Scientists create ‘magic’ material that pulls drinking water from thin air

Australian scientists have developed a revolutionary nanomaterial that can extract clean drinking water from air humidity, potentially helping millions of people without access to safe water. The “light as a feather” material can hold more than three times its weight in water and works far faster than existing commercial technologies, researchers from UNSW announced this…

Melbourne company wins stem cell manufacturing licence in Australian first

A Melbourne biotechnology company has become one of the first in Australasia to receive a licence to manufacture stem cells, potentially reducing Australia’s reliance on overseas bio-tech manufacturers. The Therapeutic Goods Administration granted Magellan Stem Cells the manufacturing licence for its Braeside facility in Melbourne’s southeast, the company announced this week. The decision places Magellan…

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, June 16 – June 20, 2025

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 1) Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers 2025 report — now available to download for free @AuManufacturing is very happy to release our campaign report, wrapping up 2025’s iteration of the 50 Most Innovative. This 48-page report features never-before-published Q and As with six…

Australian manufacturer opens Ohio facility for submarine parts

Australian 3D printing company AML3D has opened a new manufacturing facility in Ohio to produce critical components for the US Navy’s Virginia-class submarine program. The company announced on Friday it had officially opened its US Technology Facility in Stow, Ohio, which represents a milestone in strengthening America’s defence manufacturing and supporting the AUKUS partnership. The…

New tool developed at UQ enables “smart” microgel droplets for regenerative medicine

A new microfluidics tool developed at the University of Queensland shows promise for uses including restoring damaged organs, according to the university. In a statement on Friday, UQ said researcher Dr Ruirui Qiao (pictured) and her team have patented a new “UQ-Surf microfludics platform” able to create “smart” microgel droplets with use in a “diverse…

Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers 2025 report — now available to download for free

@AuManufacturing is very happy to release our campaign report, wrapping up 2025’s iteration of the 50 Most Innovative. This 48-page report features never-before-published Q and As with six of the list’s Top 10 companies – Advanced Navigation, Micro-X, Kite Magnetics, Modra Technology, Wild Tech, and Allegro Energy – plus insights on what separated good from…

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

New synthetic biology group launched Plant SynBio Australia (PSBA) was launched in Canberra on Wednesday, aiming at coordinating a national network of infrastructure and expertise to accelerate gains in agri-food productivity. PSBA will focus on synthetic biology, which uses engineering principles to redesign biological organisms for desired outcomes including creating vaccines, novel crops, and foods…