By Peter Roberts It is getting harder by the day to continue thinking that Australia is not making a hash of our most expensive and complex defence program – building 12 Attack class submarines at a cost of $90 billion. The government has finally given clarity whether three or all six of our Collins boats…
A secret report into the future of industry growth centres has pointed to design weaknesses in the growth centre model and inadequate funding to affect outcomes at a sectoral level. With the federal government believed to favour abolishing the centres, Paul Hodgson points the way ahead.
Monash University scientists have developed a new process for the production of ammonia that could cut the carbon-intensity of industrial production globally. Professor Doug MacFarlane, Dr Bryan Suryanto and Dr Alexandr Simonov in a paper in the prestigious journal, Science, suggested replacing the current metal catalysed Haber-Bosch process for producing ammonia with one based on…
Archer progresses biochip design Archer Materials has established chip testing and measurement operations (pictured) to support its development of a graphene-based biochip for point-of-care medical diagnostics. The capability has been established at a cleanroom at the University of Sydney’s semiconductor research and prototype foundry. The establishment of the facility allows Archer to progress to the…
A Victorian gold mine and a regionally based mining equipment manufacturer have collaborated to develop sophisticated technologies to automate gold processing plants. Since 2018 Stawell Gold Mine and Gekko Systems of Ballarat have installed new equipment and developed new processes to optimise processing. SGM, owned by private equity group Arete Capital Partners, first installed a…
Probiotec grows as suppliers onshore production Pharmaceutical manufacturer and packing company company Probiotec has increased its sales and earnings guidance for FY21 following its acquisition of packing business Multipack-LJM and interest from customers in onshoring their production. The company expects to make an underlying operating profit (EBITDA) up 75 per cent to more than $29…
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has begun civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against Perth shipbuilder Austal and its former CEO David Singleton (pictured). Austal revealed it had been notified this morning of the case, which follows an investigation by ASIC of the company’s disclosures to the stockmarket regarding its…
Specialty case manufacturer Pelican Products has gained ISO 9001:2015 certification for its Erina, NSW manufacturing facility. The company, which manufactures more than 500 standard sizes of cases used by aerospace companies, military personnel, first responders and outdoor enthusiasts, joins eight other Pelican sites globally with the certification. Pelican’s Australian managing director Christian Nyman said: “In…
Analysis by Peter Roberts For a very long time now in Australia it has been possible to get venture capital for a yet-another gold mine or some fintech app. But when manufacturing innovators go looking for capital, other than a few angel investors, the cupboard has been bare – this despite us sitting on one…
New Cellmid hair growth products to be launched Bio-technology developer Cellmid will collaborate with Pump Haircare for the supply of its FGF5 inhibitor hair growth products which will be sold under the Pump brand. Cellmid subsidiary Advangen will manufacture and supply Pump branded hair lotions including the company’s hair loss prevention and hair growth technologies.…