Wednesday, organic material from treated wastewater and household wastes is being processed into different biochar formulations…

HIA urges action on regulation, skills for building product manufacturers in Economic Reform Roundtable submission

Residential building industry lobbyist the Housing Industry Association (HIA) has urged the federal government to do more to support the building product manufacturing and supply sector, which it says is “being held back by red, white and green tape”. According to a statement from HIA on Wednesday, manufacturers “are increasingly burdened by overlapping regulations, from…

Alter Steel, Sims sign MoU covering 550,000 tpa of scrap for planned Pinkenba steel factory

ASX-listed metals recycler Sims Metal and Alter Steel, which intends to build a $750 million steel mill in Pinkenba, Queensland, have announced a supply and services agreement for the upcoming site. According to a statement from Sims on Thursday, the pair have entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding regarding the proposed electric arc furnace…

DroneShield soars with record revenue and massive pipeline growth

Australian counterdrone technology company DroneShield has delivered explosive growth in its latest half-year results, with revenue surging 210 per cent to $72.3 million, according to results released on Monday. The Sydney-based company, which develops AI-powered anti-drone systems for military and civilian applications, reported its highest-ever quarterly revenue of $38.8 million in the second quarter, representing…

Bedford forfeits $20m site in bailout deal as new manufacturing hub hangs in balance

Disability services provider Bedford Group will surrender land worth more than $20 million as part of its government bailout, whilst the future of its brand new $45 million manufacturing hub remains uncertain, according to reports on Monday. The Australian Business Network reported Bedford will relinquish its 3.9-hectare Balyana site at Clapham, which houses around 40…