Valiant Space has successfully begun testing Australia’s first in-space chemical thruster designed to help satellites manoeuvre in orbit and in space. The test demonstrated a thrust of 20 Newtons and a specific impulse of approximately 290 seconds in vacuum conditions, exceeding expectations according to Valiant CEO, Andrew Uscinski. The thruster is designed to provide efficient,…
Australia’s largest producer of minerals used to manufacture high technology products, Lynas Rare Earths shrugged off the Covid-19 pandemic in the first half to December one, recording record sales on the back of rising prices. Despite operating at 75 per cent capacity, the Perth company boosted revenue from the previous corresponding period’s $180 million to…
Working from home has become the norm for many especially white collar workers in manufacturing. But there need to be changes if you are going to get the most out of remote employees, and they are going to get the most out of their work, writes Juliana Queiroz One year after the coronavirus outbreak, we…
The world’s largest aluminium shipbuilder Austal today reported earnings before interest and tax of $70.5 million in the half year to December 31, well up on the previous corresponding period’s $59.9 million. However first half revenue actually fell from $1 billion to $840 million due to a higher A$, lower throughput in the United States,…
Australian innovation incubators and circular economy groups are behind a successful first capital raising by New Zealand company X-Frame which aims to bring circular economy thinking to lightweight timber building construction. Adelaide technology incubator Innovyz and the state-government backed Green Industries South Australia were instrumental in raising $485,000 for the start-up. Green Industries ran a…
Austin Engineering rebuilds with mining Mining equipment manufacturer Austin Engineering recovered from the effects on investment in mining of the Covid-19 pandemic in the first half year to December 31 reporting total revenue in line with expectations of $87.9 million. Normalised earnings before interest, tax, interest, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was 32 per cent up…
This week marks another milestone in the penetration of Asia Pacific markets of the plant-based burger first developed for the Australian Hungry Jack’s chain. South Korea has become the fifth country in the region where Burger King restaurants are offering offering the Plant Whopper developed by CSIRO offshoot v2Food. Burger King Korea customers will be…
Specialised milk producer a2 Milk has seen its turnover and profits plunge as the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted its supply chains into the China market. The company announced today earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) down 32.2 per cent for the half year to December 31 to $166.7 million (NZ$178.5 million). Revenues were down…
CSIRO is to develop new medicinal cannabis products to help people with a variety of conditions including multiple sclerosis and chronic pain. Under a new licence, CSIRO will partner with local manufacturers to drive the development of new cannabis therapeutics, a market projected to be worth US$44 billion by 2024. CSIRO Scientist, Adjunct Professor Peter…
Melbourne battery control technology company Relectrify today announced the release of its commercial & industrial (C&I) energy storage systems based on its BMS+Inverter technology. The modular 120kWh systems are made from second-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries – cells that have been retired after use in electric vehicles. Relectrify’s life-extending BMS+Inverter technology results in up to…