Perth international shipbuilder Austal now expects its revenues and profits for this year will be slightly down on the records it set in FY 2020. The company, which builds ships in Perth, the Philippines, Vietnam and at Mobile, Alabama in the US, has continued to perform well during the Covid-19 pandemic however throughput is down…
The Australia-China political and economic relationship has been under strain with attitudes toughening in Beijing and Canberra. Here China specialist Katie Howe explores what the deteriorating relationship means for Australian manufacturing. “Australia and the People’s Republic of China, inspired by their longstanding friendship and growing economic and trade relationship since the establishment of diplomatic relations…
Comment by Peter Roberts I only just heard about the extraordinary James Bennett’s Australian Made Products Facebook page. In six years James’s various Facebook groups – all passionate about Australian manufacturing – have amassed more than 3.5 million followers on Facebook. That is one in every eight Australians follows James. He has a number of…
Oventus extends markets during Covid-19 pandemic Sleep apnoea device manufacturer Oventus sales have returned to the pre-Covid-19 pandemic trajectory, with its devices now being fitted at 15 ‘lab in lab’ sites across the global sleep market. Revenue in the latest quarter was up 192 per cent on the previous corresponding period to $248,000. With the…
Electric truck drive train manufacturer SEA Electric’s Dandenong, Melbourne assembly line is in full swing as technicians fit its locally-made drive systems to imported truck chassis. The company released these new pictures of brisk business at the Melbourne company, which recently announced a joint venture with Toyota offshoot Hino to develop a new medium-sized electric…
The federal government is seeking input in the development of roadmaps for priority areas identified in its Modern Manufacturing Strategy. The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources is seeking views on what the key strengths, opportunities and solutions are to grow manufacturing in in the following areas: resources technology and critical minerals processing food…
Technology billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes has joined the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) in backing solar cell manufacturing start-up SunDrive Solar which is aiming to make a new breed of cheaper, more efficient solar cells. Cannon-Brookes’ Grok Ventures and Blackbird Ventures have invested $5 million into Wollongong, NSW based SunDrive which was founded by UNSW graduates…
Perth materials technology group FYI Resources has successfully completed the operation of its pilot plant at Welshpool in Western Australia, producing high purity alumina (HPA) tailored to end users in the LED and lithium-ion battery markets. The company, which plans a kaolin mine at Cadoux, WA and a processing plant at Kwinana south of Perth,…
Two University of Wollongong (UOW) academics have been named as recipients of New South Wales Premier’s Prizes for Science and Engineering in recognition of their pioneering research work. Distinguished Professor Zaiping Guo will receive the Prize for Excellence in Engineering or Information and Communications Technology and Distinguished Professor Antoine van Oijen will receive the Prize…
Vitamin producer Blackmores has simplified its product offerings around the Blackmores name with the sale of its China-oriented Global Therapeutics businesses to McPherson’s Limited for $27 million. McPherson’s, a once well-known Australian manufacturer with roots dating back to 1860, has been rebuilding itself in the health, wellness and beauty products fields and takes on Global’s…