By Peter Roberts Now that the federal government has released the review into the six Industry Growth Centres, the big question remains – what will be their replacement and will they become true application-oriented innovation organisations we see in the UK’s Catapult Centres and Germany’s Fraunhofer institutes? The recommendations of Industry Growth Centres Initiative: initial…
By Peter Roberts The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has mapped out a pathway to achieving net zero emissions in the alumina refining sector by 2050. The Roadmap provides a framework for future policy and investment decisions and is a call to action for a transition of this ‘hard-to-abate’ sector into an industry capable of…
Mining services group Perenti and automation and robotics specialist ABB has signed an agreement to collaborate and explore approaches to support net zero emissions targets for underground and open-pit mines. Experts from the two companies will work together to address electrification in mine hauling operations, power distribution, energy efficiency and power management. They plan to…
Building products group Brickworks has opened the way to export Australian bricks to the United Kingdom, according to a company investor update. Managing Director Lindsay Partridge said the company’s supply agreement with UK building products distributor Brickability would see the sale of the Sydney company’s bricks in the UK market. Partridge said: “This supply agreement…
CSIRO spin-out company Chrysos Corporation has been recognised for the successful commercialisation of PhotonAssay technology, as recipients of the Prime Minister’s 2022 Prize for Innovation. Led by Dr Nick Cutmore, Dr James Tickner and Dirk Treasure the company’s PhotonAssay technology delivers faster, safer, more accurate and environmentally friendly analysis of gold for the minerals industry.…
Drone manufacturer Carbonix has partnered with electricity distributor SA Power Networks and communications group Nokia to utilise long-range Un-Crewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for aerial inspection on remote electricity lines and network assets. In the initial phase of the partnership a Carbonix Volanti UAV (pictured) will be used to prove the Beyond Visual Line of Sight…
By Peter Roberts Australia’s oldest cement manufacturer Adbri has doubled down on its commitment to net zero emissions from producing what are some of the world’s most important, but hard to abate, manufactures – cement and lime. Used in construction and industries such as steel making Adbri’s products are highly carbon intensive, but it would…
Federal and State and Territory Skills and Training Ministers met last week to progress a range of key vocational education and training reform and workforce matters. The Ministers issued a joint statement, below, which sets out their priorities and aspirations for vocational education and training. Skills Ministers’ Priorities Skills Ministers discussed the continued imperative for…
Today in our editorial series on Australia’s place in the semiconductor world, Peter Roberts gives an observer’s view of Australian manufacturing over more than four decades, our lost opportunities and where semiconductors could have fitted in. When it comes down to it, the story of disappointment that has been the lack of development of a…
Metal additive manufacturing company Titomic has developed a new 3D printer, the Titomic D623 medium-pressure cold spray 3D printer, at the same time announcing two sales of the new product. The company has received purchase orders worth $270,000 from German and Spanish companies for the systems which complement its existing D523 printers. The D623 is…