Advanced manufacturer Axiom Precision Manufacturing and welding technology group K-TIG are to develop Australian manufacturing capability in advanced welding for the defence sector. The two companies will share $1 million in funding from the Centre for Defence Industry Capability to developed advanced armour and structural welding processes in a new 6,000 square metre facility built…
Industrial process technology company Calix has joined with Sweden’s SaltX and Sumitomo SHI FW to further develop a salt based energy storage system with potential to speed decarbonisation of the economy. Calix’s novel kiln technology will be added to SaltX’s energy storage system in a 200kW pilot plant to be built in Sweden. The pilot…
With the design phase of Australia’s new Attack class submarines underway and a new shipyard being constructed in Adelaide, Dr Gregor Ferguson takes a hard look at the project and its many critics. No, nuclear is not an option, cost rises have been exaggerated and the project is on schedule.
Advanced composites manufacturer XTEK has reported a gross loss of $3.2 million in the six months to December 31 as it continued to invest in product and market development and in production facilities for its defence industry products. The loss, made on turnover down $3.6 million on the previous corresponding period to $12.4 million, came…
Australia’s first producer of surgical and examination gloves critical to medicine and surgery is to be Softmed, the country’s largest manufacturer of personal protection equipment. The company has beaten the giant Ansell medical and industrial gloves group, which is Australian based but manufactures only overseas, to the punch. Fresh from investing $30 million at a…
Innovative X-ray technology company Micro-X will develop a lightweight brain CT scanner based on its carbon fibre nanotube X-ray emitter for the rapid detection and diagnosis of stroke. The development will be funded by a $40 million grant – one of the largest health grants ever awarded in Australia – made to the Australian Stroke…
International shipbuilder Austal has been awarded a $295 million contract to build a 15th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) (pictured) for the US Navy at its yard in Mobile Alabama. The Perth company has delivered 12 of the Spearhead class vessels which are based on a 103-metre twin-hulled ferry design, and feature an 1,800 square metre…
Comment by Peter Roberts With Brisbane now in the box seat to secure the 2032 Olympic Games the usual whinges have been aired about cost and the priorities of the Queensland government. But there is more than just once-off television rights to be earned, with Sydney 2000 creating numerous ongoing business opportunities from making venue…
Bisalloy’s armour plated half year Wear and armour steel producer Bisalloy boosted its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation by 42 per cent in the half year to December 31 to $6.7 million. Margins were boosted with the positive result of anti-dumping measures against its main import competitor, however that company has been working…
China’s punitive trade action against Australia is starting to impact manufacturing with its ban on importing Australian thermal coal cutting sales for explosives and chemical group Orica. The company said in a market update that diminished coal mining activity was flowing through to its explosives business, which will suffer losses between $70 million and $80…